April 30, 2007

Dear Friends,

Yesterday marked the twenty-fourth anniversary of our arrival in Peru in 1983! Over the years we have seen our loving God save hundreds of souls, start many, many new churches and strengthen and protect HIS children. To put it poetically, "The time has flown, our children are grown, and now grand-kids have come into our lives!" God's grace has always been sufficient to overcome the hardships, death threats, temptations and sometimes loneliness during our time of service here in this beautiful country. HE has allowed us to keep our focus on the fact that the work is His and not ours. It has always been our privilege to serve our Lord. We have seen Him work in many great and powerful ways through our lives and the ministry He has given us to do. Anita and I praise His name!

After returning in March from visiting our family and seeing our grandkids, we were privileged to have two families come and visit for two weeks from the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Bellbrook, Ohio, where our dear friend, Brother Darrell Messer is pastor. The Brook and Walker families were such a blessing to us and the saints of God here in Peru. We hope they will come back again sometime.

Anita and I also began working at the Calvary Baptist mission here in Huanuco. Brother Jayson Minix started this work about the time we arrived back in Huanuco. I preach on Sunday nights and the work is averaging about fifteen adults and twenty children. During the month of April, the Lord was pleased to save three through my preaching of the Gospel message and three others have come to move their membership to the mission from one of our churches higher up in the mountains. I always enjoy having a part in the beginning of a work. It gives me the opportunity to see it grow from infancy and mature into a sound and solid New Testament Baptist Church. Yes, life on the mission field is a blessing!

Anita is preparing to begin a new ministry in adult literacy education. So many of the adults (mainly the ladies) here in the Andes Mountains of Peru never learned to read and write. They so much want to be able to read their Bibles. So please pray for Anita as she will be a few months in preparation for this new ministry.

My Monday night Bible class for the dozen pastors in the Huanuco area is going very well. We will be finishing Bible doctrine in a few weeks and then start a class on Church Administration. I have also reopened my General Bible Class on Monday nights for all the saints of our Baptist churches here in Huanuco. The class is being very well attended. We would appreciate your keeping these ministries in your prayers. Thanks!

Besides the normal aches and pains that come with growing older, Anita and I are healthy. We continue to be encouraged in the Lord's work here in Peru. Your expressions of love and encouragement sent to us through e-mails and cards and phone calls are always a blessing to us. It helps to know that so many friends, churches pray for us daily. We love you and thank God for you! May HE continue to bless each of you as you remain faithful to HIM.

I would like to ask each of you to remember my father, Ralph Stanton, in your prayers. He recently had prostate surgery and they discovered he had cancer of the prostate. He will turn eighty years old this July and the doctors have said that the cancer is a very slow growing type and at his age they do not recommend doing anything at this time except keep a close watch on him. One doctor told him, "at your age something else will get you before this cancer will." Dad is in good spirits, knows the Lord and is ready. Please remember him in your prayers. Thanks.

Until next month.

Serving Jesus in Peru,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton