Prestoncrest Missions

Church News

Two women have become our sisters in Christ over the last few months. Pamela Moroni and her husband Claudio attended our 6th Marriage Encounter weekend in Oct. 2006 and were involved in our follow-up marrieds group. Kelley began studying the Bible with them in March, and Pamela finally made the decision to be baptized at the end of June right before our furlough. Claudio is already a Christian and he and Pamela have been attending regularly with their two children and have become actively involved in our Marriage Encounter ministry. Pamela and Claudio are both financial advisor with different investment firms in Santiago. Claudio was introduced to Kelley by church member Sebastian Eterovic who works with him at the same investment firm.

Adela Cepeda was baptized in July after coming to our church through an LST Young Friends group that came to Santiago last year. She studied the Bible with Penne Hatcher. Adela is a chef/caterer and will be a great contributor to our Sunday potlucks!

Our 8th Marriage Encounter weekend is scheduled for the first weekend of September. Please keep this weekend in your prayers.

Furlough

We went on a 6 week furlough from the end of June to the first of August. During that time we had the pleasure of visiting with many of you. We had a good time visiting our sponsoring and supporting churches. We were also able to spend some family time with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces. We think that we were the only people in Texas who actually enjoyed the heat! Being in Texas in the summer was a nice escape from the cold weather of Santiago.

Kelley performed a bi-lingual wedding for Providencia church member Rodrigo Rebolledo and former Santiago intern Jenni Worley. The wedding was a Santiago reunion of sorts as the Deans, Kilmers, Del Rios and many former Santiago interns along with former Providencia members who have moved to the U.S. were in attendance at the wedding.

Kelley also had the opportunity to preach at several of our supporting congregations and even lead singing at his parents’ congregation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporting congregations, friends and family for their hospitality while we were in the States.

Family News

Duncan celebrated his 11th birthday in July with several mini-parties with different family members and friends. The kids missed 4 weeks of classes during our furlough, but that did not seem to affect their grades much as their teachers sent homework assignments with them on our furlough. They also received good report cards for the last semester, and Duncan and Abby were selected as Outstanding Students by the teacher’s council for their grade level. Victoria has been chosen to speak at her pre-kinder presentation next week. Konner has not had a lot of desire to return to his pre-school routine though– he keeps telling us that he would prefer to go to school tomorrow!

Prayer Requests

1. Adela Cepeda and her new walk with God
2. Pamela Moroni and her new walk with God
3. New Bible study Kelley is starting with Pamela’s parents, Juan Carlos and Victoria
4. Illia Baez and her decision to be baptized
5. 8th Marriage Encounter weekend
6. Unborn baby of church members Anibal and Natalia
7. “Step-Up” retreat in September for 12 couples from church – more information coming

Blessings,
Kelley, Julie, Duncan, Abby, Victoria and Konner Grant

Santa Magdalena Sofia 577
Las Condes
Santiago, Chile
Phone: 011-562-247-5715
Email: kjgrant99@gmail.com

Clyde & Gwen Antwine
2600 Shady Tree Lane
Edmond, OK 73013
(405) 478-3614
December 12, 2007

Dear Supporters,

Oh, how we wish we could capture the pathos of the 7-week mission work in Europe during June and July! But then, this is the plight of every missionary who is writing a newsletter. The best we can do is survey the happenings, and draw some conclusions.

On the first leg of our trip, we flew to Glasgow, Scotland, June 6th. Tristan and Leslie Block, H.I.M. workers in Stirling, met us at the airport. We spent the next five days observing their work and getting acquainted with the congregation. Clyde was asked to preach on Sunday, June 8th. Following services there was a potluck; therefore, it gave us opportunity to become acquainted with several members we
otherwise would not have met.

The Blocks have settled in well, love the brethren as well as all others with whom they come in contact, and are loved by those who know them. Completing their 1st year, they are now poised to do an even more effective work during their 2nd year.

Next, we traveled to Morley, England for a 5-day visit with HIM workers Chris and Anna Jane Perrey. Again, Clyde was asked to preach on Sunday, June 15th. As was the case in Stirling, there was a potluck following services. During the time we were there we were privileged to visit in the homes of several members. Chris and Anna Jane are completing their 2-year commitment and will be returning to the States in September. Knowing how badly the congregation would love to have replacements for them, we almost dreaded facing the brethren. They were, however, very gracious and reaffirmed their desire to have others come to continue the good work Chris and Anna Jane have begun. This speaks highly of the Perreys, and we are hopeful of recruiting others for next year.

Tuesday, June 17th, we flew from Manchester, England to Dusseldorf, Germany, and from there, on to Dresden where we were headquartered for the next five weeks. In Dresden we were met at the airport by one of our dear friends whom we met five years ago. His sweet wife was unfortunately in the hospital following cancer surgery. Since she has, what the doctors describe, as the most aggressive, fastest growing kind of cancer there is, she is already undergoing a series of six chemotherapy treatments to be followed by six radiation treatments. Much of our time in Dresden was spent with this wonderful couple. We believe this was some of the most productive work we did all summer. Please pray for Anne’s healing.

Clyde preached twice in Dresden and taught a 5-week series on the book of Psalms in their midweek Bible class. Gwen spent time with contacts made in the past and also surfaced new contacts. One Lord’s Day we were in Oelsnitz, where Clyde preached, and one weekend we were in Warsaw, Poland. This trip was a long, 10-1/2-hour train ride from Dresden, but we were glad we could go and render whatever assistance and encouragement we could to this small group of Christians. Once again Clyde spoke in the Sunday assembly – however, this time it was not in German, and certainly not in Polish, but in English through an interpreter.

Monday, July 21st, we left Dresden by train enroute to Vienna, Austria, via Munich. After spending one night in Munich, visiting with a few of the members, we traveled on to Vienna, arriving Tuesday afternoon. Accompanying us was Steve Allison, psychology professor at Abilene Christian University. Steve specializes in Missionary Family Care, and spends half his time traveling on behalf of this good and much needed work. We spent most of the next 5 days in Vienna visiting four young couples who have just completed their first year in Vienna. We believe it was time well spent, and we look forward to following the path of these fine young people as they seek to spread the Good News in this great city.

Saturday July 26th we left Vienna, traveling to Augsburg, Germany – the last leg of our journey. The time there was a fitting climax to our summer’s work, because 40 years ago this July we moved to Augsburg to work with this congregation. What a challenge this proved to be. At the time the congregation was a small, fledgling congregation of some 15 members. What we did not know when we moved there was that several of the members held doctrinal positions contrary to Scripture, and were intent on introducing these innovations into the church. The first two years of our ministry there proved to be extremely challenging. Almost on a daily basis we were forced to confront these unsound teachings. Finally, one by one, these members left, and the church began to grow. Today it is a fine congregation of 80-plus members, with elders and deacons, and fully self-supporting.

Sunday, July 27th, Clyde preached in Augsburg. Following services the members gathered for a fellowship meal. Incidentally, it would appear from this report that all that the Christians in Europe do is eat. Be assured that is not true, but this is certainly one expression of the warmth of their fellowship.

Wednesday, July 30th, we then flew from Munich to Washington Dulles and then on to Oklahoma City – home again, at last! Tired? Yes! But, also excited and thankful that we could be used by God in helping advance the Kingdom in Scotland, England, Germany, Poland and Austria.

How much good was done – only God knows. Long ago we learned to not measure success in terms of visible results. The words of Scripture. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1. Cor. 3:6) are emblazoned on our hearts

We are thankful to God for protecting us in our travels, and we are also thankful to each of you who has had a part in making it all possible.

Your fellow servants in Christ,

clyde.antwine@oc.edu
gwen.antwine@oc.edu

Clyde and Gwen Antwine

39 Wishart Drive
Broomridge, Stirling FK7 7TR
Scotland, U.K.
Tel: 011-44-1786-816259
Email: mitchvick@btinternet.com

July in Stirling

The month of July has been an excellent time for us, both in the congregation’s work and personally. Despite the summer season and a number of our own people out of town at various times, our worship services have been very good, and attendance has held up remarkably well, with a number of visitors each week. It has been challenging, with John Renwick still not yet fully back to work, and with Dick Carter out of town for an extended period. I have done the majority of the preaching and teaching, and Tristan has covered the Searchers class. We have shared responsibilities in our mid-week classes.

Church News

The church is well, though have been saddened at the new that John and Sandra Fairley will be moving to York in northern England, where they will attend the church at Morley (near Leeds). We will miss them. Tristan and Leslie enjoyed visits from friends back home, and from Leslie’s parents and sister. They will be leaving this week for a short furlough but will be back in mid-September. Isobel and I enjoyed having Robin and Chrissy in Scotland during most of the month, though it was very much a come and go” kind of visit. Since they were here to assess possibilities for their future work in the British Isles, they were very busy visiting and working with churches all over the country, but we still enjoyed the time we had with them. The church enjoyed hearing Robin preach on his first Sunday with us, as well as his song leading on the final Sunday before returning to the States. The weeks ahead will be demanding.

Camps Tayside and Heatherbell

Summer means youth camp time, and both Scottish camps, Heatherbell and Tayside, had excellent sessions. Robin and Chrissy helped at Camp Tayside and really enjoyed their week with kids throughout the Scottish congregations. Reports from Camp Heatherbell were also good.

FriendSpeak Continues

Our FriendSpeak outreach continues in a revised format for the summer. Since so many of our regular helpers have been out of town at times, we have met regularly with Danny, Jie, and Carey on Tuesday afternoons (Tristan and Leslie also meet with them on Fridays). Several weeks ago we enjoyed a BBQ with the students at our house, and the group enjoyed trying a Scottish game, Crokinole. We will be sorry to see Carey return to Taiwan at the end of August, though Danny and Jie hope to remain longer. We were pleased, and a bit surprised, when three new potential FriendSpeak readers came with Carey last Sunday, two from Taiwan and one from Germany. We will not be able to begin work with them in FriendSpeak until mid-September, but for the moment we are encouraging them to keep coming to church and Searchers’ class each week, which they seem keen to do.

Family News

Isobel and I have had a busy month with Robin and Chrissy’s visit. We really enjoyed having them here and managed to get a few days off with them, despite the busy schedule. Isobel has been doing some extra hospital shifts to cover for staff vacation time. Hannah is now finishing her second clinical placement, in family practice and getting ready for the next phase. Laura and Clay are also well and preparing for Clay’s return to teaching this week.

We are so very thankful for your interest in the church in Scotland. We continue to ask you to pray for us. The weeks ahead will be demanding.

Yours in the Lord’s service,
Mitch and Isobel Vick

Dear Fellow Servants,

The past month has been filled with challenges – some good, some unfortunate.

CHALLENGES

On the good side, I have been doing some long planned renovating of my living room, and the disorder of such a project is always a challenge. However I have had lots of help from my fellow Christians, though I tried to spread out my requests so I didn’t get on people’s nerves. Someone was always available for the task at hand – whether scraping old paper off the walls, removing floor tiles, moving furniture or painting. MARK was especially helpful. Together we papered the ceiling, re-plastered the walls and put down new wood flooring – all in three weeks between my regular teaching and counselling sessions and Mark’s packing for their upcoming move. Yesterday I decided, however, that enough is enough. I will finish the edging to cover the heating pipes sometime this winter at my leisure. But even without that done, the room is very livable and refreshingly light compared with before.

Sadly, the list of unfortunate challenges is longer.
–Twice in one week we had very heavy rains which left me with an inch of water in the basement. The second time, I went down during the storm to see just where it was coming in and am hoping that the plumber will get the necessary changes made before the next downpour. I hesitate to complain, however. One neighbor’s basement had over five feet of water! It was quite a storm!

–In the total confusion of the renovation, I lost me keys. I’m still hoping to find them in some box, but I’ve changed all the locks just in case. It was not a good feeling that some stranger might be able to get in easily.

–The one remodelling task I didn’t do myself was floating (levelling) the floor, but while the workers were doing it, they left the front door open because they were constantly coming in and out with supplies while working upstairs. I assume it was during this time that my laptop was stolen from my office on the ground floor. There were no signs of a break-in, and I think that if it had something to do with the lost keys, they would have taken more. They only took what could be grabbed very quickly. Fortunately, I had just backed up my data two days before – except my emails. And fortunately, I had Jim’s computer upstairs, but I still have to reinstall lots of things and am still trying to figure out what passwords I need to change.

Needless to say, I have been feeling very vulnerable again, but actually, each of these situations could have been a great deal worse. God is good!

PRAYER ITEMS OF A MORE SPIRITUAL NATURE

The various Bible studies I mentioned in the last letter continue, and besides studying with RUEDIGER, Simone’s husband JUERGEN is now coming to worship regularly.
KATIA, who was baptized in September last year, has been bringing her mother to worship. In fact her mother even came twice when Katia did not.
AMADEUS, a young man from the Frankfurt church, is in Bremen for three months working on a project that is part of his Master’s thesis. He is a very pleasant addition to the church.
MARK and KAREN have finished their two years of language study in Bremen and are moving the end of August to Chemnitz to help with the work there.
DAVID, who was in the hospital with Jim, no longer returns my phone calls. It is so sad to experience someone so close to standing before the Lord refusing to even consider the possibility that He is.
“SPIRITUAL MILK” – I’ve nearly completed a 12 lesson series for new Christians that I have been doing with Simone. The next task is to work the lessons over a bit so that someone else could use them, too.

USA TRIP

I will be making a trip to the Chicago area, Memphis and Searcy in a few weeks to visit some of my supporting churches and also to attend the Harding Lectureship. Continuing to counsel and teach during these past difficult months has helped me greatly, but I have had a hard time concentrating in my own personal study. So I have decided it is time to fill up my own “tank” and will use this opportunity to do so. Of course, I will also stop by to see the grandchildren in Florida on my way home, but you probably guessed that, right? I will be with them for the anniversary of Jim’s death.

In closing there is something I would like to share with you that I rediscovered on Jim’s computer. This was the last sermon series he preached before getting sick.

The Heart of the Worshiper
Part I: A Heart filled with godly longing
Part II: A Heart filled with godly feelings
Part III: A Heart on its Way to God

He preached Part III exactly one month before the end of his journey.

Thank you very much for your continued prayers. Gott mit euch!

Your fellow servant,
Elsa Springer