*most* of our team members from Harrison, OH and Byron Center, MI
It’s been a very long month around here. We are in the 2nd half of our construction project and just had a team of 6 people from Harrison, OH area and 3 from Grand Rapids area of MI leave after 7 days with us here in San Pedro. It was so blessed to have them all and they got a LOT done, but it definitely left ALL of us tired. A skeptic might even say it was a miracle having Buckeyes and Wolverines working together peacefully for a week, but they don’t know my God, haha! Seriously, this team worked and lived together so well and it was so blessed watching them all share their testimonies and preach in the streets, buses, and prison. Thank you, Church on Fire and Woodward Baptist Church, for lending us your loved ones for a week! As tired as we were after a whirlwind week together, we came away refreshed from fellowship with believers from home. We have now been working on this living space for 3 months and have at least 2 to go, but it finally feels like we are making progress with the walls going up. Please pray for energy, wisdom, good weather, and the right people for the right job!
The team at the prison, at a church in Loja, and laying brick at our project
As we press forward evangelizing the surrounding areas it is sometimes difficult to see the fruit, but it’s clear God is always up to something. We have seen the people letting down their defenses little by little and have been able to minister to the locals as different opportunities have arisen. Yesterday a neighbor, we will call him Juan, came by our house and said he needed counseling because he cheated on his wife (he’s around 60) and the priest he went to confess his sins to yelled at him, told him he was a drunk and then told him to get out. He then said he went to another priest a few weeks later and was told it wasn’t a big deal and that he only needed to say a few “Hail Mary’s” and “Our Fathers’” and it would be fine. He then told me he still doesn’t feel like things are ok but didn’t know what else to do. What a blessing this man realizes he needs God to forgive him rather than man!!! He said he wants to come back for more counseling, so please pray for Juan* and our continued efforts to reach the locals with the love and hope that is ONLY in Jesus!
The prison ministry is also going well. We had some difficult times with the internal leadership, but everything seems to be much better. Some of the men have shown more hunger than in times past and have had a lot of questions lately. One man in particular (Freddy) has been asking me to give him scriptures to read so we can discuss them on my weekly visits. He has obviously been reading everything I give him to read and has clearly meditated on the verses as well. He is growing tremendously and I have noticed a huge change in his attitude over the last several months. Another young man (Ivan) has also been growing and is scheduled to be released in a few weeks and is telling me he wants to come see me when he gets out. Please continue to pray for the men in the Loja prison and my role in leading them to the feet of Jesus!
The building project, taken last week
We covet your prayers for us as we press onward in the ministry and trying to build a home for our family. Please pray for our relationships here, that we would form deep friendships with the locals in our town, and that they would continue to see the light of Jesus in us. Pray that people would continue to come to us seeking the truth that they know they cannot find in a dead religion, but that is only found in Jesus Christ. Thank you for sticking with us through everything, and continuing to pray for us! We could not do this without our family in the Lord supporting us through all the trials of living in a land far from so many friends, family, and the old familiar things we grew up with. We are so grateful for you all!!
May the God of all peace bless you and keep you.
In Christ,
Andy, Priscilla, and kids
Note this is a NEW ADDRESS!!!
Please send all monetary contributions to: Acts 1:8 Mission Society PO Box 212. Harrison, OH 45030. You can continue to make all checks payable to: “Acts 1:8 Mission Society” with“DVarga” in the memo section (All funds donated in this way will continue to go entirely to the DVarga family AND our mission work in Ecuador and are tax-deductible). You can also write checks to Priscilla or Andy DVarga with "gift" in the memo section, but you will NOT receive a tax-deductible receipt at the end of the year for funds given this way. If you need a quarterly tax statement or just want to contact us, please just write to the address above or call. Our phone #:(513) 334-8281
To donate through PayPal electronically please scroll to the top of the page and click the "Donate" tab. Phone: Magicjack#: 513-334-8281 Our local Cincinnati phone number that we are able to receive in Ecuador. It works through the Internet and is just like calling any Cincinnati phone number.