Warning:  If you are not interested in finances this post may be confusing or extremely boring.    The short version is that our budget stretches further than it did a week ago.

Since coming to Uruguay in April of 2008 we have seen the uruguayan peso gain in strength against the free falling dollar.  When we first came our budget was set on a currency exchange of 24 uruguayan pesos to 1 US dollar.  Like most missionaries around the world we have been tightening our belts as our purchasing power in pesos has been cut.

Recently the missionaries in Europe saw some relief as the dollar gained in strength versus the euro.

That was not true for us.  The dollar has remained low against the peso.

However, this past Monday I opened up an article to find some much welcomed news.  The Uruguayan government has decided to start acquiring large amounts of dollars to once again strengthen the dollar against the Uruguayan peso.  Since Monday we have seen the peso increase from 19.15 to 20 pesos per dollar!  This is a huge jump.  To give you an idea this is the equivalent of having gained one supporting church in the past week.

Sun!  Wonderful sunshine!  Unlike our last VBT here in Durazno we are experiencing wonderful weather for this weeks VBT in the park.  Thank you for your prayers.

Once again we are using a Wordless Book theme to be able to clearly give the Gospel.  My goal is that each child hear the Gospel at least two times from two different sources in a two hour time slot.  The time goes by so quickly.

Pastor Daniel Rojas (aka Cascarita the Clown) and two teenagers from Paysandu are helping us this week in addition to Victor M.  Without them we would not be able corral some of the more energetic children.

On the first evening we had 42 children slowly trickle in over the coarse of our two hour VBT hosted in Plaza Guayreña.  Friday evening, we had 45 children, and on Saturday morning we had 43.

Friday morning we followed up some of the parents from VBT#1, and reinvited their children to VBT#3.  In addition, we invited the parents to start individual Bible Studies with us.  So far we have not had any takers but on the other hand we only had one definite “no”.  Please pray that we will have some parents say “yes”.

Last Thursday we traveled north-west to Paysandu to help Iglesia Bautista Bíblica de Fe with their annual VBT.  Jo Anna taught the Bible lesson, while I taught the memory verse.  We had a great time with the children, Cascarita the Clown, and the rest of the family.

The VBT ended Saturday evening and we traveled back the same night to Durazno to be ready for Sunday.

During the time six children made professions of salvation and two received assurance of their salvation.  Of the new children that attended, two showed up for Sunday School the day after.

Praise the Lord for the fruit He is giving the believers in Paysandu.

Pastor and Nan Flinck arrived safe and sound after a long journey.  Their flight got in just a few minutes ahead of schedule at Uruguay’s brand new international airport.  Despite their exhaustion they were game to go and see the place were Ray and Sharon Pope had ministered for some many years, (Las Piedras)  especially as it was on the way to our home in Durazno.  This also allowed them to freshen up with a welcome and refreshing shower.

Due to the flooding that we experienced last week, we have been told to expect water cuts this week, and were not sure if we would have water in the house when we got home.  The city pipes did not withstand the extra pressure.  Right now the River Yi is approximately 30 feet higher than normal.  Fortunately, when we arrived home about 4:30 the water was still flowing to our house. Phew!

We are thrilled to see our Pastor and wife, and look forward to showing them the beautiful place and people that God has given us to serve.