Missionary Update

Hello everybody! I've been super disconnected from social media for a while because after losing a phone in Cucuta and having a brand new second one stolen in Bogota, I just sort of gave up, and haven't tried to publish anything recently... The funny thing is that the most likely time for me to have lost a phone to begin with, would have been while I was in Venezuela and some paramilitaries decommissioned my device for about an hour after I took a picture that they weren't very thrilled about... They told me that I had to buy the equivilent of $15 dollars worth of Christmas presents for Venezuelan kids if I wanted my phone back, so I just sort of thought that that was kind of like a win-win. I bought some Venezuelan kids some preseants, shared the gospel to the leader of the vigilantes, and got my phone back, only to have the silly thing get lost again a week later when Alejandra and I went bowling with some friends in Colombia... I waited about a month for my sister to bring me a new Samsung Galaxy from the States, but before I even turned it on, it got robbed one day while I was preaching, and some wise guy broke the window of my car and ended up finding a pretty nice little state of the art mobile phone right there inside of my blue backpack, just waiting to get stolen. I'm sure that whoever robbed it is enjoying it quite a bit right now. ...So I guess the moral of the story is that you're more likely to get something robbed while you're preaching in Colombia, than after you've crossed the border illegally into Venezuela and gotten held up by paramiliteries (yikes!)... But yeah, anyway, if I were to publish some pics from the past couple months, these would be the ones:

Alejandra and I in Venezuela after crossing the border illegally on our wedding anniversay

Alejandra and I on the open border for Venezuelans but not yet for Colombians

Alejandra and I in a beutiful city of Colombia that we would like to start a church in some day

Preaching on the book of Filemon in Iglesia Duitama

Iglesia Refugio in Cucuta made up of Venezuelan immigrants as well as a few American friends that work with Samaritans Purse

Iglesia Parkway in Bogota which is kind of like the mother church of Iglesia Duitama and Iglesia Refugio

Friends from all 3 churches along with friends from an associated church in La Calera

Street musician friends in Cucuta Soli Deo Gloria, Sam and Alejandra

Church Update

My friendship with the non-Christian owner of a chain of barber shops has led to a Bible study with about 20 of his employees every Friday morning. Alejandra and I wish our hair grew faster just so we could frequent our friend's businesses more often, but at least I (Sam) meet with the barbers to play soccer every Tuesday, and so my interaction with the guys isn't exclusively as their teacher, but also as their friend.

On Saturday evenings we share the gospel in an air-conditioned hotel conference room with another 20 Venezuelan immigrant street vendors and musicians, and before the preaching we praise our God together, which is just awesome, since they all have such amazing musical talent. We also collect an offering and give it to anyone of the families or individuals from the group who have the most need.

On Sunday mornings there are about 20 more immigrants that we meet with as a church in an open air restaurant where we devote ourselves to the apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer. This group held together despite all odds during the pandemic, as a faithful Venezuelan Christian family did an excellent job of pastoring the assembly in Alejandra's and my absence.

Stay tuned for this next Tuesday's special edition update, and feel free to read some of the responses to my previous editorial in the attached Insider's Inbox. Thanks everybody, and have a wonderful day, Sam

Illegal Border Crossings

Every time I interact with immigrants and hear their stories of traveling thousands of miles in search of better opportunities, I’m honestly humbled. The determination it takes to leave their country and face the overwhelming challenge of surviving with little more than their ability to improvise, is just remarkable. It’s amazing that the only thing it takes to spur millions of people to walk thousands of miles, face countless dangers, and constantly feel weak and confused in a land not their own, is the hope of a better life.

I find it sad that sometimes people criticize immigrants for “invading their country,” and look down on them with disdain – all while complaining that the restaurants they go to don’t have enough workers to serve them their food a little faster… you know? …I remember writing about the immigrant phenomenon in the States a while back, and one Christian friend agreed with me on the economic benefits of having illegal Latin Americans working in the US, but questioned how I could endorse it, if going against the law is clearly un-Christian... In his opinion, our interests should not lie in the potential economic benefits of welcoming illegal immigrants, but in our willingness to submit to the God given authorities of our land, for better or for worse. His logic was consistent, but I was still unconvinced. “Who cares about the government – my only job is to welcome them like I would want to be welcomed myself,” I thought.

And that’s where I find myself now. How do I want to be welcomed into a country that I cross into illegally? …Basically, without extortion or threats of imprisonment… Am I suggesting that I’m wanting to cross into a country illegally? Yes. I am, and I’m pretty scared about it. I’ve done stuff like that before, yet it’s one thing for me to do it on my own, and it’s certainly another to do so with my beautiful wife Alejandra.

God gave me the command to make disciples of all nations, and when I’m reluctant to do so because the country that I’m trying to get into doesn’t accept American or Colombian citizens – does my reluctance stem from my neglect towards God’s command of making disciples of all nations, or from my respect for the leaders of the foreign government that is standing in my way? …Honestly, I don’t respect the present dictator of Venezuela too much, and so I feel like it would be a cop-out to say I’m not going in just because I can’t get my passport stamped… It’s like, “really?” there are millions of people who cross borders illegally all the time because they need to make more money, but there are so few Christians who cross borders illegally to share the gospel, even though the gospel is more important than money… Why is that? …As sad as it is to say, and as self-condemning it is for me to acknowledge in my own life – maybe it’s because unbelievers’ love for money is greater than Christians’ love for sharing the gospel.

…In fact, this crazy scenario isn’t even a realistic conundrum for most people to even bother with… Most Christians are still too conflicted over the issue that there are too many immigrants in their own country (and that they’re illegal for goodness’ sake!) – that they would never even dream of going into another country illegally themselves, even if it were to share the gospel… No, half the time, and to our own shame, we’re too freaked out just to share the gospel in our own country (even though it’s completely legal), to even start thinking about sharing it somewhere else… …I know of a Venezuelan immigrant who has a lot more guts than I do, and I invited him once to join me on a road trip in Colombia. There was another Venezuelan with us as well, and he had his papers in order, but my fearless friend did not.

Anyway, we were in the middle of the pandemic, and we were driving along the highway, and all of a sudden, we got stopped by some policemen at a road block. There were certain restrictions at the time for traveling between cities, but I was legally considered an exception because I’m involved in religious/humanitarian work. My properly documented Venezuelan friend was listed on the permit I obtained to drive my car that day, but my improperly documented friend was not. My license and insurance and emissions papers were all in order, but since one of the passengers in my car was an improperly documented Venezuelan, the policeman decided to impound my vehicle.

The whole situation was really grim because it was raining, and I was going to have to pay a bunch of money, and my friends and I were all going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere for a while. I wasn’t going to be able to get my car back from the tow yard for another 2 days (and in 5 days I was getting married!), and I just felt really frustrated about the whole situation, and towards the policeman specifically, for not cutting me some slack. Well, as my car was being chained and lifted up onto the tow truck, my improperly documented Venezuelan friend told the harsh policeman about Jesus and asked him if he wanted to pray to ask God to forgive him of his sins. The policeman complied, and I was stunned! 10 minutes beforehand I was tempted to try and bribe the policeman, but luckily, I didn’t. Next thing I knew, my illegal immigrant friend of all people, was the one leading the stern policeman to Christ. Halleluiah!

That guy is insane. I first met him at a refugee camp where he was sharing the gospel, and then I started joining him for a Bible study in a random restaurant that he walked into once, where he convinced the owners to let him live. When we were wandering around in the streets he would suddenly start preaching in the open air, and every once in a while, he would hide away in the mountains to fast and pray.

His name is Victor, and for a while we both put on a weekly open-air church meeting. At times he would stand up to preach and have everyone laughing their heads off for one second, and then seriously thinking about their sin and repenting of it in in the next… He would share the gospel to prostitutes and drug addicts and emerald dealers alike, and convince whole groups of people to join him for a Bible study right on the spot.

Last I heard from him he travelled to the North of Colombia and crossed into Panama illegally, followed by Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Next, he made it into Guatemala and started living on an old woman’s farm, much like Elijah, and decided to start a church there, along with a few teenagers he met on the street. Before you know it, he’ll probably be sneaking into Mexico and the US, just wandering around wherever the Spirit leads, and telling others about Jesus however he can. You can’t bridle that guy, or trip him up with legalities. You want to take him to prison? He’ll probably see it as the Lord’s provision, and start a church with his cell mates and the guards (Genesis 39:19-23; Acts 16:25-34). You want to take him before a judge because he’s illegal? …I think he cares more about The Ultimate Judge who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28). You want to deport him? He’ll probably just wipe the dust off his feet and thank you for the free ride home (Matt. 10:14). He’s the kind of guy that is poor, yet is making many rich. The kind of guy that has nothing, and yet possesses everything (2 Cor. 6:18).

What I mean is that there are certain situations that Christians can get themselves into that can be pretty gnarly, but the way you remain faithful to God in the midst of those situations can make a big impact. Think of Daniel and his friends for instance. The Jews could have criticized them of reading Babylonian literature and serving in the enemy’s palace, and the Babylonians could have criticized them of not eating the royal food or bowing down to their gods… Either way, they could have succumbed to external pressure, but they were confident in who they were. They knew that their identity rested in the One they worshipped, and they were confident that God would show them how to maneuver around any obstacle that was thrown their way. Even if they were to die, they said, they would not serve false gods or worship the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar had set up (Dan. 3:18). …What I want to say is this: There is nothing safe about following Jesus, just like there is nothing safe about leaving your home country. Regardless, millions of immigrants leave behind their home countries all the time, because they believe there is something better to be gained somewhere else… The question is – do we as Christians believe there is something better to be gained also, whether that’s at home or abroad, by simply following Christ? If you’re reading this post right now, it’s because I sent it from my cell phone a few minutes before crossing into Venezuela… if you could pray for Alejandra and I right now, that we would be faithful to God and tactful as we interact with Venezuelans and point them to Christ – we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Funds Overview

...As for an overview of how Alejandra and I have been using some of the funds that we've received for our ministry here in Colombia, it looks a little like this: One of the main developments is that in moving to Duitama to start a new church, we started renting a building both for Alejandra and I to live in, as well as to meet in as a church. The group has grown fast, and is full of young, new believers that are excited about following and learning from Jesus. 

This building used to be a restaurant, and so we remodeled it a little (turned the kitchen into our bed room and created a smaller kitchen off to the side and installed a shower), and for 2 and a half months we hired a Venezuelan immigrant at a little more than average wage to help us with the construction (we also hired another Venezuelan that helped with the plumbing and another one that designed and made the kitchen). 

Anyway, the fellow's name that helped us with the construction is Tello, and he's a good worker and was very responsible (always showed up 10 minutes early and administered resources well). He lives with his wife and son in a run down room and everything that we had left over from the construction he used to make stuff for his apartment (like a chair and desk)... His son recently graduated from a foundation that he had to go to because he was caught doing drugs, and the day after his graduation was his birthday, and so he joined us for a party where we celebrated him as well as my wife Alejandra and her twin sister who's birthday was the next day.  

Back in December, Alejandra and I hired Tello's wife to make Venezuelan food for a Christmas gathering, and Tello brought about 40 Venezuelans to attend. He and his wife have also been attending our Sunday morning gatherings, and I'm not sure if they are Christians yet, but they're very receptive. 

Every time Tello and I would hit the road to buy construction materials (1 hour drive towards Tunja), we would pick up Venezuelan walkers, and encourage them and give them a bit of money as they continued on their journey. 

At the end of the construction project, I bought Tello a drill and a circular saw to help him keep getting more jobs and create more income (in our own project we would pay a bit of money to borrow another Venezuelan's tools), and he told me he was eternally thankful. I also sponsored him to take a ropes and security course which is part of the standard requirement for receiving construction jobs here in Colombia, and after completing this 2 day course, a couple days later he called me to let me know that he had gotten a stable job.  

There are also 2 other stories that aren't as encouraging. One of a young Venezuelan man who I bought a cart for so that he could sell fruit (he told me that's what he really wanted to do), but he ended up selling it to someone else, and squandering the money. He's been lying to his mother and father in law, and sometimes will take another friend that's a girl and her son with him to beg for money on the street, as it's easier than working, and sometimes pays more.

Another tough story is that Frank was the Venezuelan fellow who Alejandra and I helped along with his wife and kids, and who stayed some time here in Duitama when their 5th child was born... they were set on going back to Venezuela even though I discouraged it, but eventually consented and gave them some money for the transportation and for them to get by and maybe create a job of some kind in Venezuela (I gave them the equivalent of $800 US dollars)... they eventually made it to Venezuela and reconnected with their extended family, but as I suspected, their money ran out, and Frank left his wife and children to come walking back to Colombia and made it here to church in Duitama along with a friend (it took them 10 days walking). I paid for him and his friend to stay in a hotel for a week while I traveled to San José to visit the church that I had started there and share the gospel with an indigenous community, and when I made it back the next Sunday they came to church again, but told me they decided to keep walking to Peru... it just breaks my heart that each day Frank is getting further and further away from his family, even though he stays in touch with them and sends them money. 

As for other more spontaneous help, just about every time Alejandra and I travel back to Bogota or to Tunja we pick up Venezuelan walkers that may have been traveling for weeks by foot, and we pack all their things up on the roof rack of the car and fit as many people as we can inside the vehicle, and in the matter of a few hours manage to take them as far as it would take for them to otherwise walk for a few days. Usually we talk with them about Jesus along the way, and then buy them some food and give them some money to help them going forward.  

When Alejandra and I go back to Cucuta in March, it will be interesting to see how the transition will work between the Venezuelan family that's staying in our apartment and working with the church, but I trust the Lord will have us pick up right where we left off, meeting regularly for Bible studies and the Sunday morning meeting... when the border opens up, throughout the week hopefully we can live on the Venezuelan side, and return to the Colombian side every weekend.  The family that I left in charge for a year now in Cucuta has been doing a wonderful job, and I have continued to pay for the rent of Alejandra's and my apartment for them to stay in, as well as send them another $200 dollars for additional expenses each month. Since this is the last month that they will be staying in our apartment, I sent them $500 just to help out with finding a new place to stay or else head back home to Venezuela. 

Alejandra and I will continue to support the church in Duitama with about $500 dollars each month until the church's income increases and it can pay for its own expenses and we can progressively taper off with the support. Meanwhile, we will be investing more in the church in Cucuta with things such as rent and meals with Venezuelan immigrant friends and things like that.  Finally, at another border city of Colombia with Venezuela (Puerto Carreño) there is a Venezuelan pastor that administers a tuk tuk motorized vehicle that I bought both to create an income for him as well as the 2 Venezuelan drivers that use it. He sends me a percentage of the income for using the vehicle each month, and even though it will take a few years to break even, I feel like it was a good investment to realistically help Venezuelan Christians in need. 

Sincerely, Sam and Alejandra