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Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ from Iglesia Hispana Evangelica de Santidad or North Georgia
Spanish Mission, whichever is easier for you to say. This is our Spring update
for the Dalton, Georgia, work. Many thanks go to you wonderful people for your
interest and help. It would be nearly impossible to do it without you.
We were so happy to have Bro. and Sis. Glen Reiff visited with us this past
quarter. Sis. Reiff worked with the children’s service and Bro. Reiff
participated in the adult English class. Also Bro. Sid Grant came and met with
some of our adults. We appreciate the privilege of the mission being under the
direct supervision of the Hope International Mission Executive Board.
Just a quick update:
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We are busy remodeling the 14’ X 20’ garage for
needed growing room. |
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We also plan to repaint the house inside and
out. We are having our second VBS in July with the Tim and Becky Eversole
Family. |
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We will be attending the Spanish Pastoral
Retreat in Thomasville, NC, June 13-16. |
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We are looking forward to Paul, Linda, and
Marjorie Alexander moving to Georgia to work in a team effort for the
mission. After prayer and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, they called to
ask about the mission and God’s urging on their hearts. We are looking
forward to their coming – a real asset to the work. |
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This month the insurance company required us to
provide a yearly contract for Fire Extinguishers and smoke detectors for the
house and van (anything to get more money). |
This summer and coming quarter will bring big changes. As you know, we have
the Monday night children’s service and the adult English class. We hope to
begin weekly worship or Bible study as well. We plan to begin the worship and
Bible study in the remodeled adult class room, but we know we will soon outgrow
that. Please add this to your prayer time. Another prayer request already made
in previous letters is for an Hispanic pastor. This will make a big difference
in the mission outreach.
Thank you many times over for your prayers and financial support. God, through
your generosity, has supplied the rent, insurance, utilities, gas for the van,
materials for remodeling the garage, paint for the van, and the list goes on and
on. He has never failed to help us in all of our needs. Praise His name!
Again we greatly appreciate those working each Monday night: Sis. Beagan, Bro
and Sis. Weiss, the teens, Roy Vargas and family, and Sis. Watson. We are
assisted by a future-minded mission board. Thank you all.
The following are some personal thoughts from some of our “workers.”
“It
really has been a great experience to be able to help people at the mission. I
have to admit that the first time I was a little nervous. Now I look forward to
it. It is a great feeling after the class is over just to think I am helping a
few people to enhance their lives. It is something that really makes me feel
useful.” –Roy Vargas
“God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to
perform! Since coming to the mission, God has been speaking to our hearts
concerning helping the children to come to know the Savior first of all, and
then through His Word, to learn to walk with Him.
“Our schedule on Monday nights has included
prayer, a Bible lesson, a verse to memorize, a Bible picture to color
corresponding with the story, and some songs such as Tin, Tin, Tin. After
singing, we begin our drill using the alphabet phonics cards and vocabulary
cards. The first graders seem to enjoy the challenge. We are using Christian
preschool workbooks; the children complete two or three pages weekly in class.
“God has given some very special helpers to
assist with the boys and girls – Analia Vargas, Keianna and Kristen Fowler, and
Andrea Thomas. These girls have been a blessing and a joy. We are so thankful
to God for sending them our way! During recreation, they also take the children
outside, weather permitting, and play games with them. Keianna and Kristen have
also been sharing a puppet ministry with the children during chapel.
“The mission has meant so much to Charles and me
because we are serving with like-minded believers who really love God and seek
to please Him while loving others as well. The encouragement we have received
has been a very special blessing to us.” --Charles and Barbara Weiss
“As I look back on my life, I can see that the
Lord has used me in the gift of helps. In 1994 I was asked to assist in helping
with a Vacation Bible School in Belize. I have been a children’s worker at
Knoxville camp for 11 years, taught in various Sunday school classes, etc. I
have tried to do my best when the Lord opened the door and to do it with all my
heart.
“When Bro. and Sis. Watson started the Hispanic
work in Dalton, Sis. Watson asked me if I would help her on their first
children’s service. I told her I would be glad to assist. I feel like Aaron,
Moses’ brother, who helped hold up Moses’ hands while Israel prevailed.
“It has been a great privilege to help with the
Hispanic work, to see it grow, and see the Word of God at work in the children’s
hearts, see them come every week and memorize God’s Word, sing the songs, and
enjoy the stories. The joy it brings to them is a joy to my heart.
“Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it
heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall
receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.” My reward
in Heaven will be to see children that I have had a part in teaching God’s great
love.” –Bettie Beagan“
Since my early teens, I have felt that God would
call me as a missionary. He never did. After taking several short-term mission
trips to Mexico and one to Belize, I made the statement, ‘If God would call me
to Mexico, I’d go in a heartbeat.’ Well, God didn’t call me to Mexico, but
He called Mexico to me
in the form of the precious children who come to the mission every Monday
evening, most of whom are from Mexico. My heart almost bursts with joy as I see
their faces light up, their hands go up in the air, and their bottoms almost
leave the chair in anticipation of being the first to answer a question, say the
memory verse, or select a chorus to sing. There is no entertainment in the
world to compare to the joy of being in the center of God’s will. For me right
now that place is with my Niños Para Cristo at Dalton. ‘In as much as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these . . . ye have done it unto me.’ Matthew
25:40. Niños, I love you!”—Karen Watson
If
you would like to help us in some way, please send your offering to Gwin Thomas,
Treasurer, 964 N. Beaumont Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736. Please make checks
payable to North Georgia Spanish Church.
You may write or call us at 1707 Center Grove Rd., Rock
Spring, GA 30739, (706) 764-1374. May God richly bless and keep you.
Harold and Karen Watson
Fall Newsletter
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Greetings in Christ from Iglesia Hispana
Evangelica de Santidad. I want to bring you up to date on the Summer and
Fall happenings of the Dalton Hispanic work. The Lord has exceeded
abundantly our expectations for this work of faith. Praise His name!
The English Class is going well with increased
attendance. The remodeling of the room is complete. It is beautiful and
spacious. Thanks go to:
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Carson
Scarbrough and Bill Cooper – Sheet Rock
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Ralph Raley
and Joe Stewart – Carpentry and Painting
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Gary Scharf –
Donation and Laying of Carpet
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Charles and
Gwinn Thomas – Pre-hung 3ft. Metal Entrance Door
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Bill and
Bettie Beagan – Paint
Purchase of a Dodge passenger van - this is a
great blessing and answer to a previous prayer request. Though an older
model, this van is in excellent condition with working air. A big thank you
goes to Bro. Beagan who first told us about it. We soon hope to have it
paint.
We had a Summer Picnic in the park at Dalton.
The Spanish people respond overwhelmingly to gatherings where food is
included. Many of them bring Spanish food. The kids painted orange and
green shirts with Christian slogans on them (a sly trick to be able to
better keep track of them in a crowd. Ha.) This was a wonderful time of
meeting many of the kids’ parents.
The first VBS at the mission started with 40
and ended with 65, including workers and parents. The Tim Eversole Family
did an outstanding job. They put hours of preparation into it and God
honored their labor and commitment. Thanks also go to the Vargas Family,
Andrea, Whitney, Kyle, Sarah, Becky, Bill and Bettie Beagan, and Ralph and
Ruth Raley.
The Hickory Valley Church of the Nazarene
Youth Group (two van loads with sponsors) presented a very good service with
songs, stories, a message in Spanish, crafts, and refreshments. They also
brought 25 backpacks filled with school supplies for the school-aged
children and toys for the smaller ones, plus a blanket for each family.
This was a great blessing to our people. The parents were very impressed.
Josh Beagan started the ball rolling when he substituted for his grandmother
when she had to be out due to a funeral. This young man was so impressed,
he went back and inspired his youth group to get involved. Thank you
Hickory Valley Youth and sponsors!
We have resigned the Green Pasture Community
Church after 21 years as pastor. The new pastor, Rev. Keith Fowler, with
his wife and four children are now pastoring there. Rev. Fowler is from
Bedford, Indiana (Bro. Sankey’s church).
Well, you can see it has been a busy, but
blessed, summer. Pastoring two churches this past year has been a
challenge. God has answered many prayers in reference to preparing for the
Fowlers’ coming and maintaining the needs of both works.
Thanks to all who helped us by your offerings,
prayers, and labors. All moneys donated go to the work, as no one receives
a salary. We know God will bless your efforts.
Following are some prayer needs:
1. An Hispanic Pastor
2. he
beginning of regular Sunday services
3. Financial needs for various
maintenance projects
4. The
Watson's as they learn Spanish
5. A
spirit of conviction and revival
Again, thank you everyone for all you have
done to make this work a success.
Following are some wants:
1. An
overhead projector
2. Donations
for paint for the van
3. Copier
We would like to visit your church and present
the mission to your congregation. Please contact us if you would like to
know more about how God is helping His work in Dalton. I can be reached at
423-991-2660 by cell phone or by 706-764-1374 at home. Karen can be reached
at 423-902-6483.
If you are receiving this newsletter by U.S.
mail and would like to have it sent via e-mail, please send your e-mail
address to
kswat52@yahoo.com and put “Dalton Dialogues” in the subject line.
Likewise, if you are receiving this by e-mail and want it sent by U.S. Mail,
please send an e-mail to that effect with your mailing address included. If
you would like your name removed from the mailing list, please let us know.
God Bless You,
Harold and Karen Watson
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Spring Newsletter
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Greetings in Christ from
Iglesia Hispana Evangelica de Santidad and the Watson's. Let us update you
on what the Lord is doing in Dalton. We are watching and praying with
fasting and much work. The church mission work is growing to the point
where a large enclosed back porch (12 X 25 feet) is being completely
remodeled to provide us with a large classroom. Our English class has
twelve or more regulars on Monday and the Children’s class has around the
same number.
We are anxious for God to
increase our faith and the Holy Spirit’s presence. We’ve received some
wonderful answers to prayer:
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The Roy Vargas family
made a special request about his job and citizenship. God has intervened
in both areas. We have seen spiritual growth in the Vargas Family
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A new lady requested
prayer for herself and for her sister to find jobs. Both of them were
hired the next week on the same day. I think this was a shocking answer
to prayer for them. They had never seen God move in this way before
Karen and Sis. Beagan have
put a lot of work into the Easter season with songs, stories, and an egg
hunt with lots of prizes (many of which were donated).
Theresa
is a new lady in our English class who attends with her two sons and a
niece. She wanted her sons to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt with the
other children, but when asked to have them bring back a plastic egg filled
with something about the Easter story, she said she had never heard the
Easter story. She said she only knew about bunnies. For Easter, Karen gave
her a Spanish/English Bible, and we marked Luke chapters 23-24 for her to
read. Theresa brought her Bible back to the next class for us to put our
names in it and asked us to tell her where to read. Please help us pray for
this lady who is hungry to know God.
The
English class visited the children’s program where they heard Becky Eversole
give a very exciting, simple version of the Easter story while Roy
interpreted. Afterward Tim Eversole gave a simple message which also was
interpreted. For the Easter program we had record attendance of 43
including a new family with six children. The mother and father want to
attend the English classes and let the children attend the kids’ club.
A neighbor visits every day
while the room is being remodeled. He and his wife both have cancer. This
man outwardly appears hard and gruff. I asked him to let me pray for them
and he said, “Okay.” God came in a wonderful way. When I finished praying,
C.L. (his preferred name) wiped his tears, put on his cap, and left. He
comes back every time he sees our truck. Please put him and his wife on
your prayer list.
We appreciate the help we
have received from:
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Bro. and Sis. Bill Beagan – help with the children, crafts,
clean-up, etc.
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Bro. Ralph Raley – remodeling
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Bro. Joe Stewart – remodeling
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Bro. and Sis. Tim Eversole – Easter program
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Bro. Carson Scarbrough – labor and discount price for
sheetrock for remodeling
Thanks for several who sent
in offerings and various donations for the mission. Just to mention a few:
Bro. Charles Thomas for
a steel outside door complete with frame
Quoc and Joy Nguyen for a white
board with markers, floor tile, mirrors, gifts for the egg hunt and
refreshment
Financial contributions from several
others
Jeannie Hill - floor
tile
Some things to pray about:
The Holy Spirit moving
among our Spanish friends.
The regular workers
The Vargas Family
Sis. Beagan
The Watson's
Regular Sunday services
to begin in mid to late summer (many have indicated they will attend when
we begin services)
A Spanish pastor and
family
The financial load is
heavy, but every need has been supplied (praise the Lord for this)
The Watsons to become
fluent in Spanish (this will take a lot of faith – ha)
If you would like for us to
present this missionary effort in your church, please let us know. We would
be happy to do so. You may contact us at 1707 Center Grove Rd., Rock
Spring, GA 30739.
If you know someone who
would like to receive these newsletters, please send us their address and we
will add them to the list. It is your prayers and financial assistance that
are making this outreach possible.
If you wish to send a
tax-deductible financial contribution, please send it to our treasurer, Gwin
Thomas, at 1964 N. Beaumont Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736.
God bless you,
Harold and Karen Watson
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