March Roberts Report

54% SUPPORTED

David & I sit back in awe of what God is doing right before our eyes. Over the past 6 months God has brought 22 families & 5 churches to partner with us in our ministry to Argentina. With those faithful supporters we are now over the 50% mark!!!

In our last newsletter we stated that our target date to be in Argentina was Sept. of 2009. We have since learned that the Converge missionaries that are in Tucuman, where we would be our 1st year of language school, will be back in the states at that time. We were looking forward to being mentored by them during our 1st year & are sad that we may miss that opportunity. All that to say, a date is just a date. We can’t go until we are 100% funded. If we leave in Sept. or if we leave sometime in 2010, God knows the big picture. Please pray with us as we find peace in a target date.

Late Feb. & early March we were able to take a ‘tour of Nebraska’. We were encouraged as we sat down with mission committees & pastors to share our hearts. We heard how God was moving in many churches along the I-80 corridor. The highlight of the ‘tour’ was meeting our new supporting church Arbor Drive Community Church in York, NE! We know we will be prayed for and uplifted by this supporting church. We started many life-long friendships.

March 15th we were able to share at Grace Fellowship in Lakewood, CO. We were very encouraged by many individuals who signed up for our newsletter and showed interest in Argentina. Thank you GFOL for advocating for us. http://www.gfol.org/

IN OUR FUTURE

2009 started off busy and there doesn’t seem to be a lull...which is a blessing, when you are talking about raising support. Please pray with us as we share our hearts & minister to churches. Pray that we will be led by the Holy Spirit.
March 29 - Share at Word of Life Worship Center in Gypsum, CO
April 10-20 Beth’s parents will be in town– Lots of Langlois time:)
April 26 - Share at Faith Baptist Church in Guernsey, WY

THE ECONOMY

Does the present economy make you feel like this? Do you yell and scream and still nothing changes?

OR are you turning your nose up at every government decision made of late?

OR are you trying to grab the ‘bull by the horns’ (or the bulldog by the ear) but you’re not getting anywhere?





In this economic crisis, we need to put our trust in the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will direct your path.
Prov. 3:5-6

Economic crises are not new to the country of Argentina. Argentina has abundant natural re-sources, a well-educated population, an export-oriented agricultural sector and a relatively diversified industrial base. Though no consensus exists explaining this, political instability, erratic economic policies and global trends contributed to Argentina's fall from its noteworthy posi-tion as the world's 10th wealthiest nation per capita in 1913. Its most pro-found era of economic decline came between 1930 and 1980.

*From 1976 to 1983 over 400,000 companies of all sizes went bankrupt and economic decisions made from 1983 through 2001 failed to revert the situation.

*The most challenging crisis for Argentina in recent years was a severe economic crisis from 2001-2002 which led to violent public protests and the resignation of several in-terim presidents. During that time almost 60% of Argentine’s population fell under the poverty line.

*By 2002, Argentina had defaulted on its debt (the largest in history), unemployment reached 25% and the peso had depreciated 70% after be-ing devalued.

*Recent years have seen steady economic growth. However, high inflation continues to be major issue that is continually underestimated by the government. The inflation rate in 2008 was over 15%.

Argentina is likely not done with enduring economic crises. Who knows what we will experience as missionaries there. Our goal will be to offer hope in Jesus Christ regardless of the circumstances.

GO TO THE THRONE WITH US:

*Praise the Lord for bringing new connections
*Praise the Lord for 22 families & 5 churches that are able to be on our support team.
*Praise the Lord for showing us that He CAN & IS taking care of our family.
*Pray for wisdom as to when to put our house on the market & for a buyer.
*Pray for wisdom on our departure date.
*Pray that God will lead more families & churches to partner with us.
*Pray that God will continue to move in individuals, churches, & missionaries in Argentina.

More intimate ways you can pray for Argentina

The following is an email sent to us by our precious Alvena. She is our intimate connection to Argentina. She emails & phones many believers in Argentina. She is their prayer warrior & encourager. Please read these praises & prayer needs & PRAY FOR ARGENTINA!!!


GOD IS AT WORK IN ARGENTINA, TOO!
It has been a long time since you have had an update about how God is working in Argentina. Hopefully this email will give you reasons for *PRAISE AND **REQUESTS FOR PRAYER.
* El Centro Familiar La Roca (The Rock Family Center) is alive five days a week with about 100 children eating lunch, and then after school participating in all kinds of learning experiences.
* Several people help with the meals and teaching the children: Carolina and an assistant have the older children; Patricia and an assistant, have the children who are from 5-9, and Romina (wife of Javier) with the help of several others, teach the very young ones. Martin is the chef and has a couple of helpers in the kitchen.
**Romina requests prayer for an opportunity to reach out to the mothers of the younger children. She is planning a conference where her mother will be speaking about marriage and parenting. Please pray!
* ** Carolina’s pregnancy is going well now. She and Martin are anxious for their little son to make his debut in June. The ladies in the Tuesday morning Bible study are going to send money to them the middle of April as a Baby Shower. Buying gifts here and mailing them to Argentina is not an option because the Customs Officials in Argentina make receiving boxes of things very difficult. (If any of you will want to be a part of this endeavor, please let me know.)
* Last week Francisco finished laying the tile in the rear room of La Casa. Money for operation of the center sent January 15th from the Rock of Southwest Baptist did not get into Martin’s hands until about the 20th of March! **There has been a continual problem getting funds from our church (and people who are supporting a child for $25.00) into the account for the operation of the Center. We have tried many ways, and now Scott Millar and Pastor Diego believe that maybe Western Union is the best way to go–and Martin said in his last email that the rate of exchange with Western Union is better than the banks.
* With part of the money, the tile was purchased, and also a support beam in the front porch was replaced. This latter project was a very difficult job for Martin and Francisco, but praise the Lord, neither was hurt getting it finished.
* Using a book given to them by Ruth Millar, Carolina, Patricia and Romina are teaching the older children about the names of the parts of the body, and also about the five senses. The ladies have been amazed at how little these children know. This informa-
tion is laced with Scriptures and the children are memorizing Psalm 139:13. With so much sexual abuse in the community, the ladies are hopeful that their efforts will be beneficial. ** Please pray.
* Iglesia Emmanuel has had a fresh touch from the Lord and over 200 people were in attendance on March 1st. ** Please continue to pray for Pastor Diego and his wife Sylvia as they seek to minister God’s truths to these brothers and sisters in Christ.
There has been a severe drought throughout Argentina this past year. Cattle are dying on the fields, and there has been rain only two or three times in Santiago Del Estero for the past 10 months. The costs of electricity, gas and telephone has tripled during the last year, and there are many, many without jobs. So that means that the people have to do without these utilities. ** Please pray–for jobs and for the government.
** Martin’s letter received on March 3rd stated that many parents of the children who come to the Center are out of work. If they earn ANY money, they buy drugs because the drugs ease the pain of hunger. Please pray, especially for the parents of the children attending the Center.
* Several months ago, Martin and a group of other Christian musicians prayed about opening a Music School in Santiago del Estero. Their goal is to train Christian young people who like music and then give them opportunities in local churches to use their talents for the glory of the Lord. Three of these talented young people are serving at Iglesia Emmanuel, and also are helping several hours a week at the Rock Family Center. This is surely a praise!
** Francisco and several young people from Iglesia Emmanuel travel twice a month to a town, Anatuya, to minister, teach and share the Word, and encourage a small group of Christians there. This is a rough town because there are gangs who kidnap children, and then sell body parts. How horrible! But True!
*Joel believes God wants him to get another degree in Physical Education/Coaching, which will be a means of income if God continues to lead him to be a Youth Pastor, or missionary. The university is in Catamarca, and is recognized as the best one in Argentina. This course is very difficult, and will mean living in Catamarca one week per month for 24 months. ** Please Pray.
* Danny, the artist, has painted several murals on the walls of the Center, and now believes God wants him to teach drawing to the children. ** Please pray that his talent for art and his testimony will be used by the Lord in the lives of the children.
* In Catamarca, Norma (the widow with seven children who were helped a lot by our team in 2006 by putting in windows, a door, tile in the bathroom, a stove and washer) and Gustavo were married on February 21. Ruth wrote that she was helping Norma to find a dress for the wedding and attending to some of the details. We have had no up date since then from the Millars.
* However, can you imagine how grateful Norma is to have her home now being used as a NEW CHURCH? Scott, Pastor Diego and Martin prayed together about this new work and the first service was to be last Saturday, March 7th. ** Please continue to pray for Scott and Ruth, and decisions to be made about the church plant in the east part of Catamarca. The Millars will continue to minister to the people who attended that church in the Millar home, but the building they were renting is too expensive right now. **And also pray for Pastor Julio and his wife, Maggi, as they minister at Encuentra.
* Probably the biggest blessing at the Center is that it is a new church plant!!!!! Bible studies will be offered at times during the week. Word of mouth invitations to the neighbors, and asking the parents of los ninos to attend will be a great start for the new church. But MOST of these adults do not know how to read, so teaching them about Jesus without their being able to read the Word will be a challenge to Pastor Diego and Martin. ** Please pray 1) for God to touch the hearts of people in Iglesia Emmanuel to come to assist in the launching of this new work; 2) for parents of the children and all the neighbors to hear and respond to Christ’s knocking at the doors of their hearts (Rev. 3:20); and 3) for Pastor Diego and Martin to have God’s wisdom as they reach out to people in this very poor community. Some have been involved in voodoo; others have a little Catholicism in their background. The neighbors have been asking Carolina and Martin about the music they have heard from the fiesta for the mothers and also the children singing. ** Please pray.
** Daniel Lencina in Catamarca writes that he is busy in the university, and has also begun selling herbal products. There are still some questions about whether he is a believer in the biblical sense or not. Please pray.
Thank you for reading this update. And the next one hopefully will be on its way soon!
Thank you for your prayer support for this ministry, and also to those of you who pray for and send $25.00 a month to the Rock at Southwest Baptist for feeding one child for a month. God bless you and may He continue to show Himself powerful in our lives and in the work that He is doing in Argentina.
Ephesians 3:20-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:57-58