Wood(Custer) Marilyn 1992 SAE

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"Chips Off The Did Block"News From Marilyn Wood

Serving Christ through:

Spanish American Evangelism3135 Forney LaneEIPaso.TX 79935

Volume XI

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Summer 1992

Dear Christian Friends,Surprise! A few months ago I thought this was going to be one of my

most uneventful summers ever. My only commitments were to a week ofcamp and having my nieces and nephews here for a week or two laterin the summer. Well, thngs have changed rapidly, as you can see.

The week of camp Is now over. (I was dorm mom again for the girls atthe junior high week at Guadalupe Christian Camp.) Allison, Sarah, andPaul are coming at the end of July and staying for the wedding. (Big brotherPhillip will be working on a farm in Kansas, so won't be here for the visit,but he will be here for the wedding.) In addition to planning a wedding,I'm also going to be attending the North American Christian Conventionin Anaheim. (Ruth Knavel and Karen Wilken will also be there, and togetherwe'll be "manning" the booth for S.A.E.) You can see my summer isanything but uneventful.

I'll tell you about Jimmy later on in this letter, but first I want to catchyou up on what has happened in the past six months. It's hard to knowwhere to begin to tell you what the Lord has done in our lives here at S.A.E.

To begin with, at S.A.E.'s annual retreat in January, Bill Baker began hisfurlough which will last until May, 1993. Currently the Baker family isrepresenting S.A.E. in camps and vacation Bible schools. They will returnto El Paso in August for a short time and then go to Gering, Nebraska,(Bill's home town) to spend the nine months of the school year.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes for them has been the marriageof their older son, Billy, to Laurel Kuest on May 30th here at the LoganHeights Christian Church. Both Billy and Laurel are students at PacificChristian College and will be returning to school In August.

in March the Rojases and Marshes informed us they would be leavingto go work for College Press in Joplin, Missouri, beginning May 1st. Wesure hated to see them go; Tito and Bob had done a good job of keepingus supplied with tracts. They left toward the end of April.

So with Bill, Bob, and Tito gone, we are in need of a printer. We've beenpraying that the Lord will lead us to the right one for this very special job.In the meantime, Ruth Knavel and Karen Wilken, along with the help ofBart Morse, have been trying to do a little bit.

We're so thankful that Bob and Tito printed several hundred thousandtracts in the three months before they left, so we've been able to carryon the distribution work. However, with the high demand for tracts and otherliterature that we have, it won't be long before we run out. We are exploringvarious options for getting the printing done and are very optimistic thatwe will be able to keep up with the demand.

Speaking of the distribution, so far this year we've sent out over 1,330,000pieces of literature. That's more than the entire year in 1991. To myknowledge it's also the most we've ever sent out in any given year. Sodespite being "short-handed," we are still able to accomplish much for theLord. We are grateful that we can be a part of this ministry; we truly feelthat it's the Lord's ministry and not ours.

Mary's leaving has also left a hole, in that she was taking care of allthe literature requests. That was something i was doing before she cametwo years ago, so Itook it over when she left. I do enjoy reading the letterswe get and corresponding with the people. It's great to read how gratefulthe people are for the tracts, New Testaments, Bibles, etc. that we are ableto send them.

Most of you know I'm also quite active at the Eastslde Christian Churchwhere Iserve as choir director and organist. This spring the children's choirpresented the musical "Down by the Creek Bank" by Dottle Rambo. Myco-director, Catrina Lotspeich, had some excellent ideas about scenerywhich really helped in the presentation. The adult choir did the "Alleuia:A Praise Gathering for Believers" by Bill and Gloria Gaither as a specialpresentation for Mother's Day.

Now to give you a little information about my fianc^. Jimmy is fromBartlesville, Oklahoma; he's a superintendent of a construction companythat puts In pipelines at oil refineries so that they can convert to oxygenatedfuels. He's a very dedicated Christian man—we met at Eastside— lovesthe Lord deeply and strives to do His will. He's very interested in missions,and we hope to spend some time each year on a mission field— oncehe retires—helping missionaries out In any way possible.

Of course, this means some big changes for me. I'll continue to workat S.A.E. through the end of September, it's quite possible that by that timeJimmy's job will take us to another part of the country. If for some reasonwe're still in El Paso, I'll continue to work at S.A.E. on a volunteer basis.

One of the major questions people have asked when they've heard ofmy future plans is "who's going to do the work you've been doing atS.A.E.?" I've started "training" Karen Wilken to do some of it. She's hadbookkeeping experience, so she's started doing the bookwork. As for theliterature distribution, she does have some knowledge of Spanish. Our planis to put some of the form letters I use onto the computer, and using thoseshe'll be able to handle much of the Spanish literature distribution work.

It is important to remember that even with all the changes that areoccurring here this is the Lord's ministry, not ours. He will provide for theneeds of S.A.E. regardless of who Is working with it at any given time.

The future bride and groom —

Marilyn Wood and Jimmy Cueter

I do want to thank all of you for your faithful support and prayers. It wasa little over twenty years ago that I went to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia).From that time to this I have strived to serve the Lord. This service has

led me to several places, and some of you have been right there with meall these twenty plus years. I am grateful and humbled to think that youare behind me in this way. For those of you who have supported me Inthe past and may have thought about doing it again, may I suggest thatyou send contributions to the general fund of S.A.E. and/or consider layingsome aside for a secretary, whoever she may be. As you know, S.A.E. doesnot pay salaries, and it's difficultto raise support for a mission that Is locatedin the U.S. When we find someone who can come, it will be helpful to beable to say we do have some support for you.

May God continue to bless you as you serve Him.

In Christ,

Marilyn Wood^

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3135 Forney LaneEl Paso, TX 79935

Volume XI Number 2

Christmas 1992

Dear Christian Friends,Once again it's that special time of year when almost all the world is

reminded of Jesus' birth. What better time to show to our friends andneighbors what His coming really means.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in El Paso. Even theweather man Is "cooperating." We had 2" of snow last week and thetemperature doesn't appear to want to get above 35® even though we'vebeen told it would get up past 50® for the last three days. In fact we haven'tseen the sun for almost three days. Quite unusual for here. But once againwe Christians are reminded that it is God who is in control of everything,even the weather.

This newsletter marks the end of an "era." It Is the last one I will write,and I must admit to some sadness because I have enjoyed keeping in touchwith all of you through it.

As you will recall, Jimmy Custer and I were married on August 8th, andI think I'm busier than ever. His job is still going on here in Ei Paso, soalthough I no longer receive mission support, I do continue to work atSpanish American Evangelism, but only on a part-time volunteer basis.

The work here at S.A.E. is continuing to go fonward. Shortly before Imarried, a friend of mine came by the office and asked if we were lookingfor a replacement because she was interested in my job. i told her "yes"but that S.A.E. didn't pay salaries. Everyone had to raise his own support.She thought about that for awhile and came back a week or so later andsaid she was still interested and that she thought she could raise thesupport needed. I put her in touch with the local trustees and then shemet with the full slate of trustees at a meeting they had in August. Theyagreed to have her come, so on September 1st Chance Hart startedworking.

Chance comes to us as a direct answer to prayer. We had been prayingthat the Lord would lead someone to us or us to someone who would beable to do the work I've been doing. She has been the office managerfor a local business, been a church secretary (which included some

printing), had her own business, and aiso did audits for an insurancecompany. Most importantly, she is a dedicated Christian lady who lovesthe Lord and wants to do His will. Chance is doing all the bookkeepingand secretarial work that I was doing.

Toward the end of October or the first of November, Susie Bump Burciagastarted working part-time, handling the literature distribution. Susie IsFreeman and Carolyn Bump's daughter. She grew up here in El Paso andis bi-linguai. She and her husband are quite active in the church work overin Juarez.

Both Chance and Susie are in need of support. We praise God forbringing them our way, and 1ask that you pray for them and, If possible,help them with some financial support. Both of them are trusting God toprovide ail their needs.

At the August trustees' meeting Bill Baker submitted his resignation asdirector. He and his family are currently residing in Gering, Nebraska, (hishome town). We're thankful for the many years of dedicated service theygave to the ministry of S.A.E.

We are stiii without a printer, but In September Bob Wright fromQuer^taro, Mexico, and Bob Marsh, from Joplln, Missouri, (former printer)came for a week and printed 700,000 tracts for us. This helped boost oursupply of tracts. Bob Marsh and Tito Rojas are making plans to return theend of December to spend another week printing more tracts. We are verygrateful for their help.

The literature distribution continues to go forward. Since Susie ishandling it now, I'm not sure of the exact figure, but I believe we have sentout close to 1,700,000 pieces of literature. This is by far the most that hasever gone out in one year. The number would be even higher, but theMexican railway express has shut down until the sale of the railway systemis completed. Since we use the rail system for shipping much of theliterature in Mexico, the distribution has slowed down some. Please praywith us that the sale will be expedited, and we'll be able to once againuse the system. It's much cheaper to send boxes by rail than by any othermeans, so it is very important that the rail system be in use.

Despite being short-handed, the future of S.A.E. is excellent. The demandfor literature continues to grow. At the missionary convention in November,a missionary from Panama told me how much it meant to his ministry tobe able to get tracts and other items from us. He wanted assurance thatwe would be able to continue to provide him with the materials he needsin his work there. Please pray with us that the Lord will lead us to the rightpeople or that the right people would come to us that could be used asdirector and/or printer. Please pray for the trustees and especially forFreeman Bump, chairman of the trustees, as they oversee this ministry.

Now that I've brought you up-to-date on S.A.E., I'd like to backtrack tothe wedding. It truly went off "without a hitch." (I suppose ail brides thinkthat.) Ail of my immediate family came for it, plus one of my aunts, andmost of Jimmy's family was here, too. The rehearsal went very smoothly,and then we had the dinner at the pool at my apartment complex. Thekids really liked that. It was good for the adults, too, because it was sucha relaxing atmosphere and everyone enjoyed just sitting around andvisiting.

Then the big day arrived, and wonder of wonders, i was not a bit nen/ous!We dressed early and had our pictures taken at 12:00 noon. Shortly after1:00 p.m. we finished, so we had time to eat some sandwiches that mymother had provided. The ceremony started shortly after 2:00 p.m. Bill Burr,longtime friend and missionary under whom i served my internships, andBrent Cramer, minister at Eastside, performed the ceremony.

Following the ceremony we went to another church building for thereception. By 3:05 we were cutting the cake. We then had time to visit withour guests before heading to the airport to catch the plane for Phoenix.We rented a car and spent a week driving around Arizona and seeing thesights, including Oak Creek Canyon and the Grand Canyon. It was a nicerestful vacation before getting back to work and the nitty gritty of everydaylife.

By the end of September, I had moved into Jimmy's 36' fifth wheel traveltrailer and completely out of the apartment. In October we made a "quickie"trip to Oklahoma to take my things that 1could not keep in the trailer tothe house there. Hopefully over the Christmas holidays we'll be able toget some of the boxes unpacked. We plan to spend Christmas with Jimmy'sfamily and New Year's with mine.

Many of you sent cards and letters, and we're grateful for them. I'm stilltrying to get caught up on my correspondence. Some of you also sent gifts,and we're thankful for them, too. Ifyou sent a gift and have not receivedan acknowledgement, please let me know.

B*c«uM I have always talked about my family, Iwanted you to finally meet them. Front row (leftto right): Maurice Roberta, Paul Roberu, my parents Howardand IcidWood, Marilyn and JimmyOuster, mysister Marsha Wood,my brother Richard (Rick) Wood. Backrow (left to right): SarahRoberts, Allison Roberts, and Cindy Wood holding Alexander.

Jimmy's jobcontinuesto go on here, so we will probably be here throughthe end of January, If not later. We really have no idea, but we're notcomplaining. For those of you who want to keep in touch, our currentaddress is Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Custer, 1420 R.V.Drlve, El Paso, Texas79927.However, we recommend you use our permanent address, since we couldmove at a moment's notice. It's Box 815, Cleveland, Oklahoma 74020.Our mail Is constantly forwarded from that address.

Once again I want to thank you for your support—both financial andprayers—through the years. As I said before, I am grateful and humbledto think that you have been behind me in this way. For those of you whohave supported me in the past and may have thought about doing itagain,may Isuggest that you send contributions to the general fund of S.A.E.,Chance, or Susie.

May God continue to bless you and have a very Merry Christmas!In Christ,

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