31 Prayer Requests for the Flinck Family

Someone gave me a handout today that listed 31 prayer requests. I enjoyed the list so much that I would like to share it with you as a helpful resource to use in praying for our family and ministry. It has been slightly edited for our ministry focus.
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1. Be sensitive and receptive to the Word of God

2. Have Christ-like harmony with family, friends, and co-workers

3. Have a working plan to understand and teach God's Word

4. Be faithful in attending church (specifically preparing oneself to worship God)

5. Be true and faithful to spiritual convictions

6. Be vibrantly sharing the Gospel with others

7. Turn first to God in times of trouble (and blessing)

8. Have courage in current and future ministry opportunities that God gives

9. Have Biblical insight/discernment in ministry

10. Call of God's strength for trials and crisis

11. See God's hand in every circumstance of life

12. Be consciously accountable to the Lord (and with other growing Christians)

13. Find encouragement in God when discouraged

14. Faithful in heart preparation to hearing or reading the Word of God

15. Be faithful in reading, studying, and meditating the Word of God

16. Have a Christ-like response to conflict

17. Grow in ability for wise decision-making

18. Be filled with the knowledge of God's will

19. Growing in Godly character

20. Walk worthy of the Lord

21. Increasing in the knowledge of God

22. Using our spiritual gifts in the will of God

23. Express gratefulness for big and little things

24. Have increased victory over Satan's temptation

25. Develop deep and Godly personal relationships

26. Growing in the spiritual discipline of prayer

27. Live blamelessly

28. Sensitive to taking opportunities to minister God's Word

29. Abound in love for others

30. Respect and pray for those in authority

31. Daily look for practical opportunities to speak about Christ to others.

(This list was compiled by Dr. Elwood Chipchase)
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I would encourage you and your family to pray through this list during the month of March. We would appreciate your prayers for our family and ministry.

The Perfect Foursome...I mean Support Group

The Struggling Linguists Support Group was founded the other day on the first tee of Los Lagos Golf Club.


After weeks of linguistic pressure, stress, deadlines, and mild torture, my classmates and I decided to take matters into our own hands, by starting a multi-purpose group to release the tension...think of it as an Anger Management group. Our main purpose was to put as much "English" on the ball as possible (pun intended).


(R to L:) David Flinck, Frank Epley, John Lopez, & John Spink)



Just like in our Spanish classes, some excel faster than others in different aspects of the game.
The finals scores were a 102, 101, 92, and an 81.
Now if our grammar test scores were only that high!





Unfortunately, our group won't be able to meet again until Easter break, since the stress, deadlines, and mild torture of classes starts up tomorrow. We will only be able to daydream in class about the fun we had on the course...up until our professor interrupts our thoughts with the following question...

"________, will you read the following sentences in Spanish and translate them with the past, present, and future tense?"

Back to reality!

Scenes from Campus (Part 4 - Winter Texan Alley)

On the south end of campus there is a row of trailers and campers that house some very special people...the winter volunteers. Each Dec. through March or April, retirees from Canada, MN, IA, ND, WI, and other northern states spend themselves and their talents in the ministry here at RGBI.



During the winter months, the Rio Grande Valley swells with the gray haired retirees. Most of the winter birds around the Valley live a very selfish lifestyle...it's all about them, but the winter volunteers at RGBI choose to use their golden years serving and investing something eternal.

The winter volunteers have a faithful ministry of daily prayer for the language students. Some of them teach our children Bible stories and songs on Monday afternoons. The other day, a lady (winter volunteer) knocked on our door and gave us an envelope that contained a gift of money and an encouraging note. The ladies had divided up the money from a recent bake and craft sale and gave it to the new language school families. We are thankful for their sensitive and giving hearts, and we are thankful for God's perfect timing in providing for our family's needs.



One other example of kindness...yesterday a winter volunteer drove by on his bike while I was loading up our van to head to the beach with the whole family. He turned around and asked if we needed lawn chairs or a beach umbrella. He knew from experience that our family didn't have those things here at RGBI due to the fact we packed 90% of our things in a storage container back in MN.

If I ever retire (key word there is if), I would love to spend my life investing in the next generation of missionaries and BI students.

Don't Waste Your Life !

Together (Part 2)

The boy's friends come over often to play together. Thanks Grandma F. for sending the "colorable" tablecloth. The kids loved spending an afternoon coloring together.


Jordan and Ben dressed up together last Wed. for "Cowboy Night" at their kid's club at the church we attend.


Last week I got a call from my Grandpa F. with an invite to play some golf together. Since we had no classes this week, I was able to go. I will miss playing golf with him (and my dad) once I go to Chile.


RGBI had no classes this past week due to Founder's Week. Each morning and evening there was special chapel services that we attended. Last Sunday night was the "kick-off" service for the conference over at Bibleville.


Our family participated in the Parade of Nations by walking in with the Chilean flag. Together there was a total of 17 Latin American countries represented by language or BI students.


Our kids are out of practice when it comes to sitting through long services. Together our kids must have handled every item in Kristi's purse and diaper bag throughout the service.


The boys invited their best friends, Jesse & Elijah, to supper the other day. They have so much fun, but believe me when I say that when they all get together, mischief soon follows.


My recent Spanish tutor was Sabastian V. from Chile. He has been my favorite tutor so far, due to the common bond of the country of Chile. Whenever we get together, we talk about Chile, it's food, it's history, it's geography, and it's specific slang phrases (or modismos).

Together (Part 1)

Having my family here at RGBI is a wonderful thing (and I wouldn't want it any other way), but there are times when I need to be creative when studying and watching Kaylee while the boys are homeschooled. Kaylee and I sometimes "study" together at my desk. She watches PBS "Super Why" on my iPod while I attempt to complete my homework. Not much gets done on my part, but Kaylee loves her time with daddy.


Recently Kaylee has been very disobedient when it comes to staying on her own bed. We have dealt with this issue over and over, several times a night, but still, even after all that, she hops into Jordan's bed and falls asleep. It is cute to see them together, but she's still a little stinker.


We were able to spend some time over at Grandma and Grandpa Flinck's house in Mission, TX last Thursday. We celebrated Irv's birthday and Valentine's Day together with a heart shaped cake.


On Valentine's Day, we left the children with a babysitter, so we could go out to eat together. We went out to eat at our new favorite restaurant, Taco Rico (semi-fast food authentic Mexican).

We were invited to Bibleville to get together with all the retirees from the state of MN. Several couples we knew from years before, but many of them we met for the first time. I was asked to share our burden for Chile and what God is doing in our lives. It was a good time for questions and answers and connecting with the couples.


Here is the shot of the whole group together. We are thankful for their hospitality to our family, their interest in the needs of Chile, and their desire to pray for our family and ministry.

Come back again for the second part of Together.

2008 GMSA Conference

Each year our mission personnel from US, Canada, and the UK, and all the missionaries serving Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile meet together for a week of challenge from God's Word, business meetings, prayer, conversations, renewed friendships, and tons of fun. It is one of the highlights of the year for our mission and missionary family. It was disappointment that our family was unable to attend the conference this year due to further support raising and language training. Maybe next year?



This year the conference was held on the UCB campgrounds just north of Paysandu, Uruguay.
The main speakers this year were Dr. Les Olilla and Dr. Doug McLachlan



Above are the graduates from Northland Baptist Bible College that are now serving with GMSA. It is such a blessing to be in a mission that has a servant heart and a tight bond with all of it's members. We look forward to serving along side of them in the near future.



One added blessing for our family is the opportunity to serve God alongside family members in South America. Kristi's parents (Carol & Terry) serve in administration for our mission board in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Kristi's older brother (Andy - on the right) and family are serving in Colonia, Uruguay. Kristi's younger brother (Dan - on the left) and family are serving in camp ministry in southern Chile.

As the days march on here at language school, our hearts and minds are in South America. Our minds also contemplate our day of departure (someday soon). Continue to pray for our family as we desire be on the field by the end of this year. In God's timing and by His resourcing, He will guide our family to our ministry to the Chilean people.

Throw It Out the Window

Help !! My tongue is covering my eye tooth and I can't see what I'm saying!

Our weekly memorized dialogs are becoming more complicated and difficult. It takes a lot of work not only to memorize the 20 (or so) lines, but to say it with perfect pronunciation, and then on top of that...with native fluidity (or smoothness).

Whoever actually wrote the dialogs must have been a linguistic genius because they test all of the phonetic and grammar skills we have learned so far and are currently learning in that unit.

There are nights where I sit at my desk and say difficult phrases over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

Phrases like:

-Le escribe a alguien (notice the amount of joint vowels...very difficult to say with fluency)

-Excepto a esta sobrina (these must be linked together and not choppy)

-Si, y es el dia de su (did I mention that every vowel has a different sound in Spanish?)

-Ahi, doblo a la derecha y

The thing that is frustrating with all of this is that when I concentrate on saying the right word in the correct grammatical form...correct pronunciation tends to go out the window, and I revert back to my ingrained English vowel and consonant sounds. It doesn't stop there...when I focus on the correct pronunciation...fluidity or smoothness tends to go out the window.

The moral of the story is that I have a lot of things just outside my window right now, thanks to the Tower of Babel (pictured on the right).

-Each day is another pill of humility.
-Each day I am learning more and having more opportunities to use the language and not just know about the language.
-Each day I laugh at myself and I cry (ok...not really...but I do feel quite stupid and embarrassed when I can't dial up a word I need to say).
-Each day my classmates seem like more of my closer friends, because we are going through the same trial/testing/frustration/questions. If you want to make some really close friends, I would suggest going to language school.
-Each day our professors lovingly and patiently put us back on track after we have caused a large linguistic train wreck.

To end on an extreme dose of humility...try saying this Spanish tongue twister with native fluidity and correct pronunciation.

Los hombres con hambre hombre,
abren sus hombros hombrunos sin dejar
de ser hombres con hambre hombre hombruno.
Si tú eres un hombre con hambre hombre hombruno,
pues dí que eres un hombre con hambre
y no cualquier hombre hombruno sino
un hombre con hombros muy hombre, hombre.

( Note: I got the above from this source so don't complain to me if there are some grammar issues in the tongue twister above...i.e. Steph)

Thanks for your continued prayers for my learning of the Spanish language. It is so easy to want the product and not being willing to got through the process (and believe me language learning is a process...and a slow one at that). The big picture reason why I am here in south Texas is to build a foundation in the Spanish language so that when we eventually get to Chile, I will be able to share the Gospel and Biblical truth.

Cada Viernes

Translation: Every Friday

Every Friday is a mini day of celebration in our family. Classes are done for the week at noon. Daddy has a few more hours of free time. So to emphasize and cultivate family memories, I walk the kids down to the RGBI bookstore to pick out one candy bar a piece. Thanks to G & G and others for sending some money for the kids to spend!

Every Friday we try to get off campus as a family to go to a store and for supper somewhere special. During the week, we are cooped up here on campus. Yesterday, we all went to Burger King so that the kids could play at the play area for an extended amount of time.

I am not sure what our children's exact memories will be of their time here at RGBI, but making time for special family events hopefully will make positive impressions.


(The above photo may be deceiving in the fact that it was taken three weeks ago, when it was cooler. That's why the boys are wearing jackets. The jackets haven't been worn since.)

Thank you for praying for our family. There is no sense in losing my family in the process of learning Spanish. I need wisdom and balance in wearing the many "hats" of husband, father, and student.

Friends, Videos, & Snacks x6

Friendships have developed between our children and other children here on campus. Afternoons are spent outside riding bikes or playing at the play areas.


But there are times when all are tired, hot, thirsty, and hungry.
They all stop by our apartment for snacks and drinks while watching a short DVD.

Drinks x6
Apples slices x6
Fruit snacks x6
Popsicles x6


(From L to R) Jesse, Jordan, Kari, Elijah, Ben, & Kaylee

The funny thing is that these kids will be speaking Spanish sooner and better than their parents, and they are not even trying or studying. They have the life of Riley!

Just one of the facts of life here at RGBI!

A Photographic Memory & A Grammar Book

Just to be clear...I have one and wished I had the other.

My grammar class is progressively getting harder and harder due to new material and the teacher's expectations of seemingly perfect retention.

I ran across the following video showing a man's ability to recreate a whole city only after seeing it once.



Now if I could only do that with my grammar textbook...

...and my vocab textbook,

...and my Phonetic textbook,

...and my Spanish Bible.

Oh well...I guess I will have to do it the old fashioned way...I have to earn it (by hours of study).

Thanks for your prayers during this time of language study. I'm talkin' like a toddler, so that's a start. Language learning is a lifelong process. I am thankful for this time of formal study, as I prepare to communicate the Gospel and Biblical truth to the Chilean people.

Where Have We Been? Well...

Since my last post, lots of stuff has happened...I just haven't been bloggin'.

Why?

The following is a summary of my reasons...

-Every member of our family has been sick at some point during the last 10 days. Extra sleep and rest have been a priority. I barely made it through classes two Fridays ago. Miserable day.

-Homework has been gradually getting tougher. Most of my evenings are spent putting the kids to bed and studying late. Several tests and major assignments. The "information water fountain" doesn't stop...it just keeps flowing and flowing.

-I was scheduled to work in the kitchen again this last weekend, so several of my "free" hours were taken away from blogging on that Saturday.

-There have been several occasions were our family has been invited to spend time with other families here on campus.

-Writer's block

-Kristi is now on Facebook. Thus my computer time was instantly cut in half...well...maybe that's an exaggeration.

-I have been enjoying reading a couple of "non" school related books during my limited free time. My friend, Paul W., is letting me read a book of his called "Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships". I can't put that book down, it's so good and helpful in my formation of my personal philosophy of ministry in a cross cultural context.

Thanks for your patience. I will get the blog back in gear here in the next few days. I have several ideas for posts, but just haven't been able to type them out.

We would appreciate your continued prayers for our family during our time here at RGBI. Our Feb. prayer items can be found on the right hand column of the blog at any time.

Lisha...hope this satisfies your chilejournal withdrawals.