Thursday, August 22, 2013

NEWS LETTER: AUGUST 2013

Developments:
Last month our pledged monthly financial support remained at 55.8% of our budget; after adding one-time donations the Lord provided 100% of our budget—our Lord IS faithful..!

* On July 13th the women of our congregation participated in the Women's Conference with Carmen Camino from CC Albuquerque at Gracia CC.

* On July 26th we hosted a missionary team of 5 people from CC Inverness. They spent a couple of days with us serving and evangelizing the streets of Miraflores. During their stay we had the privilege to be taught on our Sunday service by pastor Edward Mitchell.

* On August 1st we hosted another missionary team, this time of 31 people from CC Ft. Lauderdale. They spent a couple of days with us serving and evangelizing the surfing and skating communities of Miraflores. During their stay we had the privilege to be taught on our Sunday service by pastor Mike Rust.

* On August 3rd we received news that our last tenant had let the air conditioner of our house in Miramar, FL. pluck and slowly drain into the first floor ceiling and bathroom walls causing water damage.

* On August 10th the women of our congregation participated in the Women's Conference with Sharon Ries from CC Golden Springs at Gracia CC.

* On August 11th we had our last Sunday service before going on a three-month furlough back to the US. I laid hands on Rodolfo Monzon to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the church in my physical absence. I say physical only since I plan on being present via Skype to serve whatever urgent needs may arise.

* On August 13th we arrived in Miami and after a few setbacks with immigrations and a temporary lost bag we were warmly received by many of our friends. Thank You, Lord for loving us through them..!

* On August 15th my five-year old, Samuelito, fell off a swing and broke and dislocated his left elbow. After a couple of never ending hours of guessing by the doctors whether he needed surgery or not the consensus was that he didn't. They went on to sedate him in order to relocate his dislocated elbow back in place. The next day he had a cast put on his arm to be worn for six weeks. Today Samuelito is already playing and jumping as if nothing ever happened..! Thank You, Lord.!!

* On August 20th I was diagnosed with a full blown case of Chicken Pox at age 45--can you believe it.?! Apparently I was exposed to the virus during my last days in Peru and broke out about a week latter. Blessedly, the family that received us in their home, Mike and Noemi Ore, have all had it before and have been very supportive.

That same day, as the doctor went on to check the rest of my family he noticed a heart murmur in my middle son, Daniel, and suggested to have it checked by a cardiologist back home... In fact the murmur is back, since Daniel was born with a mild murmur that disappeared weeks later and the doctor's had not noticed it back until now.

…Yes, I feel like a minor version of Job and I'm glad that his story is recorded in the Bible for me to keep my faith strong in this season of trials that we're facing. Father, blessed be Your name for You are good when you give and when You take away..!


Online Outreach Stats (July, 2013):
* Video Ministry: 3650 "Loads" and 178 "Plays" in 9 different countries (Peru, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Germany, Japan and Venezuela--in order of most "Plays"). 

* Church Facebook: 186 People-Talking-About-This and 3819 of Total-Reach. We closed the month with 150 Likes.

* Church Web Page: 126 Visits with 68 Unique Visitors from 8 different countries (Peru, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Portugal and Urugay--in order of most Visits).

Charts of all these metrics are available here.


Furlough 2013 Needs:
* Housing: So far the Lord has provided for us a week in a timeshare in Weston, FL. donated by the Jaramillo's family and have been received by the Ore's family in Miramar, FL. for four weeks until September 15th. After that we would need another place to stay. Don't worry by then I'll be completely Chicken Pox free..!

* Transportation: The Lord provided, through the Aviles' family, a 1999 Chevy Tahoe that we can use for the whole three months! Also, Martha Leng from Plantation is letting us borrow her 2010 GMC Vera until she comes back from Peru the first week of September… At that time we could use another vehicle since the family is much more efficient having two vehicles.

* Work: This item is still pending… Since we don't have budget to sustain our expenses in Peru and the added expenses during furlough in the US, I'm still looking for a temporary job. I have an Electrical Engineering degree and used to work as a Senior RF Engineer for MetroPCS for many years. Here's my resume.


Prayer Needs:
* For a fresh and empowering view of God, that we may learn to see His goodness in all places and in all things, and that His will be done in our lives.
* For our marriage, our devotional lives, and for our kids to continue to grow in their desire to know the Lord.
* For good health to all in our family.
* For our house in Miramar, FL to be ready for rent and rented ASAP.
* For God's provision to cover extraordinary expenses of about $5000 incurred on passport renewals and homeschool materials ($2300) and on plane tickets for our coming furlough ($2700).
* For God's wisdom in remotely attending the needs of the church from the US during our furlough.
* For God's leading and provision on expanding the church.
* For a downpour of spiritual realities and an intense hunger for God in the hearts of everyone in the church, including our children and our youth.
* For the healing hand of God on the marriages of our church.
* For the development of male leadership in our church.
* For the development of healthy relational discipleship groups where our congregation truly comes to know and grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
* For our video ministry, church Facebook and church web page to reach many with the Word of God.
* For the Lord to strengthen and develop godly homeschooling here in Peru.
* For the salvation of the people of the Club Terrazas Swimming Team and beyond.
* For Divine guidance and blessing as we seek to make disciples in the peruvian cities of Huamachuco and Pachacutec, as well as in Caracas, Venezuela. Also for God to raise up local pastors for these locations that are of one mind with the vision of Calvary Chapel Miraflores.
* For our monthly financial support to remain at 100% of our budget.

Thank you for holding us up through your love and faithful work of intercession..!


In His love,
Andres, Karla, Sebastian, Daniel, and Samuel—the Garcia’s.

PS: Make sure to check out the new pictures of our recent activities to your left...