More Multiple Milestones!

January 30 is a red-letter day on our family calendar. Our little people have grown so much since last year. (And I continue to be thankful for digital photography!)

Happy Birthday, Dear Elizabeth!

Our Little Lady turns six today!

She continues to be “Best Big Sister” – although there are definitely moments when a very curious, now-actively-toddling-15-month-old brother’s agenda gets in the way...

For those who might tend to admire my alleged photography skills, thinking I always get very good pictures of two very cooperative little people, I’m including some snapshots of “real life” at our house:

Yep! Let’s just say those were noble attempts...

The Lord Will Provide!

When by day troubles assail us,
When by night dangers affright,
Though our friends all should fail us,
Though our foes all should unite,
This one thing secures us, whatever betide;
This promise assures us: The Lord will provide!

The birds without garner or storehouse are fed.
From the birds let us learn to trust God for bread.
His saints, what is fitting, shall never be denied,
So long as it is written: The Lord will provide!

Even when Satan assails us to stop up our path,
And when courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
Satan cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise: The Lord will provide!

In Christ, our strong tower, for safety we hide:
The Lord is our power! The Lord will provide!

Text: John Newton
Music: Irish Air

Pressed to Prayer!

The theme for the year for our church’s Ladies Missionary Prayer Group is very encouraging:

We do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction . . . that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead;

Who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

You also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

(II Corinthians 1:8-11)

Think about it! (Wow!) As you pray for missionaries, you take part in their ministries and in the blessings of answered prayer!

Furthermore, given the example of Christ Himself as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45; cf. Revelation 12), we were encouraged to pray specifically for missionaries – to be “pressed to prayer” for them on two accounts:

1. Recognize the missionaries’ struggle with their own flesh – and be pressed to prayer for them.
2. Recognize the missionaries’ struggle against the powers of darkness – and be pressed to prayer for them.

Will you pray specifically for missionaries? Will you pray specifically for us?

Remembering...

Jesus said:
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?

(John 11)

Recent Travels

We’re thankful for God’s gracious provision!

The day after Christmas found us on the way to Miami with Esteban and Esther and Marcos on a whirlwind two-week trip to Uruguay for Julia’s and Dilney’s wedding. We spent ten wonderful (summer!) days there and four more days (two on each side) driving to Miami and back.

We’re thankful for the time with extended family.

On December 31, Esteban and Esther reminded us that the last time we three Garwood siblings were together for “the holidays” was twenty-three years ago.

We celebrated Dosila’s birthday on Dec. 31.

The cousins enjoyed some good times together.

   

DJM reached the 14-month milestone while there. It was fun to take his picture by Tia Viviana’s Christmas tree – in summer! (Christmas in Uruguay isn’t over until after January 6.)

JM preached on New Year’s Day at Iglesia Biblica Maranatha on the outskirts of Pando, and Esteban preached that evening at Templo Betel, the church his father pastored for many years. We also attended mid-week services at three EMU churches.

We’re guessing that folks from EMU churches all over Uruguay attended the wedding. We enjoyed many opportunities for fellowship and left greatly encouraged and more eager than ever to get back – to stay!

Although exhausting, it was an encouraging trip overall.

Two days after our return to the Upstate found JM and me on icy highways on the way to a conference in Ohio. As I commented on FaceBook last Thursday:

A week ago, I was walking the length of “18 de Julio” (one of Montevideo’s main thoroughfares) with John Mark and Kenzi and the kids – in summer! Tonight, I’m on my way to a conference in Ohio – trying to remember how to drive in snow!

On Monday, JM began a two-week D.Min. course.

Please continue to pray for us!