Cross Trainers Ministries, Inc.

Cross Trainers facilitates your participation and preparation in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission by returning to New Testament teachings and practices.

—Mt 28:18-20

About Our Founders

Frank & Joy Becker were called to pastor their first conventional church in 1973 and founded this New Testament ministry in 1986.

www.frankbecker.com; www.joybecker.com

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Missionaries & Ministries Supported

Order Frank's book, "You Can TRIUMPH OVER TERROR." (The small profits have helped support the missionaries.)

*Names and specific locations withheld because of danger to missionary and family

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Larry and Susan Salay, Ecuador

October Update

Rec’d 10/26/07

Dear Family and friends,

Well, we are settled into our home and life here in Ambato and Salasaca, Ecaudor. After two months in the country, some things have still not been unpacked but we are living fine without them. Our time has been filled with visiting with old friends, fixing things, doing paperwork and just generally sweeping the dust off our lives in Ecuador.

Translation news: Last year Larry was working with two Salasacan ladies, Nancy and Bertha and he had hoped to work with them again this year. However, Bertha, who was at the university studying to be a teacher when we left on furlough, decided to look for other work, maybe something in her field. Nancy is starting to work with Larry again and says she is happy to be able to work on the translation of the Scriptures. However, Larry has had to look for another Salasacan to work with him. After praying and asking around and considering who might be qualified for the job, he invited five people to come to a class on translation principles. Well, out of the five people Larry invited, only Henry showed up. So, Larry has trained Henry for three weeks. Although the translation training has gone slow, Henri's abilities in the Salasacan Quichua language are excellent. That and the fact that Henry is a relatively new Christian makes us believe that it was God's plan for him to work with Larry. He will be a good addition to the team. This week we began translating the story of Elijah.

Literacy news: Fanny has recovered completely and Susan has been working with her on Thursday nights on what is called a "transition primer." This will help those Salasacans who can already read in Spanish to learn to read in Quichua. Fanny and Susan have also been working on bilingual (Spanish and Salasacan Quichua) posters to put around the center of town. We're also working on translating more children's story books.

Kids news: Both Robby and Emily are enrolled in a Spanish-speaking school and seem to be doing well in their classes. They might be a little bored when they have English as a Second Language class but the rest of the time they are quite challenged. Though they won't speak any Spanish to us, it is really fun to hear them speak it with their friends. Emily has lost some teeth and the new ones are not growing in straight. Our expectations were confirmed when the dentist told us that she will eventually need braces.

Other news: When we left Ambato we left Jessica, a 22 year-old Ecuadorian college student, to house-sit for us. She is still with us, living upstairs in the office. She is great with the kids and watches them so we can get some work done or actually have a date now and then. She is looking for a new apartment, but in the meantime, it is a blessing to have her smiling face around.

From the editor:

If you are privileged to receive a newsletter from these two paragons of Christ’s work, you will understand why I have such enthusiasm for their work.

They are “real,” dynamic, very hard working, and brilliant. They get the job done. I’ve known Larry since he was born. He is "the real deal."

Larry and Susan, with their two beautiful children, recently returned from Ecuador where they did the work of Bible translation for the people group there and also ministered to adults and children.

They are currently in the United States on furlough and to advance Larry’s education in languages, cultures and Bible translation skills.

They certainly need your support, financial as well as prayer. I commend them highly.

-Frank Becker

When we got back to Salasaca, we learned about cucuya, the local variety of crab grass. Our little orchard in Salasaca was full of it, choking out our baby peach and apple trees. Pedro, a Salasacan neighbor, helped us to pull, hoe, dig and yank it all out. It took us all day last Saturday but we were blessed to be able to strengthen both our muscles and our relationship with him. (See pic attached) It was interesting to have the neighbor's chickens hovering around our tools looking for juicy worms while we worked.

We have been working hard at spending some money for toys which Hopewell Reformed Church raised for the 13 nursery schools in Salasaca. We have numerous toys on order right now from four different providers, about 17 different items for each school. Susan also did a workshop for the nursery school workers on how to make playdough, fingerpaints and glue (see pic attached).

A few days ago, our car was parked a bit farther down our street than usual and when we went to start it, the engine would not turn over. When we opened the hood, we found an empty spot and dangling wires where the distributor should be. Someone had stolen it between 1:00 and 7:30 p.m., probably to re-sell it right here in Ambato. So, our day went from normal, whatever that is, to running around to find the replacement part. When Larry told the mechanic across the street, he told him that these distributors were "pan caliente, warm bread." In other words, these distributors are hard for thieves to resist. One bolt and they're off and they can re-sell them for at least $300.

Larry went to Santiago, our usual mechanic, to ask him where to look for the part. Santiago, walked over to another pick-up in his shop whose engine was completely disassembled, picked up the distributor and handed it to Larry. Unfortunately, it turned out to be only a loaner. After five days of waiting, we finally had our own distributor. Thankfully, our car is once again up and running, and with a steel cable padlocked to the hood!

Please remember the work of Bible Translation and missionaries in your prayers. Dear friends of ours, Neil and Ruth Weibe, are in the final stage of layout of the Chachi New Testament before the Scriptures can be published. They have been here in Ecuador 37 years, working with the Chachi people in bi-lingual education and Bible translation. We are glad to be able to cheer them on through to the finish. Our adversary, the devil, is always looking for ways to stop a new publication of God's Word, so please keep them in your prayers for protection and peace as they finish up and close out 37 years of their lives here in Ecuador and return to Canada.

Please drop us a note when you have a free moment; we'd love to hear what's happening in your lives too.
Your friends, Susan and Larry Salay

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