30 JULY 2005
We are now right in
the middle of the summer flurry of teams coming to Venezuela. This time of year
is always more busy due to teams being able to travel more easily during the
summer. We are thankful both that there is lots of work to do and also, by the
grace of God, thankful that we are able to do the strenuous travel that has
been required to support the activity this month. We are so grateful to the
prayer support of all of you and feel that it is a result of that prayer
support that Gary’s health has improved enough for him to be on the road as
much as we have. Our last year in Venezuela is going by really fast. Before we
know it our job here will be over. I am
convinced that this, the last year, will be the best of all.
Annual Meeting- July started off with us up in Mérida for our annual
meeting. All the missionaries from Venezuela and Columbia were there. It was a
great time for gathering to see how the ministry of all the other missionaries
was going. It is also a time of renewal, with devotionals and corporate worship
with others in English. We really enjoy our church here in Caracas, where we
gather and worship in Spanish, but it is just good to get together with other
missionaries and worship in English once a year. To get to Mérida, we have to
drive through the highest pass in Venezuela, around 13,000 feet. The road to
Mérida has always been one our favorite roads to drive. It takes about 12-14
hours to drive there from Caracas. We usually spend the night on the road,
rather than try to make it in one day. The photo below shows the road leading
to Pico Aguilar, the highest paved road in Venezuela. As you can see, it
usually is a drive through the clouds and this time was no exception. This
photo doesn’t really do it justice. .
Evangelism Campaign- Less than two weeks after the
annual meeting in Mérida found us back in the Andes at a town called Valera.
This is a photo taken of Valera from an overlook near one of the churches.
An evangelism team
of 34 arrived in Venezuela on 15 July and went to a welcoming service in
Valera, before being dispersed to 12 different locations, ranging from sea
level to above 12,000 feet. While some teams were in sweltering heat, others
were dressed in jackets and had fires burning for heat at night. This is just
one example of the diversity found throughout Venezuela. This time as we drove
through Pico Aguilar, the highest pass in Venezuela, we drove through a slurry
of rain and snow. Not very far above (200-300 feet) the road going through the
pass was the snow line that shows up in the picture below.
Most of the teams
lived in the homes of the pastors of the churches and did street evangelism in
the area around the churches. Each team had a translator to assist them, with
the exception of one team, which was a couple from Albertville, who were
originally from Pt. Rico. We had the opportunity to visit almost all the teams
during the course of the week. We took Reggie Quimby and a video photographer
from the state board of missions to see the work being done in each area. At
the end of the week, the teams had almost 1100 contacts, with over 600
conversions. Discipleship was initiated with 127 of these. Nine individuals
expressed an interest in learning more about how to be a missionary. This was a
glorious gathering of souls and we are especially encouraged to see Venezuelans
continuing to be called out to missions. There are already several couples of
Venezuelans who have been called to mission, with some being already on the
field and others undergoing training.
Below is a
photograph of one of the translators with Donna. We have known her for at least
two years and she has visited in our home in Caracas. Her husband is a
classical guitar player who studied in New York and has played in Carnegie Hall.
If they can get their visas, they will be in Huntsville, where he has been
invited to play at the state convention in November. If for no other reason,
this would be enough to plan to attend. He is truly awesome and a very humble,
devoted Christian man. We have one of his CDs.
Looking Ahead- In looking ahead to the rest of
2005, it appears that we are going to be as busy as we have been in the last
couple of months. There are currently eight teams scheduled to come in before
we leave to go to the state convention in Huntsville. If you plan to be at the
convention, please look us up. We will probably have a table set up in the
display area and would love to see you.
Prayer Requests
-We especially
appreciate prayer partners who are praying specifically for us, rather than
generically as the figure at left shows. We also know that the burden is upon
us to provide you information in order that you can do this.
-Pray for a medical
team due in Venezuela next Friday. There are many logistical hurdles yet to be
passed before this team can bring medicines into the country and practice here.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will intercede and pave the road for a smooth entry
through customs and provide traveling safety as they go to the eastern side of
the country to minister to the people there.
-Pray for a
construction/evangelism team coming the latter part of August to minister in
the coastal area near Caracas. This area was devastated by floods in 1999, and
then again earlier this year.
-Praise God with us
that my medical condition has improved and pray that it will continue to
improve in order that we will be able to serve God well in these last few
months of the last year of the partnership.
-Pray for our
guidance as we seek to find where God would have us serve following the
completion of the partnership with Venezuela. Thinking of leaving the many dear
friends we have made here is not pleasant, but being realistic, our job here
will be over and it will be time to move on.
-Pray for
our MKs who are stateside in college.
-Continue to pray
for our traveling safety as we are out and about. God has truly been faithful
to us in this area, as you also have been. Through your generous contributions
to the cooperative program and to the Lottie Moon offering, we are provided
with a vehicle, which allows us to do our job around the country.
Philippians
1:4,5 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Know that we love you and pray for you often,
Gary and Donna Clayton
E-mail:
Snail
Mail:
CCS 3014
PO 02-5323
Miami, FL 33102-5323
This address is good for envelope-sized mail only. Packages sent through here are very costly on the receiving end here in Venezuela.