Hey Thrivent Members!
Choice Dollars charitable grant funds make a world of difference to missionaries through our
Global Missionary Fund
, which supplies dollars to missionaries who experience a shortfall in funding.
Directing Choice Dollars is easy. Simply go to:
Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.
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La Cueca
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As August draws to a close, Chileans are preparing for their Independence Day celebrations on September 18-19. You can see the colorful costumes and hear the rhythm of the folk music as people practice their "Cueca" dance steps. This traditional dance imitates the courtship between a chicken and a rooster, with the dancers twirling handkerchiefs to represent the feathers. Watch an example of "La Cueca" danced in the front yard of the Santiago Lutheran Mission.
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Prayers & Praise
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* Praise God for our
July volunteer missionary group from Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix. Pray that the seeds of the Gospel they planted will bring forth fruit.
* Praise the Lord for the
30 children that participated in the "winter break VBS", partly hosted by the Phoenix Volunteers.
Click here for photos!!
*
Praise God for His wisdom and provision as
we have begun building a school for handicapped youth on our property in Santiago.
* Pray for our daughter,
Soni, as she begins a new year of teaching 7
th and 8
th grade. Pray that God surrounds her with his love and wisdom and strength.
* Pray for
Ben as he begins his final year towards completing a degree in music education.
* Thank God for helping
Veronica complete her first year of chiropractic school; for providing her housing and family and friends that support her in St. Louis; for being able to hold a part-time job while taking pre-med classes!
* Praise God for the
7 adults who are preparing for membership in our church, all who have begun since we moved into our new property in April this year!
* Thank the Lord for leading us to the opportunity to purchase office space for the Lutheran Hour Ministry. Pray for donors to partner in this challenge.
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"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Heb. 11:1)
At the insistence of my wife, I recently read a little devotional by Max Lucado called, "Hope". As usual, Lucado is brilliant and incisive. He puts his finger on something that plagues many of us: unrequited hope. We all hope for something - something bigger, better, brighter, more exciting, more fulfilling, more rewarding. Yet many times, it seems that our hopes go unanswered. Too often we end up thinking - as Lucado puts it - "What kind of God would let me down like this?"
Do we serve a disappointing God? Lucado offers another perspective: "Our problem is not so much that God doesn't give us what we hope for as it is that we don't know the right thing for which to hope." (That's OK - I had to read it twice, as well!)
Lucado continues: "Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction."
Since our last newsletter, God has "surprised us out of our socks!" Liisa and I are still learning what it means to depend on God, and have realized that again and again, "we don't know the right thing for which to hope." Will you join us in the journey?
(citations from Max Lucado,
Hope
, in "God Came Near", c. 2004.)
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A God-given opportunity!
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We made plans, but God had something else in mind! Some of you may know that we planned to build a school for the handicapped as "Phase 3" of our Santiago ministry, starting in late 2017 or 2018. But,
God
wanted it done sooner, and provided a surprise grant this year!
Construction on the classrooms has
already begun
!
HERE IS OUR CURRENT OPPORTUNITY:
Our plan was to build an office for Lutheran Hour Ministries, a valued ministry partner. LHM agreed to rent the office that we build, which will provide cash flow to enable ongoing construction. God had other plans! A nearby house came up for sale. After careful study and deliberation, we decided to make an offer well below the asking price. We trusted that if God wanted us to have the property, He would make a way. And if He did not have that in mind for us, then the offer would be rejected.
The offer was accepted!
What does this mean? First, the house has ALL of the conditions needed by Lutheran Hour for their ministry. The building we were planning to build was about 450 sq. ft.; the house has about 700 sq. ft. It is located no more than 20 yards from our church. It is on a well-traveled CORNER LOT. AND, in the future, it can serve as a parsonage for the eventual pastor of the congregation we are planting! WOW!
The downside: The asking price was about $70,000. We offered $62,000. We already had $31,000 saved for the construction of the LHM office, leaving us with a $31,000 shortfall in funding. We know God designed this and has a plan in mind - we just don't know what it is!
Click here to see photos and more details!
We need to make payment in full by September 30, 2016. If you feel God is asking you to help us buy this house, click here, then select "CHILE: SANTIAGO MINISTRY CENTER" from the list.
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July and August did not bring any unanticipated financial "surprises", for which we give thanks to the Lord! Our support level has held steady, and we know that is because of your faithfulness in prayer and support. Thank you, and join us in praising God for the blessing of our "mission partners" - YOU!
OR
Mail a check to:
Global Lutheran Outreach
6709 Ficus Dr.
Miramar, FL
(Put "Tino" on the memo line of the check.)
Projects in need of support (click to view)
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She's here! Our first grandchild, Kyla Joy Sipp, was born to our daughter Gabriela and husband Daniel on August 23. Liisa was able to travel to Phoenix early in August and assist Gabi as she got her classroom ready for the new school year, and then to welcome baby Kyla into the world through the miracle of childbirth. Abuelo/grandpa arrived a few days after her birth and Tia Veronica, was able to take advantage of a semester break and travel here from St. Louis as well.
