October 18, 2010 – Aruba Ministry Update:
To Our Faithful Ministry Supporters:
On August 10, 2010 Joyce and I arrived in Oranjestad, Aruba, airport for our three month interim pastoral mission’s ministry. We were met by two of the brethren from Good News Baptist Church. After picking up the rental car we were escorted to our “living quarters” in the back of the church…actually the house rented and used as the church. The cultural shock began. The iguanas (and rats) began to run in the attic; the roosters have crowed at all hours of the night (every night) and the parrot (or Macaw) next door has squawked a good part of most days. And there have been many other kinds of adjustments that have had to be and have been made.
We have grown to love the people of Good News Baptist Church…a few of whom cannot speak English (but, boy, can we have a good time with sign language and usually someone who stands nearby to interpret!). Many of the folks here are new Christians who are attempting to grow in the faith. They are often bombarded with all kinds of “isms” and doctrines for there are many here on the island. There are approximately 100 nationalities represented on the island. Please pray much for these dear folks.
There have been all kinds of challenges. For about 2 ½ weeks our Internet was out more than in. Both cell phones that we have here (few people have land lines) ran out of air time. So we were “stranded in Aruba” it seemed for awhile. There are plenty of stories to tell.
We are busy. Currently I am teaching the adult Sunday school class, preaching in both the Sunday A.M. and P.M. services, Wednesday night prayer meeting and having a Bible question/answer time on Friday nights and doing the other things a pastor does. Joyce is teaching a basic music theory and keyboard class after each Sunday evening service. In the services she plays a keyboard that one of the men who is from Germany had shipped here from Germany right after we came. And she plays for the small choir that sings in the service on Sunday a.m. To say the least we greatly appreciate your prayer support. We have had some health issues while here but the Lord has brought us through them… Joyce had a quite severe allergy attack!
In three weeks (Nov. 10) we are scheduled to return home to the US. There is much to be done before we leave here so keep praying much for us. We rejoice greatly that there is a Baptist missionary pastor coming to Aruba PERMANENTLY after we leave. We are trusting the Lord that he will become the pastor of Good News Baptist Church!! We have prayed a lot about this. The story is remarkable but too lengthy to share in a letter as to how it has been and is unfolding. But it is indeed a great answer to prayer!
Pray for us regarding our return home: (1) for safety and (2) being away from the US for this length of time means that after we arrive home we only have meetings scheduled through November. Pray that the Lord will give us an open door of ministry of His choosing for December and all of 2011!
We are very grateful for all of you (churches and individuals) who are so supportive of the ministry the Lord has given us both in prayer and financially. Thank you and may the Lord bless you abundantly.
God is good… all the time!
Your servants in the service of the Savior,
(Pastor)Milt and Joyce Lambertson
