March
2012
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will
for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Thanksgiving,
seminary
graduation,
Christmas,
New
Years,
and
Presidents
Day
have
all
passed.
Each
has
it’s
own
memories.
Now
we
are
beginning
our
fifth
week
of
classes
in
the
new
academic
year
2012.
Most
of
this
time
has
been
good,
although
we
have
been
stressed
with
the
reality
of
Mrs.
Paba’s
health.
After
celebrating
her
87th
birthday
on
December
30,
we
took
her
to
the
hospital
emergency
room
on
January
1
for
a
week’s
stay.
Then
on
January
17,
she
had
a
severe
heart
attack
and
was
in
the
hospital
another
week.
She
has
not
recovered
fully
from
this
last
illness,
and
probably
never
will,
although
she
is
at
home
again.
Elizabeth
was
on
her
first
trip
of
2012,
teaching
in
Bolivia,
when
I
phoned
to
tell
her
of
her
mother’s
health.
She
was
able
to
finish
her
workshop
and
get
a
flight
back
directly
to
Bogotá
where
I
met
her.
I
guess
the
best
part
was
that
the
ONLY
seat
on
the
flight
was
in
business
class,
so
she
had
a
larger
seat
and
could
rest
a
bit
during
the
flight.
She
needed
the
strength
as
the
following
two
nights
she
stayed
at
her
mother’s
side
in
the
hospital.
Pray
for
this
health
situation
and
for
the
coming
five
trips
that
are
already
planned
for
Elizabeth’s
year,
so
that
Elizabeth’s
health
will
hold
up.
Back
to
some
of
our
activities:
November
25th
was
graduation,
and
we
celebrated
with
20
graduates
that
night.
I
include
a
photo
of
the
two
of
us
in
our
roles
as
the
seminary
president
and
her
husband
that
night.
December
brought
usual
office
work,
end-‐of-‐
the-‐year
evaluation
meetings
and
a
special
four-‐
day
trip
to
Panama
to
plan
a
larger
event
this
September.
Elizabeth
was
the
delegate,
and
Don
was
invited
to
go
along
to
translate
during
the
two
days
of
intense
meeting.
Elizabeth’s
first
year
as
president
ended
with
praise
for
many
evidences
of
God’s
presence
and
care.
Let
us
mention
some:
• Commitment
and
joyful
service
of
faculty
and
staff.
• Guidance
and
support
provided
by
the
seminary’s
board
and
outside
advisors.
• Financial
provision
to
end
the
year
with
all
commitments
paid.
• Renewed
vision,
hope
and
sprit
de
corps
nurtured
through
the
strategic
planning
process.
• Incorporation
of
2
new
faculty
members,
both
fellow
LAM
missionaries.
We
spent
Christmas
in
Medellin,
with
time
for
Elizabeth
to
continue
writing
her
commentary
on
John,
have
houseguests,
see
the
famous
lighting
arrangements
over
the
river.
Then
we
went
go
to
Bogotá
to
celebrate
Mrs.
Paba´s
birthday
and
new
years,
ending
at
the
hospital
as
mentioned
above.
Some
people
think
we
are
too
busy,
but
we
are
happy
to
be
able
to
serve
here
at
the
Biblical
Seminary.
Mrs.
Paba
on
her
87th
birthday
Now
we
have
entered
another
year
of
institutional
“planned
austerity”,
while
facing
great
challenges
and
opportunities:
• Finishing
our
strategic
planning
process.
• Applying
to
the
government
for
renewal
of
the
license
for
our
undergraduate
program.
• Applying
to
the
government
for
approval
of
a
new
on-‐line
program
to
serve
the
needs
of
those
who
yearn
for
formal
theological
training
but
cannot
move
to
Medellin
to
attend
seminary.
• Financing
for
these
two
processes.
They
are
capital
projects
that
tax
our
limited
budget
and
yet
are
necessary
for
the
future
of
theological
education
in
the
country.
Join
us
in
prayer
for
these
and
for
the
day-‐to-‐day
responsibilities
of
the
teaching,
shepherding,
managing
and
leading.
The
seminary
board
meets
on
March
22
and
23,
and
they
will
continue
to
make
important
decisions
for
the
present
and
future
of
the
school.
Health
continues
to
be
an
issue
where
we
need
the
Lord’s
care,
both
for
our
mothers,
ourselves
and
many
other
friends
and
colleagues
who
have
been
very
ill.
Thank
you
for
continued
friendship,
love
and
care.
In
a
few
days,
Don
reaches
39
years
of
service
with
Latin
America
Mission,
and
we
recognize
that
this
would
not
be
possible
without
your
faithful
prayers
and
faithful
contributions
for
our
support.
In Christ,
Don and Elizabeth
Faithfully serving with Latin America Mission at the Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellin.
www.sendek.org
