Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.  –Deut. 7: 9

We have two real praises to share!

1. Jack was able to be a part of a team in northern Chile constructing a much-needed addition to help finish the replacement house for a Christian woman, Domitila, who lost her home in the heavy rains a couple months ago. In the desert area of northern Chile the mountains consist of rocks and boulders—rain of any kind is also extremely rare.  Many homes in the region hardest hit were destroyed by flood waters, while Domitila lost her home when part of the lower portion of the mountain next to her house gave way, sending stone, sludge, and boulders down to where she lived.  Two boulders crashed through her house.  If it had occurred at night when they were sleeping, they would have been dead.

The government determined that those living in that area could not rebuild there, due to the possibility of future rain and the instability of the mountain.  They gave her a small plot of ground and a basic 20’ X 20’ replacement house, but one without interior walls, doors, or fixtures.  It’s difficult to imagine a family of four adults living in such a small space.  The Christian ministry Filadelfia in Vallenar, roughly one hour twenty minutes away, became aware of her plight and decided to help by constructing an additional space onto the basic government home to give her two needed extra bedrooms and an extra bathroom.

The above photos show Domitila & her nephew (who is one of the adults that live with her), the mountain next to their home showing the section that gave way, the bedroom with a boulder still inside, her replacement basic house with the addition begun, and finally, after three days of work, the addition under rood and taking shape. 

Two Chilean churches had made donations to help cover the cost of construction and our ministry, along with donations from two U.S. churches and our own Chilean church were able to cover the remainder of the cost.  Jack spent three full days helping and the construction should be completed by this Friday (Chile’s Independence Day), Sept. 18.

2. At the same time, we received a call from the attorney working to complete our new Foundation for our work with abandoned children. When he called (as this process has taken over two years) all Jack could say at first was “NO—don’t tell me!!”  but yes, our papers had just been completed.  He and Janine signed the papers on Friday, Sept. 11.  Praise the Lord to be sure!!  Notice will now be published in a Chilean paper, and the remainder of the process should be completed in roughly three to four weeks time.

              Jack & Janine signing the Foundation papers.  We can hardly believe it, we’re so happy and grateful to the Lord!!

One couple is now moving into one of our ministry property’s four houses and another couple is set to move into another of the houses the first week of Nov.  One or both of these couples might be involved in one way or another in the care of children sent to us in the future.

TIMING-WISE, we will be in the States the last week of Oct. to participate in the annual Missions Conference (ICOM) of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and to report to supporting churches and then finally spend Christmas with our children and grand-children.  We will then be back in Chile in the first days of 2016 to be involved in January and February in some initial “day” camps at the new property in middle Chile that we have been reporting about.  Here in Santiago our goal is to be able to have at least one house parent couple in place before March so that we can start receiving children in the houses shortly thereafter.  The laws governing the care and placement of “wards of the government” children are seemingly constantly changing.  We thus are not sure at this point how those laws might affect us in this important ministry.  At the same time we will be in the best position possible with the Foundation and board both in place to take the work forward.

Thank you again so much for your valued prayer support!  God is so faithful!

Love and blessings in our “Covenant of love to a thousand generations”  God,

Jack & Janine 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  –Matt. 11: 28-30

The passage from Matthew 11 seems appropriate for several reasons and it applies to all of the ministries, outreaches, and projects (the new camp in middle Chile) we are blessed to be a part of.  There seem to be so many reasons for being “weary and burdened”–including being burdened from living one’s Christian life as a list of “requirements of the law”, to being weary from carrying one’s “own load” instead of being able to give it to God, to living under the control of a certain sin.  God favors and responds to the weak and weary who come to him through Jesus, as opposed to the arrogant person who rejects his help preferring to face life alone, and Jesus PROMISES to give us rest.  His yoke can only help us, as it does the animals that pull carts and/or plows.

Jack and Todd (Kepschull) did the morning devotional at the Casa del Alfarero (House of the Potter) live-in Christian drug center, and both his testimony and scripture were a solid encouragement for the men.  Please keep praying for them, giving thanks that they would seek restoration and rest.  Todd is visiting from our supporting church in Vero Beach, FL.  Feeling God’s call into full-time missionary service, he is with us for 10 days to see what we do and to experience Chilean culture.  Please join us in giving God thanks for how He prepares us all to serve him in unique, specific ways.  Todd also accompanied Jack to the annual retreat/conference of the pastors of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in Chile the last weekend of August.  It was an excellent time of good topics, renewed relationships and mutual prayer & encouragement.

An important event over the weekend of September 4-6 to pray for is the Marriage Encounter of the Metropolitan Christian Church.  Held twice a year, the Encounter is very effective as a positive influence toward re-grounding one’s marriage in God.  We have invited a couple to this weekend’s encounter and hope that they can attend.  The invited couples participate without cost, and then are able in future encounters to invite new couples themselves.

Our Foundation papers continue in process and our attorney still expects final approval soon.  A couple hopeful of becoming our first set of house parents in receiving young children anew are set to live on our mission property starting this November.  With both of these steps in place we will be able to begin receiving children in 2016.  Please pray with us, as we know that God is in charge.  So many laws regarding the care of children continue to change in Chile, as do the laws governing hours that people can work.

Millarai is due back in Santiago the 21^st of Sept. for blood tests and doctor appointments.  We pray for her continued health, with no new or active cancer to battle.  We also give thanks for our trip to the new camp property in central Chile last month with Roberto and Romina, the couple who we hope will lead and coordinate “day camps” there this coming January and February.  We pray for the cooperation of the municipal officials and the several volunteers needed to successfully offer the day camps.

                 Pastors’ retreat             Todd giving devotional          Roberto & Romina

Thanks to those who prayed for Charlotte Barkley of the Persecuted Church Ministry in August.  Not only did the needed funds for the sending of the second much-needed container of food and other supplies to the Congo come in, but she is now in Africa visiting and encouraging churches and ministries in various countries over a period of two months.  Safety is nothing to take for granted in those areas and countries she travels in, as war, killings, and violence are common.  The church in many parts in Africa is persecuted.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Give Us Rest Jesus,

Jack & Janine