January 1, 2007

Dear Friends,

Anita and I hope that everyone had a joyous holiday season blessed by God with the presence of family and loved ones. Every year during the month of December, Anita prepares meals and food baskets for the poorer families of our churches here in Huánuco and we always do something for the children. Christmas day was spent with Jayson and Andrea Minix. We had a great time of fellowship with them during the day. New years Eve I preached to the folks at Central Baptist Church here in Huánuco and many folks responded at the invitation to start the new year off surrendered to serve the Lord faithfully during 2007.

I have enclosed two pictures: One of the property we purchased for the Quesada Baptist Mission near Tingo Maria and the other is of missionary Hugo Cotrina with his new motorcycle. Missionary David Olortegui has not purchased his motorcycle yet because he is still shopping for the best deal. When he buys one I will send you the picture.

Missionary Hugo Cortina

We want to thank the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Titusville, Florida (pastor David Humphries), the Bryan Station Baptist Church of Lexington, Kentucky (pastor Al Gormley), and some friends from Lexington, Kentucky for their help towards the purchase of the mission property in Quesada. We also thank the Elliot Baptist Church of Elliot, Mississippi (Pastor Cecil Fayard), the South Side Baptist Church of Winter Haven, Florida (Pastor Jonathan Turner), and some friends from Tennessee for their help with the purchase of the two motorcycles. At present we are helping the Ebenezer Baptist Church in the town of Pucallpa with the purchase of some property for their church. The need to buy property, build buildings and support national workers is a never ending need. But this represents progress in the Lord's work here in Peru. Anita and i count it a privilege to be used by the Lord in HIS work here in this beautiful but poor and spiritually needy country of Peru. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Speaking of prayers, would you please pray for Maria Peña, the wife of one of our national missionaries, Carlos Gonzales. Maria has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and stomach. Carlos has been used of the Lord to start churches in several cities of Peru over the past twenty years. He had just moved all of his belongings to a new town called Oxapampa where he and Maria plan to start a new work. They got the news of her cancer one week after having shipped their things up to the site of the new mission work. Please remember this couple in your prayers and their five children. God is always in control and always knows what is best for HIS children.

Anita and i will be returning to the States the end of January to be with our daughter, Leah, who will be giving birth to her first child (our second grand-child). I will also be attending a counseling course the first week of March. We plan to be about seven weeks in all. We are looking forward to seeing our family. Until next month.

Serving Jesus in Peru,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Mission at Quezada Terreno