Liberato Ovalle (Toluca, Mexico)

Report for Bentonville, January 2005 (Posted 1/26/05)

Along with our greetings for you, go our desire: that in this new year your lives are blessed and that you continue enjoying God’s company.

We thank you deeply for your hospitality during our stay in Bentonville, for making us feel at home and for covering all our expenses for this trip that we will never forget. We want you to know that we were so greatly blessed by being there with you and we are still enjoying thinking back about it all.

Dec. 18 th and 19 th, my wife and I went to Chilpancingo, Guerrero’s capital, to preach at the regional reunion. It’s theme was from 1 st Peter 2:21, “Following in his footsteps”. There I ran into Daniel Peralta, one of my students from the Bible school in Chipas where I taught in 1986.

The 21 st, Elodia and I, left for Chihuahua, Chih. To spend time with our daughter, our son-in-law and the church. We had a wonderful time. We traveled to Casas Grandes, Chihuahua where one of my uncles has been preaching for more than 40 years. We spent a day with them.

In Chihuahua I saw a cardiologist because for some time now I have not been able to control my blood pressure. An electrocardiogram showed that there has been some enlargement of my heart and that I needed my medicines changed, that I needed something stronger. After two weeks I will return to the doctor to see how I am progressing. We returned to Toluca on January 4 th. Work had accumulated so I had to work over-time for a while.

I am currently studying with a man who attended the congregation some time ago, José René Villegas. After talking with some brethren about baptism, he didn’t want to discuss this theme again.We have been going out to breakfast on Tuesdays with Apolinar Sosa and we talk about different things, especially about interesting books; Tues. the 11 th, I told him I was worried about his spiritual state, and whenever he was ready I’d like to study with him. At that time we set a date and time, and that was on the 13 th. After studying two hours, and I told him my conversion story, he confidently told me there wasn’t any need to go on, that everything was very clear and that he would be baptized on Jan. 30 th. Let’s pray for him, he’s a good man, he’s been congregating with us for four years now.

We want to express our deep gratitude to the Shepards and Deacons for increasing the amount of our monthly support, canceling our debt, and the financial gift you gave us at the end of the year. A thousand thanks, this permitted us to settle our debt and begin the new year free of debts, which helps us to have more tranquility. Besides, with the increase of support it is more comfortable to cover our monthly expenses.

Thanks go to God for putting this desire to help us in your hearts. We don’t have the words to express our gratitude. Thanks to John and Clare for being a bond, that God has placed, between you and us.

Liberato and Elodia Ovalle

Photographs:

• Some of those who attended the reunion in Chilpancingo, Guerrero
• Daniel Peralta and his wife
• Angel Palomares (my uncle) and his wife
• A pot luck gathering in Chihuahua
• After a pot-luck at church, afterward we encouraged one another to stay faithful in the year 2005

This is the story of Arturo Cabral:

Arturo Cabral is a preacher in one of the congregations in Nogales, Sonora. When Arturo was a child he suffered 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd degree burns and because of his family’s financial situation he didn’t receive all the medical care he needed. His body is very scarred. Many years passed and Arturo became physically and psychologically stronger. With much difficulty he began to let people see him again and began to attend church. He was converted and was always a faithful young man who worked hard in the church. Arturo became very close to the preacher at his congregation and when this preacher (he was a good friend of mine) left to go work in Tijuana, there was no one to preach so the brethren encouraged Arturo to preach. That is how Arturo became a preacher and he’s been preaching for more than 10 years at that congregation. In May I had the privilege to

stay in his mother’s house, that’s where Arturo lives (he’s single), and she and Arturo’s sister told me Arturo’s sad story. Arturo is shy, patient, and a servant to all. He lives a very faithful Christian life. Arturo traveled by bus to Toluca to attend the ILEB facilitator’s meeting. From Nogales to Guadalajara is 32 hours and then another 8 hours from Guadalajara to Toluca. He was in Toluca for the meeting Saturday, Nov. 20 th and returned home on Sunday Nov. 21 st. When he comes to Toluca he only wants to stay with Erasmo, one of the members, because he feels comfortable with him. Because Arturo is so calm and shy and patient he hasn’t found a mate. We pray for him that God will bless him in his ministry and in his life and bless him with a wonderful mate. I have known him for a long time and we are friends. That is how I know he’s a great young man and a good servant of God.

I send my love to you all,

Liberato

04 Summary Report and Next Year's Plans (posted 10/18/04)

(print this report)

First of all, I want you to know that it is my desire and prayer that God is blessing all the projects that you have placed in God’s hands and that He is blessing your lives.

The following is in reference to what I did last year:

ILEB Toluca

Level 1 classes: Survey of the Bible IV (Jan-Feb), Human Relations (a seminar in February), Ecclesiastical History I (April).

Level 2 classes: 1, 2, and 3 John (Aug-Sept), 1 and 2 nd Peter (Nov-Dec) Hermeneutics (seminar in April), Timothy and Titus (April-May), Hebrews.

ILEB Extension School

I traveled to the following cities/states and taught Ecclesiastical History I, Human Relations and others in Nogales, Sonora; Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas; Chihuahua, Chih; Cuernavaca, Morelos; Mexico City; Querétaro, Qro; Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

Toluca Church

I preached several Sundays. I gave adult classes. I attend and give classes in two life groups in the homes of Francisco Yánez and Apolinar Sosa.

Every Thursday in September my wife, Elodia, and I had a Bible study in the home of Roberto Rubio that resulted in the baptism of his wife and daughters.

I’ve counseled various married couples and young people.

Next Years Plans

One of my plans is to be able to travel to and visit congregations that have ILEB administrators to help them make a five year plan, helping them with classes so that in those five years they have teachers for the men, women, children and that they are preparing to appoint shepards.

I plan to keep teaching in ILEB in Toluca. For the ILEB Extension School, when I travel to other cities, one of myneeds is aLaptop to be able to use powerpoint to show illustrations, outlines, etc. I also plan to visit other congregations that don’t know about the ILEB Extension School to hopefully sign up more students.

My support is used for rent for my house, bills, food, medical costs, medicine, automobile upkeep, trips, helping others with financial needs and the church offering.

Two years ago Victor Salgado arrived at ILEB in Toluca to study Greek with Dan Coker. Victor was a single man of about 32 years of age. He and I struck up a friendship and during our visits together I realized that he belonged to the same religious group that I once belonged to. We talked about that group’s doctrine and Christ’s doctrine. We studied together about speaking in tongues, the gift of the Holy Spirit, instruments, women preachers, and other things, but more than anything we studied about baptism. I shared by conversion experience with him and that greatly encouraged him. Later, he enrolled full-time in ILEB. He finished his first level of studies and still wasn’t convinced that he needed to be baptized and be obedient to Christ’s doctrine. After a seminar on Ecclesiastical History he saw the history of religious groups and realized the origin of the religious group that he belonged to. Three weeks ago I baptized Victor. Afterward, he invited me to his house to meet the rest of his family, who also were members of the Complete Gospel Church of God. He, and his family, had been in this group since he was a small boy. Now, after finishing up his second level of studies in ILEB, Victor is a man with much Bible knowledge, he knows Greek, and is dedicated to his studies and is very organized and works hard in all his classes. He would be a good teacher in ILEB for next year.

He is a simple man with a servant’s heart. We have grown to love each other as brothers in Christ and as friends.

Please be praying for the following:

• The plans we have for ILEB in Toluca.
• To have the financial resources to give scholarships to specific ILEB graduates.

• to continue to study another 11/2 years to specialize in an area.

• For the ILEB Extension schools, that we can help those congregations become independent and self-sufficient.
• That God will help us find the financial resources to help see these plans through.
• That God will give me wisdom to continue to help the church in Toluca.
• That God will bless my wife and me with good health to continue serving His church and to complete our work with ILEB.
• For our supporters, that God will continue to prosper their desire to continue helping the Lord’s work and

Prosper their resources so that can continue supporting His work.

We love you in the Lord,

Liberato and Elodia Ovalle

Liberato Ovalle’s Newsletter for May – July (posted 8/17/04)

God brings to old acquaintances together!

Upon finishing ILEB (International Bible Institute) classes in Toluca I traveled, to give seminars, to some cities in Mexico where there are ILEB extension students:

I went was Nogales, Sonora where I taught on Ecclesiastic History I. There were 30 people present each day. Here something funny happened to me: Saturday night I was talking with some brethren and telling them the story of when I finished my studies in a Pentecostal Bible school. I went to work in an iron shop, and told them what happened to me there, where the business was, and that it was at the end of 1969. When I finished my story a brother said, “I met a “Liberato” when I was 14 in an iron shop.” And then he began to emotionally tell me, “I was that boy and you set such a great example!” He gave me a hug and later told me, “Praise God that He brought us both into His church and, after so many years, that He brings us together. And besides that, we are both preachers for the church of Christ! I’m the preacher for one of the congregations in Nogales.”

After that I went to Cuernavaca to give a seminar on “Friendship Evangelism”. Here I met a young brother, Jose Vidal, whom I met in Chiapas when he was only 8 years old and the last time I saw him he was 12. It was such a pleasure to see him active in the church. I baptized his grandmother and mother in 1974.

I went to a retreat with the Toltecas congregation in Mexico City. We went to Oaxtepec with 17 men that were active in the church. It gave me much satisfaction to hear three young ILEB students give the classes. They taught the seminar, “How to lead in the church service”. That Sunday I taught the class at the church service and in the afternoon I celebrated my 58 th birthday.

I gave a seminar in Cuidad Victoria, Tamaulipas. The preacher there is an old friend of mine. We made our first trip together to Chiapas in 1974. We reminisced about the trip and how it changed my life.

After that I went to Chihuahua, Chih. To give a seminar. I had the opportunity there to see my daughter and son-in-law and to be with the loving congregation there.

Then I went to Ciudad Juarez, Chih. Where I met with five preachers from the city to promote ILEB. In August we’ll have several students from these border cities.

In July my family and I went to Acapulco to take a vacation. It was the first real vacation I have taken in 20 years. This trip cost me about $900.00, which I will be paying off little by little.

With much love in Christ,

Liberato and Elodia Ovalle

May 14, 2004  

Sunday, April 11 we began a special series of classes in place of the regular ABC classes. Raul taught the first, Roberto the second, and I taught the third class. April 25 th I taught how God wants everyone saved. In the process I shared the importance of being baptized correctly and 90 students understood. Several came to see me after class and decided they needed to be baptized. Laura, José Luis, Alejandra and others were all baptized the next Sunday. It was a blessing that I was also able to preach the second Sunday of May about the conversion of Saul. It worked very nicely as a follow-up to the class. I shared my conversion experience with the audience and at the invitation time SEVEN people decided to be baptized. Laura had been baptized the previous Saturday by Raul because they had been studying together. It was incredible how God worked to bring all theses people into His family. We were all filled with joy and very happy.

May 18th – This past week I was very ill again. It was the same problem I had in 99, which put me in the hospital for several days. This time I was only in the hospital one day, last Saturday. My blood pressure was very high and I lost my equilibrium. I am recovering little by little and I would appreciate you all praying for Elodia and me. We are still in the fight and working hard. I hope to send a more complete report next month.

Activities for Liberato and Elodia Ovalle for 2003

During 2003 Liberato served as the Dean of Students in ILEB, Toluca.  He was the main preacher for the congregation there and a stabilizing force in the leadership.  He taught numerous classes on Sundays and in weekly small groups.  Elodia taught numerous ladies classes and worked with the Sunday School program.  What follows are the others activities for them during 03.

In July I preached in a Regional Reunion of churches in Tuxtla, Chiapas. (Elodia and I taught classes in the mornings)

July 20 I preached in a Gospel meeting in the churches in Oaxaca, Mexico with Coco y Tish.

July 25-27th I preached in Querétaro. Elodia gave a ladies class.

August 15-17th I taught a seminar in ILEB to the students in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.

August 24th I returned to Querétaro to preach again and baptized 6 people.

September 30 Elodia was the speaker at a Ladies Day held at the churches of Christ in Chihuahua.

August 31st I directed the graduation ceremony for four students of ILEB in Chihuahua, Mexico.  The graduates were:  Mary Holguín (left), Damaris Ovalle (right), Paíl Nieto (white shirt), Octavio Nájera  and we had a special recognition for Silvia Silva (middle).

Sept.26-28 I preached in Arcelia, Guerrero and taught a seminar for the ILEB students in that city.

Oct. 11-12 I preached in Toltecas, in Mexico City

Nov. 3-4 we went to Acuña, Coahuila to help the church there find some solutions to problems they were facing. Nov. 15-16 I taught the seminar “The Christian Home” for ILEB students in Toltecas, Mexico City.  There were 46 students.

Nov. 29 I preached at a regional conference in Mexico City.  More than 400 people attended

Dec. 19-21 I taught morning and afternoon classes at a retreat with the Church of Christ from Cuernavaca.  It was very edifying.  The theme was “We were created for a Mission”  Eph.4:1-16.  Everyone was very motivated by the weekend.

These are most of our activities for 2003.  We thank God for helping us to serve in the church both in Toluca and throughout Mexico.

Toluca, Méx. a 15/enero/2004 Liberato y Elodia Ovalle