We're back again [Rob]

Hey everyone,

I know that we haven't written much lately. Our computer had a part break and so we had to go to Santiago to buy a new part. But now we have finally returned to the cyber world. And now that we are back, I think that it's time to share once again what is happening in our lives.

Well, just two more months and the School of Biblical Studies ends. Then we are off to Venezuela to finish up our wedding plans. I, personally, am excited to go to another new country and especially to meet Cy's parents. We have many plans to do special things there.

Oh, while we are on the subject, please pray for somethings:

1. For all the visas and papers necessary to go to Venezuela, Canada and finally Thailand.
2. For the finances for those trips as well.
3. For the churches where we will be sharing both in Venezuela and in Canada. (I guess Thailand as well once we get there.)

Cy and I are doing just great, falling in love with eachother more everyday. It's amazing how at first I thought that it couldn't get any better, and now looking back I can see how our love has grown and matured and become even sweeter than at first. I guess that is what God's plan is for all of us: that love would grow and not die. I believe that it can be applied to all relationships, not just between a man and a woman, or even friends, but also with God.

Well, may you all find encouragement and love in our God. Blessings!

God is opening ways where we didn't see them before. [Cy]

Since we knew that God was calling us to Thailand, we have been praying so that we could leave the base in Pichilemu with blessing. We are now seeing that God has been answering our prayers. We have shared with a few leaders about what is to come (It still isn’t official). Our news of us going to Thailand has served to encourage to move forward. It isn’t that we depend on their words but it sure is encouraging to see the fact that God has put it in their hearts to support us. No only have we heard from the leaders here, but also in Thailand (Check out the “Mission: Thailand” link). They have received words from God about our journey to Thailand. Every day that passes I am encouraged more and more about our going there, I’m also feeling a strong burden for the Thai people and about the time that is still to come.

I also want to share that everything with the wedding plans is coming along. We have seen some blessings come our way as I plan to return to Venezuela after almost 4 years and I see my parents again.I continue to understand and see God move His hand. While it continues I keep on praying and thanking God for His mercy and power over our lives.

My Final Exam [Rob]

Hey everyone,

Right now we are on "vacation." I write "vacation" because we have to study the two books of 1 & 2 Kings in an 8 day span. It's tough, but possible. It took me over 4 hours just to read it once. It's long, but really challenging and with a lot of great lessons to learn.

Oh, I wanted to tell you all that I did well on my final oral exam. I got 94.4%. That was by the grace of God because I didn't know that much, He just reminded me in the time of the exam. So I hope to end this term better than the first one.

Now we have just one term left, less than three months. Cy and I hope to be leaving Chile on the 26th of November to go to Venezuela. We're excited about leaving the cool weather and heading to a warmer place.

Oh, I figured out that my cold has actually been allergy. And so I am taking something for that and it is helping. Thanks for your prayers. At least I know what it is now.

Well, I love you all and hope to hear about what is going on with everyone. May God continue to bless you and keep you in His arms of mercy.

(Oh, and sorry about allowing that one comment that was a little appropriate! It's been fixed)

My new quiet time with God [Rob]

Hello to you all out there, I thought that it was time for me to write again, however I can't seem to find anything special and new out here to tell you. So how about an encouraging idea. Ok, so every morning I wake up and before I do anything, I always spend time with God and his word. Well, having done this for years now, I was trying to think of a new way of doing it, a new way of reading the word. Well, while we were studying Deuteronomy in the school, God spoke to me through a passage.
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 speaks about how the king should behave himself. It says some pretty interesting things: He must not acquire much of three things: power (horses are the symbol of power), women or money (gold and silver). And what should he do? Well, the first thing that the bible mentions is that he should write himself a copy of the law and read it every day of his life. Why? 1. So that he can learn to fear the LORD. 2. So that he would follow everything that is commanded in the law. 3. So that he would not consider himself better than his brothers. This action, with those results, allows a king to rule for a long time.
I took this as an idea for any type of leadership. A leader is governing over people, whether he's a cell group leader or Prime Minister of Canada. The best way to know what to do in any situation is to read the law. Well, after all that back up information, I would like to share with you that I have taken the challenge to write the Bible as I read it. I write like it was written in the original: without chapters or verses. (plus it's a lot easer that way) I have started in Deuteronomy and have enjoyed it a lot. I have noticed things that I wouldn't normally notice and the words have begun to stick in my mind a lot more. It's like writing the law on my heart, but in a practical way. So maybe I can encourage you to try it out. It may help you see more truth than you normally do. May God bless your alone times with him. And you if you don't spend any time with God, maybe you can start today.

I got my passport [Rob]

Hey Everyone,

I have just finished my study of Deuteronomy. That is one great book. I thought that I would get bored by it because of all the laws and stuff, but once I came to realize that it was the written covenant, like a legal document, I began to read it differently. Also, I can understand the Psalmist that wrote Psalm 119 when he said that he loves the law of God. It truly is beautiful once I wrapped my mind around the idea of the heart of the law.

I wanted to share also that I have finally received a new passport. My other one was going to expire on the 6th of December of this year and I wouldn't have been able to plan for Venezuela. However, thanks to a lot of travelling to Santiago and searching for all the information that was needed I have a new passport. Now I can begin to apply for the Thailand visa and travel to Venezuela without problems. I just wanted to give glory to God for that.

Speaking of Venezuela, this is a photo of Caracas. It's the only one that I have. I don't know exactly where it is, but this can give an idea of the city where we will be getting married. I also wanted to continue to bless you guys with some photos. I know that I like them, so I assumed that you like them as well.

May God bless your journey through life. Talk to you all later.

A quick update [Rob]

Hey everyone,

We just want to let you know how we are doing. I have been studying hard and taking some exams these last few weeks. It has been tough, but very rewarding. I can't believe how much of the Bible I didn't understand. I thought that by reading it I could understand it, but I realized that it all depends how I read. All I know is that I have begun to learn how to read the inspired word of God and how to understand it. I realize that it isn't so hard to understand the Bible when you simply read it for what it is. I have been doing pretty well in my exams. I plan on having better notes this trimester than the last one. Let's just hope I hope I can maintain the pace.

Cy has been teaching in this school and is about to teach in the Discipleship Training School (the one that I used to work in). She will be teaching about holiness. She teaches really well so I look forward to hearing about how it went.

Together as a couple we are doing great as well. Sometimes it's a little hard to plan our wedding from a distant land, but at the same time it's a great adventure. We have been seeing little doors open and close and how God has been standing behind our decision to get married in Venezuela. We are growing closer and closer together and we are enjoying getting to know each other more and more. Just when you think you have found all the good that there is in a person, they show another great side of life. That's how it has been for the two of us. We love each other more than ever now.

Well, we continue with our challenges of finishing well the school of Biblical Studies, getting our way to Thailand and then starting a new family. We're excited about life because God has been speaking to us about various things and we look forward to seeing his blessings flowing through us and spilling over into the kingdom of Thailand.

Thanks for your prayers. We all need them. If you happen to remember us in your prayers, here are some things to pray for:
1. to know God more every day
2. our relationship as a couple
3. leaving behind strong relationships with Pichilemu, our mother base in Chile
4. safety from sicknesses (I have been fighting a cold almost the entire school off and on)
5. our great financial challenge

We will be praying for you. May God bless you and may he keep you, and may his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. And may he give you peace.

Rob and Cy's Challenge [Rob]

Hey everyone,
Cy and I have begun to count the cost of our plans. We live by faith and believe that God will provide. We also believe that the church is the main source of his provision for us. And so we simply communicate our situation and our personal needs and allow God to touch the hearts of those who He wants to use to help us complete His goals. After a long, calculated process, we have come to see our challenge for what it is. Here is a quick idea of needs:

Flight: Chile-Venezuela $1000 ($500 per person)
Living in Venezuela (December-February 3 months) $500
Wedding: That’s what parents are for.
Honeymoon: Whatever our budget allows.
Flight: Venezuela-Canada $2600 ($1300 per person)
Living in Canada: Not sure yet, depends on many different options.
Flight: Canada-Thailand $3000 ($1500 per person)
In Thailand: Our future leader in Thailand has sent us the following list for a married couple to live and work in YWAM in Thailand. Not all things are necessary for us personally, but just the same, this is what he sent us:


COUPLE’S BUDGET
Based on 40 baht/US dollar (costs are per month)
* - necessary

*Language school (varied by school/tutor/location).....200.00-300.00
*Health insurance ($1270 per year).....106.00
Newsletter postage (.55 per letter to U.S.).....11.88
Income taxes (suggested).....43.75
*Visa trips.....62.50
*Multiple entry visa.....70.00
(this is for a US visa, we aren’t sure about Canadian or Venezuelan visas)
*Food....250.00
*Rent....75.00-125.00
*Utilities (Water, electricity only).....25.00
Phone (based on 3 local calls/day).....10.00
Entertainment (depends on you).....25.00
*Transportation.....75.00
*Toiletries.....25.00
*Staff fees.....37.50
Tithes/Offerings 10%
Savings ???

Total monthly budget (estimated).....1,100.00


God has been faithful so far and I don’t believe that he will let us down in any way. Well, don’t feel pressured to do something, but if you want to help it will be well appreciated. There are some of you who desire to give wedding gifts that are beneficial to the bride and groom. Sadly, kitchen utensils just aren’t practical to us as we have to do a lot of traveling. However, maybe an option would be to donate toward one of the things on these lists. Any donation to a specific cause will be used in that way and not in another. Also, if someone finds better flight prices (without having to go through the US – because Cy is Venezuelan and isn’t allowed) your suggestions will be well accepted. Also, if you don’t want to give money but have airmiles that you would like to donate, they could end up being more precious because of all the flights we have to take. If you live in Abbotsford and know of someone who would allow a newly married missionary couple to stay in some sort of basement suite or apartment for cheap or even free, please pass on our names and my email address. Or maybe you could pass on their email address on to us. (We plan on being in Canada from March-June 2007, a three month period). Thanks for your patience and support. May God bless you. And of course all your prayers are more than welcome.
Rob and Cy
I have constructed another webpage connected to the first one, just click on "Donate Today" under the links column.

The Anouncement

Well,

We have created a simple site to explain at least a little of our future plans. God has been leading us to Thailand. Please check out our site under the links column: (Mission: Thailand). May God bless you. We hope to continue putting more information on that page as well as we come to know more about thailand and what we will be doing there. Thanks for your support.

Thank you [Rob]

Greetings,

Thanks for your encouragement, all of you. We really appreciate the comments and emails that we have received due to our engagement announcement. I know that a lot of you have been with me through my time of searching for a wife. Well, when I finally stopped searching God brought her to me. How nice of him, eh? Anyways, this is a thank you note from us to you.

Also, I wanted to share that we have been doing some thinking and praying and planning. We will be getting married on the 24th of February in Caracas, Venezuela. We decided to get married in Cy's home country because we don't want to get married in Chile and we both speak spanish fluently. Therefore, we shall be getting married there.

We were both remembering back to our time as singles when we didn't even spend time together. God spoke to her and to me specifically about one thing in common (We didn't know that God had spoken this to the two of us until we finally became a couple). God told me not to plan anything for after my School of Biblical Studies (which I am in now). God told her not to make a commitment further than this School of Biblical Studies. And so we have come together just in a time of transition. It's perfect for the both of us.

So why do I tell you all this? Well, Cy and I have been praying about our future. We both feel called to missions full-time. There is no other passion in our lives apart from fulfilling the great commission. As a newly-wed couple we believe that Chile is not our place to spend our first year. After seeking God for a long time now and seeing how he has begun to put everything into place, we have started taking steps toward a new direction. We are committed to YWAM and their values and goals and do not plan on leaving this organization any time soon. So, with all that said, we will be announcing our new plan soon. We can't let you in on it quite yet because I would like to add a simple webpage to this one with complete information on it all. So stay tuned...

Apart from all the mystery, I have been discovering great things through the study of the word of God. Right now, I am in the middle of the book of Leviticus. For those of you who read the Bible, I ask for prayer because it isn't an easy book to study, not anything like the gospels. So please pray for revelation and strength to make it through. I have enjoyed Genesis and Exodus and am now headed through the bible chronologically. God has revealed himself in great ways and I look forward to getting to know him just a little bit more EVERY DAY. May you all keep on seeking the face of God as he desires to show himself in great ways to each one of us. God is to be found, you just have to look for him. A lot of times we are like the people of Israel. God prepares to show himself to us personally, and just before he reveals himself we turn to a leader and tell him to talk to be our mediator between us and God. (See Exodus 19&20 especially 20:19-20) And just like Moises said to the people I want to say to each of you. "Do not fear." God is not going to judge you, he wants to heal and restore you. Get to know God through his word and through hearing his voice, he wants to be known. Well, I love you all and hope the best for you.

May you be blessed with God's direction and blessing in your lives.

Rob

I'M HAPPY [Cy]

Hello,

I just wanted you to know that I'M HAPPY!!! During the whole process that I have lived in respect to my union with Rob and my relationship with him I have been able to see God and how he has guided each one of our steps and decisions in a clear and supernatural way. Each step that we have taken and are taking is confirmed time after time through the author of our relationship and surely he has big and beautiful plans for his kingdom through our lives and through the family which we are forming. I also want to thank everyone for their support and prayers for us. I am convinced that many of you are called by God to bless us in this way and for that reason I give you thanks for your obedience to the voice of God.

In Christ,
Cy

WE'RE ENGAGED!!! [Rob]

Hey everyone,

I have the wonderful news that Cy and I are officially engaged as of July 17 2006. And first of all I would like to thank all of you who were praying for us. Your prayers were used by God to prepare us for this moment and the moments to come.

Now I'm sure that at least half of you are wondering how it all happened...
Well, I don't want to give out all the details, but I will say that we were in the Plaza de Armas (the central plaza of a city) in Santiago, in front of the central fountain. We were talking about chess because there was a chess tournament in the plaza. And acting like normal I simply told her that I have a question. I took out the ring, kneeled down and asked her (in english, gotta make it special for me too!) if she will marry me. She was stunned because of the surprise and held silence for quite a while (enough to make me wonder) and then she said yes (in spanish). And I put the ring on her finger. We laughed and hugged and she was stunned. I think the surprise of the moment, not so much the proposal in itself, was what kept her stunned. All in all, it was awesome and we both ended up really happy with how all turned out.

So I just wanted to let you all in on the exciting news of my, now "our", life. We will keep you informed as to our future plans and calling. But don't worry, the two of us were born to be lifetime missionaries and there isn't anything else in the whole world that would give us more satisfaction than giving our lives daily for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For those who are wondering, our wedding will be in february 2007.

For all you singles out there, don't worry about how it all works out, God has a plan. And if you actually give that part of your life over to him without conditions, he will give you the best companion you could have ever imagined, in fact, better than what you can imagine. That's how it went with me.

God bless you all!

Oh, and I have had the question asked about the ring on the right hand. Well, in her culture the ring goes on the right hand until we get married and after the wedding it goes on the left hand. That's the way we're doing it.

God is Good [Cy]

These last weeks I have been a bit busy studying for teaching Juan's gospel and Genesis and I am amazed of seeing the good and wonderful thing that is our God. In spite of the fact that already are teaching these books previously and of that already he has revealed many things across them, again God shows me parts of his person that I didn’t know before.
Now is the Chapter 15 of Genesis. The verse 7 says that God promised to Abraham the land of the cannanian like homestead. God was promising him this land as his property in order that his children and the children of his children should live in it. Now, well for the time in which Abraham, I come to Canaan it was a land that was inhabited.

And because of it Abraham reacts and asks for a guarantee God of that what he was promising was going to complete (vs. 8) and God in his loyalty gives it to him. Vs 9-10. This type of ritual was something that towards usually in the time of Abraham to ratify an agreement; with the death. Verse. 17. In this alone case, God does the oath happening for among the divided animals. And this was what I am overawed of the history. God I do not demand anything of Abraham, only tape-worm that to believe in what God was saying to him even in spite of the fact that the circumstances should say the opposite and it was making clear that was over the circumstances and was faithful to fulfil the promise that was doing Abraham to him. God not tape-worm that to give no signal to Abraham but it did because it is GOOD and liked that Abraham was sure of it.
This word took myself to pondering in my life. Everything what God has done with me and all the promises that God has fulfilled in my life. And also thought if I could believe or not to a new promise that he was doing to my life even in spite of the fact that the circumstances were adverse. I learned that it is necessary to believe because God is GOOD and it is something that does not go to change. This one is a time of new challenges for Bob and for my (with everything of the wedding and the trips) this way that I believe that the word came as ring for the finger.
Kisses for all of you, we meet in another opportunity.
Cy.

Get to know Rob just a little more

Hey everyone,

I have been studying hard this last week. Revelation isn't an easy book to study. There are so many opinions and points of view that I got a little tired of trying to understand every single detail. However, the book brought me to a new appreciation for the gift of salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ has given me. I cannot do anything but worship him thinking about the grace that he has poured abundantly over my life. I have had it so good for so long and I don't deserve any of it. I just want to publicly give thanks to Jesus for his sacrifice.

I have made a few additions to the website. I now have pictures of Cy and I under the links section. Also, there is a website of YWAM Pichilemu, Chile for those of you who would like to get to know the place and the people with whom I work and study. Enjoy!

I have officially finished the old testament and began with Genesis yesterday. It took me 3 hours and 20 minutes to read it through. But it is a great book. I love it. God is so creative. So thanks for your prayers and thoughts as I finished the new testament. Supposedly this next part goes a lot quicker. Can you believe it? I have only 4 1/2 months until I finish the school. I'm pretty excited. Well, that's enough news for now.

Oh, I received this questionaire from a friend and thought that it could be a great way to allow all of you to get to know me a little more. I hope that I you enjoy it. If you would like to, I would love to hear the following answers from you. I thought it was a good idea.

A) Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Columbia Kitchen Cabinets (gotta love that place!!!)
2. Arco / SuperSave Gas
3. Tree Planting
4. Teaching English in Mexico

B) Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Gladiator
2. Brave Heart
3. The Ghost and the Darkness
4. Remember the Titans

C) Four places you have lived:
1. Abbotsford, BC, Canada
2. Zambia
3. Mexico
4. Chile

D) Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Home Improvement
2. Chavo del 8
3. HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
4. Everybody loves Raymond

E) Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Cancun
2. Capetown
3. Brazil
4. Buenos Aires

F) Four websites you visit daily: (not necessarily daily, but my mostfrequented sites)
1. Yahoo.com
2. ESPN
3. Banking website
4. robandcy.blogspot.com

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Fettuccini Alfredo with any kind of meat
2. Mish Mash cake (trifle cake)
3. BBQ
4. Enchiladas

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. With my family
2. On a Carribean beach
3. Okanagan
4. GM Place - at a CANUCKS GAME

Some new ideas

Hey everyone,

I figured that I can't really change the way I write. I still have to do it in an email style. That's the way you are all used to it. So anyways, I have been busy with my studies, girlfriend and working on new ways to give you more information and better the communication. Well, I have found that this blog idea has worked out for the better. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I hope to put many more pictures on so that you really see how things are here.
I am discovering many different things about the word of God and understanding much more than I was before. Right now we are finishing the New Testament with the Book of Revelation. It truly has been a revelation to me. I used to read it and almost fear it because I didn't understand how to read it or how to interpret it. There are still many, many things that I don't understand, but there are now things that I do. Before, the book made me afraid of the end times. Now I am beginning to lose the fear and enter into a joyous laughter because of the greatness of my God. I have been truly blessed by Revelation and hope to bless others by it's beauty.
Cy and I are doing awesome. It's amazing how much help a woman is in life. I never realized how wonderful the opposite sex is. They offer another point of view to the same situations in life. They offer comfort in times of trouble and they help us guys keep our head on straight. Well, at least I am a dreamer, or how I like to put it, I have a gift of vision. So we have been learning how to work together on things and plan together. It has been a great blessing in my life to have entered into such a wonderful relationship with Cy. Please pray for us as we venture through this life together.
Now, I also have been working on helping everyone out by giving information and pictures and all that I can about what I am doing. Well, this website has helped. I hope to expand more and more as I learn how to operate it and use it to bless others and extend the kingdom.
Thanks for all your time and faithfulness in reading about what's going on in a simple canadian's life. May God bless you in all that you do. May you get to know him more intimately in life.
Rob and Cy

Greetings to all. We just wanted to start a blog so that you can always find out what is new with us and hear about how we are. For those who don't know much about us here is some quick information:

Name: Robert Wiebe
Age: 23
Birthday: June 1 / 1983
Nationality: Canadian
Current country of residence: Chile
Email: santiago_wiebe@yahoo.com

Name: Cy Lugo
Age: 24
Birthday: October 7 / 1981
Nationality: Venezuelan
Current country of residence: Chile
Email: cyluang@gmail.com

We are starting this blog to not only let you in on all our new adventures through email, but also with pictures and hopefully other better options. Let us know what you think about this idea and if you will actually visit the site. Blessing to you all.