Grace without performance
I was sad and angry at the poor performance of Argentina’s soccer team during the world cup. I was watching the game in disbelief of how bad the Argentine coach had planned the game strategy against Germany. I’m a soccer fan every four years J. I do not care about soccer the rest of the time.
One good thing of Argentina’s failure was how people in Argentina received the “losers” at the airport as they were coming from South Africa. The people of Argentina cheered them as “victorious.” It helped me to remind the Grace of God in Christ Jesus. We are all “losers” but in Christ we are more than “Victorious.”
All of a sudden I found one good things among many bad things in my country. I found that I felt proud of Argentina’s display of grace.
Here you can have a bit of how the people received the “Victorious losers”
The Family
The family is doing well right now. However we had our little Daughter Lara sick two times. She had a throat infection. The problem was that she was vomiting badly for two days. We had to take her to the ER and put some medicine to stop the vomit. The amazing thing was that at one point I was so desperate in the ER that I started to send prayer request to people that can pray for her. After that I could see that she got better, even before she received any medicine.
She got sick again after 2 weeks but not as bad. I could give her the medicine right on the spot and that prevented the vomiting.
Claudia has something in her leg, right on the knee. It seems to be an infection, but we are not sure. It hurts a lot. So please pray for her.
Martin Jr. is big. He already has a shoe size 8, Unbelievable! The other day we were fighting for fun and he threw a kick at me and if I had not guard myself, I’m pretty sure he would have broken my ribs.
Natasha is doing well at school and is a great friend. All kids want to sit with her because she is so kind.
Ministry
One on One
I spend about 14 hours a week in personal discipleship, one on one style with 5 young guys. Their Names so you can pray are:
1. Paulo (pray for a revelation of his true identity in Christ)
2. Pablo (pray that God would show him his ministry and gifting)
3. Alejandro L. (pray for maturity in life and decisions)
4. Alejandro C. (pray for strengths in his temptations)
5. Marcelo (pray for a spiritual understanding of the gospel)
School
I have 6 different levels of high school students that I teach every week. God has been working in them through the different activities that I have lead them to do. Last week I had them watched the movie “Mom at sixteen” that deal with the drama of a teen girl who gets pregnant. They had to do a movie report and I could see that God did use the movie to make them think about sex and responsibility. That God is not capricious in asking from us certain things; He wants our good.
Argentine Navigators
I have a roe also as the president of the Argentine Navigators. Much of this work I enjoy. Sometimes though, I have to deal with conflict and sin. Sometimes I’m convinced that I do not fit the job. A month ago I thought that I had to quit. Satan gave me a blow with a situation involving a close friend that made me considering if I have any value as a leader. God who is rich in mercy help me to put things in perspective and taught me a lot. Thanks for those who prayed for me.
Couple Ministry
We finish our 2nd couple Bible study based on the movie “Fireproof” It went very well. We had a non believer couple. He is the brother of a dear friend. He never had wanted to participate in anything Christian. He came and enjoyed it. He said at one point: “We have to keep doing this, because it is so good!” Claudia and I were very pleased with his comment :)
We finish the time with a renewal of marital vows. It was a very moving moment most of the time.
Here is Pablo with His wife Karina
One thing we did this time is to include the children during the vows it was unbelievable how concentrated they were.
There we are promising each other enduring love
We believe in holistic spirituality - We nurture our souls and our bodies as well. :)
In my vows to Claudia I used a very old song by Steve Curtis Chapman that I had listened while in Russia and I said to myself: “One day I’ll sing this song to my future wife” Well… I didn’t sing it but read it to her:
| Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up And the sun does not appear I...I will be here If in the dark we lose sight of love Hold my hand and have no fear 'Cause I...I will be here I will be here... When you feel like bein' quiet When you need to speak your mind I will listen And I will be here When the laughter turns to cryin' Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin' We'll be together 'Cause I will be here Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up And the future is unclear I...I'll be here Just as sure as seasons are made for change | Our lifetimes are made for years I...I will be here I will be here.... You can cry on my shoulder When the mirror tells us we're older I will hold you And I will be here To watch you grow in beauty And tell you all the things you are to me I will be here I will be true To the promise I have made To you and to the One who gave you to me I...I will be here And just as sure as seasons are made for change Our lifetimes are made for years 'Cause I... I will be here.... We'll be together 'Cause I will be here |
You may want to read it to your wife or sing if you can :) I realize what the song says is impossible to do without Christ. The more I try to live in love in my own strength the more frustrated I become. In Ephesians 2:15 Paul says that Christ created a new man and in 4.24 says that we need to put on the new man. Jesus created a reality and we have to take ownership of it. I’m learning and I’m falling all the time to put on the new self created in Jesus. What about you? Do you have any understanding about putting on the “new you” created in Jesus that you might share with me?
Thanks so much for your prayers and support. We need them! You are working with us here in Argentina. Much of what we can do is possible for you there backing us up. Thanks!
¿Please can you considering adding your support to our ministry if you are not doing it already? Here is the info:
If you would like to give to our ministry, call The Navigators @ (719) 598-1212 and tell them you'd like to give to Clario Martin Bonandini Acc. # 183673. They will guide you in the process.
