June – What can I say about June – It felt like a month full of visits to the immigration office. Their hours are 8am until 1pm and there were a couple of days that I spent from 8am until 1pm there. Always a new piece of paperwork needed, or something else translated and certified. Redoing paperwork or signing additional paperwork due to my name being misspelled (by Argentine Ministry of Religious Affairs and also Immigration), three times more explaining and providing documents because my last name is Max’s and not my father’s, and of course the ‘where’s Max’ question. But finally, POR FIN, they have everything they could possibly need!!! I have paperwork to go with my passport so I can travel! I expect to receive my residency visa and DNI by mid September!!!!

Betel continues to move forward in ministry. They now have a Leadership Team that meets monthly. They have a vision and a mission. They are studying and learning the Covenant Affirmations. They are learning their identity. The daily groups, studies, prayer meetings and services continue of course. One on one English has been a blessing and I am grateful to be able to share my administration skills as well. I am excited to start participating even more with the other churches.

Mission de Betel:
Por medio de la evangelización familiar lograr llegar al hogar de muchas familias, mostrando el amor De Dios, su misericordia, perdón, reconciliación y su salvación. Isaias 61:1-3 is the mission scripture

Vision: Nuestra vision es congregaciónal, la meta es llegar a una unidad o comunidad confraternal a través de la integración, la contención y el compromiso. La evangelizacion es nuestro trabajo para llegar a un crecimiento espiritual, con amor a Dios y al prójimo, para dar a conocer la salvacion por medio de Jesus.

Through family evangelism we can reach the homes of many families, showing God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation. Isaiah 61: 1-3 is the mission scripture

Vision: Our vision is congregational, the goal is to reach a confraternal unit or community through integration, contention and commitment. Evangelism is our work to reach a spiritual growth, with love for God and neighbor, to make known the salvation through Jesus.

I think I can say that I am pretty used to the frequent power outages and lack of internet. You learn to be flexible and just go with the flow. Having books not on the phone are a good thing. Batteries only last so long. On Father’s Day we experienced a country wide power outage. One that also affected parts of Uraquay, Chile and other countries. One company that controls the power grid had a glitch. I can relate to the one company monopoly but an entire country? Yup. Life went on, many stores were closed and some places had transportation issues. In Bariloche, nothing stopped the Father’s Day visits, family meals, asado, empanadas, and mate. Having gas for heat and cooking is a plus; and we only needed to be careful of the water usage; and walking in the barrios without streetlights. Bariloche has a generation plant so in the evening Barrios alternated power for a short time until it was restored. The church was full of flashlights, an acoustic guitar and the Holy Spirit. Back to the basics, nothing fancy – wasn’t needed. It made me reflect on our North American worship, power points, everything in our phones. How long could you go without power or being connected to your phone?

It was wonderful to pull into Abuela’s property in Rio Chico and see the house lit up with lights. Finally, after many, many years – everyone who didn’t have access to the power line received a solar panel system and their homes properly wired with outlets and lights. They may not be able to run a fridge or microwave, but to have lights in the evening is appreciated by everyone. Next prayer is for the gas line to reach Rio Chico Abajo.

June has been a month of preparing and organizing for the upcoming months. I will be traveling to the Chile Youth Event, to Beratzetagui to support a Merge Group, supporting and encouraging the churches in Uraquay, and back to Neuquen to support and be a part of the church there. That’s July and August.

I am going to be taking some courses with North Park University to become a Consecrated Missionary as well as receive a certificate for Intercultural Ministry. Planning and stepping forward into this direction took some time. It means a bit of planning for the next several years. I have to admit that I hesitated to make these plans, dreams, goals that are further out then a few months. Once again, I am taught a new depth to walking in faith and putting my future in God’s hands; fully surrendered.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. You have uplifted and encouraged me and allowed ministry to continue. Thank you for your whatsapps, emails and notes. It is wonderful to be connected with so many. I pray that more of you will come to Argentina and experience what I have, learn what Max was so passionate about.

Blessings!

Don’t forget to note the new contact info:

Mailing address for the ECCC has changed:
PO Box 2247, Strathmore, AB, T1P 1K2

Mailing address here in Argentina: Please advise if you mail anything – Mail isn’t the most reliable at this point
Cacique Purran No 4019, Barrio El Frutillar
(8400) San Carlos de Bariloche
Provincia de Rio Negro, Republica Argentina

WhatsApp: +5492944314950

Prayer and Praise
I will forever be thankful and grateful for each and everyone of you. For your prayers, your support, your friendship and your presence in my life.

Praise and gratefulness for the ECCC and the ECC – it is exciting, wonderful and I am humbled to be a part of this family – to be a Canadian Covenant Missionary! I am proud to be an ambassador for Christ with the Covenant! I am thankful for God’s timing and working in all the details of my life.

Prayer requests include: the completion of residency, continued growth and knowledge in language, upcoming travel and times with the other churches. For extra strength on the hard days, refilling and rest to be more effective in ministry, to be a blessing to others.

Prayer for 2019 and the continued ministry here and a clearer view of my role in it. Prayers as I move deeper into ministry – and deeper into this new life without Max.

Prayers for Argentina as they face economic issues, and for the churches as they respond

Continued prayers for BET EL as we find a new location and pray for God’s direction in this transition. Prayers as they develop their vision

Continued prayers for the congregations – of those remaining with the Covenant and those following the other pastor.

Praise and rejoicing for the family and friends that I have here

Prayers for Merge teams, individuals, couples and family that are looking to come to Argentina

Praise for the funding that has been generously provided