Friday, June 27, 2008

Meeting Where? When?

This past Thursday James and Benjamin Leonov met with the Director of Community Relations for the Municipality of Pilar with the intention of finding out if the city has a building available that we could use once a week for our Bible studies. The meeting went well. At least it was opportunity to make more contacts in Pilar. It may result in a meeting with the mayor. We will let the Lord work out the final details. Many politicians make promises, but we trust God to do His perfect will.

On Friday, we invited Benjamin and his family over for dinner, where we discussed the next step in the church-planting process. Over the next month, we plan on contacting all of our contacts in Pilar who have expressed interest in being a part of our church. We would like to introduce ourselves, explain our goals, and get to know them some as well. From there, we will launch our first weekly Bible studies. Please pray for wisdom on our part as well as a building in which to begin meeting.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

New House!

On Saturday, June 7, the owners agreed to a more reasonable contract. We signed the contract and got the keys. We were planning on moving on Tuesday, but it rained on Monday and heavy trucks are not allowed in the neighborhood during or 24 hours after rain. So, we moved it back to Thursday. Which was a good thing to give us more time. In the midst of all the packing and preparation, our pet bunny, Marshmallow, passed away. This was quite traumatic for the kids, for sure. We also attended seminary class in Don Torcuato every night from 7:30 – 10:30. What a week! We had some great volunteer helpers (Jeremy, Martin, Marcelo, and Victor) on the big moving day and we got it done.

We are so excited to be in our new home and thankful for His provision. We could tell you even more about how Satan is trying everything he can to discourage us or impede God’s work, but we press on with the strength of the Lord. God is good…all the time! Our next step is to start a weekly Bible study for the believers who are expectantly waiting for a good church in Pilar. Please keep praying!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

June Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends,

Over a year ago, God began working in the hearts of a few students at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin. He gave them a burden to take a missions trip to a South American country, but they had no idea where. Little did they know that the missions director at their college had ties with our friends Ron and Chris Self here in Buenos Aires—but God knew! On May 2, 30 students and faculty members, barely knowing each other yet, boarded a plane and headed off to minister through music, English classes, and basketball clinics. Pastor Self did a fantastic job organizing this diverse group. In 20 days, they held 24 sacred concerts all over the city and even in Uruguay. Everywhere they went there were record attendances, whether it was 30 or 330. We were privileged to help translate, chauffer, bake, wash dishes, give tours, or whatever else was needed. They were a terrific group of students with a desire to serve the Lord.

Two of the days the group spent in Pilar helping to launch our church plant there. We passed out 3,500 tracts and flyers advertising a sacred concert in a rented facility in the heart of the city center. We were excited when 27 new contacts showed up to hear the concert and find out more about this new church. Two people accepted Christ that night! One was a Peruvian immigrant lady and the other was a young man who came over from the bar right next door. Please pray for us as we follow up with all of these new folks.

The only thing that has hindered us from already doing more in Pilar is that we are not living there yet. For the past two months we have been diligently searching for a house to rent. The Lord has just provided a wonderful home to rent! We are planning to sign the contract and get the keys on Saturday and then move in next week. However, we just received an e-mail stating changes in the contract that we did not agree on. Pray this can be resolved in our favor. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.

What a mighty God we serve!
James, Amy,
Jaden, Lauren, and Josiah Greenwood