Dear pastors and praying friends,
Sometimes I get to feeling as though there is nothing for me to write about while on furlough. The reason for this is because we are constantly thinking about what is going on back home and forget the blessings of the work here. It was difficult to get down to do this letter so Jan wrote one to use as an example. I find that there is a lot to report! So, the following is mostly from the mind of Jan and the hand of me.
Speaking of Jan, last time I wrote I mentioned that we were having to see a lot of doctors about a lump in Jan's hand. Since cancer is prevalent in her family it had us pretty worried. After seeing four doctors of different specialties we were somewhat comforted as only one of the four actually used the word "tumor" and the other three were certain that the lump was not cancerous. Still, there is that nagging doubt. Well, the Lord took care of the doubt. In the last two weeks the lump slowly diminished in size and finally dissappeared altogether. Praise the Lord for that.
Although we would love to be back in our ministry in Bolivia we find that the Lord is blessing us with a furlough ministry while in the States. Since the beginning of January the Lord has blessed our furlough preaching with full aisles and many, many decisions by numerous people to follow Christ more closely and some to give their lives to missionary service. We do not know all the decisions but we look with wonder on the bowed heads at altar call knowing that it was nothing we said but rather what the Lord did.
The last week in January Jan was able to lead three Hispanic, teen-age girls and one eleven-year-old boy to the Lord. They had been exceptionally difficult for the leaders to handle in the AWANA meeting as the room had been full of young people of that age and they just could not be still. Nevertheless, after the meeting we were able to start talking with them individually and after the evening church service Jan was able to talk to them one by one and lead them to the Saviour. All four come from rather rough homes and Catholic backgrounds. Jan gave each a New Testament and promised to write to each one. She has kept this promise. Who knows but the Lord what these young girls may become in the future? Please pray that the seed sown may bear abundant fruit.
Since the beginning of furlough we have had one problem after another with either the vehicle or the trailer in which we live. If a tire did not go flat then a brake pad broke. The oil-sensing unit failed and the dump tank in the rear of the trailer got punctured. However, since January until the present there have been no problems whatsoever, not even a flat tire! Praise the Lord for that. Though it seems a trifle, it is a relief to a furlough missionary.
In just three months and a few weeks we will be headed home! On June 10th, if the Lord permits, we will fly out to Bolivia. My friends, how we look forward to that day. It has been so good to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, but our hearts are in the country of Bolivia where the Lord called us so many years ago. Please continue your prayers that the Lord will keep His hand over us while still in the States as we look forward to that day.
In His service,
Dennis and Jan Horn
E-mail: Hector657@aol.comback