MAY 2008 UPDATE  

We’re off to the unreached tribes!!! (see point 3 below)

We have in this issue:
1.     Quick Update
2.     Sad News yet Good News
3. An Exciting Annoucement

I. QUICK UPDATE

We have been laboring in this slum village in Tijuana for quite some time now. You may remember the heroin addict I mentioned in the last update, who, after being prayed for, immediately was taken over by sleep after being unable to sleep for 2 weeks. Now he is still clean, is doing extremely well, is working, and truly shows a genuine hunger to know Jesus, and is seeking God. He is showing fruit as well, and turning away from lifelong sins. He has also become a mini-evangelist, sort of like the woman at the well, as he goes around and sends people to us so we can preach to them every time we show up! We truly praise God for calling people to Himself. It looks like tomorrow night will be our last time preaching at this particular drug rehab center. After that, we are moving on (more below). 

Also, a few weeks ago we decided to walk through this village to preach door to door. The first house we went up to, the family invited us in, and we were able to preach the Gospel to them. A family of 13 stays in this little house. Particularly affected by the proclamation of the Gospel was a son of the family named Carlos, who is 18 years old. They are all recently moved to this area from the state of Chiapas (lower Mexico). We have been to their house a few times to follow up and to teach them about Jesus. 

II. SAD NEWS YET GOOD NEWS

Well, next I will share some very sad news for us. Brother Sean and his family won’t be working with us in Mexico any more. This is the sad part. But the good part is that the reason he won’t be working with us, is because he is moving to a country in Asia to preach the Gospel! Sean has always had a burden for the Muslim people, and the Lord showed me a while ago that he would soon be released to fulfill his calling. Sean knew this too, and after much prayer and confirmation, he will shortly be moving there to reach Muslims for Jesus! He left Mexico earlier today after we prayed together one last time, and said farewell, and bid each other Godspeed on our missions. Though it is sad and hard to see an awesome brother and truly priceless co-laborer in the Lord depart, it is a joy knowing that God’s will is done and that it is ultimately better for the sake of the Gospel. He was a great brother to work with, and fellowship with, and I know one day I will see him again, most likely in the Kingdom of God. Until then, may Christ be glorified in our lives and if need be, if the privilege would come and He grant us the grace, in our deaths for His sake! You can always visit Sean’s site at www.preachingjesuschrist.com (p.s. you should sign up for his newsletter so you can get updates from where he’s going!)

III. THE EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT

We (Lina and I) have been praying about where the Lord wants us to go next, as we have felt strongly that we are being released from this area. When we moved here, it was always in my heart not to stay in this particular area, but to move through Mexico preaching the Gospel. Shortly after we arrived, a local brother in the Lord confirmed this by sharing a dream he had with me, even though we never mentioned these things to him. He said in the dream, that I was wearing a big Mexican hat, and that I had a Mexican pouch on my side filled with seed, and that I was traveling throughout Mexico and scattering the seed all over. I knew exactly what this meant and it was a confirmation of what the Lord already showed me. In obedience to this call, we are taking a trip down into the heart of southern Mexico to “spy out the land” and to preach the Gospel as we go.

The Apostle Paul said to the Church at Rome: “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand” (Rom. 15:20-21). Along these lines, it has also been by heart to preach Christ to those who have never heard the Gospel. Glory be to God, it looks like this is being fulfilled, Lord willing. 

We are leaving this Sunday, on May 18th, and Lord willing, should be returning to Tijuana on June 9th. 

We are going to a few places on this trip. First of all, we will be arriving in Acapulco on Sunday. We plan on traveling through the state of Guerrero wherever the Lord leads for the first week+ we are there, trusting Him to open up doors to preach His word as we go. There are many indigenous people in this state, and many poor, simple folk who need to hear about Jesus. Please pray for us to have grace and favor as we go and for doors to be opened to preach the Gospel, and for the Spirit of God to anoint us mightily for His name’s sake and that through us and through the preaching of the Word, He would effectually call out His elect unto eternal salvation.

Then, from May 27th thru June 6th, we will be meeting up with David Sitton and his team (www.toeverytribe.com) in the state of Oaxaca, and from there moving in to the mountainous region on the west side where there are unreached tribes that have never heard the Gospel. The place where we are going is about a 7 to 8 hour trip from the nearest town into a very remote region. We will be staying in tents during the time we are there. We will be engaging the Cuicoyan tribe of the Mixtec Indians. If my information is right, there are over 5,000 people in this tribe, and as far as anyone knows, only one professing Christian. They are heavily involved in witchcraft and idolatry and some are known to get potentially violent when their ancient traditions (such as idolatry) are opposed. Many of them speak an ancient language and don’t know Spanish, but enough know Spanish that we can preach to them and hopefully find a translator. Many of them are heavily demonized, and the people are plagued with incurable diseases, cancers, and maladies with no medical care (a perfect opportunity for the healing delivering power of Jesus!). At least this is what I’ve heard about them. Pray for us as we go, please! 

We have already purchased our plane tickets and are taking this trip by faith. We are traveling by bus, shuttle, and taxi once we arrive, going only with backpacks on our backs containing clothes, Bibles, and Gospel booklets for the trip, and our tents and sleeping bags. 

Saints, we are asking for your prayers for us during this time. This is most important. 

Please also pray that the Lord would give us favor to sell enough of the possessions we have by Saturday to get the needed funds for this trip.

Also, if you feel led to donate to us to help us fund this trip, we welcome it. But, the only way we will get it on time is if you send it by Saturday via paypal or by wireless transfer. We are trusting in the Lord to meet our needs so please don’t feel obligated to give –only if the Lord leads you to. 

Grace and peace be to the saints of God in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

MAY THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!!!

In Christ – Josef & Lina Urban
www.puregospeltruth.com