Coming out of church, Mrs. Smith asked her husband, "Do you think that Johnson girl is tinting her hair?"

"I didn't even see her," admitted Mr. Smith.

"And that dress Mrs. Davis was wearing," continued Mrs. Smith, "Really, don't tell me you think that's the proper outfit for a mother of two."

"I'm afraid I didn't notice that either," said Mr. Smith.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," snapped Mrs. Smith. "A lot of good it does you to go to church."

 

Christmas presents at last! Sarah and Kristin enjoying their presents.

Our Best Christmas Present: having all our girls together again! It will be hard to let Bethany and Rachel go back to college in January! 

Waiting for Christmas. The calm before the storm! 

What a Whirlwind of activity! After Rosendo and Sugelys' wedding, we jumped right into Christmas shopping. All the girls had a great time and even I enjoyed myself a bit.

The activity level is really picking up around here. Our sound system had a failure of two microphones. Luis, my deacon, and I are trying to figure out how to get it working again. A girl cancelled out of our Christmas play at the last minute and Bethany jumped in to take her place. Rachel is going over lines and may take a part if any more bail out. The play is about toys in a toy store who learn the true meaning of Christmas. We have costumes that Tina made: a clown, a toy soldier and even a black panther (the bad guy in the play) complete with tail. Tomorrow is the first performance, which we will give at a church up higher in the mountains, about 40 min from our town. Next week we will put it on again in our town.

We plan on sleeping in Monday and enjoying time with each other and maybe playing a little with our new presents! Merry Christmas!

Assistant Pastor marries. Our daughters come home!

We picked up Bethany and Rachel at the airport and rushed to a wedding reception about an hours drive away. We stopped at a gas station on the way and the girls changed out of their travel clothes and into their wedding garments. Rosendo and Sugelys' wedding had a Mexican flavor, as Rosendo is from Mexico. In Mexico, the groom marches down the aisle first and stands with his back to the congregation and does not look at the bride until she stands by his side at the altar. The reception was great. They even had a Mariachi group with big sombreros sing love songs!

The 2 hour drive home afterwards was filled with stories from our daughters' six months in Pensacola Christian College in the state of Florida. It was great to see our assistant pastor happily married, and wonderful to have our daughters home for Christmas. Tomorrow we hope to sleep in, bake Christmas cookies and enjoy their company !

Good News and Sad News

The sad news is that the little old lady (80 yrs) in this picture had a heart attack Sunday morning. Her name is Bienvenida, which means "Welcome!" in Spanish. She is scheduled for an operation today to unblock a 90% clogged artery. She is about the sweetest woman I have ever met. After church Sundays, we have refreshments and Bienvenida is always saying, "Make sure the Pastor gets some! Leave some for the Pastor!" The love she has for the church and her positive spirit are a real treasure. Please pray for her recovery.

The good news is that the older man in the photo (behind Tina) made a decision this Sunday to be baptized. His name is Felipe Soto. Some of our college students met his brother during visitation about three months ago. He heard about us and came to check us out and has been attending regularly since then. This last Sunday he said, "So, when am I going to get baptized?" Now that's the kind of question I like to hear! We hope to schedule his baptism within the next few weeks.

'Twas The Night Jesus Came
'Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house,
not a person was praying, not one in the house...
The Bible was left on the shelf without care,
for no one thought Jesus would come there...
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing their head...
And Mom in the rocking chair with babe on her lap,
was watching the Late Show as I took a nap...
When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter...
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutters and lifted the sash...
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here...
The light of His face made me cover my head,
it was Jesus returning just like He'd said...
And though I possess worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself...
In the Book of Life which he held in his hand,
was written the name of every saved man...
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name,
when He said "it's not here," my head hung in shame...
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to his Father above...
With those who were ready He rose without sound,
while all of the others were left standing around...
I fell to my knees but it was too late,
I'd waited too long and thus sealed my fate...
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,
Oh, if only I'd known that this was the night...
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear
the coming of Jesus is now drawing near...
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find out that the Bible was true after all..

B Basic
I Instruction
B Before
L Leaving
E Earth

 

I couldn't email my photo directly to our Bible college to be used in the student yearbook, so I am posting it here. You are welcome to print it out for prayer or for your dart board, as you wish! 

Puerto Rican Christmas

Christmas is very different here: Here is a web page the sums it up pretty well and has some pictures:

http://www.elboricua.com/pr_christmas.html

Christmas is so loooong here! From the week-end after Thanksgiving till the Sunday following Jan 6 is Christmas! The kids keep shoe boxes under their beds filled with grass for the horses of the wise men. Then their parents sneak in at night and take the grass out and put the presents in the shoe boxes. In the morning the kids find the grass gone, proof that the wise men came and fed their horses the grass. The presents left behind are in gratitude for the kindness of the children for feeding their horses. I like this because at least it is more from the bible than Santa Clause. But because of the Untited States owning Puerto Rico, they are now celebrating Dec 25th and Santa Clause too. Of course all the kids want presents on BOTH days!

We have an unusual custom called Matutinos (Ma too TEEN ohs). It invloves sneaking up on houses in the middle of the night and singing until they invite you in for a snack. Our church people do it every year and it is a lot of fun. We used to do it till 4 AM some weekends, but I guess I am getting older, because I am ready to head for home after midnight! Of course, if you stay at home, they may sneak up on you! Nothing like having 25 or so surprise guests drop by in the middle of the night for coffee and snacks! Of course we read the bible story of Christmas and sing Christmas hymns. It is a lot of fun, but it does take a little getting used too!

My former assistant pastor, Rosendo, is getting married to Sugely Dec 18, 30 Minutes after Bethany and Rachel come home for Christmas vacation! We are going to get them at the airport and drive staight to Rosendos' reception. I guess they will have to fly dressed for the wedding or change in the bathroom at the airport. We are busy this Christmas season, but most of all happy with the anticipation of seeing our daughters return and seeing Rosendo, who is like a son to us, getting married. Rosendo is from Mexico and Sugely is a Puerto Rican girl that was one of my students.  

My Surprise Party!

I turned 50 yesterday. Tina invited a new missionary family to our home and we had dinner and played some board games. Our guests, Mark and Stephanie Sage, asked to see our church, so we all drove down to give them the tour. When I got in, the lights went on and everyone shouted, " Surprise!" Two other missionary families and my church members decorated the church and brought food and games. We played "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," Musical Chairs and had a Pinata filled with candy. The kids whacked it with a stick until it broke and spilled out its contents for all of them to scramble after.

Tina made a "Mud and Dirt Cake" (Chocolate with chocolate pudding) topped with candy worms. It was to go with a "Little Boy of 5" birthday theme (50 minus the zero) in order for me to feel young again. I said she made me a graveyard cake, but she insists it is a little boy playground cake! Thanks to Tina, my fellow missionaries and the people of our church, I had a very nice birthday.

Comfort In the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Saturday, Adrian (one of our bible college students) and I visited a bedridden woman. She has diabetes and is morbidly obese so she cannot leave the hospital bed set up in her home. She told us a sad story of her drug addicted son who was beaten to death by his friends behind a local tavern two weeks ago. We read her words of comfort and prayed with her.

Tuesday night I went visiting with my deacon Luis. We visited an elderly man who has been suffering form cancer. I never realized the loneliness suffered by some cancer patients. The elderly man is Felipe Soto, a retired government worker who has been attending our church for the last two months. He was in the hospital for 4 days undergoing chemotherapy and was all alone the whole time. He was very glad to pass a Tuesday evening studying the bible with us.

Wednesday morning I went visiting with our Adult Sunday School teacher, Miguel Nieves. We visited Miguel's cousin, a woman who has suffered much loss. She just lost her father, her pregnant daughter died from abuse and this woman had just got out of the hospital after having colon cancer surgery. We counseled and prayed for her and her mother who was present during our visit.

Three sad people full of pain and loneliness, but they all were much better for having spent time studying the greatest source of comfort, God's word and praying to One who cares for our suffering. I have spent a lot of last week holding the hands of people passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I am touched by their grief, but glad to have brought them some light and hope.

Adrian is a college student from Spain who has worked with us this last semester. He has visited with us and preached in our church and done a very good job. This Sunday will be his last Sunday in Puerto Rico, as he is transferring to a Bible college in the Chicago area. Tulio, our helper from Peru, will be spending the Christmas vacation in North Carolina with his parents, but plans on returning and working with us next semester. We are pleased with their work in Puerto Rico and are happy to have a part in preparing young men from different lands for the work of missions. 

Our Web page and Email results in a New Student for our Bible College!

A missions-minded high school student named Eric did a search on the internet and came across our web page. He wrote us about 4 emails last year and I took the time to answer his letters as fully as possible. He asked many good questions about our ministry and our school: Puerto Rico Baptist College. Monday, I noticed a new student in one of my afternoon classes. He said, "Pastor Prelgovisk, Remember me? I'm Eric! I wrote you last year. Well, here I am!" Well, let me tell you, I am very happy about how this all happened! Hurray! Another young person studying for the important work of missions!

Please tell others about our ministry and our web page! Maybe there is another Eric out there, just waiting for the information!
 

Fruitful Thanksgiving Dinner at Church

Two of my college students and I went visiting Saturday and invited a number of people to attend our Thanksgiving service this Sunday. Four new boys came! I had our youngest college student Tulio preach. He is just 17 but in his second year of college. He played the piano for Sunday school and then preached during the Worship service Sunday morning. He did a great job. Afterwards most stayed for our Thanksgiving dinner. We had turkey roasted in garlic, Puerto Rican style and all the Puerto Rican trimmings. Sorry, no pumpkin pie. But we did have a big pan of cream cheese flan, so no one is complaining. About 31 came for our dinner. After a good service and a large, fine meal like that one, it's time for a siesta! But I have to get my college material in order for tomorrow, so it can't be a long one.

Our New Prayer Card: It was not easy communicating with our artist/printer friend in Montana to get the new card ready for printing. It was not his fault though. Our phone has been out for about six days, along with the water. But utility problems aside, the work goes on and we are happy to report progress in both our church and Bible college.  

Our New Prayer Card: We like this design. The colors will be gold and navy blue. Our Web page and new support address are included as well. 

Dangerous but Encouraging

The river rose and almost swept away my friend Jim and his van full of people in route to a Missions Banquette we participated in Saturday night. It was the most dangerous Missionary Banquet I have ever attended! It has been raining for about 3 days straight. The road is littered with fallen trees and boulders the rain dislodged and that rolled down the mountains around us. I counted about five avalanches, mud slides and various trees and boulders covering the road as I drove my college students back to their dormitories tonight.

Combined with the heavy rains has been a lack of water! Because of all the mud stirred up by the storm, we have been without water for three days. Since then, I have been hauling water to flush toilets and do dishes. The really difficult thing is to have an entire family and two houseguests take baths Sunday morning using only a Tupperware container full of water and still getting everyone to church on time.

The road to our church was blocked by an avalanche, the rain was torrential and the attendance very low. Never-the-less, we had a great service. An back-row sitting church member that I have wanted to preach for a long time has finally agreed to preach once a month. His name is Wilfredo. He is doing a great job. Our deacons wife, Margarita, is very quiet, but I finally persuaded her to sing a special this morning. She was great and the "Amens" from the congregation were sincere. So despite the danger and inconvenience around us, the work goes on and we are happy to see real progress within our congregation.

Youth Group Fellowship. Here are some of our key young people rehearsing for a Christmas play in their Sunday school class room. They did such a good job at the last youth rally with our bible skit that they have been invited to do the same play at another one of our churches up in the mountains. I am very proud of them for their hard work and quality service they have given to the Lord and to our church. 

Pastors Fellowship. We participated in a "Sword of the Lord" conference with our Puerto Rican pastors, fellow missionaries and some guest speakers from the states. I am the first guy in the front row, going from left to right. There is a good spirit between our pastors and our churches are growing. 

Hello from our church! I noticed that I was not in most of the photos, because I am always taking them. So, Adrian, my assistant pastor from Spain, was kind enough to take this picture of our church. They are a great bunch and I am happy to be a missionary where things are happening. 

Politics Puerto Rican Style.

The election almost equals a hurricane, the way it disrupts traffic. We were held up so late in a traffic jam that we were not able to get to church Wednesday for prayer meeting. In Puerto Rico, everyone forms giant caravans of cars and drives around the island waving the flags of their party. We have 3 parties and 4 million Puerto Ricans on an island 35 x 113 miles. We still don't know who won as governor. The man in the picture (Pedro Rossello) celebrated a win Tuesday, but Wednesday they said he lost by 5,000 votes. There is a recount going on now, so we won't know for a while who is supposed to be running our island. Well, I know who is supposed to be running things! HE was not on the public ballot, but you can still cast your vote for him! Better do it soon, because no one knows when that election will be over either!

Technology for Country Folk

Technology for Country Folk

My father sent me this explanation of "Computer Terms for Country Folk" today. I think those country folk may have a better system! Thanks, Dad! Missionaries need to smile too. Thanks for passing one my way!

Sword Sharpening!

Dr. Shelton Smith is preaching at the "Sword of the Lord" conference this week in Puerto Rico. The "Sword of the Lord" is a Christian newspaper featuring great sermons and good source material for pastors. It is a 3 hour round trip to the conference but I have found it worth the long drive. After about five sermons in a day, there certainly is a lot to think about on that ride home! The fellowship was great as I met the speakers and my missionary friends at the conference. It is all good. Thank you Dr. Smith and friends for encouraging us!

Wishing

Our daughters Bethany and Rachel are in college in Pensacola, Florida and we are on the mission field of Puerto Rico. The good news is that they will get 5 weeks off for Christmas. The bad news is that it will cost about $1000 for two round trip tickets. The girls work on campus during the Summer, so it will be an entire year before we can see them again if we miss this opportunity. We want to go ahead and to buy the tickets. It is expensive, but we love our girls and really want to see them again!