vernoy

January - February 2007

Socialism of the 21 century

The month of February has been very quiet in regards to new announcements of changes moving Venezuela ahead to the “Socialism of the 21 century”. When Chavez announced that Jesus was “the greatest socialist that ever lived” and that Chavez’s model of socialism comes from “Lenin, Marx and the Bible”, I began wondering if my understanding of Socialism and Communism was correct! If Jesus were a socialist, he would have asked Peter to go to the cross while he led the revolution!

For the most part, the nationalization process of the oil and energy industries has gone without problems and everyone is looking forward to a return to the times before privatization when it took a year to get an additional phone line and the lights only functioned at various hours during the day. NOT!

Big Blessings in Tight Situations

Sometimes we don’t see the big blessings that come through small problems. God clearly showed me His protection and provision in two specific instances.

While making some final travel arrangements, I couldn’t decide whether to stay with a local pastor or in a near-by hotel, until I received an email from another mission agency within the country warning about hotels that compromised their security by aiding in the robberies of numerous clients. I decided to stay with the local pastor instead of in one of the hotels whose name appeared on the list! Praise the Lord for that timely email!

Just this week, we emptied all of our nine large water bottles and patiently waited for the weekly water delivery. (We have come to accept as “normal” the severe shortages among the staple necessities. Black beans, sugar, chicken and eggs have been scarce since November of last year. What’s harder to understand is that Venezuela is a major producer of all of the above!) After a vain search at six local distributors for water, I returned home with empty bottles and a bit of frustration at the numerous “shortages” that we’ve been suffering through lately. I wish I could say that because of the “effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man” the Lord filled my bottles with water, however I think it was more because of God’s faithfulness to this frustrated missionary that the water truck arrived not ten minutes later. Praise the Lord for that timely delivery and the big blessings in tight situations.

Church Blessings

The governmental changes have not hampered our ministries to this point, and we are making plans to continue on as long as we can by helping with the building project, the ministries of the church, and the Bible institute. Our institute is programmed with intensive modules, and we have three courses going on at present within our church, and another module at another church in the next State.

The pastoral change has been a blessing to the church. Pastor Otto Zorn baptized six believers in January who are continuing in discipleship and growth. Pray for the building plans to be completed and the building funds to be provided. Venezuela is not the same country that we came to 14 years ago, and it is sad to see the changes. However, the need is greater than ever for additional missionaries, the news of salvation, and the hope that the Gospel brings.

Ed and Debbie Vernoy

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;.." II Peter 1:5