Greetings to each of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We trust that this letter finds you experiencing the power and hope of the gospel for your daily lives, for your families and for your ministries.  I have been encouraged in the gospel during our time of vacation this month, in particular as I've been reading my Bible and two great books that I highly recommend: Humility: True Greatness by CJ Mahaney and Don't Waste your Life by John Piper.  I've been reflecting on the wonder of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and how meditating on the cross should produce both humility and a burning passion for his glory above all else in our lives. 

Please pray for us this year that God would give us these attitudes in our inner man: humility and a burning passion for his glory above all else in our lives and that these attitudes would shape and define our marriage, family and ministry. 

Here too is a brief list of other things to be praying for this month:

Praise

1. A much needed time of R and R in February.  God blessed it to give us physical, mental and emotional rest and spiritual renewal.  We're going back into ministry feeling greatly strengthened in the Lord.  
2. Continued spiritual growth in Luz de Vida church.  
3. Susan Crenshaw, one of our two year missionaries, has extended her time another year to work with the girls' home.   
4. Amanda Ross had her baby in January, Janna Hope.  Mom and daughter are healthy and whole.  
5. Laura Salvatierra had her baby in February, Ethan Matthew.  Mom and son are healthy and whole.

Prayer

1. For our marriage and family and parenting.  The children are back in school, which started March 3.  Specifically we’d appreciate prayers for God to give us better and deeper communication with our kids and a gospel orientation in our goals and our methods of parenting.  
2. For Lori's ministry in our home with our family and in the church with women's discipleship.  
3. For Mark's ministry as church planter, team leader and country director, that he would be able to fulfill his responsibilities in each of these areas by the power of the Spirit in the midst of weakness, while especially being able to concentrate on what he believes God has primarily called him to this year which is the discipleship of the men on our team and church plant, teaching, preaching and prayer.  
4. For the Ward's to get the rest of their monthly support in.  
5. For our mission to be able to have a country retreat in May.  
6. For Maximina, an elderly woman in our church who is to have a hysterectomy (she may have had it while we've been away), for her recovering and healing.  
7. For the Casa de la Gloria girls’ home we are in the process of getting legal and opened to receive pregnant teen moms.  Amanda Ross is our missionary dedicating herself to this mercy ministry.

That is how we'd like you to pray for us this month.  We are as always deeply grateful for your prayers, and treasure them as the life blood of our ministry.

Much love in Jesus,

Mark for all

- March 14, 2009