January 2014 Report

Happy New Year! We are grateful for the many ways you have encouraged us and participated in the work in Uruguay over the past year, in addition to the ways in which you serve the Lord where He has placed you. All of us will undoubtedly need much of God’s grace for the days ahead. We are highlighting some opportunities here in Uruguay in the upcoming months—work in which you can participate through your prayers (2 Co. 1:11). Most of these needs involve not only our family but many others as well.

 

Campamento Emanuel in Guazuvirá. Most of the summer camp season this year takes place during January. JM will spend most of the month there (about an hour outside Montevideo), helping with counselor training, counseling and preaching. Please pray for long-term fruit from this effort to serve Uruguayan churches by means of the camping program. Please pray for Déborah and the children during his absence. Due to new immigration requirements, she and Elizabeth are working hard to finish the U.S. school year (at home) so Elizabeth can be ready to start the new Uruguayan school year (probably in a small Christian school on the outskirts of Montevideo) by the end of February.

FEBU. On November 16 a group of well over 100—including potential students, their pastors, and other interested people—met for a youth meeting designed to offer information about the Facultad de Estudios Bíblicos del Uruguay (FEBU) (College of Biblical Studies of Uruguay) (www.febu.org). On March 10 the school year will begin with sessions for teachers and an opening meeting for teachers and students. The following evening the first classes will be taught in an upstairs hall provided by EMU’s Iglesia Templo Calvario. A different, long-term facility—especially as the number of classes and students potentially increases each year—is a matter for which we would appreciate prayer. Matías and Kristine Espinel will return to the U.S. for a furlough following the opening of the school year. The timing of their trip helps to avoid an absence in upcoming years when he will be teaching more courses. JM will help to fill Matías’ place as director during these first six months.

Primer Instituto Bíblico F.V. Dabold. Classes ended for the semester in November, and Juan José graduated from the three-year program of EMU’s Bible institute in Montevideo. A separate, parallel course of study is offered in several churches in the interior, primarily via DVDs. In one of these locations (Iglesia Templo Betel in Pando) two young men, Rodrigo and Claudio, graduated a week later. Pray for the Lord’s leading of these three men.

 

Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando. On January 13 the Garwoods will travel to Jacksonville, FL, where Don (Déborah’s father) will undergo surgeries to correct blockage in a carotid artery and to replace a heart valve. These are high-risk procedures, and we would appreciate your prayers for him and for the group of believers whom he serves as missionary-pastor. The date of his return is indefinite, depending on his progress following surgery. We, along with Daniel and Viviana, Iguazú, and Cristian, will help to maintain weekend services at IBM.