MMM

May is Mission's Month!

This year we detoured a little from our traditional activities. As you will see, my pictures were untraditional also!! (I was distracted from the great teaching and preaching that I forgot to take pictures of people!)
The first weekend we invited Missionary Pete Ard and his wife to come teach us about their ministry to the Jews in Argentina. Saturday night he taught us about the Jewish culture and on Sunday gave us an excellent challenge from God's Word.

Later on in the month, we had Alejandro Samariani come and teach us about personal evangelism. He gave us some great tools to use to break the ice! He also was able to share with our teens and preached on Sunday to encourage us to have compassion. The fuel that will ignite us to reach out and be a witness!!

The last weekend, on Saturday,  we had our "International Dinner". This year we did a traditional Argentine custom,  Cerdo al disco con vegetales - Pork loin with vegetables.  We made desserts that were international. Mike gave a lesson to remind us of our promise to support missions and to challenge us to pray that God would increase our faith. Sunday, we had a special missionary visit us! One of our very own, our son Mike (Michael) Todd via Skype!!  He is a TEAM missionary to Peru raising his support to be on the field hopefully before the end of this year.  We also took our Faith Promise pledges. We are so honored to be able to participate by giving and it shows by the 50% promised increase. Looks like we will be able to give our current missionaries a raise and take on a new one!

What are YOU doing for missions?

And it has nothing to do with basketball!!

Our March Madness!!

I've never been much of a basketball fan but I do know that the month of March is a very special time for college basketball. On occasion I have been able to watch some of those games with my dad. This year March Madness occurred for us here in Argentina as all the regular ministries, new ministries, a purity vow, and Easter all converged in one month.  Here are the highlights!!

 Bible study with the teens.

         

       

                                                                                      Games!!

                                                Purity vow ceremony for Abigail.

Easter lesson in the plaza and we gave away all 5 dozen plastic Easter eggs!!

Kid's Bible Club.(Cruzados-Ua 2)

                                                                                   Easter special.                             

    

 Mike participated in a men's retreat where 103 were in attendance.

                                                                               

Would you pray for 5 dozen please?

I have had these plastic eggs for a couple of years now waiting for the right opportunity to use them in a way that would be most effective. We are planning several activities to do in the plaza close to our church to announce the start up of Kid's Club. For Easter we want to teach the lesson with the Resurrection Eggs and then give away these 5 dozen eggs with a Bible verse and invitation to all the children. (Of course the egg will also have a piece of candy inside!) We are asking that you would pray for these "5 dozen" invitations. We are really excited what the Lord is going to do with the children in our neighborhood!! God has been so good to us and His gift to the world is for all who will listen!! Pray that God will use this opportunity for His glory!! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Youth Camps 2016!!!

24 accepted Christ as their Savior in 3 weeks!! Praise the Lord!!

The videos were big so I put them on YouTube.  Just click and enjoy!!

I feel like the little drummer boy...

I love the story about the little drummer boy who wanted to give the new born Savior a gift on his birthday. He was just a poor little boy and didn't have anything of value to offer baby Jesus.

Sometimes I feel like this little drummer. Nothing I have feels worthy to match what He has done for me.

But the boy realizes something small that he has - a little tune on his drum, was all that he had to offer. When others looked down upon his gift as something insignificant,  it didn't matter to the little guy.  He offered it to the Lord and it made him smile!!

I'm relearning this season that no matter if our greatest intentions don't seem to measure up - it doesn't really matter. All He ever wanted was our hearts anyway.  So this Christmas, my wonderful sweet Savior, I give to you anew my heart and love.  Thank you for loving me and smiling at my cockeyed little gifts.

God gave us a wonderful opportunity to share our cantata in one of the plazas near our church. Sunday, the night planned for the event was rained out after we shared the first song! We rescheduled and sang the next night. Not very many people were there Monday night but I have all confidence the ones the Lord wanted to be there were there sitting among us!

Party time with some of the church family!!

     

October events

The month of October started out with a conference in San Rafael, Mendoza. This is a yearly conference held in different places in the southern cone of South America. We are not able to go every year but the Lord provided this time and we were able to enjoy three days of fellowship and the preaching of God's Word.

Pastors and Missionaries - San Rafael, Mendoza 2015

Mother's Day is the third Sunday in October in Argentina. We like to give a small gift to the mothers present to show our love and appreciation for them. The 31st we have planned a joint Mother's Day Celebration just for mothers with our sister church. Pictures will have to come later for that.

Mothers on Mother's Day

I also participate in a community group called Sentir la Vida. It is a support group for women who have or have had cancer. Family of cancer patients also can participate. This past Saturday we had an event to raise awareness for the prevention of breast cancer. I pray for this group that God would heal and also that He would use me to help spiritually for those who need it.

I have two special prayer requests. Please pray for our daughter Stephany. She is recovering from surgery she had on her wrist. She will be in a splint for 5 more weeks.

Pray for the elections this Sunday in Argentina. It is a presidential election and we will get a new president. Our city is also voting for mayor.

Thank you all for your support and prayers and taking the time to read our letters, blog, and facebook posts. You are a very important force behind us!  It is a privilege to be an ambassador of the Lord!

Good news - Bad news

I was holding off posting pictures of the work at camp until all the project was finished but decided to go ahead and post the first stages of replacing the roof on the kitchen and kitchen dorm.  I can't wait to actually see the finished product! Thanks to all who gave (and continue to give) and went out to work (and continue to work).  Hopefully on Monday they will be able to finish the roof by putting on the tin sheets.

        

Now for the bad news.  The camp flooded again.  It was about the same time last year that we had one of the worst floods ever.  This time it wasn't as bad but bad enough to cause some damage and throw a wrench in construction schedules.  We ask that you would pray the workers will be able to get the roof completed and clean up the aftermath of the flood. Please also pray for their protection.  

Looking at these pictures you can still see the waterline from the flood last year.

God still has a plan for our camp and we will continue to trust Him to provide for its every need!!

Thank you for praying for the Campamento Bautista de Marcos Paz!