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Dec 24, 2005
The Pryors of . . . Texas
Well, we have been back in Texas for several months now. Please forgive our lack of communication with you, but only recently were we able to acquire our own computer. Now, instead of using public terminals or our relative's computers, we are finally able to start getting back into a routine with our correspondence with you.
A lot has happened since we arrived in the States at the end of May. So, allow us to briefly bring you up to date.
We are living with our oldest son, Cameron (22), in his 2 bedroom apartment in Midland, Texas, our home town. It's a good thing we are a close family!
Cameron
has earned his private pilot's license and is now beginning to work on his
instrument rating, the next step on his road to becoming a missionary pilot.
Our oldest daughter, Autumn (19), is now attending Bible school at New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This is the beginning of her goal to be a missionary to tribal people.
David is working in order that we can afford to live in the States (it is significantly more expensive than Paraguay) and save up in preparation for returning to the mission field.
Sherri is busy with home schooling our younger children, Bethany (13) & Matthew (10). She is also active in the neighborhood witnessing to several ladies.
THE "MISSION" WORK CONTINUES
In fact, not long after we arrived, Sherri had the privilege of leading a
Spanish-speaking neighbor named Socorro to the Lord. Shortly after that, Bethany
led Socorro's granddaughter, Jennifer, to the Lord, too.
Just this week, Socorro's daughter came to talk to Sherri. She was very
discouraged about her life & finally willingly listened to the Gospel. She ended
up trusting Christ, too. Now, this one neighborhood family has new believers
spanning 3 generations! Pray that the Lord will continue to work on the men of
this family. Also remember Sherri as she hopes to begin discipling these ladies
after the first of the year.
Autumn had the opportunity to work in Vacation Bible School before going off to
college. It was at the church a friend & former missionary is now pastoring. She
was able to lead a young boy named Logan to Christ.
Sherri was invited to share the story of our missionary efforts in Paraguay with
the women of a newly-opened Teen Challenge facility for ladies. Sherri had been
told that they were all believers, but one named Lindsey showed particular
interest in exactly what we tell Paraguayans about how they may be saved. It
turned out that she had never truly trusted Christ, and did so that night as
Sherri explained the message of the free gift of salvation to her!
Sherri saw Lindsey in a store just this week. She told Sherri that things are
going good and her whole life has turned around. Lindsey said, "Now that I'm
close to God, I don't ever want to be far from Him! I just want to learn more &
more & more about Him. I feel like a sponge soaking everything up." Would not it
be great if all new believers were this enthusiastic about their new life in
Christ?
But these new believers in the Lord are not the end of the spiritual blessings
the Lord has given us since we have been back. He also has given us a new church
home.
THE NEW CHURCH HOME
One of our primary goals for returning to the States on furlough this year was
to find a new home/sending church. We were prepared to be on the road a lot
searching for a like-minded assembly of believers with which we could associate
ourselves. However, even before arriving in the States, we had some old friends
and supporters invite us to visit them and their new church located in our
hometown, Midland, Texas.
To our happy surprise, we discovered that these believers had been led by the
Lord in the same way as we had concerning the New Testament pattern the Lord's
Church should follow. This is a new church plant (started three years ago). They
focus on the true function of the church, which is to be a local body of the
Lord made up of only true believers, with Christ as the center of their worship
& everything they do, with the goal of building up the saints for the work of
the ministry.
We are very thankful for the Lord leading us to this like-minded group of
believers. In fact, many of them are long-time friends and supporters of our
family over the 16 years we have been involved in mission work.
THE LORD'S FAITHFULNESS
As we have said many times before in correspondence with you, the Lord is SO
good!
Two cars have been given to us. Once again, the Lord knew what we needed even
before we asked Him. With two cars, plus Cameron's pickup, we have enough
vehicles for everybody to get to work or around town, even when I am out of town
on business.
Since we have been here, the Lord has graciously provided me with two different
jobs. The first was doing general maintenance work for 4 shopping centers. Then,
a friend at church introduced me to a man who was looking for someone to train
in order to help him with his work load. He is a Petroleum Landman & I have been
working with him for about four months now.
This current job is flexible enough to allow us to go and speak at churches when
the opportunity presents itself. In addition to being invited to speak at a
church here in Midland, we have been able to travel to San Antonio, Texas to
meet a pastor we have never met who began supporting us while we were in
Paraguay.
This pastor & his entire family have truly sacrificed to support us while we
were on the field. Much of the time since they began supporting our family, this
dear brother has been away from his family and church serving in our military in
Iraq. It was an immense pleasure to finally get to meet them while he was home
on leave. They are truly dedicated to the Lord & His work. It is an honor to
count this family & church as part of our mission team through their faithful
prayer & financial partnership.
In fact, we are thankful for all of you who stand with us through your prayers
and finances. May our Lord richly bless you as you continue to faithfully serve
Him in the coming new year.
Yours in Christ,
The Pryor Family
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Dec 23, 2005
The REAL "Christmas" Tree
The Pryor
Family trusts that you are having a blessed time this season remembering our
Savior's birth.
Yet, Jesus did so much more than simply be born in a manger over 2,000 years ago:
He came to die for sinners,
To take away our sin;
That we may know salvation,
And be complete in Him.
(From the hymn, "Go Tell It On The Mountain")
Jesus came to do for us what we could never do ourselves…pay our sin debt. He took the punishment we so justly deserve and died in our place on the cross in order that we might have forgiveness and eternal life through Him. Praise the Lord for His great love toward us!
Sadly, for many people, this time of year only represents presents, parties, & pretty decorations. But this holiday of Christmas should mean much more to us than a decorated evergreen tree in our living room.
Instead, it should point us beyond the stable where our Savior was born to the real tree of "Christmas" . . . the CROSS!
That is THE tree we need to focus on at this time of year; for it is there that our sin was taken away and paid for. Yes, Jesus had to be born to carry out the Father's plan of redemption. But without His death, burial & resurrection, that plan would not be complete. But praise be to God that "it is finished" & Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father!
May each of us take the opportunity presented by the holiday of Christmas to proclaim the complete story of Christ. Innumerable material gifts will be given in the name of Christmas this year. But for those of us who have been redeemed, let us give to those around us this holiday season the most important gift of all time: the Good News of Jesus Christ, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Eph. 1:7).
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