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To the Ends of the Earth
Mission News from Jim and Liisa Tino
February 2023
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You are receiving this e-newsletter because you signed up for it at a church or event where the Tinos spoke about their ministry in Chile. (If you don't recall signing up, I can send you a copy of the sign-up sheet with your name on it.) If you no longer wish to receive it, PLEASE DO NOT MARK IT AS SPAM! Simply click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of this e-newsletter, no questions asked. Thank you!
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In early December, there were moments in Chile when we doubted if all the tasks of selling our belongings and packing the rest for our departure would be completed in time. But, as always, God took care of the details, and we were ready for our last worship service in Santiago on December 18. It was a special day with the 5 other Lutheran pastors and their families, as well as the members of the growing mission, Divina Providencia. About 100 people were in attendance!
Farewells were made – with many tears – and then we shared a traditional Venezuelan Christmas dinner. The new pastor, Adrian Ventura, participated in worship but will not be installed until mid February. Because of previous obligations and vacation schedules (January and February is summer vacation in Chile), he and his family have not been able to move to Santiago until this month. However, he has been leading worship whenever possible in the weeks since our departure.
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Welcome to the USA - and covid! |
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The following day, Monday, we had an overnight flight to the USA. We spent a couple of days organizing things in Florida and fighting off what seemed like symptoms of the flu (turns out Liisa had covid). Then we headed to Powder Springs, Georgia where Soni and her family now live. Along the way, we received news that Jim’s folks and several other family members in Michigan had Covid.
Christmas Eve was a special night as we were able to see our 2 "Georgia" grandkids participate in a living nativity at a Lutheran church in Marietta. Christmas morning was full of fun and surprises…one of them being Liisa was diagnosed with Covid!
On December 24th, we heard that Dennis (Jim’s dad) was hospitalized once again. Liisa tested negative for covid, so we cut short the Georgia visit and drove to Michigan. We arrived in Dearborn on December 26 where Jim, being clergy, was the only family member allowed to visit his dad since Dennis was in isolation.
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On December 27 Jim woke up "sicker than a dog" (not covid), which was not cool since that day was our long-awaited 24 hour GLO “Go Beyond” annual fundraising campaign. God took control of this on-line event and we are thrilled to report that $139,320 was raised for the support of missionaries around the world! We are confident that God had that number in mind, and He utilized YOU and many other new mission-minded people to be part of the GLO family! MIL GRACIAS! Thanks a zillion! |
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We bid farewell to dad... and to Katy |
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At home, we were taking care of Norma (Jim’s mom), who still tested positive for covid but was slowly improving. Jim felt better and was able to visit his father again on December 28th along with his sister, Janine. Dad's condition was very grave, as cancer had spread to the lungs. Fearing that dad would not be with us much longer, we invited all the siblings to travel to Michigan to see dad. We are grateful that everyone made it and was able to be with their father and say their goodbyes before he passed on Dec. 30.
The very next day, we received word that Liisa's dear friend Katy Brosseau passed away in New Hampshire. Though the grief was at times overwhelming, we found comfort in their deep faith in Christ as we know that they went to be with Jesus for all eternity.
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It was wonderful to have the entire family - including several great grandchildren - together for the funeral services on January 7th. However, with the news of her husband’s passing, Norma began to go downhill. Hospice care was set up in the home - and what a blessing that was! Everyone was able to spend time with mom, right in the home. We were all hoping for a different ending, but God called Norma to join her husband at her Savior’s side on January 9. |
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Everyone was exhausted from dad's funeral, so we decided to hold mom's celebration of life on January 20th. Once again, all the family from all parts travelled to Dearborn to celebrate mom (and dad's) victory over sin, death and the devil through Jesus Christ, and their reunion in heaven. What a joyous reunion that must have been! What a joyous reunion awaits us as well! |
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We can safely say Jim's transition to full-time director of Global Lutheran Outreach has not gone as planned. We are currently residing in the family home in Dearborn, Michigan so that Jim can take care of some the details of his parent's estate. We are excited to see how the Lord will "work all things for good for those who love Him". As the saying goes: We don’t know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds our future!
We are excited to announce that the Rivas family from Guatemala will be deployed as missionaries this month! Victor, Belen, and daughter Sofia will begin their service as GLO missionaries in Guayana. Their first step will be learning the culture and the language of Guyana.
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Since GLO was founded in 2010, Jim has been its sole director - except he did it part-time, along with serving as a (part-time?) missionary in Chile. Now that we have transitioned to full-time mission director, we will be launching a new newsletter called "From Everywhere to Everywhere"! We will be highlighting the joys and struggles of GLO missionaries throughout the world, celebrating what God is doing with us and through us to share Jesus in many lands. If you would like to receive this new publication, you can sign up here.
We will still send our personal e-newsletter occasionally, perhaps 3 times per year.
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*We thank the Lord for the growth and maturing of the congregation “Divina Providencia” in Santiago.
*We pray that God would guide and bless the leaders of this 5-year-old church and their new pastor, Rev. Adrian Ventura and family.
*We praise God that we have taken the first steps to “repatriating” to the United States. Please pray that God makes His will clear during this new year of ministry.
*We praise our Divine Physician for the means to continue the Medicine for Venezuela Project. We ask him to accompany the shipment of medications to brothers and sisters suffering in Venezuela and for them to cling to Jesus for their hope and peace.
*Glory to God as he prepares missionaries Victor & Belen to leave their home in Guatemala and serve in Guyana. Pray for their travels, their transitions and their witness as they share the Gospel. Their "deployment date" is February 26th!
*Please keep in your prayers the Tino and Mattson families at the loss of Dennis and Norma Tino and Edwin Mattson recently. Also, remember the family of Katy Brosseau, Liisa’s childhood friend, who was called home on December 31.
*We pray for all women who are carrying new life in their wombs – Genesis, Oriana, Raquel, Glorise, Ori, and our daughter Sonrisa. May they have healthy pregnancies and may the new child bring many blessings!
*Praise the Lord of the Harvest for providing so faithfully for the continued operation of Global Lutheran Outreach. We thank Him for each partner who makes it possible for us to “Go Beyond” the barriers of language, culture, and imagination so that more may come to saving faith in Jesus.
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*We thank God that we have been able to see all our children since arriving to America. We pray for their health, and praise God for the first anniversary of Ben & Scarlett this month. Continue to pray that Scarlett's visa to visit the USA would be granted soon.
*Pray for the Lord's protection for upcoming travel and events:
- New Hampshire/New England - Feb. 7 - 21.
- presentation at Peace Lutheran, Sandusky, MI on February 26.
- Chile mission forum (in Valparaiso, Chile) - March 10 and 11
- Missionary orientation visit, Guyana (Rivas family) - end of March
PHOTOS:
1) Boxes packed and waiting to be shipped from Chile. We expect our shipment to arrive in early March.
2) Surrounded by family for two funerals - funeral luncheon at Guardian Lutheran Church.
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What happened to the support gauge?
"That was the first thing I looked at," commented one of our long-time mission partners.
Part of transitioning to full-time director of Global Lutheran Outreach is to transition our means of support. Looking toward the future, it is unlikely that any successor to the leadership of GLO will be willing to raise their own support. GLO needs to be able to pay a salary.
At this time, however, GLO as an organization is not large or mature enough to pay a full salary. GLO can pay a partial salary, and our plan is to supplement that through the offerings of our faithful mission partners. We want to avoid shifting the burden of our support to our other missionaries.
Or, you can mail a check to:
Global Lutheran Outreach
6709 Ficus Dr.
Miramar, FL 33023
(put "Jim & Liisa Tino" on the memo line of the check.)
Global Lutheran Outreach is a not-for-profit corporation under section 501 c 3 of the Federal Tax code. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by the IRS.
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Do you have a passion to see that the Good News of Jesus continues to be shared at home and around the world? Rather than being spent on immediate needs, a gift to the Global Lutheran Outreach Endowment Fund will be invested under the management of the Lutheran Legacy Foundation, and the gains on the investment will provide resources for Lutheran mission work for generations to come! Learn more here.
GLO CAN NOW RECEIVE DONATIONS OF STOCK!
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GLOBAL LUTHERAN OUTREACH| www.GlobalLutheranOutreach.com |
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