Mark Update September 11, 2009

Hello from Ecuador, Here follows a letter to family and friends.           Please share it with others who might be edified an encouraged through it.

It has been a very difficult month for me. I am at a necessary but difficult place in my walk with God. When John said "He must increase and I must decrease", he spoke of something that I am learning is very continuous and ongoing. Paul said it this way. "I know in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." I embrace these lessons and discoveries on a deeper level. They are not fun or satisfying, only in the fact of God's eternal truth can I find rest, He will perform that which He has begun in me. I cry out with the apostle Paul, O wretched man that I am. Who shall save me from the body of this death. I THANK GOD, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD....

Enough of me, let's think of Him. He did the will of His Father, not His own. He left His home and His glory to come to this sin infested world. He had no place to lay His head nor call home. He truly loved His Father and His most precious creation, man. He gave, layed down His life and became that which He despised, sin. He loves us, let us follow Him! No, it will not be pleasant to the flesh or to the old man. That is why we groan for the redemption of this corruptible body. That is why there is a desire to depart and be with Him.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour, that before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God; I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know, till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach; till I rest in peace with Thee.

DRAW ME NEARER, NEARER BLESSED LORD, TO THE CROSS WHERE THOU HAST DIED.
DRAW ME NEARER, NEARER, NEARER BLESSED LORD, TO THY PRECIOUS, BLEEDING SIDE.

I am headed into the jungle interior in a day or two. I am planning to spend some time in two Huaorani villages that I have visited before and have begun forming friendships with the believers there. I intend to spend the time in prayer and fasting along with much time in God's Word. I am hopeful that some of the believers will join in.

The Huaorani believers, that I have met, have a desire to reach out to the lost of the jungle, especially their relatives who fled further into the jungle when the five missionaries were killed in the 50's. Some of the believers I have met are getting well up in years and want their family to be at peace with God. As I wrote last month, there is a conference of Huaorani believers in mid October. I believe there will be discussions amongst the church as how to proceed in reaching out to these relatives. These relatives are still an isolated people and I believe, still dangerous. Prayer is of utmost importance! The mind, will and heart of God is what is needed. The arm, mind and will of man must decrease to nothing.

Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death is still our shining shield.

On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble beneath our tread, and echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe, white raiment shall be given.
Before the angels he shall know his name confessed in heaven.
Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, in Jesus’ conquering Name.                                                                                                                                                                               

FAITH IS THE VICTORY! FAITH IS THE VICTORY! O GLORIOUS VICTORY, THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD.

My heavenly Father has asked me to come here and help them. I am still not sure what all that entails, but I do know in whom I have believed. I know that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him. The closer I get the fiercer the warfare. The enemy is mad, God's Spirit is moving amongst the peoples of the jungle.

Your prayers over this next month or six weeks will be of great help. I only desire to do what God desires of me. No more, and certainly no less.