Furlough, Ordination, and Travel Needs

                                                                          

“For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord” (1 Thess. 1:8).  

This is certainly true in regards to your missions giving for our work in Gijón, Spain.  Thank you for faithfully praying for us and giving so that the Gospel could sound out to many people who need the Lord in this city.  The 26^th of this month we will arrive in the States to begin giving a personal report of the work, raising lacking support, and recruiting more missionaries.  We will be on the East coast this year and be out West after the New Year.

Preparations for furlough are going well.  Our plane tickets were purchased a couple of months ago, housing for our arrival in NY city is settled, and our need for a van has been supplied.  Our video is finished (after 4 tries), but we still need to print prayer cards / brochures, and prepare a simple display.  If you would like to give a special gift for this material, and also for initial furlough travel (in the month of June alone we will be in upstate NY, MN, and FL), please send it to CMC designated “Contreras furlough”.

Last month, we sent a special request for help to get caught up with Andrew´s orthodontist bill.  A number of you responded and the Lord provided through you $620 which we were able to pay this week.  Thank you so much!  If you would like to continue giving toward this need (he has one more year which will continue in the USA) please do so sending a designated gift to CMC.

We are finishing packing, putting things in storage, we finished our last English classes, and the Gijón Mariners Jr tackle football team, for whom Joseph was the strength coach, finished their season.  When we first moved to Asturias, we were told that Asturianos are friends for life.  We are motivated to come back after furlough to our friends, these young people and their families, to continue sounding out the Word of the Lord to them.  The believers who remain with us in Iglesia Bautista Libertad (Liberty Baptist Church) are older, grounded believers from Christian homes, and will be strong as they meet in homes for Bible study and prayer.  Please keep them in your prayers.

On the 18^th of May Joseph celebrates 15 years since being ordained to the ministry by Sun Valley Baptist Church of El Paso, TX.  The charge preached by Pastor Carl Chitwood of Westside Baptist Temple of El Paso, TX is as clear to Joseph now as it was when it was first preached:  to always keep the family above the ministry.  This is always a guide as we make decisions for our lives and ministry and God is good and blesses.  As a married couple we continue deeply in love with each other as we serve the Lord together, and we are so thankful for our three boys who are the greatest fruit of our ministry, who love the Lord and have a heart for what God has called us to do here as a family.

Pray for travel safety.  Thank you for having a burden for souls in Gijón, Spain.  Keep sounding out the Word to them and pray more churches will have a burden to see this city be reached with the Gospel.

In Christ,

The Contreras family

– Joseph, Danielle, Isaiah, Andrew, and Michael

Please note our temporary USA address: 

5362 SE Celestial Circle

Stuart, FL 34997