October Monthly Report

This month began with the Third Hispanic Workshop.  The attendance was not what we had hoped for, partly due to the difficulties resulting from the previous month's terrorist attacks.  Most of the brethren that wanted to come from the Dominican Republic and Cuba couldn't get visas or had them denied.  Other brothers suddenly were afraid of flying or had personal situations and cancelled their appearance.  With all that the workshop went on and was successful in getting across the point to those who were there that we have to go back to establishing evangelistic ministries in the church.  I put together a workshop that showed how the Long Island church has used and is using the Internet to reach thousands across the world, and the results we've had in such a short time.

We had brethren from Nives, Dominican Republic, several other Virgin Islands and of course, Puerto Rico. We also had a brother that visited us from Tulsa, OK.

Next year we planned to hold the workshop in Tulsa, since our brother from Tulsa, Francisco Davila (native of Puerto Rico), said there is a large Hispanic population but only one small, hard-lined congregation in the city.  Francisco has, in the past, been able to baptize some Spanish-speaking people and they are attending Garnett Church of Christ, but Garnett doesn’t have a Spanish-speaking ministry. Francisco is excited about the workshop next year preparing them for a Spanish ministry.  It is all in the Lord’s hand.

Our weekly discipleship meetings are going well. We are preparing them to continue meeting with other brethren, particularly Juan, so they can continue their studies and also continue in their evangelism efforts.  Both couples we are working with are actively sharing the word with their co-workers and friends.  Soon we hope to have Bible studies develop with them.

A friend of Clary’s, Lourdes, has been coming again to services regularly. She is profoundly deaf, like Clary, and she brings her daughter Claribel, named after my wife because they have been friends since they were children. The last Sunday of October Lourdes brought her husband Ivan, who is partially deaf, to services as well.  We have asked them if they would like to study the Bible and next week we will hopefully sit down and explain the Gospel to her.

I have finished the Armor of God in Spanish with the church, and now I am focusing that extra attention of the logistics of the move, which we are praying will happen soon.  Both of us are anxious to go to LI, because we miss everyone and because spiritually we will be refreshed.

We’ve only had one visiting person interested in the apt. so far.  Three people have called the realtor, but a visit hasn’t been arranged yet.  I am planning to go in December to LI to apt. hunt.  If we don’t sell our apt. before we go I am thinking of renting it.  We won’t be able to buy a house on LI unless we sell, but then again, we aren’t planning on buying for a year or so, the Lord willing.  God bless you all and thank you for all your faithful prayers.

Pedro Gelabert