January 2013 Prayer Letter

ENTERING 2013 with PRAISE, PRAYER, & THANKS!

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

We wish you a deeply rewarding, connected, and blessed Jesus-centered & led 2013!! Only God knows 2013 completely, but what a joy and how satisfying that we can all be part of it together—praising and recognizing him and lifting our prayers to him. Psalms 19 and 100 describe him and us, as Christians, so well. May we all make top use of praise and prayer with one another this new year! From our family to you, we wish you God’s blessings as we all go forward in family with him. From left to right, top row: Jack, Janine, and Julian. Front row: Joshua, Jonathan, Bella, & Christina Swanson; Selah, Rob, Jordan Boldt, & new baby Eden and Ruyun, a high school student from China who lives with them. Jayme & Malia are currently doing medical mission work in Ghana, Africa until July. (Single-click on the photo to make it larger; then click on the “back” arrow at the top left corner of the screen to return it to normal size)

This will be our first Prayer Letter made solely available on our Chile Mission website via the link provided in our E-mail instead of being sent as an attachment. It is easily accessible and you can leave comments and responses to our postings by clicking on Leave a Comment. Janine needed to fly back to Chile January 3rd and I (Jack) fly on the 15th, after visiting our supporting church in Florida. As we return to Chile there is much to look forward to and pray about. Here are our specific petitions for January:

The children’s work

Concentrating with Fabiola on the most crucial areas to focus on, as she prepares to leave her work with us at the end of the month.
Search for a second Christian Chile couple to be house parents. (We have a new contact to work through, who knows several churches and will help us search and connect.)
Search for other daytime and nighttime staff to help with the children.
Seek direct working relationship with SENAME (Chile’s organization over children’s works).
Summertime opportunities for the children (5-day camps and other outings).

Swanson return needs

Need to find house to rent. (Upon leaving for our 8-month furlough in the States, we moved out of the house we were renting and stored our furniture at the mission property.)
Our former van was sold in May and the funds were used over time to help cover Chile expenses during our absence. We thus seek roughly $10,000 to purchase a used, good-condition van—ideal in our work. Financial help toward this need can be sent to ChileMission P.O. Box 60132 San Angelo, TX 76906 (with vehicle written on the check’s memo line)

Re-connecting to other important parts of our work

The church. Helping plan any summertime retreats to fellowship, give thanks and pray together, and look ahead at this year of 2013.
First trip to Penco (earthquake zone work). We hope to plan a 3-day VBS trip there to work with the area children and re-connect to important relationships and go forward in 2013.
Prepare to receive a couple arriving in January for a short visit to further evaluate coming back to Chile to work with us and also receive a university student interested in possibly doing an internship with us later this year or the next.

Again, we so value your prayer support!

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in a 2013 Father, Son, & Holy Spirit,

Jack & Janine

December 2012 Prayer Letter

Dec4

December 2012 Prayer Letter

Blessings to you all! We hope you like the CHILE MISSION letterhead—it’s what we now use at the top of our website, www.chilemission.org We especially invite you to click on this link and familiarize yourselves with it, as we also post our Prayer Letters there (under Team blogs). The intention is to use the site regularly for all of our postings and also receive your feedback through the same site. Toward that end we are now working to fill in new categories with content and photos both.

Please join us in giving praise and thanks this month for a Real, God-with-us (Immanuel) Jesus. All that He is and signifies make reconciliation with God and eternal life possible, and any and all life hope and purpose possible. Knowing, following, and serving Him should be central to life. Is that true for you? May this same Immanuel Jesus touch and bless your December.

One more praise: Many of you know our daughter, Jordan. She, Rob, & Selah (two years old) welcomed Eden into the world on November 23. She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and mother and daughter are both doing well. Thank you, Lord, that every baby belongs to you.

DECEMBER PRAYERS December is a particularly hectic, full month in Chile. The month contains both the beginning of summer and the end of the school year, not to mention all of the special Christmas family and friend get-togethers so important to Chileans. By and large, our “Chile” children have done well this year staying in school and in learning. This might seem like a strange request, but please pray that our children that still do not understand the material of the class level they are completing, like Carla, would not be promoted to yet another class further along. We work hard to help our kids succeed during the year.

Three years ago Carla should have repeated third grade, but was automatically passed anyway as in these subsequent years, leaving her far behind. If she is allowed to now repeat sixth grade, we feel that with our help she will be able to catch up and be in position to continue from there. Her attitude is good, but she is also often frustrated at her inability to do the work. It’s a tribute to Janine, Fabiola, and to our staff that the children do as well as they do. We also seek your prayers for this Christmas for the kids—that they would enjoy good time “in family” together and receive some special gifts, but also feel a new spirit of hope and love that further separates them from their pasts.

Lastly, please continue to pray for a renter for our Cedar Lake, IN house.

Praising, praying, and fasting alongside you in our IMMANUEL Jesus, Jack and Janine

November 2012 Prayer Letter

Nov28

“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 – November 2012

Last month Janine and I gave thanks for encounters in the Lord, some planned and many not, but all with God’s divine, good purposes for them. He rewards the efforts of all those who love him and respond to his call to carry out those purposes. (Rom. 8:28).

We continue to travel between churches on our way to the Mission Conference (ICOM) in Indianapolis Nov. 15-18 (Hope to see you there! J), giving God thanks and praise for his good purposes in it all.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. –Phil. 2:1-2

NOVEMBER PRAYER NEEDS

In Chile…. the children continue to go forward, Cony having the most difficulty in integrating into family life. Thanks for your continuing prayers of behalf of our “Chile” kids.

A new second set of house parents have still not been found, despite further announcements over the main Christian radio station in Chile to seek such a couple. We look for the right couple, not a multitude of responses, and God knows that. We will use January and February to visit churches in our search.

Fabiola will be leaving our work with children when Janine returns in January. She would like to pursue other avenues of psychology, and the complexity of the current work will not allow her to also do those things. She is grateful for the almost three years of working with the home and knows that many good purposes have been accomplished. Please join us in giving thanks for her and in asking God to bless her last months in her current work. Also pray for our “next” personnel steps as the Lord takes us all forward.

In the U.S. ….we give thanks that we can participate in the ICOM (hope to see many of you in Indianapolis Nov. 15- 18) and seek your prayers that God’s good purposes would be accomplished through our and others’ participation there.

We’re also grateful that we were able to complete the major renovation of our furlough house in northwest Indiana and pray that a renter can be found to rent it out. Should any of you know of a Christian (requirement of the conference grounds we live at) seeking housing, our cell phone is 602-301-5462.

So many in the States are fighting very difficult battles against cancer and other very serious diseases and/or find themselves in other seemingly impossible situations with little hope. The huge storm Sandy has also just hit. Let’s all concentrate on those in need, praying for them and also responding in any way we can. We are God’s hands and feet and He is the hope of the world through us.

Finally, please inform yourself and vote! It’s a right and responsibility.

Praising, praying, and fasting alongside you in our“Purposeful” God,

Jack and Janine

October 2012 Prayer Letter

Nov28

“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 – October 2012

OCTOBER PRAISES: Janine and I have been traveling quite a bit between churches and some ChristianColleges and friends in those places. The best part of the great blessing in that are our interactions with people—some very close and others as new acquaintances–young, older, and children–some as teachers and leaders. There is no mistaking genuine desire and commitment and the seeking of God’s leading & blessing, when one finds them. It’s so rewarding to share, inform, challenge, and encourage and receive the same in return.

We are grateful for every question, every dinner with others, every church service and Sunday School time in which we can interact, and every serious conversation and opportunity to encourage someone, along with every special opportunity to re-connect with special friends and other kingdom workers. Prayer time with others is especially powerful!

These kinds of encounters are often limited to a single day or even moment. Our hope is that everyone reading this can relate to the praise behind it, and that we all would continue to seek and take advantage of healthy encounters where we find them. They best bear fruit when acted upon in some real way. Jesus is the Master of Encounters.

COMING OUT OF SEPTEMBER…. We prayed for Cony and the other children. Cony had been expelled from school but recently was re-admitted, with a pledge from the school to keep working with her to help keep her in an upward track. PTL!! and keep praying.

–Fabiola continues seeking (primarily via ads over the main Christian radio station in Chile) for a new couple to be house parents with us, replacing Israel & Cindy, who were dismissed last month. This is another main prayer focus.

–No news on the twins, Ana and Millarai, living in northern Chile. (See Sept.’s Prayer Letter) Fabiola gave the mother encouragement, repeating our suggestions and the good sources to help her deal with the girls. Please keep praying that the twins’ “family” works out. It’s hard work.

–Some students and two couples recently expressed interest in coming to Chile to intern and work with us. Students normally come to spend two months, but these couples are open to more permanent cross-cultural work. PTL!!

–On a family note, please pray & give thanks for the opportunity of our son & daughter-in-law, Jayme and Malia, to work in northern Ghana for ten months in a medical mission. They arrived on Sept. 22 and will return in mid-July, 2013, to begin medical school. God leads on.

–We seek your prayers for the consideration of churches and individuals to attend this year’s International Conference on Missions (ICOM) of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, held November 15-18 in Indianapolis. October is the month when many make plans to go and many times it’s possible to combine with someone. Many churches and individuals with active mission teams never go, and miss so much. The theme, Radical Again, is excellent, as are the speakers, booths, workshops and teen conference. We also always have a Chile! Chile! Chile! booth and our whole team will be there. The website is www.theicom.org

Praising, praying, and fasting alongside you in an“Encounters” Jesus,

Jack and Janine

September 2012 Prayer Letter

Nov28

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

August 2012 Prayer Letter

Nov28

Jack and Janine Swanson’s

CHILE PRAYER LETTER – August 2012

GIVING THANKS FOR REAL RELATIONSHIP: It takes us to and through it all.

We couldn’t help give God thanks for our July. We had very special time in family for almost a week, and special time in churches and in Vacation Bible Schools with adults, teens, and kids alike. Through it all we could feel God leading and blessing. We also, though, received very sad news of the mass killing and injuries committed by a demented individual in a Colorado movie theater, followed by equally sad news of the tragic drug-related death of a young man in the prime of his life. Some families never recover from tragedies such as these.

Both deep joys and deep sorrows and struggles take on different final outcomes when one finds Real Relationship with Jesus. The joys become more appreciated and lasting and in tragedy, sadness–as hard as it is to bear–becomes endurable and healing becomes possible. It’s God who seeks to be glorified in both through our real relationship with him.

The same is true with our understanding of and approach to God himself. Please read John 14: 6-7. The key to Real Relationship with God is Knowing Jesus. How many of us, like Janine and myself, either had or have the head knowledge, but no guts to fill it? We give thanks this month for Real Jesus Relationship and wish the same for all of you. It makes all the difference in the world in our joys and sorrows and to one’s Christianity. Before we came to know him personally, we had no idea what that meant. He waits for all of us, whoever we are. That’s a praise!

AUGUST PETITIONS:

Fabiola is still looking for the right person to work alongside her either part or full-time. In addition, she is seeking a new couple to work as house parents to replace Israel and Cindy. It’s possible to work with many things, but integrity is indispensible and its absence in our house parents cannot be tolerated. In the meantime, she and Janine are in contact, as she carefully weighs and addresses each issue. Thanks for those prayers! They are a main ingredient of Real Jesus Relationship with someone.

Teammate Mike Boyce continues to search for suitable office space that might also accommodate the church for meetings. Teammates Jason & Dana Fought, along with their children and Chilean missionary teammates, are currently in Albania, a largely Muslim country in rebirth after years of Communist control. The team seeks to encourage and aid Albanian Christians through building Real Jesus Relationships with them.

Thanks for your continued prayers for our visits and time with U.S. supporting churches and with family and friends! Our interactions have been so positive in our own Real Jesus Relationships here.

Giving thanks, praying, and fasting alongside you in a “Real Relationship” Jesus,

Jack and Janine

July 2012 Chile Prayer Letter

Jul2

Jack and Janine Swanson’s

CHILE PRAYER LETTER – July 2012

JULY PRAISE: JESUS IS FREEDOM!!!

HIS WORD & TEACHING ARE TRUTH AND IT SETS US FREE. John 8: 31-32

THROUGH HIM WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. Romans 8: 1-2

THROUGH HIS DEATH WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SIN. Romans 5: 6-11

THROUGH OUR BAPTISM IN HIM WE ARE FREED FROM THE CONTROL OF SIN. Romans 6: 1-11

…..and because He is all of these and more, we, the recipients of true freedom in him, become his BEST ambassadors in transforming the world around us—living for him and making him known.

LET true FREEDOM RING!!!

JULY PRAYER PETITIONS:

As we have written previously, Karen, in addition to working for us, is studying toward her social work degree. She recently told Fabiola that for now she must stop working, as her health is suffering. We are sad to see her go and must seek replacement help. Fabiola will approach a young married woman from the church, Daniela, about the position. Daniela already knows the children and has spent time in the past with them on the mission property. She loves kids, is currently unemployed, and would love to work in a Christian environment. She would make an excellent new “tía”.
Continue to pray for the children’s behavior in their schools. We work hard to stop past, engrained negative patterns, such as robbing other students and acting up, and turn all negative attention-seeking into recognition, honor, and appreciation. Their lives matter and God loves them. To one extent or another, all of our kids need prayer in this area.
Pray that the children would come to put down roots in Jesus and keep growing in him.
Fabiola is doing a super job of carrying out her many duties and of guiding and working with our house mothers. Please pray for her continued good health, stamina, and steady disposition. She, too, studies one day a week for an advanced degree.
Please pray for our two current 2-month interns in Chile, Brittany Meinsen and Jay Lanunziata. They both attend Mid-Atlantic Christian University. They are living on the mission property, interacting well with the children, serving, and learning lots of Spanish. May God richly bless their “Chile” missionary experience!

Giving thanks, praying, and fasting alongside you in a “True Freedom” Jesus,

Jack and Janine

June 2012 Prayer Letter

Jun30

“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.

Jack and Janine Swanson’s

CHILE PRAYER LETTER – June 2012

We’ve all heard the expression “Out of sight, out of mind”. In thinking about our situations many of us might be saying, “Thank goodness for that!” ☺ When it comes to the Lord’s work and the extension of the church into the world, though, we must make the commitment to do and think exactly the opposite. Our expression becomes “Out of sight, even more in mind”. We so praise God for that this month—a lesson learned from the Apostle Paul early in our missionary service.

He was sent out from the Antioch church on three separate missionary trips and then sent by order of King Agrippa to stand trial in Rome. During the course of these travels God used him in profound ways, not the least of which has come about through the effective, straight-forward teachings and counsel contained in his many letters to local churches (sometimes region-wide) and to individuals. Did he know that his letters would come to make up thirteen of the other twenty-three letters that follow the four gospels in completing the New Testament? His letters live on today, having the same impact and weight for us as to those first recipients. (Whew!—a whole paragraph to set up our praise and appeal for continued prayers. ☺)

First, the praise:
Our connection to God through praise & prayer is perpetual and immediate. When he sends us out and/or leads us to send and pray for others, He personally takes on a special responsibility and burden of responding to the praises and petitions that come his way related to these purposes carried out through us. Just think of the endless examples of Paul giving thanks for and praying for and lifting up Jesus to churches and individuals through his letters and prayers……. all while not being physically there. It’s just one of the real and powerful ways that God will always work until Jesus comes back.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a good example and encouragement for us all. After first opening the letter with thanks for them and relating his and others’ prayers for them, he raises up the name of Christ. He then in chapter two relates his burden for them—especially while being physically apart from them. (Take time to look at Col.2:1-5) The praise again?
Communication and prayers from afar play an important part in God’s support of the work of his church!
This comes into play time and time again for us (and hopefully for you, as senders) when we are in Chile away from you and also now, when we are here away from our Chile work.

June prayers:
Please join us in praying for our work with children, our local church, and for Chile, in general—especially now, physically apart from them—and also for our U.S. visits & opportunities in churches and in family this year:

Fabiola is coordinating well and Karen, our new social worker, continues to fit in well. Also pray for wisdom and success for Fabiola in trying to end the whole issue of any additional money being owed to our former employee, Marita.
All of the children are in schools. Because of different behavior problems, some, like Jorshua, have had to attend school at home. While temper tantrums never seem to “disappear” completely, they are fewer and farther between.
Please continue to pray for our two sets of house parents—especially for our two “house dads”, who have individual personal challenges to overcome.
Our church leadership continues to look for adequate office space, which may in turn end up replacing our present Sunday-only location. Also pray for unity—in spirit, love, purpose. (Phil. 2:1-2)
The U.S. dollar has been gaining strength again against the peso. This is a real blessing for us.
Our visits to U.S. churches have just started and are going very well. May that continue—we’re excited to be with you!

Giving thanks, praying and fasting alongside Paul and you,

Jack & Janine