^{Spanish Missions Bulletin}

Rev. Joel Silos, Director
P.O. Box 40398
San Antonio, TX  78229-1398
(210) 615-1945

October 2001

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."  Habakkuk 3:18

Greetings in Jesus’ name! May this letter find each of you well. Thank you for praying for us.

I sincerely appreciate the good job Karen is doing home schooling Mary Elizabeth and David. Besides the school work she has taught Mary, who will be 10 years old in December, to sew, cook, and bake. Last week Mary won a prize at the county fair when she presented a culottes’ outfit she sewed by herself. Both Karen and Mary won prizes on the roses they presented. David has Down’s Syndrome and will be six years old in November. His occupational therapist helped him with a painting which also won a prize.

At this time I am on my way to Chattanooga, Tennessee to attend the South Wide Baptist Fellowship October 1-3, 2001. A booth will be set up to show the ministries of the native missionaries who serve under Spanish Baptist Missions in Mexico. I am praying that the Lord will raise more prayer warriors for these men who are doing an effective work in reaching many with the gospel.

Sammy Herrera

Missionary Jose Luis Herrera from Guadalajara, Jalisco with Sandra, his wife, and Sammy, his son, were with us from August 19 to September 18, 2001. Sammy was born with a cleft palate and has had several surgeries, the last two by a plastic surgeon here in San Antonio. They came as he now needs a bone graft. However, on this trip it was not possible to get a hospital to waive all fees. Sammy’s name is on a charity care list and it may be two or three months before he is called. Please pray for him that God’s will may be done in his life.

Allegro Motor Home

Praise the Lord! We finally were able to bring the Allegro home. It broke down on our last family trip to visit churches and present the ministry. The members of Woodland Hills Baptist church and Pastor Wiley Bennet, in Tyler, Texas, were very gracious in allowing us to use their parking lot for ten months.

Every time I was in the Tyler area, I would stop one or two days to trouble-shoot. Finally, I took two weeks "vacation time" and stayed until I found the problem: two broken pistons. A brother in Christ who has a machine shop very kindly reworked the heads without charging. I replaced the pistons and bearings and the engine is running better though the radiator needs replacing.

Tracts and Videos

Brother Frank Woodford of Panama City, Florida, and Brother Arant, Worldwide Tract Ministry of Bessemer, Alabama, sent 475,000 tracts for distribution. Brother Woodford also sent some Bible videos and hymn cassettes.

Last month Karen and the children went with me into Mexico. We delivered most of the boxes of tracts and some videos to a Bible Institute in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas. This Institute has been in session for several decades and has trained many pastors. When the graduates visit they will take the literature and videos to their prospective churches. Please pray that many people will come to know Christ through this effort.

Prayer Requests

Annual Board Meeting: The Board of Directors will meet at 1:00 P.M. December 7, 2001 at Enon First Baptist Church. The address is 3615 Stonewall-Tell Road, College Park, Georgia.

Missionary Conference next January 2002 in the Yucatan Peninsula: I plan to take the rest of the boxes of tracts, videos, and cassettes on this trip. Each one of the missionaries requests literature.

A Better Mode of Transportation: The 22 year old car I use to go to the office and when we go into Mexico has 453,000 miles on it. It has already had two motors and is now in need of another. Also the transmission must be rebuilt. Please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom as to what to do about a more economical car.

New Pastors: We are in receipt of several more applications. Pray that God will give wisdom and discernment for the decisions made.

An heir of God through Christ,

Joel Silos, D.D.