April 4, 2007

Greetings Brethren!

Thank you for praying for me, Pastor Carlos Montoya, Pastor David Robles and our men over the course of the last two weeks. We had a wonderful two weeks together not only of learning Hermeneutics, Greek Grammar, and Hebrew Grammar, but also of fellowship. Pastor David Robles did a great job of orienting us to the work in Spain and the LORD’s grace and providential working through the ministry to which He has called Pastor David. In our numerous meals together, he really expanded our horizons and again I was reminded that though we speak the same language (Spanish), the cultures are a world apart. J Pastor David thoroughly enjoyed the ministry of MEDA and hopes to be back in September to teach another module. Pray to those ends.

This was the first module in which the men of MEDA got to appreciate the new partition that has been installed in our dining hall to create two classrooms and the addition of a sound booth. Thank you for praying about the completion of this with us. All that is left is the laying of the foundation (just kidding). J All that is left is the electrical wiring and some touch up with paint. These should be done this week. J

Please be in prayer for our family. We praise the LORD for His grace and providence and all of His intricate workings in our lives. As many of you already know, the saints of Berean Bible Church in Minden, Nevada are having a missions conference and made the decision five months ago to bring our whole family out to renew and rekindle our fellowship. In so doing, the saints graciously set aside a time for us to go visit my family in Gilroy, CA for two days. Well, two days ago, my grandmother died. So, the LORD has had it for me to be home with our family for my grandmother’s funeral on those same two days. Is that Sovereignty, or what!!! Pray that the LORD would use any involvement that I am allowed for Christ’s glory and not man’s. Pray for me to have wisdom of speech in dealing with all involved. We will be traveling from April 8th-10th from Honduras to Nevada, so please keep us in your prayers in that regard as well.

Well, that’s it for now!!

May the LORD bless you and keep you!!

Desiring Christ!

AD

February 23, 2007

Brethren,

Thank you for praying for us and for the ministries of MEDA.

Last week we finished the first two week module of the year. My class on Spanish Diagramming and Observation went really well. The LORD enabled the men to capture the importance of the fundamental step of just looking to see what the biblical text says and how to order it in a diagram in the Spanish language. These students performed exceptionally well and left with a renewed sense of commitment to every word of Scripture. ⊕ Pastor Carlos Montoya has told me that his guys also performed very well in Greek Grammar I. His class actually covered more material with comprehension than the previous two Greek Classes. ⊕ We figure that part of this has to do with having taught the class now for the third time and the other part of this has to do with God's design on the composition of the students in the class. ⊕ Dr. Evis Carballosa told us that he was very impressed with our third year students. He walked them through an Exegesis of Colossians. To put his commentary on our students into perspective, Dr. Carballosa is a world renowned Bible Expositor in the Spanish speaking world. He has written exegetical commentaries on Romans, Colossians, Philippians, and Revelation, as well as works in systematic theology, and almost all of them have won the best book awards for the year they were released! Obviously, Dr. Carballosa would not point out the breadth and depth of his ministry, and he never does. However, for him to be encouraged and impressed by the work of our men…is a real objective encouragement. ⊕ We are blessed to have him as an adjunct faculty member. ⊕ No doubt, your prayers on our behalf as professors and on behalf of the pastors as our students have been effectual. ⊕ Thank you for praying!!

Please pray for Pastor Carlos Montoya as he is currently giving a conference on Biblical Counseling. Ask the LORD to quicken His Spirit in the hearts of the saints to give them a firm conviction of the sufficiency of His Word to change lives. ⊕ We currently have 95 pastors and key leaders in attendance.

May the LORD continue to be your joy and satisfaction!

Your Brother,

Adrian Donato

January 20, 2007

Greetings to our Friends, Family, and Brethren!

I am writing to inform you of an additional way that MEDA is impacting Honduras. Just today, Carlos Montoya, Carlos Nunez, and I had the wonderful opportunity of showing honor to our governing authorities by using the MEDA facilities to host the Vice-President of Honduras, Elvin Santos, who visited out city today.

It was quite and incredible time. MEDA obviously enjoyed the highest measure of police cover that it has ever had. ⊕ The secret police came about an hour before the V.P. was to arrive. In the process, a MEDA student named Edwin Sauceda and I got to evangelize three of them as a group as we talked about what is their hope should they die in the line of duty during this visit. ⊕ It was a great time and I believe Edwin exchanged contact information to follow up with them.

After evangelizing some of the secret police, I was told that they needed my car!! The Mayor of the city had not prepared enough vehicles, so my car was volunteered to serve the Vice-President and the people of Honduras. The MEDA employees did the fastest wash job I have ever seen them do and the car was ready and lined up at the end of the vehicle train. The captain of the secret service asked me if I would drive the vehicle and I told him that he could. He told me that he wanted me to. So…what does a man do?

Eventually, the Vice-President came over the mountains in his thunderous blasting helicopter. He touched down on the MEDA Soccer field and then was surrounded by military and secret service as he came over to shake hands and greet our families, and the MEDA personnel.

After greeting the MEDA families and personnel, he boarded the car in the middle of the train and the secret service boarded the other vehicles, one of which, I was driving (mine). As we began to pull out of the MEDA facility the captain told me two things, 1) roll down your windows so we can have our machine guns out, just in case something happens, and 2) should something happen, we need to be the barrier for the Vice- President to escape, so park the car on which ever side is being attacked!!! I then asked him, “What should I do once we are barricading?” He said, “Pray, God will watch over us (by the way, this captain is a brother-in-law to one of our Seminary students who is here studying this week J)” It was at that point that I realized that I really was honoring the king in a very practical way out of love for Christ! ⊕

Finally, our train arrived at the municipality where every Mayor in Honduras was present to receive a reforestation grant for his municipality. I was asked to do scripture reading and prayer. So I read John 19:7-11 with emphasis upon Jesus’ response to Pilate, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above…” and then I prayed to the triune God as I gave the sense of the passage and asked that each one of these Mayors would carry out their duties and functions with the consciousness that they are accountable to God the Father. It was tough to pray to our LORD in a way that would give him the distinction he deserves in such a confused society over who God is, but I hope the goal was achieved. ⊕ At the end of the ceremony, the Vice-President specifically thanked MEDA for its hospitality and willingness to serve.

After the ceremony, the train returned to MEDA, we then enjoyed lunch at one of the MEDA homes with the Vice-President and other dignitaries. At the luncheon, we presented the Vice-President a MacArthur Study Bible and he said that he had seen one before…on the Mayor’s bookshelf beside his desk, and he is pleased to now have his very own copy. We gave a MacArthur study Bible to the other dignitaries, as well and then sent one with the Vice-President to give to the First Lady. If you recall, MEDA gave a MacArthur Study Bible to the President in November 2006 for giving a special order for the issuance of Visas for Cuban pastors coming to MEDA. At the same time, Carlos Nunez (our executive director), had opportunity to share what we do here at MEDA and how the changed lives of people who submit to Christ is what will transform the culture. ⊕ It was great!

As the Vice-President departed the MEDA home, each family took pictures with him (he speaks really good English). Our children gave him gifts and pictures that they had drawn to honor him in a very small way. He then made his way to his helicopter, told us he would like to return to play soccer with us at some point J, got into his helicopter and lifted off at the joyous screams of our children (as you will recall, we have 4 that can scream really well and the Montoyas have 6). ⊕

We don’t think that the President, nor the Vice-President, are Christians, but it is very apparent to all of us that over the last three months the LORD has opened some very significant doors for us to walk through. This whole thing came about just by being neighborly and modeling Christ, to our city Mayor. The Mayor, whom we are unsure whether he is saved, asked us to participate in this wonderful opportunity! Our time with these men was not political, but more focused on trying to define with clarity, Christ and Him crucified.

Now, we have just been approached by the Colonel of the military base here in town to pray with them and to offer them biblical counseling! So…the LORD has us here not only to prepare men for ministry and to serve in our local church, but also to give testimony of Him before Kings and governors! ⊕

Continue to pray for us and the various ministries of MEDA. Ask the LORD to make Christ our focal point and definition in everything that we do with relationship to the governing officials. Ask the LORD to keep us and protect us in this wonderful city. Ask Him to make our relationships on the MEDA team even stronger than they already are, as we enjoy such wonderful opportunities to minister together.

Together for the Gospel!

Adrian Donato
P.S. We did manage to invite the President to come to MEDA one day, as well. ⊕

January 16, 2007

Greetings Brethren!

Please pray for our first year students who will begin their first day of class with our co-laborer, Pastor Carlos Montoya who will be teaching them Study Methods. Ask the LORD to protect the pastors as they travel. Ask the LORD to give each pastor the wisdom to assimilate the course content in such a way that it would be worked our practically in their study lives and ministries. Pray for Brother Montoya to teach with clarity and efficacy so that each Pastor would reach his maximum potential through this course for the glory of Christ!

Thank you for praying!

Adrian Donato

November 27, 2006

Greetings to All!

I just wanted to follow up with some important details that many of you all have asked about. :)

Here are the measurements of each little guy:

Andrew Justus Donato
DOB: 11/25/06 7:45 PM
WEIGHT: 5.2 lbs
LENGTH: 19 inches

Marcus Jason Donato
DOB: 11/25/06 8:30 PM
WEIGHT: 5.5 lbs
LENGTH: 17.5 inches

The weight measurement is a conversion from grams. Hence, a little different number than what I reported previously. :) We will be sending pictures as soon as we can get our digital downloaded. :)

Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and prayers!! It looks like we will be heading home on Wednesday morning and leaving the BIG city. :)

Your Brother,

Adrian Donato