FRUIT IN THE FOURTH REGION — July 2005

"WE FOUND FRUIT IN THE FOURTH REGION" as we ministered in the cold, very cold Andes east of La Serena last week.

Two weeks ago when I was returning from an extended trip of 2,900 kilometers ministering in towns south of Antofagasta, I felt a tug on my heart when I drove through La Serena while heading home. I knew I needed to return north quickly with Nikki the following week to explore and extend the ministry in the Andes east of La Serena. Consequently, I asked Nikki to write about a beautiful encounter we had in this very remote area over 5,000 feet in elevation. She writes about it below in this letter.

In route we stopped to rotate videos in other towns, including in the sage brush village of Alcones with Señora Hortencia, who carries all the responsibilities for the little purple Baptist church.

 
 

And in the fishing village of Tongoy, further north, we opened the ministry in the Vitacura church. Some young men of the church were up on exposed rafters building an addition to the church and their curiosity got the best of them. They all climbed down to visit my mobile video library as I was helping select recordings for the church.

 
 

Now for Nikki's experience out on the road with me:

  "While we were traveling up north last week, seeking God's people, zig zagging in the Andes, we came upon two girls, standing by the road with school packs in hand. They were buttoned up to their noses in wool, their cheeks rosy and eyes glistening from the icy cold. How could we pass them by? We were nearly at 5,000 feet in the Valley of Pisco Elqui.

 
 

"We asked our student passengers if they knew of any evangelical churches in the area. They said that there were none, but we should continue on up the canyon and see the art center. We would not have continued driving if it weren't for this urging of the girls. As we looked back on this casual event we could see how the Spirit used the girls to guild us to His child, waiting for us.

"A half hour later after dropping off our hitchhikers, we rounded a hairpin curve on the dirt road, and down below us we saw the art center. There were actually lovely new buildings. We arrived and parked and when we hopped out of the van, the icy wind struck our faces and we started shivering. The breeze felt like it was coming off a glacier.

  "A lot of New Age art was on display and we soon felt an oppressive spiritual heaviness and a need to leave. But, something else also pulled at us. I spotted a little shop with hand painted lanterns. The designs were not New Age and we felt comfortable about her shop. So we stepped inside. The owner, Paola, a short, lovely young woman had a natural glow about her.

"After looking at her lanterns, Larry suggested that she try including some biblical themes, such as the Holy Spirit descending as a dove. She froze on the spot; I could see her concentrate. She then surprised us by stating that she just started having a hunger to know God and since there is no church she was meeting with a group of Christians. Larry asked her how those Christians identified themselves. It was our turn to freeze when we heard. 'Jehovah Witnesses.' Larry shared his concern and explained why he considered this group a false cult. Paola asked, 'Isn't their bible and all bibles the same.' What a revelation she had when she found out that there are people misaligning the Word of God.

"Larry said that he had videos that he would be willing to loan to her. We noticed that Paola had a young boy and Larry mentioned that he also had Muppet type videos that taught biblical subjects for children. Her child's face lit up when he heard that. Larry ran to the van and came back with 8 tapes including Panorama of the Bible, Basic Doctrines of the Bible, Why Jehovah Witnesses Is a Cult, and two tapes by puppets for children.

"Larry explained that down the mountain, there was a Baptist couple in Piahuano, who we had just signed up that day with our video ministry. He shared their names and phone number and encouraged her to contact them. I noticed that Paola kept edging closer and closer to me. Shortly she had her arm linked through mine. She started looking up into my face and began to express her gratitude that we were helping her. She wanted to continue communicating with me if I had email. We received our first email from her, day before yesterday!

"We returned down the mountains to Piahuano and decided to visit once again our new Baptist friends, Claro and Elena, and tell them about Paola.

 
 

"Were they ever surprised to see us again so soon. I told them I had new fruit for them to harvest; that a young woman was just about to be born again and would be looking for them. They said they would go and see her as soon as they could."

 
 

Friends, the harvest and fruit we continue to see down here is YOUR FRUIT ("treasures stored in heaven for you") as you continue to sacrifice financially to make it possible for us to reach out into the remote canyons of the Andes. We again thank every person who has been faithful with their support.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19

Blessings in Christ, Larry and Nikki

Video Instruction Ministries
% Harland Beery
P.O. Box 1332
Silverdale, WA 98383, USA
www.gault4him.org