Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph. 4:15-16
Several New Testament Bible passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians speak of the Church as Jesus’ body in the world, and the importance of its work and unity of all of its parts. We are so appreciative that we can work together with others in Chile and for your prayers for us and for your own work where God has you. It’s so true that all Christians everywhere in the world have a part to play in the Body of Christ in reaching, teaching, and restoring children, youth, adults, and whole families throughout the world back to himself through Jesus. We’re grateful for all Christian camps and retreat centers and for being able to participate in some this summer. Our experiences together with Renata this U.S. summer has been all we three had hoped for as we go forward with children in Chile. Janine & I now head to our fourth and final camp week at Pine Cove Christian Camp in Tyler, Texas, the first full week of August. Again, thank you for praying for the first three camps and please pray for this final week. We need to be back in California Aug. 21 & 22 for some final medical appointments for me (Jack) and then fly back to Chile.
Our third camp was in July in Park Springs, NC. Roughly 52 ten and eleven-year-old children participated, and one boy made a decision to be baptized in his home church. The camp’s theme was ‘Rise Above’, dealing with things that can keep us down, such as insecurity, fear, condemnation, & discouragement.
Janine flew to Detroit the first weekend of August for her 50th high school class reunion (BOY is she old!! 😊 , but look whose talking! Ha Ha), while I traveled to Memphis to visit the campus of Mid South Christian College on my way to Texas. The school, now getting ready to celebrate 60 years of existence, teaches both in English and in Spanish. We have recommended the school to Chileans interested in studying the Bible in a cross-cultural setting and will continue to do so. There are presently three Chileans studying at Mid South. Please give thanks for and pray for Mid South in its going forward—another example of “each part doing its work”. All Bible colleges and Bible institutes need all the support they can get.
Many of you know our youngest son, Jayme. We had the blessing of being able to visit special friends in our travels toward Texas and Jayme’s family, too. Jayme, Malia, Havalah(3), & Matthias(1) live in Birmingham, AL where Malia is in her medical residency program. They are pictured above.
We have two very special, timely prayer requests as we enter August:
- Please pray for Cesar & Camila and infant son Santiago, living on our ministry property in Santiago as they continue to manage our ministry to house parents who arrive from other parts of Chile with children now hospitalized in Santiago. She gave birth to their first child, Santiago, in mid March. The three of them are sick, with Santiago fighting a bronchial infection as well. Chile is in winter, which can be cold and wet.
- Please pray for Humberto & Rachel Gallardo. Rachel (from IL) was a two-month intern of ours in 2012. She and Humberto were subsequently married and have a daughter just turned 4 in mid July. She gave birth to their second girl roughly three months ago and then in mid June, she fell unconscious in their home in Santiago, the result of a type of AVM (like a stroke). Her condition is extremely serious, and she has been hospitalized since, also in Santiago. She has been improving slow but sure and still faces another surgery. It’s also been hard, as her family from the States takes turns going to Chile in shifts to help with the two girls and visit Rachel.
God, we know, is very much a part of both of these two above situations. TYL!!
Praising, praying, and fasting, as each one of us “do our part”,
In his love and unity,
Chile Mission 