Three years ago Gustavo and Maria received Christ as their Savior.  Maria and their three children demonstrated great zeal from the beginning of their new life in Christ.  Gustavo showed little interest which has become a source of disappointment for Maria. She desired he lead in their spiritual progress but he was content to merely attend Sunday services, then go play a very enthusiastic game of soccer with his friends.

However, Maria was so pleased that finally Gustavo had crossed the lethargic barrier and decided he would begin to tithe.  Sure enough, Gustavo tithed for the first time on our anniversary service the first week of December.  He made no fanfare over it but Maria was so pleased that after so long a time her husband was finally beginning to demonstrate progress in his spiritual life.

During siesta time on Monday, the next day after Gustavo had placed his first tithe, Maria phoned Lucy asking if this missionary could come to their house quickly as Gustavo had had an accident at work.  When I arrived, Gustavo was in bed awake in pain and his left arm in a cast up to his shoulder.  He had fallen at work and broken his left arm in two places.  I was braced to hear something like he would no longer be coming to church after consecrating his first tithe to the Lord.  But Gustavo said, “Pastor, I believe my broken arm is merely a trial to see if I will turn back”.  It would appear that Gustavo has traded his soccer zeal for the work of the Lord.

Don Nevels, Argentina