June 21st, 2010

Dear Friends & Family,
The weeks have flown by! I can hardly believe July is so close and we have officially entered into winter. I write to share with you about some of what has been happening here over the past two months, and to include you in some of our plans and dreams for the future of the YWAM base here in Mar del Plata. I hope you will be encouraged by the work God is doing, and inspired by the testimonies of how His grace and love transforms lives.
First, I want to thank you for your prayers for Polly, the wife of Phil, who died suddenly on May 25th. I also felt your prayers as the Lord’s grace covered me in the week following while I accompanied Polly in the process of grieving amidst busy preparations for her return to be with her family in England. Below is a picture of me with the two of them at church in July of last year.
Phil and his wife Polly have been serving here in Argentina, spreading the message of God through the ministry of reconciliation. Phil played a role in managing the logistics in the war against Argentina over the Falkland Islands almost 30 years ago, which being Argentina’s only official war since the late 1800’s, remains a very sore wound in the hearts of Argentine citizens. From their first arrival here in Argentina about 6 years ago, up until this year, they traveled to many different churches in several provinces across the country. Phil always shared his amazing testimony of how God transformed his life, saving him from a dead-end road of addictions and uncontrolled anger. And everywhere they went, he recognized the opportunity to ask forgiveness on behalf of his country for the hurt that was caused and the damage that was done in the war of the Falkland Islands. He told me story after story of the amazing responses that you could see in the people’s faces as he humbled himself to ask their forgiveness. There were times when he met mothers of deceased soldiers and he described it as if a wall of bitterness would just fall down as Phil ministered the grace of God through reconciliation. Phil was an ambassador of Christ, releasing the power of forgiveness and ushering the peace of God into the lives of those in need. I feel blessed to have known him and served alongside him and his wife though it was only for a short time.

What resounds most in my mind now, are Polly’s words when I had confirmed to her that Phil had indeed passed away. She told me that once, about a year ago she had prayed, asking God that if one day something were to happen to Phil, that she would be able to stand and worship God. She then looked at me and said, “Blessed be the Lord, for he gives and he takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!” In the days that followed, I learned through her life what it means to truly stand in the Lord, and to trust in Him in all circumstances. The best moments were when Polly and I sat in the office and sang worship songs together to the endless supply of Christian music videos with lyrics via YouTube!

Since Phil’s emergency, my burden for the growth of our Help and Rescue ministry has about quadrupled! We have high hopes and dreams, and we are praying for God’s guidance in developing the vision. One hope is to have an ambulance here on the YWAM base, equipped to respond in situations of disaster or catastrophe. Another is to start a second-level YWAM school of more intense training in Help and Rescue. The picture below is of four out of the five of us who are serving full time in the ministry E.R.S. (Equipo de Rescate y Socorrismo, or “Help and Rescue Team”). From left to right: Pedro, myself, Vanesa and Matias

For now, the majority of our involvement is in training and educating. First and foremost, is the training of the DTS students, being that the annual Discipleship Training School (DTS) we conduct has an emphasis of Help and rescue. We assist year round in the courses at the school of Help and Rescue in downtown Mar del Plata; give Basic First Aid Workshops in churches; and conduct capacitating courses on other YWAM bases. The picture below was of one of our simulations conducted at 5am one morning, when we awoke the students for a surprise evacuation using firecrackers, followed by a brisk run to the beach in search of our “victims” awaiting rescue.

I continue working full time with the DTS and am serving in various roles. Three mornings a week between 7:15 and 8:00 I am the exercise coach, rain or shine! Then I generally translate at least three classes per week, which is getting easier as I go, though for sure a challenge. Another role, which is perhaps the most important, is that of a “discipler” or mentor. Vanesa and I work as a pair to disciple two of the girls each week in individual counsel and prayer as their needs arise.
In the photo above, from left to right are the female students of the DTS: Annina from Switzerland, Elena from Peru, Yamila from Argentina and Jenniffer from Colombia. This picture was taken on the last day of our mini-outreach trip to the city of Miramar, just south of Mar del Plata. There we served in a church giving a different workshop/seminar to the youth and adults each of the three days. My group’s topic was on basic First Aid, and included an introduction to our Help and Rescue ministry. My favorite part of our time there was the chance to interact with the people, and to share my passion for Jesus especially with the youth and women in the church. I even had the chance to speak with a young woman about her dream of one day traveling to India to serve in missions, and I was able to encourage her that with faith in God, all things are possible! I felt led to give her my favorite scarf which was a gift to me from a friend who traveled to India on a short-term mission a few years ago. I get so excited because I believe unique opportunities like this will result in extending the kingdom of God!

The next big thing coming up in the DTS is the practical portion, which is an 8 week mission outreach. Our plan is to travel to Chile by way of two cities in southwestern Argentina, where we will serve for the first two weeks before crossing into Chile. Each week we plan to serve with different churches to reach the people in the area with the gospel. We are going with preparation in first aid, but also in the areas of art, drama and music. We also expect to work in activities of humanitarian aid, assisting in current projects of restoration and reconstruction in the areas most affected by the earthquake, as well as in the distribution of donations. More importantly, we are going with the disposition to serve God in all that we say and do, and to carry the message of hope in Christ to those in need. In order to travel to Chile and back, we each need to raise 1300 pesos, or about 340 dollars apart from our monthly fees. We are working to prepare two dinner events to raise funds as well as selling homemade bread in our neighborhood. Something we have found as we walk door to door selling bread rolls is that we are able to share the purpose of our project, and in that way, to share about Jesus!

Prayer Requests:
-For God’s protection, that the mountain pass will be open & safe for travel into and out of Chile
-That all the places we go will be just the right places that God has planned
-For good health and emotional well being of the entire team
-That the Holy Spirit will guide us in each outreach activity
-For God’s provision in fundraising

Thank you so much for all of your prayers, encouragement, and support! I think of you often and always praise God for each of you. May you be blessed and feel a part of God’s work here in Argentina and in the extension of the kingdom of God throughout the world!

I send to you my love,
In Christ, Marissa

If you would like to participate in supporting me financially please make your check payable to YWAM and send it to YWAM Accounting at: P.O. BOX 3000 Garden Valley, TX
USA 75771-3000
Due to Income Tax Laws my name cannot appear anywhere on the check. Simply enclose a separate note specifying it for the support of Marissa Griffith. For alternate giving options, please contact the YWAM accounting dept directly at: 903-509-5302 or email accounting@ywamtyler.org