“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” –God’s Word for his people then.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –God’s Word for his people today.
Jack and Janine Swanson’s
CHILE PRAYER LETTER – September 2012
PRAISING OUR “ALWAYS WITH US” GOD: One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, prophesied in Isaiah 7 : 14 and mentioned again in Matthew 1: 23. It means, “God with us”. Jesus ends what we know as his Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) to his disciples (now US) with the reminder, “And surely I am with you until the end of the age.” Jesus is “God with us” in the fullest sense.
….But that is not all. God, through Jesus, also promised the disciples and us his presence in the form of his Holy Spirit—God’s active person and agent in the world–to empower us and guide us. It is He who convinces people of their sin and the need of a Savior and Lord.
If we are to in ANY way, shape, or form participate in God’s purposes and plans in the world through us, what could we possibly lack in addition to his real presence, power, and full participation in all we do? We only need to be available, filled with his desires, and be obedient. He is faithful and He is here—especially down in the valley.
OUR SEPTEMBER PETITIONS FOCUS ON THE CHILDREN’S WORK:
We ask for your prayers this entire month on behalf of all aspects our work with abandoned children. The challenges and battles in God’s good work (through all of us) are very real and the stakes couldn’t be higher when we talk about eternal futures and life transformation. We do have a great praise in that Daniela, a young married woman in the church, now assists Fabiola full-time. Specifically, please pray (and fast one main meal once a week J) for:
Fabiola (who guides the work when Janine is not present) has tough decisions to make. Here are some of the present issues and situations she is dealing with:
- She has had to take one of the children, Cony, out of school for the time being, due to acting out in very demonstrative, negative ways. Cony (10) came to us with her younger sister, Javiera, early this year, severely damaged from years of abuse. What a blessing that the two sisters are now free of that past, and at the same time what a long-term, hard recovery they face. All of the children under our care come out of similar pasts.
- It became necessary last month to dismiss Cindy and Israel as house parents, this due to unhealthy actions of Israel and Cindy’s lies to cover up for her husband. These issues were not new and had been talked about with them in the past. As mentioned in last month’s Prayer Letter, integrity is indispensible in our work. Cindy was given 30-day notice, which comes up Sept. 10. Please pray for this separation. It’s hard on the children and on all concerned. Pray God’s victory for Israel and Cindy in overcoming on-going wrong habits.
- We recently received an E-mail from the mother in the family where the twins, Ana and Millarae, went to live (in northern Chile) in December 2011. In spite of Fabiola and Janine staying in periodic contact with them, she says that the girls’ integration into their family has failed. Further suggestions and encouragement will be made, but the girls’ future with them may be coming to an end.
Praising, praying, and fasting alongside you in a “GOD WITH US” Jesus & Holy Spirit,
Jack and Janine
Misión Chile 