October 2009
1. Paul & Jayne (Paula’s dad & mom) arrived safely and will be with us through the end of this month. It has been such a blessing having them around. Paul has helped with practical things around the house and Jayne has been cooking some delicious dinners. It has been great for Ezra & Noah to be with Grandpa & Nona.
2. Praise God! Paula has been able to develop some friendships with other moms like Claudia, Kelli, Olga, and Sofia. Please pray for opportunities for Paula to share her story in a natural way.
3. Dave has 7 studies going on throughout the week at 7 different Faculties. He is also discipling 3 believers every Saturday afternoon. For more details including specific names visit our “nutshell” section on the blog.
4. We will begin a house church November 1 out of our home catering toward our APT community and other young couples with kids that we know.
5. We will be having an asado or cookout October 30 for the 29 students that meet with Dave on a regular basis. This will give them a chance to mingle and get to know each other. We hope to do this on a monthly basis.
September 2009
1. That our level of discipleship would deepen during this tough time of ministry.
2. That God would lead two Argentine families with kids to us that we can get to know beyond the surface level.
3. Discernment on whether of not to begin a house church in our home to connect with our APT community.
4. That Dave’s “Mente Abierta” groups would emerge at the universities that were visited during our mission team’s time here. It has been easy to get a group of students to meet one time but on a continual basis next to impossible. May one student this month become a disciple….just one. May a small church emerge as a result.
5. That Paula would be able to develop friendships with a few of the other moms she is meeting.
6. That Paula’s mom & dad will have a good visit with us later this month.
August 2009
1. Praise God that we had an awesome experience with our 1st mission team. We are stoked that Fidel and his friend accepted Christ and that we were able to engage 8 schools. Pray for the follow-up of the 40 solid contacts that were made. Also for a small, prayer group to develop at each school led by the Argentine believers that we met.
2. Pray for Kyna and Scott (Dave’s sister & brother-in-law)
3. Wisdom as we begin networking with Argentine Baptist churches and their university groups (25% of our time) and directly engaging the lost (75 % of our time).
4. That Paula & I would have regular prayer together as a couple.
5. That our BA Team would be unified.
July 2009
1. Praise God that for the most part we are feeling better physically. There for awhile all of us had sore throats, fevers and coughs & had to cancel some of our ministry opportunities / team meetings.
2. Preparation for the mission team coming to help us out August 8-15 from California.
3. Paula’s and her family as they mourn the loss of a close family member (Paula’s Uncle John).
4. That Dave will be able to balance ministry opportunities and family. There are 4 tight-knit groups of unbelievers that are meeting now once a week face-to-face and throughout the week via a FB forum. Please pray that God will draw some to faith in Him and that a missional community will form.
5. Ezra’s transition from Washington School to home with mom has been smooth although he seems to miss his Argentine friend Bruno. We are thinking of enrolling him in swim class in a couple months.
May / June 2009
1. Please continue to pray for our physical health as winter approaches. All of us seem to be passing the sickness around like a hot potato.
2. Praise God that two GIG (Groups Investigating God) have emerged at UBA’s Faculties of Psychology and Natural Sciences. There is a good chance of another GIG beginning in August with a few students from the Faculty of Economics. The vision that God has given me is to initiate as many GIG’s as possible through the UBA educational system. My hope is that some of them will eventually become missional comunities.
3. A deeper level of Spanish and communication with the university students we are interacting with especially as I facilitate these GIG’s. We are not discussing easy topics but these are the issues these students are dealing with.
4. Ezra’s transition out of Washington School beginning this month to go smoothly.
5. That God will give Dave wisdom to know how best to make use of technology in reaching university students.
April 2009
1. Praise God that Dave’s Spiritual Fast was a success. He was obedient and faithful to what God wanted him to do. Please continue to pray that Dave would be able to incorporate this disciple into his weekly schedule.
2. Pray that we can work out all the logistical details for our mission team coming this August and that the University of Belgrano will be open to spiritual conversations.
3. That we would be able to begin a “simple church” in our apartment.
4. That a small group would emerge at the University of Belgrano.
5. That Paula and Ezra would begin to feel better physically.
March 2009
1. Dave’s 40 Day Spiritual Fast from all solid foods.
2. Praise God that structured language tutoring is going good again.
3. Praise God that we are now in a structured mentoring program.
4. Praise God that we were able to enroll Ezra in a very good school during the afternoons.
5. Praise God that a mission team from CA still feels led to come and help us out this August.
6. Pray for simple churches to emerge here in BA among Baptists….we have just a few so far.
7. Please pray for our interaction with the students at the Univ of Belgrano & the Univ of Buenos Aires.
8. Please pray that we would be able to find a simple church network to be apart of. It has been difficult for us to initiate.
January 2009
1. Praise God that 2 mission teams will be coming in a couple months.
2. Praise God that we are progressing through our Kaleidoscope assignments.
3. Praise God that we are adjusting well to Noah.
4. Praise God that my parents made it safe and sound back to Malaysia.
5. Lift up continued language progress. We have hit a wall that we either need to climb over of break through.
6. Lift up the Christian university students we are meeting. Pray that they will step up and want to initiate a prayer group on their campus.
7. That we would creatively share our faith with everyone we meet…not just university students.
December 2008
1. Praise God that Noah arrived at 3:25 AM on Dec. 5. Paula had a smooth delivery and both of them are healthy.
2. Praise God for Ezra and how good he is adjusting to life with a little brother.
3. Praise God that Paula has her energy level back and that she is able to stay at home this time and nurse Noah. With Ezra she had to clock in at work everyday at 8 AM.
4. That God would reveal to us 10 lost Argentine friends he wants us to connect within the next month.
5. That we would be able to start a prayer cell at the University of Belgrano within the next 6 months.
6. That God would reveal to us unreached student groups.
7. That God would give us divine appointments and that he would open up doors for spiritual discussion and power encounters.
8. That we would be able to start 5 evangelistic Bible studies with university students within the next 6 months.
November 2008
1. Paula and Noah. Noah will arrive any day now. Specifically for Paula’s health and her patience with Ezra.
2. Wisdom to consistently discipline Ezra when he disobeys.
3. For David’s energy level because right now he is pretty much doing everything (ie: cleaning apartment; shopping; taking Ezra out; along with hid ministry obligations).
October 2008
1. That we would be able to get all the repairs done to our apartment before Noah arrives.
2. For our continued language / cultural learning. We begin meeting with Ana our tutor tomorrow.
3. Be able to begin visiting and networking with local Baptist churches in the area who have an interest in reaching university students.
4. That we would make friends with our neighbors in our new apartment complex and the stores in our barrio.
5. Continued health of Paula and Noah during the final weeks of pregnancy.
6. For the adjustment that Ezra will have to make when Noah arrives
August 2008
1. We made it safely to Buenos Aires. For those of you who prayed….thankyou!
2. Looks like our financial situation with TACA airlines might slowly be working out. They have reimbursed us most of the money but still need to reimburse us for all the international fees. Please pray that they will do so ASAP.
3. David was able to prayer walk at the faculties of architecture and natural sciences with Jason, another church planter in the city.
4. Pray that God would bless us with Argentine friends who do not know Christ.
5. Pray that God would lead us to university students among some of the local churches who will introduce us to some of their non-believing friends.
6. Pray that we will be able to figure out the public transportation and streets in this huge city.
7. Pray that David will be able to make some friends at the Spanish class he is taking at the university.
8. Pray that Paula will be able to make some friends at the local stores around the mission apartment.
9. Pray that Paula will be able to find a good doctor that she will be comfortable with and for her and our son’s general health.
10. Pray that we can be an encouragement to our team here in Buenos Aires.
July 2008
1. Praise God that we made it through our first year as Apprentice Missionaries. Please pray that we will continue to be grateful for all the resources provided to us by our organization. Paula and I are truly thankful for the one year we had to focus completely on learning Spanish.
2. That God would protect our family this Friday as we journey to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pray for our safety but also for chances to share our faith with fellow passengers.
3. Our financial situation with TACA airlines. They still have not reimbursed us the money that they owe us.
4. For our physical health. Specifically, for Paula and our son inside of her. Please also pray for Ezra who has a slight cough that he needs to get rid of before we leave this Friday.
5. That God would lead us to “people of peace” during the first several weeks of our stay in Buenos Aires.
June 2008
Our friend John Pham got home from school today and had a voicemail from his sister. She explained that the pulmonologist came to see their dad to check out his lungs, but said everyone needs to come to say goodbye because his heart is failing. He also has a blood infection and urinary tract infection, that has caused infections to spread all over his body. Fluid swelling his body would indicate that his kidneys are failing. Addison’s disease is causing his whole body to shut down. Please pray for John and his family during this very difficult time.
June 1-14
- Direction in our priorities. We need to finish this trimester linguistically strong but more importantly more passionate about our relationship with Christ than when we started. Please pray that we will continue to balance family and our studies.
- That we would ALWAYS conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Lost people all around us watch us everyday. Please pray that God will use our inadequacies to glorify Himself.
- Our marriage ALWAYS needs prayer b/c this is the first place the enemy attacks. We have not gone out on a date in forever. Please pray that we will be able to prioritize our marriage despite our busy schedule and time with Ezra.
- For the continued health of Paula, Ezra and our baby on the way. Paula and I have been under the weather. Right now David has a sore throat and just does not seem to want to go away. Please pray that Ezra’s doctors appointment goes well tomorrow (June 10).
- That language learning would continue successfully and that Ezra would continue to enjoy learning Spanish. We really want to have a positive attitude about learning Spanish but it is hard on a day to day basis. Please pray that our attitudes would be one of thankfulness even during difficult times.
- Boldness to Share Christ everywhere. Please pray that we would not be timid or too perfectionist as we try to share our testimony and the plan of salvation with local people we know on the street.
- To passionately pursue Him everyday and to be continually growing in intimacy with our Lord and Savior.
may 26-31
- we need SERIOUS lifting up for safety. there have been a number of robberies in our area, all the people involved go to the language school we attend. and all have occurred in two of the parks we live by & spend time at. and also, the scary part, all have been held at gun point during morning & afternoon, not like at odd hours.
- PRAISE, my friend Lovella is making progress, thanking for lifting her up!
- that ezra will not get the sick bug that is floating around his class room.
may 12th
an emergency prayer request. a friend of the family is in a coma, her name is Lovella. i don’t know the details, but will post them as soon as i do. thank you prayer warriors!
may 11 – 17
1. As our newsletter stated we began our 3rd and final trimester here at the language school. Paula and I are in the same grammar and conversation class so we will be able to help each other. Both of us also have tutors in the afternoons to help us progress at a more efficient pace. Hopefully our OPI results will be better at the end of this trimester. Please pray that we will be able to spend more time in conversation this next week with our language partners.
2. Paula is having a difficult time getting up in the mornings because her energy level is quite low. For those of you who have been praying on her behalf, thank you! Please continue to pray for the health of our baby who is developing inside of Paula. We had a sonogram a couple days ago and everything is progressing normally. She went back to the doctor again today (May 13) and could hear a strong heart beat. Praise God!
3. David and Christian have been talking everyday via the telephone trying to figure out a time where they can meet together during the week on a regular basis. Please pray that God would open up Christian’s heart to the gospel.
4. Please pray that we will continue to develop more partnerships with local churches back home in the States. We have all the financial support we need but are hoping to develop closer partnerships with at least 10 more churches who will spiritually support our work with university students. We praise God that one church in Texas has already communicated interest in partnering with us. If any of you guys have any connections or words of wisdom please let us know.
5. We finally had Ezra’s hair cut. I know many of you thought we were never going to cut his hair. He is soooo handsome! This Saturday we will be having his birthday party. It’s hard to believe that he will be two years old. Please pray for Ezra. He loves the devotion we have with him before he goes to bed. He especially likes it when we tell him about Jesus walking on water and healing the blind man’s eyes. Please pray that seeds of the gospel will even now be planted in his heart.
may 4 – 10
1. Paula and I did finish our 2nd trimester strong. Although we did not do as well on our “Oral Proficiency Exams” as we would have hoped we are confident that we are slowly making progress in the study of Spanish. If we truly learn Spanish it will totally be a miracle of God. We need your prayers!
2. Our time with Peggy was awesome! She was such an encouragement for us and I hope that we were to her as well. We explored some of Costa Rica together using the public bus system. During the process God really showed us His power through His creation.
3. Paula does not have morning sickness anymore. Praise God! We just found out that our friends (Trent & Kay Jones) down in Bolivia will be having their baby around the same time in December. We are so excited for them.
4. Christian and Dave have not met over the break from school because Christian has been extremely busy. Please pray that our time together would pick up soon and that we can share our faith with Christian and his friends on the deeper level.
5. Thank you for your prayers for my mom. She is feeling better and is staying busy with her ministry among the ladies.
6. Please pray that we will continue to develop more partnerships with local churches back home in the States. We have all the financial support we need but are hoping to develop closer partnerships with at least 10 more churches who will spiritually support our work with university students.
april 19 – 26
- We would finish strong this last week of school. Today (Apr. 24) was the last official day of our 2nd trimester. We have a one week break. Paula’s friend Peggy arrived today from the States and will be spending 5 days here in Costa Rica.
- Paula would feel better with the pregnancy. She does not have very much energy and has experienced some nausea all throughout the day. Nevertheless Paula remains positive and upbeat.
- Opportunity for Dave to go the University of Costa Rica with Christian and meet some of his friends. Met with Christian today for some conversation practice. He has been a great help for me (Dave) over the last few weeks in being able to practice Spanish. Please pray that Dave will be able to start a Bible study with Christian and his friends within the next couple weeks.
- Please pray for Estelle (Dave’s mom) who was just admitted in the hospital for severe food poisoning. She lives in Malaysia. As of today (April 22) she is still in the hospital but is doing much better. My dad said that he does not know when she will be going back home. Praise God that as of today (Apr. 24) my mom is safe and sound by home recuperating.
another baby on the way…
pray for Danna & the baby this thursday night. she’ll be having a C-section, she’s not too thrilled about that, but that it all goes well. we’re so excited that we get to be here with them IN COSTA RICA!
migraine
i (paula) came down with it this past weekend, my first ever! i skipped school today, there was now way i was going to make it without medicine. so i got a shot today and it kicked in in about 15min. very nice! they said it would last 24 hours, but i’m feeling some pain coming back. lift me up! gracias
got the help…
i was switched to a better paced class today and it is BETTER! mucho mejor!
spanish, help!!!
i am getting whooped in my grammar class!!!!! lift up time and words (in spanish) to talk with my teacher tomorrow and hopefully switch to a new class.
PS
From our newsletter:
1.Maintain our daily devotion time together and separately.
2.That we would be more creative learning Spanish.
3.For more opportunities to share the uniqueness of Christ with local university students and their families right here in San Jose, Costa Rica. Specifically pray for divine appointments as God leads us to individuals who He is drawing to Himself.
4.For the opportunity to be apart of a small cell group where we can get to know other believers on the deeper level or perhaps even starting one on our own. We need wisdom!
5.Continue to pray for our families who are expecting children.
a new year:
WE NEED YOU to lift up the next trimester of spanish! we hear the second tri is harder than the first. which will be good for us, to keep us more accountable to study harder. MOTIVATION & CONSISTENCY!
a journal:
Hebrews 4:16
let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
lift up:
dave’s health.
we have an oral review tomorrow (OPI), we can stay focused and speak!
end our first trimester strong. we’re feeling unmotivated lately.
nov.
some updates
- praise God…none of us got the dreaded virus!
- Liane & Walter had their baby boy!!! Joshua Bennett Risto. if you want to see pics, click on the Risto’s to the right.
- Etel’s mom is at home recouping from surgery, she’s doing a little better, but still needs your prayers.
Oct.
- Family & Friends health, specifically:
- Paula’s uncle John, he’s awaiting a Kidney transplant
- our little family not get the virus that’s going around school
- Paula’s Mom has Lupus, continue to pray for her health, since recently she had to increase her medicine (Prednizone).
- Dear friend Emily’s health to get better.
- Our Empleada’s Mom is in the hospital recovering from hip surgery, and battling mental illness.
- Dear friend Liane’s pregnancy, she’s about to give birth to their second son!
- Maintain our daily devotion time together and separately, it’s going real well! Our marriage is strengthening because of it.
- Stay motivated to study Spanish when we’re tired and on the weekends when we want to take a break, which is needed, but not too long of a break.
- A lot of students at school are sick right now, we’re calling it the severe headache & vomit bug. It’s our cold season right now, so a lot of families are at home sick.
- For opportunities to share the uniqueness of Christ with local university students and their families. Specifically pray for divine appointments as God leads us to individuals who he is drawing to Himself.
- For the opportunity to be apart of a small cell group where we can get to know other believers on the deeper level or perhaps even starting one on our own. We need wisdom!
- Danna & Beth’s (sisters-in-laws) pregnancy. They are both due in February and are doing well.
- David’s health. Please pray that he will integrate physical exercise into his daily routine.
————————————————————-
Sept.
Our marriage relationship, that we will have more patience with one another adjusting cross-culturally. That we will have a consistent date night once a week.
- thank you for lifting us up, here’s the update: we’ve been going out on dates every other week. we swap weekends with another couple, it’s been working wonderfully! we’ve been out a few time and it’s been wonderful! thank you to the Pham’s for watching Ezie!
Ezra’s cross-cultural adjustment. Specifically pray that he will sleep better during the day. Although he sleeps well at night, his day time naps have been very irregular.
- during the day ezra was having a hard time napping, napping about 30min to an hour, before school started. but now…his second nap at home as been 3 to 4 hours!!! praise God! his usual day, he’ll sleep for about an hour at daycare and then takes another nap, at home. he’s also transitioning to one nap a day, but is more difficult when he’s at daycare in the mornings and he doesn’t take a second nap, so he plays or talks in his crib, but lately, he’s been sleeping real well, on the days he’s tired enough! another cool thing we did to help Ezra sleep longer, on the weekends, mainly because we wanted sleep in, we took the advice from our friends and it’s worked…we’ve slept in on Saturday morning until 9:30!!!! parents out there, email me and i’ll tell you what we did, it worked for us!
A smooth transition to language school life / getting settled / balancing family & school. That we will be able to prioritize our time with God and family in the midst of a very hectic, academic schedule.
- this one has been answered! our transition has been very smooth & we are now completely settled into our new home, thanks to the many hands that have helped us get here! we’ve been able to prioritize time with God, individually & together as a couple, continue to pray we’ll maintain this much needed habit.
The ability to learn the Spanish language. Specifically, that we will be able to build upon the foundation that was laid during our initial time of language training.
- amazing how we’ve been able to transition into full time learning. the “barefoot” training was a heaven sent. we both were not nearly as lost as some of the students were when school started. the IMB does know how to take care of us, with the details.
The relationships / friendships we will be developing with local Costa Rican families who do not have a relationship with Christ. For divine appointments as God leads us to individuals who he is drawing to himself.
- we’ve met:
- our security guard (Javier), Dave has been talking with him more everyday.
- Paula has made a friend where she gets her hair cut, Lorna (she’s a believer), but that God would bring them closer to see where God is moving in the community. She would be a great resource for Paula!
Getting connected to a local Baptist church / university students & for the opportunity to be apart of a small cell group where we can get to know other believers on the deeper level.
- we’ve been attending a church more regularly the past month. we found a church close by where we live, we can walk there and have enjoyed it. it’s not connected to university students.
1 Comment(s)
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
Our church has Life Teams that meet in homes. Our director sent your sister’s prayer request to all the Life Teams so I think you will get a lot of prayer from Texas. I have a praying family and will ask them to pray too.
I would have a very difficult time learning Spanish so you have my admiration for trying. I will keep you in my prayers. I will also ask my 3rd grade Sunday School class to pray for you.
Janet Brown