Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Phil. 4: 6-7
The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. –Prov. 15:29
Today, May 2nd, is the National Day of Prayer in the United States. So MANY issues, concerns, and needs to pray for!! In the rest of the world danger, challenges, and violence exist on every level in so many countries, and Venezuela is on the brink of collapse and change of power. We Christians and missionaries serve the Lord in all of the above places, and thus today is a perfect day to renew our prayer lives with the very God who brought us life and put us where we find ourselves. Without prayer we are missing out on what God wants to do in us and through us. Thank you all so very much for your prayers for us and for God’s work in and through us in Chile!! We Christians may be divided politically, but God help us if we are not all connected in prayer together through the same Christ Jesus united by his name.
GRATITUDES AND CONNECTED PRAYER REQUESTS
Regarding land for a permanent children’s camp and retreat center….
We did make an offer to purchase the roughly 50 acres near Ñipas mentioned in our last month’s letter, however citing various reasons, Ricardo the owner declined to accept our offer. The huge cost of developing the land, including the digging of wells to access water and bring in electricity, along with the construction of all structures and outdoor equipment has led us to keep looking at other options. We were disappointed, but we know that God leads as we follow and pray.
Likewise, the referral of the mayor of Ranquil to a contact in the area regarding possible available land adjoining the local river has not thus far yielded new progress. Thank you for praying with us! We will be exploring more large parcels of land in May and will keep you abreast of all developments.
In the meantime here at the mission property in Santiago….
We are so grateful for God’s purposes and presence on our Santiago mission property. Please join us in gratitude and prayer for the different opportunities we have to serve the Lord through our mission property.
- We are more regularly receiving families and children in medical treatment, including transplants. They come from other parts of Chile, and we are able to accommodate fathers as well, when they are in Santiago for the treatment of their children or having surgery themselves (there are no other “casas de acogida” / “houses of rest & refuge” in the large Santiago metropolitan area that receive fathers!).
Today, for example, we picked up a father, Roberto, from the hospital after he had surgery two days ago to give one of his kidneys to his daughter, Tania, age 7. Roberto’s wife, Angela, continues to stay at the hospital until Tania is released in roughly two weeks. The family is from Panguipulli, a town roughly 10 hours south of Santiago. This photo taken 5 days after the transplant.
- We also had a request from Lutheran missionary friends, Jim & Liisa, to house for roughly one month a Venezuelan family recently arrived from Peru. Jim & Liisa, former missionaries to Venezuela, have opened their own home to Venezuelans fleeing their country to come to Chile to seek new life and opportunities. Their house has families living in every available bedroom.
Seen here in the photo are Kleiver, Jaqueline, Isaac (4 years old), and Tiago, newly born days after the family’s recent arrival in Chile. What a need and privilege to serve the Lord with available bedrooms on the mission property.
Praising, praying, and fasting to our One, True, “Prayer-connected, Source of Peace” God,
In his love,
Chile Mission 