Friday 17th

VENEZUELA San Carlos

At the beginning of another year many are hoping things will improve locally and worldwide. But the Lord’s people have another outlook: we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised, ‘Surely I come quickly’, and our hearts respond joyfully, ‘Even so, come, Lord Jesus’.

Last month, it was a real joy for us to be with our brother William at the formation of the assembly in Tucupita in eastern Venezuela, where he has laboured for years. After the baptism of six believers, including William’s eldest son Matthew, the new assembly started with 25 members, quite a few of them of indigenous descent. The beautiful new hall is a credit to the gospel. The absence of William’s late wife Verónica, who laboured with him in the gospel, was felt by all.

The Lord blessed the brethren’s exercise to restart the year-end conference in Puerto Cabello after the pandemic, granting a truly enjoyable time considering the Scriptures. Notwithstanding the country’s economic crisis, the Lord provided abundantly, enabling us to feed around 1500 during the three days. The simultaneous conference in Maracay was likewise blessed, as also in Maracaibo at the beginning of the year.

We spent the last week of the year in El Baul helping the saints with Bible readings on basic assembly truths. The last night we had a well-attended gospel meeting and the baptism of a sister. The interest in El Pao has kept up, encouraging us to make a greater effort there this year, God willing. An effort is made to bring the handful of new believers on Lord’s Day to the assembly meetings in Tinaco, and even some unsaved ask to come.

At present we are far from home in El Tigrito, where a Christian doctor is seeking to help our daughter Helen with her health problems. We are staying at the home of Elena’s sister and her husband and trying to catch up on literature work and help the local testimony here.

We appreciate your continued prayers for Venezuela.

C. 2000 (Ven) ANDREW & ELENA TURKINGTON 20/1/23