Andres Galaviz and Family - 2008 Fourth Quarter Report

Dear Brethren,

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, desiring His richest blessings upon you and each of His faithful churches.

I thank God for the life He gives me and each of you. I also thank Him for your spiritual and economic help.

I would like to take a few moments to share with you what God has been doing here in this part of the mountains in Chihuahua. So many things have happened in this past year as many of you already know but God has been so faithful and good to us and for that we are so grateful. So many people we hear complaining of the economic crisis, especially the government, yet God provided so much more this past month. We were able to give a gift and a regular bag of candy with fruit and peanuts to each child. That is each child from Agua Caliente, El Terrero, and those who came in Guerrero. Every year we use the last two Sundays to have special services and this year wasn't the exception. The Lord made it extra special this year for us because He gave us the opportunity to testify again to all in Agua Caliente and El Terrero. You see, usually in years past Catholic groups from Chihuahua City would come and give away toys, clothing, and food to the children. This year no one came, not even the municipal (county) government did anything in this area. So God way before we even knew this would happen had put in motion events that would allow us to demonstrate His love and sufficiency providing material things and spiritual blessings. I was so encouraged to see how many visitors we had during those last two Sundays because the Brethren went out and invited. But they just didn't invite the people, they brought as many would come. Children brought children, but sometimes the ones that brought others weren't even from the church. These children had no idea that we were giving gifts along with the bags of candy. We know that their interest was mainly in the candy etc... but it encouraged me to see them coming alone, boldly which in years past they wouldn't do. It is marvelous to see how God sufficiently provides in times of scarcity. The service we held on the last Sunday of December had almost 100 people, not counting those who visited from Cuautemoc and Guerrero. May the Lord be blessed and in His time may we see fruit.

Please pray for us that God will continue to use us to extend His kingdom here on earth. I would also ask you to pray in a special way for Julio Gonzalez. He has manifested a desire to preach in Guerrero where we have services every Sunday afternoon. He has shared there in the past but it is now his desire to serve the Lord in a more permanent way. In the past his wife greatly opposed his being involved this way. But since she has been stricken with cancer she has been more open to support his desires for the ministry. Please pray for me as there is a plan in motion for me to meet with Julio to pray together first. Then we will start having Theology classes so he can serve the Lord to the best of his ability. This means that I will have to travel more to Guerrero during the week. He has also agreed to come at times to AguaCaliente. But it is increased traveling for me and sometimes my health isn't so good. So I am asking you to pray that the Lord will give me increased strength and that He will give me all that I need to put into action and finish the plan we have made.

We would also like to thank Community Baptist Church for their support in helping us buy needed medicines to help in the villages. We praise the Lord because He helped us get a tremendous discount (about 70%), which helps us obtain more meds than we had hoped to, along with other perishable med supplies that were much needed.

The Bible Study that my wife has with the women here in AguaCaliente continues with much enthusiasm. Many of the women have manifested a desire to meet more often and some of them participate more openly each time. Also the Bible Study in Cuauhtemoc continues. They suspended it for a couple of Tuesdays because of the holiday season but it has continued again with enthusiasm.

The translation ministry continues. We just finished another catechism in Spanish for children that Community Baptist Church uses. We pray that each one that we have now will be used for God's honor and glory.

I would ask you to pray for my wife because this past week she had another check up with her attending orthopedic surgeon. He found that since this last back surgery certain nerves and muscles are still inflamed and it has now become chronic spasms. This impedes certain movement that many of us take for granted. She will have to take a radical medicine treatment along with physical therapy.

Also please remember before the throne of grace my father, Daniel Galaviz. The doctors saw the need of amputating part of his foot because of a diabetic ulcer. We desire that the Lord will speed his recovery and that we will be able to help find special shoes that he will now need. Also, my wife's father, Ralph Clark, was diagnosed with an invasive abdominal cancer. He is now having chemotherapy. They are not sure if this will help as he has so many health issues such as heart disease, Lupus, and Parkinson's etc..., but he conceded after much persuasion by his GP to try. He only desires that the Lord do what is best for him.

I thank the Lord for using people like us to demonstrate His love and His power through salvation of lost souls as well as for the edification of the saints. Thank you for your love, faithfulness and support helping us to preach the gospel in this our whole world. May the Lord bless you.
In His service always,

J. Andres Galaviz G.