GREG'S DECEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from Chile!! Writing monthly newsletters are like writing sermons: for me, the key is not trying to find something to say but figuring out what not to say, because I always have million things I want to say but only a few things I have time or space to say. Newsletters are like that…and this one more than most because it’s the end of the year; but please read on and look at the pictures at my feeble attempt to capture all God is doing among us.

FIRST: Our Summer Community Sports Programs launched Dec 13^th and will go until the end of Feb. We have more programs planned then last summer and the city has once again asked us to basically run as many community programs, classes, and workshops as we can; and as always they allow us to share the gospel and invite all who participate in these programs to Fuego Urbano, because we run them at no charge to the city or to the community. They are a free gift of service to the community from Fuego Urbano, and our attempt to show them a picture of God’s love and grace in action. They are also our primary way of not only serving the community but evangelizing it, so please pray God will bless our efforts and bring loads and of people to Him through them. We’ll be offering basketball, futsal, soccer, sand-volleyball, skateboarding, music/guitar, singing, dance, and drama classes at different times, so it’ll be a busy but exciting summer for sure!

SECOND: We’ve just received a mission team of 12 Brazilians who are serving in our sports, dance, and music classes until Jan 7^th. The team was organized by a couple long-time Brazilian friends of Pepe from when they lived in Brazil as missionaries developing sports-evangelism programs there, so they’re well-prepared and already a huge blessing. Another team from a YWAM base in LA will be coming from late-January to mid-February, and they’ll be helping as well to serve in our sports, dance, and skateboarding ministries. We couldn’t do this without the help from teams like these and all who pray for them, encourage them, and give to them, so thanks so much from us! Here are a couple pictures from the Brazilians first few days with us this week in our sports and dance workshops:

The Brazilian mission-team leader Roberto giving reflection after basketball

Brazilian mission team leading dance workshops

THIRD: Gean Felipe and Gislaine are doing great and they’re all adjusting to a new member of the family, but all in all they are strong and healthy.

FOURTH: After 5 months my fractured wrist is (finally) almost all-better. I fractured my right wrist back in July while skating in the skate-park here and have not been able to skate or surf since. I should be ok to start next week but please pray for God’s protection as it’s not fully healed.  

Fifth: We now have a real need, as well as an unexpected opportunity, to buy a second vehicle. Because Pepe & Gislaine are now living with their family and I am now living with Guillerme in a nearby apartment, it is extremely difficult for us to take care of all our personal as well as ministry needs with just one vehicle. We’re constantly dropping it off and picking it up as we need it, and it really limits what we can do as far as ministry goes because it makes it really hard for us to be in more than one place at a time. With 2 vehicles we could accomplish much more and focus on our unique areas of ministry, instead of having to always be at one place at the same time, because we only have one car. I bring this up because we have a friend whose father in-law is selling the same vehicle we have now for a really good price, and to buy it we would need to come up with about $1500-$2000 more. So if you would like to help towards that then that would be a huge blessing and open up even more doors for ministry for us!

LASTLY: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Online Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog (http://greghaugh.blogspot.com) where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust drop-down menu to the amount you’d like to give each month; then click ‘Subscribe’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’ and it will take you through the process. Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mail them to: Fishers of Men Fellowship, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.  And all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Thanks so much for all your prayers, love, and support during 2011 and I wish you and yours the absolute best in 2012!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Gean-Felipe Eyzaguirre

GREG'S NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA, 15

Happy Thanksgiving from Chile and blessings to you all this Thanksgiving and holiday season! Being in Chile, I haven’t even thought about Thanksgiving until sitting down to write this letter, but I quickly realize just how thankful and grateful I am for each of you and the various roles you play in my life and ministry; and for the roles you all play in the family of Pepe & Gislaine and our vision and calling with Fuego Urbano here in Chile. From friends to family, prayer-warriors to financial supporters, you all make what we are doing in Chile possible and we want you to know how grateful we are for you all. I also hope that during this holiday season we all might be able to reflect not on what we don’t have, but on the blessings and gifts God has given us this past year, even if many of those things have come in the midst of very difficult circumstances. When we take time to think and reflect on God’s goodness and provision of the things we do have, we realize how fortunate we are and how grateful we should be. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so very much.

FIRST: Gean Felipe Eyzaguirre was born on Thursday, Nov 18^th and everyone is doing great. It was a very difficult pregnancy for Gislaine so she’s relieved it’s now over and that Gean Felipe has arrived. Pepe and Gabriel are also excited, and Gabriel is ecstatic about having a brother now. Gabriel actually took some of his old toys to the hospital to give to Gean Felipe as a welcome-present the first time he saw him, as you can see below in these pictures from about 2 hours after the birth.

Pepe holding Gean Felipe while Gabriel gives him a kiss 

Gabriel giving Gean Felipe some of his old toys as a welcome present

Gabriel, Gislaine, Pepe, Gean Felipe

Pepe and Gislaine want to especially thank all of you who asked about them and prayed for them during this pregnancy, as well as those who gave financially to help them cover the special costs of the pregnancy and birth. All together the costs add up to around $1,000-$1,200 which sounds inexpensive when compared to USA costs but is rather expensive when you’re in a ‘developing’ nation like Chile. And thanks so much to all of you who have committed to give monthly so we can cover the increasing costs of this new member of the Eyzaguirre family.

SECOND: Our summer is going to be packed with awesome stuff but please pray God moves and draws people to Him through everything we’ll be doing. Our Community Summer Sports Programs begin Dec 13^th and we expect to have fairly easily about 80-100 people participating each day with us, which could very easily reach around 100-130 daily. That would be roughly twice as many people as last summer’s programs so we’ll have our work cut out for us, and we ask for your prayers that God would give us wisdom, discernment, energy, and that He would draw people to Himself through these programs. And these numbers don’t take into account the skaters and the skate ministry we’re constantly developing, and the upcoming surf ministry and outreach we hope to launch this summer. So there's lots happening!

It would be impossible to do all this on our own but we will have help this summer from at least 2 missions teams, and possibly a third. One will come from Dec 19^th – Jan 6^th from Brazil, the second from roughly Jan 23^rd - Feb 14^th from a YWAM base in Los Angeles, and the potential third team would come during the last week of February from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, which is probable but not 100% as of yet. Because the 2^nd and 3^rd teams will be coming from the Los Angeles area, it will be rather easy to send stuff down with them as long as we don’t over-load them. For example, there are things like soft-top surfboards (7ft-8ft) which they could bring down if any of you were able and willing to buy or donate one, which we could then use to launch our surf ministry here. So if you’d be interested in doing that, please let me know and I can let you know where to purchase them and how to look for them. Other things we could use would be skateboard equipment and wetsuits, all which could be brought down with those teams and put into service in our ministries and programs. If you would like to give or have any questions regarding that, please contact me and I can give you advice and directions on what to do. And if you have lightly-used equipment you’d like to donate we would love to receive those donations as well. If you have any doubts or concerns, please feel free to contact me and ask and I’ll help you out as best as I can.

THIRD: We continue to develop our website so go check it out at  http://fuegourbano.org  if you haven’t. There is lots of info about Fuego Urbano and lots of photos and videos too. Click on the ‘Photos’ link for photos, on our Facebook link to go to our Facebook group, or on the ‘Videos’ link to see our videos on You Tube. Its all in Spanish but you’ll get the idea of what’s going on.

LASTLY: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Online Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog (http://greghaugh.blogspot.com) where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust drop-down menu to the amount you’d like to give each month; then click ‘Subscribe’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’ and it will take you through the process. Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mail them to: Fishers of Men Fellowship, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.  And all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Thanks so much for all your prayers, love, and support!!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and the newly-born Gean Felipe Eyzaguirre

GREG'S OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA, VOL 14

Blessings from Chile where summer is right around the corner and we’re busy getting ready for it! Please read below to get all the details of everything going on here, as there’s quite a bit to tell.

FIRST: Our website is finally up so go check it out at http://fuegourbano.org  and you’ll see lots  of info about Fuego Urbano and lots of photos and videos too. Click on the ‘Photos’ link for photos (https://picasaweb.google.com/105080357708029119224) , or our Facebook link to go to our Facebook group, or on the ‘You-Tube’ tab on the lower right side of the website to see our videos on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/user/iglesiafuegourbano). The rest is in Spanish but you’ll get the idea.

SECOND: In our bible-study & leadership-development group ‘PROFUNDO’ we just finished our study on the Gospel of John and everyone received free New Testaments, thanks to a ministry partnership we have. We’re now starting the Gospel of Mathew and when everyone finishes that they’ll receive a free hard-cover bible. Please pray God would continue to draw young leaders of Fuego Urbano to Him through His word. None of the people from Fuego Urbano have bibles at home unless we’ve given them one, so this is a very important ministry and a way for us to not only get bibles in their hands but also to get them reading and discussing them. Here’s a picture with all the New Testaments:

THIRD: About 250 young people from the region gathered for ‘PRE-CIMA 2011’ which is a foretaste of a week-long conference called CIMA this January, and which will probably have about 700-800 young people from all over South America. Through our Sinergia ministry partners we were highly involved in the event. About 8 people from Fuego Urbano participated and Pepe & I were asked to co-teach on evangelism and then to lead separate workshops: Pepe with ‘sports evangelism’ and me with ‘skateboarding.’ During our teaching on evangelism we really wanted to challenge and knock down the stereotypical ideas everyone here has of ‘evangelism’ and give them a much deeper, richer, broader, life-encompassing, Jesus-centered vision of what it is and what it can be. Then during the workshops the idea was not only to teach the sport but to also show how to use it to introduce people to Jesus, and the reception was really positive. CIMA is this January and we’ll be teaching again. Below is a picture...

 

FOURTH: We’re already preparing all our summer community sports programs with the municipality, so please pray our plans go well. School gets out for summer in the first week or two of December so we’ll be launching our summer programs Dec 13^th and expect to have pretty easily about 75-100 kids each day. We’ll also be launching community skateboard classes for the first time as well as receiving a team of 17 Brazilians from Dec 19^th – Jan 7^th, so please pray everything goes well and that they’ll able to impact the community during their stay. We’re not sure now if CPC will be sending a team down but please pray God would make that clear as well. These programs are our primary way of not only serving but reaching and evangelizing our community, and especially the young people in it who don’t know Jesus and never go to church, so please pray God would bring lots of people to Him through them!

FIFTH: Gislaine’s due-date for their new baby is Nov 23^rd so please pray for a safe delivery, and that her, Pepe, and Gabriel all adjust well to a new member of the family!

SIXTH: I (Greg) found an apartment near the other house and am in the final stages of moving in. Thanks so much to all of you who have given financially and sacrificed in order to make this a reality, and to those of you who have committed to support us on a monthly basis in order to help us cover the new cost of another apartment and a new baby for Pepe & Gislaine. We’re so grateful to you all and none of this would be possible without your generosity and gifts!

LASTLY: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Online Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog (http://greghaugh.blogspot.com) where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust drop-down menu to the amount you’d like to give each month; then click ‘Subscribe’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’ and it will take you through the process. Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mail them to: Fishers of Men Fellowship, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.  And all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Thanks so much for all your prayers, love, and support!!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and (coming soon) Gean Felipe Eyzaguirre

GREG'S SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER, VOL 11

 Greetings from Chile!! After 5 weeks in the USA I’m back in Chile and moving forward with Fuego Urbano. It was great to see so many of you when I was home and I look forward to seeing you all again when I’m home next August. As for what’s going on now, please read below for all the latest:

FIRST: Upon arrival to Chile I found Pepe, Gislaine, & Gabriel doing well and Gislaine’s belly much more noticeable from her pregnancy. She’s feeling a bit better physically but is getting bigger as their Nov due-date approaches. They now know it’ll be a boy and will name him Gean Felipe, and Gabriel is super excited to have his first brother.

SECOND: I never thought I’d find a country more patriotic (for better or worse) then the USA but Chile might just be, and September is the month when it all comes out. Sep 18^th is Chile’s Independence Day from Spain but they celebrate Chilean history, freedom, and culture all month long in their ‘Fiestas Patrias’, many of them even taking a whole week off from school. And perhaps the most surprising of all: you can actually be fined for not flying a Chilean flag on your house premises during these celebrations. Anyway, it has been fun and interesting to experience this for the first time and learn to appreciate more of the Chilean culture. In fact, Fuego Urbano actually participated in the ‘Fiestas Patrias’ parade in Las Compañías, marching along with a few thousand other people. Then on Sep 10^th we had Fuego Urbano’s ‘Pampillada,’ which is the typical Chilean BBQ and all-day party they have for these celebrations. It was lots of fun and there were about 30 of us there. Below is a picture of the majority of the group, with about 5-10 more who aren’t in the photo. 

THIRD: Our sports programs continue strong but we ask for your prayers regarding a few things. Recently the local neighborhood gang in Las Compañías has given us some small problems, though nothing too serious. Instead of responding to them with anger or hate, we’ve tried to take the way of Jesus and continue to love them by inviting them to our programs. To our surprise, they’ve started coming but push our rules and structure whenever they can. We hope this will be a door through which God might reach these guys but also realize we need your prayers for us and them.

FOURTH: The jail-ministry of Sinergia is growing and now we’re being asked to visit more jails to play soccer and do bible studies with the inmates. Our methods seem un-orthodox to many here (and they are) but they’re effective and more jails and people are realizing this. Please pray for us and Esteban who is our Sinergia ministry partner in charge of leading the weekly prison bible studies.

FIFTH: We’re still hoping & praying to be able to afford the apartment for me & Guillerme before November when Pepe & Gislaine’s new baby is due. I’ll keep you posted and thanks so much to all of you who have said you’d like to support us on a monthly basis to help with our monthly expenses; truly you’re all such a blessing. And like I’ve been sharing for the past couple months, those ongoing monthly financial commitments continue to be our greatest need at this point, though we greatly appreciate any and all the support we can get. Please pray for us regarding this and if you’d like to give financially there are directions how in the final paragraph below. And on a personal note, my wrist is still fractured and limits me but it gets better each day and I’m hoping to be at full strength in a couple weeks.

FIFTH: The ‘Lou’s BBQ Grill’ fundraiser for Fuego Urbano continues through Sep & Oct so go grab some incredible BBQ & country food at Lou’s and help support Fuego Urbano at the same time! Just print the Lou’s BBQ Fundraiser Flyer I attached to my monthly newsletter email and take it to Lou’s; then order some killer food and present the Fundraiser Flyer when you order and Lou’s will give 15% of all proceeds to Fuego Urbano whenever the Fundraiser Flyer is presented. You can print as many as you can and go as many times as possible (valid for dine-in or take-out) in Sep & Oct so go for it!! Lou’s is located at: 21501 Brookhurst Street, Huntington Beach, CA  at Brookhurst & Hamilton.

LASTLY: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Online Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog (http://greghaugh.blogspot.com) where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust drop-down menu to the amount you’d like to give each month; then click ‘Subscribe’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’ and it will take you through the process. Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mail them to: Fishers of Men Fellowship, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.  And all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, love, and support!!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Soon-To-Be-Born Gean Felipe Eyzaguirre

 

GREG HAUGH'S AUGUST 2011 NEWSLETTER

Blessings from California!! I’ve been home in Costa Mesa for the past 3 weeks now and head back to Chile on Sep 7^th but please read below about everything going on this August.

FIRST: It’s been great to be home and visit with so many friends, family and supporters. I’ve been looking forward to seeing everyone and being able to share all the stories and faces of the people God is reaching in Chile through Fuego Urbano and all our ministries, and I want to thank you all so very much for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support since the beginning of this journey. I’ve tried to meet with as many of you as possible but if you’d like to connect and hear personally about how things are going, please email me at greg@fuegourbano.org and I’d love to do that before I head back to Chile on Sep 7^th. It’s also been great to see my family and my nephews and nieces growing up, and here’s a couple funny pictures with them all from the past couple weeks:

My parents, sister Caralyn, & nephews Ike & Grant with letters Gabriel made and sent to them

My bro Nate hoola-hooping with his daughters (my nieces) Liv & Ava

SECOND: Our single greatest need at this time is to increase our monthly support. For the past 10 months Pepe, Gislaine, their son Gabriel, myself, and Guillerme (from Brazil) have all been living in the same small 3-bdr house, along with all the sound/music equipment for Fuego Urbano, and all the athletic balls & equipment for our sports programs. In short: we’re crammed and need more space! And the pressing issue is that Pepe & Gislaine are having another baby in November which will make things extremely difficult for us all if we’re all still packed in the same small house. In order to solve this problem we’re hoping that Guillerme and I will be able to rent a nearby apartment so that Pepe, Gislaine, Gabriel, and their soon-to-be-born baby can have the space and privacy they need as a family, and so that Guillerme and I can also have more personal space and autonomy as individuals. Our current budget is about $2150 per month but in order to afford the apartment for me and Guillerme, we need about $2850 per month; so we need to find another $600-$800 per month from here on out. Therefore, we’re asking if you would pray for us regarding this and also about whether you might be able and willing to support us with a monthly financial gift. We are incredibly grateful for any and all support that comes in, and realize that many can only do a one-time gift here and there and that is perfectly fine. But many people have asked me what our greatest need is and this is it. Monthly commitments allow us to know whether or not we’ll have enough to cover monthly expenses and as we’re trying to build a budget and know whether or not we’ve reached it, monthly gifts give us a much clearer picture of where we stand financially and help us lay a more firm financial foundation each month. Also, when November comes and the new baby is born, I don’t know how we’ll make it if we’re not able to afford the new apartment. So would you please pray for us regarding this and also pray about whether or not you’re able and willing to help us cover these costs as we move forward? And if you would like to give financially, please read the final paragraph of my newsletter for instructions on the various ways you may do so.

THIRD: I’m pretty sure I fractured my wrist skateboarding in Chile before heading to the USA so please pray for a speedy recovery! I no longer have insurance in the USA so I haven’t gone to the doctor but I think it’s fractured or broken, and just want it to get better so I can get back to all our ministries when I return to Chile on Sep 7th.

LASTLY: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog here where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust drop-down menu to the amount you’d like to give each month; then click ‘Subscribe’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’ and it will take you through the process. Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mail them to: Fishers of Men Fellowship, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.  

Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support, and I hope to see you soon!

Greg Haugh &

Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Soon-To-Be-Born Baby Eyzaguirre

GREG'S JULY 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA, VOL 10, COMING HOME!

Blessings from Chile!! By the time you read this update I’ll be only a few days away from arriving home for 6 weeks, and I hope to see, visit, thank, and share with as many of you as possible. Please read on to find out more about what’s been going on here and what I’ll be doing in the USA.

FIRST: As I mentioned above, I’ll be home from July 29^th- Sep 7^th and would love to see you. I’ll be hosting a few events which are already scheduled for those of you who would like to come visit, catch up, and hear in person how God has been moving through Fuego Urbano, as well as where He seems to be taking us in 2012 and beyond. The first event will be an informal open-house visiting and sharing time at my parents’ house on Saturday Aug 6^th from 1-8pm where people can drop by for as long or short as they’d like (my parents’ address is: 3209 Vermont Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626); the second event is scheduled at Christ Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Huntington Beach on Sunday Aug 14^th at 9:30 & 11am in rooms 102-103 (CPC is on Magnolia just south of the Magnolia & Adams intersection in HB). If I realize the need for more large-scale sharing events I will schedule them and let everyone know, but as for now these are the two I have on the calendar. However if you would like to meet personally with me to catch up, visit, and hear more personally how God is moving in Chile, and how you might be able to be involved at some level going forward, I would love the chance to visit and share with you in your home or with whatever group, organization, church, youth group, etc. you may want me to meet with. Just email me or notifying me on Facebook and we can set something up. I’ll be at CPC most Sunday mornings and will be teaching at CPC on Sunday Aug 28^th at all three services so that will be another opportunity to see all of you from CPC. The final event I have scheduled will be on Saturday, Sep 3^rd from 1-8pm at my parents’ house again, but this will be more about visiting and saying good-bye’s just before I return to Chile, as opposed to sharing and presenting more about Fuego Urbano. It will also be an informal open-house time for people to drop by and stay for as long or short as they like. So that’s my summer schedule as of now; I hope to see as many of you as possible when I’m home and hear how you’re all doing as well! And if you’d like to contact me please do so via email or Facebook; I’ll be getting a phone set up shortly after arriving but I don’t have it yet so I don’t know what the number will be.

SECOND: About 65 people participated in the Sports-Evangelism Seminar July 1-3 here in La Serena that Pepe co-led with another local pastor who played soccer professionally and is chaplain to the two professional teams in the area. Here are two photos from the seminar: one from a break-dance workshop and the other from a pilates workshop.

Overall the seminar was a huge success and all who came received theoretical, theological, and practical foundations to develop their own sports ministries and outreaches with their home-churches in their own communities. As shown above, anything from break-dancing to pilates, soccer to skateboarding, surfing to basketball or almost any other sport or recreational activity can be used to share the love of Jesus and serve the needs of the local community, and that was what this seminar was all about: teaching people to do just that with their own churches and communities, much like Fuego Urbano has done in ours. One of our main goals has always been to teach, train, and empower other church leaders in Chile on how to use more effective evangelism, outreach, and service methods, so this was a perfect example of us being able to do just that. From now on this seminar will be offered twice a year here in La Serena so we can train and teach as many churches, pastors, leaders, and young people as possible.

THIRD: The city recently asked Pepe and I to participate in day-long community task force meeting about how to care for the giant park where we run our sports programs, meet as Fuego Urbano, and skate in the skate-park. It was an interesting process but to get to the point: Pepe and I had the best ideas and solutions for all the issues that were raised so they elected us to be the spokespeople for the group, so we presented our ideas in front of the mayor and a bunch of city officials which was pretty funny for me because I’m obviously not Chilean. I told them when they elected me as a spokesperson: “Well I’m not Chilean and don’t have citizenship, but if that’s not a problem, I’m in.” As a result, our reputation and standing in the community has been greatly increased and now even at higher government levels then ever before. The mayor was very grateful when he found out we organize sports programs free of charge to serve the local community, and our programs were mentioned by a number of other people who referred to our work as a model and example of how to effectively serve the community. Please pray God would continue to open doors for us and lead us in the next steps of implementing the community action steps which we put forth.

FOURTH: Guillerme made the Under-18 La Serena soccer team (Guillerme is the Brazilian soccer player who’s been living with us since January) and we’re super excited for him. The Under-18 team feeds directly into La Serena’s pro team which plays in Chile’s first pro division. This would be like playing AA or AAA baseball for a pro-club and being a year or a phone-call away from making it to the big leagues: except here it’s not baseball but soccer. So please pray God would give Guillerme strength and perseverance, and that He would continue to open doors for both Guillerme and Fuego Urbano into the pro ranks of Chilean soccer.

FIFTH: As always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. For Automatic Monthly Donations you may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog (http://greghaugh.blogspot.com) where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust the monthly amount you would like to give; then click ‘Donate’ and it will take you through the process. One-Time Online Donations are available as well: just click the ‘Donate’ button on my Blog just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’.’ Or if you prefer Personal Checks you can make them out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mailed to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA  92658. If you’d like to support us I’d ask you to please consider a monthly commitment because we have increasing monthly needs and increased monthly support is by far our greatest need at this point, especially with Pepe & Gislaine's coming baby.

Thanks so much for your prayers, love, and support, and I hope to see you real soon!!!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Soon-To-Be-Born Baby Eyzaguirre

GREG'S JUNE 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA, VOL 10

Blessings from Chile!! I hope this update finds you well and that you’re enjoying your summer so far. Here’s a summary of what has been going on with Fuego Urbano and our lives this June.

FIRST: Thanks so much to you who prayed, emailed, offered words of encouragement, and gave financially to help us recover what was stolen in the robbery last month. Thanks to you all we were able to replace the money that was stolen and even get a few other things we’ve needed for quite a while. We’re actually  going to be moving out of our house very soon because we asked the owner to put bars on the windows to help protect us but he was unwilling, so we’re now looking for a house to move to right away. Due to the new baby Pepe & Gislaine are expecting and to issues of overall space for their family and for Guillerme & I, we’ll be looking for a small house for them and a nearby apartment for me and Guillerme (the Brazilian soccer player who has lived with us since January). While the individual rents will be cheaper then the house we’re renting now, added together this means our overall monthly rent and utilities bills will increase, so please pray that God would not only lead us to cheap prices both, but that He would also provide increased monthly support and supporters for us, as that continues to be our single greatest need at this point.

SECOND: ‘Profundo’ is our bi-weekly bible study & discipleship group and we now have 17 people who’ve committed to coming, which is more than we were expecting. We originally thought Profundo would be for Fuego Urbano leaders only, but we’ve opened it up as an in-depth bible study and discipleship for anyone who wants to come, provided they’re committed to studying the Bible and doing the work. We’re very encouraged by the number of people who want to participate and also to be able to form Fuego Urbano leaders from this group. We’ve also asked about 5-7 of the older kids to help us organize and teach the younger kids in our sports programs and they’re super excited about the opportunity, and to attend Profundo as well. Here's a picture of some from our most recent meeting.

THIRD: Sinergia had our first official meeting where we invited ministry, missionary, and Christian organizational leaders to come hear about our vision, purpose, goals and motives, and how we can all help one another to accomplish them. In all there were around 30 people representing roughly 18 different ministries, and just about everyone was really excited and positive about being part of Sinergia. Please pray God would give us a clear vision of where He wants to take us, but we’re really excited as this kind of partnership has never been accomplished in this are of Chile before. In the past all the different ministries have basically worked alone or in isolation, and therefore can only accomplish what each one can accomplish on its own. However by working together in a spirit of true unity and combining our talents, resources, experiences, etc. we’re very encouraged about being able to make some large-scale changes within the church of Chile in this region, and throughout the country in the years to come. I wish I had some pictures of our first major meeting but we all forgot our cameras so I’ll find some soon and get them out to you all.

FOURTH: Guillerme (the Brazilian soccer player living with us since January) is trying out for La Serena’s Under-18 soccer team. Please pray he makes it as this would open lots of doors for him personally and for us as Fuego Urbano. La Serena’s pro team (the next level up from Guillerme’s) plays in Chile’s first division and if Guillerme were able to get into their system it would open up tons of doors for him and us, as soccer is by far the biggest pro sport in Chile, Latin America, and the world. 

FIFTH: Pepe will be co-leading a Sports-Evangelism Seminar July 1-3 right here in La Serena (See Poster Below). Pepe has taught a number of these seminars throughout the country but this will be the first one in La Serena and give people a much broader understanding of what evangelism is, isn’t, involves, doesn’t involve, etc. Those who come will learn the theology behind using all areas of culture as points of outreach, evangelism, and service to the community, and learn the practical steps of how to put these methods into practice in their own communities through sports specifically. Please pray lots of church leaders, youth leaders, pastors, and young people come and have open hearts and minds to learn.

 

SIXTH: Automatic Monthly Donations to Fuego Urbano are available on my Blog, and as always there are 3 ways you may give financially to Fuego Urbano. To sign up for Automatic Monthly Donations: You may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust the monthly amount you would like to give; then click ‘Donate’ and it will take you through the process. One-time online donations are still available as well: just click the ‘Donate’ button just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’.’ Or if you prefer personal checks, the process for those remains exactly the same and they should be made out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and mailed to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658. And as I’ve said before, increased monthly financial support remains our single greatest need at this point.

SEVENTH: I arrive home on July 29^th and will be there until Sep 7^th, and would love to see as many of you as possible, hear how you’re all doing, and share in person about how your prayers, encouragement, emails, and financial support have made such a huge difference here in Chile. I’ll be at CPC most Sunday mornings during that time and hope to have one or two sharing events there in August, as well as one or two at my parents’ house in Costa Mesa where I’ll be staying. Dates will follow in my next update. 

Thanks so much for all you prayers, love, and support, and I hope to see you soon in CA!

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Soon-To-Be-Born Baby Eyzaguirre

GREG'S MAY 2011 NEWSLETTER: LA LLAMA, VOL 9

Blessings from Chile and Happy Almost-Summer to all you in the northern hemisphere!! As it gets colder and I try to stay warm here, I’m reminded daily that it is definitely NOT summer in Chile; yet while the weather may be cooling down, our ministry with Fuego Urbano is definitely not!

FIRST: Our 2 New Community Programs: Sports School & Community Movie Nights have both begun. The sports program is a basketball & soccer school for 3 hours each Tue., Thurs., & Fri. where we teach fundamentals and advanced skills. Once again we’ve partnered with the Municipality in running their programs at no charge to them or the community, and they allow us to run it how we want: including biblical values, principles, verses, and prayer in each hour segment. Yesterday was the first day and about 35 people showed up with very little publicity; this week we’re going to push hard and we expect and hope to have about 50-100 kids each day real soon. The other program we started was our bi-weekly Community Movie Nights where we show a movie and then use it to discuss how Jesus, God, the Bible, faith, doubts, struggles, etc. intersect with culture and modern-day life issues. We watch a movie and then discuss how 2 or 3 different biblical themes, values, or principles are expressed in the films. So far we’ve shown 2 movies and about 25-35 people at each, which is also great since its just beginning. Please pray God would use these programs to continue to draw more people to Him. 

SECOND: We’ve partnered with a few like-minded ministries & missionaries in the area to form a group called ‘Sinergia’ (‘Synergy’ in English).Our purpose is to pool together our resources, training, & experience to train & equip Chilean church leaders to meet the current and future needs of Chile. Our goal is not so much to evangelize but teach, train, & equip Chilean church leaders how to reach, evangelize and serve their communities with new, relevant, and effective methods. Our long-term goals have always been much bigger than just planting ‘Fuego Urbano’ in La Serena; it has always included trying to help open the Chilean church up to new ways of doing ministry due to the fact that so many of the churches here have lost relevance with the younger generations. To this end Pepe has already taught a few seminars on using sports as evangelism and outreach, and more and more people are asking for help and training in this area. On top of these smaller and more frequent training events, Sinergia will be collaborating to host an annual multi-day Missions, Outreach, & Evangelism Conference similar to Urbana in the USA, to begin making an even broader mark on the landscape of not only the Chilean church, but the whole region of South America’s southern cone. This will also include writing, publishing, and distributing much needed theological and ministry books, manuals, and literature to fill the current hole in that area as well. Please pray for us and this exciting new phase of ministry: Below is the Sinergia Team just after playing soccer and having bible study with inmates at the local prison.

THIRD: Last week our house was broken into and money plus other things were stolen. We ask you to pray for those who broke in, that God would convict them of their actions and draw them near to Him. We’ve forgiven them and pray for them, and ask you to join us in that. Because of what was stolen we have some extra expenses to cover as well, and ask you to pray about helping us cover those too. 

FOURTH: Automatic Monthly Donations to Fuego Urbano are now available here on my Blog. You may sign up for amounts of $25, $50, $100, or $200 per month. Just go to the right side of my Blog where it says ‘Recurring Donation’ and adjust the monthly amount you would like to give; then click ‘Donate’ and it will take you through the process. One-time online donations are still available as well: just click the ‘Donate’ button just below where it says ‘1-Time Donation’.’ Or if you prefer personal checks, the process for those remains exactly the same. I also want to take this opportunity to let you know that our greatest ministry & life need at this point and for the foreseeable future is increased committed monthly financial support, due to the fact that each month in 2011 we’ve averaged about $300-$400 short of our monthly expenses; so if you would like to know the best way to help us at this point, that would definitely be it and allow us to more fully focus on the ministry we want to do.

FIFTH: I'll be coming home on July 28th and be there until the beginning of September, and would love to see, talk with, catch up, and share about this past year with whoever would like to. I'll be in Costa Mesa and will organize a few visiting and sharing events for all who would like to come, and I'd love to share how your prayers, love, encouragement, and financial support have made such a huge difference with Fuego Urbano, as well as hear how you're all doing. And if you would like to meet personally with me during that time, or with some other group to share with, I'd love to do that as well. Just let me know, and I'll get dates out to you all soon about the sharing events I'll be hosting. 

SIXTH: I need to buy return plane tickets to Chile and wanted to see if anyone has Frequent Flyer Miles to donate towards a plane ticket for me.  One of the greatest gifts I've received so far was a CPC member's generous donation of her Frequent Flyer miles to buy my plane tickets, and that would be a huge blessing if someone were able and willing to do that again. If so, please email me back and let me know.

SEVENTH: As always there are 2 ways you can give financially to Fuego Urbano: 1) Online Payments here on my Blog or  2) Checks made out to ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’ and sent to: ‘Fishers of Men Fellowship’, PO Box 9284, Newport Beach, CA 92658.

Thanks so much for all you prayers, love, encouragement, and support! We know that without all of you this would all be impossible, and I look forward to seeing you in about 2 months or so. 

Greg Haugh & Jose, Gislaine, Gabriel, and Soon-To-Be-Born Baby Eyzaguirre