Dear friends and family,
We want to apologize for not keeping you updated over the past couple of months, and we'd like to bring you up to speed on what's been going on with us lately.
Here are the highlights:
California!
As many of you know now, Ginny moved back to the bay area of California about a month ago. No, she didn't get tired of Rene that quickly! We are now in the process of applying for Rene's permanent residency status in the US, and we believe this is the most efficient way to go about it. She has been blessed by the hospitality of many and the joy of seeing God make just the right connections to provide at each turn. She is currently training to drive a school bus to help counter expenses while in the US, especially with Rene still in Guatemala. A couple of weeks ago we were both very blessed to spend the whole week together again in Guatemala.
Ginny with her Aunt Nancy in Berkeley, CA
Us enjoying a couple's weekend away together at the lake
Uth group:
Rene has been preparing Micah, our co-leader, to take charge while he's gone. Please pray for wisdom and growth in this preparation process. The discipleship groups he has been leading are still going strong. One group (the band) is planning a week-long concert tour throughout the country during the week of Semana Santa (Holy Week/Spring break) in March. Rene will go with them to minister to them, as well as the concert-goers during that week, hoping for evangelistic opportunities. Please pray for safety in travel and for open doors to share the gospel, and praise God with us for these young men and their hearts that are so passionate for Christ and ministering to their country in His name!
The weekend before last, we led a group youth and young adults, joining with the young adults from our next door neighbor church, Sion (Zion), in a community service project, to go out to one of the poorest communities in the dry region of Guatemala and minister. We were able to partner with Operation Blessing from Guatemala, who are already established in that community, to bring food, make home visits, pray for the people, and share some message of hope and encouragement through dramas and preaching. This project was 3-fold for us at Union: to encourage the people of this community in the micro-enterprises Operation Blessing has begun with them by helping provide for their needs, to continue to build our partnership with other churches in Guatemala, and to give the youth an opportunity to meet and minister to people in such great need, to reach out and be the light of the world to their own country. Reflecting with the youth the next morning, we were encouraged to hear how their eyes were opened by this experience. Please continue to pray for our youth, as the Lord challenges them beyond their comfort zones and as they have more opportunities to minister in His name here in Guatemala and beyond. Please also pray for the people of the community we visited, especially for encouragement beyond the provision of material needs.
Some of the gals from Union and Sion packing food bags to distribute
Rene and some of our Uth delivering the food to one of the families in the community
Thank you for all your continued prayers and encouragement. Please continue to lift us up in this time, especially while we are apart, and as we seek the Lord's wisdom in both the large and small decisions we face now and down the road. Pray we will trust Him, though we don't know exactly where each turn will take us. We do want to clarify, as we have had a few questions on the subject, that we still need your financial support. We are currently maintaining 2 households, and although Ginny has been blessed with another income now, it is not enough to cover all our Guatemala expenses as well. We know that times are tough right now with the economy; however, we hope you will prayerfully consider striving with us financially through this time. For your reference, we have attached all the information on how to give towards our monthly support with Missionary Ventures.
Thank you all for partnering with us, and may God bless you richly in all you do.
Ginny with her Aunt Nancy in Berkeley, CA
Us enjoying a couple's weekend away together at the lake
Uth group:
Rene has been preparing Micah, our co-leader, to take charge while he's gone. Please pray for wisdom and growth in this preparation process. The discipleship groups he has been leading are still going strong. One group (the band) is planning a week-long concert tour throughout the country during the week of Semana Santa (Holy Week/Spring break) in March. Rene will go with them to minister to them, as well as the concert-goers during that week, hoping for evangelistic opportunities. Please pray for safety in travel and for open doors to share the gospel, and praise God with us for these young men and their hearts that are so passionate for Christ and ministering to their country in His name!
The weekend before last, we led a group youth and young adults, joining with the young adults from our next door neighbor church, Sion (Zion), in a community service project, to go out to one of the poorest communities in the dry region of Guatemala and minister. We were able to partner with Operation Blessing from Guatemala, who are already established in that community, to bring food, make home visits, pray for the people, and share some message of hope and encouragement through dramas and preaching. This project was 3-fold for us at Union: to encourage the people of this community in the micro-enterprises Operation Blessing has begun with them by helping provide for their needs, to continue to build our partnership with other churches in Guatemala, and to give the youth an opportunity to meet and minister to people in such great need, to reach out and be the light of the world to their own country. Reflecting with the youth the next morning, we were encouraged to hear how their eyes were opened by this experience. Please continue to pray for our youth, as the Lord challenges them beyond their comfort zones and as they have more opportunities to minister in His name here in Guatemala and beyond. Please also pray for the people of the community we visited, especially for encouragement beyond the provision of material needs.
Some of the gals from Union and Sion packing food bags to distribute
Rene and some of our Uth delivering the food to one of the families in the community
Thank you for all your continued prayers and encouragement. Please continue to lift us up in this time, especially while we are apart, and as we seek the Lord's wisdom in both the large and small decisions we face now and down the road. Pray we will trust Him, though we don't know exactly where each turn will take us. We do want to clarify, as we have had a few questions on the subject, that we still need your financial support. We are currently maintaining 2 households, and although Ginny has been blessed with another income now, it is not enough to cover all our Guatemala expenses as well. We know that times are tough right now with the economy; however, we hope you will prayerfully consider striving with us financially through this time. For your reference, we have attached all the information on how to give towards our monthly support with Missionary Ventures.
Thank you all for partnering with us, and may God bless you richly in all you do.
