Marriage Preparations
Wedding (and post-wedding) planning is going well as I am in my last week of singleness. God continues to provide for every detail, and we trust that everything will turn out well. We are excited to spend our honeymoon in the coffee region. We were given a gift for one free pass to go on a mini-trip to La Guajira and Cabo de La Vela at the end of April as well. We have an apartment to live in, and little by little we are furnishing it. I have been living there for the past week waiting for her to get there.
We have been able to share our testimony several times and encourage youth to wait for God’s timing and to be pure before marriage. We still don’t know God’s will for us later this year, but we are trusting that our union will better prepare us for it. We know that we will be lights for many people, kids, and couples, and we are excited to see what God has in store for us in the near future. We are still not sure about the timing of our trip to the States as Maria still has a few classes she needs to take in the next semester.
Ministry Opportunities
I was invited two weeks ago by a church here to speak about missions. It was a great experience, and God used me to encourage the church in evangelism. I also got to preach at a young adults Saturday evening service. I think that part of my calling here in Santa Marta is to encourage the churches in evangelism. A few weeks ago, María visited one of my schools and spoke to the kids and then covered for another teacher for three days. The kids were blessed to have her there.
My work in the schools continues to go well. One highlight was doing an evangelism event with the 4th and 5th graders of Jireh. We went to the streets surrounding the school to talk to people, pray for them, and share God’s Word. It was cool to see God work through them and see the excitement that a few of them had for it. There are a few kids that have evangelistic/pastoral gifts.
I have been teaching physical education and Christian education. My goal is to point the kids to Christ and show them how to have a more intimate relationship with Christ. I can’t always see the fruit of my labor, but God I’m sure has done and is doing some great things. As the majority of the kids come from broken homes and difficult situations, the work often isn’t easy. I’ve had to learn a lot of patience, love, and wisdom.
Create in Me a Clean Heart
God continues to do a lot of work in my heart and in my emotions. I can see that He I purifying me of many things. In order for the heart to be cleaned and purified, things have to come out and be dealt with. I can see the change God has done, and I want to be changed even more. I’ve had to learn a lot more patience and wisdom living here in Santa Marta.
I have also realized I have been trying to do many things in my own strength and wisdom, and it always left me frustrated and exhausted. I have been learning more to rely on the Lord and continually surrender my emotions to Him. These lessons are usually a bit hard to learn, but the fruit they bring is priceless. God surely is good, faithful, and gracious!
En Cristo,
Jonathan Snyder
Wedding (and post-wedding) planning is going well as I am in my last week of singleness. God continues to provide for every detail, and we trust that everything will turn out well. We are excited to spend our honeymoon in the coffee region. We were given a gift for one free pass to go on a mini-trip to La Guajira and Cabo de La Vela at the end of April as well. We have an apartment to live in, and little by little we are furnishing it. I have been living there for the past week waiting for her to get there.
We have been able to share our testimony several times and encourage youth to wait for God’s timing and to be pure before marriage. We still don’t know God’s will for us later this year, but we are trusting that our union will better prepare us for it. We know that we will be lights for many people, kids, and couples, and we are excited to see what God has in store for us in the near future. We are still not sure about the timing of our trip to the States as Maria still has a few classes she needs to take in the next semester.
Ministry Opportunities
I was invited two weeks ago by a church here to speak about missions. It was a great experience, and God used me to encourage the church in evangelism. I also got to preach at a young adults Saturday evening service. I think that part of my calling here in Santa Marta is to encourage the churches in evangelism. A few weeks ago, María visited one of my schools and spoke to the kids and then covered for another teacher for three days. The kids were blessed to have her there.
My work in the schools continues to go well. One highlight was doing an evangelism event with the 4th and 5th graders of Jireh. We went to the streets surrounding the school to talk to people, pray for them, and share God’s Word. It was cool to see God work through them and see the excitement that a few of them had for it. There are a few kids that have evangelistic/pastoral gifts.
I have been teaching physical education and Christian education. My goal is to point the kids to Christ and show them how to have a more intimate relationship with Christ. I can’t always see the fruit of my labor, but God I’m sure has done and is doing some great things. As the majority of the kids come from broken homes and difficult situations, the work often isn’t easy. I’ve had to learn a lot of patience, love, and wisdom.
Create in Me a Clean Heart
God continues to do a lot of work in my heart and in my emotions. I can see that He I purifying me of many things. In order for the heart to be cleaned and purified, things have to come out and be dealt with. I can see the change God has done, and I want to be changed even more. I’ve had to learn a lot more patience and wisdom living here in Santa Marta.
I have also realized I have been trying to do many things in my own strength and wisdom, and it always left me frustrated and exhausted. I have been learning more to rely on the Lord and continually surrender my emotions to Him. These lessons are usually a bit hard to learn, but the fruit they bring is priceless. God surely is good, faithful, and gracious!
En Cristo,
Jonathan Snyder