AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2013

Proverbs 17:6 Childrens children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Sue, Ben and I were in the US for the month of August. While we were unaware at the time we bought our tickets, our Omniscient God knew that Jenny and Luke were expecting our second grandchild. We thank the Lord that Keilana Ruth was born on August 28, 3 days before Ben and I had to return back to Spain. Both Mom and baby are doing great. Grandma Sue will being sticking around for a few more weeks to help both with the baby and with her big brother Javi, who is now 21 months old. I have included a couple of pictures of the old man with hi s newborn granddaughter as well as Sue and Ben with Javi. A special thanks to all of the churches that gave us extra offerings to help us pay for the trip and the blessing of being able to be present for this special event. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Despite the fact that we were reluctant to leave the church in Zaragoza while things have been going so well, we know that it is a necessary part of the missionary work. Jesus did it, Paul did it, and our prayers were that the brethren would see God working in their midst while we were gone. We are excited to report that attendance was good, the Bible studies and fellowship times continued, and the group went out evangelizing even more often than while we were here!! One of the ladies in church contracted pneumonia and had to be hospitalized, and yet the folks didnt wait for the missionary or his wife to come back to visit her. Many of them went to see her and minister to her, we are thrilled that these folks continue to do what Paul asked of the Philippian church, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12). We thank God for increasing the faith of these beloved brethren so that they are capable of continuing the work of the Lord. 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. On a similar note, several people in our congregation have given public testimony of the fact that they have never perceived the love of God like they have in our congregation. While my wife and I have no doubt that it is simply the grace of God working in our midst, I have been praying that the Lord would show me what it is that these people are experiencing. We would like to continue whatever we are doing that might be contributing to this environment. The Lord showed me this particular verse as one of the answers to my prayer. The following verse (1 John 3:17) explains that laying down our lives sometimes means sacrificing for the physical needs of the brethren. This was what one young man experienced while he was still here in Zaragoza. Many of the brethren helped him with his needs over and above what we did for him as a congregation. Another experienced the aspect of love that Paul expresses as Charityseeketh not her own (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). This new believer comes from a different Christian background than what we teach from the pulpit, and yet he sees us accepting him despite some of the things that he has stated that he disagrees with. One of the couples who are now attending have stated that God is healing them because of the love and acceptance that they receive from everyone. This despite the fact that both have personalities that can be extremely overbearing (by their own admission). Several others are enjoying what I believe is simply the first love spoken of in Revelation 2:4. So many relatively new believers still in love with the Lord for saving them simply spill that love onto the rest of the congregation and it becomes contagious. They want to spend lots of time together, they want to share the things God has blessed them with, just as we see the first church doing in Acts 2:44, And all that believed were together, and had all things common.

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word One of the truths about the wisdom of our great God is that many times He allows crises in order to further His Kingdom. In the book of Acts, it was the crisis of persecution. In 2013 Spain, the crisis is mainly economic. Because of the lack of work, Marius and his family went to their hometown in Romania, Oscar to Ucrania and Daniel Sortan to Pamplona. Each one of them have gotten a burden for the souls of the people where they are now living, and asking us for prayer that they might be able to minister and be bold witnesses to the people with whom they live. Another crisis, that of the health of her brother, forced Marissa to go back to her home town of Torrejon, Mexico. While she was there she had the opportunity to witness to several members of her family, including her brother Alfonso, who has cancer, as well as her mother. Since returning, Marissas mother has agreed to read the Bible with her on the phone. They talk every day, Marissa realized it would be better for their conversations if they included Gods word instead simply chatting about the banalities of life! While none of these people are technically missionaries sent out by our church, we are praying for them as if they were, believing that God can use them as much as He did those scattered brethren back in the days of the first church. Please keep praying for our group, that we might continue to be like that church in Jerusalemthey were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

Jim Taglialatela and family Sent by First Bible Baptist Church Rochester New York Pastor George Grace