Hey Thrivent Members!
March 31 is the deadline for designating your Choice Dollars®!
Choice Dollars charitable grant funds make a world of difference to missionaries through our Global Missionary Fund, which supplies dollars to missionaries who experience a shortfall in funding.
Directing Choice Dollars is easy. Simply go to
Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.
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Quick Fact:
LEAP YEAR
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Did you know the term for this in Spanish is "Año Bisiesto"? I had never heard this term until this past February 29. It's a bit confusing..."siesto" isn't really a word on it's own, but it looks like "siesta", right? In the Google "doodle" for leap year (pictured above), a third bunny, Feb 29,hops along and squeezes in between the two! I guess the idea is while those 2 days are sleeping, the BIESIESTO (bi- napper?) sneaks in to make February a bit longer?? So, while in English we say "Happy Leaping", in Spanish we might say "Happy Sleeping"!
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Prayers & Praise
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* We thank God for a super trip to the USA in February and for all the brothers and sisters in Christ that showed us support with their kind words and offerings.
* We are joyful with the news that our daughter Gabriela and husband Daniel are expecting their first child! Pray for good health as they prepare to become a family.
* Pray for the new Lutheran Hour project aimed at reaching young adults (see article). Pray for a successful launch on April 1, and that our program goes "viral"!
* Give thanks that summer vacation seems to have refreshed the Chilean spirit! * Pray for the new school year, as well as the new mission endeavors starting up.
* Ask God to bless for our new mission in the area of Santiago known as "Ciudad Satelite" (Satellite City). Pray that God would bring us into contact with those whom He has in mind for us to reach with the Gospel.
* Continue to pray for the construction projects in both Santiago and Valparaiso... that the funding will allow us to progress and that these sites will bring more souls to Jesus.
* Pray that God would raise up more pastors in Chile.
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It's March, which means that summertime in Santiago is over - well, almost. The kids are back in school, vacation time has ended, and... we're in Lent! We still have a hard time getting in the proper "lenten mood" down south of the equator. In the States, Lent and Easter are the last church year festivals before summer vacation, heralds of relaxing times to come. Here, they compete with the "let's get started again" activities of the church that we normally associate with August or September -groups starting up again, rehearsals scheduled, and committee meetings.
But on second thought, it occurs to me that Easter is more about getting started than it is about wrapping things up. Our new life in Christ starts on the cross and in the empty tomb. There, God wrapped up the victory over sin, death, and the devil, and set us on the road to a new life of joy and forgiveness in Him. The victory is ours. Let's get started!
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A Joyous confirmation of her faith!
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| Isabel with pastors Cristian and Jim |
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Sunday, March 6, Isabel took an important step in her spiritual walk. This dear sister in Christ tells us she has been on a life-long search for an understanding of God's Word. She arrived at our ministry office specifically to buy a Bible. She was at a very low point in her life, having just lost her daughter to a battle with cancer. Looking for comfort and consolation, she began studying the Bible in a small group with Pastor Jim and Pastor Cristian. She understood clearly the bad news of the Law and was truly touched by the life-giving Gospel. The Holy Spirit ignited an enthusiasm to keep studying the Word, and to invite others to church. Now, her husband joins her every Sunday. Her other daughter frequently studies the Bible with us and sometimes comes to worship. Isabel uses her artistic gifts around the mission and is constantly looking for ways to help. She is so happy to officially become a member of the Lutheran church on her confirmation day...and we are too!
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"We will work side by side..."
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This verse of the popular
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Getting closer! Tile and roof finished. |
Christian pop song of the 70's "We Are One in the Spirit", accurately describes what being a member of the Santiago Lutheran mission is all about. Everyone continues to serve as their gifts allow - cleaning, carrying, cooking, cutting, constructing - on our new property. The roof is on between the two renovated shipping containers. Inside these temporary buildings we have a total of 5 rooms. Tile is now being laid over the poured concrete floor. Check out the photos! Lord willing, we will soon start having services in our new church home and many more Chileans will come to "know we are Christians BY OUR LOVE!"
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Reaching Out to Young Adults
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In Latin America, the term "youth" applies to unmarried young people from their early teens to about 30 years of age. Our congregation in Santiago has been seeing a big need to reach out to the 20 - 30 year-old young people. God opened a door for a special outreach initiative through Lutheran Hour Ministries. Jim and LHM-Chile director Marianela Bravo developed a project last year, which was enthusiastically approved and fully funded by the Lutheran Hour. The project is built around the idea of "Becoming Independent", i.e., living on your own, paying your own way, and so on. For many young adults in Chile, this is a real challenge. Through interactive social media, we aspire to touch the lives of 1000 young adults. Out of that group of contacts, we hope to present the Gospel in a meaningful way to 50 of them, and from that group of connections, form our own Lutheran Young Adult Ministry in Santiago. Jim has been super busy working with Marianela, developing materials, working with the social media designers, and more. The project launches on April 1!
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We are overwhelmed! At the end of last year, when our funding was down below 2 months, we made plans to visit some congregations in February to tell the story of God's mission in Chile. God moved people in January and February - even before we visited! - and we are so happy to share the great news that our support is on solid footing once again! Please, take a moment to join us in giving thanks and praise to God.
OR
Mail a check to:
Global Lutheran Outreach
6709 Ficus Dr.
Miramar, FL 33023
(Put "Tino" on the memo line of the check.)
Projects in need of support (click to view)
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