March Newsletter

Travel Plans

Since my return from Honduras last month, I have been preparing for classes I will be teaching in the future. Noma and I will be traveling to Fruitland, New Mexico next week to teach a 6-hour class to a group of men on the Navajo Reservation. We are excited about that trip. As of this minute, I am continuing to schedule trips to congregations who are involved in our work for reports. On April 4 I will be reporting on the school in Danlí, Honduras to the congregation in Pryor, Oklahoma. On April 18 I will be traveling to Bagwell, Texas to give a report on our work the past year; I will also be giving a report to the congregation in Slim, Oklahoma, but I have not finalized the date for that report yet.

Beginning in May, my schedule will pick up somewhat for a while. On May 8 I will be speaking at the 11th Annual Hugo Lectureship. On May 22 I will be traveling to Guatemala to teach Old Testament V. I plan to stay over the next weekend to attend a lectureship planned for that date. I will return on Monday, May 31. On June 3 (tentatively) Noma and I will be traveling back to Guatemala for a few days and then over to Honduras for a few days before returning home. On July 29 I leave for Vishakaputnam, India where I will be teaching for two weeks there, return home on August 14. I will leave off there on my schedule. I do have other events scheduled after August, but I will save them for future newsletters.

Personal News

Noma and I are doing well. Next week is Spring Break and that is why she will get to go with me to New Mexico. We are also glad to see some warmer weather make its way here, even though today is a bit cool with the wind. We thank all of you for your prayers and support of our work.
If you would like any further information about our work, I encourage you to contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Also, you can visit our website at: www.WeTrainPreachers.com.

A new source of information specifically dealing with the extension program is a new blog: http://extensiontraining.wordpress.com.

You may contact me at:
2013 Rushing Meadows
Edmond, OK 73013
Cell Phone: (580) 326-1914

...praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ... (Colossians 4:3).

Thank you and God bless you all.

Donnie Bates

February 10-11, 2010

February 10, 2010

After such a hot day, today began with a lot of sun. It looks like it’s going to be hot again today, too. We had a good day of classes. I believe the students are ready for their final exam tomorrow. Tonight I have free. I’m grading quizzes and I have to write the quiz for tomorrow. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

February 11, 2010

We completed the class notes today. The students came out very well in their last daily quiz. After finishing the notes, they took time to study a little more in preparation for the final. At 6:00 p.m. we are going to the house of the man whose family we studied with last Saturday for our worship; the one who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. After the worship, I’m going to have supper and send my last reports from here this trip. The next time I communicate with all of you, I will be home, if God wills. I would like to say how much I appreciate your prayers for me and my family in my absence from home. This trip has been a very good trip, productive and filled with blessing. I miss my family right now, but I know they have been in the loving and capable hands of God. Thank you, friends, for lifting me to the throne of God in your prayers. May God richly bless you!

Donnie Bates

February 8-9, 2010

February 8, 2010

After a very hot day, we arose to a fresh, cool morning, but that did not last for very long. After a few hours of sunshine, the temperature began to rise. Today was the first day of classes over Psalms. We had a good class. Before ending the day, we studied a little about how to develop an expository sermon, using Psalm 1 as an example. In the evening, I met with the teachers that live here in Danli to speak about things concerning the Institute (the future; how are we going to find more students? Etc.). We realize that there are only 14 months left until the second class starts (Beta Class). We enjoyed a good supper and meeting. I returned to the hotel and did some things on the computer and put myself to bed. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

February 9, 2010

The second day of classes and it was another good day. Brother Luis David Argenal preached a good message in chapel to begin. We reached the halfway point in the material, and we spent more time in developing the psalms so as to preach them as sermons, and also, how to study them so as to give encouragement to the discouraged. The Psalms have much to teach us concerning this point. Tonight, I am going to the worship service of the congregation for a class on singing (we’re learning a song in English) and a period of prayer. The brethren of the El Zarzal congregation pray in this period for between 30 and 45 minutes. I have heard individual prayers that lasted for between 10 and 15 minutes. Many of those who are praying, kneel and remain so during the whole period of prayer, and, I tell you, that is a hard floor. I did it once, but my knees cannot not do it now. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

Donnie Bates

February 6-7, 2010

February 6, 2010

This morning I accompanied brother Nery and his children to a Bible study with a family. The husband of the family suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and cannot get out of bed. We had a good study. I believe this man understands what he needs to do, but wants to study a little more. Afterward, we went to a Chinese restaurant and enjoyed a great plate of fried rice. At 6:00 p.m. I went to the worship service of the El Zarzal congregation for another class on the subject “The Great Tribulation.” Brother Nery is a very good teacher. Until tomorrow, God bless you.

February 7, 2010

Today is the last Sunday that I will be with my brethren of the El Zarzal congregation. I had the blessing of preaching to them and they received me well. This afternoon I have papers that I must grade from the classes we have already had, and, also, I have to prepare myself for the class over Psalms that begins tomorrow. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

Donnie Bates

February 4, 5, 2010

February 4, 2010

Today was an extraordinary day! We studied the examples of leadership of Jesus, and the apostles Paul and Peter. It was a very productive exercise and we learned how to take the message from the passage and how to follow the examples that are found therein. For me, it was like preaching for five hours during the day, so I was a little tired, but I felt very good afterward. At 6:00 p.m., I went with some of the brethren of the El Zarlzal congregation to the house of one of the sisters. One of the students (Hector Viera) preached a very good sermon. I returned to the hotel for supper and to greet some friends on the computer and, finally, to bed. Until tomorrow, God bless you all.

February 5, 2010

The last day of the week and of our study of Leadership! Today we have no more than the final exams. The students have worked hard this week. They all did well in the exams. I am very proud of them. Also, I have listened carefully to their sermons in the chapel with which we begin every day of study. These men, these brethren and friends of mine preach powerful sermons and faithful to the Word of God. After next week, they will have reached the half-way point of their studies in the Institute. I am sure that they are going to be ready to preach (they already are) and the church will be healthier and stronger with what these men of God will be able to do. Until the next time, God bless you!

Donnie Bates

February 2-3, 2010

February 2, 2010

Today began cloudy and the temperature was nice. There is a preachers’ meeting in the town of Trojes, approximately two and a half hours from Danlí, higher up in the mountains. Because of that (the altitude), it rained all day there. Brother Luis David went to this meeting and took seven other preachers with him in his truck. Because of that, he was not with us in class. It was a good class. We ended early today so the students could study more and also so that the material for the class would last for the week. In the evening I went to the worship of the El Zarzal congregation. We practiced some new songs, including a short one in English. I appreciate so much the desire to make the “gringos” (North Americans) feel comfortable in the worship service of the church by singing a little in their own language. These are very good brethren and friends. Until tomorrow, God bless you all!

February 3, 2010

Another cloudy day! Today, we are going to finish the material (written notes) in the workbooks. I have a plan to complete the week of instruction. We had another good class. I must write, also, that the wife of brother Oscar Morgan (one of the students) has done a very good job in cooking for us this week. Every day the food is very good. Since there is no worship on Wednesday, I am going to work tonight in writing the quiz for tomorrow and the study afterwards. Until tomorrow, God bless you all!

January 30 - February 1, 2010

January 30, 2010

Today was a day to rest. I took my computer to a strip mall near the hotel where there is a free wi-fi network and checked my email and sent some messages. Later, in the afternoon, I went to an internet café and after that, I walked to a restaurant where I had a frappucino, and then returned to the hotel. All together, I figure I walked about 3 miles. At 6:00 I went to El Zarzal where brother Nery taught a very good class on the subject: The Great Tribulation. There were not many people there because the majority of the congregation had attended a youth rally down on the southern coast. The return to Danlí about 9:00 or 10:00. There were 15-20 in the class. Until tomorrow, God bless you all!
January 31, 2010

This morning I accompanied brother Jesús to a small village called La Union, to attend worship with them and to deliver some food. We climbed pretty high into the mountains near the town of El Paraiso (Paradise). Afterward, we returned to Danlí for lunch and rest before services tonight. At 4:30 Jesús and his family picked me up and we went to El Paraiso again. I had the blessing of preaching to the congregation gathered together there. There were about 77 people. I returned to the hotel about 8:30. I am ready for the week of classes to begin. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

February 1, 2010

Today was the first day of classes. We are studying Leadership this week. We had a good beginning to the study. We ended a little early today. Tomorrow there is a preachers’ meeting, so brother Luis David will not be with us, but he is a good student and can do the work. It is a little warm today because the sun is shining, but the rain is not far away. My plans for this evening are to make a quiz for tomorrow and rest a little. Until tomorrow, God bless you!

Donnie Bates