We are reminded, as we give thanks for this year’s outreaches, on-going ministries, and new initiatives, of the importance of approaching and continuing all of the above in a way that honors God.  Psalm 37 talks in general about the difference between the righteous and the wicked, but it also gives us in verses 3 – 7a the right approach with which to serve God:

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

It truly is in the trusting, doing, dwelling, delighting, committing, and waiting that Christians, the church, and missionaries find the right approach in carrying out any mission.

FEBRUARY

Coming into this new month, in addition to house and hospital visits and phone calls, initial 2014 steps have been taken in each of the areas highlighted in January’s Prayer Letter.  We know that God must lead and that He must be honored.  Thank you for your prayers!

1)  In particular, a rift has arisen between the two sets of house parents who live on our mission property.  We await together the time in 2014 when the residences will again begin to receive children after the Foundation papers are finalized.  Daniel & Ingrid have been with us over three years and Jorge & Marylin are relatively new.  Both couples want to continue, but through some misunderstandings and discriminatory remarks made by Daniel with regard to Jorge & Marylin being “Peruvians” (i.e. foreigners) , it is doubtful that the two couples will be able to work together unless there is a reconciliation.

It is hard to tell at this point if the rift will be resolved and be replaced by the oneness and unity we must have in order to be a home to receive and mold abandoned children.  What is certain is that this issue will be taken up together this month.  Your prayers are very valued.  The board of the new Foundation will be meeting this month to begin casting vision and forming responsibilities, etc.  Oneness and unity are central to our going forward.

2)  I, Jack, will continue to visit certain websites and driving different areas primarily looking for a house to rent and also in search of a possible location/office available for church and mission purposes.  We know that God is aware of the need, but that He also has a perfect sense of timing.

3)  Please join us in giving thanks for every opportunity to extend Jesus and encouragement to others.  Judging from many of the circumstances “in play” here in Chile—as well as those many around you that you can think of—the huge need for him in the world is greater than ever.  Please pray that we all will be totally attentive to those that are part of our surroundings and not hesitate to extend and give testimony about Jesus.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Right Approach, Honored God,

Jack & Janine

Thank you all again for your prayer support which continues to buoy us up and help accomplish God’s plans in Chile!  That on-going support is just one of the important by-products of like-mindedness and shared purpose.  Referring to us Christians, Jesus prayed, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  –John 17: 22-23

Oneness is crucial to the functioning of the church, the sending of missionaries, and the missionary’s work with nationals.  ….and it is based in Jesus’ oneness with his Father and the Father’s love for him and for us.  Jesus, one with his Father in desire, commitment, and purpose and we, one with him, the Son.   Oneness and like-mindedness are our Chile “watch words” for January and 2014, “that the world would know…”.  2013 was a year of blessings, challenges, and setback (with regard to our work with children).  Sometimes the true victories aren’t immediately visible but they are there all the same.  There is always the “bigger picture” of which we are a part, and God’s purposes will always be accomplished.  We so appreciate your oneness in prayer.  On our end, all of the below areas include a need for oneness in one way or another.  Please join us in praying for:

—our work with abandoned children.

• The successful culmination of becoming a corporation (foundation).
• Agreement on approaches and implementations between the five board members (three Chileans and us) of the foundation.
• The successful search for the right Chilean director for the residence.
• The continued participation of current house parents and if God would deem differently, their   replacement with others equally good.
• The re-initiation of receiving children into the residence.
• Healthy and proper closure with the nine children taken from our care at the end of 2013.
• God’s watchful eye and protection over the futures of those children and his blessing of any possible adoptions of those children to U.S. families seeking to adopt them.

—the church (Iglesia Cristiana Jesús es El Camino).  With God’s blessing, a change to a full-time rental location (as opposed to Sunday mornings only) would open up good opportunities (English Club, Bible teaching, and other community outreaches) more directly connected to the church.  Rental prices are high where we are, making it necessary to look in another close-by community.  Such a decision will require unity between leadership and membership.

—the development of a Chilean Christian mentor/life coach group.  Such a group will provide accountability and support for others coming out of drug & alcohol rehabilitation and out of other difficult pasts to achieve God’s full healing and his higher calling in their lives.  The final design and initiation of the group itself and of its approach will require the unity and joint commitment of those participating.  The goal is to have both in place by the end of the year.

— our ability to receive all those coming to Chile this year to know and help in what we do.  This includes all coming to intern with us, others coming to assist in specific functions, and all others urged by the Lord to further investigate Chilean cross-cultural ministry opportunities.

—unity with whom God knows best to determine and commit to a higher special project involving children and/or others that would require the purchase/acquisition of a small tract of land outside of Santiago.  Such a project, if committed to by several, has great potential.  Funds have already been given toward it.

—last, but not least, our ability to locate a rental house (not needing too much work 🙂  for ourselves.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Completely One, Perfect Unity God,

Jack & Janine