Postcard
God's Infinite Work Past, Present and Future (hows that for "bite size"?):
The Abegg family was not disappointed to say "farewell" to 2014, however, as I look over journals and previous blog posts, I realize that we've been walking through significant trials since 2012 (See: 2012 Love Letters and following posts). Yet hindsight makes gloriously evident God's goodness and His James 1 faithfulness to bless us through, not despite our trials. Reflecting on the past two decades I realize how the Lord has used trials to position us where He wants, for His glory. The story of Joseph gives us fantastic Biblical insight as God positions him through terrible difficulties but in the process saves Israel and brings the promised eternal salvation through the nearly extinct line of Abraham. The story exemplifies how apparently unredeemable trials from a human perspective are, in reality, God's providential hand accomplishing His redemptive purposes.
Our update:
I first visited Rahab Foundation in San Jose, Costa Rica over five years ago. Rahab is a fantastic organization doing amazing work to save and equip women caught in cycles of prostitution and sex slavery. Since that time, Claudia has been praying about opening a rehabilitation center in North Miami where women can be healed (spiritually, mentally and physically) and gain marketable skills such as culinary arts (obvious with Claudia!), gardening, sewing, computer/office, micro-enterprise etc. Since our return to Miami in December we've begun our assignment with SOL Network in the battle against Human trafficking, the development of a faith coalition, growing contacts and waiting for God's timing in the coming years for such a center, but God has his own schedule! In the midst of meetings and introductions we visited a property owned by the dpt. of Juvenile Justice. This property (Pictured at top), closed since 2012 is at the point of being given as a no cost, long-term lease to the SOL Network for the expressed purpose of providing care and rehabilitation to women and their children as a first stage in their exit from sex-trafficking! It has an amazing building with 17 residence rooms, two communal areas (one with space for 200 people), an industrial kitchen, classrooms, offices for counseling appointments and administration, a basketball court and lots of space for a small farm! Unbelievably it's 10 minutes from our home and not 20 minutes from the specific area Claudia was praying about. I can't tell you how excited we are about the possibilities, nor amazed at God's lead even to pray for such a thing years earlier. PLEASE PRAY that everything moves ahead and the paperwork is in hand within the week.
Tying it All Together:
With my dad's cancer and passing, as well as mom's transition to a facility that can meet her current needs, we chose to step away from our work for over a year... just as LAM merged into United World Mission. From the world's perspective, the timing and choices we had to make could have been both career ending and financially devastating. However, in God's providence, our return to full time ministry was neither a week early nor late, and accomplished our conviction of "honoring your mother and father" during their, and the family's time of greatest need. SOL network was not previously ready for us to join. The property was not on the radar yet. As a family we needed God's preparation. God worked in our lives and everyone else's before bringing us all together for His work in His timing. We simply stand amazed!
Action Point: Now we call on you, our faithful prayer partners, friends and supporters to join us in prayer as we move ahead:
-Pray that all final details for the property come through and the paperwork is in hand in the next few weeks. The goal is to have this facility functioning by MAY! Philanthropic investors have already committed to raising the finds needed to remodel the center (having been vacant since 2012). Pray for the support we need as UWM missionaries to help move this project forward (see prayer point below).
-Pray for wisdom as Kevin begins to connect with other ministries, NGO's etc in developing a South Florida Faith Based Coalition against Trafficking. It is hoped that this will eventually become the governing body for the rescue center.
-Pray (and consider becoming an answer to prayer) for the Abegg's support to make this ministry feasible. We are realistically about half way to our monthly goal and will send out another update shortly, but please pray and consider becoming a regular supporter in order to directly impact the horror of Human Trafficking. If you're already on our amazing support team, PLEASE consider sharing this vision with others who want to impact and in faith END HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Online Donations may be made via: http://www.uwm.org/give . Go to designation "Missionary," then look for "Abegg" in the drop-down menu.
Or Mailed to: 205 Regency Executive Park Drive, Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217. Please include a note: "For the Abegg's".
Crash Course in Human Trafficking: Focus on the Family has a great educational piece on trafficking that we highly recommend: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/human-trafficking-what-you-need-to-know-pt1
