In 1 Samuel 7:12, we read that “Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.’” It’s always good to set up “monument stones” to help us remember all of God’s goodness to us. One of the things I like to remind myself every time we pray before a meal is that God has always provided for our needs and never once have we gone hungry. This month marks one year since we moved to Antofagasta. Thinking back over the past year, we’d like to enumerate some of God’s blessings.
- We have both enjoyed great health over the past year. Besides the occasional colds and the aches associated with getting older, we have had no health issues.
- The apartment we have rented has been a blessing. We have been safe and comfortable, we have been able to host visitors for meals and to stay overnight, and the location is ideal. Obviously we didn’t know a year ago that this would work out so well (but God did, and he was very kind to us).
- Our church family has received us with open hearts and arms, showing great love and patience with us. They are not just our brothers and sisters, but our friends.
- We have both made great strides in Spanish. It’s still our number one prayer request, but thinking back over the year, we have come a long way. Communication is essential in disciplemaking ministry.
- Financially, God has met all of our needs through the faithful giving of his people and by allowing us to live more economically than I had anticipated.
- God provided us with a reliable and very comfortable automobile when we needed it. Although we live in a city with good public transportation and outside of the city we generally have to fly, it has been a blessing, especially in helping others.
- God has strengthened our marriage over the past year, because we get to spend a lot of time together and we have to depend on one another more. It’s a blessing to serve the Lord together.
- God has taught us so much about Jesus’ beloved Bride, the Church. Getting to see Her a little more “in the rough” helps us appreciate her beauty even more. What an inestimable blessing we enjoy, Gentile sinners, brought into God’s family through his Son!
like this sea lion napping in the sun.
- Thank God with us for his many blessings over the past year in our lives.
- Thank God with us for his ongoing work making us more like his Son.
- Thank God with us for the way Jesus is building his church here in Antofagasta.
- Pray to God with us for his grace to give thanks in everything.
- Pray to God with us for his grace as our church pursues formal membership and considers another change in location.
- Pray to God with us for his grace to help us serve him and his church faithfully .
This is our March 2019 email update. You can sign up to receive our updates in your inbox here. You can download a printable PDF here.
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