Don and Elizabeth Sendek Newsletter Nov 2008

Here am I Lord, send me:
If I can serve, here I am,
In your hands, Lord, as molding clay,
So that you can make me in your image, take me.
I will do it. I will obey, without reservation, nor conditions,
I will serve you. I will do it.

With this wonderful song, beautifully sung by the seminary choral group as part of our graduation ceremony last Friday night, I think we all felt chills thinking of our obligations to continue to serve our Lord faithfully. We saw 23 young men and women graduate, with the official title of "theologian", and leave our institution for full time service in churches throughout Colombia. We also send off an equal number for their year of practical ministry, with one student going to Bolivia and one to Chile.

The academic year has ended. At least there are no more classes. We as professors are grading exams and projects so as to turn in the final grades, and then December 2-5 we have the meetings for evaluation and planning. We have seen honest tears as both men and women say good-byes and thank yous. One couple arrived at our door with a nativity scene made of corn husks and other natural materials, set inside a hand made basket, saying that they had seen it and wanted it to be part of my collection, and thanks for whatever small things I had done. Often only the Lord really knows how one has been able to touch a life with a word, a smile or a prayer.

As many will celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we join with you to thank our Father for His presence, protection and love. And we thank you for having stayed with us with your prayers and giving for our support for another year of ministry, especially the team who promised to pray a bit extra for me as I had extra to do. I am leaving Monday for a week in S. California with my mother. She celebrated her 87th birthday on November 6th. We will celebrate that special event and put it together with Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, as we joy in our hearts together, even if not on the official dates. I return for the meetings.

We are sure that some of you have felt the world economic crisis. We have at the seminary. The November 15th payroll was made by scratching the bottom, but God was honored as we were able to pay the employees for their work. We shared the reality of "nothing in the bank" with students and staff and had extra times of prayer, as we realized that a miracle was needed to get through the year. One gift has arrived, and we have been promised another that we expect in December. We are also praying together with a foundation for scholarship funding for 2009. At this moment they have frozen the distribution of funds until an emergency board meeting on December 14th. Pray for these special friends and their decisions. For our students, the decision could mean continuing their studies next year.

Prayer resume.

Thanks for the termination of the academic year and 23 students who graduated. Pray as they find places to minister, and for the moving and resettling of their familias.

Funding needs for the seminary and our students, with special thanks to faithful friends. Decisions of the board of the foundation mentioned above.

Evaluation and planning meetings at the seminary, December 2-5.

Thanks that Elizabeth and I have had good health, even with extra work pressures.

We trust you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season, with the Lord very present in your activities.

In Christian love,

Don and Elizabeth Sendek

Serving with the Latin America Mission
At the Biblical Seminary of Colombia
Medellin, Colombia
www.sendek.org