Don and Elizabeth Sendek Newsletter Oct 17, 2004

I have just translated many thank you letters from students for a foundation that gives them scholarship assistance. It is interesting that they often begin with a blessing to the receiver, such as "I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ wishing His richest blessings for each of you". I took this off of the top letter still on my desk. In a similar way, I greet all of you, wishing that Christ would bless you and your lives, filling your hearts with His peace and joy.

These past two months have been varied, especially as I traveled to see students who are in their year of practical ministry. I literally went from churches at sea level to others at 3000 meters (over 9000 feet). In many ways the experiences were just as varied as the elevation and the ministries that our students are performing for their denomination. I was in a small Cumberland Presbyterian church plant in the coffee-growing region, in the second oldest Lutheran church in Colombia and in an active Four Square charismatic church in the southeastern plains. Some common denominators were the present of the Holy Spirit and growth, and the willingness of our students to work in the ministries where God has called them. Many of these locations are not easy, and they are not attractive because they are mega-church or prosperous. In fact, some are dangerous, very hot, and filled with other difficulties. It is a joy to share a few days with the students in these churches. The seminary still forms good pastors who are willing to serve in the Kingdom.

Ten days ago, I sent you a request for 60 minutes of prayer (six minutes during ten days) for the seminary and to share with us God's faithfulness during sixty years here. This has been a good two weeks, filled with a variety of activities as we have celebrated together. We had an afternoon of sports with our small numbers putting together winning teams in basketball and micro-soccer, and we had demonstrations of a Guinness world holder and bike trial specialist. I was impressed. We also had the morning of worship and celebration together with special messages and a look back at the sixty years of history, ending with a barbecue that all of you would have enjoyed. That same evening we had a concert with the seminary choir, an invited bell choir and a choir with religious chamber music. The following evening we joined with each regional area represented in our student body showing off their folklore and food. The students appreciate each year this "noche de colonias".

This week we had two special workshops that were not specifically part of the celebration, but gave us more "celebrating" in God's Word. Wednesday and Thursday over 200 pastors and leaders were here for a workshop entitled, "The Minister as Teacher of the Word" where we were reminded that the Word is the most important element of church growth and strength. One statement that was good for my present class on the Social Responsibility of the Church was, "If there is Word in the church, it is good to have a program of social action outreach. Without the Word, social action is simple a non-profit social agency".

Yesterday, Saturday, we had a study of the book of Ruth, "Love in time of Hunger". This title is similar to the title of a popular book of Colombia's Nobel Prize winner in literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. We saw that love is stronger than hunger, either physical or spiritual, and that dependence on the Lord can bring us out of hunger as the great I AM speaks and reaches out to us in grace.

God has been good. I have traveled and returned safely, and He was with Elizabeth during these days. We celebrated and had fun together here at the seminary. Thank you for your prayers for both.

Continue to pray for these items:

- We have six more weeks of classes and then graduation at the end of this academic year, November 26.
- Elizabeth has continued with a hyper-allergic condition with elements in the environment setting off coughing and chest congestion.
- Praise the Lord that our mothers have been well, within limits. Mrs. Sendek celebrates her 83rd birthday on November 6, and Mrs. Paba will celebrate her 80th on December 30. We hope to see both of these wonderful women in December, even if for just a few days.
- The finances of students, who must pay bills by the end of the year, and of the seminary that will have some lean income months until the students return in late January, although the expenses are always high with legal wage responsibilities at the end of each year.

Thank you again for faithfully standing by us as we minister at the Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellin. We have now been here for eleven years. Our desire is to fulfill many more before we seriously consider the "retirement" word.

In Christian love and service,

Don and Elizabeth Sendek