CREATED FOR GOD’S PURPOSES

Jack’s & Janine’s February 2013 Chile Prayer Letter

For it is by grace that you have been saved—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  –Eph. 2:8-10

 This month’s praise is for God’s gift of salvation in Jesus that frees us from the burden of tying eternal life to our “being good people” or to any other method we have of trying to obtain it.  In truth it is un-obtainable through human effort of any kind.  At the same time, how good to recognize that we are God’s workmanship, created to carry out his good purposes in the world through his living in us.

Such a powerful combination and reason to live.  Thank you, Lord!  Feeling depressed or unworthy or useless or frustrated?  Turn your heart and focus outward in Jesus and be renewed.

It’s apparent to us that we were created and joined in marriage to do what we do here in Chile.  We couldn’t nearly accomplish what we do without you who pray and/or fast on our behalf.  Listed below are some main prayer needs for February.

The children’s work

–Fabiola is going to work through this first week of February.  Please keep praying that the most important issues and details in process get talked about and that we would have a good handle on what she has been working on these last several months.  It’s still a little early to know whom we should hire and in what capacity to replace her.  We know that God will guide us in that.

–Janine & I are filling the position of the second set of house parents. (Our nine children live between two houses.)  It’s summer, so a good number of people in Santiago are on vacation and out-of-town.  Still, we are seriously looking (even very seriously 🙂 ) for permanent parents to hire.

Swanson return needs

–Our main need right now is finding a used, good-condition van.  We have already received some funds toward it (thank you so much!) and as we wrote in our recent newsletter, we now know to expect to spend around $20,000 for a three-year-old van.  Financial help toward this need should be sent to ChileMission   P.O. Box 60132   San Angelo, TX76906   (with vehicle written on the check’s memo line).

–We are keeping an eye out for a house to rent and putting out feelers with people we know.  We know that God will open up a place when the time is right.

Other important parts of our work

–We in the church continue to seek an ample full-time office space to replace the once-a-week Sunday morning space that we rent.

–Jack completed a two-day trip to Penco, Menque, and Concepción and we are set to go to Penco with a team to do a three-day VBS at the school, Feb. 14-16.  Also in Menque there is a parcel of land (two acres) for sale by a large lumber company.  As we have written, we seek land (and have received funds toward its purchase) to develop into a camp for children of the area and at which a Christian outreach center can be established.  Maria, who takes initiative in the town, will help put us in contact with the right person to talk to at the lumber company.  Thank you Lord.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in a “Creating for his good Purposes” God,

Jack & Janine