As we look back over 2023, we give thanks for all the encounters we have had with young people and the opportunities to share the gospel. It was a hard but fruitful year. Now we are standing at the end of it giving thanks to the Almighty. If you ask me to recall one thing God did this year that was on top of the others – it is the brother who returned to the Lord after being away for almost 20 years. I had not seen anyone before turning to the Lord after so many years. It was an encouragement on a big scale for everyone. I remember well the moment I heard a familiar voice on the phone. After hearing that we bowed down and praised the Lord.

“For All” Club

Our man and woman club combined have had its meetings twice this fall. Both times the room was full. We ate some fresh baked goods and drank a lot of tea. Both times we were able to plant the seeds of the gospel. Please pray for those attending this ministry. Pray for their acceptance of the truth and turning to God.

Central Asian trip

On December 26th we are going to travel across the border into Central Asia. We plan to hold workshops and meetings to present our disciple making curriculum to the leaders of the churches in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We are flying back from Samarkand on January 5th. Thank you for your prayers and support that you sent for the trip. Pray for the hearts of the leaders to be able to accept the course. We still have $400 to be covered for the trip. Pray for that also.

Friends and Family

The school year is coming to the mid-point. This year we have got more than usual days with extreme low temperatures so some of the outside classes were cancelled. We had to spent more time inside and push on the home-schooling program. Tim learns to earn his first money. He led an English discuss group on Zoom. He is very proud of his first dollars.
Thank you so much for praying for us over this last year. We are also conscious that without our work being cover and supported in prayer nothing of a worth will happen!

You can make tax deductible contribution to Ufa Bible Ministries which is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit entity. Make checks payable to:
Ufa Bible Ministries
PO BOX 1761, Columbia, SC 29202

Dear Friends and Sponsors:

Ministry is joy and sadness, hope and disappointment, fighting for justice, leaving it in the Lord’s hands, being thankful,  praying without ceasing and just plain standing firm and not quitting. Our last two weeks in the Dominican Republic impacted me heavily. Here’s a glimpse.

There is joy in visiting a Haitian school. The kids receive us with hugs, handshakes, fistbumps and kisses. They were so excited with the puppet presentation by the group from Evangel Church in Massachusetts.  The afternoon we walked into the school in La Laguna we all felt goosebumps as the children worshipped with pure hearts. The medical team weighed and measured them for our report to Convoy of Hope. I can tell the kids liked to be called by their names, seen, touched, and loved. Plus they liked the stickers and lollipops!

I saw hope as the group built two classrooms in the Cutupu school, and worked on the parsonage. The pastor now has 4 children and is looking forward to the day he can move in. We still need funds for the floor and windows. Mitch estimates another $10,000 is needed to finish it. The parsonage for Pastor Frantz is almost finished. With another $3000 the doors and windows can be bought and installed.

We were all sad to hear a teenage boy pray at the end of the program. He desperately cried out to the Lord for protection as he and his friends walked home from school. The children don’t know if they will be picked up by Immigration, or if their parents will be home, or if there is food in the house. We began to understand the uncertainty, instability and fear these children face daily.

While we were there a teacher and his wife were picked up by the Immigration officials. The director made a phone call, and we were told we could pay a fine and set them free. It was way out of my comfort zone to attempt this task, but we had a happy ending. Was that justice? Please help us pray for safety for our teachers, pastors and students and their families.

We are so thankful for your offerings and sponsorship, without which the schools could not operate. The ministry has a special request. We would like to give each child a present in January for Three Kings Day. Would you like to help make that possible? It will be a moment of great joy and excitement for the children to have a present, and it may very well be the only gift they receive this Christmas. We will buy the toys in the Dominican to save on shipping costs. Let me know if you have items to ship.

You can make your tax-deductible offering on our website, https://teachfeedlove.org/, using your checking account or a credit card. For those who prefer to send checks, please make it out to Teach Feed Love, and send it to TMCI, PO BOX 1761, Columbia, SC 29202.

I have included some photos at the bottom of this email. You will see those happy faces, our American team and the projects in Barranca, Cutupu and El Pino. God is faithful! We are not quitting! Thank you for standing with us. We appreciate you.

Your missionaries,

Debbie and Mitch Martinez