Update on Stacy Sevilla

I heard back from Edith Sevilla and her two year old daughter is doing better but is not out of the woods, yet.

Prayer Request for Peruvian Missionary Kid

Stacey Sevilla is the 2 year old girl pictured with her brother Daniel and sister Loida. They are the children of Missionary Pastor Tito Sevilla and Edith Sevilla. Stacey is very, very ill with a fever and breathing problems.

All of the Sevilla children have had asthma problems, including a brother who passed away as a baby. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Mexico, Teaching and Special Days

The Mission Trip to Mexico was a really unusual experience. Yes, I have been on short term trips as a team member. Yes, I have hosted dozens of teams in Peru and Ecuador. This was the first time, however, that I have been involved in the planning and logistics of a mission trip from the sending side. It tells me that there is a huge need for a ministry to help facilitate these activities. The weeks leading up to the trip were jammed packed with all that needed to be done. Once I was on the ground in Mexico, things actually got easier! The language came back, the pace was fine and of course, the interaction with the people was an amazing reward.

Mexico and Teaching

The entire time I was in Mexico, I was also working as an instructor at Grand Canyon University. How did that happen?

Well, for starters, Pastor Dennis Adams of the Church at Arrowhead was willing for me to do it. I really appreciated the freedom to do what I had to do. Without that, I would have had to say "no" to two months of work to go on the mission trip. Thanks be to God for a flexible pastor and a flexible job!

Most of the days, while the rest of the team took their much deserved siesta, I took a bus back to where we had the basketball clinics and worked on the internet, grading papers, answering student questions and taking part in online discussions. The family who opened their home for me to do this, were involved in the clinics, but did not profess to know Christ as their savior. So, while I answered questions about the Old Testament and Christian Doctrine on the computer in English, I was answering questions about the Christian life, in person and in Spanish! Even the bus trip was a blessing. I made sure I spoke to people on the bus rides and several of the bus drivers and people I met on the bus, showed up at the basketball tournament where the heard the gospel.

Back in the USA

Since returning to the US, on July 24th, I worked every day through August 2nd with Grand Canyon. I even preached at South Peoria Baptist Church on the two Sundays in between. The pastor was on a trip to Africa and invited me to preach on the two Sundays he was gone.

Special Days

Saturday the 1st of August was my birthday (45th for those keeping score). On Monday the 3rd of August, Julie and I celebrated our 24th Anniversary. We got to escape the heat of Phoenix and went to Sedona, Arizona. It was 15 or 16 degrees cooler during the day and Sedona is beautiful. It was a great couple of days.

Work Changes (or additions, really)

Last night, I had an email from Grand Canyon University, confirming that I have a contract for at least 4 classes through December. Since October of last year, our longest planning has been perhaps 8 weeks. To think that we have a plan for 19 weeks of full time work is really a blessing. We are very grateful to God for his faithfulness in this journey. I have taught several different courses at Grand Canyon. For the near future, I will be teach University 101. The class helps incoming freshmen to adjust to college and to the unique challenges of an online college environment. An important part of the class is helping the student deal with spiritual issues. Having two sons (and a brother) in college means that I have some experience with this, already!

Would I prefer to have a long term plan? You bet I would, but we will take the 19 weeks and be faithful in it.

Please continue to pray for us. We appreciate it more than we can say.