| How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? (Psalms 116:12)
When the year 2008 finally ended, this verse came out of my heart and lips. As I reflect all things that have happened throughout the year, it simply displays the mark of the Lord's goodness everywhere.
When we first came to Colombia, our prayer was to find two local staffs committed to establish one model for university ministry in Colombia. After one year, the Lord has brought 11 people from 4 nations working in 7 universities. After completing short discipleship training course, we have 8 student volunteers whose hearts are sold for Christ and His kingdom work in the universities.
We opened our office in a small room (8 x 8) with a simple map of Colombia and a sheet of paper filled with Word of Promise the Lord gave us during our prayer meetings. Now, the Lord has blessed us two small houses inside a local private high school facility. These are good enough for our ministry office and living space for 6 staffs.
The word of the Lord was the center of our faith and obedience. We did not have any curriculum or programs. Yet, after two years of trust and obedience, the Lord has provided us strategies from one-to-one pastoring to mini-discipleship program, from campus research to intercession ministries and from ministry consultation in a local setting to national scale planned out for July this year.
Our desire was to see a simple ministry and mobilization centre in Cartagena, Colombia. Now the Lord has taken us to almost all major cities in Colombia and many nations in Central and South America. Many countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay want us to be there.
Throughout the year, the Lord granted opened doors for John to visit Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Panama in order to teach and plan out future ministry bases on those nations.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see... (Heb 11:1)
Since the beginning of last year, the Lord has encouraged us to take a step of faith outside the boundary of Colombia. That idea became realization of mobile team of training and evagelism in all major campuses in South America (for more information click here)
Now, in this year of 2009, we as family and ministry will take another step of faith by walking outside of our living and ministry boundaries. We have 12 confirmed students and 15 volunteers ready to take this journey. Including my family, it is already a clan of 30 people! With more application still coming in the size can get even bigger. This means mounting challenges of finance and logistical preparation on 10 nations we will be visiting.
Would you please remember us in your prayer and support us? (for detail prayer request click here)
Although there have been MANY moments of uncertainties and fears, we are constantly reminded of faithful word of the Lord and loving prayers of friends like you that have been an absolute backbone of our living and serving.
Let me close my update by sharing a verse the Lord gave us that has been carrying in our hearts. This verse has been the beacon on our paths and an anchor of our soul.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in my name." (John 15:16)
With love and blessings,
John & Monica
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