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The past 7 (almost 8) months have been difficult for our staff. We know so many of you have been lifting us in prayer and for that we are so grateful. We thought Tony's last hearing would be today, July 31. However, there is one more to go. We've seen so many miracles and God's hand moving through this entire situation. Tony's last hearing is set for August 5 at 9:00 am Guatemala time. It's been hard, it's been tiring, and we've seen so much injustice. But we serve a just and righteous God and our hope and trust is in Him. Again, thank you to all who have been praying and we ask that you continue to do so.

The summer teams have been fantastic as well as a wonderful 'distraction'. They've all been so helpful, willing to serve, and have shown the love of Jesus. We continue to see many coming to Christ each week. We're following up with those in our community and connecting those who live farther out with other Pastors. We have said it before, and we'll say it again, short term mission teams are such a blessing!
“Consider it a great joy my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.”
James 1:2
Today I am going to share something I did not write. It’s something from a book I’m reading and I felt a strong urge to share with all of you. It’s from the book 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart by Robert J. Morgan.

Verse 64. James 1:2

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.

The old translations say, “Count it all joy.” The word count or consider is a Greek word meaning to think things through, to consider things mentally, to look at something from a different mind-set. The actual Greek term means “to make a decision about something after weighing all the facts and circumstances.”

When believers have a series of reversals or difficulties, our first emotions and reactions may be painful; but we have divine resources, divine help, and divine truth to help us as we think it through and work it out in our minds. In so doing we’ll come to a different conclusion about our problems than a non-Christian would.

I remember hearing my wife talk about her mother, Hilja, a wonderful Finnish-American who loved the Lord. On one occasion she received terrible news. It was like a blow in the stomach. But as Katrina remembers it, her mother took off her apron, left the house, and walked for what seemed like hours in the fields and lanes near her home in inland Maine, thinking things through, praying about it and giving it to the Lord. When she returned, she was composed and better able to deal with the situation.

If we can think things through from the Lord's perspective, our feelings respond. We know that God intends to use these things for our good and for His glory, and we can count it all joy. I like the way the Phillips version puts this passage: When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't reset them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.

J oy Riderhof, founder of Gospel Recordings, turned to James 1:2 again and again. In one of her autobiographical devotional books, she told of traveling in the South Pacific. "when I arrived in New Zealand I found that my one suitcase had been lost in transit. I remembered to ‘count it all joy’ and what do you think happened? My host and hostess who owned a department store completely outfitted me for my travel in cold New Zealand! Besides this my host asked for my ticket which just took me as far as Australia, and exchanged it for a round-the-world-ticket—a gift! When I arrived in Australia and needed to attend to the securing of visas for my stops in various countries, I found that to apply for entrance required exactly the sort of ticket I’d been given. . . . When I arrived in Sydney airport, there waiting for me right before my eyes was my lost bag . . . ! While we wait for His answers, let us ‘count it all joy!’” 96

[Count it all joy] is one of those Scripture paradoxes which nevertheless, the more we consider them will be found the more certainly true. 97 —William Gresley”


96 Joy Ridderhof, Are You Rejoicing (Los Angeles: Gospel Recordings, 1984), entry for day 18.

97 William Gresley, Sermons Preached at Brighton (London: Joseph Masters, 1853), 195.

Excerpt From: Robert J. Morgan. 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart . iBooks.
ZONA CERO

Zona Cero is our annual youth camp. A lot of times teens get the short end of the stick and in some churches they are at the bottom of the priority list. The first few years Zona Cero would meet for 2 nights and 3 days. The teens asked for more time and now we have camp for 4 nights and 5 days! We ask the teens to give an offering of Q100, roughly $13; however, many of them cannot afford that. So, about half of the teens give a smaller amount or, as we say, “they are sponsored.” This means they do not have to pay anything at all. It costs us about $75 per teen to hold Zona Cero and God always provides. Dinora cooks special meals for them, taking into consideration what they like and the amount teens eat. They get 3 full meals a day plus a mid-morning snack! As we all know teens can really eat, Dinora has told us that she has seen the food multiply in the pots!

For Zona Cero we encourage the teens and their leaders to bring nonbelievers with them. Two years ago we had some teens bring a friend. This was a young man who was said to be a Christian but, after some rough times he became a self-proclaimed atheist. The second night at Zona Cero his heart broke for Jesus. He came to the foot of the cross at the Promised Land and there rededicated his life to Christ. His friends cheered and prayed over him that night. Last year he came and was the leader for his cabin! Like this young man there are many teens who have come to know Christ during Zona Cero.

We get messages from the teens throughout the year, sometimes just checking in, wanting to chat, and sometimes asking for prayer. Even though we only meet once a year it is an ongoing ministry and we are so privileged to be a part of these teenagers' lives.

Zona Cero is one of our least sponsored ministries. We ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us in prayer and financially as we minister to these amazing teens who are hungry for more of Jesus.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
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