The Grego Gazette - Christmas, 2023

Time flies when you are keeping busy! Already it is the end of 2022! Our desire is that God would be glorified in our lives and yours in the upcoming year of 2023.

Robert finished teaching an online course on Eschatology, with 35 students from 3 countries and will start up one or two more Bible classes in January, one of which might be in person. He also teaches a few one-on-one, advanced English classes online, as well as translating documents and books. And he is one of the regular interpreters for the Sunday services at our bilingual church.

Roxanne just finished another semester teaching first and second-graders English, Science, and History at Sojourn Academy. She loves teaching and discipling the kids in her classes, but it has been exhausting for her. She constantly works extra unpaid hours and also does tutoring. But, despite that, she still managed to publish her fourth book in the Zemblanity Murder Mystery series! Her books are available on Amazon. The final book in the series should come out in 2023 and another stand-alone book as well, which she has almost finished writing.

David had another scare recently when a knee injury almost caused him to lose his leg! He spent a week in the hospital on heavy IV doses of antibiotics and painkillers. Thankfully, he is recovering well. He seems to be pulling out of his depression and taking action to get his daughters back. 

Julianna works five days a week as an online travel agent here in Costa Rica. They are happy with her work and recently moved her up to deal with more demanding, high-profile clients.

We have served the Lord in several countries over the years and, more often than not, we don’t get feedback regarding the impact our ministry has had on people. This year, however, we had the blessing of hearing from some people who have used our training well or been touched by the Gospel. Here are just a few examples:

*Jorge approached me (Roxanne) at church a few weeks back to tell me that Robert and I catapulted him into ministry many years ago when we invited him to take one of our children’s ministry training courses. He informed me that he has been in full-time ministry ever since, reaching out to needy children and their families and preaching the Word. He thanked us for being used by God to impact his life because it has multiplied the impact on many people in Costa Rica and beyond. He recently traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua to evangelize and train church leaders there.

*Carlos is a well-known Christian leader in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico, where I (Roxanne) worked for several years as a single missionary. He is the director of a mission that sends Mexicans all over the world as missionaries. Recently, my friend, Tracey, (who still serves the Lord in Mexico) ran into him. He told of how he came to know Jesus through one of the evangelistic campaigns that we did back in our first summer in Mexico as Spearheaders!

*When serving in Brazil, Robert and I took Joceane, a mother of three, under our wings as our helper in children's ministry. She quickly learned the principles and techniques and enjoyed it so much that she enrolled in the university to become a teacher. She wrote to us recently with great excitement to let us know she was asked to be in charge of the children’s ministry at the church.

Roxanne with Jorge outside our church

Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Family prayer requests:

- For increased enrollment in Robert’s courses and the extra income we need for him to continue in this teaching ministry.

- For continued strength, wisdom, and energy for Roxanne in her job and her writing.

- For David to find a good job and gain custody of his daughters. They are currently living with relatives, rather than with either of their parents.

- For Julianna to be drawn back to the Lord.

Thank you for your prayers for our family. How grateful we are for the opportunities the Lord gives us to continue reaching out to disciple, train or share the Gospel with others. May He continue to open doors for ministry for us in 2023. We are thankful to the Lord for each one of you and pray His love, peace, joy, wisdom, and strength will inundate your homes this Christmas season and in the New Year of 2023.

Robert & Roxanne

The Grego Gazette, July 2022

We have been in our new rental home for six months now and finally were able to buy a couch last month. We look forward to having visitors and leading Bible studies now that people have someplace to sit!

Robert finished translating a Christian book called The Drama of Discipleship and hopes to begin translating another one soon. He finished teaching his online course on Genesis and began another one on Eschatology with over thirty students. Our plan is for him have two or three classes going throughout the week. The students find out about his courses by word of mouth. He hopes to offer his courses in both English and Portuguese as well. Though he offers these courses free of charge, some grateful students are willing to support him, so he can devote himself full time to the ministry.

Roxanne had a challenging but blessed semester teaching first and second grade English, Bible, and Science. The school year culminated with her witnessing the graduation of the kindergarteners who will become her students in September and of the sixth graders who were her first-grade students five years ago! She is happy now to be at Spearhead 50^th anniversary celebrations in Mexico City, and will take advantage of her visit there to see friends and give a training seminar. Do keep her in your prayers for safe travels and for wisdom as she teaches on Saturday, July 16.

David continues to struggle with overcoming the depression caused by his separation from his wife and children. Please keep him in your prayers, that he will come out victorious and stronger in the Lord than ever before. Pray for his daughters during this transition time. Though he has a job, he has had a hard time finding a place to live, spending all his earnings and much of ours living in a hotel. Pray he finds a place soon and that people will come alongside him to encourage him. He longs for a suitable place where he can have his girls come to live with him.

Julianna put up with being yelled at constantly at her call centre job for four months, and she finally quit when God opened the door for a job at a travel agency. She is so happy at her new job, which has a much better working environment. Continue to pray that she will be drawn to the Lord and become the woman of God she is meant to be.

Thank you for your prayers for our family. Please let us know how we can pray for you! May the Lord bless you all!

In His service,

Robert and Roxanne