| Love Letters from the Abeggs: |
| "…to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May Mercy, Peace, and Love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1:1) |
| | Loss of a Father, a Mother, and a Change in Names |
| | Name Change of the Mission: We are now Mesa Global
For those who partner with us financially, please note that the mission we are a part of changed its name from United World Mission to Mesa Global. It is the same mission, simply re-branded. Learn more at MesaGlobal's website. If you have any issues with receipting or automatic withdrawals, feel free to reach out to me or use the information at the bottom of our newsletter to reach a helpful person in the office. Thank You So Much!
Please also note that our "… uwm.org" emails will cease to work at the end of the month, and our next newsletter will come from our new email address, so please add our new info to your contacts, and send us a note at:
Our personal addresses have remained the same with "… gmail.com". |
| | |  | Ramon on his visit with us in Miami in '03 for Jeremy's birth. |
| All four of the Abeggs are heading to Chile in just a few days. We had hoped to go closer to the Northern Fall / Southern Spring, but as Claudia and I were driving back to FL following my mom's memorial, we received the sad news that Ramon Guzman, Claudia's father, had passed away in Chile. As is normal in many Latin American countries, the service was held quickly after his passing, so there was no way for us to make it, and it wouldn't have been wise given our level of exhaustion.
You may remember how only two years ago Ramon was hospitalized for 7 months, and we were blessed to be able to fly Claudia down for time with him once he returned home. We didn't know it would be the last opportunity any of us would get with him face to face, but we are grateful Claudia did have that time with her dad. |
|  | We had an additional blessing in being able to speak with Ramon on Father's Day, only a week before he passed. It was a very encouraging conversation concerning his trust in the Lord as his savior. What a comfort and hope that conversation has been for us in recent weeks!
We've been connected and conversing regularly with Claudia's mom and sisters once we arrived home and quickly took care of some important medical appointments to make sure Claudia's thyroid is up to another trip right on the heels of being gone for 2 months. Thankfully she's doing well overall, though we appreciate your continued prayers for energy and wisdom as we travel once again and seek to extend care to loved ones. Please be interceding for our visit as well as the whole family as we spend these next two weeks together. |
|  | Fishing with Jeremy & Gaspar (TL), At the ferria with Nico (TR), Ramon and his girls: Barbara, Isabel, Cristi & Claudia (BL), Claudia, Ramon, Nico & Jeremy years ago. |
| | Loss of a Mother…
On the Abegg side, mom's memorial was an encouraging time of seeing friends and family after much absence. I had the privilege of officiating and giving the message, while my sister Lana and other family members and friends, including members of Walnut Creek Presbyterian, did a great job in sharing her life through pictures and various memorial displays. We've uploaded the service for those who missed it: Birgitta Abegg Memorial. |
|  | | Ministry Update & Sabbatical
My last update came to you from Costa Rica where we gathered with leaders from all over Latin America to further develop the "Regional Training Hubs" that UWM is growing throughout the world. It was a fantastic time together, and for my part, such a joy to focus on one of the most encouraging projects we've had the privilege to work on since the "hubs" incorporate many of the traditional strengths of United World Mission, Latin America Mission, and what is now called Mesa Global. Check out our region's page on the new Mesa Global website, and please be praying for the many national partner ministries we have the privilege to work with. |
|  | Missionaries to the Dominican Republic, Justin and Jeimmy Smith now serving in Jeimmy's home country of Colombia (TL); Planning sessions; The famous (infamous?) Doña Sendek from Colombia now serving throughout the Americas (TR); & UWM's Latin America Regional Training Hub 2024 Planning Team. |
| Claudia and I are currently taking a long overdue "Home Ministry Assignment" which most know as a missionary furlough or sabbatical. Over the past 2 years, we've been training up a leadership team for our region of Central America and the Caribbean. However we didn't imagine our urgent need for assistance that hit so quickly with the onset of Claudia's Graves Disease at the end of 2023, then my mother and now her father's passing away on different continents, and the need to manage so much due to these life-changing events. By God's grace, this team was in the right place, at the right time, and has served us immensely in taking many of the weights off our shoulders.
Apart from the Regional Training Hub planning, my time in Costa Rica in April enabled me to finalize several projects and transfer as much as possible to Matt and Lisa Befus who are doing a spectacular job in continuing to build the leadership team and manage both old and new projects. Please pray for this team (below) and the many national partners they represent and work alongside. Claudia and I continue to connect with them and various other missionaries as well as national leaders, but are thankful to have the freedom to attend to the needs of our grieving families. Please pray as we consider the "next steps", and the need to be less aggressive in our travel and care for some of the new health challenges we've encountered. |
|  | Leadership Training in March 2023 (before we knew what was to come). Pray for this team L to R: Jeimmy & Justin Smith (now in Colombia), Partnership Facilitator for the region Luis Diego Herrera & wife Marielos, Cindy & Wes Williamson serving in Honduras, new Regional & Team Leaders Matt and Lisa Befus in Costa Rica, Nancy & Paul Mauger in Costa Rica & my lovely wife Claudia and some guy she hangs around with (PTL). |
| | More Prayer Requests: Apart from the above-mentioned requests, please pray for wisdom and protection in other areas. The night before departing to CA, our water heater died. I installed a new one the day we returned, but now the stove burners are malfunctioning, once again a few nights before our departure. Also, yesterday we found out that our medical insurance is on "pause" due to misunderstandings in the renewal process amidst the mission's name change and our travels.
Please pray for protection, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as he uses even these challenges to refine us, teach us patience balanced with diligence, and to rely on our Lord for "our daily bread" in whatever form that takes.
Thank you for your ongoing prayer and support during these challenging times. We love and appreciate each one of you and thank the Lord for your partnership.
Please reply to this email (or send us a separate note) on how we can pray for you during this time.
God bless!
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| | | Our work with and through believers & partner ministries in Central America & the Caribbean is only possible with your prayer and financial support: Prayer Team: Send us note to let us know you're praying for us, and let us know how we can be praying for you.
Financial Support Team: To join or learn more, visit:
Give via US Mail: Send a 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. |
| | For past issues of our newsletters and other posts visit our Blog. |
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