Monday, July 28, 2014

On a Wing and a Prayer



Dear Partners,

Thank you so much for your prayers for our family as Kris & Cristina were in the U.S.  Their time there was very blessed as they were able to see many extended family members and friends!  A fun and special highlight was the five-generation photo we are sharing at the bottom of this update (Karissa’s great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother were all there!).  And now we are happy to all be together again at home in Chile.

We have two specific challenges to share with you today, and ask that you would please join us in bringing these requests before our Father:

1 – The couple that we shared about several weeks ago is again going through tough times.  It seems as though the husband is giving up on trying to work things out, with a very immature attitude from what we and others are seeing. He says that he wants to move out of their house for a while to sort out his thoughts and feelings.  We, and others, have counseled him against this and have tried to encourage other ways of working through things together, but he is currently rejecting godly counsel and seems decided in the matter.  So we ask you to pray with us that the Spirit would convict him, challenge him to grow in maturity, and truly restore their marriage and family.  At the same time, please pray that no matter what the husband ends up deciding to do, that God would protect the wife and their two children, surrounding them with godly friends to encourage, help and comfort them.

2 – On a totally different subject, Gus’ neck, shoulder and arm have had a lot of pain and tension the past couple of weeks, getting progressively worse.  A massage, pain killer or muscle relaxant help temporarily, but the pain returns shortly.  Because of the symptoms we think it might be a cervical herniated disc (unrelated as far as we can tell to the herniated disc in his lower back), so he has an appointment scheduled with a specialist on Wednesday.  Please pray for God’s healing touch on Gus’ neck, shoulder and arm, as well as wisdom for the doctor to give him helpful suggestions on what should be done.  We are expecting that a CAT scan and MRI will probably be needed, as well as perhaps some physical therapy depending on what the actual diagnosis is, so please pray as well for the finances needed to cover those extra expenses.  We don’t have health insurance (our current low support rate hasn’t allowed us to afford it), and paying into the Chilean social security system only covers a small percentage of medical expenses.  

Thank you, as always, for continuing to stand in the gap with us.  We know that God is on His throne, in control, and always working good in the lives of those who love Him.  Thank you so much to those who pray and give faithfully, allowing us to serve here in Chile.  May you be blessed as you bless others in His Name! 

 (Kris' grandma, Great-Grandma, Kris, Cristina, and Kris' Mom!)