In Uruguay!

We’ve been in Uruguay for most of six days now. A week ago we were on a plane, on the way. It’s summer here – and quite a change from weather we were experiencing in the southeastern USA shortly before we left. But we’re enjoying it!

We’re thankful for abundant opportunities here. John Mark is quite busy, finishing sermon preparation for Family Camp (Monday through Friday of next week) and Workers’ Conference for EMU missionaries (Monday through Thursday of the week after). He will be preaching a total of twenty-two messages at camp – and would definitely appreciate prayer as he finishes preparing and then as he preaches.

On Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday morning, John Mark challenged the youth group at Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando from I John, concentrating on chapter 2, verses 15 through 17, as well as the specific evidences of eternal life throughout that epistle. On Sunday evening, he preached from II Chronicles 14 through 16, using King Asa’s example (both positive and negative), emphasizing our need to seek the Lord – and what that means biblically.

Unbeknownst to us, the theme at the recent youth camps was the same idea of loving the Lord, not the world – and we’re encouraged to see the Lord’s evident hand of blessing on John Mark’s choice of messages for the youth group, Sunday School, and church services here in Pando. Please pray for the Lord’s continued work in hearts here where my Dad and Pat are laboring intensely, trusting the Lord of the harvest for fruit that will remain.

We’ve also made several visits to government offices, hoping to renew my residency here. The process won’t be as simple as we had been hoping, but we’ve been able to gather information – and are thankful for what we’ve been able to learn and accomplish so far.

We are, of course, enjoying the time with family. Elizabeth is very excited to be here with los Abu and Tío Daniel and Tía Viviana and especially las primas – and her eagerness to speak Spanish is delighting us! We had told her that she would have to speak castellano in Uruguay. While still at the airport, she asked me: “Aren’t we in Uruguay?” I affirmed that we were. “Then why aren’t we speaking Spanish?!” She proceeded to try to use what Spanish she could – a welcome surprise after her obvious reticence to use the language just weeks before!

That very evening, while eating supper at Tío Daniel’s house, she asked for mos quesa, meaning más queso (more cheese), of course! Last night, I commented that I loved to give her muchos besos (lots of kisses). Probably because it’s been rather hot and humid here, she retorted: “No, poquito. Poquito besos.” (She should have said: poquitoS besos, as any good student of Spanish would know, but we’re just thrilled at her eagerness to speak the language. The foundation her Mommy worked very hard to lay, by speaking Spanish almost exclusively when Elizabeth was a baby up until she started attending K-2, is definitely paying off!

Do pray for us! Pray that our time here would be profitable in light of eternity. We sense keenly our need for God’s grace if anything is to be accomplished for His glory, and we are trusting in His promises. His Word will not return void!