Missions Newsletter - August 2023
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15"
TESTIMONY OF MISSIONARY ANDRES ALTA... SERVING THE DEAF IN CORDOBA, ARGENTINA
From a very young age I have felt the call of the Lord to preach the gospel to "Every" creature. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
God has been very good to us all this time and that's why I want to share with you the privilege that we have in serving our God and Savior Jesus Christ. We are preaching the Gospel to every creature, and we are rejoicing in what God is doing in our lives. It's true, I thought, preach to every creature... I realized that God made us different, not to think ourselves unique, but that we can "GO"... to our neighbor to speak God's Love.
In a church service I heard the preaching on Exodus 4:11, "And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? This message touched my heart.
After some time, a blind youth began to attend our church. Because of this youth, I took a braille course to be able to transcribe portions of the Bible for him to study at home. (At that time there were no cell phones...) I also was trained in Argentine Sign Language with the hope that I could meet a deaf person, (as Exodus mentioned) so that I would be able to communicate with him.
My surprise was great, because shortly after, at a church meeting I met a deaf youth. We quickly became friends (since I was the only one he had to communicate with!)
In one of our talks (in sign language), he told me that he was happy because Jesus is coming very soon. I told him that I was also happy. He stood in front of me and signed that he was happier than me. I was surprised so I asked him why he was happier than me. He replied: "Because when Jesus comes it will be the first time I will hear my name!" This was the biggest lesson of faith that I have learned, and I carry it in my heart to this day! Wretched man of me...
My wife, Damaris, daughter, Ana Belen, and I continue serving in Argentina. We are having meetings with the deaf. We continue to knock on doors looking for people who are deaf. We have been training students im Bible Institutes, and workers for the ministry. Also, we have been visiting different churches in the area helping train their members who feel the call to reach the deaf for Christ.
We are praying that the Lord opens the doors for His glory to plant churches for the deaf.
In our home we have a school for the deaf, so that the deaf can have the same opportunities as students in the public school.
PS. Prayer request from Joel and Karen Silos.
Please keep our daughter's family in your prayers. Penelope, our three-year-old granddaughter had a tumor removed from her brain on August 3, 2023. This is her second surgery since February. She is in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
An heir of God through Christ.
Joel Silos D. D.
