August Prayer Letter

Here is a sneak peek at my August prayer letter, hitting mail boxes in a couple week....click here.

June Prayer Requests

June prayer requests from WMF Argentina are now on the WMF website.  CLICK HERE...June Prayer Requests

December Prayer Letter & Prayer Requests

My December prayer letter is now posted on the Word Made Flesh website, as well as December prayer requests from our WMF Argentina community. To read them, click on the links below...

December Prayer Letter -

Advent in the Southern Hemisphere

December Prayer Requests from WMF Argentina

one more update from california

In two days I head back to Buenos Aires after almost two months in the United States. July included our WMF Staff Gathering in Nebraska, fun times with friends in Omaha, and sweet times in Toronto visiting my sister & crew! August was spent in California with family and friends. As many of you know, my mom was diagnosed with endometrial cancer this month. I extended my stay about 10-days to have some extra time to absorb it all, support, and accompany my mom and dad during these days. I am so very grateful I was able to be here for her surgery and these first three weeks of recovery. My sister and oldest niece will arrive to Cali for a visit two days after I leave!

My mom was asked to consider a clinical trial for her treatment. After sorting through all the materials, studying, and asking lots of questions to the doctor, my mom has decided to participate in this treatment trial at UCI Medical Center. She will now be randomly selected for one of two treatment options they are researching for her type and stage of cancer. She will either have the standard chemotherapy OR a combination of chemo and radiation. Currently, chemo is the standard treatment for her cancer, but they are hoping that a combo with radiation will decrease the chances for the cancer to return. Obviously, the radiation treatment will be much more involved, but she (and we) feel peace about whichever option she is selected for. Both treatment options last 18-weeks.

This weekend I am feeling extra sad about leaving and saying goodbye. I will miss being here during this time. Thank you for your love, care, notes, and prayers for my mom and family. I am confident that all that support and prayer will continue to encourage and sustain each step of the way. We trust in God’s ongoing abiding nearness, grace, peace, and healing! I plan to blog (or email) updates along the way.

Next Steps in Partnership for WMF Argentina

Our Buenos Aires community just posted a letter sharing some next steps in partnership with our Argentine friends who serve alongside us here. To read more, click here:
http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/argentina/2010/03/nextstepsinpartnership/

March Prayer Requests from WMF Argentina

Our community just posted some March prayer requests on the WMF Argentina blog. To partner with us in prayer, click here....

http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/argentina/2010/03/march-prayer-requests-from-buenos-aires/

H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Buenos Aires

The H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) has hit Argentina pretty hard in recent weeks. This week the government announced closing schools for the month of July (the last two weeks of the month are already winter vacation for kids here). They are also discouraging any public gatherings to curtail the spread of the virus. See my prayer requests below for more specifics.

However, since sharing our prayer needs yesterday, we have now decided to cancel Encuentros for the month of July. Encuentros is our twice a month overnight gathering with the youth from the train station. As a precautionary measure, our church has canceled all gatherings for children, youth, and adults for the month, with the exception of an hour worship service on Sundays. This is happening throughout the city in churches and social/civic organizations.

My last prayer letter and prayer requests indicated how meaningful our Encuentros gatherings with the youth have been in recent months. We shared the news with them yesterday. They were disappointed, but understanding of the situation and need to cancel. It is extra disappointing to cancel during the winter season, since Encuentros provides our friends a safe, warm place to sleep a couple nights a month.

Please pray for God’s best this month. Pray that the spread of the virus would be limited in the weeks ahead. Pray that we can find special ways to connect with our friends and encourage them during this time. And pray that God would protect their health.

July Prayer Requests

Here are some prayer needs for July from Buenos Aires. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer!

1) The winter chill has settled in for a few months. Please pray for our friends who live on the streets who spend their days and nights in the cold. Our friends who live in poor communities outside the city also lack heat in their homes made of plywood and tin. Pray that they would find places to stay warm and have adequate clothes and blankets for the season. The cold only intensives the stress on our friends, which in some can lead to more alcohol and drugs to numb the cold and reality of life. Pray that we can be sensitive and attentive to these realities and provide encouragement when needed.

2) The H1N1 virus (a.k.a. swine flu) has hit Argentina this winter flu season. The government recently announced that schools will close a couple weeks early for winter vacation in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. Other precautions are being taken during the month of July, as well. People living in poor communities are at risk of having the virus and going untreated. Please pray for our friends who live in these communities or on the streets. Pray that they would be protected from catching this virus, especially the younger children and young women who are pregnant. Pray for adequate access and treatment for those who are sick and need medical attention.

Here is the latest update on H1N1 from 7/2/09 in English from Buenos Aires Herald.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/5268

3) Thank you for praying for our afternoons at the train station (Retiro) with the children and youth. We have shared some special interaction and time together with our friends recently. Through these times at the train station we have established some new friendships with a few youth who we have invited to join our Encuentros overnight gathering at the church twice a month. Please pray for opportunities to visit their homes outside the city.

4) Encuentros continues to be a significant part of our ministry among the children and youth. Last week we had 8 youth and several children attend this overnight gathering at the church. In addition to providing a safe warm place to sleep, we enjoy meals together around the table, activities, and a Bible reflection lead by our pastor here. Pray that God would continue to use these times together in significant and meaningful ways.

5) The Dean family returns to Buenos Aires on July 9 after almost two months of maternity/paternity leave. Please pray for their final days with family and friends in Alaska, where Jeremiah is from. Pray that they would come back rested and refreshed. We look forward to their return to our Buenos Aires community and have planned a few extended times together to catch-up later this month.

back in la boca hood!

I have now been back in Buenos Aires for almost two weeks. I still can’t get over how fast the weeks zoom by! Beside all my heavy bags, I also brought back a cold/flu bug from California that slowed me down for about a week. Thankfully, I stocked up on more Dayquil and Nyquil to take the edge off and get me through the days and nights. I am now feeling a lot better!

My first week back included a couple days away on retreat with our WMF community. There is a retreat center about an hour outside the city that rents out a large three bedroom apartment. It was a perfect spot for us all to be together, especially with the kids. Lots of open outdoor space to enjoy the summer sun (and big trees and gazebos to enjoy the summer shade!). It was good to be back with the Dean and Forcatto families and catch-up on life together! In addition to just hanging out and sharing meals together, our time included space for individual solitude with God one afternoon, as well as good conversations about the year ahead. It was a great way to kick-off the new year together!

This past week has included regrouping and reconnecting. It was great to reconnect with our friends at the train station (Retiro). Summertime is a slower pace here in Buenos Aires, so the vibe is a little more low key. I also had a good week catching up, reviewing Spanish, and making plans for the new year.

I will start back with my Spanish tutor this week ahead before the more intensive month-long class in February.

We recently posted our community prayer requests for January, if you would like to join us in prayer! Click here...January Prayer Requests

off to peru

Early Saturday I am off to Peru for the WMF South America Regional Retreat in Huanchaco Beach in the northern city of Trujillo, Peru. These regional retreats happen every three years. I am really looking forward to this time with our WMF communities from Bolivia, Brasil, and Peru. It will be great to have some beach time, as well! After the retreat I will spend a few extra days in Lima taking in all God is doing there. I will be back in Buenos Aires on November 5.

We have posted some new prayer requests for Argentina if you want to check them out, click here.

It really does feel like spring here. We have had several consecutive days of warm temps and sunshine! It felt good to finally pack aside some of my warmer clothes! I am loving being outside and exploring new places in the city when I have time. Last weekend we "sprung ahead" our clocks an hour, which now makes it a five-hour time difference from California. When California "falls back" and hour next weekend, we will then have a six-hour time difference. (In case you care!)

See you in November!

sneak peek

Here's a sneak peek at my October prayer letter on the WMF website. If you would like to be added to my snail mail mailing list, just let me know!
October Prayer Letter - Click Here.

still here....

In case anyone still checks my blog after over a month absence….I’m still here and really do hope to get back into blogging and writing more soon. I know I keep saying that. For some reason, it has been difficult to find time and space to write on a more consistent basis. Don’t give up on me…hopefully, soon! I do miss it.

Thank you to all who have been praying for my grandfather and family. My grandpa’s health has been declining fast these recent weeks. The hospice nurse told my family yesterday that she believes he has 1-2 weeks left before passing. He is so ready to go to heaven! I was able to quickly speak with him about two weeks ago, which was special. He recently told my mom that Jesus holds his hand. It is a comfort to know that grandpa is experiencing God’s presence near him during these final days. Please pray for him and my grandma, who is caring for him full-time at home with the help of hospice. She is tired. It is hard to be away during times like this. But, God continues to give my family all comfort and peace across the miles. And Skype sure helps us stay in touch along the way!!

The Dean family returned to our community here in Buenos Aires this past weekend after a leave of absence! The doctors in the U.S. confirmed that Jordan is experiencing febrile seizures. They will continue to be an issue and concern when Jordan is sick with a fever, but they ruled out any longer term health issues and complications. He should out grow these seizures in a few years. We are happy to have them all back with us and look forward to sharing life, community, and mission once again. Thanks for your prayers!

I do hope to share more soon, but I at least wanted to post these prayer updates for now.

pray for south africa!

Violence in South Africa continues to escalate against people who “foreigners” in South Africa. Most of these people have come to South Africa from other African countries. There are many, many reasons. Many come to escape war, oppression, suffering, and poverty. Some of my South African friends in Cape Town use the term “xenophobic attacks” to describe what is happening (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia).

Here is the latest BBC article on the spread of the violence and tension in Cape Town today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7416256.stm.

Please pray for The Warehouse (http://www.warehouse.org.za) and SHADE (http://www.shade.org.za) communities as they seek to respond and stand up against the violence, fear, and hate. I spent time with these communities when I was in Cape Town and learned so much from them. The Warehouse is now responding to provide shelter for people looking for safety and fearing attacks on themselves and families. It sounds like the situation is worsening by the hour, as families are being chased out of their homes.

Please join me in prayer!

may prayer request

New Argentina community prayer requests for May have been posted on the WMF website.
Click here.

one month in buenos aires!

Tomorrow I have been here one full month! God continues to go before me...day by day, step by step!

April prayer requests for the Buenos Aires community and ministry have just been posted on the WMF website. Click here to check them out.

Here is a picture of the argentinos and norteamericanos (minus Jeremiah) serving among the youth on the streets here. Last Saturday we met together to discern, envision, and pray about what God has ahead. Our Argentine friends from the church here are committed to the youth and open the church doors on Wednesdays for fellowship and community. We kicked things off on this past Wednesday. We had a fun time of friendship, sharing a meal, and some ping pong. I helped prepare the spaghetti lunch...my goal of improving my cooking skills. Just call me "Cocinero David." HA!

commissioning & prayer requests

I have already been back from Omaha almost a week. It was a fun week of special times and memories with family and dear friends. Word Made Flesh officially welcomed me to share life and ministry in Argentina for three years! The weekend included a meaningful commissioning service for several of us joining the WMF family. It was extra special to have my parents, sister, and Christian & Sonya Gray attend the service.

I have now posted my first prayer letters on the Word Made Flesh web site. You can check them out at: http://wordmadeflesh.com/support/pray-prayerletters.php?staff=124. If you want to be added to my snail mailing list, just let me know.

Here are some prayer requests I included in my December prayer letter:
· First and foremost, please pray that in all things I remain rooted in abiding relationship and intimacy with Jesus!
· Please pray for my remaining financial support needs and God’s best timing for my departure to Buenos Aires.
· Please pray for all the preparations before I leave. I have books to read, paperwork to complete, logistics to handle, and stuff to pack, while soaking in sweet times with family and friends before I leave.
· Please pray for me as I settle into life and ministry in Argentina. I will be living with an Argentine roommate or host family during my first few months there. I will then look for a place of my own in the La Boca neighborhood where WMF staff, Walter and Adriana Forcatto, already live.
· Please pray that I will adjust and learn Argentine culture and Spanish quickly.
· Please pray for leadership wisdom and guidance, as I help direct and facilitate the WMF community in Argentina through a process of spiritual formation and covenant to one another.
· Please pray for our new community in Argentina. Jeremiah and Jennifer Dean, along with children Jordan and Selah will arrive around the same time as me. We will join the Forcatto family who has already been there three years.
· Please pray for opportunities for relationships with the youth on the streets and people in the neighborhoods. Pray that I may radiate and represent Jesus in the way I love and live. Pray that I will evangelize and proclaim His Kingdom as hope to those in desperate need of Him.

At my commissioning with Donja (my sister), parents, and Christian & Sonya Gray.

Commissioning prayer time.

The WMF Board & Staff attending the weekend.

One final picture with the WMF Board. I will miss serving alongside these friends twice a year in Omaha.