The James Family

The James Family

Event
02/02/18

ESI Trip Update- Keep Praying!

Thank you for praying! I know people are praying because we are seeing such amazing things happening. Let me tell you about 2 that only have a God-is-working explanation. The first is how God provided a Coordinator for ESI in Paraguay to help plan and organize the first ESI event -- a Facilitator Training in June. When we start in a new country we need to find a coordinator -- if we don't find that person, the Facilitator Training will never happen. To find such a person is difficult, because it needs to be a volunteer, respected by the other pastors, and who can be trusted to follow through with communication, and who is willing to put in a bit of time to set everything up locally. But God had all that worked out! Because we met a pastor/missionary who is an ESI graduate!!! pastoring a church in Asuncion -- who is excited along with his wife to be that coordinator! Marcelo and Marilyn are from Argentina, lived 5 years in La Paz where he went through ESI before they came to Asuncion. We met them on Wednesday night, and they are quality people -- and passionate to help other pastors and church leaders honor Christ by being true to the Scriptures!! And there are 2 other Paraguayans who are willing to help support them, so we have somewhat of a team there! So that's one miracle.

The second miracle happened yesterday! Pastor Jeff and I get to the Asuncion airport at 3:30am to fly to Sao Paulo to meet pastors in Brazil to talk about ESI. The airlines gives me my boarding pass, and then proceeds to tell Jeff that he can't fly since he doesn't have his Yellow Fever card and has never had the shot. The agent explains that on Feb 1 a new law has gone into place where everyone going into Brazil has to present their yellow fever card. Hit the what do we do button! We decide that I should continue to SP to meet with the pastors, and that Jeff will wait and try to get to our next stop (Salta, Argentina) on Sunday. But after I arrive in SP, it turns out that Jeff "just happens to meet" another airline agent and they get into a conversation. Jeff tells him what has happened and the agent says, "I'm not sure that information is correct ", and goes to Immigration on behalf of Jeff to check things out. He finds that the information is wrong!! So the airline looks at putting him on the next flight, but its full. Long story short, they managed to get him on a plane that arrives in SP at 4:30 in the afternoon -- but again, if God hadn't done the miracle of Jeff just "happening" to meet that second agent and everything that transpired, he'd be stuck in Paraguay. And our meeting with one local pastor last night seeking counsel was SO important to be able to speak into his life, it was extremely important for Jeff to be here.

So keep praying! God is obviously working, responding to your prayers!!

Kep