The Abegg's Love Letters - Transitions abound!

	The Abegg's Love Letters *If you have trouble viewing this e-mail, please find it online at: http://abeggloveletters.blogspot.com If you've been following Claudia's or my entries on Facebook or our Blog, you know that this has been an exciting year. That sort of "first time on a roller coaster and the seatbelt won't tighten" type of exciting! Between parent's health needs, support issues and the end of one era and beginning of another as Latin America Mission merges into United World Mission, it's been quite the year! Since March, I've made three trips to CA to assist my parents with various physical needs. After determining with LAM that such travel wasn't feasible, and that some time with partners on the West Coast would be beneficial, the whole family made the 3,000 mile trek from Miami to Martinez, CA a few weeks ago. Our last stop en route was the Grand Canyon where we got word of the next day's federal Government shut down as we checked in! However we were able to stay 3 of our planned 4 nights and shared Mather camp ground on the South rim with only a handful of other campers and lots of wildlife wandering through the empty grounds! Now that we've arrived in CA, for our first full-fledged "home assignment" since we joined LAM as missionaries to Cuba 10 years ago, we are looking forward to catching up with old friends and faithful supporters.  Evan as we work through merging two missions organizations into one.  You can read more about the merger in our previous blog entry or on LAM's and UWM's websites, but this leaves the question of what's next for the Abeggs? For now, though on a long overdue missionary "home assignment", I will continue assisting other LAM missionaries and their supporting churches through the transition, and lending my experience and understanding to a transitional Partnership Team working with our local and international partners. Over the next few months I will continue conversing with UWM on possible next steps, including their current invitation to move to Charlotte, and fulfill a similar role to what I've had over the past four years as LAM's North American Partnerships Director. Yet we're also discussing an exciting possibility of being involved directly in the battle against Human Trafficking,  particularly in Latin populations in the US.   Over the years, my connection with LAM partner ministry Rahab Foundation in Costa Rica has shown me that there is much for North Americans to LEARN from Latin America in this arena, and who better to bridge such a partnership other than LAM now further strengthened by merging with UWM as an international organization?   This is all in the discernment process, but I ask that you pray for us and intercede with us on numerous fronts: An ability to discern the Lord's direction, clarify the vision and lay plans that honor Him, agree with UWM's vision mission and purpose as well as the Abegg's calling. The overall LAM and UWM merger process and my ability to assist my fellow missionaries and the many supporting churches in this transition. Adjustment for the whole family being away from our 10 year home and living with and caring for my parents for the coming months. We look forward to connecting with those on the West Coast whom we seldom see, and we'll be setting up catch up times in the coming months.  This Sunday we will be taking part in Walnut Creek Presbyterian's missions conference and hope to see some of you there! Please send us a note and let us know how you're doing, and know that we are SO VERY THANKFUL to those of you who constantly lift us up in prayer and have made sacrificial decisions enabling us to continue ministering alongside Latin Americans for so many years! As some have asked, for now donations and support will continue as normal until the beginning of next year:  Checks may continue to be mailed to: Latin America Mission P.O. Box 52-7900 Miami FL, 33152-7900. Please include a note indicating "For the Abeggs". Online Donations may also be made online at: http://www.lam.org/missionaries/abegg In His Hands / En Sus manos; Kevin S. Abegg Latin America Mission Director, North American Partnerships Office: 305-884-8400 x225 Cell: 305-799-7476 Mission Partnership info

An Exciting Ride and a New Day for LAM!

On Friday I returned from Toronto, Canada, which has not been my usual direction of travel over the past 10 years with Latin America Mission.  However this was a special trip addressing some significant changes taking place at Latin America Mission. A few days ago a communication was sent out announcing LAM’s merger into United World Mission. Having served on LAM’s guidance team over the past few years, I can tell you that this has been a difficult process, however one that we anticipate to bear much fruit as we move forward. The new merged ministry will certainly result in greater pathways for Kingdom service, not only within Latin America but for our Latin partners into the rest of the world.

Interestingly my first interaction with UWM and current president John Bernard was at a 2002 Cuba conference held at their US office in Charlotte, NC. Actually, UWM’s origins were in in 1946 when they first began work in Cuba, and they now have ministries Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The new combined organization will consist of more than 350 missionaries (doubling the size of each individual organization) serving in 42 countries. As a mission, UWM is committed to upholding the principal of partnership, and to continue working alongside Latin partners in both word and action as LAM has done for nearly a century. The merger will reduce overhead costs, allowing our missionaries, sending churches and receiving ministries to be even better stewards of what the Lord has entrusted.  For now, the name “Latin America Mission” will continue as ministry of UWM, and donations can continue as usual until further notice.

So…what does this mean for the Abegg Family? We joined LAM as missionaries to Cuba in the year 2000, have had extensive involvement in re-inventing and managing LAM’s international partnerships over the years, and more recently worked to strengthen LAM’s North American Partnerships with Sending and Supporting Churches.  I would be lying if I said this change isn’t significant, however we’ve see how the Lord moves through, and uses times of change to guide and align us with His purposes. For now, we continue on our anticipated trajectory of a 9 month “home assignment” in order to raise share with supporters, visit churches and care for some significant needs my (Kevin’s) parents are facing.

UWM has asked us to consider joining their home office in Charlotte. Yet over the past few years we believe the Lord has been opening doors and leading us toward further work between the N. American and Latin Church in the area of Human Trafficking. Over the next couple of months we ask for intercession as we will be discerning with UWM leadership where the Lord is leading us all: The Abegg’s in terms of long term ministry assignment, UWM/LAM in terms of transfer of specific partnerships, missionaries and next steps in Latin America. We will keep you posted and updated to the best of our ability, and ask that you keep us all in your prayers.

We will be arriving in CA sometime during the first week of October, and began our journey West yesterday. Please follow us on Facebook and know we will miss our friends and partners in Miami this year but look forward to connecting with those on the West Coast in the near future.

For now donations and support will continue as normal until the beginning of next year: 

• Checks may continue to be mailed to: Latin America Mission P.O. Box 52-7900 Miami FL, 33152-7900. Please include a note indicating “For the Abeggs”. 
• Online Donations may be made at: http://www.lam.org/missionaries/abegg

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We look forward to continuing this journey together and will keep you posted!

Update from the Field: Serving Children @ Risk in Colombia

I had the opportunity to meet with Kimberley Gauld last month as part of her deployment process to Colombia where she is serving with Fundacion Brazos Abiertos (Open Arms Foundation). Kimberly is a great example of the many new missionaries that are stepping into international missionary service with LAM and serving the many facets of the Church in Latin America. I have the privilege to work with new missionaries like Kimberly as well as our many long term missionaries on the field. Please keep Kimberley, all of LAM's missionaries and the Miami Service Office staff I work with in your prayers as we seek to honor God and equip His Church in Latin America.  I received the following encouraging note from Kimberly last night that I wanted to pass along. God bless!

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kimberley Gauld

Subject: Colombia 2013- Update

Date: June 5, 2013 11:06:44 PM EDT

Hi All,
I know I just sent an update, but today I had an amazing morning. A few weeks ago I translated a piece of paper ("letter from God to his child") that I received a few years ago at church into Spanish. I really felt that God wanted me to give each one of the boys this letter as it talks about his love and how he has amazing promises all throughout the bible for our lives. I gave a copy to the pastor of the team from the USA (it was in English). He wanted to use it for devotions this morning. So this morning I gave each of the boys a letter and then read it aloud to the group. After I read it I shared a bit of my testimony with the boys in Spanish (God definitely gave me the words to say!). After one of the boys from the USA team shared his testimony as well. A few of the boys from the farm were almost in tears while he was sharing. It was such an amazing morning. God definitely touched some of hearts of the boys today!! It was such a powerful morning and I definitley felt God brought me here to share this letter with these boys!
Thank you again for your support and prayers.
Kimberley
 

Noticias de Avance Mexico

One of LAM's longest running summer programs begins today. Please keep the participants and ministries they serve in your prayers. Thanks!

Avance Summer Program Begins Wednesday, June 5th El programa de Avance Internacional empieza miercoles, 5 de junio. Pray with us for this summer's leadership team and for all the new Avance participants that they can abide in Jesus and minister out of dependence on Him this summer (John 15).  Oren con nosotros para el equipo de liderazgo de este verano y por todos los nuevos participantes de Avance.  Oren que permanezcan en Jesus y que ministren dependiendo de El este verano (Juan 15). June 5, 2013 5 Leadership Training 2013 FOLLOW ON TWITTER FRIEND ON FACEBOOK FORWARD TO A FRIEND

The Church: Venezuela and At Home

A small sector of the US is keeping a close eye on developments in Venezuela once again as tensions rise. (See: International Crisis Group : Venezuela: A House Divided )

However, as with any crisis, be that current or throughout history, the secular minded can only touch on a small portion of reality.  There is no understanding of a limited ability to see or know in part, especially in light of God’s eternal Kingdom, rule and purpose. As Paul puts it: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away… For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." I Cor 13. 

In having the privilege to interact with Christian institutions and missionaries in Venezuela, I see how the current situation requires them to solidly ground their labor and daily activities in faith, not knowing what the next 24 hrs. will hold for them or the ministry they dedicate their lives to.  I also see the Church working to maintain a kingdom perspective when political lines threaten to bring division, something not so removed from our own country (wherever you may be).

The following is an excerpt from a newsletter from Venezuela which will remain anonymous for obvious reasons:  

“After the April 14th elections, I have procrastinated in writing this letter simply because I don’t know how to describe the situation in Venezuela without seeming to represent one side or the other in this deeply divided nation. The truth is that we have people from both sides [involved in ministry]. The Body of Christ here in Venezuela to some degree at this moment reflects the same kind of polarization that we see in society here in general.  I’ve decided to paraphrase for you a prayer request written by a [member of our ministry] and placed on our prayer list at [the ministry]. I think it summarizes well how we should be praying for the Venezuelan Church. It also summarizes well what we should be doing as the Body of Christ here: 

'May each Christian assume the role that is really his or hers in Christ , being part of the solution and not part of the problem in which this nation finds itself, carrying the word of faith, promise and salvation to disoriented and troubled people.' ”

Please pray for the Church in Venezuela and for those who labor to care for and train believers under increasingly difficult circumstances (once again). Likewise, take time to pray for your own country and that the Church would remain united in the Gospel, relying on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we wrestle through application and being the Body of Christ to a world in desperate need.

Along these lines I want to include a quote that a friend pulled up last week which encouraged me to keep my priorities clear and my understanding sharp with regards to “the Body of Christ”.

"Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Life Together)

God bless!

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Partnerships

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Mission Partnership info

I love my wife! 

She sent me this encouraging e-mail this AM. 

From: Claudia

Subject: Encouragement

Date: May 1, 2013 11:51:23 AM EDT

To: Kevin Abegg

Commentary:

Do you...feel weak and timid?...or do you doubt whether God has heard you, because you are a sinner? then cling to the word and say: Though I am a sinner and unworthy, yet I have the command of God, that tells me to pray, and his promise that he will graciously hear me, not because of my worthiness, but for the sake of the Lord Christ. By this means you can drive away the thoughts and doubts, and cheerfully kneel down and pray, not regarding your worthiness or unworthiness, but your need and his word upon which he tells you to build; especially since he has placed before you and put into your mouth the words how and what you are to pray for, so that you joyously send up these prayers through him, and can lay them in his bosom, that he may lay them by his own worthiness before the Father.... The Lord's Prayer is...as has often been said, surely the very best prayer that was ever uttered upon earth, or that any one could conceive, since God the Father gave it through his Son, and laid it upon his lips; so that we dare not doubt that it is extremely pleasing to him. He admonishes us at the very beginning, both concerning his command and his promise, in the word: "Our Father," etc., as the one who demands from us this honor, that we are to ask from him, as a child from its father, and he wants us to have the confidence that he will gladly give us what we need; and this is further also a part of it, that we glory in being his children through Christ; and thus we come in accordance with his command and promise, and in the name of the Lord Christ, and appear before him with all confidence.

By Marthin Luther

The Truth About the War

Honduras;

Most in in the US don't follow the news on this small Central American country. I've had the privilege of visiting Honduras two times over the past few years, and it is one of a few places I would love to explore with Claudia and the boys when we have the opportunity. Unfortunately though, Honduras has the dubious reputation of being the most violent country in the Americas as of late, even surpassing Mexico where so many fear to go (yet we as a family spent an amazing two weeks in November and highly recommend despite its reputation in the news. See earlier previous blogs). Honduras has some major problems as you can see in recent news reports. But what these reports don't share is what God is doing in the midst of suffering and perceived chaos. As Paul Harvy used to say...and now the rest of the story.

Do you may remember Heather Braden? She worked as my assistant for a while about two years ago before her assignment to Honduras. She currently serves with Iglesia Gran Comission's Centro de Desarrollo Infantil (Children's Development Center) in La Ceiba, Honduras. Here she serves the children and their impoverished families, caring for them in mind, body and spirit. In the past year alone the Lord has walked them through numerous deaths, kidnappings and murder as Heather, the ministry and the church remain lights in the surrounding darkness. Please pray for Heather, her recent husband Rigo and the ministry of CDI. You can read more about her in her blog.

Lauren Zuber recently deployed to Siguatepeque, Honduras. I had the pleasure of working with her on her doctrinal and missional understanding in preparation for deployment. Here's an excerpt from her most recent news letter:

Imagine riding in the back of a pick up truck, with the sunshine on your face, the town of Siguatepeque stretched out before you and children in your arms. Yes. That’s my Sunday morning commute to church. I’ve been visiting different local churches and looking for a place that I can be involved. For the past 3 Sundays, I’ve been attending the Iglesia de Nazareno church that meets up in the mountains and the majority of the congregation is children.  This church ministers to a total of 200 kids and being able to worship and dance with them on Sundays has been a blessing. I’m looking forward to many more bumpy truck rides in the future to this wonderful church.

Some days I still wake up and think, “I can’t believe this is my life.” I can’t believe I get to teach these awesome, crazy kids every day and soak in warm sunshine. Some days I wake up and I can’t believe I’ve left my comfortable life and family and friends behind for this scary, frustrating process of figuring out life and people in a new place. But both kinds of days end with God reminding me that He hasn’t changed and he’s still with me.  Baby steps!  Thank you for being a part of this proud teacher’s 5^th/6^th grade classroom. -Much love, Lauren

Lauren also includes some sobering facts reguading Honduras that she found in Operation World (a must have for any missions minded person):

More than half of Honduras' population are children, the majority living in poverty. Destitution drives them to desperate measures:

•  Illegal migration: Thousands of children attempt to cross to the USA to find family members working there.  Usually they end up incarcerated in Guatemala or Mexico.
• Pepenadores or garbage dump children are more prevalent in Honduras than in any nation in the Americas
• Vice and Crime.
• Street children, numbering in the thousands are often exterminated as a nuisance by ruthless groups in the name of social cleansing.

The Allens are another family that I had the privilege to assist in deploying a few yeas back. They serve  with Iglesia El Camino de la Vida and three church plants in rural areas outside the Honduran capital city of Tegucigalpa. Matthew helps in the development of a Biblical training programs for pastors, as well as teaching and discipleship of men in these churches. You can read more about what the Allen's are doing in their blog. 

These ambassadors of God's Kingdom only scratch the surface of what God is doing in Honduras, not to mention throughout Latin America and around the globe. So what's my point? The world will attempt to make us believe that the enemy is winning and that God, His Kingdom and His Word are not only irrelevant but have lost the battle. Similar tactics have been used in human wars since the dawn of time in spreading rumors and false data to the enemy concerning the status of the war in order to demoralize enemy troops.  The truth is, yes, there is an ongoing battle. Yes, there are casualties, pain and suffering, but the end is secure, and if we look...if we pay attention, we will see the truth of what Jesus proclaimed two centuries ago:

"...upon this rock I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it..."   -Matthew 16 

Don't give way to discouragement but look for what God is doing and spread the truth about the Good news..!

Please pray for more workers to send into the field. Please pray for us at LAM's home office to manage well what the Lord has placed before us. Please pray for the Abegg family as we continue to follow God's lead in all he has called us to.

Thank you for your encouragement and support, you are a vital part of this team and Kingdom effort.

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Easy Online Giving at:    http://www.lam.org/missionaries/abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Alliances

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Missions Partnership links

Printable Form to mail a check: Link