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Greetings in the Lord!

I wanted to provide another mid-trip update to my ministry supporters. Some good news ... and some not so good news.

Let me start with the discouraging news. Last night my well-worn computer decided that it was time for me to put it to rest. My hard drive crashed and I am not able to access the information. I´m currently at the mercy of the (not very dependable) public internet cafes. The good news is that before I left for the trip I backed up (as I always do) my entire hard drive. The bad news is that all emails (about 40 per day!) and documents that I worked on (several significant projects!) during the first 10 days of my trip are "lost and gone forever". While I´m trying to make a point of humour out of this, this is a significant frustration, because I had some important documents that I was supposed to leave with students for course information, and others which were last minute notes on the two courses I´ve been teaching on this trip. They´re gone. I have to scramble to put written notes together, and "wing it" for the conferences I´m teaching. For those of you who know me well, you know that I´m not a "wing it" person, except under pressure when absolutely necessary.... which now is for the last ten days of my trip. Please pray that God will somehow give me recollection without the benefit of my notes during the conferences I have to teach. Documents of support for the students are also not available for distribution, which makes the conferences more difficult to teach.

Upon my return home, I will have to invest in another computer, which is beyond the limits of my ministry budget at this time. I´ll be sending a finance update in another HCM update. But the brief report is that my treasurer noted at the last mission committee meeting that there was $62 of income over expenses so far this year. So we´re in the black, but hanging by a thread at this point. I´m trusting that the Lord will provide for more funds during the typically lean summer months of fund-raising. Perhaps you could keep this in mind as you consider your giving over the next several months.

But there is good trip news too.

1) In Leòn, Nicaragua, I spent two days organizing a new study centre made up of 45 students who received the Hermeneutics course and are academically qualified (minimum high school degree) to register as students with MINTS. I just now got an email from a student saying they have already had their first follow-up class and are very excited about the course. Thank the Lord for this strong start in a Bible Institute that previously had been offering courses only at a pre-university level.

2) In Jinotepe, Nicaragua there is a student who attended the conference in Leòn. He called me by telephone and said that on Sunday he was talking to several church members about the conference and course. Seven students there are interested in starting up a Centre as well. Praise God for expansion of MINTS by way of word of mouth.

3) In Managua there is a Reformed church with which I have had contact during my years in Costa Rica. They invited me to present MINTS there. After the presentation, 12 students committed themselves to start with MINTS on my next trip. Please pray for these students, most of whom are studying in the local university.

4) Prison Ministry -

  a) Estelì - I met with the coordinator of the prison ministry in Estelì. They have been using material and program of the Cornerstone Bible Institute for which I have been serving as a contact person. In this prison they have had a change of directors and as a result all programs activities in the prison are on a halt until each program is reviewed and re-submitted. Please pray that this discipleship ministry will be able to continue.

  b) Managua - The prison ministry in the main prison in Managua is progressing, though very slowly. They have no internet access, and distribution of materials is very difficult. But I have been invited by the leaders of the MINTS Centre in the prison system there to do a conference on the Sunday (July 20) of the day before I leave for home. They would like me to a follow-up conference on the course on Nehemiah which I taught there during my last visit. Pray for effective follow up in spite of extenuating
circumstances.

5) Hurrican Felix Project - I spent two hours boat ride up to the village where Word & Deed is supporting MINTS students in the relief project. The trip up offered three showers of water from the waves coming into the 21 ft open boat. The return trip provided two hours of consistent showers of salt water because of the high waves. They are progressing well in the project of providing food, clean water and construction of 100 houses, but have had some challenges due to the limited supply of resources for the building of the homes. Please pray that the local relief committee (made up of four MINTS students and directed by a MINTS student) will be able to find alternative resources to complete the project.

6) Trip to Honduras - On Monday I will be travelling to Honduras for a quick five-day inside trip (back and forth to Nicaragua) to visit with four of the MINTS Centers, and meet with leaders of two new potential study centres. Pray for travel safety and energy for those very busy five days.

Thank you for your support in prayers.

Pastor Eric Pennings