November 2, 2007

Dear friends,

What a blessed month October was for Anita and me here in Peru, because I did not have to travel anywhere during the month! Instead of traveling, I had the opportunity to do almost every day what I most love to do: preach and teach God’s Word. I preached for all of the services for Calvary Baptist Mission while Missionary Jayson Minix was in the States for the month. Besides the extra opportunities there, I was able to speak one Friday night for another new mission work here in another part of Huanuco.

One of our young preachers, Hugo Cotrina, is currently pastoring this new work. When I came to Huanuco ten years ago I could see the need for at least two more Baptist churches to be strategically located in this small city; I even had a general idea of where the new churches should be located. Today, both of these new works are in the areas I had planned for and prayed about ten years ago. God does all things in His own time!

Besides the extra preaching I was privileged to continue on with my Monday night Bible classes for the area pastors and then a general class for the folks of all our sister churches here in Huanuco. But the highlight of the month was having our second Baptist Bible Institute class this year. During the week of the 16th to the 20th of October, Anita and I hosted this Institute class. We were expecting about forty pastors and preachers from around the country but only had thirty-three attend. But it was a great week, with some of the best discussion and participation from the men that I can ever recall in one of these classes. For those of you not familiar with our Bible Institute, we try to have at least two (sometimes three) classes a year when our Baptist pastors and preachers from all over Peru travel to Huanuco for a week of intensive study. We begin at 9:00 a.m. and finish at about 6:00 p.m. every day with a three hour mid-day break. It is always exhausting but such a blessing. Anita, as is her custom, cooked all the meals all week long for this crowd of hungry Baptist preachers! The subject of the October class was “The Exchanged Life in Christ.”

When the class was over on Friday afternoon, one of the young pastors, Alberto Ramirez, came to talk with me. He has been suffering from ulcers and depression since he started pastoring about one year ago. The teaching during the week had such an effect on him that he knew his problem was really spiritual and not just physical. He learned what it means to Biblically crucify the flesh and take up your cross daily and follow Jesus. We prayed together and he asked the Lord to forgive him for his lack of faith. He called me today and told me he was still walking in victory and his ulcer has not bothered him since he left Huanuco. Pray for this young pastor that his faith will not falter. Thanks. There is so much more to write, but we'll save it for next month.

Serving Jesus in Peru,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton