We are in the States! Good to be back and already enjoying being with family and friends. Looking forward to visiting many places and churches in the coming weeks. Our schedule as of now is the following (changes may occur):
Dec 15- 17 Memphis, TN
Dec 18 - 20 Driving up north
Dec 21 - Jan 1 NY, NY
Jan 4 - 10 Ft. Wayne, IN
Jan 10 - 18 Buffalo, NY
Jan 18 - 21 Somerset, PA
Jan 24 - 27 Pittsburg, PA
Jan 28 - Feb 4 Buffalo, NY
Feb 5- 7 Nashville, TN
Feb 8- 19 Memphis, TN
Feb 19-20 Tupelo, MS
Feb 20-27 Memphis, TN
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
November Prayer update
We hope this blog entry finds you well. Especially if you have been affected by Hurricane Sandy! Our prayers are with you and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help even though we are far away.
We here are nearing the end of the year and the end of the ministerial year. Here in Argentina since summer begins in December, it is like the whole city shuts down and November begins to mark the beginning of the end. The children have final exams in school and year end programs. The church begins to take a break in the different ministry areas for the summer. The case is also so for us more this year as we prepare to furlough or go home for home assignment. Kyle is finishing up his classes in the neighborhoods with a bang as they are planning and dreaming of next year's projects. Thrilled cause last week one of the designers Kyle met downtown came to brainstorm ideas with kids in the villas! He has never set foot in a villa/shanty town! Needless to say , we are so thankful for how God is opening doors in the shanty towns as well and in the professional, downtown environment. Pray for Kyle as he has three key meetings in the coming weeks (a multinational corporation, an architectural firm and a government official). All related to the work in the shanty towns.
Anyway, furlough or home assignment, call it what you like, is a time for us to head to the States and share in person what God has been doing here.
We ask for prayer as all the details begin to come together. Right now we have purchased tickets and will be flying into Memphis Dec 15th and returning to Argentina Feb 26th. During those months we look forward to visiting many of you, especially in the TN, NY, PA area and all those in between. Others.. we will have to pray to see when and how we can get to visit some other areas of the USA.. like California and Florida (hee hee wouldn't that be nice, esp in the winter =)!!
We look forward to the biggest thing and that is reinforcing as well as building new relationships. Allow me to expand on that and share what I have been learning. This week in teaching a Bible class on the basics of the faith I was reminded about how being a Christian is about relationship. Relationship with Christ that moves us into relationship with each other. We thank God we can be in relationship with Him and that He unites us to be the body together. I was also hit with this reality at the women's retreat this past weekend.. as women from both the Flores area and the upper class Palermo area worshiped together. God met us there and ministered to each of us and through each of us. Conversations, prayers, laughter all united us. The most amazing moment for me came as I facilitated a small group made up of a mix of social, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds. As I began to ask questions one shared about her desire to see God in true community and the struggle she has had to find that. And then another spoke and shared about her difficult year as she is battling a disease that is so poorly understood and she was afraid to tell about it at church since she functions in different ministries as a leader. Well here she said it, "I have leprosy." And the group embraced her, prayed for her and in that moment we all sensed true, redemptive community. Relationship! Where would we be without it.. without His, without each others? Continue to pray with us for our friend's complete healing and all God will do through her testimony.
We thank God for our relationship with you as well and how God uses you to make it possible for us to be here. Know that we covet your prayers as we continue to face a financial deficit in our support level. Pray with us that the Lord will open new doors when we are home and that we will be able to build and share with new relationships what God is doing here in BA. Please contact us so we can schedule a visit with you, your small group and or your church.
Blessings
Monday, December 19, 2011
A moving moment for mom and dad!
Yesterday at church the kids participated during the worship time. "I" played the drums and "S" and A" sang with the rest of the children and the kids' band. We as parents were very moved and were so amazed to watch them up there. We thank God and the work of the music school for their dedication to teaching our children and the rest of the kids in our communities!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Retreat, reflect, reality
A leaders retreat! My mind quickly ran to picturing my weekend as I began to pack for our annual leaders' retreat with the church. In my mind there would be lots of talking, thinking and planning for 2012 of course, but also there would be lots of hanging out on a blanket having " mate" and just relaxing and enjoying nature. Ahhhhh! "A retreat, just what I need, " were my thoughts. I also was thirsting to meet with God with the other leadership and seek his face for 2012.
Well, although much of that did happen and I am thankful for the wonderful talks and discsussions, my retreat was much more of my reality following me to the retreat. What I mean by that is that long gone are the days of a retreat where you can disconnect and just breathe when your kids come along! Aha! K and I were finally together at a retreat but so were our three other participants of the Z clan. So the stress of bedtimes, meal times, entertaining them (although we had great childcare ) quickly intruded in my idea of a retreat! I would hear the pastor preaching on Psalm 23 and I just couldn't absorb it at the time. With the kiddos not sleeping, wet shoes from outside, settling sibling disputes, locating snacks, planning movie times, and fighting with DVD players.. I was zonked. I asked myself, Lord why am I here.. why a retreat if I can't "retreat" from my reality?
Well at 10 pm at night, on Sat after a great time of worship and prayer.. one of the youth gets a call from her dad frantic that her baby sister.. 18 months .. was hit by a stray bullet in her head. Information was scarce as the dad was running to the hospital. We quickly began to comfort and speak with the two older sisters and then we all gathered to pray. I thought, "man, talk about reality in the midst of a retreat.. a cruel reality." We had no idea if the baby would live or what the details were. K googled maps to get the girls to the hospital. Finally about an hour later.. the news came that the baby was fine, the bullet was lodged in her cheek and she would be fine. Praise God!! We all rejoiced!
Wow.. for me that was just such a picture of community and love and support. All we could do was cry out and pray and the Lord heard our cry. The baby is doing fine today and she is home.
But returning to Psalm 23... Our pastor ended the retreat time at church on Sunday and man the message hit home. The Lord met me in the midst of my reality, in the midst of a different type of retreat. I was reminded in a powerful way that He takes us by still waters, green pastures, guides us with his rod and staff. He is all we need for ministry, for life, for whatever our "reality" may hold. From an exhausted mom needing a break to a horrific random sudden tradegy.. He is our Shepherd, we shall not want!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
El Superclásico
On Sept. 24th K with some youth and parents to the "Superclásico." "What is that?", you may be asking. Well it is a gathering of youth from all over Latin America that come to worship God together and hear His word. This year the gathering took place Fri and Sat. Some of our youth from church left Thurs and camped the two nights just to be able to get in since it was a free event. K headed their on Sat. and waited on line all day to get in. The wait was worth it. Over 60,000 youth filled the stadium and where impacted by the evening.
The stadium where the event was held in La Plata, Buenos Aires.
Two of our youth all the way in the front of the crowd. They camped two nights to get that spot!
Hanging out waiting for the event to start as the stadium fills.
And it begins!!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Doctors Return
Last week, we were visited once again by the medical mission team from Global Outreach International. They have been coming now for about five years. We love partnering with them. They enable us to provide a service to the communities that is unique and a change from dealing with the health care system at least for a week. Don't get me wrong health care here in Argentina is excellent, but for those that have less options it can be quite trying just to get into see a doctor at times.
We visited three communities that we are working in and provided Doctor visits and a free pharmacy that gave out what was needed prescribed by the doctors. This year we worked on adding a counseling center where people were also cared for spiritually and we were able to explain why we were there--- to share the love of Christ.
Over 200 people were seen and we praise God for a successful trip. It was a joy to work with them and we look forward to their return next year. Now we pray that the seeds that were planted will continue to grow!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
"Kids like me don't go to university"
Over the past year or so of teaching I have come across many different people and have had many opportunities to speak to and learn from the people we serve here in Buenos Aires. This week was no different as we started a new semester of carpentry classes in the shantytowns.
Today, I had the opportunity to share a little of my journey in life with one of my classes that is composed of entirely youth. As I was speaking to them sharing a little of the hope I have for them and asking what their dreams are, one of the kids (Alan, 12 years old) put words to what I have been seeing over the past two years through my studies and experience of the neighborhoods. I asked Alan if he had the opportunity to go to study in the University of Buenos Aires, what would he study, and he told me that that would never happen because he is from Fatima, one of the shantytowns. I asked why and he continued to say, "people like me, we don't go to university because we have to work and therefore have no time or money for such things". By this he was telling me indirectly that he wasn't good enough nor could he afford the time wasted or the money spent to better his condition. I was also told that it is unusual for the kids of these "barrios" to even finish high school and that many drop out in middle school to work with their families or take care of their siblings. Many are just left to their own devises raised on the streets.
Though this wasn't news to me, his answer impacted me. I had never heard it from someone's mouth that was directly affected by this way of thinking. To see this type of mindset instilled in a child so young was for me, offensive. His words just sunk in deep and reinforced my desire to break this cycle or mentality of poverty. But where to start? How do you change this type of pervading cultural mindset? The scary thing is part of what he said is true, these kids are not sufficiently prepared academically to handle college as well as they are a needed commodity for the future survival of their families. Who else will help carry the workload or watch the younger kids so that their parents can work to put food on the table? There is no one else. Their roles are type casted and they have no choices. Our resolve is to help create a holistic ministry that truly speaks into the entire human condition including this cyclical mentality of poverty. Something must be done.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Camp time
A few weeks ago the older youth put together the first junior high camp in a long time! The youth worked during their summer break (don't forget that Dec- Mar is summer here) to put together a Jr. high camp. For us it was thrilling to see the team of youth we worked with all year come together and organize this event. It was so amazing to see the fruit of a year of disciplship, training and prayer. God is good!
The camp went well. The kids had a lot of fun and were able to for a weekend get away from the city and the shanty towns and enjoy nature, each other and learn more about God and themselves. The focus of the weekend was Identity. The jr. highers heard they were created in the image of God and all that that implicates in their lives. The camp ended powerfully with a time of prayer for each youth as they embraced their identity as children of God made in His image. We praise God for this camp and all that occurred. We continue to pray as the older youth will continue to lead the jr. highers in small groups and monthly meetings. K and I will continue to walk with the older youth through meetings, Bible study and one on one discipleship. We are thrilled to see the different layers of this ministry grow and develop!
The sleeping quarters! Nicely set up!
Pool time!
Worship,sharing of the word and prayer.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Summer- Winter- Summer
10-- Learned to watch for bears when driving in PA (Yes we hit a bear on the way down to TN)
9-- Never tell and show your son what the GPS means by a "sharp turn..," when there is snow on the ground (Car turned and got stuck on the side of a hill)
8-- Chick-Fil-A has the best shakes! (Enjoyed meeting with people while kids played!)
7-- The drive from Nashville to Western PA is breathtaking! Highly recommend it!
6-- Memories made celebrating our kids birthdays from Jump houses to Chuck e Cheese.
5-- Our daughters walk into McDonalds and exclaim.. "They have one of these here too?"
4-- Never take your 3yr old daughter into the American Girl Store in NYC during the Christmas shopping frenzy if you are not planning on buying one right there and then (Mental Picture: my daughter screaming in Spanish, "I want my doll.." sprawled on the floor!!)
3-- Our kids bonded with everyones pets! They still talk about each pet they were able to play with along our visit! (Ellie, Max, Dexter, Bandit, Luna, Lucy, Burren Leo, and Kate.. and the list goes on..)
2-- True highlight of the trip was seeing one of our pastor friends act as a ballerina for a church talent night! Truely priceless! (Even if it meant having to watch the Jets play the Steelers in Pittsburgh!)
Here is a glance at our trip. From visiting dear friends to hanging out in the snow and celebrating birthdays, we thank God for a wonderful time! (click to view bigger)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Not by Chance Meeting
There are times in life when you meet someone that you just know you will see this person again. Well that was what happened today as I was walking home from the mechanics. I had met Pablo about, I would have to say, almost a year ago outside of La Misión one cold afternoon. He approached me and asked me if I could give him something to eat, as is typical for the neighborhood around the church. I didn't think much of it at first but then the Lord's tug on my heart and began to see this man in a new light. As we spoke for about 10 minutes he began to tell me his story, and I noted that he knew much about evangelicals and what they believed. In trying to convince me that he was worthy of my attention he stated that he too believed and he was just in a distant state from God but that there was no hope for him. I reassured him that that just wasn't the truth. It fascinates me how God uses even our own manipulative means to move us to a place He desires us to be...as Pablo spoke and used words to convince me to give him money, his very words spoke to his own heart of Christ's love.
After buying food for him I sat with him on the street and just talked for a while. In that conversation I noticed he was cold and knowing that it was going to be a very cold night I gave him my jacket. That is the moment I believe God spoke to him. He was in shock and in essence said to me, most "christians" I have met have never given me their own personal jacket to keep me warm. Jesus would have done the same thing. I have never met a "christian" who lives like that until today. I could read it in his eyes as if he said it out loud, "sure, I am given a lot of things from people who take pity on me but it cost them nothing. But not you...". As I left him he was telling his other "street" friends what I gave him, saying to them, "he is a real christian, watch over him." My last words to him before I left were, "I am convinced that we have met for a reason." Though I was certain then that we would meet again, I didn't anticipate what that meeting might be like.
Well, today as I was walking from the mechanics I heard a man behind me call out "hermano" (brother), normally I wouldn't turn but there was a familiarity in his voice. And there standing before me was Pablo, but not the Pablo that I met a year previously, this man was a new creation, with a new spirit. I must admit I was shocked! He asked if I remembered him, and I said yes, in unbelief. Not sure how to interpret my shock he then tried to convince me again, but this time with a different message, "I am the same man you helped on the street over a year ago. You gave me your jacket, remember?" I said, "yes, of course I remember you, but something is different." And he proceeded to tell me that from that moment God began calling him back, out of drugs, off the street, back into a relationship with Him. He told me he is now going to a church close to home and that he is being discipled and growing in his faith. At the end our our conversation he apologized that he couldn't return my jacket but that he was so thankful for the many people, like me, God used to remind him of His love for him during that dark time in his life. He asked me to continue to pray for him because he still struggles with his past but that God has been faithful and good to him.
There aren't many times you get to see how God works through you, so we treasure this moment as a gift and an encouragement to carry on. He is at work, in the small things, in the big things, He is at work!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Latest Newsletter
We invite you to catch up on all our latest news and updates by clicking on the following link and reading our Oct newsletter!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Serving in the Communities
On May 22nd a team of twelve people arrived from Mississippi serving through Global outreach. There main goal was te serve the people in the impoverished "villas" with free healthcare. For La Misión this was an exciting time to meet the physical needs of the communities, share Christ's love and invite new friends to join us at church.
We praise God for a wonderful week. Over 500 people were seen and given free medical care and received prayer as well. K and I were able to spend time in prayer with one man who's daughter had run away. This same man came to church on Sunday to let us know that she came home! We were so excited and rejoicing with him.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Looking for a location
It is always exciting to see how God provides and how He faithfully opens each door in His timing. If I had had my way we have set up a location for the vocational school from day one. But honestly if we had done that we would have missed out on what we have learned this past year. I, all too often forget, it is not only achieving my goals that matters, but it is what we learn from the process of achieving those goals that is often even more important. What is learned along the way, both from the succeses and even more so, from our failures, can so impact our overall direction and focus.
Take for instance, originally we were looking to focus the vocational school on adults only. But we have found that we have better results if we focus our attention on youth and children. Through this process of discovery we are finding that in this life style, the cycle of poverty is so ingrained in the daily function of the people that it is difficult for them to conceive of another life style. Many of the people in the villas work so hard but for so little; 16 hours a days, 7 days a week. Time is money for them! If they are not on the streets looking for recyclable materials (cardboard, plastic, metal) someone else will get what they missed that day, or take their territory, or more importantly, they do not eat. So for the adult and older youth, where would they find time to "invest" in themselves? This is a luxury they do not have. They have no options because no one will invest in them. Nor will they trust anyone because they have been burnt by so many lies/promises in the past when they once had hope. All that is left of their hope is scars.
So the question remains...how do you gain access to build trust so that you can invest in this community? I believe we have the answer...by providing the opportunities to their children/youth that they never had while there is time, and through that build relationships with the entire family. One way to break this cycle of poverty is to reach out to the children before their hope is too scarred to impact. So our focus of the school will be expanded to also include as much as is possible children and youth.
With that said, the ground work to start the school laid, with classes and workshops in the neighborhoods as well as at La Misión, we are ready for the next step- to rent a location. Over the past few months we have been raising the necessary funds to secure a "permenant" location for the vocational school. And God through many of you has begun to provide for this. In order to move forward, this permanent location is key and, not to mention, much safer. Once the location is rented we will still maintain our basic carpentry classes in the villas, but all the other classes will be taught in the new location.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Missions Conference 2010
What a wonderful time we had during the missions conference! The conference was organized by the youth group for youth. It was a time of seminars, challenges, community projects. It was the perfect balance of learning and doing! The evenings we had gatherings were different speakers shared personal challenges to the youth. Many youth were touched and convinced of their longing to serve God and to know Him more in their lives. Personally, we were excited to be able to share the needs around the world especially about unreached people groups. For these youth, this was the first time hearing about this, the first time seeing the statistics and the first time of feeling the burden for the lost around the world. We praise God for this time with the youth and pray that many will follow the call set before them. We pray many will become "History makers in this world."
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Missions Conference: Day 1
We are thrilled to be a part of the first ever Missions conference at La Mision church. Personally it has been a challenge as we prepare for our workshops. Last night was the first big meeting, and as I sat there I realized this is all new for everyone there. In the States we are so accustomed (we, meaning church goers) to mission conferences and all that goes with them. It is a whole new experience to be at the place where for the first time these youth are being challenged with the call to missions especially when there is so much to do right around them. For all of us, believers, missions is an everyday thing; something we all need to remember no matter where we live. Yet there is also much to be done around the world. Pray with us as we prepare our workshops and that they would communicate to the youth where they are and help take them to a new level of understanding. Our prayer is that many will receive the call to GO, and that those that are called to stay would also Stay and make an impact here in Buenos Aires! Revolution is the theme! Bring on the Revolution!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Taste of our First Year
We praise God for this year. It has been a year of many transitions. He has carried us through each one. We thank God for each of our supporters that make it possible for us to be here! Celebrate with us and enjoy a taste of our first year.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Making a Joyful Noise
We are so thrilled to have a music school in La Misión. Children from the community and the church come to learn an instrument as well as music theory. Also in one of the "villas," there is also a separate school run by La Misión called "Sonidos de Esperanza,".. (Sounds of Hope).. And that is what these music classes are for a lot of these kids that come from hard living situations. The hope of the gospel, the joy of music and the love of the teachers, all experienced weekly in these classes. Personally, God has used the music teacher, Martha in our children's lives. She has taught them to worship in song not just sing. We praise God for this tremendous ministry. Enjoy some of the clips from the end of the semester recital/program.
Isa has been taking drum lessons for 4 months. Kids can choose from drum, guitar and keyboards to study. Then they have an hour of music theory as well. You should see him learning his notes!
This is my favorite song the children sang. It says "I have so much to be thankful for.. my friends, my parents, and mostly Jesus." It is a great reminder to have a thankful heart!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Following your Call at all Cost
Words can't express how proud I am of my brother and his family. They are in the midst of leaving the USA and headed to a new land to follow their call. Join me in praying for them in this season. It is surely a time of so many emotions.. overwhelming at times I am sure, but I trust that our Father is sustaining them now and will continue to do so! There is no greater joy than to be in the center of His will watching Him work wonders. What a privilege to serve our Lord! God speed familia!
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