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The Bill Baker Family
Serving Christ through
Spanish American Evangelism
3135 Forney Lane
El Paso, TX 79935
Volume No. 3 July, 1984 Number 2
Dear Christian Friends,
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ." Ephesians 1:2.
How wonderful He is and how thankful we are for all the blessings
He daily sends our way.
We have really been busy these last few months. If not here at
home its been speaking somewhere else. During the last two weeks
we have been helping out at our church with a two week evening
VBS. It has been hectic to say the least. I've also had two extra
people most of the time at home and my sister came through and
spent a few days with us on her way to San Antonio, Texas. The
VBS has been a good one. We registered a total of 105 and
attendance has averaged in the high 60's. This is an excellent
opportunity for us to follow up and for the Spanish group we are
working with within the mostly English speaking congregation. Do
pray for the children, tliey are mostly Spanish speaking and do not
go to church anywhere. Our Spanish class at church is still doing fine.
It hasn't grown too much, but the ones we have seem very interested
and seem to keep growing in Christ.
Raul Martinez (translator at Spanish American Evangelism) has
just been with us. We praise the Lord for all his help. He and his
family have really been a blessing. They will be working with three
different camps within Mexico during the summer. Do pray for them
in this. Also, continue to pray that final immigration papers will be
approved which will allow the entire family to move to El Paso on a
permanent basis. Along with the last request, Spanish American
Evangelism will need $1,000.00 more of general fund support per
month when they do move.
The children are ail doing good. They have all really grown. I can't
believe that Billy will be entering the 7th grade. It seems just like
yesterday that I took him to kindergarden with me while I was
teaching in Eagle Pass. He continues to play the violin and seems to
be doing real good on it.
Barbie has stretched out so much, she is really turning into a
beautiful lady. She goes into the 3rd grade this coming September.
She continues to improve on the piano. Her teacher says she is just
"full of Music" and just hopes that Barbie is patient enough to let
her bring it out correctly.
Frances is still my "cubby little sweetheart". She is sweet and
loves everyone. She has grown a lot but is still momma's baby. She
says, "All these two weeks at VBS and I haven't gotten a spanking
yet." About everyone else has had 1 or 2. She has a beautiful voice
and loves to sing, big and strong.
Caleb? Well, he is a different story. He is still to much of a baby
to be left with someone and boy is he independent. He can really
talk up a storm in both Spanish and English. He loves to sing, also.
He is still my baby though and usually wants momma to do
everything for him!
Daddy, well, poor Bill. He has been working, working, working in
trying to get everything in order before his Central American trip. He
has spent an average of 20 to 25 hours-per week in rebuilding the
new press which he traded for with Platte Valley Bible College. On
Tuesday evening, June 26th he was making some final adjustments
and got his ring finger on his left hand caught in one of the gears.
The Doctor had to put in 11 stitches. It slowed him down for about
a day, but that is all. Stitches should come out on the 6th of July.
The larger press is now working pretty good. Bill is still not satisfied
with everything, but with practice and more experience the press will
prove to be a real asset to the ministry of Spanish American
Evangelism.
Bill will be trying to complete (with the help of Barton Morse,
SAE printer) 450,000 tracts in the next three weeks in order to have
enough to take to El Salvador and replenish the reserve at the office.
That will bring the total for the year to almost 1 million pieces, half
of the projected goal for 1984!
Yes, Bill is still planning on going to El Salvador. I can't seem to
change his mind, I have really just left it up to the Lord. I told him
that I would pray that the Lord would provide enought money for
him to travel on, print and keep me and the kids while he was gone.
If He provides, then I would gladly give him my blessings and
prayers. So far, its pretty tight but God has been providing for the
purchase of the paper and if He wants Bill to make this trip will
provide the additional funds needed for travel expenses. Do pray
with us that God will be our guide in this important matter.
The youth group from Gering Central Church of Christ will be
with us during the week of July the 15th. They will be working on
the assembly, stitching and trimming of 50,000 tracts in Spanish.
Some of you may be familiar with "Your Most Important Decision"
in English by Brother Frank Bush. The group will be doing much (if
not all) of the hand work on this 40 page booklet. There will also be
some time for visiting of churches in Juarez, Mexico and a little bit
of general sightseeing. If they get all of the work done in good time,
there might also be time for a quick trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Bill will
leave for Central America right after their visit on the afternoon of
the 22nd of July and plans to return by the 12th of August.
Well, once again Bill's family is ready to meet for their family
reunion which meets every two years. We thought that we might be
able to join them, but because of time and finances, we will not be
able to make the trip. We will miss being with them. May God bless
them and give them a good time. Greetings, Gang!
I am sending a prayer list. Would you please join with us through
the summer as we seek for guidance and that God's will might be
done?
1. Bill's trip to El Salvador.
2. The sale of our house. (We have decided to try selling it again. If
God wants us to sell it, He will provide a buyer. We use it quite
extensively for Him but it 'is a large drain on our income.)
3. Spanish American Evangelism and our part in this unique
ministry.
4. Tlie growth and progress of Christian unity in El Paso.
Once again I thank you for your generosity and for your
willingness to help us in God's work. May God's love be forever with
you and do keep us in your prayers.
Love in Him,
R(^ Baker,
Bill, Billy, Barbie, Frances & Caleb
P.S. Bill couldn't let me write this entire letter without him getting a
few words in. He has added his thoughts on the next page. For him it
expresses a burning desire to try to do some good in Central
America. Please read what he has to say. A word of warning however,
he needs travel funds for the Central American trip.
SPECIAL NEED
As many of you are now aware, I am planning a special trip into Central
America this month. The decision to make this trip was not one which
could be made lightly. I have continually sought out the guidance of the
Lord in this matter. In seeking out His guidance, we at Spanish American
Evangelism have moved forward only as far as we could see His direction.
Some time ago we began preparing the copy and the masking sheets for
the printing of the material which will be taken with me. We did this
without knowing whether or not God would provide the means for the
purchase of the paper. During the last week of June, the masking sheets
were completed and we were able to order the needed paper. Work has
continued in getting the Harris press ready. The main bearings were
replaced and the steel rollers have been re-coated with copper. The press
work was completed in the last week of June. The paper is scheduled to
arrive on July the 3rd, It seems as if God is putting it all together for the
trip.
1 have four main goals for this trip, 1) Visit with those who have
received literature from Spanish American Evangelism in the past and learn
what materials are the most effective in this troubled comer of the world,
2) Seek out new areas where literature can be effectively used among the
national Christians, 3) Distribute as many New Testaments as possible
during the short period of time. 4) Gain a deeper insight as to the potential
and the needs of the work of our Lord in Central America,
I believe in first things first. My initial efforts have been to get the
materials together and then allow the Lord to provide for the travel
expenses, 1 do not want the general fund of Spanish American Evangelism
to spend any money for travel expenses. Because of this, I am askingyou,
ray personal friends to seek the guidance of the Lord and help with the
travel expenses. Approximately $1,500.00 will be needed for travel. If you
would like to help out in this, please make your check payable to Spanish
American Evangelism and designate it for Central American travel
expenses. Any funds send for personal family support should be
designated for the Baker family.
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5^07 DEC 24 1984
FRESn EROn THE
The Bill Baker Family
Serving Christ Through
Spanish American Evangelism
3135 Forney Lane
ElPaso. TX 79935
MKER'5
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Volume No. 3 December, 1984 Number 2
Wfl
Christmas Greetings
From the Baker Family
Bill, Rosa,
Billy, Barbie, Frances and Caleb
Dear Christian Friends,
Once again it is our privi
lege to be able to say to
you, "Greetings in the
Name of our Wonderful
Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ." May His richest
blessings be upon each of
you as you strive to serve
Him in your individual
places of service.
We are indeed thankful
to Him for the rich blessings
which He sends into our
lives daily.
In our last newsletter, the
announcement was made
that I would soon be leaving
for a trip into Central
America. I have had many
questions asked since then.
The most prominent one
has been, "Did you have a
good trip?" I can definately
say yes and would like all of
you skeptics out there to
note that I returned without any bullet holes in either my car or my
person. More about the trip into Central America and E! Salvador
later.
The family is doing great. We have had several months without
harsh colds or sickness. (With four children, sometimes one gets a
cold and then it passes through the house two or three times before
everyone is well again.) All four children are excited concerning the
latest addition to the family, an Irish Setter pup. We have dubbed her
"Red" for obvious reasons. Rosa agreed to our keeping her because
she thought an Irish Setter was a Cocker Spaniel and thought that
the dog would not gi-ow to be a big animal. After considerable
debate, we have convinced her that "Red" will be a full-sized dog.
Billy and Barbie continue to do well in school. Both are honor
students. Billy is in the 7th grade while Barbie is in the 3rd grade.
Following my trip into Central America we took them both out of
school for a week in order for the family to be togetlior at the Texas
Christian Convention in San Antonio. Because of school reform in
Texas any student with more than 5 unexcuscd absences is
automatically not passed on to the next grade. Both principals
involved stated that our children were good students and the absence
should not hurt their grades and agreed to excused absences. Even
after missing the week, Billy received the highest marks in his Texas
History class.
Frances enjoys helping mom at home and is anxious for school to
start next fall when she will be able to enter kindergarden. Caleb is at
the talking stage. He turned two late in September and can repeat
almost anything which is said to him in either English or Spanish. He
has lots of teachers and is really a corker.
Dufih^ The'last TWO weeks Rosa has been helping out-at the office-
in getting things together for disaster relief after the natural gas
explosion in Mexico City. We have collected enough items to almost
fill a 40-foot semi-trailer. Tlie Mexican government has given me
special permission to bring in one truck to help in that relief effort.
Some people fee! that perhaps we will be getting to Mexico City a
little late, but problems in finding a truck to transport in Mexico has
provided the delay. I feel that we will be able to do a lot because of
the fact that by the time we arrive, the Mexican government will not
be as involved in the effort and we will be able to distribute food,
clothing and God's Word without a lot of government red tape.
In August I attended the Mexican National Christian Convention
in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. It was a good chance to visit with those
who have been using material produced by Spanish American
Evangelism and learn more of the needs for future material. When I
returned, 1 spent 10 days flat on my back in bed. I am not sure
exactly what 1 had, but our Mexican doctor cleared up the sickness
in good shape. After I recuperated, I learned that several others who
attended the convention got sick afterwards and thai at least three
individuals contracted hepatitis. Whether or not I had the beginning
stages of that disease and my Doctor in Juarez cured it in record time
I may never know.
Well, back to the trip to El Salvador. Several obstacles were placed
in my path and at more than one
time I was ready to give up and
turn back. If that were the case, I
would have been able to distribute
the literature which 1 had with me
without problem in Mexico.
It was a rewarding experience
however. After wrecking a small
utility trailer, spending four days in
^ gettina the paperwork in order to
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WithGuns and NewTestaments leave Mexico Without a trailer, and
then going through Guatemala with
an armed military escort beside me in the vehicle, I was able to enter
El Salvador with a minimal amount of problems.
The El Salvador which 1 saw is not the El Salvador which has been
coming into our homes by way of the news media. I found that, for
the most part, El Salvador is a very peaceful, serene country in which
the population wants to live at peace with herself and with her
neighbors. Apart from the strong evidence of military personnel, one
would have a hard time realizing that the country is involved in a
civil war.
From all outward appearances El Salvador is still a very prosperous
country. The roads arc well maintained, and there is a great deal of
foreign commerce evident. Quite frankly, I felt safer in El Salvador
than I did in Guatemala.
I was impressed with the receptiveness of the general public to the
gospel of Christ. I was privileged to personally distribute over 1,000
New Testaments inside El Salvador. From rural farm workers,
military personnel, and city dwellprs there was an openness to
receiving the Word of God. (During the trip only one person refused
to accept a copy of the New Testajnenl. and she was in Mexico.) I
only had to distribute four or five copies at a time and then wait for
a mob of people to crowd the vehicle- requesting copies of God's
Word.
The area is wide open, and I plan to return as soon as time,
literature and finances permit. (I would like to take the entire family
with me the next time.) During the visit to Central America, I ran
across three churches which are working with a minimum of
influence from the United States. Through the Word of God tiiese
people have been led to establish indigenous churches, These
brethren have discovered the New Testament pattern for the church.
It is true, the Bible Only Makes Christians Only. I wish I had the
opportunity to share with each of you the slides and the entire story
concerning this survey trip into Central America. El Salvador is wide
open right no^-WHAT ARE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
GOING TO DO ABOUTIT?
Please be in prayer concerning this ministry and our family as we
serve the living Christ through Spanish American Evangelism.
May God bring His richest blessings at this special time of the year.
Once again, let me say thank you for your generosity and for your
willingness to share with us in God's work.
a?;-*---
Sincerely in Hiim
Bill Baker
Rosa, Billy, Barbie. Frances, Caleb and "Red"
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