Dear Family and Friends,
We're counting down the days to our arrival in the US next Tuesday, December 9. We'll be in NC through the end of February for our HMA (Home Mission Assignment), we are really looking forward to seeing many of you during this time, and we'll be living in the Arden Presbyterian Church mission house!
Thinking of life logistics for our time stateside, we thankfully have one car already lined up that a supporter will be loaning us. As we will be going in opposite directions at times, we are looking for a gently used, comfy for long trips and fuel efficient second car for loan, rent or to buy - please let us know if anyone has any leads.
Recent ministry tidbits
- Dan and Jan Jenny from Pennsylvania have been a special part of the ministry here in recent months, as they have been teaching many English classes; helping with lots of church activities, programs, and repairs; working at a local girls home; and helping lead our church youth group. We enjoyed celebrating a very nice Thanksgiving dinner with them (along with a few other gringos, complete with turkey and pumpkin pie) in the house that they've been sitting, and then they'll be sitting our house and dogs while we're gone. Please pray that the Lord will continue to grant the Jennys His grace and strength as they minister in the next few months, and that language issues would not be a deterrent to Christ's love being shown.
- Marriage seminar with Roger Dye - A couple weekends ago, we had the pleasure of hosting a marriage seminar at our church. Roger, an MTW pastor-missionary, came down from Reñaca to lead "Enamorados a Propósito" (Deliberately In Love). After a great deal of promotion, and also after some initial disappointment (when some of the primary couples that we had in mind for the seminar told us that they couldn't attend), God surprised us all with the people He had in mind to bring. Many couples were touched and challenged to live out God's principles in order to find joy and intimacy in their marriages. Please pray that all of the couples that attended will stay encouraged, and that the non-Christian couples will be drawn to Christ.
Recap
As we get ready to have some face time with our supporters, we reflect on some of what we have seen God do in these last 4 years. Our primary goal has been to be a support to our Chilean pastor Alex Frites and family and the fledgling church here in Osorno. If there is one thing we’ve done well, we hope it’s that. It has been about three years since Alex was ordained. And we have been through a lot of tumultuous times together and seen a lot of change. Currently we have a small congregation and maybe half of them are new believers. It has been a joy to work with so many who have experienced the change that the gospel can make. And it’s been sad to see many of these who were a bright spot be taken to other cities with their jobs, and to see others leave for lesser reasons.
As missionaries, another primary goal is to work ourselves out of a job. Currently, there are only a handful of people helping lead in any capacity besides the Frites and ourselves, even though we have tried very hard to see leaders raised up and trained. Unfortunately, we don’t believe the church is ready to stand on its own. We believe that the Lord wants us to continue in this work here, yet much like many of you in this tough global economic situation, we find ourselves in a financial crunch. We are doing what we can to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us, have made cuts, and continue to search for ways to trim our costs even more.
Support raising
One of the purposes of our HMA this winter is to inform and to raise needed support. It will be challenging to raise the approximately $1,200 per month in support needed to be able to return as a family at the end of February. Our children, who will be on summer break, start their school year in early March. From our perspective, having to extend our stay in the US, or the girls and Marilyn having to return without me, would really complicate matters. We trust in the God of endless resources. Of course He is not limited by our schedules and we ask that you would join us in praying that God would reaffirm His will by providing for whatever He calls us to do.
We already have engagements lined up with several supporting churches, but we would also like to contact new churches or individuals for potential support. We know this is a tough environment economically right now for everyone, but please let us know of any leads you might have.
As always, many, many thanks for all your love, support and prayers. We couldn't do it without you!
Much love in Jesus,
Greg for the Senters
Mailing address after Dec. 9th:
2217 Hendersonville Rd.,
Arden, NC 28704
Phone: (828) 684-5487
Web site: www.mtwla.org/people/gsenter.htm
Contributions should be sent to:
Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284
(include account # 016869)
