April 2016 Report

January & February. Thank you for praying for summer camp at Camp Emmanuel in Guazuvirá. Our entire family participated each week on some level, either as campers or staff. We’re especially grateful this year for the ministry of Elías Huamán, who dedicated many weeks away from his family in Peru to serve the Uruguayan church. He turned our Uruguayan, Argentine, and North American eyes away from our familiar, comfortable surroundings to realities in the rest of the world—the real world of primitive and civilized savagery, where billions do not know Jesus and where Christians suffer for their loyalty to Him. At the same time he encouraged our churches to financially support their pastors and to engage in gospel work on the local level. His preaching coincided with some difficult but positive steps toward independence among some of the churches here.

March. FEBU (Facultad de Estudios Bíblicos del Uruguay: College of Biblical Studies of Uruguay) began the third year of classes with 27 active students. Most of these are studying part time; some are auditing a course. Ten students (these from Montevideo, interior Uruguay, Argentina, and Costa Rica) are taking a full schedule of classes: Gabriel, Manuel, Exequiel, Maxi, and Vanessa (third-year students); Noemí (second-year student); Iván, Katherine, María, and Priscilla (new first-year students). Please pray that these men and women (and others who have studied in past years) would continue to seek the Lord, be diligent to take full advantage of this opportunity, and discern and follow God’s leading for future ministry within Uruguay and beyond. If the Lord continues to bring new students, the need for a more suitable location potentially increases. Our desire is especially to strengthen the FEBU program (in terms both of discipleship and academics) and to further equip our teachers. Please pray for wisdom as we seek to know the Lord’s mind and as we take steps toward these goals.

FEBU students, March 2016

Opening service of the 2016 academic year

April. FEBU is set up as a non-profit organization, subject to a general “assembly” of Uruguayan pastors and other church leaders. This larger group approves two committees that work together to make decisions and handle most day-to-day business. We seek input from students and teachers. All of this takes place within the bounds of a doctrinal statement that has, so far, been very functional and agreeable to all of the churches and mission organizations involved. Please pray that God would preserve this wonderful unity. On April 18 FEBU will hold an annual meeting of this larger “assembly.”

The first children’s class in A’s neighborhood

Later in 2016. In an earlier letter we mentioned churches we have not visited for several years and the possibility of our traveling this year to see them. We are not currently planning a trip of this nature for 2016. We are waiting for an answer from the Immigration Department to our request for permanent residency (for JM, E, and DJ). When we receive this status, we will also be eligible for a six-month window of permission to bring a tax-free shipment of household items into the country. Please keep praying not only for permanent residency but also for the timing of this status and for the timing of any corresponding travel to prepare a shipment. Elizabeth’s and DJ’s schooling and the differences between the academic calendars from one hemisphere to the other also complicate planning.

The 2016 school year is off to a great start!

This semester’s schedule will be challenging for our family: E is in school in the morning (8:00- 12:00, a 20-30 minute bus ride away) and DJ in the afternoon (1:00-5:00, a 20-minute walk away); JM and D teach or are otherwise on call in the evenings (7:00-10:00). So far God has given grace. We rely on your prayers! Thank-you!

January 2016 Report

We want to thank you for your part this past year in what God is doing in Uruguay. We don’t know what 2016 will hold, but we do have full confidence that Jesus, the King of the nations, is building His church. In this report, we’ve described several situations that seem to show us a glimpse of some of the specifics of His building work:

Several teens from Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha (IBM) in Pando recently graduated from high school and plan to pursue further schooling in March. The Lord has kept them from much temptation; but please pray that they would persevere and that God would continue to guide and keep them. Some of them have expressed interest in taking classes in FEBU or in EMU’s Bible institute. Please continue to pray for the Lord’s provision of a pastor for IBM.

The Lord has given grace to us and to our children as they have adapted to schooling in Spanish. In December Elizabeth finished fourth grade (her second year of school in Uruguay) and Daniel James finished the required K4.

In October we mentioned the family of A, whose decision to keep her twin babies had led to opportunity for individual Christians to respond to the family’s great physical and spiritual needs. This relationship continues.

At an October pro-life event

This month many children and teens (including several from IBM) attend summer camps. JM will be counseling and helping with music during some of these weeks. Please pray for God to use His Word in the hearts of each.

In March JM will teach Intro to Music and Homiletics I, and Déborah plans to teach Spanish Grammar. Please pray that God would use these classes (especially the last two) to give further ability in, understanding of, and commitment to expository preaching among the churches in Uruguay, beginning with these students of the Bible.

On a daily basis we are in contact with needy people. We walk past them on the sidewalk. We physically brush (read “are shoved and crammed”) against them on the bus. They come to our door asking for help, sometimes leaving with a bottle of water, a blanket, or a tract. We do business with some of them, and some are neighbors. We need wisdom and grace to move from superficial contact to conversation about their need of Jesus to save them from their sins. And we need God’s Spirit to work in the hearts of those who have listened to the good news. Please pray specifically for eighteen individuals with whom we have ongoing opportunities.

The Facultad de Estudios Bíblicos del Uruguay (College of Biblical Studies of Uruguay (FEBU) opened in March 2014 with approximately fifteen students, half of whom took a full load of classes. While totals remained fairly steady for these first four semesters, the number of new students the second year (2015) was much smaller, resulting in scheduling changes. Beginning in March, we plan to offer first and third year classes; but, again, the class schedule assumes a minimum number of students. We believe that FEBU represents a very good opportunity for Christians in this region to be trained in preparation for service in their local churches and beyond. And we believe that FEBU is the best option for some. We want no fewer and no more than those whom God chooses to send. The next couple of months will hold opportunity (especially during the weeks of camp) to encourage potential students to consider training in FEBU or in EMU’s Bible institute. We are in need of prayer that—by God’s grace—we might play whatever role God wants us to in the discipleship of each one, both in and outside the classroom.

Students at the November FEBU pastors’ block class

Thank you again for your part in all of this.

Post by Deborah: "Blessings!"

We’ve been blessed in extra special ways by our most recent visitors!

Gina shared her testimony at a multi-church ladies’ meeting, hosted by Templo Calvario here in Montevideo.

Jerry and Gina “remodeled” the hallways (downstairs and up) as well as the main stairwell and our master bedroom! In the words of E and DJ: “This is a different place now!”

We heartily agree! It is a different place!

We thoroughly enjoyed a very competitive soccer game on Tuesday night – probably the most competitive I’ve ever attended! The stadium was packed! (If you followed the events of this year’s Copa America, you’ll understand the background.)

These “extras” didn’t stay empty for long...

¡Viva URUGUAY!

We won 3 to 0!

We’re very thankful for these friends and their time with us.

And we’re going to miss them!

October 2015 Report

Please pray especially for the Lord’s provision of a pastor for Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando!

During the last couple days of Uruguay’s spring break (the week of September 21), FEBU (College of Biblical Studies of Uruguay) worked with a camp in Paysandú that annually hosts a retreat for college and career young people. This year the focus was twofold: to encourage consecration to Christ and to ask those present to consider whether the Lord would want them to come to FEBU to better prepare for service. We’re thankful for the opportunity to have contact with approximately fifty current and potential students.

Please pray for results from this two-day retreat: (1) that the Lord would continue to work His purposes in hearts as a result of the preaching of His Word; (2) that He would bring the students He has appointed to train in FEBU; and (3) that this network of local churches and like-minded mission agencies would continue to maintain a commitment to careful doctrine and practice, while exercising a willingness to give up personal rights for the sake of the gospel.

FEBU students gave testimonies during the retreat.

One of the efforts within this “network” is CenViAb (Abundant Life Center), which seeks to educate churches about the reality of abortion (recently legal and widely viewed in the culture as a “solution”). CenViAb also aims to provide help to mothers and to those suffering from the effects of the sin of abortion. A news article in late August highlighted a family that had chosen life and drew attention to the obstacles they faced for their choice. God has given us (especially D) ongoing contact now with this family; and we are encouraged to see the way in which individual Christians have shown initiative, taken leadership, and responded to the needs of this family.

Please pray that Uruguayan churches would take long-term gospel opportunity with this and many other families like them—not only with those families that have chosen life but also with individuals suffering the excruciating physical and emotional consequences of a legal “procedure” that never delivers the simple solution that it promises.

D has been asked to speak at the ladies’ retreat (October 14-17) at Camp Emmanuel. She plans to use the sessions to encourage their Bible study and interpretation. A gift of devotional booklets from one of our SC churches has provided not only study material but also a focused theme: “Meditaciones del evangelio para nosotras.” Please pray!

JM continues to teach Hermeneutics. Please pray for the students—some of them future pastors—to take seriously the responsibility of rightly interpreting the Bible. They all want this, but at times the investment is difficult— especially given the load of other classes and work schedules. Practically this requires a willingness to read much; patience to pause and observe details in the text; and humility to submit to the importance of tracing arguments, recognizing subordinate clauses, constructing diagrams, and considering such things as genre and background.

In June of 2013 we began the process of pursuing permanent residency. Several recent changes in immigration laws (and their interpretation) left us uncertain as to the wisest way to proceed, but in November of 2013 we submitted part of the needed information and received national ID cards. In late 2014 we learned of a new development that would allow D to receive permanent residency based on her having a direct family connection with an Uruguayan citizen. Earlier this year (2015) we officially submitted our applications and information—D through one government department and JM (with E and DJ) through another. In late September we received the welcome news that D had been granted permanent residency! Please continue to pray for the rest of this process.

Due to this and several other factors, it is too soon to fully assess our travel responsibilities next year. We’re sure of a couple things, though: We want to limit the length of travel as much as possible, and we want to stay in touch with you as well as possible. Some of your churches we haven’t visited for 4 or 5 years, and we value the chance to report personally what God is doing as you work together with us. Please let us know if you would like a visit; we can at least begin the conversation. Thank you for the many ways you continue to encourage us.

July 2015 Report

The month of July in Uruguay is always a change from routine, as students on all levels break for two weeks of vacation between semesters. FEBU students (College of Biblical Studies of Uruguay) are off for a month of welcome rest, though most continue working jobs in the capital city of Montevideo. This year, changes in BJU Seminary’s D.Min program (especially the new deadline for completing course work) prompted us to travel to SC for a late-June class and visits to churches in the southeastern U.S.

Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha. When Don and Pat Garwood returned to Uruguay last October, Don began his 43rd year of service in the country. In the months that followed, they remained very active while continuing to monitor Don’s health. During this time we were all encouraged by baptisms in December (Gonzalo and Sebastián) and June (Rocío, Florencia, and Agustina). Several of these teens’ friends have also begun to visit youth meetings or other services.

As the mid-year winter approached, however, it became evident that the wisest decision would be for the Garwoods to permanently relocate to the U.S. Thus on June 15 they flew with us from Montevideo to Miami. Please continue to pray for their stable health, for adequate rest, and for encouraging opportunities for them to serve, not only in their local church but also in the Spanish speaking community in Jacksonville, FL, where they are now living. They leave in Uruguay their hearts, many friends, and a sizable hole.

For many years the Garwoods have asked God to send full-time help for the church in Pando. It appears that God’s answer, for the time being, is that a small team of us continue to share the work of leading this group. Daniel and Viviana have for many years faithfully helped by teaching the children, leading music, preaching, and handling many of the financial affairs. (Daniel is Don’s son and Deborah’s brother; Viviana grew up in the neighborhood of the church and was saved as a teenager.) We will continue to rely greatly on their wisdom while JM takes a greater share of the preaching and teaching. Manuel, a second-year FEBU student, plans to continue helping as part of his practical ministry requirement. We would all appreciate your prayers for wisdom as we seek to make and mature disciples and for God’s provision of the right Uruguayan leadership in His time. 

During the week our focus continues to be the FEBU Bible-college project. Please continue to pray for qualified teachers and for those students who should dedicate themselves to study. Approximately 20 students take classes (and another 20 are enrolled in EMU’s Bible institute in various locations around the country). Second semester begins August 3. JM will be teaching Hermeneutics while preparing to teach (or re-teach) classes for next year (Pentateuch, Introduction to Music, and Homiletics I). Besides keeping up with Elizabeth (9), Daniel James (4), and Julia (89), Deborah has several projects in mind: preparing to teach (principles of Bible study) at a ladies’ retreat at Camp Emmanuel in October and editing memoirs of Ursula Thiessen, a long-time servant of the churches in Uruguay.

Thank you for your prayers for Uruguay and for us. Without the Spirit’s conviction, blind men and women will never come to Jesus. And without the grace of God at work in the lives of Christians, growth in love for Christ and ability to interpret and apply the Bible will remain stunted. We are all in constant need of God’s continued work in our hearts.

Post by Deborah: "Education Update"

26 March 2015

¡Saludos! We’re enjoying the first few days of fall here in Montevideo. The weather, amazingly, dropped almost 30 degrees (Fahrenheit) from one day to the next – just in time for the “official” First Day of Fall on March 20th! And we’ve been enjoying cooler weather ever since...

Life picked up speed here in Uruguay with the start of the school year on March 2nd. This is the beginning of the second year of the (FEBU) Bible College project, so there are real challenges as we all learn. JM is teaching a music class twice a week, helping with general administration of the college, teaching a section of the Philosophy of Ministry class now and then, and co-teaching the “research writing” class with me; I teach two evenings per week. The biggest challenge continues to be the lack of resources; this semester I’m (again) having to translate (or otherwise author) the material I’m using for the writing class. (Right now, I’m especially thankful for Purdue University’s online articles!)

On the same day the college classes started, Elizabeth started 4th grade. She’s getting acclimated to the increasing demands of learning how to study on her own – in Spanish! While the road can be rather bumpy at times, I know from experience (growing up bilingual) that the benefits will eventually far outweigh the challenges.

The school year got off to a great start...

To add to the excitement, later that same first week of March, DJ started K-4 – also in Spanish and an adventure all its own! He wants to “go to school” (because he gets to paint and play with other toys and do lots of other fun things that make “school” special), but he wants Mommy to stay with him. (Sniff! Sniff!) Let’s just say that the last two weeks have been a major adjustment, interrupted (thankfully?!) with a runny nose and cough. I say “thankfully” because I see the “cold” as one of God’s ways of providing a respite for our family in this process of “adapting” to the new demands of preschool.

To give some background: In late summer, DJ was very excited about “starting school” (counting the days until March arrived), and the first three days went fine for him. However, halfway through that first full week, we ran into some very rough sailing! Thankfully, two days ago (for the first time since that first week), he did not cry when JM dropped him off. We’re hoping that this is the beginning of a new trend. We certainly would appreciate your praying specifically!

So... Why are we proceeding as we are with E’s and DJ’s education? The answer is undoubtedly rather complex! Uruguay has traditionally had a high level of education (public education included) – a fact of which they have understandably been very proud. And a recent development for those immigrating here (our family included) is the fact that the Immigration Office requires proof that all school-age children (now beginning with age 4) be enrolled in a “recognized” school.

Implications for educational institutions (both public and private) include the requirement that all teachers hold the recognized “teaching license/certification” (very similar to requirements for public schools in the USA, if I’m not mistaken). The implication our family was not expecting when we arrived in late 2013 was the fact that “homeschooling” (even with a supervised program like the Academy of Home Education offers) is not “recognized” as a viable option for meeting that educational regulation. So, at the moment at least, while we work on obtaining residency, our children have to be enrolled in “recognized” schools here. We would appreciate your specific prayers for this ongoing (and more involved than we anticipated) immigration process.

Once we reach the (more challenging!) high school years, we may look into putting together “a small private school” where families could work together, teaching some extracurricular classes but allowing each to choose their own (but obviously competitive) curriculum for the main learning. This type of idea has worked in the past (at least for expats) and may be an answer for us down the road. Or maybe we should pray for personnel (etcetera) to start a truly biblical (bilingual?) high school by 2018!

A very bright side to this whole story is that the school day here is only four hours long! Both E and DJ go only in the mornings and are home for a late lunch – a definite blessing for our family! We’re thankful, especially because JM is “on call” for the college most evenings and I teach two evenings.

A positive “ministry” aspect of having to enroll both kids in schools here is the opportunity to meet and interact on a long-term basis with other school parents. We’re praying for opportunities to form friendships and share the message of salvation in Christ as a result. Please pray with us to that end! Already, both E and DJ have each been invited to a birthday party for a classmate. Birthday celebrations are culturally a big deal here in Uruguay and give natural opportunities to meet the families of classmates.

The cotton candy was a real highlight at that party!

The Jesus Storybook Bible is our gift of choice

for E’s classmates...

In the midst of all the uncertainties, we’re convinced that our Loving Shepherd has led our family to Uruguay. And we know He is always faithful! And we believe that He has made His leading clear regarding schooling in the immediate future – with the immigration office now enforcing attendance at “recognized” schools. That said, I often feel, as a Mom, that I’m groping my way along. But I know that God will give us grace for every moment – and there are definitely challenging moments. But these are the challenges my Uruguayan sisters and brothers in Christ face every day!

We would definitely appreciate your specific prayers – not only for E’s and DJ’s education and our involvement in the developing college project but also for the success of the Truth here in our beloved Uruguay!

January 2015 Report

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued prayer, friendship, and financial support during this past year.

 

For most of December we enjoyed a visit from JM’s parents. During their time here (their first visit to Uruguay), in addition to getting reacquainted with the grandchildren, they were able to see several churches and other works both in the Montevideo area and the interior. One especially helpful project they worked on with us was the cleaning of the Bible institute books and their transfer to the ground-floor meeting area of the EMU office building. We’re thankful for the switch, since it makes many good titles available to Bible institute and FEBU students, to teachers, and to the national workers. JM enjoyed the privilege of translating for both Dad and Mom as they testified to Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando of God’s saving and leading. While here they witnessed Sebastián’s and Gonzalo’s baptisms. The twins have attended Sunday school and other services since childhood. Over the course of several years they have professed faith and have gained much instruction from church classes and camp programs. It was a joy to see them identify publicly with the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

Family and friends, including two high school classmates,

witnessed the baptismal service.

 

Summer camps take place for almost the entire month of January. Gonzalo will be helping the staff one week and many of the teens and children from Pando will be attending as campers. JM will participate in staff training (January 7-10), will preach for morning and evening services during the jóvenes (teen and young adult) week (19-24), and will counsel during the adolescentes (younger teens) camp (26-31). We would appreciate prayer not only for the Spirit’s working in hearts but also for God’s grace and protection for Déborah and the kids during JM’s absence. This is also a natural and necessary time to provide information and encouragement (at our camp in Guazuvirá and at other camps elsewhere) concerning the opportunities for young men and women to receive formal Bible and ministry training, either in FEBU or the Bible institute.

 

On March 2 we would like to see another good group of students begin classes. This will be the second year of the FEBU Bible-college project. It appears that most of the first-year students will return; and the Lord has provided teachers for the second year of classes. Matías and Kristine Espinel returned to Uruguay in September and will be especially busy this year: in addition to Matías’ work as teacher and director, their third child is due in March. Déborah and JM will be working together on a third semester of Spanish Grammar & Composition. The first two semesters proved to be extremely time-consuming for Déborah, due in part to scarcity of resources. Though FEBU is not a liberal arts school per se, we nonetheless view such disciplines as grammar, writing, speech, and music as extremely important in the development of a Christian worldview—not to mention the skills that such classes offer for Bible study and preaching. JM will continue to help with administration and will teach Church Music during the first semester. Full-time students are required to participate in a practical ministry assignment. Manuel, who has now completed a year of classes, went with us to Pando most of last year and plans to continue helping us and the Garwoods there.

 

In mid-December Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha hosted a Bible study

and Christmas Tea for the ladies.

The day before classes begin (March 1), Tabaré Vázquez will return to the Presidency and the Frente Amplio party will begin its third term in power on the presidential level. We know that God is governing all of this. Please pray for the success of the gospel in this country. There are many needs. Recently we helped in a project to put together Christmas toys for one of the government-run orphanage facilities. Sadly, conditions in the orphanage are far better than the reality that some children experience in a home with one or even two parents.

 

Organizing and wrapping gifts! Praising the Lord for His work!

This was an entirely indigenous project!

 

Other needs are immigrating to Uruguay. We see and sometimes meet them: European students, Indians, North American retirees or religious workers. Others—Syrian refugees or prisoners received from Guantánamo Bay—we have not yet met. Uruguay has a small but real gospel witness, and some will hear. And God will save. Thank you for your global awareness and for your participation in Jesus’ mission to “save His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21).