June - July 1999

Dear Brethren,

I thank God for putting Philippians 4:13 in the Bible. It is the Lord Jesus Christ that is keeping me going. I am trying to build a church building at Piedras Amarillas and I now understand why so many Pastors said their blood pressure went through the roof when they built their churches. Trying to build a church in a third world country is a unique experience. So far we have the sewer system and the bathroom build. We are starting the church building now. It will cost us around $5000.00 dollars for labor and supplies. We are adding an "upper room" so we can stay in the mountains some of the time instead of making the hour drive back and forth.

We have had a lot of health problems lately and need your prayers. My wife has been sick for about six weeks. She has had food poisoning, amebic dysentery and a reoccurring throat problem. I praise the Lord she seems to be doing good now. I had to stay in the hospital one night because I thought I was having a heart attack but after tests the doctor said it was not a heart attack but an anxiety attack brought on by stress. I also had a very high blood pressure but I am on medication for it and it is coming down. The doctor said my body was wore out and he had me stay home and rest for a couple of days and suggested a vacation away from La Ceiba when it is possible but I am not sure when that will be.

I preached at Brother Jose Barrona's church one Sunday night and two young women got saved. Their names are Cecilia Martinez, age 18 and Maritza Delgado, age 19. I am preaching Sunday nights at an English-speaking church in La Ceiba until they can get a preacher or until I get my church built. I plan on having night services in Amarillas when it is built. Please pray they can get a pastor soon. I am also preaching on Saturday nights at village close to La Ceiba. They want to start a church there but I do not know for such that is what God wants me to do. They are also begging me to come back to the prison but so far I just have not had the time. Pray the Lord will give me the strength to get every thing done.

The people in our church in Amarillas are still growing and some have started witnessing and handing out tracts. This is quite an accomplishment here because they are timid and shy around people. Moncha and Olga's teenage daughter Carla, got saved and we praise the Lord their whole family is saved now. Moncha is still growing in the Lord and going strong. We are planning their wedding and also the wedding of Daniel and Letensia Garcia. In the last letter we told you about Daniel getting saved. He has been witnessing to his former drinking buddy Arturo, who is also Catholic. I am going to go visit him and Daniel is trying to get him to come to church so pray for him and his family.

The Catholics have become concerned about me. The priest used to come once a month then he started showing up everyday and asking questions about me. Now they have build a church one mile down the road on one side of my church and two miles down the road on the other side. We have a lady in our church named Elizabeth and her husband Daniel is Catholic. He is giving her a hard time about coming to church. He build one of the catholic churches and I have talked to him about building ours. He came to church once so please pray the Lord will deal with him so he can get saved.

Sometimes out on the field we get to feeling all alone and the strain of the work can get to us but it is very comforting to know we have people back home praying for us and supporting us and knowing that you are there and that you love us really does help keep us going.

Your workers in Honduras,

Santos and Sandra Ortiz