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"Chips Off The Old Block"News From Marilyn Wood

Serving Christ through:Spanish American Evangelism

3135 Forney LaneEl Paso, TX 79935

Volume III Number 1

Summer 1984Dear Friends,

I've been saying to myself for weeks that I'm going to get anewsletter written, but it seems like something is always coming upat the office and I just don't have the time to write. Well, I've finallyfound the time and was I embarrassed when I realized that the lasttime I wrote was last September! Please accept my apologies forbeing so tardy.

If you remember, the last time I wrote I was getting ready to go tothe National Missionary Convention in Des Moines and also speak toall of my supporting churches. The convention was great, and I had awonderful time visiting with all of my supportingcongregationsmeeting old friends and making new ones.

While in Joplin, Missouri, my friend. Alma, and I took sometimeand went to Branson, Missouri, to visit Silver Dollar City. It was rightin the middle of their Fall Arts and Crafts Festival and did we havefun. Isabel Dittemore graciously opened up her home to us for thethree days we were there (before the convention), and it was reallynice to be able to share with her. For those of you who haven't heardof Mrs. Dittemore, she has spent over 40 years in mission work inAsiaChina, Japan, and Taiwan.

After the convention I spent about 3 days on the campus of OzarkBible Collegestaying in the dorm, speaking at Lord's Reapers {fora few minutes), sharing in the chapel service, etc. It was the weekbefore Missions Emphasis Week, and they were trying to takeadvantage of all the missionaries passing through towngetting thestudents exposed to as many missionaries as possible.

Returning to El Paso it was once again back to the office work. Icontinued taking care of all the literature orders and doing the othersecretarial duties. If memory serves me correctly, we ended upprinting around 800,000 tracts for the year and distributing close to1,000,000 pieces of literature.

Since Christmas was on a week-end, a friend and I drove up toDenver on Friday and came back on Monday. It was a long trip forsuch a short time, but it was nice to be with the family for theholiday. My folks came out from Dodge City. The only one not therewas my brother. It snowed again this year, but fortunately, not asmuch as last year. But it was just as cold, if not colder. I'm glad I livewhere it's much warmer.

Three weeks after Christmas I flew back to Denver to help mysister out when she had her fourth baby - this time a boy. His nameis Paul Jacob Roberts. I spent about 9 days with them and enjoyedevery minute of it. Her husband had gotten transferred to Houston inOctober but managed to arrive in Denver before Paul arrived on thescene. He was able to stay with the family a few days before havingto return to work. They finally sold their house in March, and thewhole family is together again in Houston. Even though they're nowin the same state, they're almost 200 miles further from me!

As most of you are aware, in February Bill Baker traded his smallpress for a much larger one. That required doing some remodeling tothe office buildingespecially in the print shop. We also had aretired couple visiting us, and the husband started painting the insideof the building. That came to an abrupt halt when he developedphlebitis and spent some time in the hospital. We still haven'tfinished painting the building but plan to do so within in the nextmonth or two. Any volunteers? . _

In March we once again made our annual trek to Oaxtepec for theMexican Missionaries Reunion. I went down a few days early withthe Bill Burr family. We got to do some sightseeing in Mexico City,which I've wanted to do for two years now. Among other things wesaw the Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park, GaribaldiPlaza where the Mariachi Bands are in full force, and the BalletFolklorico.

This year around 180 people attended the reunion. The adultsessions were led by Jim Girdwood of Ozark Bible College. He spokeon prophecy, but in a much different manner than all of us are usedto. It was really quite interesting.

We went down on the train but came back on a chartered bus.There were 46 of us who made the 2-day trip on the bus. Quite anexperience and very enjoyable. We were able to see a lot more of thecountry that way, and we had a lot of fellowship with each other.Also, Bill Baker and Bill Burr were able to point out to everyone thevarious areas where we have mission work, sites of historical interest,etc.

In April Alma Zuelli arrived to begin working with us. She hasreally been a blessing. Her main areas of work are typesetting andworking on the mailing list. I find myself wondering how I goteverything done before she arrived. We're able to get so much moredone with two of us working on the secretarial end of things.

The first week of June was the Vacation Bible School at Eastside.I had the privilege of being co-director of it. Because so many womenwork, we wound up with only 14 full-time helpers {includingourselves), but with the Lord's help, we had a very good school. 69children enrolled. Of these only 11 are members at Eastside. Thereare about 23 prospective families out of this group. Our missionsoffering this year was the best everaround $225.00and I reallyfelt good about that.

The VBS closing program was on Friday night, and on Saturdaymorning I left for Kansas to be the missionary for the Junior Highweek at Cedar Bluff Christian Camp. It's located about 90 milesnorth of Dodge, so I was able to spend a few days with my parentsand also visit other friends there.

Since I've been back at the office, I've typeset the SpanishDirectory of the Ministry, taken inventory of the literature, takencare of a few literature orders, and done just the general office workthat I must do.

The week of July 30-August 3 will find me back in Kansas. Thistime at Pawnee Rock serving as the missionary for their VacationBible School. This was arranged shortly after I returned from camp.

Looking ahead to Septemberail of us at SAE plan to go toPhoenix, Arizona, for the National Missionary Convention. I hope tosee some of you there. The dates are September 9-12.

Regarding the literature ministry: As of July 10 we had filled atleast 192 ordersor one order per day. Almost 320,000 tracts havebeen sent out during this period. We now have sent literature to 11countries. Uruguay is the newest one. I have 28 letters sitting on mydesk. Most of them contain requests for tracts. However, I won't fillthese orders until Bart and Bill finish printing 460,000 tracts.

We received the paper for these tracts last week, and Bart and Billare hard at work trying to get the tracts printed. When they finish,we'll have a supply of tracts that will include 8 different titles. Thiswill be the best selection of tracts we have had in months. We justthank God that He has provided for our needs in this area.

With the production of these tracts, we will have printed around900,000 tracts this year. If the Lord continues to provide the funds,It will be quite easy for us to reach our goal of 2,000,000 tracts thisyear. We're really excited about that.

Bill Baker, the director, plans to leave within the next two weeksfor Central America. He will be taking some tracts and NewTestaments with him to distribute along the way. The purpose of thetrip is to meet with various Christian leaders in these areas to see howwe might be of help in supplying them with literature. Please be inprayer for him as he makes this trip. He'll be gone approximately 3weeks.

The peso was up to $200.00 pesos for 1 dollar, but It has droppeddown to about $190.00 pesos for 1 dollarstill far too high. Wewonder how the ordinary man in the street can make it, and manytimes he can't. Of course, inflation and unemployment are still verymuch a problem.

Yet, in spite of these financial problems, more and more of theMexican people are showing a willingness to help pay for theliterature they receive. Every once in a while someone will send in arequest for tracts and Include $100.00 pesos. Two men in Juarez giveEd money from time to time for the tracts that he takes to them.One man in particular, a director of a funeral home, spends everyWednesday afternoon distributing tracts. Each week, without fail, hehas given at least $500.00 pesos. We are really heartened by theirwillingness to help pay for the literature and thus help us to printand distribute more.

While I was in camp last month, I picked up some additionalsupport. This, however, will offset some support I'm losing due tothe ill health of some of my supporters. I thank the Lord that He iscontinuing to provide for my needs. So far this year my support hasaveraged a little over $820.00 a month. (Only $750.00 a month ispledged.) My monthly expenses are averaging around $800.00 amonth, so you see I have very little left over for savings andemergencies. The trustees have authorized the single personnel toraise up to $1,300.00 a month. As you can see, I'm a long way fromthat goal.

Again, I want to thank all of you for your helpboth for yourprayers and your giving. The Lord continues to supply all my needsthrough you, and I thank Him for each one of you.

Please continue to pray for all of us here at SAE as we try to doour best to spread the Gospel to those in the Spanish-speaking world.May God bless you all in your labors for Him.

In Christ,

Marilyn WoodI06Z, NX '^TlTAxou^

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Volume 111

"Chips Off The Old Block"News From Marilyn Wood

Serving Christ through:Spanish American Evangelism

3135 Forney LaneEl Paso. TX 79935

Number 2

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December 1984

Dear Friends,

This letter Is sent to bring you special greetings for thiswonderful time of the year. I pray that all of you are lookingforward to the holidays and at the same time not forgetting thepurpose for this special season.

When I last wrote, I was preparing to go to Pawnee Rock,Kansas, for a Vactlon Bible School, It was an evening VBS and wentquite well. I always enjoy getting a chance to meet new people andpresenting the work of SAE to them.

In September the Baker's, Alma Zuelli, and I went to Phoenix,Arizona, for the National Missionary Convention. Alma and I wenttogether and did a little sight-seeing on the way up and back. Wespent some time visiting the San Xavier del Bac mission outside ofTucson and also the Sonora Desert Museum. It was really fascinating.

The convention was good. I appreciated Brother KnofelStaton's lectures each morning. And I got a thrill getting to visit withRhonda Geiger, whom I worked with at the Christian Day School inSan Juan, and Francisco Barajas, minister in Inglewood, California. {Ihad worked with him and his wife in Mexico in camps and a VBS.)Of course, there were several other friends there I hadn't seen inquite some time. I was so glad to get to visit with them.

During the missionary business meeting at the convention, I waselected secretary for the 1986 convention. This convention will beheld in Indianapolis back-to-back with the North American ChristianConvention in the summer. Because of this the executive committeesof both conventions are getting together this month to start planningthe conventions. I'll be making a flying trip to Indianapolis nextweek for this meeting.

In October Bill Baker finally made his trip to Guatemala and ElSalvador, There were some problems, but all in all it was a successfultrip, and he's already making plans to return next summer. One ofthe thrills of the trip was distributing New Testaments to 200soldiers in both countries.

Most of you, I'm sure, have heard about the gas explosion InMexico City. SAE headed up a city-wide relief effort, and theresponse was great. Alma, Rosa Baker, and I spent many hourssorting and boxing all the clothes. Bill plans to leave in the very nearfuture with the clothes, food, medicine, etc. that was given. He willalso be taking New Testaments for distribution along with the otheritems. Some of our missionaries in Mexico City will be handling thedistribution of these items. That way we'll have a better follow-up,and many contacts can be made for the Lord.

Our literature production has not gone quite as well as we hadplanned. There have been some problems, but things have been doneduring the year to help up-grade our production, and so 1985 shouldbe a great year. We continue to receive orders at the rate of almost 1per day. By the end of the year, around 500,000 pieces of literaturewill have been distributed. With the distribution in Central Americaand in Mexico City, our cupboards are practically bare once again.

As most of you know, I'm actively involved with the EastsideChristian Church here in El Paso. One of the ways I serve is being theorganist. I'm also in charge of arranging the special music eachSunday. For a little over a year we had been without a choir, so InOctober I started it up again. We've been working on the cantata "AChristmas Tapestry" to be presented on December 16. I wish you allcould hear it; it's beautiful. The children's choir also has a part (I'vebeen working with the children, too.), and the congregation will getthe opportunity to sing Christmas carols during the cantata. If you'rein El Paso on the 16th, be sure to come to Eastside at 6:00 p.m.

As for Christmas, I'm hoping to go to Houston to spend theholiday with my sister and her family. She has four children now,and it's such fun to spend some time with them. If I don't make it,I'll be staying here in El Paso.

I do want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very MerryChristmas and a wonderful year in the Lord in 1985. Thank you allso much for your financial support and, most of all, for your prayers.May God continue to bless you all as you serve Him.

In Christ,

Marilyn^ood

"ChipsOffTheOldBlock"NewsFromMarilynWoodSpanishAmericanEvangelism3135ForneyLaneEIPaso,TX79935

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