The subject line got your attention, didn't it?  Actually, I'm not referring to the Red Sea, but to the Mar Rojo restaurant in Camarma.   We've eaten more than a few meals there and many more cups of coffee.  The Mar Rojo hasn't split exactly, it's about to close because of the economy.  I received the news the other day when Soraiya the waitress told my friend Jerry and me as we chatted over coffee.

WeI talked about our responsibility as a Christians, and more broadly as a church, in the face of the world wide economic crisis.  I was motivated to ask Soraiya, the waitress, how she was doing.  She always has a smile, always is positive, but she said frankly that she's doing badly.  Our Spanish evangelism often consists of trying to crack the door open with a question, then stepping through (or sticking out a foot!) when it opens.  I shared briefly that Jesus promises a peace that only he can give, very unlike the peace of the world.  I also said that we'd pray for her.  She responded that her husband Oscar had gotten a job, which she considered an answer to the prayers of some Christian women who told her they'd pray for him a couple of months ago.  The door has opened a bit further, pray for courage and wisdom as we follow up.

We've heard that one of the options for the Mar Rojo is that it would become a "couples hotel", one that charges by the hour.  This is just a rumor, but obviously is not what we'd like to see happen in the community.  The owner is Juan, and it would be great if he'd be both convicted and blessed by our Lord.

Tonight Amelia is coming over for dinner with a friend.  She is going trough a messy divorce and we hope to be salt and light.

Our church is hosting a team July 26 to August 2.  It looks like we will do an English camp in the school where the church meets.  We're trusting that this is what God wants for us after the first option closed.   

Thanks so much for praying.

In Christ,

Mark and Kay