Abegg ELL: God News & Urgent Needs in Central America

Join us as we pray for Ministries in Latin America during this difficult time. "If not for"  or  "Because of " ? How fast things have changed! In January we were preparing the Regional Missionary Retreat for 90 attendees from all over Central America and the Caribbean. If not for COVID-19, that conference in Costa Rica would have ended last week and the Abeggs would now be in Guatemala. There seems to be a lot of that going around these days. The "...if not for COVID..." song in its minor notes and that remorseful dragging tune. I'm guilty of singing along all too often. I'm in no way saying that COVID is a good thing nor that we should sing it's praises any more than it is appropriate to do so at the death and destruction of war. But God continues to remind me of His sovereignty, and asks what I will do with the circumstances He's ordained for this time. How should I respond after reflecting on scripture reminding me that nothing is outside of His hands? Verses like Acts 4:27-28,  Lamentations 4:37-38, Isaiah 45:7-8, and Romans 8(every last drop of it!) give hope and life. Understanding His providential care and purpose, how can I say (or live like) He messed up? And then I visit Paul in prison and his words to me: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. -Colossians 4  So, in response, I lift my hanging head and raise my hands to Heaven pleading with God to not let me miss what He's doing right now... right in the midst of this Pandemic! Though I wouldn't choose this time, I want to follow Him through this time and witness HIS purposes. Then He gently adjusts my heart and I begin to see things in a different light, in His light.  I see ministries like Agua Viva in Guatemala providing hope that comes with basic necessities delivered to communities where necessity supply lines have been shut down for months. The willingness of faithful brothers and sisters to carefully and prayerfully deliver what food they can acquire is literally preventing starvation for families whose daily wages used to put one night's meal on the table. And the response they report is overwhelming, making "social distancing" an enemy when recipients want nothing more than to embrace their caregivers. In Costa Rica, the Farm ministry of Roble Alto can't sell its chickens, so instead, they provide poultry meat to Hospital Clinica Biblica which needs food for patients. La Clinica itself is donating Bibles to UWM missionaries who, while distributing food bags discovered fellow believers who don't have Bibles. In the midst of trials, God is at work in and through ministries that would otherwise keep to themselves. Yet now they are answers to one another's prayers in a time of need. As the US anticipates re-opening our economy, the COVID infection "curves" in many Central American and Caribbean countries continue to rise as the disease moves through often unprepared communities. Pray for rural churches & ministries throughout the region that have no means of support. While we are accustomed to giving online to keep US churches and ministries functioning, this isn't an option for most of Latin America, but some have found alternatives. FEDEMEC for example, a mission sending agency in Costa Rica, has an employee on a motorcycle visiting donors in their homes to collect the desperately needed support for overseas Costa Rican missionaries. Many challenges still go unanswered, so please pray for God's guidance. For instance, UWM missionaries in the Dominican Republic are looking for ways to help church members simply watch streamed sermons & stay connected. Not a difficult thing in the US, but in most of Latin America data download plans for phones are unaffordable, and in-home service is often nonexistent or simply outrageous in cost. Pray for answers to these challenges.  This was going to be a brief update, but it's hard to hold back when I see what God is doing in the midst of these "trials" (James 1, another fantastic encouragement in difficult times). Admittedly I battle varying degrees of frustration, and confusion over what God is doing, but from His Word, and seeing the world through a Biblical lens, I know that HE IS AT WORK IN POWERFUL WAYS. He never rests, and even through the many prayers that have yet to be answered, He draws us to Himself and to one another as His body. PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING. You are a vital part of this team and we are so grateful for your support and encouragement.  God bless! If your interested in joining our financial team please see the info at the bottom. Likewise if you or someone you know would be interested in helping with urgent projects in response to COVID, visit UWM's COVID RESPONSE page. How Can We Pray for You?: As I mentioned, we're praying for God's mercy, protection and guidance to be over each of our prayer and financial supporters. Please let us know how we can pray more specifically and effectively for you. It's our privilege and pleasure to do so and helps us keep up on how each of you is doing. Send us a note and let us know. Join Our Team   Prayer Team  If you're reading this, you're in, so keep praying! Also... we'd love to hear from you. Let us know how we can be praying whether through an email or connect with us on What'sApp. Our work is 100% funded through donors like yourself. If you aren't already part of our financial team,  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 S. Abegg UWM/LAM Regional Leader Central America & Caribbean