Thank You! Praises, Pix & Partnership.

THANK YOU for YOUR PART in MINISTRY throughout 2019 As we wrap up 2019 and prepare for a new decade, the Abegg family, and those we work alongside throughout Central America and the Caribbean, want to thank you so much for your support, prayers, care and encouragement. As a family, we're deeply grateful for the ways you've walked with us through challenges on the mission field, care of hurting missionaries, guidance of national partners, challenging travel situations, as well as the very health and wellbeing of our immediate family. 1-Top: Students at Amor, Fe y Esperanza, which provides education to children living in Honduras' garbage villages. 2-Left: Praying for UWM Missionary Eugenio Orellana who trains Christian writers throughout Latin America.  3-Right: Worship service at Hospital Loma de Luz in Honduras.  We're looking forward to what's on the horizon for 2020 as we deepen relationships with partners planting churches and working to meet the overwhelming need of training under equipped pastors throughout the region, even taking theological education to the most rural areas when pastors cannot leave their posts. We're seeing physical needs met and the gospel transforming lives in clinics as well as massive hospitals with the Good News of Christ as the foundational rationale and core message. We're excited for Latin ministries utilizing high-tech tools to reach and educate locals as well as others around the world. There are increasing opportunities to train organizations in anti-human trafficking, and both old as well as new partnerships with Latin missionary sending agencies to go where North American passports or cultural differences make entry difficult for us "gringos". 1-TopL: Lunch in Atitlan, Guatemala. 2-TopR: Lunch for AF&E school serving Garbage Village Students, Honduras. 3-BotL: Lunch in Solola, Guatemala. 4-BotR: Pre-Lunch in Belfate, Honduras. You, our supporters are a vital part of all we do. We are so grateful that you have chosen to partner with us over this past year, and we can't wait to share what our Lord will do with your gifts, prayers and partnership in the future. Thank you for an amazing year and we look forward to what will come in 2020!  1-TopL: Hi Tech language training at the Christian Spanish Academy, Guatemala. 2-TopR: Low Tech Transportation, Honduras. 3-BotL: The Smith family, missionaries to the Dominican Republic. 4-BotR: Kevin & UWM Partnership Coordinator Luis Diego Herrera in Costa Rica. Join Our Team   Prayer Team  If you're reading this, you're in! ...but feel free to send us a note of encouragement or connect with us on What'sApp for urgent instant updates and requests. Give Online UWM-Missionary Support Page   Give via US Mail  Mail check with accompanying note stating: "For the Abegg Family" to: 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217 Give Via Phone Dial 800-825-5896 and talk to a very helpful person! In His Hands / En Sus manos; Kevin, Claudia, Jeremy & Nico Abegg UWM/LAM Regional Leader Central America & Caribbean

To those who have been called, who are LOVED by God the Father and KEPT by Jesus Christ; MERCY, PEACE & LOVE  be yours in abundance.       -Jude 1:1 Whatever you do... "...And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col. 3:17 This verse (and the whole chapter) has been on my heart the past few months. It follows Paul's instruction to "put to death" the things of this world and its temptations, choosing to "set our minds on the things that are above". Does this mean we're to be "so heavenly minded we're of no earthly good"? Heavens No! Our Lord is Lord over all, and He has literally given us all things to rule and have dominion over in a way that represents His character and Kingdom. We've been given all things, first to give glory to our Lord and then to enjoy as we honor Him in all we do. There's no room for compartmentalizing as "spiritual or secular", "mine or His". It's all His & we're called to represent Him in all we do...because we were made in His image to do so.  So this Christmas I'm rejoicing in a grater awareness of God's continual working within and then through me. What a privilege and what a relief to know I don't have to "fake it until I make it", but rather I've been made in His image, redeemed by His blood, filled with His Spirit and now released to live as what I am, a Child of God who can count that baby in the manger and the man on the cross as my brother!   I pray that this season will be a time of broadening your "in the name of the Lord" and seeing His Spirit minister to you and then flow through you at every moment, in every situation, no matter how seemingly insignificant. It's all significant if done in His name.  Merry Christmas from the Abeggs! Catching Up.. Part of our "...whatever I do..." includes care for missionaries in Central America and the Caribbean. This year we've had the privilege of visiting and working with teams in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic (twice) and Costa Rica, while weekly connecting with other missionaries and partner ministries in Honduras, Cuba and around the world. Many have been praying for our Dominican Republic team, especially during our two visits, and specifically lifting up Gil Leon who had to leave the field due to a cerebral parasite causing a significant health risk this past year. We're thrilled to report that he's not only doing better but has been able to return to the field with his wife Danna. They'll be transitioning to Guatemala, to assist in a church plant, discipleship of Guatemalan pastors and providing support at "Agua Viva", a former orphanage transitioned to a school. In the Leon's words: "...as of 2019 all children's homes and orphanages of Guatemala were ordered to shut down and send at risk children back to their homes!  Any true orphaned children were frantically put into foster care in a country that does not have a system yet to assist in this.  The Guatemalans who run this campus also created it into a school a while back.... They have a campus Pastor, Pastor Dave.  He is a Guatemalan with limited theological training, but he expressed to us specifically, that he desires to only teach God's truth and he asked us for this training.  He also shared his heart  that in this extreme poverished community where Agua Viva is located, he wants to plant a church, give discipleship training to these teachers, train the teachers on how to integrate the Gospel into their daily teaching, reach the parents of these children with the Gospel, and help other rural Pastors in order to do the same in their villages." Thank you for prayerfully walking everyone through this time, and please keep praying for the Leons in this transition as well as the Mackey and Smith family who remain working with churches in the Dominican Republic. Meal with the D.R. team. From bottom left clockwise: Kevin, Gabriella & Anthony Smith, Danna & Gil Leon, Rick Mackey, Claudia, Justin & Jeimmy Smith and Becky Mackey.  Partnership & New Opportunities  Previously we shared how attempting to meet regularly with 60+ missionary units in the region didn't leave time for development or a focus on new programs. Over the past year we've been working with a number of families to assist in a similar way to how Jethro instructed Moses in Ex. 18. They will be leading "Cluster Groups" of up to 7 families thus helping Claudia and I carry this ministerial load and providing more consistent connections with our missionaries. Please pray for the Beefus, Rice, Pittman and Gault families as they serve in this unique way. Pray for wisdom as we all seek to Love God and our neighbor by serving those who serve on the mission field.  For two years Claudia has been praying for a hypoallergenic dog for the family, specifically a "Sheepadoodle" (sheep-dog and poodle mix). But at $2,500 we didn't see how it could ever happen. But God... One of our close friends introduced us to her mom's best friend who just happens to breed sheepadoodles, and had an unprecedented bumper crop of 26 puppies! She became an answer to prayer and gifted us "Sherlock". What a blessing! A Brief Appeal... Being brutally honest, we need your prayers in order to meet the ministry needs in the Central American and Caribbean countries where we're working, but also to keep you, our valued supporters informed. The past 6 months have been a blur of work and activity with meetings, travel, responding to emergencies, counseling and encouraging those under our direction. I've found it hard to carve out time to keep you updated. I could choose to be a work-a-holic, but that doesn't honor my Lord who has called me to balance each of these tasks as part of a whole. He's also called me to disciple and care for my family as my primary charge.  Part of my "whatever you do in word or deed..." is discerning how each part of my life can and should point to Him, and that's a balance I'm still learning. Sharing the good news of what's happening around us because of God's provision through each of you is an important aspect of our missions call, and it takes time and energy. As I write this I'm a few steps from full exhaustion, but thankfully taking four days of vacation with the family starting tomorrow to hopefully come back recharged.   Please pray that we would experience deep rest, rich family fellowship and vision for the coming months.  Please also pray for a wise, Spirit lead balance in this high energy, hard pressing ministry, taking time to breathe and share the victories and the needs with you, our belovid partners.  Thank you for your partnership, we couldn't do this without  your prayers and your financial support!   Support Update Consider Joining Our Team We've almost made it through the year! Thanks to each of you for support of our work and your commitment to help us disciple the many in need of His care in the countries of Central America and the Caribbean. We are still seeking to close a shortfall in our financial support and have appreciated the way many increased their giving last year to help. We're currently looking for new supporters to come in and share some of the burden with you.  Please pray with us for Gods guidance in the new year as we reach out. We have seen His provision for so long, and believe He has plans for the coming years that include both the needs of our family with two teens preparing for college as well as the expansion of care, discipleship and pastoral training throughout the region. Thank you to those who have and continue to partner with us both in prayer and finances. We are so grateful and continue to intercede for you in all you do. Please send us a note and let us know how to better lift you up in prayer! Join Our Team Prayer Team  Send us a note and let us know you're an intercessor and want our intercessors updates! Give Online UWM-Missionary Support Page   Give via US Mail  Mail check with accompanying note stating: "For the Abegg Family" to: 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217   Give Via Phone Dial 800-825-5896 and talk to a very helpful person!   Copyright © 2019 United World Mission, All rights reserved.

Hurricane Dorian Update & More

To those who have been called, who are LOVED by God the Father and KEPT by Jesus Christ; MERCY, PEACE & LOVE  be yours in abundance.       -Jude 1:1 What's Behind... Hurricane Dorian! Thank you to all who have been praying for us, for local ministries and South Florida in general. We were spared from one of the strongest hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic. The category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 mph paused and then made a northern turn only 100 miles off the Florida coast and continues to skirt the Eastern seaboard even now. Unfortunately the Northern islands of the Bahamas took the full force of this monster. Please be praying for those who live in the Bahamas and for God's people to be able to respond and care for the hurting.  After the Bahamas, Dorian edges its way up the Atlantic Seaboard. Start of School Year and Travel Planning for 2020 As the boys get older, coordinating school schedules and ministry travel has become more complicated (and costly). Though homeschooled, "The Abegg Academy" is blessed to be part of a fantastic homeschooling co-op run by a local church one hour North of us. That trek wasn't so bad once a week last year, but as Jeremy and Nico branch out in their studies, it has grown to 3 trips a week. They are doing fantastic, and I have to confess I'm madly in love with their primary teacher who manages this all so well. We're currently stretching the budget so they can also take part in speech clubs and other mentorship programs such as ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering). They're advancing in Civil Air Patrol and assisting in many ways at Palm Vista, our local church, so they keep very busy. Nico & Jeremy advancing in rank with Civil Air Patrol. Then there's ministry travel. The trips we know about at this point will include the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Costa Rica. We have invitations to conferences in Colombia and various US cities. During Claudia and my initial planning we removed a few trips for family health, only to realize we haven't factored in a vacation time or visits to our families in CA and Chile as of yet... so back to the drawing board! Please pray for us as we think through the management of work, school and general family schedules. Pray that we would fully engage wherever we are, wether that be ministry, work, school studies or even play and rest. "...and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col. 3:17)   What's Ahead...   Mobilization and Coordination We have a number of missionaries preparing to deploy to Costa Rica as well as others considering joining us in Miami as part of an anti-human trafficking internship. Please pray for a smooth entry into a new ministry for those going international and wisdom and discernment as Claudia and I work with the internship potentials.    Retreat Planning It's been over a year since we stepped in as Leaders and coordinated UWM's regional retreat. This Friday we'll be kicking off the planning for next summer's retreat as we meet with the planning committee consisting of missionaries from around our region. Please pray for the planning of this event. For my leadership of the group and ultimately for our ability to guide and minister to those under our care. Regional Retreat from 2018. Now we start the planning for 2020! Support Update Consider Joining Our Team "Make disciples of all nations..." (Mat. 28). Our supporters are as much part of our team as those we work with throughout Central America & the Caribbean, each fulfilling their part of the great commission according to their gifts (Romans 12).  We are so thankful for you our supporters! Last year many of our long time supporters chose to increase and we had a number of new supporters join the team. This fall we will be looking to engage new supporters to join in and carry some of the burden as we dig deeper into the region, train and put into place more leaders and manage the needs of our family with two teens' increasing educational and practical needs.    Please pray with us for Gods guidance as we consider what regions, groups, churches and people He would have us reach out to in the coming months. We have seen His provision for so long, and believe He has plans for the coming years including college for the boys, ministry travel and training as well as a way to cover the expenses that go with all of these.    Thank you to those who have and continue to partner with us both in prayer and finances. We are so grateful and continue to intercede for you in all you do. Please send us a note and let us know how to better lift you up in prayer! Join Our Team Prayer Team  Send us a note and let us know you're an intercessor and want our intercessors updates! Give Online UWM-Missionary Support Page   Give via US Mail  Mail check with accompanying note stating: "For the Abegg Family" to: 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217   Give Via Phone Dial 800-825-5896 and talk to a very helpful person!   Copyright © 2019 United World Mission, All rights reserved.