As I mentioned in the last post, this Tuesday (the 3rd of May) the Tarija team is planning on a prayer and fasting day for the work here. We are asking others to join us- however they can – in praying for us, the ministry here in Tarija and the people we know and will know.
“That’s what I think fasting is at heart. It’s an intensification of prayer. It’s a physical explanation point at the end of the sentence, “We hunger for you to come in power.” It’s a cry with your body, “I really mean it, Lord! This much, I hunger for you.” John Piper
Instead of a traditional blog, I’m going to use this space to write out some prayer request that might help you to pray more specifically for the work here.
We are very thankful to God for all He has done, all He is doing and all He will do.
Gratitude for the team and the family and community that it is. "God sets the lonely in families..." (Ps. 68:6)
Gratitude to our supporters and blessing on them. Southgate CofC (San Angelo, TX.), Center St. CofC (Fayetteville, AR), Richland CofC (Richland, WA.) and the many individuals who make this work possible. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom. 10:14-15)
Thankfulness for God's providence. God has blessed us with housing, two contact centers right now, food, school for our kids, medical care when it's been needed and health. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer." 1 Pt. 3:12
Boldness ”…enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)
Open and seeking hearts (for us as we follow God and for those in Tarija). "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15)
Freedom from lies and lives changed "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:17-18)
That the new location in front of the University becomes a place of encouragement, truth and community and that our first contact center will also become a place known in the neighborhood for the same things. "...speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ... Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Eph. 4:15, 29)
Health As anyone who has lived outside their country of origin knows, being sick has another layer of stress. Add Covid and the stress can go deeper. God has been very good to us and we have always come out of an illness or health issue, but sickness seems to follow some of us, especially as it makes a circuit through the family. As we go into winter and are now in cold/flu season, please pray that we can have less sickness as we go forward. "The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health." (Ps. 41:3)
Our children Moving (again), being a third culture kid, the times we live in with all the abuse and temptations... Our kids need your prayers. It's not easy being a missionary kid. It's not an easy world to live in period. Tarija has it's blessings and struggles for raising up kids. We're blessed because it's actually a pretty safe city in Bolivia. We're blessed because we can afford to live in neighborhoods that are safer then others. We (including our kids) are blessed in a lot of ways. But as parents we need wisdom. We also ask God to protect our kids and help them in the future. We want them to learn to truly know and love God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5) "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (2 Tim. 4:18). "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6)
Thank you for joining us in prayer and please do not limit it to Tuesday. Powerful things can happen- miracles can happen and mountains can be moved- through prayer. God hears us and He acts.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
1 John 5:14
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