I was sitting in an men's "inner city" Bible study a few of evenings ago in Chicago when a man shared about how those small, kind comments he hears now and then are really encouraging to him. I began thinking about those "small graces" (and the bearer of those "small graces") that God has brought into my life--into our family's life.
When we sent out the "challenge" email a couple of weeks ago almost immediately I received an email from a family friend who wrote that she believed in what we were doing and confirmed the fact the she was going to support us. I can't begin to tell you how encouraged I was to read that email. And as recently as a few mornings ago I received a call from a dear friend who shared the news that he and his wife were going to support us. Then he said something I wont soon forget. He said that my wife and I will make excellent missionaries and that he was encouraged that Selene and I could serve the Lord together.
Coming from most anybody else his words would have been well received as a very nice compliment. However, the gentleman I spoke with that morning knows us very well and knew us (and counseled us) during some of the darkest and most difficult days of our marriage. Because of his intimate knowledge of us his words were especially poignant.
In between that almost "immediate email" and that phone call a few mornings ago several people have contacted us and shared their desire to pray for, and support us, as we prepare to serve as missionaries in Mexico. Thank you for those small graces, for your generosity, for your prayers.
Further, I am delighted to report that when we sent out the initial challenge email our support level was at 40.65%. Within the last few days I found out that our support level increased to an even 42%! Another one of God's small graces!
Feel free to skip around the rest of the email. Please take note of the prayer requests mentioned at the end of this email. In response to the many questions Selene and I received over the past year or so I wanted to include F.A.Q.s (and their answers!) in this email.
If I have not mentioned a question in this (or other) emails that you need answered please contact me. Our desire is to be open, transparent and honest as possible about the ministry we believe God is calling us to and about the support raising process.
F.A.Q.s
Q: When are you guys leaving??
A: We hope to have all of our support raised and start the mobilization process no later then August of this year.
Q: How much support have you raised?
A: To date we have 42% of our needed support (incoming and pledged).
Q: How can we support you?? Can we start supporting you now?
A: Pray for us! And if you feel God leading you to partner with us financially as well you can donate securely on-line at LAM.org. Or send a check to the LAM with a note indicating that you want to support the Strittar family monthly. Checks can be sent to:
Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900
Q: Do you accept one-time financial gifts?
A: We welcome one-time gifts which we will use toward our outgoing expenses. We do encourage people to prayerfully consider investing in the ministry we feel God calling us to and supporting us on an ongoing basis.
Q: Where will you be serving?
A: Initially we will be in Costa Rica (for about a year) for Spanish language training. Our ministry placement after that will be in the northern part of Mexico city for about a year or two. Then we hope to plant churches in Toluca which is about 45 minutes from Mexico city.
Q: Why do you want to go to Mexico when there is a growing Hispanic community to minister to in Chicago?
A: Because we believe God is calling us to Mexico and have witnessed, first hand, the tremendous need there.
Q: Does Selene speak Spanish? How about your children?
A: Yes. Selene is fluent in both Spanish and English. All three of our boys understand Spanish. Our oldest son, Karl, speaks the most Spanish.
Q: How long will you be in Mexico?
A: We don't know. We are prepared to live and serve in Mexico as long as God would have us.
Q: Are you open to serve God in other areas besides Mexico?
A: Of course! We are willing to serve God wherever He would have us. At this point we believe God would have us serve Him in Mexico. Before Selene and I met she was training to be a missioner nun with the Catholic church in Mexico. I have always had an interest in Missions. What we've desired to do for years has evolved into the ministry we believe God is calling us to now.
Q: Have you been to Mexico?
A: Yes. We have been to Mexico several times in the past few years.
Q: What mission agency are you going with? Why did you choose them?
A: Our mission agency is the Latin America Mission (LAM). We chose to apply with (and were accepted by) the LAM for several reasons: it's rich history of evangelical/missions work in Latin America, it's 'holistic' approach to ministry (recognizing the significance of meeting social needs in conjunction with sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ), and the fact that LAM missionaries encourage, assist and participate with and are subject to national church leaders.
We have also spent time with LAM missionaries and discovered that there is one common denominator among them: a deep love for Jesus Christ and a serious commitment to share His Gospel. I encourage you to check out the LAM website at LAM.org to find out more about them.
Q: What are you doing to prepare for the mission field?
A: We pray!! We hang-out with Mexicans! Visit Spanish speaking churches and attend services conducted in Spanish. In short, we do what we have been doing for years: we purposefully invest in peoples lives with the intent of sharing the Gospel with them, or encouraging them, or discipling/mentoring them or just simply to love them and be their friends. By the way, we would continue to do that regardless of where God calls us or has us serve Him!
Q: When are you going on your mission trip?
A: Well, we have been to Mexico several times to attend a LAM yearly Mexico retreat, visit LAM missionaries and see the ministries there are involved with and visit with family and friends. You might call those previous trips mission trips. However, our intention is to become long-term missionaries in Mexico. We intend to live in Mexico for as long as God would have us. So again, our goal is to be career missionaries in Mexico with the LAM.
Once again, please feel free to email me (or call me directly at 708-785-5170) if you need a question answered that wasn't addressed here!
Prayer Requests:
- For the spiritual, emotional and physical health of our family.
- That our family would grow closer together and closer to God.
- That we would have our support raised and be prepared to leave by August of this year.
- That we would be good stewards of the time God gives us each day.
- For the upcoming transitions to Costa Rica and to Mexico.
- That the two new teeth that our youngest son Zack is getting would grow in straight and true!
- That God would continue to provide for our daily material needs.
- Selene specifically asks that you pray for her to be patient as she home schools our boys.
- Karl Jr, Abe and Zack ask that you pray that our family would be able to get a dog.
Sincerely,
Karl & Selene Strittar
1Thess. 2:8
No comments:
Post a Comment