Praying for Latin America and the Caribbean

Newsletter of Blake and Kathy Penson August 27, 2024

Lessons From Fishing

Summer in Canada is a great opportunity to enjoy the incredible creation that our loving God has given us in this nation and to know him more as a result. The term used by theologians is general revelation. This summer I had the opportunity to be with all of my siblings for the first time in 9 years, in Kitimat, B.C. while we fished for salmon. It was an incredible experience standing on shore while casting and hoping for a catch (something I hadn’t done in 43 years). It was time to learn. Initially, I couldn’t see any salmon. My older brother Tony said, “they are there, I see them hiding in the shadows.” I looked and looked and didn’t see any form or movement. But I put on the bright pink lure and cast in faith believing the declaration of my brother. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I had my first catch. Shortly after that I had another, filling my limit for Pink Salmon in a relatively short time. The rest of the day was catch and release. It was an incredible experience. The fellowship later in the evening, eating fresh salmon in the great outdoors, is one many of you will relate to.  

My older brother Tony was the source of a parallel lesson about spiritual fishing some 11 months previous to fishing in Kitimat. My wife and I have had the privilege of getting to know some immigrant families who have arrived as refugees after undergoing horrific persecution in the Middle East at the hands of ISIS militants. We have become especially close to one young couple who were struggling, wondering if they would ever be able to have children. The Canadian doctors did not give them much hope. We had been sharing in different opportunities the hope that can be found in Jesus. Similar to my fishing experience it was like casting into the shadows. There was not much interest until the Lord reminded me to tell them about a visit to Cuba years ago when I was accompanied by my brother, Tony. During a house church service in central Cuba, while I was sharing about the hope we have in Christ, my brother heard clearly from the Lord in his spirit that there were two couples who had not been able to have children. He was seeing movement in the shadows, invisible to the physical eye but not to the Spirit. At the end of the service, an invitation was given. Two women came forward and we prayed for them. A year later, one had healthy twin daughters and the other a beautiful daughter. Suddenly, the interest of the young Middle Eastern couple was peaked as I said that Kathy and I would love to pray to Jesus for them, and that my brother Tony would also pray. Today this young couple has a miracle baby girl in their lives, and have opened to hear more of the Jesus who not only sees us in the shadows of our fears and struggles but comes to us with great hope. 

As we seek to be instruments of Christ’s hope in the shadows, I want to thank you for your donations to the Family Relief Fund for Cuba. A container is now being packed and will be sent the first week of September with basic food essentials, bicycles and other items to the families in Cuba who are experiencing significant economic hardship. There has been more than 500 percent inflation on all goods and services. A family of four shares one chicken drumstick with some rice and beans. A carton of eggs now costs the equivalent of half a month’s minimum wage. Most parents are missing meals so that their children can eat. Transport is very limited. Yet in the shadows of what appears to be a hopeless situation, God is opening doors to provide and share the hope that we have in Christ. The churches are growing rapidly in the face of this hardship. Pray for the blessing that this container will become, as not only food but also the Living Bread of Jesus’ provision of forgiveness, healing and peace is shared by the members of Alliance congregations with those still living in the shadows and darkness in their communities.

I have sent a link to a video of the previous container that was sent. We are grateful for being able to do this in partnership with the U.S. Alliance Church.

Pray…

1. Please pray for us as we continue to seek to be a light in the lives of the immigrants the Lord brings into our lives.  

2. Pray for this container that will be sent to Cuba the first week of September. Pray that it will arrive without any logistical complications. Pray for the distribution of the gifts of food and other items to open doors for sharing Christ and being able to minister to and follow up with each family contacted. 

3. Please pray for me as I travel to Mexico (23-25 September) for meetings with my regional missions counterparts from across Central and South America. We will continue to seek together to be more effective in equipping and mobilizing international workers from Latin America to the least reached regions and people groups.