Moving Near and Far

We are in the last weeks of our time here in the states.  This means preparing both physically and emotionally for the move that is just around the corner. . . again.  This means packing and preparing our hearts for another season of working and watching what God will do during this next term we will spend in Argentina.  As I write this, I smile looking to the future and knowing God is going to do great things.  What a joy it is just to think about all He has done already.  An institute has risen up on a beautiful piece of property and lives have been growing both intellectually and spiritually as young and old alike have obeyed the call of God on their lives to devote a period of time at the Patagonian Bible Institute.  And now we have been there long enough to see the alumni pastoring, planting churches, teaching, and even serving as missionaries in other parts of the world.

The Bible School is also providing ongoing education to our graduates, as well as to pastors (some of which are our graduates) and our professors (and again, some are our alumni).

This past weekend many of these have gathered for an educational conference at the Patagonian Bible Institute.  Above is a picture of the group who are leading and playing in the worship band . . . all previous students who are in the ministry.

In addition to those leading worship, seated are more who came because they want to be better equipped for the work they are doing wherever they are.  In total there were 52 in attendance. There is much hunger for learning among the believers in Argentina and it is great to be able to offer these ongoing educational opportunities to them.

Things Going OK and Things Unexpected

We continue to keep busy trying to raise the remainder of our funds so that we can be given the thumbs up and purchase our plane tickets.  Trusting it will be soon.  Jeremy was released from UCSF with the doctors not discovering anything during his stay.  Not what we wanted to hear but then that’s better than hearing they found something bad, like a tumor or some other illness.  Thank you, Jesus!  For now the doctors decided to change Jeremy’s medication, saying that the side effects, like weight gain, are not good and can lead to other negative consequences.  We are glad for that.

Yesterday, both Jeremy and Felicia left on a mission trip to Ireland.  They were very excited as this is their first trip to a region other than Latin America and they’ve been looking forward to it for several months. They will be ministering with Global Passion Ministries to the children of Cork, Ireland.  This morning they arrived in Amsterdam, where they enjoyed their all day lay over before flying out in the evening for Ireland.  Thanks to all those who have helped them raise their funds for this trip.  It truly is an investment in lives for the Kingdom of God.

On a sadder note, my Aunt Lucy, my mom’s sister, passed away last week and I (Diana) will be accompanying my mom to Phoenix tomorrow for Aunt Lucy’s celebration of life service and funeral.  Overall, in this area, it has been kind of a somber time at “home”.  My mom lost her second brother last year, her brother Jesse.  I accompanied her to Denver for his funeral.  This year my Aunt Lil passed.  She was one of my late father’s sisters.  Also, we just learned yesterday that my mom’s sister Martha is very ill with the last stages of congestive heart failure.  She lives in Phoenix so we hope to be able to visit her.  

The one thing I can say that makes all the difference is that these precious ones are believers in Jesus Christ and have the hope of heaven and we have the hope that one day we will see them again.  It is not a “Good-bye”, but a “We’ll see you again one day soon!”

One of my favorite passages of scripture is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  The first two verses say, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”      

Preparing to Return to Argentina

It is already May 2017.  Where has the time gone?  The time has been filled with miles and smiles.  Trips all over these United States and precious times with friends and family.  It has felt weird that this time at home in the USA, it has only been the two of us traveling around, as our 19 and 22 year old kids have been busy with their own lives...  church involvement, work, school, and friends.

It also feels weird that when we go back this time, it will only be two of us boarding that plane and only two of us arriving in the Patagonia to set up for another term of service at the Patagonian Bible Institute.  This reality brings with it a range of emotions.  It will be a new chapter in our lives.

How will we face this new reality?  We will trust God with our children as we always have, and we will obey what we believe he is asking of us.

We have learned over the years that the Lord's timing is perfect.  We have been here for over a year and are still working to raise our funds so that we can return to Argentina.  It seems to be taking longer this time, but we will keep pressing on and doing what we know to do and trusting God for his provision.

Considering that this year we are also dealing with health issues, our extended time here has not been unwelcome.  Although we know we cannot be here indefinitely to be with Jeremy as he  deals with his health issues, we are thankful that we can be here this particular week as Jeremy is being evaluated at UCSF for his problem with seizures.

Also, for several years now, Eddie has been dealing with a miserable pain on the side of his face.  It is a condition called Trigeminal neuralgia.  It is an intense pain that comes in waves, stays for a few days, goes away for a spell, and then comes back and stays for another short stint.  He has seen doctors in Argentina and here in California for this condition.  He has taken pain medication which doesn't seem to be helping very much.  More recently, he has been referred to Stanford Pain Management Clinic and is scheduled for an appointment in a couple weeks.  It is our prayer that this will be able to be taken care of in a significant way before we leave to Argentina.

In the mean time we are packing and trying to prepare for our departure.  It is a bit difficult because we are traveling so much, but the time has come for getting serious about our upcoming move.  These last weeks are going to fly by.

Thanks for your prayers.  They are much appreciated.

Update on Jeremy... One year later...

God Is Good

I can't believe that this year has just flown by.  It has been almost a year since Jeremy's near drowning that brought his medical condition to the forefront of our lives once again.  We are so very thankful that God has had his hand of protection on Jeremy's life all these years.  We do not know God's specific plans for Jeremy's life but we do know and believe God's word which says in Jeremiah 29:11, "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."  We believe this and declare it over Jeremy's life, for he belongs to the Lord.


Since that scary incident a year ago, Jeremy has been on medication, which has had it's side effects.  Most notably, weight gain.  Jeremy's local neurologist has referred Jeremy to the doctors at UCSF to see if they can uncover the mystery of why he experiences seizures.  So this week, Jeremy has been admitted to UCSF for another spell of monitoring.  We have been praying and believing that the doctors will capture something this time around that will help them help Jeremy.  This is the only time we pray for a seizure and ask others to pray that something will happen while he is all hooked up.  Thank you in advance for your prayers!

VERY GRATEFUL!!!

Jeremy

On May 29, we had an incident that shook our world.  Since he was only three years old, Jeremy has suffered from seizures.  Although not as frequent as when he was a small boy, these episodes do still occur from time to time.  In recent months, we have been in the process of having Jeremy reevaluated by a new neurologist.  He was not able to return to his pediatric neurologist now that he is 18 years old.  So this process had just begun and then only days later, we received a phone call.

Jeremy had gone to a friend's house after church and was in the middle of the swimming pool when he felt a seizure coming on.  Although he tried to make his way out of the pool, the seizure came too quickly and he sank to the bottom of the pool.  Thankfully, his friend, Caleb, saw him at the bottom of the pool and dove in to get him out.  He was not breathing and no one knew exactly how much time he had spent under water.

 A family friend who was visiting knew CPR and was able to revive him.  In the mean time, someone called 911 and soon the house was inundated with first responders, police, paramedics...  As we arrived at the home, Jeremy was being taken by ambulance to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.  By God's grace, he was ok!  No damage at all, thank God!!!

We believe that God had his hand on Jeremy's life and we are so thankful that Jeremy's life was spared and that he is back to his normal self.  He did spend one night in ICU but that very next morning he was transferred to a regular room.  One hospital staff member commented that that was the shortest stay in ICU they had seen!

Please keep Jeremy in your prayers, not only for his continued safety, but that God would work out his healing whether by a divine touch or by medicine.  We know God uses both!  We have received many encouraging words and prayers and we are so grateful for each one.  Thank you!!!

Home in California

USA Family

Eddie's parents, Ed & Teresa

Arriving in Texas for the wedding

Although we miss our Argentine family, we are thankful to be with our family here in the USA.  One of the most difficult aspects of missionary living is the separation from loved ones that is inevitable when we say, . . . "Yes, I'll go."  So we have been enjoying sweet moments with both of our families.

Eddie's parents are doing well, although we cannot stop the biological clock that keeps ticking and taking away days, months, and years from, not only their lives, but ours as well.  Eddie's brother, Joe, is also doing well and we are thankful to him and to his wife, Teresa, for looking after Ed and Teresa when we are away.

(l-r) Joe, Carolina, Josh, Teresa

It was a special treat to be able to be at our nephew, Josh's marriage to his lovely bride, Carolina.

Diana's Mom & kids

Diana's mother, nearly 88 years old, is also doing well, thank the Lord!  Again we are so grateful for siblings who are here for our aging parents.  Thank you Beck and Chris, Ben and Julie! It was good to be all together on Mothers Day!

Felicia and Jeremy reunited

It has been especially nice to be near our daughter, Felicia, once again. She just completed her second year of college and her ministerial internship.  Yay!!!  Good Job, Felicia!!!

Jeremy, now 18 years old, is adjusting well back into the culture here and getting involved in his church youth group, helping both in music and in Junior High leadership.

A Quick and Special Trip Back

New Multi-Purpose Building

One of the special happenings since we returned to the states, was a trip that Eddie took back to Argentina, helping to coordinate and lead a construction team from Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin, California.  It had been a long standing dream in our hearts to 
see a certain section of land on the Bible school property developed into a sports court.  The school has never had a specific area dedicated for recreational sports and physical exercise and we had the perfect spot chosen.

Destiny Christian Church Building Team

What started as a simple idea blossomed into something greater than we even envisioned.  We had thought of putting down a concrete slab that could be used for a basketball court or small soccer area, but the plans grew to what became a covered pavilion which we now see could be used, not only for sports, but for camp meetings, services, graduations, and all kinds of events.

We are now looking at the possibility of adding siding to the structure, eventually enclosing the building completely so that it can be this very useful and needed multipurpose facility.

Growth at IBP!

2016 Students during Spiritual Emphasis Week

In April, classes started up again with a record number of 74 students. We are both excited and challenged by this growth.  For the first time, there was not enough space on our campus to house a family of four.  This has led to our planning for the next crucial building at IBP - a married student complex with a child
care center.  So pray we will be able to raise the funds to begin work on this much needed building when we return to Argentina next year.  Also, if there are those out there who are interested in coming to help with construction, please let us know.

2016 1st Year Students

There are always projects, some large, some small, going on at IBP.  We know that what God is building in Patagonia is a team effort and that ours is only a small part of the big picture.  We thank God for all the lives who have had a part in this great work of God in Argentina.

On the Road Again

We are being blessed constantly by seeing so many friends at all of the churches to which we have travelled.  We are thankful for this opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones.

E, Daphne, Pstr Bloom, Diana, Pstr Young

Just yesterday we came across someone very special while visiting one of our churches, Diana's pastor when she was only 16 years old and the one who baptized her, Pastor Phil Young.  
What a special gift from the Father!  

It was at this church where we also got to make a new friend, Pastor Rick Bloom of Pacific Christian Center, Santa Maria.  Our good friend Daphne who hosted us for a couple days is also in the picture.

Happenings on the Homefront

IBP - Our home away from home

Our "home" so to speak, the Patagonian Bible Institute, had a great 2015.  As we mentioned earlier, the completion of the last building, IBP's new library, was a dream come true.  Here is a picture of the library from the outside being used at its busiest time of day, late afternoon, after classes.


After another great year we were present for another graduation.  Nineteen (19) awesome students launched into the next phase of their journey, stepping out in 
faith into the path on which God is leading them.

Also, it was around this time that some research was done tracking our alumni and we were 
encouraged to find that of the 222 students that have graduated from IBP since its beginning in March 1990, 153 of them are currently active in ministry, either pastoring or pioneering a church, serving in leadership in a church, doing the work of evangelism, or serving as a missionary in another country.  That is almost 70% of our graduates that are active in some form of ministry.  For that, we . . . Praise the Lord!

Our little church with the new beginning

When we began leading that small group of abandoned believers in June of this year, three things topped our corporate prayer list.  First, we prayed for healing, as so many had truly broken hearts as a result of this sudden loss of their pastor and their church home.  Second, we prayed for a place to meet.  The house meetings were great but there was literally no room for growth.  Thirdly, we prayed for a pastor who would truly love them and help them to grow; who would "equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up..." to reach "...unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  We all knew our time with them was only temporary.  Starting in the (Argentine) spring (Sept.-Dec.), our time would be limited when classes started up again at IBP and then we would be returning to the states for our time of stateside ministry.

The healing and expectation of great things to come happened almost immediately.  We still recall that first home church  meeting where tears flowed freely yet there was a sweet spirit of joy in the midst of this storm as God comforted and began the healing process that day.


After only five weeks, God opened the door for the use of a Community Center, free of charge for Sunday use.  It was great to see the members begin to come together offering their talents and abilities to see the church function as a unified body.

Our third prayer request was also being answered as God was working behind the scenes, even before this crisis, preparing the couple who would become the pastors of this group.  A young man by the name of Hugo had been among the first group of Bible school students we met when we arrived in the Patagonia nearly twenty years ago.  

He had since married and moved to another city where he, his wife, and their daughter were involved in ministry in their church.  More recently, he had been on staff with another IBP alum in a large church.  Coming back to Trelew to pastor this new church was actually coming home for Hugo.  Best of all, we felt that we were placing this new "life" or "body" in the hands of a very capable and loving leader.  Praise God for his answers to our prayers!

Icing on the Cake

In December, just before returning to the the states, the new pastor invited Eddie to join him in baptizing seven believers, some older and some younger in the faith, who had never taken this step in their walk with God.  It was a beautiful "icing on the cake" time together as they also gave us a lovely send off.