Abegg Love Letters - Ministry Adventures in Central America: Costa Rica Short Term Team & More

View this email in your browser 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... Costa Rica It's been a very busy summer as the Abegg family journeyed to Costa Rica for meetings and then to lead a Short Term Team of 16 assisting the Gortmaker family, UWM missionaries in Cañas. When booking flights we planned our first week for various meetings but not knowing the exact needs we'd be addressing. God lined them up perfectly! Esthela Cevallos, UWM missionary from Ecuador, a full-time chaplain since 1969 at one of the largest hospitals in Costa Rica La Clinica Biblica, and one of my "heroes of the faith" was in the midst of a health crisis and needed to transition to a long term care facility. Having dedicated her life to the Gospel, she never married, and has no immediate family in Central America. I was blessed to accompany Esthelita to some of these meetings along with visiting nieces and our partnership coordinator. The experience of walking through the halls of La Clinica where she served for nearly 50 years was truly humbling. Superman visiting a children's medical wing wouldn't have received as many hugs, kisses and tear filled testimonies of changed lives as did Esthelita. People couldn't help but share how the Lord used her in both miraculous and mundane ways. We couldn't take 5 steps without a patient, doctor, nurse or desk clerk pouring out gratitude for this small (perhaps 5'2") giant of the faith! I hope to share more on this experience in the near future. For now, please pray for our "retirees" who often continue to serve well into their "golden years" . Pray also for those nearing retirement, that the Lord would guide and provide as they follow him in to a new phase of life. Not tall in stature, but a giant in intercession! Partnership & New Opportunities  Another meeting that left me rejoicing was with the incoming president of FEDEMEC, Carlos Abarca. FEDEMEC is a Costa Rican Missionary Sending Agency and UWM partner ministry. During the LAM days we began conversations on how to partner with Latin Sending Agencies, but these were sidelined for years following the merger. In God's mercy, these conversations have not only re-started, but go beyond providing Latin agencies with US missionaries. We're discussing how to share global ministry needs, provision for missionary care and even sharing resources to reach all the world as international partners. Pray for wisdom as we and our partners engage this next phase of missions. Not from the US to elsewhere, but anywhere to everywhere together! Myself, Luis Diego & FEDEMEC's new president Carlos Abarca Missions 101: Short Term Teams After an exhausting but exhilarating week, the Short Term Team from our home church in Miami, Palm Vista Community Church, joined us at "Campamento Rio Naranjo" just outside of Cañas. Rather than tell you here, you can read about the team and our work from Jeremy & Nico's perspective in: Nico's News & Jeremy's Journal. Or join me in my Sunday morning report: Click to play... United World Mission Leadership Meetings After Costa Rica, Claudia and I flew directly to Charlotte, NC while the kids & team returned home. That following week was dedicated to UWM's yearly leadership conference. All of the Regional Leaders, Partnership Coordinators, and many others gathered to share, learn and strategize for the coming year. It was an intense but immensely profitable time both structurally and strategically for the mission, and to connect with those we usually meet with online but rarely have the time to fellowship and converse with in person. Please continue praying for this team. For the Lord's guidance and the team's discernment on how to address the unique gospel challenges as well as regional crisis (Ebola, Dengue, Revolts, Migration...) around the globe. We've spent a lot of time in planes this summer! What's Ahead... A short but much needed vacation! This has been an amazing summer, but as we continue with catch-up, follow-up and look towards the fall with homeschooling co-ops, still to be planned field visits and multiple projects, our family is in desperate need of a break. We are so grateful for a chance to step away together and enjoy the home of dear friends and supporters in N. Florida right on the beach providing both rest and "teen friendly entertainment". The generosity of this family and other supporters has made it possible for us to not only continue our work, but also benefit from times of needed rest. Please pray that we would experience deep rest, rich family fellowship and vision for the coming months.  New Structures & Connections Attempting to meet regularly with 60+ missionary units in our region, assist in crisis situations, traveling to visit ministries and connect deeply with our workers doesn't leave time for regional development or a focus on new programs. For that reason we're finally implementing team and cluster group leaders to help cover some of this need. These are experienced missionaries who will work under Claudia and I to oversee and provide front line care for up to 7 other families in the region, helping us carry this ministerial load.  This will help provide more consistent connections and allow Claudia and I to focus on other arenas of need including the development of anti-trafficking training we've been waiting to get back to. Please pray for these new leaders and for the planning and training we will be providing during the coming months.  Support Update Consider Joining Our Team Though everyone is called to "make disciples of all nations..." (Mat. 28) not everyone is equipped to do so cross-culturally as a missionary. However many of you seek to "make disciples" in your part of the world and make it possible for us to do so internationally. Our supporters are as much part of our team as those we work with and supervise throughout Central America, each fulfilling their part of the great commission according to their gifts (see Romans 12).  We are so thankful for you! We are still seeking to close a significant shortfall in our support. 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 come in and carry some of the burden.  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 and 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. 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.

Costa Rica Misson Trip Report from Nicholas Abegg-Guzman

Hello Friends!! 

I'm back from my amazing mission trip to Costa Rica. It was an extraordinary trip in SO MANY different ways. The team and I got to not only see the beauty of God's creation in Costa Rica but also His perfect timing. We got to see the love for God in the church that we went to in Cañas. On the last day of our trip, on the bus ride back to San Jose, the team talked about how we would explain our experience in a sentence to someone who asked about it. I came up with "The trip really showed me how much I should really rely on God" because relying on myself would give me nothing in return, but relying on God gives me comfort and builds my trust in Him, and He knows what's best anyway!

One of the main things that the team was praying for was no rain for our time of physical labor at Camp.  We were planning on doing a lot of cement work and the rain would completely throw a wrench into our plans. So, after two straight weeks of rain prior to our arrival, the first couple days were sunny and hot with no rain at all! Day four and five the clouds and the wind made for a more enjoyable work experience, and still no rain. Then the final day of real physical intensive labor came, and that day we got to finnish and dry all the cement work that needed to be done right before "BOOM!" when the skies opened up and constant rain once again both day and night! That just shows how perfect God's timing is that we were able to get all the outside work done before it rained. Later in the week we talked to a Tico (Costa Rican) who lived in the neighboring village and he said they haven't had 5 days without rain in the rainy season in over 5 YEARS!!!!! It is amazing how perfect God's timing is!

Thank you so much for your prayers and all your support. You have no idea how far your prayers go. Please keep praying for our team as we share God's faithfulness with others, including our church. Keep praying for the Gortmaker family who serve at Camp Rio Naranjo, and for my mom and dad as they guide and care for many other missionaries like them!

(Oh, one more thing… the entire camp sits on an active volcano.)

Good Bless!

Sincerely; 

Nicholas Abegg-Guzman 

For more on our family's work as missionaries please visit: www.abeggloveletters.blogspot.com

Returning From Costa Rica -Jeremy Abegg

Both Jeremy and Nico beat me to getting out their follow up prayer letters from our time leading a Short Term Team to Costa Rica. 

Jeremy Abegg

2019 PVCC Costa Rica Missions Trip

6/20/2019

Greetings Prayer Supporters! 

     First of all, I want to thank all of you for taking the time to pray for me and the team while we served in Costa Rica. Being there, I was able to see the needs of our team taken care of; even before we were aware we needed something.  I must say that the trip was a huge success on multiple levels. God truly did something special with our team. Not only did He allow us to encourage so many people, but He also ministered to each member of the team while we were there. Almost every day, the team would work long hours in the hot sun at the camp and we would have devotionals at the beginning and end of each day. However, throughout the trip, one thing remained at the center of everything we did; prayer. Prayers for strength, for patience with others, for health, for proper weather and many other things. Every single time, our requests were fulfilled in very visible ways. 

    Part of the work we were doing included painting all the benches in the camp, raking dirt away and laying concrete for a horseshoe pit as well as completely remodeling a basketball court. Thus, the weather was a crucial part of completing these outdoor projects. Unfortunately, the clouds had been pouring down like crazy for two consecutive weeks before we arrived, however, when we arrived, there were only clear skies! The team did not experience a single drop of rain until the last bit of cement was poured on Friday. 

     Additionally, while on this trip, I myself had a giant change of attitude. Heading into this missions trip, I thought there would be nothing unexpected. After all, I had already partaken in multiple trips with my family serving in other countries. How could this one be any different? I lasted until the second or third-day when I broke down; overwhelmed by the amount of work we had to do and the conditions we had to do them in. My dad then sat down with me on a hill that looked over the camp and showed me what I was doing wrong; I was not relying on God for my daily strength. I stubbornly thought I could take on anything by myself. He then reminded me of the biblical promises God makes to watch over his people and sustain them when they call out to him. After I had repented of my unbelief and pride in thinking I knew what I was doing, the work became easier and the circumstances became almost pleasant with the end goal of the camp in mind. 

     Thus, God truly used this team and this trip to impact more than a few people. The Gortemakers were so grateful (at one point to tears) that the team would sacrifice their own time, vacation and finances to come serve them in Costa Rica. The church in Cañas, a hurting church that has recently experienced the loss of the pastor's wife, was greatly encouraged that a group of Christians from Florida would come down to their church with a desire to serve them. Even the team's bus driver was encouraged by our group and after seven years of not visiting a church, he attended two services with us. God's grace was shown to our team and the Gortemaker's by answering our prayers for the weather, our prayers for physical strength and many other requests. Our God is a wonderful God and He truly did a great work with this team. 

    I want to thank you once again for your prayers these past few weeks. I assure you that they were answered as our team did not experience any health issues save some motion sickness on winding roads. Mom was in charge of the kitchen and kept the entire team very well fed, which also protected us from stomach bugs. So now I encourage you now to continue praying for me for these next two weeks. Tomorrow, I am leaving at 6:00 in the morning to staff Florida's Summer Encampment with the Civil Air Patrol. Encampments are always intense and require a lot of stamina and grit to be run successfully. So please pray that I serve well, lead by example and have the opportunity to share Christ with my fellow cadets. Also, four days after I get back from encampment, I will fly to Texas to partake in Civil Air Patrol's Glider Academy. Please pray for wisdom as well as protection since this will be my first time traveling out of state alone. 

Finally, I would like to encourage you to praise God for the success of the mission trip. The reality is that the team could not have done anything we did without His help. Thus, it is only appropriate to take some time and thank God for His grace over the team. 

Thank you.

Respectfully;
Jeremy Abegg.

For more Abegg family adventures check out our blog at: www.abeggloveletters.blogspot.com 

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.

What's Behind...Catching Up and Catching Our Breaths

My apologies for taking so long to get an update to everyone. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! 

There and Back Again: The Dominican Republic...

Rick and Becky Mackey have been assisting and equipping numerous rural churches around the Jarabacoa area of the DR for many years now. You’ve read about them in previous news letters as their team began to grow in the fall with the addition of Gil and Danna Leon, only to have the Leon’s need to return to the US for Gil to receive treatment due to a cerebral parasite. Treatment is continuing, and we continue to intercede on his and the family’s behalf as we await a solid prognosis and the ability to lay future plans. Please join us in these prayers!

During our 6 day trip we spent a lot of time reviewing years of ministry in the region, the victories and challenges the Macky’s 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” church the day of the Bible study we attended), to internal and denominational strife. On that item, the Church today, in any country, is not so different from what we see in the book of Acts. Check it out and rejoice that God is patient and faithful with us all!

Please pray for the Macky’s and that their growing team would be encouragers and equippers. Often the pastors of these rural churches have little more than an elementary school education, and often care for a congregation where many cannot read, making “Bible Study” a challenge, and personal discipleship a necessity in order to strengthen the church. 

Please pray for a unified Gospel centered vision and Gospel message amongst (and sometimes within) the various denominations working in the region, and repentance where needed. 

Continue to pray for the Mackey family who had anticipated having the Leons working alongside them at this point, but Gil Leon's illness (cerebral parasite) forced them to return to the US for treatment. Please continue praying for Gil and Danna as they move ahead with treatment at the National Institute for Health. Praise the Lord that they’ve been accepted to the program free of charge, but please continue interceding for his full healing. 

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. Pray for wisdom as we do so. 

Claudia and I are excited to have a friend from church, Sasha Montenegro, starting an internship with us to assist in this very area of research, and helping connect existing Central American organizations to provide contextualized assistance to our partner ministries in need of anti-trafficking training. As much as Claudia and I would love to do the “hands on” training, we’re realizing that the breadth of responsibilities God has given us requires us to equip others and send them out. Please pray for Sasha and others like her as they engage this need with a Great Comission mindset. 

FAMILY

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. If you'd like clarification on that whole living forever thing (and some encouragement) check out my post from a few years back: Turning 48...

Nico turned 14 one week after my birthday, so we are fully entrenched with two teenagers in the house, and actually... it's an immense blessing to be able to engage with both of them in a mature way on topics that were previously beyond them. Claudia and I are truly blessed! That's not to say they don't have their moments, like the day Nico sliced his finger open just as Claudia and I returned home from visiting missionaries from Cuba!

Jeremy (15) has started the S.A.T. gauntlet and through much of Claudia's research we're starting to consider what colleges (and scholarships) he'll be shooting for. For those who have gone before us, you know that's a BIG prayer request!

Pray for Claudia and I as it’s taken a long time to catch up physically and work-wise after our Dominican Republic trip, and now we're on the cusp of our next. I’m prayerfully combating a feeling of being overwhelmed. Pray for discernment in where and how to apply my time. It’s not a bad situation in that we love what we’re doing, but the to do list is so full we want to make sure our priorities are in alignment with the Holy Spirit's.

Again, Thank You for your Love, Support and Encouragement. We Truly couldn't do this without you!

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