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I'd like to share an excerpt from Experiencing God day by day from Dr. Henry Blackaby's devotions.

Blessed in Believing

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45

In the kingdom of God, believing is a prerequisite to receiving. God spoke to Mary and gave the assurances He always gives when He assigns the impossible to His people. Everything was in place for God to act. Everything waited on Mary to believe Him. Once she believed, it was done! It takes an undivided heart to believe under such circumstances and a pure heart to see God (Mt 5:8; Heb 12:14).

This has always been God’s way with His people. Mary could not see all that had been arranged and assembled in the courts of heaven. She could not see the legions of angels prepared to protect her and her baby. She was unaware of the future and all that she and her child would face. All she knew was that God had spoken to her, and that was enough. So she responded: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Lu 1:38).

When God speaks about His plans, He does so with everything already in place to fulfill His word. God never speaks hypothetically. He knows exactly what will come to pass. He simply asks you to believe Him. You will experience great blessing when you place your absolute trust in Him. Mary could not have dreamed all that would result from her faithful obedience. Likewise, you cannot possibly imagine all that God has in store for you when you trust Him. He knows exactly what He will do to bring salvation to someone you have prayed for or to heal your friend or to provide for your needs. God has everything in place. Will you believe Him?

Prayer requests and praises:
1. Praise Him for caring us through the difficult storms.
2. Continued prayer for Al's sister Margie as she continues to trust the Lord through fight with lung cancer.
3. Linda's mom's health and Linda as she trusts in the Lord for decisions to be made.
4. Prayer for the lay counseling training that those receiving the training will be committed to let the Lord use them in the counseling ministry leading people to Christ for their healing of their brokeness.
5. Pray for wisdom, strength and courage to continue by faith trusting in Him to guide and direct us through the busy schedule of the coming year.

Again thank you for all of your prayers and support for being part of the King's team.

Thank you fr all your prayers and support. 2008 has a grate and wonderful year with lots of work and many blessings through the difficult storms. What a blessing it is to see God answer prayers and see his children maturing in their walk and relationship with Him. Local house churches from Cuenca gathered together to worship and praise our King, Lord, and Redeemer in celebration of His leaving His throne and coming in the form of baby born in that manger over two thousand years ago to bring us the Good News and salvation into eternal life for all who believe and surrender to His Lordship. Worship was presented through sharing the Good News dramas, pantomimes,

We praise God for the blessing of having Eastmont Baptist Church from east Wenatchee, WA send a volunteer team of prayer warriors join us in encouraging the house churches and leaders of the provinces of Azuay, Cañar and Chimborazo. Oh, how we praise His Holy Name for also blessing us with having our daughter and daughter-in-law join them. Answered prayer as they continue to yield to His Lordship and their lives continue to be transformed. Thank you EBC and brother Don and Pam for leading the team.

After a long summer and hard working fall, we needed a little time of R & R. We went to the beach Anna's favorite place with Linda, Ligia and Ludagarda and took an oportunity if some whale watching. Pequeña also tagged along with us.

Loja family of 17 visit Al & Anna for a time of fellowship and seeking family counseling.

Thank God for the committed and dedicated young leaders learning how to be lay counselors as they recognize the need to reach out in helping the broken-hearted and hurting.

Pray for missionary Manuel Culala and his wife as they work on strengthening local hose churches and reach out to communities in the province of Cañar with no evangelical work. They have no vehicle so they rely a lot on public transportation and usually walk for hours to get to the communities. Purovin is a community where God has opened the doors to share the gospel and 5 families have committed to have God{s Word brught to their homes to start Bible studies.

"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 9:1-2

August and September have been two wonderful months in seeing God at work even through the struggles and attacks by the enemy as we continue in this spiritual warfare. Thank you so much for being our awesome prayer support.
Prayer for Oct 2008
1. Continued prayer for Al’s sister (Margie) as she continues with her cancer treatments. Seems like she s getting weaker every time we talk with her. Strength for her, family and God’s glory be reflected though this difficult time.
2. Linda’s Mom’s health.
3. Church in Azoguez as they are beginning to see and recognize the seriousness of the sin of immorality and the affect it has. Pray as they go through a healing process.
4. Juan Diego and his wife as they go through a process of counseling and restoration.
5. Repentance of church leaders and pastors of their continued covering sin in the church.
6. Pray that the new believers will be discipled properly and learn to walk in righteousness.
7. Pray for the believers and leaders who committed to go through a nine month course of learning how to be lay counselors and caring for the hurting God’s way. Pray for Linda, Ligia and Al as they teach and lead in this study.
8. As God leads us in new communities and opens doors with people of peace, new church starts will develop.
9. Pray for a prayer team of 7 from EBC in Wenatchee, WA who will be coming inn November to do prayer walking in communities where evangelical work is weak and communities where there is no gospel work.
10. Continued prayer for radio ministry led by Ligia and Linda as God continues to bring people to hear the gospel. God is blessing with families surrendering to Christ.

** Our house church network in Cuenca is studying the holiness of God this month. Why? Because we realized that the evangelical community in our area is plagued with sexual immorality. In one traditional church, fifteen individuals are receiving counseling as a result of years of sexual abuse or sexual addiction, and we know of others in that congregation who need counseling but haven't come forth, yet. God said, "Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Pray that people will be set free from these bonds in order to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

** The International Mission Board is undergoing some tremendous organizational and structural changes. Those of us on the frontlines won't know how these changes will affect us until perhaps the middle of November. Please be in prayer for our missionaries.

Please be in prayer for this small mission house church in Puroven a community near Cañar.

Thank everyone of you for all your fervent prayers specially on my birthday. It is through your prayers we continue to be strengthened to continue the race i sharing the gospel and caring for the hurting people God´s way. We had a small celebration with some close friends and we enjoyed listening to Leonardo in his excitement in how God continues to work in his life.

Thought I´d help cook some of the meal and had help form Vinicio cooking some cuy (Guinnie pig).

Iglesia Jesus Llega AL hombre from Santa Barbara and its mission from Ruishio joined in celebrations of baptisms, time of prayer, fellowship and witnessing in Sept. Pastor Benigno led with the Word of God. Six baptisms for the glory of God. Thank you for your prayers for Leonardo as he was one of the six who got baptized and he took the opportunity to be a witness to his mom whom we are praying for that she too can come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Al reaffirms him of God´s promises for him and his responsibility to God. It was great to see some of the church ladies witnessing and praying for visitors. After the praising, teaching of the Word of God and baptisms, everyone enjoyed the food shared by everyone at a Quichua style picnic (where sheets were placed on the ground and the food was displayed on them and everyone helped themselves). Please pray for Anita and her baby Vanessa whom for the first time heard the gospel message and witnessed baptisms that through the testimony she may open her heart to the truth of the Word of God.

Please pray for the couples from church in Guavo that they may apply and share the Biblical teachings of Love and Respect in Ephesions 5:33. 12 couples attended the marriage conference in August. Even some local chickens were enjoying.

Pastor Freddy taught the pastors from Cañar Association about the Lord´s Supper in Jewish tradition.

About 30 young people with the leaders from Iglesia Israel had a 63 kilometer run for Jesus from Chunchi to Tambo and prayed for the communities along the way asking God for open doors in to reach out to the lost communities where there is no evangelical work. The older members supported by their presence and encouragement. They started by walking and praying through the town of Chunchi led by paramedics before starting on their Run for Jesus. Praise God for their commitment as they prayed for people and homes along the way. A lady was led to Christ in Zhud and are praying for their property to be used for a church start. Much rejoicing was done as they crossed the border of the province of Chimborrazo into Cañar. We know the efforts of their prayers and sweat will be rewarded the witness and the gospel seed planted with many souls turning to Christ. Pastor-missionary Lucas led in a devotional and praising God for providing strength and courage while asking to continue in their commitments as God leads them to do follow ups where hearts were open.