Hands to the Work – Ron & Bonnie Winter

Dear Friends in Christ,

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”  1 John 4:14

Thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support. A special thanks to those who sent Christmas offerings! We hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and wish you a great New Year – perhaps our Lord will come for us this year!!

Camargo: Attendance of the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista has been fairly consistent. It is so hard to get people who work 7 days a week to understand they have to make time for God and that He will provide better than they can for themselves. We finished up 3 more Bible studies, and started 3 new ones, and still need to start with others. Juan and Leticia and their daughter Diana are very excited to study every week. Daniel and Andrea, two children and another on the way, are now studying with us. Her parents who live in Veracruz, Mexico, had given them a Bible and a month later came 36 hours by bus to see that they were getting into a church that really teaches the Bible. They seemed very encouraged to hear me preach and teach the same things they believe about salvation, etc. In the first study, Daniel said he could not just stop going with his mother to mass and asked if I had a problem with that. I told him that he had to form his own convictions based on the Bible. Pray they understand and get saved soon! Roberto and Berenice also started studying but are really struggling to continue. Pray the Lord would convict them of their need of salvation. Please continue praying for the Rojas family. Raquel and their 14 year old son Luis have recently been saved but Victor continues coming home every two weeks and gets drunk. Raquel has come to wits end but we are trying to encourage her to be a good testimony to him, though she has been putting up with his addictions for years. We have also been trying to reach Victor’s parents, Jesús and Maxi, and some of their other kids and families.  Eliseo Ruiz admitted he was confused because of all the different “religious instruction” he has had throughout his 65 years of life. Every time I try to lead him to Christ, he either gets angry that I would doubt his salvation or he tells me another story of how God has worked miracles in his life. He has actually been the most faithful to church services. He told me he could finally see that salvation was really quite simple. Keep praying for him!

Family: We would have loved for all of our family to come to Mexico for Christmas but for several reasons, it just wasn’t possible. So, all 4 of our kids, their spouses, and all 9 of our grandbabies decided to come to El Paso and we went there to celebrate Christmas with them! Connie’s folks and brother came as well. What a blessing and great memories!! A huge Thank You to Bearing Precious Seed in El Paso for allowing us to use their building for our special family Christmas!!

Praise: Blessings of 2013; 3 new & 3 completed Bible studies; Souls saved; Family Christmas

Prayer: Salvation of Juan/Leticia, Daniel/Andrea, Roberto/Berenice, Victor, Eliseo; Faithful Attendance

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”  John 5:39

Camargo: We are seeing fruit from the Bible studies, with 10 adults and teens saved in the last month.   Others that we have studied with have given us a good testimony of their salvation but have been away from the Lord too long. Besides those who were saved, some have reaffirmed their faith in Christ and others are learning of the security of the believer. Amen!  We joined the different Bible studies together, and have had attendances in the 30’s in the services of “Iglesia Biblica Bautista”!! Many others have promised they would come, but so far the people in the services are those who have studied with us. Six families continue with Bible studies and more are pending.

We asked prayer for the Ruiz family; father and 10 grown children, 8 of which live here in Camargo.  Eliseo had a car accident and because he didn’t have insurance, they put him in jail until he could pay the damages. All 10 of his kids came to his rescue and paid to get him out. For the first service, 4 of the kids and families came and by our second service, after the accident, Eliseo and 6 of his kids and their families have come. God works in mysterious ways! (The other 2 sons here go to another church.) Continue praying for the salvation of all the Ruiz family.

A few months ago, after witnessing to a young couple, Pablo and Joana, it seemed they were so Catholic they would never accept God’s Word as the final authority. Every question they asked was given a biblical answer from their own bible. The Lord brought Pablo across my path again this week, and the first thing he asked was, “Where is your church? I’ve been thinking about what you said”.  Pray we can reach them.

Daniel, a neighbor who had never acted interested in the Bible, came over to use our microwave as theirs just broke. He asked what kind of church ours was and I told him we only teach the Bible. His mother-in-law had just visited, gave them a Bible and told them to find a church that teaches the Bible! Although they haven’t been able to come yet, they assure me they will soon.

We had asked prayer for the Rojas family and some of them are coming, as well as Juan & Leticia.  Please pray with us that in His timing, the Lord would provide the workers and Mexican pastor and family that this church needs.

Health: Praise the Lord, Connie had good results from her blood test in October!

Praise: People saved; Iglesia Biblica Bautista started; Ruiz family; Connie’s health

Prayer: Church services; Bible studies; Salvation of Ruiz family, Pablo & Joana, Daniel & family;   Rojas family and others; Workers and pastor

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ, July & August 2013

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

Camargo: The “summer slump” hit us hard, with the jalapeño, oregano, and soon pecan and onion harvests, people changing jobs, illnesses etc. It seems like some weeks we take 1 step forward and 2 back. Of course, we know Satan doesn’t want people to be saved and living for the Lord.

We’re keeping up with seven Bible Studies (with more than one family in some) and these people are asking a lot more questions as they understand that many of their past beliefs are invalid, and that the Bible is the only authority. We plan to join them together as soon as the Lord allows.

Eliseo Ruiz and several of his grown kids and families have been studying with us. Pray that those who are not saved will be, and that they all learn to forgive one another (though that is not the culture here). Raul and his “wife” and two kids are back together. So many couples here are just living together. When they introduce their “wife”, some then say they are not really married. So at least, there is some sense of right and wrong.

Jesús Rojas and Maxi and some of their kids and families really seem to want to study the Bible but due to illnesses, 2 new babies, and changing work schedules, they still haven’t been able to. We had been teaching one son, Victor and his family. He doesn’t touch a drop of alcohol for 2 weeks away at work but as soon as he gets home he gets completely smashed, so he hasn’t been studying lately.  Please pray for the Rojas families to come to the Lord.

It doesn’t appear that Rosa will allow Manuel to study, as their traditions are so “sacred”. Religion is probably one of Satan’s greatest tools.  The Holy Spirit continually amazes us by bringing people to Bible studies and speaking to them through His Word. Adrián, a young man who had studied with the Jehovah’s Witnesses wanted to derail one study by denying the deity of Christ with 3 verses taken out of context. After seeing at least 20 verses that directly or indirectly verified that basic Bible doctrine, he wanted to listen. Pray that we can continue to study with him and another new family, Juan and Leticia.

Visas: Our work permits were renewed in a record 6 weeks from start to finish. We won’t have to renew them now for 3 years and then they are to become permanent. Praise the Lord!

Praise: Working of the Holy Spirit; Word of God; Work permits in hand; Privilege to serve God

Prayer: Power of the Holy Spirit; Safety; Rojas families; Ruiz families; Starting the church;

Couples to get married and do right; Adrián, Juan & Leticia to continue studying

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalms 106:1

Camargo: The Bible studies continue to go well. As in any teaching situation, some of the students have more of a desire to learn than others. We are looking forward to joining the different Bible study families together to form a church and are praying for wisdom and the timing of that. In our last letter we asked prayer for Amalio who was waiting for a kidney but he recently passed away. We do not know for sure if he was saved. We continue studying with his family, Zeferino and Rosa. Anzelmo and Lina have also been studying for a few weeks now. Joel had another doctor visit for the cancer on his cheek, but they just told him to wait. He is seeking a second opinion. When Victor comes home from the mine, he gets drunk, so we are just trying to reach his wife, Raquel and family and work with him whenever we can. He seems to know he needs help. Manuel and Rosa have not been able to study as his health has been bad, but he assures me that in a week he will be ready. Jesús and Maxi are to begin studying this week, along with some of their grown  children and their families. Raul and his family have been very faithful studying with us, but now they are having some marital problems. Satan is alive and well. Please pray for each of these families that the Holy Spirit would do what only He can do; first, to convict of sin and draw people to the Lord, and also renew their bodies and minds according to His will.

Health: Connie just had her quarterly blood tests and everything still looks good. Amen!

Visas: Actually no longer called “visas”, our “Temporary Residence” permits are in renewal and for the first time ever, will supposedly last for 3 years, but at a cost of about  $1,650 dollars. Please pray that we can get them quickly.

Family: Joshua and Kristin had their second boy, Elijah David, on May 20. Although we don’t like being apart, we were glad that Connie could be in the states for a short time to help each of the kids. All 9 of our grandbabies are doing well now, praise the Lord!

Praise: Good Bible Studies; Health; Grandbabies

Prayer: People to understand and be saved; Wisdom; Bible Studies; Joel & Manuel – health; Visas

In His Service,

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” I Timothy 1:15-16

Camargo: Camargo is an agricultural community. The vast majority of the people earn a living, (if you would call it that – taking home around $10 dollars a day) planting, weeding, and picking, in fields of all types of vegetables. They are still in a severe drought here and the water in the irrigation reservoir is so low they are not able to plant all they used to, which makes jobs scarce. With the economy as it is, they work whenever they can. Although we are having good Bible studies each week, it becomes challenging to work around schedules.
Please pray for Amalio, who is on a waiting list for a kidney. He has lost his ability to speak; having reacted to some medication they gave him.
Continue to pray for Joel, as he will have more surgery in June, to remove the cancer in his cheek.
We just started a new study with Victor and Raquel. He works in a mine in the mountains, so is gone a month and back here one week. It is difficult for them to maintain a schedule to study, with the needs of the family and friends who draw them away from God. They just need the Lord.
We are starting a new study with an elderly neighbor couple, Manuel and Rosa. He reads his Bible and really wants to study, but she really thinks her church is enough. Please pray for his health and that they get saved.
Mirta, from whom we rent the store-front, is already saved, and attends very faithfully. Her mother says she wants to study the Bible; pray for her.
There is so much to be done here!

Family: Proverbs 17:6 says, “Children’s children are the crown of old men…”
Kade Lee and Khloe Lyric, a double blessing, were born April 9, the first for our oldest son Seth and Ashley.
Our son, Andrew and Shana had their 4 weeks premature, and is in the NICU for now. We pray she will be able to come home soon.
Our son, Joshua and Kristin are having another boy the end of May.
That will give us 9 grandbabies! Praise the Lord for His blessings; lots for “Grandad and Mema” to pray for!

Praise: Good Bible Studies; Mirta; New grandbabies

Prayer: Souls saved; Amalio; Joel; Victor & Raquel; Manuel & Rosa; Mirta’s mom; Josie Lynn

In His Service,