“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 – 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

“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 – 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

“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 – 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