Thursday, May 09, 2019

March/April 2019 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.


 March/April 2019

“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. Ezekiel 38:7 
The goal is everlasting life with God in His house. The Means is His Son. The destination and the only route are designed and prepared by the Savior, Himself, and offered freely to those who come through the True and Living Way. He says: …I go to prepare a place for you… and I am the way… John 14:1-6
The prophet Ezekiel, inspired by God nearly 600 years before Jesus birth, proclaimed this exhortation to God’s people to prepare themselves, and to prepare the companies all around. His words were applicable then, and they are today.
The children of all ages of the IBBM-Tepic OANSA club are learning day-by-day that our chief end is to glorify our Creator. Every year, each group prepares a segment to share on Praise Day with the companies that gather around. They are hiding God’s Word in their hearts, preparing the “what,” and learning the “what for,” which is to share it with others.


The super-dedicated team of Huichol mother-tongue-translators (MTTs) congregated again in Tepic for the 44th Old Testament translation workshop. The translation work has been completed, and they are working hard to fulfill the requirement of an audio-version prior to approval for printing. They spent three weeks this time reading and spot-checking entire books at a time, and the audio is now 72% complete. Not only does the audio requirement help polish possible remaining flaws for a final draft, but it also provides the Huichol community with God’s Word in their heart language for their cell phones. Yes, surprisingly, almost every family has a smartphone at their fingertips! 
Check out the picture of the La Bendición congregation witnessing the baptism of 24 new believers in their village! They may not have signal in their mountain communities, but they can listen constantly to the uploaded Huichol language Bible files. Prepared and ready!
The Huichol MTTs have not been satisfied just to complete the Old Testament translation, but they have insisted on reviewing and revising the New Testament, as well. Their language has evolved substantially since it first was reduced to writing just over 60 years ago, and now that they have translated the OT, the passages that appear in both correspond perfectly. Their commitment to excellence comes at great personal cost which they hardly even notice in preparing themselves and getting God’s Word ready to share in their heart language with the companies that are gathered. They stand on the shoulders of their Godly shepherd, Pastor José López, the “Apostle Paul” of the Sierra Madre, who celebrated his 74th birthday during this workshop. José is ready, prepared, and has spent his life as a believer in preparing companies for the Kingdom. 
The plan for the Huichol youth camp 2019, Jesus, Take the Reins of my Life, was ready, preparation was completed, and a gathered company of more than 140 young people heard God’s Word and learned how to apply it and live out turning over the reins of their life to Jesus. Sixteen of the attendees from various remote Huichol villages recognized their need to trust Jesus to forgive and save them. 
The getting ready and prepared for all of these blessed moments and changed lives is not something that happens only locally. It requires collaboration from God’s people all over the world who sincerely love Him and His plan and faithfully have a part in it. Thank you for caring, praying, and standing guard so generously with these, our brothers and sisters.


“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. Ezekiel 38:7