Update from Joe in Chile - Sunday, Feb 28

Dear Praying Friends,

We finally have internet access! Hooray! We have missed not being able to keep you updated but have definitely felt your prayers and love. When I was finally able to connect to the internet, my inbox was full of good wishes and promises of prayer. We're thankful for our children and our coworkers who worked together to keep you updated with little pieces of information we passed to them in very brief phone calls here and there. Now you are able to get it "from the horse's mouth."

We are doing well and have so much to be thankful for and I want to let you know how God is answering your prayers and give you some more things to bring before God's throne. It's been interesting to follow the Lord through these days, but we are at complete peace and trusting Him.

Our EGM team here in Chile has responded to the challenges with real grace and strength. It seems that our EGM office did not sustain any structural damage, but our director has shared with me that most of what was on a flat surface is on the floor. Our meetings for tomorrow have been cancelled because of the damage to the office and because some of the team members are having difficulty with transportation. The buses are not running and bridge and road damage has resulted in road closures. Even commuter trains are not running due to power outages. The gas stations are packed with people trying to get gas so transportation is certainly in question. We will join the team at the office in the morning to assess the damage and do some initial clean up work.

As far as what is going on in the country is concerned, those of you in the United States are probably better informed than I am. Communication has been very bad within the country with cell phone systems overloaded, power outages, etc. Without internet until today, our only source of information has been word-of-mouth and watching Spanish news reports using a small Spanish-English dictionary to figure out the highlights.

I can tell you that our team and their families are safe and well and determined to keep working through all this. Though the ministry schedule changes continually, I can really see their hearts to remain faithful to the Lord in this time for the sake of the children, children's workers and churches that are looking to them for help with children's ministry. Our director, Daniel Lagos, told me today that "we MUST go forward with rescheduling the children's workers training because the churches are depending on us for help."

Our time in the church this morning was really great. The children's ministry program was cancelled because the aftershocks which still occur are causing people to keep their children at home. In addition, there was a wall in the children's classroom area that was damaged so there was no place for them to meet. The people arranged themselves in areas of the auditorium where there were no lights to fall upon them (several had fallen during the quake) and we were given evacuation instructions as the service began. We met without electricity so there were no lights or sound system, but GOD'S power was evident! I felt an unusual outpouring of God's Spirit upon me as I shared with the people from Matthew 17:1-20 that the God who can move the mountains wants to move in our lives as we serve Him reaching the lost all around us.

Some prayer needs:

1. Our co-worker, Krysten Norkaitis, is still trying to get to Chile from Peru in time for our board meetings Thursday and Friday. The airport is closed at this time and the date it will be re-opened keeps moving. While she waits, she is trying to be an encouragement and help to our Peru team, but is anxious to get to Chile if God is willing.

2. We still have not heard from our teammate Daniel Gonzales. When he left Vina del Mar for Santiago, he went to the place where the ground transportation could be organized and found a massive crowd of frustrated people. While he was standing there trying to decide what to do, someone drove by and said, "Do you want to go to Santiago? We will take you!" He jumped in the car and they left, but we have not heard if he arrived in Santiago. At this point, his only hope for getting home to his family in the South is by air from Santiago where the airports are closed.

3. We want to be a blessing to the team here and to the family that has opened their home to us. We originally planned to be in a hotel for at least part of the time, but that is now impossible and we are so thankful for our hosts. They have been very kind.

4. We are seeking God's direction for decisions regarding the ministry events that were planned. God knows.

At a time like this, we are counting on your prayers more than ever before. As we have more news, we will update you.

Joe and Julie

Update from Joe and Julie - Saturday, Feb 27

Dear Praying Friends,

You may have heard that there has been an earthquake in Chile. We know you have already been praying for us and we thank you. Before we go much further, we want to say that we are safe and are praising the Lord.

The epicenter of the earthquake was actually in the south of Chile and we are in central Chile. We definitely had the full earthquake experience in our area and it was a very scary thing to go through. The city of Vina del Mar and neighboring Valparaiso, where our EGM office is, has sustained considerable damage. The aftershocks continue every few minutes to remind us of God’s power.

The earthquake hit at about 3:30am and we were scheduled to conduct a children’s worker conference at 9:30am. Still reeling from the effects of the quake, we were encouraged by our Chilean director to come ahead to the conference location. So much preparation has gone into preparing for the conference; it was hard for the team here to cancel. When we arrived a few minutes late, we found three teachers waiting for us that had traveled three hours to come to the training. Just as they arrived at the church, a strong aftershock occurred but even that did not deter them. We couldn’t just send them home after such an effort so a mini-seminar was given for just them. What dedication!

In addition to praising God for His protection, here are a couple of prayer requests we would appreciate you remembering.

1. One of the EGM staff members, Daniel Gonzalez, lives very near the worst of the devastation. He had traveled up to meet us and is desperately trying to get home to his family. So many bridges are out that buses are not running and the airport is closed. He is also a pastor of a local church and is anxious to return to his home area so he can be a support to his church family.

2. We need wisdom regarding how to continue with our trip. God has us here at this time for a reason and we want to accomplish His purposes, whatever that might be. We are taking it an hour at a time at this point.

3. Our team member, Krysten, who was to arrive today will not be able to get here from Lima, so we are also trusting God for direction in that situation.

4. Pray that we can communicate well with the Chilean family with whom we are staying. They are amazing but we have had our challenges with the language barrier.

If we get internet again, we’ll try to update you. Thanks for praying!

Joe and Julie

Prayer Request

Dear Praying Friends,

We believe God has called our prayer partners to serve just as surely as He has called us to serve with EGM! We need your constant prayer and count on it but are especially mindful of that need when we are traveling internationally. We’re heading to South America! Would you like to come with us through prayer? Please do!

This trip is one Julie has dreamed of since she was a 6th grader when she learned about South America in school. Our trip was originally taken off the docket because of budget concerns, but God moved in the heart of a family who has prayed for us and supported us in the ministry for many years. They donated enough airline miles to completely cover the airfare for the trip, making it possible for us to go. We are humbled and thankful for this wonderful gift.

Following is a detailed itinerary of our trip and we’d love to know that you will follow us in prayer. Please post this itinerary somewhere where you will see it, then let us know you will be remembering to pray often. We’ve heard that our itineraries have been placed in lots of creative places! Whether on the bathroom mirror, on the kitchen window above the sink, on the refrigerator, on the dashboard of the car or propped on top of the TV, we love it that you are committed to remembering us before the Lord!

As you review the itinerary you will see that the trip is totally packed with opportunities. It’s also loaded with chances for the enemy to have an inroad. We’ll give you a full report of the trip when we return. If we have access to the internet, we will also give you updates along the way.

We treasure your partnership in the ministry.

Joe and Julie


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Here’s a daily summary of what we are up to. Of course, these are just the highlights and speaking engagements. There’s lots more going on every day, but it’s too much to write here. Pray as you feel led and listen to the Lord. He’ll remind you to pray when it’s most important!

Tuesday, February 23
Joe and Julie fly to Lima, Peru (overnight flight). Krysten Norkaitis, EGM’s Latin America regional director will also be with us on this trip. Pray we will be a united and effective team.

Wednesday, February 24
We will meet today with some of the Peruvians who have agreed to serve on the board for our brand new EGM ministry in Peru. We will also catch up with EGM team members John and Heather Chapman, who have been living in Lima and helping this new baby ministry get started. Since this is our first trip to Peru, we are asking God to show us HIS heart for the Peruvian churches, children’s workers and children. Pray also that we can be a blessing to the Chapman’s.

Thursday, February 25
We will meet with more new board members and spend time with the Chapman’s. In the evening, we will participate in a children’s meeting and then share with adults about the international work of EGM. Pray we can be an encouragement to those we meet with and have wisdom to be a resource to these precious leaders. Pray, too, that we can see the Peruvian children the way God sees them.

Friday, February 26
Today, the Peruvian board will have their first official meeting and the ministry in Peru will launch! Unfortunately, we will miss this meeting, but our coworker, Krysten Norkaitis will be staying on with the Chapman’s for the big event. It’s great to have a team! We must fly on to Santiago, Chile, and then travel by car to the coastal city of Vina del Mar, where our EGM office and team is located. In the evening we will meet with those who have organized a children’s workers conference in which we will participate the following day. Pray for safety in the travel and for rest as we stay with a Chilean family. The Chile part of the trip is a whirlwind of activity!

Saturday, February 27
The conference will run from 8:45am to 6pm. Julie and Joe will both share with attendees about the work of EGM around the world as well as workshops on the biblical methods for working with children. Pray for us to have lots of energy and enthusiasm. Also, pray for good understanding among the teachers attending the conference as we will speak through translators.

Sunday, February 28
We will observe Sunday school classes of those who have received EGM training, and then Joe will preach in a church in Villa Alemania, just outside Vina del Mar. Pray for God’s message to be clear as Joe shares about God’s heart for children.

Monday, March 1
In the morning, we will meet with those who organize the EGM training throughout Chile, to share new ideas and provide counsel on their programs. In the afternoon we will meet with the Executive Director, Board Chairman and Treasurer to discuss ministry issues. One area we hope to encourage them in is developing funding for the work from within Chile. In the evening, Julie will share with all the women (about 20) who are involved with EGM-Chile leadership. This is a long day of meetings and we want to have God’s agenda for each one of the gatherings. Pray for Julie to have God’s wisdom as she shares with the women.

Tuesday, March 2
In the morning we will meet with the team that has been working on developing a Chilean EGM Sunday school curriculum. They have completed one year of lessons for three age groups! Pray that we can encourage and inspire them as they look forward to working on the next two years of curriculum. In the afternoon, Julie will speak to about 50 women at the church of one of our EGM staff members, and asks for prayer for the message to cross the cultural barriers to touch the hearts of the women.

Wednesday, March 3
We will enjoy a day of touring the area and resting. Whew!

Thursday, March 4
Joe will speak throughout the day at the EGM Chile Board Retreat, sharing from the Word of God and also presenting material on important ministry concerns. The day will be full. Pray for endurance today and for fresh truths from God’s Word to touch hearts.

Friday, March 5
Today is the EGM Chile Board Meeting and Joe will teach from the Word again and be available during the meeting to provide counsel and also to support Krysten in her role as the EGM-US representative on the board. Pray that our presence in the board meeting will be a blessing to those in attendance.

Saturday, March 6
A large fellowship of pastors from throughout the region will be gathered together for a full day to hear Joe and Krysten share about how EGM has been used of the Lord throughout Latin America and how the Chilean ministry can help them with effective children’s ministry. Pray these leaders will catch God’s vision for the children in their churches and communities.

Sunday, March 7
We will observe Sunday school classes of those who have received EGM training, and then Joe will preach in two churches (in Belloto Sur and in Valparaiso). Pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit as Joe shares from God’s Word about the importance of children’s ministry.

Monday, March 8
We will travel back to Santiago and take another overnight flight back to the US. We will arrive the next morning in San Diego. Pray for readjustment to our time zone and for refreshment physically.

Back Home!! Thank you for praying!

Dear Prayer Partners,

Well, I am now at home after my adventures in Eastern Europe. I am tired but happy! The trip was a success in lots of ways and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was in it from the beginning to the end. Thanks so much for standing with me in prayer. It meant the world to me!

I already sent an update after the Belarus portion of my trip to those who committed to pray daily (about 25 of you!). The time in Belarus was wonderful, difficult, fun, dangerous, fulfilling, tiring, emotional and exacting! It really was all of those things! The goals set out for the trip were met and it was clear that God was at work among the children, children's workers and churches of that dear country! Our American team had terrific unity and we ALL felt God leading in very real ways. Due to security concerns, there's not really very much I can tell you in writing, but if you would like to have more detail, I'm more than happy to call you. And I mean that! Please let me know if you'd like to have the "inside scoop" on the trip and I'll fill you in! For now, please know that if you were praying, God bless you! I needed it every step of the way and God answered your prayers!

As for the Romania portion of the trip, I have lots to say! I spent a few days in the capital city of Bucharest with our friend and coworker, Alex Bruda. We had the privilege of sharing in a church on Sunday morning and shared briefly with the team of Sunday school leaders. The next day was spent conducting interviews for a second member of our Central Europe resource team who will hopefully join us in April. We have had 18 Romanian applicants for the position and are working through the process of determining God's will in the matter. Some wonderful Christian people have applied and I enjoyed meeting many of them. It was encouraging to talk about EGM with folks who are so dedicated to the task of reaching children!

I was supposed to take the night train to Cluj, but a low-cost flight was arranged at the last minute. After a late-night flight on a very scary airplane, I arrived safely in Cluj for the Romania EGM board meeting then drove with the team to the conference center for the national conference. It was a treat to meet each of the attendees. Our team was rounded out this year by Jan Kraushaar, a short-term ministry missionary from California and Nabila Hanna from Cairo, Egypt. This year, only 7 people out of 90 came on scholarships! At the conference, we had an unprecedented response to the offering taken. Even though fundraising is a new idea to Romanian Christians, 25 Egyptian children were given an opportunity to go to a Christian camp as a result of the fundraising efforts. We shared on the topic of "Spiritual Reality for a Virtual Generation," helping teachers meet kids where they are in the age of technology with the truth of God's Word. As always we were well received and the fellowship was so very sweet!

I'm praying for YOU today that God will express His presence to you in very definite ways and also show you how just how valuable your ministry in prayer can be.

Trusting Him with you,

Joe

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Cox Newsletter - July 2009

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Hungary, Ukraine and Romania – Wow!

May 4-6
Just a short 24 hours after leaving San Diego, we arrived in Budapest, Hungary. What a beautiful city! Sadly, there was no time for sightseeing on this trip. We were able to enjoy the new office which is located in a courtyard of one of the main streets on the Buda side of the river. This has been a great answer to prayer. The location is better, the space larger and the rent cheaper. God is good!

The meetings with the staff and the board were extremely beneficial. We witnessed the solving of some misunderstandings, the healing of relationships and the eagerness of all involved to see the children reached and the children’s workers equipped. God accomplished a lot in a short amount of time.

May 7-10
Arriving in Kiev, Ukraine we were greeted by five Ukrainians, Igor and Natasha, and the regional team. It was quite the welcoming party! We finally met Michael Lozovoi, the new national director for Ukraine, and his family. What a joy they all are! We all traveled together in a van for the next four hours over some beautiful countryside to Uman for the board retreat for this very new ministry.

Friday and Saturday were full days of training for the board. There were a lot of things to discuss and plan and God gave Joe just the right words at just the right time, even if it had to go through translation most of the time!

On Sunday, Joe was asked to speak in the church service. He was the second speaker of the required three messages. Then Joe asked for the blessing of the congregation to dismiss us so that we might experience the children’s ministry going on downstairs. It was good to be with the children, but following the translation we realized how important it will be for EGM to offer training and help to the children’s workers. We’re thankful that Michael will be there to help them reach the children for Jesus.

Those same teachers participated in a training session after a quick lunch. Several churches from the region were represented in the training. They came in very skeptical and stoic, but it wasn’t long before they were laughing and learning new ways to teach God’s Word to the children. This will be the beginning of a new relationship with the churches in this region of Ukraine.

May 11-14
Once the training was complete, the 9 of us jumped back in the van and headed for the city of Dnepropetrovsk where the national office is located. It was about a 7 hour drive over very rough roads, and we were all ready to sleep when we arrived. Michael had made arrangements for Joe and me to stay with a family from his church. Hospitality is BIG in Ukraine and we enjoyed sweet fellowship each evening with this dear family who support the ministry of EGM.

The next few days involved completing Michael’s training, visiting his office and meeting with Sunday school leaders from the area. Another opportunity arose to share with a large group of people from various churches who are in charge of the camping programs in their churches. In every group it was the same reserved manner in the beginning that ended up with extreme interest in the training and the materials available in Russian.

We traveled with Igor and Natasha to Kiev by train late in the day in order to meet with an American missionary who is leading a Bible school for national leaders. We are praying that this might be another key way to reach the churches in Ukraine.

After a quick flight back to Budapest, we met up with our co-worker, Francie Overstreet. Francie is in charge of our leadership development program and joined us to attend two conferences in Romania. We took another long van ride over the border into Oradea, Romania. We’re thankful for Persida, the curriculum development leader in Romania who picked up our weary bones and delivered us to a wonderful place to rest for the evening. All three of us needed that!

May 15-17
We were blessed to spend the next three days at a beautiful, little conference center in the middle of the mountains. It was a perfect setting for the intense training that we delivered to the 15 participants from various regions of Romania. These key leaders will assist our staff in training other children’s workers in their churches and surrounding areas. They are serving on a volunteer basis and are thrilled to be sharing all that they can with their fellow workers who believe in the impact of reaching the next generation. Their dedication was a challenge and we are looking forward to all that they will do in the days ahead.

May 18
Sunday evening we traveled by car with Daniel, the Romanian national director, to Cluj in order to be at the EGM-Romania board meeting early on Monday morning. Joe serves as the EGM-US representative on the Romanian board so his day was spent with the board while Julie spent time with Emese, who is the leadership development director in Romania. Having friends around the world makes the traveling fun. We had been praying for Emese as she faced the possibility of cancer treatment, but praise the Lord, while we were in Romania she received the news that it was not cancer and she is looking forward to her wedding in August.

Daniel delivered us to the train station following a meeting arranged by one of the board members who has a passion to reach out to the families in the churches partnering with EGM. (They are considering a family outreach in the fall which would be a blessing to the parents, reach the children and promote the ministry. Pray that they will be wise as they plan.) The night train is an interesting experience! Let’s just say that with the heat, noise and movement we didn’t get much sleep, but watching the sunrise was amazing.

May 19-24
Time in Bucharest was fun! We enjoy being with Alex and Cami, the regional director for Central Europe, and their little boys. Alex is still waiting for the funds for a vehicle so we traveled by tram and bus to the office for meetings—it takes over an hour to get across town all the while fighting for your place to stand! Alex says he has a spa experience on every commute: a full body massage, aroma therapy and a sauna. We agree! Alex really needs a car!

The time flew by quickly and before we knew it was Friday. We were off again! This time we traveled about four hours north of Bucharest by car to Galati, Romania in order to assist with a church training that was being organized by one of the teachers we had met the previous weekend. She is the children’s director for her church and arranged for other churches in her area to participate in this conference. There were 75 registered and it was great to work side by side with our Romanian team.

One group of 10 men came from a church in a small Roma community (gypsy village) where a revival has been taking place for the past few months--over 500 were baptized recently! These men came because they know it is important to teach the children, but didn’t know where to start. It was so much fun to see these children’s workers light up with excitement as they viewed the curriculum and then learned how to use it effectively. Pray that they will continue to see God at work in their village.

The long drive back to Bucharest was filled with praise for what God had done. Just 12 hours later we were boarding the plane and heading for the USA.

We want to thank you for praying for us. Three weeks is a long time to be away from home and the office. Our hearts were full but our bodies were weary. We came home exhausted and headed into a busy week of preparing for the US board meeting. Now this week finds us getting ready for Jonathan’s graduation and a house full of our kids! Wish you could be here too! We would love to show you all of our pictures and tell you “the rest of the story!”