News and Updates

As I promised last month, this month I am sharing news from Enrique and Walter about their respective ministries. 

ACI (from Enrique J. Olivera)

The ACI is having a good summer.  We have maintained a steady clientele, something that is unusual for the summer months, and we have seen consistent interest in karate, spinning, and the weight room over the course of the past year.  The pool has covered expenses, but has still not met our expectations in terms of students.  So, while we will continue to develop new activities in keeping with shifting interests, we want to make a special effort during 2012 to offer even more quality in the three biggest draws. In general terms, we would like to increase our efficiency with people as they enter the gym, and so we hope to install a card activated entrance during this year.  With respect to the weight room, one of our goals is to find a way to increase the size of the area, as our biggest impediment to good customer service here is overcrowding.  

We will also be making budgeting decisions for projects currently in standby status.  These include the replacement of the last section of the original roof, the construction of new dressing rooms for the pool area, and our desire to remodel the exterior into something more like what people here expect from a church. 

I am happy with our personnel this year.  We have a couple who have not performed up to our expectations, but we have two new professors in the weight area and a new assistant in the office in the morning that are all doing very well.  Our greatest need is still a stellar employee for the ACI who is also a member in good standing in the church.  Please keep praying for this person.

Spiritually, we hope to start up our work with the youth again, and also begin a series of informal meetings aimed at presenting the gospel to our non-christian colleagues in the ACI.  I was really encouraged by the response I received from them to our presentation during the New Year's celebration. 

We hope that this overview encourages you, and we continue to pray for the ACI's spiritual growth.  We wait expectantly for what God has for us here.  May our LORD bless you richly, and thank you for all your effort and support of the work here in Varela.  

Enrique and Edith.

Aguaray Church of Christ (from Walter Chavez)

Today, what we most want to ask of those of you who support the work of the mission here in Argentina is prayer.  I believe that we are finishing a preparation stage and about to begin an era of growth, both  in quality and number (note from Tim: when Walter talks about preparation in this context he refers to the preparation of leaders).  I know that some of you might expect the results to be visible already, but it is the LORD who sets the times for His work, and He will bring it to fruition at the right time.  I simply ask that you support us in prayer that this work might go forward with the blessing and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The vision that the Lord has given us for this stage in our ministry is to improve our presence in Him so that we might help support the missionary ministry of Envoy in Argentina.  Our fervent desire is to be able to give to the mission regularly in gratitude for everything that they have invested in our ministry, and to continue forming disciples and (spiritual) fathers of multitudes. 

The following is a list of projects and their associated costs that I have included for your information. 

Aguaray Projects (note from Tim: all prices in dollars).

1) Finish bathroom for the church, approx. cost $240.

2) Finish construction of additional room for discipleship studies, approx. $450

3) Separate entryway for church from street, approx. $210.

4) Gallery from street entrance to building, approx $160

5) Extend existing dining area in house by 7 feet to accomodate church activities, approx. $650.

6)  Purchase of a 20 hectare plot of land outside the city to build a retreat center and camp, approx $12,000.

7) Purchase of a 60 meter by 100 meter plot of land in town to build  the next church building as we outgrow our current facility, approx. $20,000.

Thank you all for your prayers.  God bless you.

Walter Chavez,

Aguaray.


Figgins Family

Vanesa, Zoe and I have officially ended our time at the Varela Center Christian Church in order to focus on the new church plant.  Vanesa is planning on expanding her catering work, and I will be starting additional English classes.  The primary focus of the new work, however, will be in the neighborhood (barrio) of San Martin, where our new house is located.  We signed the intent to buy contract, and are waiting for the last of the paperwork to go through before we can take possession.  Given that there is a judicial holiday that lasts for the majority of January, we will probably not be able to take possession until late February or early March.  In the meantime, we are preparing ourselves for the move and I will be meeting with the two men (I will be referring to them as John and Titus, though those are not their real names) that live in the barrio who have expressed an interest in discipleship.  Please pray with me for their growth, our time together, and the birth of the new church.  This is also the neighborhood where the congregation meets whose members have expressed an interest in affiliating with the Christian Church.  There are still several meetings with the pastor and other leaders that have to take place before we see if this is really a viable option, but we continue to pray that God will open doors.  Personally, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers for Vanesa's health.  While we still have to monitor a number of things, she is feeling much better, is exercising regularly again, has more energy and has begun to lose weight.  I am very happy to see her start enjoying life to the fullest!  Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.

That all we may do or say resound to the glory of God the Father!

in peace,

Tim Figgins

Missionary

Envoy Christian Mission