Frien d s h i p
INTERNATIONAL
A Ministry In Chile, Great Britain,
Hungary, Romania and the USA
Number 02.17
UPDATE
Mo
n t h ly
2 0 1 7
P.O. Box 50884, Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0884, USA • Tel. 719-386-8808 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.friendshipintl. org
. . .
February, 2017
Franklin Graham:
‘This Is Not A Time
To Stand Down’
Dear Friend,
Del Huff
Executive Director
Great Challenges Ahead
Both Expected And Unexpected
We are only in the second month of this
new year, but we see the playing out of a
contentious changing of our government
leadership. As most everyone would agree
it has never been such an embarrassment
to our countrymen before the world.
Also, as you will read in this issue, there
is other news which saddens our hearts, a
new outbreak of fighting between Russia
and Ukraine, and also another shocking
natural disaster in Chile.
The bottomline is, as Franklin Graham admonishes us to do, continue praying for
our country, our people and our world.
God’s word, in Philippians 4:6&7.
America has a new president and vice
president. I believe their inauguration
can be an opportunity to alter the atmosphere in Washington and have an
impact on the nation’s direction.
Donald Trump, like all leaders, is not without flaws, but I believe he will be willing to listen. That’s important. I have known Mike Pence, the vice president, for
some time—he has a deep faith, with a firm commitment to God and His Word.
As God’s people,
This is not a time to Stand Down
or Drop our Guard.
Powerful forces are opposing
any change of direction.
Our new leaders need wisdom from Almighty God. The Bible says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NASB). For our nation and its future, this
admonition never had more urgency.
Delicate Situation In The Ukraine
Editor’s Note: We have receive reports from
our friends in the Ukraine that there is a recent
escalation in the conflict between Russia and
the Ukraine. We would like to petition your
prayers on behalf of the Ukrainian people and
their country, as well as for Christians who are
presently in the Eastern zone to bring humanitarian relief, comfort and encouragement to the
people suffering and struggling to survive the
war and the cold, harsh winter elements.
Here is some of what we are hearing:
“Diplomatic efforts to end more than two years of conflict in rebel-held eastern
Ukraine have run aground, with the government in Kiev and Russian-backed separatists blaming each other for reneging on a 2015 peace accord. While fighting is down
from peak levels, Ukraine’s military reports frequent soldier fatalities, with battles
flaring up again in early 2017.
But, there is also GOOD NEWS ahead.
Friendship International is planning a
year of ministry activities with the desire to reach many boys and girls, young
people, and adults with the life-changing,
hope-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Please take note in this UPDATE of
the ways you can get involved with us.
A barrage of artillery shook a sector of eastern Ukraine on Thursday, the fifth day of
escalated fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused Ukraine of starting the latest
escalation to rally support from the new U.S. administration and other Western powers.
Ukraine is concerned that President Donald Trump could roll back some sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, and that European Union members could
follow suit.”
Disaster Strikes Again In Chile
The Worst Forest Fires In Chile’s History
water, local media say a single run by the
jumbo is equivalent to that of 72 helicopter
and 20 light aircraft missions. Representatives of the company that own the plane
cautioned that it was “not a magic wand”,
but could compliment the work of fire brigades on the ground.
Soon after arrival in Chile, the giant plane
was loaded with water and fire-suppressing foam and gels and sent on its first mission to the Maule region, where the latest
fire-fighting fatality occurred hours earlier.
Chile is facing the worst forest fires it has
ever seen. More than 90 blazes, burning
more than one million acres from the center
to the south of Chile since July 2016, with
almost 70% of the destruction occurring in
January and February, 2017. The affected
area is larger than the state of Rhode Island.
At least 11 people have died and more than
1,000 homes have been destroyed, village
schools have been turned to ashes, and destroyed cattle herds and vineyards are seen
Firefighters have taken to the airwaves to
everywhere.
appeal for planes to help combat the fire in
remote regions.
The Chilean government has declared a state
of emergency in several areas, as people try
to save their homes, livestock and land.
“All my fields burned, there were four
hectares that I had and it all burned,” Susana Molina, a boutique wine producer,
told Reuters. She is from Cauquenes in
the Maule region, where the local industry
association reports damage to around 100
small vineyards.
Elsewhere livestock have been engulfed
in the flames. Chile’s public works ministry announced plans this week to dispatch
heavy machinery to bury the hundreds of
animal carcasses.
The world’s biggest aerial firefighting aircraft has joined beleaguered firefighters.
Help has come from Argentina, France, Peru,
Mexico and the US. The most visible sign of
support arrived on Wednesday morning in
the form of a Boeing 747-400 supertanker,
which flew in from a US Air Force Base in
Colorado on a fire-fighting operation funded
to the tune of about $2m by a wealthy Chilean resident in Denver, Colorado.
Editor’s Note: This aircraft has been used
for fighting many forest fires here in our
own backyard. F.I.’s international headquarters are in Colorado Springs, CO.
With the capacity to carry 73,000 litres of
Hernán Avilés González was killed rescuing a family of three who had been trapped
in their rural home in Santa Olga. The inhabitants were saved, but the fireman –
who had been battling the blaze for several
days – became entangled in wires and fell
victim to the flames.
Reporting on his death, Mayor Carlos
Valenzuela of the small town of Constitutión, told reporters. “This is a real hell.
We are absolutely overwhelmed.”
by our Missionaries
in Chile
Lorena and Miguel
Mora
2017 - A Most Memorable Year
500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
1517 - 2017
Extra Report!
Dear friends,
With much sadness we share with you
this extra report.
Once again a great catastrophe has struck
our country. (The photos on the opposite
page, represent the situation we are experiencing). We have, in the past had to deal
with earthquakes and floods, but a couple
of weeks ago, in the central zone of our
country, there were different outbreaks of
forest fires, which have left our country in
divestation.
Thousands of families have been left homeless since the fire has consumed their home
completely; Hundreds of thousands of
acres of forests and crops have been consumed by the fire. There are villages and
areas without light and without drinking
water; long rows of cars in gas station, lines
of people in supermarkets, closed roads,
etc. It is a bleak picture, this type of catastrophe is unprecedented in our country.
Here in America, we are living in the bounty of our founding Protestant “Fathers of the
Faith”. But the truth is, many of those of us who call ourselves Protestant Christian are
not well informed of the sacrifices made so that we may read, preach, teach God’s word
in our own language, believing that we are saved by God’s grace and not our own merits. Over the course of this coming year, each month, we would like to highlight some of
the thoughts and stories of events and men who led the crusade to what is known today
as the Protestant Reformation.
Today we should be impressed by the legacy of human freedom bequeathed by the Protestant Reformation. Without question Western man was directly and indirectly emancipated by the spirit of the mighty leaders of reform. The Bible, so long closed from the
laymen by the clergy, was opened for all men to read. The feudal remnants, which clung
like chains to civilization, were shattered by the blows of freedom- loving men. The freedom of each believer to be known as, “Priest,” the freedom from burdensome and hollow
sacramentalism, and the freedom of conscience and worship — all of these concepts stem
from the Reformation’s influence on our thinking.
WHAT IS THE PROTEST REFORMATION?
What is meant by the term, Protestant Reformation? To some people it denotes a religious
fascination bordering on the miraculous. To others it is synonymous with the name of
Martin Luther. Some think of it as a series of changes in religious ideas which developed
out of the controversies sponed by the Ninety-Five Theses. And to still others the name
conjures up a sudden and phenomenal emergence of most of Western Europe from the tyrannical control of the church, a burst of freedom created by the intellectual and religious
impact of a new set of values never known or thought of before.
Our team is starting a campaign to help
Actually the Reformation came not as the result of any one idea or any single overt act;
families who have lost everything.
Our goal? To deliver home utensils
such as crockery, steel pots, plastic
pots, teapots, other necessary utensils,
furniture, but most importantly, food
and clothes.
many factors aided the rise of this mighty movement, but it took many years to arrive.
It came not as a miracle or as the work of one or more brave souls, but as the result of
different factors, working many times apparently at cross-purposes. Neither did reform
activities spring exclusively from religious leaders: The princes of Germany, the nobles of
France, the citizens of Switzerland, and the kings of England and Sweden — all interested
in prevailing conditions — played stellar parts in this moving sixteenth-century drama.
We would like to ask your help! This is
a huge loss for people, but every dollar
will help. Your prayers for this situation would be so appreciated and needed, as well as your generous donations.
JOIN US !
The Reformation 500th Anniversary
Celebration Tour With Friendship International
Visiting East / West Germany,
“The generous will themselves be
blessed...” Proverbs 22:9
(the birth place of the Reformation)
Switzerland, England and Scotland
Dates: October 12 - 24, 2017
Cost - $2,995.00
Yes, I/We are interested in participating in the
Celebration Tour with Friendship International !
Please send me/us the detailed information brochure.
Thank you in advance for your gift of
compassion for this need.
Please send your donation to:
“Help Chilean Families”
FRIENDSHIP INTERNATIONAL
P. O. Box 50884
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0884 USA
You may also choose to send your gift online, through e-Giving by way of a bank
transfer or credit card. Please go to our
website - www.friendshipintl.org.
On the homepage, select in the top menu
bar, click on DONATE and follow the
simple instructions for giving.
Name ________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________
City ___________________________ State _____ ZIP ______
Email _________________________ Phone _________________________
Send to: Friendship International
P.O. Box 50884
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0884
Or Scan and Email: [email protected]
IT’S NOT TOO EARLY!
Featured Mission Trip For 2017
At Friendship Camp we are already
beginning to plan for this coming summer. We have an ambitious goal to be
able to invite 100 children from orphanages and gypsy communities.
Camp is a place where children create
memories, through fun and games and
making new friends. And for some it is
the place where their lives are changed.
They hear the “Good News” about Jesus, and ask Him to be their Savior, and
leave camp with a new heart, with a
new joy, with a new friend,
a Forever Friend.
This Winter for Active Senior Adults
A Unique Christmas
Mission Trip to
Germany, Austria
Romania Mission Project
VISIT
Christmas Markets of Europe in
Rothenburg ob der Taube, Germany,
Salzburg, Austria,
Budapest and Debrecen, Hungary
I/We want to help!
For only $75.- per week
you can make a world
of difference in a kid’s life!
Name ________________________
Address ______________________
City ______________________
State _____ ZIP ___________
Tel. ____________________
Email: __________________
I/We want to sponsor #_____ kids.
Total $_______ Thank you for your contribution.
You may send this form to our office with your donation of cash or check and mail to :
Friendship International
P.O. Box 50884
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0884
Tel. 719-386-8808
Email: [email protected]
All donations are tax deductible.
Checks can be made payable to Friendship
International or for online giving, go to
www.friendshipintl.org - click on “Donate”
and register for credit card or bank transfer.
The Christian artist
is the one whose imagination
should fly beyond the stars.
- Frances Schaeffer
June 22 - July 3, 2017
SHARE
the Christmas Story with
Children in Romanian Orphanages
CELEBRATE
Giving gifts of Toys and
Winter Clothes in Orphanages
12 Days, 11 Nights
December 1 - 12, 2017
Go Online to www.friendship International.org
for all of our Mission Trip Brochures
Partners In Missions Form
With God’s help, I/we want to become a sustaining partner in missions.
q Monthly $______ q Quarterly $______
q Annually $______ q One time donation $______
Name ____________________________________________
Address __________________________
City________________ ST___________ ZIP ____________
Phone______________ Email ____________
SEND TO:
Friendship International, P.O. Box 50884, Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0884
All donations are tax deductible.
Checks can be made payable to Friendship International or for online giving, go to
www.friendshipintl.org - click on “Donate” and register for credit card or bank transfer.