Venezuela Relief via Panama

Scripture texts for the Valle Hermoso assembly

At the commencement of last December I was able to complete an outstanding trip to Panama which was of great benefit to the saints in Venezuela as well as Panama. The Lord was with me all the way. There were some very specific objectives of the trip - to facilitate the transportation of much needed medicines and supplies to Venezuelan Christians; to provide Scripture texts to the saints in Panama and to encourage the saints in both countries. Many of the purchases of relief supplies, food and medicines were due to the kindness and generosity of some individuals and assemblies in the US and Canada.

A young couple from Venezuela (Luis and Sara) were able to travel to Panama. From Venezuela, they brought Scripture texts, handpainted on 40 cm x 55 cm canvas, and, on their return, transported the relief supplies. For ease of transportation, the texts were unframed and required mounting on frames - a task which had to be completed before distribution to each family in the Valle Hermoso assembly. With the Lord's help, Luis and I were able to complete the framing project which took a bit of work.

After a week with Byrnell and Lois Foreshew, we rented a car and headed to the north to Dolega, Chiriqui where brother Marcus Tulio and his wife Sara labour for the Lord. The round trip took fourteen hours of car travel.

Given the political, social and economic conditions in Venezuela, many Christians are unable to obtain much needed medications - some of which required a prescription. With the help of Dr. Lois Foreshew, generic drugs were purchased in Panama to complement the supplies originating in Canada. Four suitcases were filled with everything from Aspirin to a year's supply of Foley urine catheters. Fortunately, when Luis and Sara arrived in Venezuela the officials waved them through and not one of the suitcases, (four filled with medications and supplies plus those belonging to Luis and Sara) were opened for inspection. This was a real answer to prayer.

Upon arrival in Venezuela, a group of Christians undertook the distribution of over thirty bags of food as well as the medical supplies to many needy believers in a number of different assemblies. As food supplies such as rice, spaghetti, canned milk, grains, butter and coffee are very difficult to acquire, purchases had to be made over some weeks. I have been told that all the recipients responded with "THIS IS A GIFT FROM THE LORD" - and so it was!

Please continue to remember the Lord's people in Venezuela and the hardships through which they are going through. There seems no end in sight to the political, social and economic unrest. Yet in spite of it all, the Lord continues to work! I just received word of a children's Bible class that commenced last January with 15 children has grown to more than 110 with attendance every Lord's day from 4 - 5 pm. This is definitely the Lord's doing.

Spring 2017 Written by Ashley Milne - Venezuela tsamhorizons@shaw.ca