Uruguay 
Charles and Mary Swanner

 

2/28/11 - Dear Friends and Cherished Family,

We are so blessed to count you as prayer partners. Your prayers for us have helped over and over again moving hearts, removing obstacles and opening doors. We never take you for granted; you are a vital part of the ministry. Thank you so very much.

PRAYER REQUESTS/ ANSWERED
Please pray for Sandy a friend of Christopher’s who will have surgery on Tuesday the 1st of February, due to a tumor on her ovary. Sandy has had cancer before is single and the doctors want to do a hysterectomy. Of course she does not want a hysterectomy. Please ask the Lord to intervene, guide her doctors and heal her. Sandy’s surgery went well, they did not find cancer and she is recovering quickly.

Our camp is February 9 through 13; please pray for safe travel, and a blessed time of training and fellowship. Pray for Stacy Parks as she will be leading some of the workshops. Praise the Lord we had a wonderful camp. Stacy was such a blessing. Three were saved and one baptized afterwards.

Please lift Chad and Jennifer’s wedding March 12th to the Lord asking for blessings, that He will work out all the details, safe travel and a wonderful time with family and friends. Please continue to pray for this request. Pray for Charles as he travels to Paraguay in February; please ask for safety and guidance. Charles had a good trip. Please pray for the safe birth of Baby Martin and the health of his mother Caitlin. Praise the Lord mother and baby are doing very well.

Please pray for our Deaf leaders (Jorge, Amelia, Fabio, Lucas) that they will become confident in the Lord and grow more and more Christ-like. Please continue to lift our Deaf leaders.

Please continue to pray for the Deaf church in Wilson, North Carolina. Remember them as they go through grieving and start looking for a Deaf pastor. Please continue to pray for this request also as they decide whether to come back to Uruguay on a volunteer trip this year. They have greatly blessed us in their previous trips.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We have a situation we need you to pray over, it is an unspoken request. Please ask the Lord for healing, reconciliation and understanding in this matter. Thank you.

Charles has a meeting in Lima, Peru the end of the month. He has been doing a great deal of traveling with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Ask the Lord for safe travel, wisdom, strength and courage.

Please continue to pray for the two baby churches Las Piedras and Piedras Blancas. Ask the Lord to empower the leaders to reach Deaf in the area, ask Him to guide them to others who are seeking Him. Ask Him to tear down strongholds in these two areas. We have met a great deal of resistance.

It is amazing how the Lord works. There are times when I am discouraged and ready to throw in the towel. Then something wonderful happens, a God thing. I know you are praying, I know He answers and I am encouraged to get back into the battle. Your prayer support is so greatly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

In appreciation,
Charles and Mary Swanner IMB
Uruguay, South America
2 Corinthians 1:11


Lord thank You for all You are doing here in Batangas. We ask that we may continue to meet persons of peace like Levi (Luke 5:27-29) who followed Jesus immediately and introduce a large group of his friends to Christ. We continue to pray for the removal of spiritual strongholds here in Batangas, especially the stronghold of fear. We also pray for the opportunity to present the gospel on the campus where so many students have recently been demon possessed. May it be soon before school lets out for the summer...in Jesus' powerful name - Amen!

You missionaries,
Dave & Ivette
http://batangas-batangas.blogspot.com

2/1/2011 -

Beloved Family and Cherished Friends,

 

Yesterday I had a refresher course. A missionary couple had an accident, they called Charles and we went to help. It was bad but I was amazed how the Lord had the right people in place to take care of the situation. Before the accident even happened He had these people in place. It was a bad situation and no one would want to be in it but the Lord worked it out for His children. He protected and provided for them. It was like He took a bat to my head. No matter what is in front of me it is not unknown to Him and He has everything already worked. I am always encouraged when I send you our prayer letter and recall how He has answered your prayers for us. He knows what is ahead, nothing surprises Him and He is able to do all things. Thank you so much for your prayer support, thank you for being actively involved with us on mission in Uruguay.

PRAYER REQUESTS /ANSWERED

 

 

        1. Deaf--We need prayer support for the two new churches Piedras Blancas and Las Piedras. There is a great struggle to reach the Deaf in these areas. Ask the Lord to remove all obstacles, than many new souls will seek and find Him in these churches. Please continue to pray for this request.
        2. Pray for Chad direction in ministry.   Thank you for praying for Chad, he was offered the position of Music Director for Celebrate Recovery in Gastonia. He accepted.
        3. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to direct us to the souls He has ready. My team and I are getting frustrated.Please continue to pray for this request. Plus there is an evangelical church who is trying to steal our members. This is a strain on our strength as we struggle forward to win non believers we also need to exert effort to keep the members we have.
        4. deaf   --There are still many things that need to be prepared for our national camp, please pray for this event, the planning, the attendance, the finances, the transportation and that the Lord will work on us all while we are there. Thank you so much for your prayers I am so excited to see the team take responsibility for the preparations for camp. We have a bus, a cook, contact with the Deaf churches has been done to make sure many can come, reservations are coming in, and financing is keeping up with the need.
        5. Mary --I am having another bout of vertigo, please pray for my healing. Though the vertigo lasted about 3 weeks I was still able to function, then it went away. Thank you for praying for me.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

          1. Our camp is February 9 through 13; please pray for safe travel, and a blessed time of training and fellowship. Pray for Stacy Parks as she will be leading some of the workshops.
          2. Please pray for our Deaf leaders (Jorge, Amelia, Fabio, Lucas) that they will become confident in the Lord and grow more and more Christ-like.

3.Please continue to pray Stephanie Johnson, her family and the church in Wilson, North Carolina. Remember them as they go through              grieving and start looking for a Deaf pastor.

 

 

Thank you so much for your support, as you can see God responds to your prayers.

 

In appreciation,

Charles and Mary Swanner IMB

Uruguay, South America

Romans 15:21

 

8/3/2010

Cherished Family and Friends,
It is such a joy to share with you and we are ever so grateful for your prayers and concern for us over these many years. Below you will see how the Lord has answered your prayers. Please look at the attachments it will give you a look at the baby church in Piedras Blancas and winter church attire in Uruguay.

PRAYER REQUESTS / ANSWERS
1. I have a cluster meeting in Quito, Ecuador from July 3rd till the 9th I will be traveling on the 2nd, 9th and 10th. Please pray for safety and that I can make my connections. Please pray for a good and blessed meeting. Thank you for your prayers I had a safe trip and the time with my fellow missionaries was a blessing.

2. Charles will be traveling and working in Paraguay from July 5 through 9th please pray for his protection has he travels. Pray for wisdom for him and the office staff as there are issues they are dealing with. Thank you for praying for Charles his trip went well and the issues were resolved.

3. We praise the Lord for the new place He gave us for the mother Deaf church to meet. It is bigger and in a better location for the Deaf to get to. Each Sunday we have more new people, Praise the Lord. Thank you so much for your prayers; we are assured this is where the Lord wants this church.

4. Please pray for the two new baby Deaf churches Piedras Blancas and Paysandú. Please continue to pray for these baby churches. Paysandú has had to regroup. The enclosed attachment will show you Piedras Blancas.

5. Pray for the start of a new church in Las Piedras. Please continue to pray for this request and especially for the hearing pastor who is lending us the local. Ask the Lord to give him insight to what a Deaf church is.

6. Pray for the Deaf leadership that they will grow in Christ and become more like Him everyday. Please continue to pray for more leaders and for their spiritual growth. Please pray for the volunteer team from Forest Hills Baptist church has they prepare what they will share with the leaders and Deaf churches here. They will be doing leadership training. They will be in Uruguay from October 2 through 11.


NEW PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Charles will be traveling to Colombia the 8th of August for a week long meeting. Please pray for his safety and a good productive meeting.

2. For the several years Charles has been working on getting a power of attorney for Argentina. He has hit yet another complication. Please pray that the issues will be resolved and the power of attorney granted.

3. Please pray for our national leadership meeting to be held on the 21st, we will be planning the schedule for the volunteers from Forest Hills and the annual church planting camp.

4. There is a worthy project being presented to the Deaf leaders that work with me in church planting. Please pray that we will all know the Lord’s will concerning this project, and if we are to be involved or not. I fear it is a distraction to pull part of my team off track.

In Gratitude,
Charles and Mary Swanner IMB
Uruguay, South America


2 - 5 - 09

Cherished Family and Friends,

 

It has been such a joy for us to visit with many of you in these past months, however we also regret that we have not be able to visit with a great many of you. Once Charles had his surgery our time has been spent on his recuperation and trips three times a week to therapy in Raleigh . We have seen God’s hand in all of this and we are so thankful to Him for His faithfulness and to you for your prayers. Charles has not been in pain since his surgery, where before he was in constant pain and unable to sleep well. His recovery has been much faster than the doctor expected. He now has only four more sessions and one last visit with his doctor. We praise the Lord for how He directed us to one of the finest doctor in this field and that he was so close by.

 

I have attached a picture of a recent baptism. The new believer has been discipled by one of my students who is an active member of MIAS. This is what it is all about sharing Christ with others, baptizing them into the faith and equipping them to reach others.

 

 REQUESTS/God answered

                                1.  Please pray for Charles and his work load asking the Lord to give him strength and maximize his time.  Right after surgery Charles could not do much work on the computer but within the past several weeks he has been able to do a great deal. Thank you for praying.

                                2. Please pray for the Deaf leadership team and MIAS (hearing who serve along side the Deaf) as they work on our third national church planting    conference scheduled for the end of February. The team has decided to cancel the conference as many would not be able to attend instead they will have mini retreats throughout Uruguay Lord willing many more will be able to participate. I am overjoyed because the team is showing responsibility for this ministry which is always the desire of the missionary. 

                               3. Christopher passed the exam you prayed for now he has his certification exam, it is scheduled for the 22 of January. Please pray that he will remember what he studies, remain calm and pass this important exam. Plus please pray ask the Lord to direct him as he is looking into other job opportunities.  Christopher will have to retake the exam and it is scheduled for the 12th of February please pray that he can remember what he has studied, remain calm, trust his experience and pass the test.

                                4. Please pray for Jessica, she is trying to finish up her bachelor's degree and is taking her last 4 courses with the hope to graduate in March. She has a lot on her plate with a one year old, job, pregnant, home, job and studies.  Jessica is finishing up her degree work in these next two weeks please continue to pray for her.

                                5. Interesting things are happening in Chad 's life please keep him in your prayers. The Lord has lead Chad to three others who have a passion for Christian music they are seeking the Lord’s leadership, please pray with them.

                                6. Because of Charles' therapy we have extended our furlough until the end of February. Yet the work continues please pray for us that we get what we need to get done for our health, our family and our ministry. Answer to your prayers are in our opening paragraph.

                                7. Please continue to pray for our mothers. Even though my mother is in remission she has had some very difficult days with stomach pains and extreme weakness, please keep praying for her. Grace, Charles’ mother, is dealing with a lot of pain in her back and hips. Please pray that her doctor can find some form of relief.

 

NEW REQUESTS

  1. Please pray for us as we begin to prepare to return to Uruguay . Ask the Lord to help us schedule well our time left, work out our travel, and pack. Please pray for safety as we travel.
  2. Please continue to pray for Jessica and baby Rylie. Jessica’s C-section is scheduled for the 24th of April ask the Lord to watch over them both.
  3. Please pray for Grant and his safety. He is working in Kentucky to help get power lines back up. Where he is there are 1,000 poles down and folks have been without power for at least a week in freezing temperatures.
  4. Please pray for the start of a new Deaf congregation in Montevideo , the date to kick off the new work is the first of March. Ask the Lord to lead Noemi to many Deaf in the area and the ones that He has already been nudging to Himself.
  5. Please pray for Forest Hill Deaf Baptist Church and Pastor Daniel Johnson as they prepare a volunteer team to come help us in October. Please start praying now that we will plan according to the Lord’s will, follow all the doors that He will open and that He will provide all the funds needed for those who have a desire to come.

 

Thank you so very much for your support, without it we could not do what we do in South America . Times are hard and for many of you supporting IMB missionaries will be a sacrifice but it will not be in vain, your investment is eternal and your reward is everlasting. Philippians 4: 6,7,19

In gratitude,

Charles and Mary Swanner IMB

Uruguay, South America

 

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Please stop all you are doing right now, and pray for the needs in this country.   Pray for God to provide everything they need and pray for His guidance, wisdom and protection over these missionaries.   Pray that the people here will understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and have an opportunity to say "Yes" to Him, and be saved.

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