Our hearts broke yesterday when we found that one of our team members, Greg Gomez passed away. The Research Team was traveling near Cusco when the van they were in lost control and Greg had a fatal head injury. The two girls on the team, Claudia and Lydia, were ok and are being treated in a hospital in Lima right now. When we first heard the news, we couldn´t believe it. We had just seen Greg a few days ago in Nazca. I can´t begin to imagine how his family is feeling; we have been praying for them every day. We know the accident was part of God´s perfect and pleasing will. I have been reminded of the urgency that we have to share the gospel with everyone on earth. Our team is doing our job here with more fervor than we had before. I just hope that God is glorified so so much through all of this, because Greg´s life is completely invaluable.
After we heard the news yesterday, we went to an orphanage to share with the kids. It was hard, but we had to keep trucking on. Those kids were awesome. A couple 14-year-old chicas wanted us to dance to some cumbia and reggaeton with them. It was pretty hilarious. :) Today we had a great time sharing the gospel in a technical college. Later today we are having a bible study in our hostel with some kids we met there. God spoke to their hearts today and it is to exciting to be a part of that!
My lovely darling Beth had to leave us today. She had to go home to Georgia to start her first teaching job as a first grade teacher. We are going to miss her so much! She speaks very little spanish, but she would always put herself out there and talk to everyone she came in contact with. That Bajita challened all of us who speak spanish to get out there and do our thing. :)
Please pray for Beth and Elsa, an interpreter as they travel. Pray for Eric, who left our team to minister in Lampa. He is a great discipler, and we know he is doing awesome stuff with the people there. Please pray for everyone who made decisions for Christ, that they would live out their decisions and grow in Christ.
I hope everyone is doing good! We are trying to stay warm here in Cora Cora. I come home in 28 days. I love you all and I will see you soon!
Love Jess
Jeremiah 20:9
14 comments:
Jessica Lee Stephenson - there are no words only tears, I will write a bit later. You are right - it's ok. Mommy
Dearest Jess,
I am so sorry to hear of your sadness. I am praying for you, your Team & how God will continue to use you.
Love, Jackie :-)
Oh Jessica....this is really tragic. I will be praying for your teams and for his family. We never know all that God's will includes or why, but He knows and has reasons and loves us more than we could ever think of or know. God bless you and your teams as you finish out your summer.
We love you and talk of and pray for you often!
Christie Lord
Praying for you and your team, God is in control.
Team,
We are concerned about all that you have gone through and the strikes. We think that we have to let God be in control. We often try to do everything ourselves and forget that we have to let Him be in control. We are praying for you and you are on our minds all the time. See you August 2nd.
Betsy and Tom
Tommy's Mom and Dad
Jessica,
In 1 Peter 5 God sends shepherd's to his people in the midst of suffering. In verses 6-10 it says "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen"
Jessica, You are blessed. I know you might not feel it right now. You are experiencing the power of God. I am praying for an elder to come shepherd you and the others. God has you there at just this time. You are blessed!
Kris, Kody, KJ and me are praying for you.
We love you
Jackie Kennell
Jess, I am so saddened to here about poor Greg. Please take extra care in all that you do!! I will pray for his family and for strength for you and the rest of the team. We just got back yesterday from NY. Pleases call when you can, Lots of Love, Dad and Pam.
Hello my child. I know that all is ok. All is ok here too. Everyone is asking for and about you. Reap and soak your last days there - you are right - it is all worth it and when you get home and recall the moments and times - you will repeat outloud again "it was and is all worth it". Jess, I love you. I know things are dawning on you and will continue to dawn on you. Listen, thank and worhship your Father. I'm pretty sure the angels haven't stopped rejoicing once since you first set sail. First in aniticipation and then by witness. You have taken what you were given and obeyed the Lord and pretty sure you have, at last count,about a bazillion minas by now. Well done good and faithful servant, well done. Rally and shine like you never have before. I'm sorry there is no moon for me to look at with you tonight - but there is a very good reason - it is raining in Phoenix Arizona - believe it. Angels on your pillies, sweet dreamis, kissing you goodnight and see you in the morning. I love you. Mommy.
A taste of America for you:
1) We went to Streets of New York
2) Pretty Bird, We got no food, no jobs... our PET'S HEADS ARE FALLING OFF! I was laughing soo hard. Radio, who needs a radio ready Harry, yeah, Mock yeah ing yeah bird yeah; yeah yeah Mockingbird ....
3) 3 priests are moving into Bill and Marie's house - I actually prayed for the right neighbors - what does it all mean :0
4) Paula from TWC is up for a big community award.
5) I bought a new dig cam - not that I know how to use it. I'll just buy more film for my other cam ;)
6) I have eaten about 6 tomatoes from my tom plants. Came in handy since millions here are dying from tomato salmonilla, jk. Bout 900 countrywide are getting it tho.
Enjoy the bite, and I am gonna buy you a diamond ring yeah, I love your laugh and I know you are saying I'm weird, I love that too. Oh mama, Oh Jessyca. I LOVE YOU, ANGELS, peace out!!!!
Father, be with those young disciples who have come to you through our efforts, even our own children.
In Jesus Name,
(good morning chica, it's a bright bright sun shiny day)
Here is your Bible bite today, thanks to Charles Spurgeon. This is a good morsel.
"They shall go hindmost with their standards."
Numbers 2:31
The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the march. The Danites occupied the hindmost place, but what mattered the position, since they were as truly part of the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Come, my heart, cheer up, though last and least; it is thy privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare who lead the van. Some one must be hindmost in honour and esteem, some one must do menial work for Jesus, and why should not I? In a poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street, among degraded sinners, I will work on, and "go hindmost with my standard."
The Danites occupied a very useful place. Stragglers have to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.
The rear guard is a place of danger. There are foes behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering, souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business of well-taught saints to bear their standards among the hindmost. My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day.
Hey Geck, I found another teams blog today and pasting a bit here. They are counting 44+ saved souls in Laramate. Laramate looks beautiful! The team mentions your CMT team and explains the bad guy is on the prowl. I'm obviously missing you - uh 3rd blog today. Just can't get you off my mind. I LOVE YOU, Angels on your pillie, kiss kiss: (I think you have 2 more villages to go and are enroute or there by now, I pray God shows ya'll the way and most of all has many fertile hearts awaiting - may you have a bumper crop!!0
http://peru08.blogspot.com/
Liz Said: The Syracuse team left yesterday and the Creative Ministry Team left the day before that. God certainly has been working powerfully. I believe over the probably past week or week and a half, we now have about 40+ people who have accepted Christ in Laramate, Ocaña, and Llauta, the majority of those people being in Laramate. Praise da LERD!
Trevor said: Yeah so two days ago when the Creative Ministry Team left, they were supposed to share and have a presentation in the schools in the morning but we went there that morning and they said that they had exams and teacher evaluations all day. So we left a little dissapointed and the CMT left later that day. So later that night we were talking with Alex from the restaurant family and he shared with us that they did not have exams or teacher evalutions today, but rather were telling the kids that in the news there were reports of missionaries who would come to villages and steal the organs of little kids and turn them into oil. No joke. They have a term for that that sounds like pistachio. So we are now pistachios. Fantastic. So later that night the teacher that we have been working with and teaching English with comes to our place and tells us that they have exams all this week and she is on vacation next week. Later we come to find out that that is also a bold faced lie. So we were facing a bit of persecution and now we can´t teach in the schools, but hey, I guess we are doing things right here. God is certainly moving.
Matt and I are going to cast a mountain into the sea. We just need the faith to do it.
i miss you
XO
Post a Comment