It is only the fourth day of our twelve day ministry in Caracas and our team is already overwhelmed at what God has done in reaching the police in this country!

We are encouraged by all at home who have prayed for us. We opened a letter after our arrival from Charlie & Betty (Bethany Bible Fellowship's Missions Committee) and were greatly encouraged by their insight in how to pray for our team.

Today our team trained several officers at the Chacao police department which is one of the most advanced agencies in all of Venezuela. Tonight we met with the second in command of the PTJ (Our equivalent of the FBI) and they have requested that we provide training all day on Thursday for 400 officers!! They have also invited us to use their 250 seat auditorium tomorrow night to SHARE OUR FAITH WITH THEIR OFFICERS!!!! Please pray for us tomorrow night.

The ladies and children went high into the mountains of El Hatillo today to hand out tracts and feed the poor. Towering several thousand feet over Caracas my wife, Nancy, was able to lead one lady to the Lord as our children cared for and played with children in the area. Both of our girls (Erika 14, & Kristina 10) thanked the Lord that they were here tonight as they prayed before going to bed.

The enemy has been at work on several fronts to defeat our contacts with the police but the Lord has overcome in many situations. We spent the entire day yesterday conducting training seminars for a police municipality that had only formed one year ago. Their response was tremendous and the majority responded favorably to our invitation to come to a rented amusement park on Friday where the Gospel will be presented along with music and rides for the children.

Last night we gave a safety seminar in El Hatillo to assist citizens in preparing for the day they may be the victim of a crime. Several officers of the El Hatillo police department also showed up so we went through a demonstration of handcuffing and take down techniques and answered many questions. These officers came despite the fact that they had been ordered by their mayor not to attend. A rumor has been spread that we were a cult. They showed great enthusiasm and also said they would be at the park on Friday. Several very influential people from the community were present and also responded favorably.

The team has worked extremely well together and the children have behaved very well under the circumstances. Our schedule has not allowed for much sleep and we have been very busy as new opportunities for ministry have developed. Pray for Randy and Dave as they will be on Christian radio tomorrow (Wed.) describing the ministry of Peace Officers For Christ International and advertising the park day on Friday. We will also have a full day of training at the Chacao police department with 160 officers.

On Sunday Las Acacias church is inviting police officers in uniform to attend services for a law enforcement appreciation service. Please pray that several hundred officers would attend.

These activities are truly historic in Caracas. Never before have Christian officers presented training here and never before have so many people been in prayer for the police in this country. There is tremendous unrest in this area with unbelievable mistrust of the police due to corruption of every kind. With a rising crime rate this nation is at a crossroads. We have sensed a growing excitement by many at the concept of reaching police officers for Christ as people know what a change it could create for all of Venezuela. Please continue to pray for us during these next several days for continued strength due to our rigorous schedule. God is blessing in a tremendous way!!

We wish you could have been with us yesterday at the end of our training to see young officers struggling to get one of the flyers announcing the park day on Friday. Many many people in this spritually dark area have never heard the gospel! Their hunger was evident and we are in awe at what the Lord is doing in this city of almost six millions souls!!

God bless you and thank you for praying!

Until He Comes,

Dave McDowell

General Director