Dear faithful friends and family,
'Tis the season..... to be thankful and to celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior! At this time of year, we are reminded of how blessed we are to have such a wonderful home church family, family, and special friends from all over the world, who pray for us and hold us up as we serve the Lord in Mexico City. We could never sufficiently express our deep gratitude for your loving support over the past 7 1/2 years of our time away from home. THANK YOU! Thank you for loving on us through emails, phone calls, cards and letters, and through your financial support.
At this time of year, we are so very thankful for those of you who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, and to the Cooperative Program in our Southern Baptist Churches. As of October 31st, 2006, there are 5,193 missionaries serving through the IMB. Because of your gifts, we are able to continue to serve. Your gifts provide so many things that are necessary for us to be able to live and work... our vehicles, our homes, our general living expenses, teaching/Bible supplies, and so much more. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for 2006 (US wide) is $150 million. Your financial gifts through the LMCO and Cooperative program DO make a difference. Within our Middle America Caribbean region where we serve, there are 257 unreached people groups; 114 of these live in Mexico. For us, the most important part of this goal is that we are able to reach many who have never heard of Jesus before. We have an urgent message to share! I wish you could see the faces of those who have come to know the Lord as a result of your past gifts. One day, we will be gathered around HIS throne with all believers-- "After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb..." Revelation 7:9 As you consider this Biblical promise and prophecy, consider how you can be a part of spreading the gospel "'till millions know".
Our Praises
** Many of you have prayed for our house in the states to rent. As of this week, we now have renters!! We would like to thank Fran Kirkland, a special lady and friend from Judson, for recommending our house to friends at Lifeway. God has provided, once again! We praise HIM for perfect timing! We are grateful to many of our family, and for our friends at Judson who have helped with some maintenance at our house, and to Rob's Dad for his hard work in getting many things accomplished, and for standing in the gap in our absence. We are thankful for provisions from Forest Hills Baptist Church in some major house repairs! God has provided through so many people. HE IS GOOD!!
** Rob now has a new front office secretary, for which many of you have prayed. We are thankful for Irandi and what she'll add to the ministry of Mision Mexicana.
** Tina had a wonderful week in Guadalajara, helping with the Homeschooling Conference. What a blessing to be around those who are working in some remote places and teaching their own children at home. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in a different setting, in a different ministry.
** Safe travel for Rob during his week in Honduras. He was able to get a good bit of work done, and had the wonderful privilege of being with some of our dearest friends in Tegucigalpa. Personal needs were met during this week, and we are grateful for God's hand in everything!
** Provisions for MCCA-- teaching positions are currently covered and we thank GOD for answering this need.
** Cole and Carson continue to do well in school. Their Christmas holiday break begins on December 15th!
** God's provisions of good friends here in Mexico City. We have the privilege to know so many wonderful, godly people who serve alongside us through the school and in many other areas.
** Safety and an "uneventful" day on this Inauguration Day of our new Mexico President. Pray for peace, and for our president's leadership in this country.
** Our special, loving families at home!! We are thankful for good health for our family members and for ourselves!
Our Prayer Requests
** That the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal would be reached this 2006 so that many will come to know the Lord through this offering.
** We are having our Saturday night Bible Study at our house this week. We have invited Miguel's family members, and some others who need to know Christ in a personal way. We are serving them a typical American meal. We'll also be celebrating Irma's birthday. May they all feel the love of the Lord as we study God's Word together, and as we experience Koinonia. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve them because they've been so faithful to serve us every week. Continue to pray for the salvation of Miguel and Oscar, sons of Miguel. We have come to love this family so much as they have become our family in Mexico City.
** Safe travel for many of our missionary family who will be traveling home during this Christmas season, as well as for our family, as we travel home!
** Spiritual growth of our family members both here and at home. We are so very grateful for our Christian heritage, and we pray that each of us will be faithful to bear the name of Jesus.
** Pray that our lives (yours and ours) will reflect the love of Jesus during this Christmas season. May this be much more than a "holiday". May we truly celebrate the ONE who gave His life so that we could live.
** Salvation of the 98% lost souls in this city. God is at work. Pray for the faithfulness of Mexican Christians, as well as missionaries, both IMB and those from other evangelical organizations. We still do not have the results of the Billy Graham MI ESPERANZA campaign. We will share those after we receive the statistics. We have heard good things from one of our large, local Mexican churches. We did not see any salvations in Miguel's home during the 3 nights, but we do know that seeds were planted!
We have the wonderful privilege of going home this Christmas 2006. This will be only our 2nd Christmas home during our almost 8 years on the field. We will be at home in Nashville, from December 14th to January 4th, 2007. We will spend most of this short time with our families in Nashville, with very little travel. We will be staying at Judson's Missionary Residence. THANK YOU, JUDSON, for providing a place for us to stay!! The missionary residence address is: 717 Brindley Drive, Nashville, TN 37220. The phone number is: 615-833-5712. We would love to hear from you while we are at home. Our regular mailing address in the states is: 6113 Pinehurst Drive, Nashville, TN 37215. This is Rob's parents' address. Come see us and let us hear from you!!
May each of you experience the love of Christ during this season. May others see Christ through each of us.. and, as a dear missionary friend often says,-- may we be the "expression of Christ" to all who encounter us.
Until 2007 or.. until HE comes,
Rob and Tina Torbert
Cole and Carson
IMB Missionaries serving in Mexico City
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