February, 2008

Dear co-laborers:

Since this is our first letter for 2008, we want to take this opportunity to express our desire that you experience a blessed and fruitful year in your service to Him whose birth we recently celebrated, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It was a joy to have Nathan here for the Christmas holidays. Just three months earlier, the doctors were predicting a minimum of twelve months of rehab. God has certainly been good to us, and to him, in speeding him through his physical recovery so quickly. He still has some things he needs to work on, but is much better, much more quickly than what was originally thought possible. Thank you ever so much for your prayers on his and our behalf.

In our last letter, I mentioned the desire to begin a medical furlough to seek help for Cheri. At the time, we thought that would probably take place some time in December. It soon became obvious that was not to be the case. Since we had what we thought to be a good prospective buyer for the house, we decided to wait until the house was sold before leaving, also giving us more time to sort through things and maybe save some on shipping expenses.

Just last month I received a call to inform me that the legal paperwork was finally finished that makes possible the sale of our house. That same day I consulted with the agent handling the sale and found out the couple can no longer follow through with the purchase. It all has to do with a change in banking policy related to the percentage of income allowed to be used for mortgage payments.

Results: We are starting from the beginning, looking for a new buyer; when we begin our medical furlough is unknown.

My first reaction was simply confusion as to what God was trying to tell us and what He wants us to do. A missionary couple visited shortly before Christmas who were interested in the possibility of coming to pastor the church. They called about three weeks later to let us know that the missionaries with whom they are now working want them to stay with the work in Avila when they return from furlough in September so they can start another work. We are still putting out feelers, both here and through BIMI, trying to find someone to pastor the church. Please pray for us, and for the church members while we go through this process.

In the meantime, we will be celebrating our annual faith-promise missions conference the last week of this month with brother Roy Lowe, the man who started the church, as the guest preacher. Our theme this year is “fishers of men.” Saturday, February 23, we are having a special service for the purpose of constituting Iglesia Bautista “la Luz” (“The Light” Baptist Church). Please pray with us for a good conference, that we will be challenged to allow our faith to grow, and that we will indeed be “fishers of men” faithful to follow Christ’s leadership, wherever it takes us, doing whatever He wants us to do.

We want to say a special “Thank You” to each one who has sent special offerings these past few months. You have been a special blessing to us in seeing our needs met, and a few desires satisfied.

Thank you for continuing to pray and to give, making our ministry here in Fuengirola possible.

Serving Christ together,

Clayton and Cheri Livengood