March 2014 Prayer Letter

I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. —Phil. 1: 3-6

We give God thanks and praise for the fact that for Christians, events and situations—both terribly difficult and wonderfully good—are never “stand alone” circumstances that happen to us in the moment.  Just as God’s saving work is a process always in motion, his life’s calling and development of us and his work through us carry on as well through both victories and defeats.  It’s God who knows what we and his work through us need at specific points.  It’s a partnership that requires much prayer with joy, confidence, and commitment IN HIM.  Paul reminds us above that the best news is that He is faithful to carry all of it out.  Considering all that trials develop in us (James 1: 2-5) they are well worth it.  All of us Christians can relate to this “carrying it on to completion” encouragement in the Lord.

MARCH

—Thanks for praying for the relationship between our two sets of house parents.  We took up the issue in February with other board members and three of us will be meeting with both couples separately this first week of March.  It’s quite possible that one of the two marriages will no longer be with us going forward.

On other fronts having to do with the finalization of the new Foundation, the attorney handling the legal process on our behalf told us that it is normal for it to take four months or so from the point we are at.  In the meantime, our five-member board and spouses enjoyed a get-to-know-each-other barbeque on Sunday, March 2.  We are planning bi-monthly meetings to organize as a board and to work with our most important first steps in the work, beginning with vision, areas of responsibility of the board members, and the choosing of and job descriptions of those employed, i.e., the new director, etc.  Please pray in March for wise choices in line with God’s leading.

—Jack has planned a short trip to the Concepción, Penco, and Menque region of the country early in March to set the stage for a trip taken by Jack and young people working with us at mid-year to participate in short ministry opportunities in that area.  Pray that the right plans and scheduling can be put in place as a result of steps taken now.

—The search goes on for both a house for Swansons to rent and an office/locale site for the church to rent as well.  Patience seems to be the watchword on both, and occasional possibilities have surfaced.  In the meantime, our mission property may very well become the first “home” of English Club in its new season of activities this year.  We are shooting for its first meeting by the end of the month.  Thanks for your prayers for these on-going matters.

Question:  Have you considered “fasting from a meal” during the week (if you don’t already do so) as a part of your prayer life?  Fasting, per se, is designed by God as a spiritual discipline to fit inside of one’s approach to life.  See Isaiah 58.  The practice also speaks to the deep desire God has for the fullest prayer relationship possible with us, his children.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Experiences-Connecting, Process-Faithful God,

Jack & Janine