"Hasta luegos" in Uruguay and "hellos" in another mission field

Pastor Phil leading Bible study and the service of the Word with the small group gathered in Nestor and Rita's home in Costa de Oro.

Rachel enjoyed lunch and conversation with Gaby, a friend and one of the 9 deaconess students of the Lutheran Church of Uruguay.

The group gathered for Reformation Day service in Costa de Oro.

Missionary colleagues Rev. James and Angie Sharp, along with their daughter Maggie and Deaconess Tirzah Krey who was visiting Uruguay during our last week in country, saw us off at the airport. They helped and supported us in more ways than we can adequately say, especially during the process of selling and packing everything we owned there. We praise God for these friends and coworkers in the Gospel.

Photos from the lovely baby shower/send-off party with dear sisters in Christ in Montevideo. Their thoughtfulness and love for us and our baby girl are true gifts. 

More photos from the lovely baby shower/send-off party with dear sisters in Christ in Montevideo. Their thoughtfulness and love for us and our baby girl are true gifts. 

In November we visited St. Louis for end of service meetings at the International Center (LCMS Headquarters).

The members at our new congregation thoughtfully included touches of Uruguay into the decor for Pastor Phil's installation reception. Martini Lutheran already supports two LCMS missionary families as well as various local mission initiatives.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we near the time for our Evangeline Lucia to make her appearance. In accordance with her name's meaning, we pray that she would be a bearer of the light of the Gospel. 

Many area pastors joined us for Phil's installation as pastor at Martini in the mission field of Baltimore on Epiphany, January 6.

We are pictured here at the installation with Phil's parents and brother.

After Pastor Phil's last service at Prado, we shared a beloved hymn with the small group gathered in Christ’s name, singing in English because it is not in the Spanish hymnal. We shared the Spanish translation so that those who do not know English could enjoy the richness of the words. A small parting gift, from the heart, that will remain our prayer for these dear saints as well as those who recently received us at Martini Lutheran in Baltimore.

Dear partners in mission,

The months since our last letter have been a whirlwind, yet have most certainly been a memorable time of much blessing and as always, God's provision. Phil conducted his last services in Prado and out in Costa de Oro, Rachel taught make-up classes for a few deaconess students who had missed a few, and we made the most of conversations and visits with dear brothers and sisters in Christ of Lutheran Church of Uruguay. In the past 12 years, and especially during our years as missionaries, we have said "goodbye" and "hello" to many places in various countries and to many dear fellow children of God. Thankfully, there truly are no "goodbyes", but rather "see you laters" as we remember that whether in this life or the one to come, we will be reunited with all who are in Christ. On November 8 we said "goodbye" to Uruguay, yet we carry many dear folks in our hearts and continue to pray for them and the body of Christ in that small nation of 3 million.

We pray that the Lord of the Church would continue to strengthen the witness and resolve of His people there, that many would continue to hear the saving message of the Gospel and avail themselves of the means of grace. We pray for the pastors, teachers, members, and deaconess students of the Lutheran Church of Uruguay. We pray for the school families, especially those living without faith in Jesus. We pray for our former neighbors, the staff in our apartment building we got to know, our former language teachers, and the local business owners with whom we had conversations while living in Montevideo.

Below we have included photos of our last gatherings with various groups in Uruguay, the baby shower so lovingly put on by some of the deaconess students, and Phil's installation as pastor of Martini Lutheran Church in Baltimore. The entire world needs Christ and is therefore God's mission field. To this end we hope you will include Baltimore and our U.S. urban churches in your personal prayer list.

The Lord of the harvest has always sent workers into His harvest field, per His promise. There remain faithful workers in the fields on the other side of the world, and we thank Him for their witness and for allowing us to serve Him in Uruguay. Please join us in continuing to remember the dear ones in this country for whom Christ died, even as we ask you to pray for us as we adapt to the new mission field of Baltimore to which the Lord has sent us. 

We could not have been sent without your generosity and partnership, and we hope that you would continue to support the mission efforts of the LCMS both locally and overseas. There is information below as to how to transfer your financial support to foreign missionaries doing the work of the Gospel around the world. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your years of faithful support of us and our work. We are so grateful to call you brothers and sisters in Christ and partners in mission. May He bless and keep each of you as you serve Him in various areas of this field.

With our sincerest gratitude and love,
Pastor Phil and Deaconess Rachel Jaseph
(and baby Evangeline due to arrive in February)

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