To all the saints in Christ Jesus, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you. I always pray for joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident that he who began a good work in you (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:1-6

Anna and I want to share briefly with you our joy as together with you we have received of God's grace, love, mercies, provisions and protection that has been showered in abundance this past year 2007.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Phil 4:4-7

We are thankful for drawing us unto himself in a deeper way through teaching and revealing our security in Him. Security in Him was revealed yesterday, is revealed today and tomorrow.

1. Praise Him for new opportunities and open doors given to witness to Catholic priests and nuns. One nun saved and baptized being a soul winner.
2. New communities opened to share the gospel.
3. Countless of new believers and baptisms.
4. God working and maturing the life's of pastors and leaders in Cañar.
5. New church starts and Bible studies.
6. God's continuous work in Paute.
7. Blessings from radio ministry and countless families changed through counseling ministry led by Hna Ligia.
8. Spread of the gospel through the volunteer groups (medical teams, medical health fairs, drama, musical and puppets, counseling training, preaching and prayer).
9. Linda's visit to her mother in the states.
10. Joint efforts and harmony work with Mark, Sherry, Ligia and others who form part of the Azuay Team.
11. Blessings and opportunities of spreading of the gospel and spiritual growth of Al and Anna during Al's imprisonment.
12. God's care for Anna's mom.
13. Our new grandson Tyronne Rey Shaw.
14. God's care and provisions of our three unforseen trips to the states.
15. God continually using His Faithful Army of prayer warriors (all of you) and strengthening you.
16. We have been blessed through the generosity giving of his people through the LMCP. Thank you God for being the all Provider.
17. Praise Him for tears of joy, hurts and pains and the sounds of laughter.

As you can see the blessings are countless. So lets just take this time to praise Him as we transition into the new year 2008 expecting his wonderful and heavenly promises.

Anna and I along with Linda thank all of you and love you very much.
Lord, may your will be done in our lives that you may be glorified and your name be known to all nations and peoples. "Be glorified in 2008"

Celebrations in Cuenca during Cuenca days and "dia de los muertos" "Day of the Dead" gave us and opportunity to learn more of their culture and pray more effectively. We were blessed with having Gary and Julie, our administrators visit us from Quito along with Jamie and Amanda, 2 college students on summer missions to Rio Bamba. Wow! We also had the experience to have a live concert right outside our apartment on the street corner with over 3,000 people attending. Boy, it was loud but we were praying for all those lost souls right outside our doorstep.

Ps 8:1-2a O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise...Ps 9:1-2 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Ps 9:10 Those who know your name will trust I you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers. See what God is doing through your faithfulness. The following are the prayer praises and needs for Nov.

1. Praise for our 9th grandchild Tyrone Rey Shaw born Nov 4th 7 lbs, 8 oz. and 20 inches long. Both mom and son are healthy. Above shown are Tyrone and brother Terrell. Thank you.
2. Linda's return from states visiting her mom. Continue to lift her mom in prayer.
3. Pray for radio ministry as we focus on family.
4. Pray for women's retreat in Quito sponsored by Pure Joy International. Thank you God for them.
5. Pray for Ligia's quick and healthy recovery after her surgery Nov 7th.
6. Continued prayer for Anna's mom's (Maria) health as there is no changes and Al's sister (Margie) as she continues to battle lung cancer.
7. For new doors to open in communities where there is no gospel.
8. Praise God for reconciliation and the association of pastors beginning to work together in Cañar.
9. Praise and pray for the church in Paute as the pastor and church have opened their hearts to allow Mark and Al go through the Baptist Faith and Message due to struggles of doctrinal teachings.
10. Pray for established churches to have vision to reach out of their comfort zone.

October ended with a marriage conference and message on family by preached by Al in Pasaje. Twenty couples were anxious in hearing how to restore and heal broken relationships. As Anna and Al shared the 30 life's principles and knowing and praying for your spouse, they all responded to Pastor David's invitation of renewing their personal relationship with Christ in order to rebuild and restore their family relationships.

Thank you so much for all your prayers when things seemed bleak in the plans of having three professional counselors come to give lay counseling training. But God is always faithful and His plans are always best. We were blessed with the presence of Dr Tommy Smith a family counselor and director of Pathways Professional Counseling in Brewton, Alabama. Al and Linda translated for Dr Tommy Smith as he shared his rich experiences teaching local pastors and lay people basics in counseling. After a long extensive week, each participant received a certificate in lay counseling. Pray that each pastor and lay person that received this blessing will continue to seek the direction of the Holy Spirit as they yield to him in helping the broken hearted find the hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wow! It keeps getting better. Praising with songs, Testimonies, God's Word preached, decisions for Christ, baptisms, spectators and now the feast. People brought potatoes, vegetables, rice, chicken, pork and yes, cuy (Guinna pig) and dumped it all on 2 long tables. After blessing all the provisions, as it is accustomed everyone went for the table to get their food with out plates or utensils. It was all hands and what a site. The Lord is good. You had to be there to enjoy. What a feast.

After the praising the Lord with hymns and songs, testimonies of the 18 baptismal candidates, preaching of the gospel message, we observed the baptisms. A father baptizes his two sons after eight months of them observing the change in his life, they too wanted what their parents had, "Jesus". We also rejoiced with one of the local leaders, Manuel as he baptized his wife (Luisa) after three years of working and teaching her what it means to walk with Jesus. And, Wow! The excitement of fellow believers encouraging them. This was great as we also had many observers from across the river curious of what was taken place. What a witness and testimony. Praise His Glorious Name.

It was a wonderful day and over 300 people attended the services and heard the gospel message preached by Pastor Lucas from Tambo. Pastor Honorato from Cashygalvay prays for three young ladies asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Good to see the different pastors work together.

Thank you for your prayers and here you see fruit of your faithfulness. It was encouraging for everyone as a former nun (Loli) shared her testimony of how after serving as a nun for 14 years, God touched her heart and she surrendered to the Truth and gospel of Jesus Christ. (Fabien) a young man as he shared his testimony coming for baptism, brought tears as he surrendered his life to the ministry as well. God must have been smiling from heaven and the heavenly hosts rejoicing.

Pastor Lucas, Ligia and Eusevio lead in a mixture of Spanish and Queshua worship songs as four congregations and visitors gathered at the river to praise our Holy and Heavenly Father.

Quechua children and youth choirs at church in Incapirca enjoy praising the Lord.

God provided perfect weather as 4 churches gathered to worship, preaching, testimonies, baptizms and fellowship at the river in Gualaceo.

Psalm 291-2 Ascribe to the Lord, O Mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Thank you for your faithfulness in your prayers and support specially during these difficult times of being away from our loved ones while they find themselves with difficult health issues. Your prayers mean so much to us and is where we gain the strength to continue the race straining toward what is ahead.

September was a month of celebration in many ways, therefore, He is to be worshiped. Blessings came through finding time to spend with friends in celebration of several birthdays, celebration of new believer's beginnings (Loli an ex-nun), growing churches, and committed servants to teach and prepare the called out ones the doctrine of His Kingdom. So let us rejoice in the lord always.

Prayer request for October:
1. Continued prayer for Anna's mom's health, family members caring for her 24/7 and for the strayed and lost to come to the feet of the cross surrendering their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Continued prayer for Al's sister as she confronts cancer for the fourth time. (Lung cancer now) that through this my dad (Ildefonso) and brother (Efrain) may receive salvation.
3. Continued prayer for Linda Freeman's mom's health and as Linda spends time with her mom.
4. A volunteer group of professional Christian counselors coming to give training and prepare pastors and lay counselors to help us in our ministry. Oct 15th - 20th.
5. Gathering of several churches on Oct 14th for joint worship and celebration of baptisms.
6. Strength and courage to continue preaching and ministering the Word of God.
7. Praise His Holy name for his marvelous works and the growth of a small home Bible study in Cahuashun that is now growing after about 3 years and developing into a church.
8. Praise His glorious name for the hunger and thirst of local leaders to learn and and prepare through Theological Training.

Prof. Joselito from the Ecuador Baptist Seminary in Quito finds time to go to the Indigenonous community to teach the students in their environment away from the city. The students normally sacrifice to travel great distances every two months for a week to get doctrinal teachings and prepared for the work of the Lord. It is a big sacrifice economically leaving their families and their work losing a weeks income which is very minimal. Prof. Joselito decided to bring the teachings to their community to help with the costs. Every day they gathered from 8-5 for theological teachings and worshiping in the evening with preaching from 7-10 p.m. "As we go" we must disciple and train for soon He is coming.

Anna and Sherry enjoying a little coffee in the celebrations. I think even Pequeña wants little coffee and always wants to be a part of the action.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and remembering us specially on my birthday. Patricio one of the faithful men whom is of great encouragement to me as I have seen him grow and mature in the Lord over the past year. Thank you Patricio for remembering and calling me wishing me a happy b'day a day early. "Que Dios te bendiga."

Happy B'day to our dear mama Peggy. We enjoy celebrating with her as she and her husband Bob are always seeking for ways to be blessing not only where they serve in ball over Ecuador to the deaf and in many cases to others in SA as well as to the missionaries. They are great hosts to all of us when we travel through Quito. Pray for their ministry to the deaf and new grandchildren. You are loved by so many Peggy.

Happy Birthday celebrations! September a joyful month as we gathered with friends and praise God for the blessings of another year of life. Elizabeth a young lady raised by a single mother and committed in serving the Lord. She is an inspiration with her testimony and witness to many young people. Pray for her as she continues her university studies and seeks where in ministry God would use her.

Thank you Father, thank you Jesus and thank you family of God for your faithfulness and prayers.
Phil 1:1-6 To all the saints in Christ Jesus ...Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Praises:
1. God's grace and love to all decisions made for Christ.
2. A nun giving her life to Christ after recognizing the Truth, the Light, and the Way.
3. God's miraculous work and bringing reconciliation to a struggling church in Paute.
4. How God continues to care, love and provide for us as we continue in life's struggles.
Prayer needs:
1. Anna's mom's health as she suffers from recent strokes and seizures. She is not responding as half of her body is paralyzed. Pray for strength,peace and comfort for the family as we continue to rely and trust in God.
2. Al's sister who has been diagnosed with lung cancer after going through 3 other cancer treatments. Salvation for my brother Efrain and dad (Ildefonso) through this.
3. Anna's sister Mary has been diagnosed with an enlarged liver.
4. The nun A. as she has a hunger for Christ and wanting to follow in obedience through baptism and be used by God through her testimony.
5. Linda's mom's health.
6. Coming of volunteer team of counselors in Oct to give training in counseling to pastors and lay leaders.
7. Follow up of the decisions made during our last volunteer team visit.
8. Wisdom for decisions needed to be made by us (Al & Anna)

T.I.M.E. Ministries from Huntsville, AL were a tremendous blessing to all the communities, schools, parks and churches as they allow God to use them. They travel to different countries every six weeks taking the gospel message through creative arts. It helps the people better understand as they visualize the impact sin has in our lives and how the only way is through Jesus. John 14:6 ..."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..." Their visit was well rewarded by the many decisions made and lives changed as they surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Pastor Dick had Al very busy translating the Good News.

Three schools in Azoguez were visited where many children were not only entertained, but the gospel message was presented to them through the puppets, music, and drama. Teachers were very moved in the way the gospel was presented through the drama and asked for an opportunity to be visited by the local pastor. Pastor Juan Diego teaches music in all three schools and will be staying busy sharing with both students and teachers one on one.

The morning was spent in teaching how to work with puppets, drama and music at Ministerios C.A.S.A. in Cuenca. In the afternoon the puppets, drama and music were taken to the street where passerbyes and the community were invited to come enjoy some fun while the gospel message was presented. Larry also did relationship building one-on-one with a little girl to prepare her to hear the Good News of Jesus and how much He loves her.

Children gather around near the market place in Tambo as they hear the gospel message through puppets and drama. A great way to attract attention, as people walked by they were curious and would stop and ask questions. The good news of Jesus was shared as the seed of God was planted while others were harvested. Praise the Lord for a nun who saw the truth and the light and surrendered her life to Jesus. Please pray for her.