Springdale, AR Spanish Assembly

We were encouraged by a series of VBS (vacation bible school) meetings in July at the Springdale's hall which was very well attended, and it was nice to see some new kids coming. The conference at the end of May was an encouragement to the believers here, it was good to see more than a hundred people in the hall.

I keep visiting Mexico and trying to give a hand down there and to visit the assemblies. The need is great among some meetings where there are not missionaries living. They need to hear fundamental teaching again in some cases and much wisdom to solve some issues. Please pray for them and the unity of the assemblies and the preservation of the sound doctrine.

Lately, we have been exercised about the situation in Venezuela, as you know I was born and commended from that country. What we hear from relatives and believers is devastating. People dying from malnutrition, lack of medicines and crime. Services as gas, electricity, and water are a constant fail, besides the lack of food and inflation to the point that a regular job will pay only one or two dollars a month because of the exchange.

Hospitals are in chaos, and it seems that there is no end to the problem; instead, the situation is getting worse and worse.

The assembly here in Springdale has opened a fund to help the need of people down there. Thank you for the generosity that some of you have shown in sending funds to meet those needs. I know that many other assemblies are helping in one way or another. They have been very appreciative of all the help of food and funds that have saved the lives of some of the believers. It is so painful to hear the stories directly from the people that suffer from the famine in Venezuela, it is depressing.

I recently went to Colombia (since I cannot get into my birth country) to try and help some of my family get to Colombia. Sometimes the border is so congested that they have to spend three days before crossing. The Venezuelan government sometimes completely closes the border; at the moment people can only get across walking, the access to vehicles has been canceled. Fortunately, I flew my Mom out to Medellin and met her there. Two of my brothers have crossed the border walking, thank the Lord. They got to Medellin also. I was happy to see them, but I still have sisters that can hardly get out of the country since they have to leave everything behind them, and Venezuelan money is worth nothing.

Many believers are immigrating where ever they can go, and this is affecting the assemblies down there but are benefiting some in other countries. However, the assemblies continue their activities, and unsaved people keep coming in high numbers to the meetings.

My time in Medellin was very profitable since they were getting ready to start the assembly there. Coincidentally I arrived before the assembly began and had the opportunity to share a week of ministry along with Jose Luis Batioja who is working in Colombia commended from Venezuela. I had the opportunity to distribute some funds for the relief of some of the Venezuelan workers and believers living there.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. But thanks be to God, II Cor. 8: 14 - 16

Editorial Note: Many brethren and sisters from assemblies in Venezuela have gone to other countries such as Columbia, Peru Ecuador and Chile in search of a better life for themselves and their families. It reminds us of what took place in Acts 8: 4 "they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word."

Summer 2018 Written by Harry and Rebekah Rodriguez - USA harrysrod@hotmail.com