GOD IS ALWAYS MOVING

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

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. –Acts 13: 2-3

 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. –John 3: 8

There seems to be some amount of personal speculation amongst Christians and aura of “mystic” surrounding the role of the Holy Spirit, but we all know him to be one of the three real persons of God.  In the John 3 verse above, the word, “wind” is Greek for the Spirit.  The Father promised through Jesus to leave his Holy Spirit in this world when Jesus left, to carry out and make possible his continued good plan and purposes.

We celebrate his presence here in Chile this month, giving God special thanks for the ways we see him “setting apart” and guiding people.  For one thing, we have one intern committed to spending two months with us in June & July, and two more special single visitors also coming in July.  One of our close supporting churches is sending a group of 8 persons to better know and help in our work for two weeks.  We have new teammates, Jim & Kari Hurley, who are adjusting and melding in extremely well with their little girl, Nora, to what we do.  Two North Americans—one now living in Santiago and the other, a student here for 6 weeks—recently put themselves in contact with us, wanting to visit and help with the children on a regular basis.  There are other special persons as well, who have visited this year or who recently put themselves in touch with us, connecting in one way or another.

All of these people were guided by something or someone into coming and taking that “step”.  When we as Christians, churches, and missionaries open ourselves up to the Lord, he seems to have this knack of responding.  It’s his “job” so to speak and through his Holy Spirit He will get it done.  We are super grateful and pray those same God connections for each and every one of you this month going forward.

–In April’s Prayer Letter we mentioned a psychologist, Dafna, coming to begin working for us part-time.  As it turns out, she was offered a new full-time job position working for the government and took it.  What a nice blessing for her and we will still be in touch with us on an informal basis.  This month please pray for a psychologist or social worker to work part-time with us and the children.

 –Pablo and Cynthia, pictured here, are adjusting well in their new role as house parents.  He finishes his Masters studies in July, so has plenty to do between his job and his studies.  He’s good with the kids, and they, as well, like him.  Thanks for continuing to pray for them.

–Jim Hurley and I (Jack) are developing a “mentor-type” relationship approach to be put in place for us men associated with the kids and the boys living here.  It will have similar value and significance for the girls with women on another plane.  This approach will in the future be shaped into a general opportunity to connect to men coming out of drug addiction and others, perhaps using as a base programs such as “Celebrate Recovery”, used by many churches in the States and in other countries.  Thanks for your prayers.  Kari is also due with their second daughter the first days of June.  Her pregnancy is going well.

–Janine & I continue to search for a house to rent in or near our neighborhood so that we can free up space in the ministry buildings.  We also hope to be able to buy a used vehicle during these coming months to be used in the ministry.  More churches and individuals are responding to this financial need and we are very grateful!!

By the way, isn’t it powerful how the church in Antioch as described above, just as other early churches in other locations, had a practice/spiritual discipline of praying AND fasting?!  Lord, please renew this practice in all of us.

On a personal note, we will be in California for 2½ weeks in May to attend two graduations:  our sons, Julian and Jonathan both graduate from USC the same week—Jonathan with his doctorate in administration on Thursday, May 16 (he is a principal in a middle school in the LA area), and Julian from medical school on Saturday, May 18.  Julian goes on to BaylorU. hospitals in Houston for four years as a new doctor in residency.  Afterwards, he plans on being a missionary doctor in another country.  We’re so pleased to have this trip to be with all of our kids and their families.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our “Always Moving” One True God,,

Jack & Janine