A missionary's confession

To be completely honest one of the things I struggle with is to sit down and make time to write an update. Its not that I don't want people to pray or that I am not excited about communicating with others about what is going on in our lives here, not at all. I would say that written communication is probably my least favorite form of communication. I struggle to write emails or anything written for that matter (even when I prepare my sermons I don't like to write too much out). I much rather face to face. However, the very nature of being a missionary requires written communication.

We know as missionaries how critical it is for people to pray for us and to be informed enough so that they can pray well for us. Our work depends on our team at home (who support us through their giving and prayer) and so we value greatly your consistent giving and consistent praying.

We also know how hard it is to take time on your side to read an update so we struggle to communicate in a way that will make our letter worth the time to read it. For example, one book I read years ago on writing newsletters said there should be one major story (like a sermon that has one major point) that flows through the letter. I don't know how consistent I have done that but I am going to guarantee that I am going to break that pattern in this letter.

As I was struggling to know what to write about (since its been two months), I made a list of topics that are some of the things I considered telling you about. How do I communicate in a letter some of the complexity of the mission field?

Since I am completely breaking the pattern with this letter, let me just share with you the whole list of things that were on my mind to expand on. I will just list them to give you a broad scoop of life here in the last two months and then suggest some ways you can pray for us. The list is long, you ready?....

- Mike our pastor: He's had more heart trouble - Please pray

- John, Janice, Diana and Leslie's visit: A wonderful encouragement from the missions office at the end of May

- Nine Marks of a healthy church: We have been reading this book as a team. Its been an encouragement (check out their web page 9marks.org)

- Sermons at church: The last couple of messages I've preached on Sex from 1 Corinthians (chapter 6 some advice to singles, chapter 7 some advice to married people). We continue to move forward in this book. Its been fun! Pray that God would use them greatly.

- Alu starts school: Alaina started school not too long ago. She's not real excited but she's getting used to it.

- No electricity for a while: We had a challenging week of six days without electricity (just our house) along with various other trials (muscle injury, sickness, etc.)

- Meeting with Worship Team: I have been meeting with a couple of guys from the worship team and we are studying the Old Testament.

- Theology Class: We're almost at the end of the semester. Tonight we will do the doctrine of angels.

-City Bell Outreach: We have a Bible on Sunday mornings that is growing (Kurt and George have been doing this) I will be going out for the first time this Sunday morning to teach

- Upcoming Chaco Trip: Lot of planning involved with a medical mission trip with argentines, and DBC folks. PRAY that God would use the trip beyond our expectations.

- STINT: We have a team of four singles (two girls and two guys) that are here for a year. We're excited that they are here.

-Team: George and Emily are moving to La Plata with us this week. Kurt and Lore will be in the US in August for a few months. We have our year team retreat in a few weeks.

- Pregnancy: 3rd trimester!! 4D sonogram coming up on Monday!

- Couples group: Friday's we meet for a couple's Bible study at our house!

- Womens ministry: Once a month all of the ladies of the church are invited to our house. Last week about 40 came!

-Upcoming Trip from Charles Stolfus: He will be sharing on homosexuality and intelligent design with leaders, with our church and on campus.

Pray for our relationship with Christ to be strong, for our marriage to be strong, for our family to be strong and as a result our ministry to be strong!

Wow! I'm done!

Posted July 2, 2008 by Greg and Carolina.

 


Archives:

08-24-2010 The "one anothers" in Scripture
03-24-2010 D-day
12-21-2009 Merry Christmas
11-04-2009 Learning to Pastor
07-11-2009 Safety, Sickness and the Sovereignty of God
04-15-2009 A police officer's hospitality
01-30-2009 New beginnings
10-03-2008 Skype phone
10-02-2008 Visas, Shots and Protesters
09-04-2008 Travel and Sickness II (photos and update)
07-27-2008 Medical Mission Trip
07-02-2008 A missionary's confession
04-30-2008 Life in La Plata
02-22-2008 Returning Home
01-28-2008 Take to the World
12-22-2007 Merry Christmas!
12-05-2007 An update on Mike Terry (our pastor)
11-27-2007 Please pray for our pastor in Argentina
10-14-2007 WHAT´S A HOME SERVICE?
04-04-2007 TEAM MINISTRY
02-01-2007 Exaltation of The Cross
12-07-2006 What's a typical day look like?
08-30-2006 A burden for the interior of Argentina
05-24-2006 Training Leaders In Argentina
04-05-2006 A New Year of Ministry
01-11-2006 Coming to Texas
12-29-2005 Becoming Familiar with the Aiport
10-06-2005 BTCP graduation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Greg and Carolina Travis


Email Greg and Carolina

Prayer Requests

04.15.2009 April prayer requests: Please pray: 1. For Christ to be the center and the passion that drives all that we do. 2. For all that is needed for us to go to the conference, for God to provide for the cost to travel to Denton, for Wendy and Caro's passport to arrive on time, for our ministry activities and responsibilities to be covered well in our absence. 3. For a future pastor for the Union church. We are asking God to give us someone from the church that is not one of the missionaries.

10.02.2008 Bolivia Trip and new family member!: Please pray: 1. For encouragement and diligence for the pastors who received the teacher training workshop that we conducted a few weeks ago in Bolivia. Pray that God would give them wisdom and grace to live in the midst of all the political turmoil that is going on right now. 2. For a smooth c-section for Caro. Tomorrow Wendy should be born around 3:30 pm (1:30 Texas time). Pray for peace, safety and health. Pray for our adjustment to this new stage as a family. 3. For God to use us deeply in the lives of key individuals and broadly in the church in our efforts in Christ to be bring about growth and change to the whole body of Centro Cristiano de La Union.

07.27.2008 Medical Mission Trip: Please pray for God's protection, blessing, divine enablement for our Chaco medical mission trip starting today, July 27th through August 3rd. You can read more about this trip in the update Medical Mission Trip.

04.30.2008 PLEASE PRAY: 1. For our family's health. Caro has been battling severe allergy attacks, headaches and flu. Alaina has been sick for several days waking up with fever many nights. 2. For the small group ministry of the church. I'm trying to help a key leader in the church (Leo) develop it in a way that is more effective. Right now there are a lack of leaders for the small groups 3. For the institute - that God would bring life change in the students and equip them for effective ministry. My students names are: Juani, Facu, Vinnie, Barbie, Cecia, Flor and Melisa.

11.27.2007 Please pray for our pastor in Argentina: Our pastor, Mike Terry of the church we serve with in Argentina has had serious chest pains and is now in intensive care. It is very likely that they will be doing surgery today. Pray for God´s intervention in the whole process, for peace for the family and for wisdom for us in determining how this affects our travel plans, when we return to Argentina, etc. Thank you! We will keep you posted! Warmly, Greg, Caro and Alaina

04.07.2007 PLEASE PRAY FOR : 1. Pray that we would have daily quality times with Him. Pray that this would be our greatest priority. 2. Pray for the new small group ministry of the church. That God would use this new structure and that He would show us how to invest our lives into the lives of the leaders. 3. Pray that as a team we would be able to learn how to best work together balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. Pray that our love for one another would grow deeper and that we would with one voice glorify God. 4. Pray that God would continue to use us in reaching new people in City Bell (last night we had a wonderful time with a group of people from City Bell - some have recently come to faith). 5. Pray for George and Emily's transition to Argentina, for adjustment to culture and language. They've done great so far. That are many other prayer requests but five is probably enough for now. We so appreciate those of you who pray faithfully for us! We so appreciate those who pray for us at Missions Prayer. We treasure your prayers. Keep up the good work. Your prayers are not in vain.