DeLonn and Valerie Rance

LaDawn, Jorel and Shayla

Mobilizing the Church to the Mandate

and Equipping the Called

January 2002

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since I got a personal letter out to you so I have a few minutes to sit down and tell you what has been going on in our lives.

Last year was on of the hardest one of our lives and from most every ones Christmas letters I wasn't the only one. Living through a robbery, two earthquakes, thousands of aftershocks, hosting over 25 reconstruction teams while still doing our normal load, taking our first born to college, and 6 trips to other countries has left us pretty tired and ready for things to get back to some semblance of normalcy. I don't know if this will happen but I can always hope!

Since my last personal letter DeLonn and I traveled to Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador and the United States. The missions' conventions in Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador were such a blessing (pic 1). It is so exciting to see the church of Latin America catch the burden for missions and raise money to send more missionaries, to watch as hundreds of young people run to the alters to lay down their lives and commit to becoming missionaries, to visit our Salvadorian missionaries in these countries and see how the Lord is using there lives to spread the gospel to the world.

We also participated in the missions' convention for First Assembly of God, Des Moines, Iowa. We were there to help raise money for The Assemblies of God Conference Grounds in El Salvador. On the first Sunday of their convention they raised a little over $100,000/00 for this project. Now the AG of El Salvador has a new Conference center where thousands gathered for this years General Council the first of this month. It was a very interesting convention because the wind started blowing a few days before the General Council and continued through the week. The wind was blowing so hard during the first celebration service that the dust looked like snow (pic 2). All of us were covered in dirt by the time we left. However, neither the wind nor dirt could dampen the excitement as over 3000 people praised the Lord in their new conference grounds.

We have had some great family times this end of the year. When we went to Des Moines we went up a week early so that we could visit our families. DeLonn's brother, Rollie lives in Kansas City. We were able to visit him and his wife Tina and kids Wade and our new niece Olivia (pic 3). My family lives in St. Joseph, MO only 1 hour away from Kansas City. My brother wanted to surprise me for my birthday so he flew LaDawn out from California as my birthday present. I couldn't believe it when she walked into the room. It was the best present of my life!

DeLonn's father and stepmother (pic 4) came over for Christmas. On the 26th we jumped into the car and drove to Guatemala where we met up with DeLonn's brothers Rollie and Brady (pic 5). It was the first time since they left Guatemala in 1974. We went back to visit their houses and school in Xela (pronounced Shayla, our daughters name). They had a great time reliving old memories.

DeLonn has been busy teaching and preaching missions. Classes start up again in a week so he is getting ready again. He is also trying to get another chapter of his dissertation done. Of course this is on top of trying to finish the church reconstruction by April. Our two MA families are leaving in April so we have to try and build the last 40 churches in three months. Looks impossible but we know that with the Lord all things are possible.

LaDawn loves Bethany. She did really well in her studies last semester and made the Deans list. She decided to change her major to Intercultural children's education with a minor in children's ministries. We are looking forward to her coming home in May for the summer.

I am trying to keep house and home together. I am now trying to get the pile of paperwork and reports done between the teams. I am so thankful that we are all healthy and even though very busy; enjoying the life the Lord has given us. Please keep us in your prayers, especially during the next few months.

Shayla over looking Xela pronounced (Shayla)

Jorel and Shayla are doing great. Right now they are getting ready to play in the Central American high school basketball tournament. Jorel's team won it last time but half of his team was seniors so they are starting almost from scratch again. I hope they do well.

Blessings to all,

Valerie Rance

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