Argentina - March 7, 2025
Day…I don’t know, I am so tired I can’t think straight. Haha!
Our team of 12 is worn out but thankful! We managed to get most of the details taken care of yesterday to host the women’s conference on Saturday. I will attach some pictures so you can see how beautiful it looks. Cathi’s vision and the vision of the decorating team was illuminated last night!
Kyle and Cathi hosted a couples seminar last night while we worked on the final details for the conference. The seminar was very well attended. In fact there was a couple there that showed back up at church for the first time since losing their son. Their attendance, at this time was no accident. The mom asked Adriane “our host” if she could spend some time with me on Saturday. I have not met her personally yet, but would you please be in prayer over her and her family and that God would go before me and speak hope to her heart through me when I meet with her? This is a divine appointment. If I am here just for “the one”, I am thankful, I said “yes”.
The men have been hard at work gathering all of the food and have started food prepping and cooking today so they will be prepared to serve almost 400 women tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers. They will be preparing and serving both lunch and dinner tomorrow. Everything is cooked in an outdoor kitchen and friends…it is HOT here this week. We are thankful God has held off the rain though!! The men will also be hosting a bible study for the men in the community tonight.
At the Wednesday night service, my sweet hubs, Blake stepped way outside of his comfort zone and spoke a message God laid on his heart. I think we were all in shock but it was beautiful to hear and as his wife, I was so in awe of God’s grace on our life as I watched him step out like that. His message (primarily to the men in the room) was powerful and he did such a great job. Nothing I have done in my life merits the favor and grace God showed me when he first gave me Ron and then blessed my life again with Blake, but I just goes to show you what a redemptive, loving God we serve.
Our interpreters and hosts here are natives of Argentina, but they live in Uganda and have their own ministry there. Their mother is the one that lost her husband tragically recently. She is the First Lady of the church where we are serving…Only God! We have been so blessed to have an opportunity, we did not anticipate, to connect with others in the mission field and share some of the challenges each of us are facing in ministry. Not to mention we have made some life long friends. Jamie and I will actually get the chance to spend more time with Adriane and Ruth in Uganda because they are scheduled to return shortly after we arrive there.
A few praises! We are thanking God for going before us and as much as the devil has tried to stop us, nothing can stop the plans the Lord has for this city, this church, its people and our team. Your prayers have made sure of that! One of our team members boldly and bravely brought to the light, in front of approx 200 people, some trauma she has been struggling with since she was a young girl. We had a front row seat to God breaking those chains over her life. We know that when those things in darkness are brought to the light, the devil can no longer use them to torture us with lies that we are not good enough or worthy enough for God to use us or other lies that paralyze us from stepping into our full potential in Christ. Pray she continues to see her value through the eyes of Christ.
Where we have encountered heavy spiritual warfare we have been witness to God’s power and provision in brighter more vivid colors! We have laughed together, cried together, prayed together and broken many loaves of bread together. There is no doubt God handpicked this team for this week and this conference. You can see it in the way they serve each other and those they encounter.
Super praise!!!! Our team mate that was diagnosed with cancer right before we left and underwent major surgery to include ICU and a ventilator is out of ICU and left the hospital!! In addition, another family member of the team had surgery on Monday for cancer and is doing awesome!
A few specific prayer needs: Brother Larry Petton is back in the hospital, pray for healing from hives, upset stomachs, and migraines. Pray for rest and refresh for the team, clear minds and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Pray for Jamie, Pat, Mauri and me that we would get some quiet time to be with the Lord and that he would prepare our hearts to hear what he wants to speak through each of us as we teach and share testimony of what God has done. Pray for Cathi as she prepares, leads the team, and coordinates all of the last minute details. This conference will begin at 9 am tomorrow and run all day until dinner at 8 pm.
Continue to pray for Lettie, the Pastor’s wife, and her family as they grieve the loss of their husband and father while they are still serving others, including us. Also pray for their safe return home to Uganda in the coming weeks. They have been such gracious hosts! Pray for their church and what God has for them moving forward.
The people here are tired. The team is tired and those we are encountering in ministry are tired. You may be too, but don’t give up. I encourage you to be sensitive to when God is telling you to step out of the busyness and rest. For some of you, God may be tugging on your heart and pulling you away from, or into a ministry or calling on your life you never imagined. I believe for each of you, God is expanding your territory, but sometimes, to receive all God has for us we have to open our hands and let go of what we think God has for us. I truly believe that “Faith is formed in the gap of hopelessness” friends, but if we stay so busy filling the gap with busyness, especially in ministry, we won’t have room for the Kingdom things God may be calling us to.
I am reminding myself, as I remind you, to set your eyes on things above. Expect miracles and walk in the fullness God has for you. He will fulfill his perfect plan with or without your surrender, but I believe he prefers to do it with you and through you.
Again, thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.
Much love,
Chrissy
