2012 starts with many challenges for our ministry (i.e. the dollar has plummeted, prices has risen, the number of kids going to regular schools has increased, etc.), but we started the year as a team with firm foundations, looking for God and His will.
Katrina awoke in the early hours of the night in the beginning of the year with the thought that our team should focus this year in the different aspects of the Lord’s Prayer. So before our team started the regular activities of the year, we had a week-long induction focusing on the different themes related to this prayer. 5 of the 6 members of the leadership team (Steve and Evie, Sonia, and Katrina and myself) took one portion of the Lord’s Prayer and led the team meetings for the week. We studied together topics such as God´s holiness, the fear of God, dependence on Him, listening to His heart, worship and obedience, faith, confession and forgiveness, repentance, building solid relationships, unity, mutual love, trials, distractions, perseverance, and spiritual warfare among others. It´s incredible all the themes that encompass Jesus´ prayer. 25 different team members participated leading worship, the devotionals, games, lectures, etc. It was an amazing way to start the year and building unity among the team.
Since Katrina still leads de Administration team, one of her major challenges this year is to try to reduce ministry´s expenses to the full, raise funds, motivate new staff, coordinate all the logistics involved in a mercy ministry, and homeschool two kids! What an extraordinary woman God has giving me!!! I wish I could do at least two of those things at the same time!
This year I will be leading The Jungle Bible club in Bogota’s red district zone one Saturday per month, (others in the team will take the other three Saturdays), continue being the Director’s personal assistant, organizing visiting teams, and co-leading Youth With A Mission in Bogota. There are 9 different YWAM ministries in Bogota, being Formando Vidas just one of them. There is a Discipleship Training School, a School of Biblical Studies, three mercy ministries, mobile teams, King’s kids, YWAM editorial and soon a family ministry. I will oversee YWAM in Bogota with two others. I will also continue translating a youth devotional magazine as a tent-making for a local church. The magazines have been printed in 14 Spanish speaking countries already.
On the family front, God is prompting us to experience Him daily in a very real way, looking after Him through special quiet times, Bible reading, worshiping, sharing and involving in our local church. We plan to continue facilitating a home group, and participating in the evangelistic outreaches to the students in the public schools and their families. Our church has shown this year a special interest in our ministry and we are looking forward to having many people from church involving in what we do. This coming Saturday we have a meeting to plan their involvement.
Every day I thank God for the beautiful family He has giving me. Alex is growing very fast physically, emotionally and spiritually into a young man of God. I’m so happy to see that even though he is an adolescent with the same challenges that teen-age years bring, he still has the innocence of a child. He helps in the bible clubs on Saturdays with me, so it’s been quite an experience ministering as father and son. It’s so cool!!
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| Uncle Bruce and Alex |
Simon and Gaby continue being homeschooled. So far I see it as a very positive experience (maybe because I’m not the one teaching them), just kidding!! It’s been a time of bonding more with our kids. This year the three will continue to be involved in the extracurricular activities sponsored by the local township where we live. Alex will be participating in basketball and music, Simon in basketball, music and chess; and Gaby in Ballet. That’s great!!!
Last week was very special as we hosted my brother-in-law Bruce and his wife Paula, who came to visit from Sydney. It was nice to see them and spend time with them. I was especially happy that Katrina felt closer to her homeland and her family by having Bruce and Paula with us. They brought Simon’s favorite biscuits among other Kiwi goodies.
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| Bruce in downtown Bogota |
I can’t stop thanking God for all of our family and friends. Thank you for partnering with us in this call that God has given us.
With much love,
Carlos for all.
