"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep (there was chaos), and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
We are living in a time of turmoil (I learned this word 15 years ago reading a book describing the turmoil Russia was going through during those years) There is no moral form and a huge emptiness is present in most hearts. Darkness is all over. All the things that were giving us security are collapsing, things that some people thought would never happen are happening.
We can stop here, get a bottle of something and get depressed (and drunk maybe) but there is a great second part of the verse of genesis 1.2,
"and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters"the Spirit of God was present even when Chaos was all over. The Idea of the Hebrew word for "hovering" is of a bird flying around its pichons. It is like the spirit was waiting for something to happend and then we have verse 1.3
"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light"
The spirit was waiting the proclamation of the Word of God and the very first thing God created was LIGHT and it was good!
So it got me thinking about proclaming God's promises in the midst of Chaos. I imaging the Spirit waiting for me to proclaim God's promises to act and create Light in the midst of darkness. Sometimes I get caught up in seeing just the chaos instead of proclaiming God's truth in the Chaos.
Well I just wanted to share it with you I have received encouragement from this 2 verses recently.
Summary of what We'll be involved this year:
- We're lining up a team of people coming to do practical work in few weeks March 13-20 so will be doing cement mix, digging, cleaning, painting and many other things in poor areas of Buenos Aires with churches we have contact.
- Time With Henry Clay 21-30 of March including a trip to Chile to visit Ariel Medina who used to be in on discipleship team Henry and I had many years ago.
- In March I start as professor of Christian Ethics at a nearby Christian School. I taught there last year also and had many opportunities to share Christ with teens and some of their parents.
- I'll also be teaching English in a Lutheran seminary where I'll also will have the opportunity to connect with young nominal Christians and help them in their walk with the Lord.
- March 10th I will be taking my last year of my career of Counseling. I need to find some sponsors for this. I have some but need more.
- I was offered the presidency of the Argentine Navigators in the place of Dan Travis who served us in this position over 20 years if I'm not mistaken. So please pray for me, it will not be easy to have the humility and love of this man of God.
- We will continue with the Bible Studies and I'll focus on three men: Sebastian, Gustavo and Marcelo who were contacted through the summer teams we have every year.
- In May we'll receive a fine young lady to help us in the ministry. Her name is Mary Claire and she will come for a survey time to seek God's will to pursue a longer time here in Argentina. Pray for Her.
- June and July we have the summer team (summer in the US, here cold winter) we're planning and will lead the team into friendly evangelism and Discipleship.This is actually a lot of work but we can see how blessed we are through them. Pray for us.
It looks like a lot but if God helps me to organize myself will be not a big deal.
Some things that will need your prayers:
- My daughter Natasha will most likely repeat the first grade. She has some learning problems and the professionals are all on vacations now and we do not know what is the problem. We contacted a pedagogical counselor but so far we have nothing. Please pray for Natasha.
- I have to find a nursing home for my mom within the health care system in Argentina. Everybody tell me that that is almost impossible, So then it is up to God to solve it. I can't pay what I'm paying now much longer in the nursing home she is in. In Argentina we have suffered increments of 300% in some home services and the same in food, so I need faith and confidence that God is in control.
- This year I want to be clear with the message of Christ. I'm concerned for some of the people we have in our groups. So I want to share during the Bible studies in a clear and honest way what Christianity is all about.
- Pray for my family - as with any job family sometimes gets left behind :( I do not want that to happen - please pray.
Other Stuff
We had our 11th anniversary January 10th 2009 we went out to eat and have fun. We foresee an eternity being together.
So much for now. However I ask you to please pray for us; we need you and your prayer. Thanks so much for your support and company all these years.
Martin Bonandini
