Abegg Love Letters - Dominican Republic & Team Updates!

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 Ahead... Team To Cañas The Abegg family is headed back to Costa Rica! This time it's only for a couple of weeks instead of 3 months like last year, and we'll be taking twelve team-mates as a Short Term Team to assist the Gortmaker family in Cañas near the Pacific Coast. We'll be doing physical labor at "Campamento Rio Naranjo", a VERY RUSTIC camp that originally belonged to Latin America Mission and was given to the AIBC denomination (an LAM partner ministry). The Gortmakers are working hard to get the camp to...let's say less rustic standards, but even amidst the cleaning and updating process they are running a pastoral training program to assist the many undereducated pastors in the region. During two consecutive weekends, we'll be working with a local AIBC Chruch. Pastor Johnny of Iglesia Sion recently lost his wife to cancer, a grave loss to the family and to the whole church. One of his wife Ania's ministries was leading the children's program, leaving the church without a strong direction or leadership in this area. We'll be running a Vacation Bible School but at the same time providing training for some of the Church members to carry on the program into the future.  Every team-mate is required to raise "Prayer Support". Think of this as military "air support" to the troops on the ground. Would you join us and "cover us in prayer"? Via these links you can read Jeremy's and Nico'sown prayer support letters, so please join in and cover us during this time, keeping our team's work, travel and witness, as well as the Gortmakers, Pastor Johnny and the members of Iglesia Sion in your prayers. We will also be meeting with other missionaries and ministries trying to make the most of our short visit. We look forward to sharing with you upon our return. Regional Leaders Meetings Following our time with the team in Costa Rica, Claudia and I will proceed directly (no passing go and no $200) to Charlotte, NC, arriving one day late for UWM's leadership meetings. All of the Regional Leaders, Partnership Coordinators, and many of the Missions Mobilizers as well as Member Care personnel will come together to share, learn and strategize for the coming year. If last year's meetings are any indicator, this will be an intense but immensely profitable time. Please pray for this time. For the Lord's guidance and the leadership team's discernment, and that everything that we wrestle with in these meetings will ultimately translate to extending the Kingdom and more people coming to know Christ or being better equipped for ministry.  A Time for Rest After the conference & almost 4 weeks away, we get to return home. We've blocked out the following week for rest and recuperation, though Jeremy will be charging off to Northern Florida as staff for Cival Air Patrol's Summer Encampment while Nico, Claudia and I actually rest.  Thank you for your prayers and encouragement for our family! Top: Jeremy & Nico in their Civil Air Patrol Uniforms. Middle: Jeremy in "Battle Dress Uniform" during last years encampment. Bottom: UWM's Leaders Conference 2018 What's Behind... The Dominican Republic During Claudia and my 6 day trip we spent a lot of time reviewing years of ministry in the region, the victories and challenges the Macky family (UWM missionaries) have faced along the way, and the significant "next steps" in the coming year as their team grows. We visited churches and ministry sights around Jarabacoa, some doing well while others wrestling with everything from no power (the electrical line from the street was stolen from the "El Montaña"... (For more on this trip, please visit our BLOG)...   Human Trafficking in Central and South America Like so much of Central America, the Dominican Republic is subject to the horrors of Human Trafficking. There are a few organizations making inroads and working to educate, but often, unfortunately, bring a US paradigm into a country that simply does not have the resources of the US. As we've connected with national ministries, I'm convinced that as with evangelism and church planting, we need to COME ALONG SIDE existing ministries and further equip them. (For more on this and exciting news about an intern, please visit our BLOG)...   FAMILY UPDATES So I turned 50 in April...yeah, that happened. However, that's just one day older than when I was 49, and one day closer to living forever. (Again...for more on this and other family news, please visit our BLOG)... Support Update We are still $400/month below our needed support level (perhaps because I haven't stopped to report enough)... We're praying and counting on: 1 commitment of $200/month 1 commitment of $100/month 2 commitments of $50/month Please pray for this last $400/month to be covered. Pray for those who make up our support team, be they prayer or financial supporters, to be blessed and guided by the Holy Spirit in all they do.  If you want to join our team as intercessors or financial supporters, or just need to know how to do it, please contact me or use the info at the bottom. 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. You are receiving this e-mail because you requested to be kept informed on the Abegg family and their ministry to those trapped in human trafficking.