“ENTERING A NEW LAND”

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.  From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”  ³ So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran.  All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

Numbers 13 tells of Moses sending the 12 leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel into their new promised land to explore it and report back.  We know that they told of a land “flowing with milk & honey” and abounding with delicious fruit.  We also know that 10 of the 12 leaders were too afraid to re-enter the land with the people of Israel because of the formidable size and strength of the people living there. Only Caleb and Joshua had confidence and faith in God to follow him into the land that he had led them to.  Prior to Moses, we read about Abraham who God used in a mighty way, in first sending him to a “new unknown land that God would bring him to”.  God commended him in Hebrews chapter 11 for his faith.

Our own Abraham & Catalina also find themselves in a new land and home in middle Chile.  It, too, is a new land that God has led them to, and their confidence and faith in the Lord to take them forward will allow them to adjust and fully commit themselves to his plan and his purposes for the land and for them.  By God’s design, the prayers of his children and Church definitely make a difference in his Kingdom work in new lands. Thank you for your prayers for Chile and for all of us!  It’s important to also keep praying for peoples’ perspectives, faith, and connection to the new “coronavirus land” they find themselves in.  All of the above matter much to God!  God’s exhortation to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 apply to us today as well:

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Here are some of Abraham’s & Catalina’s photos of progress being made with the house, along with a photo of Abraham & Abril out for a morning walk.  They installed a new larger front door & wood-burning heater, and are working on their kitchen, this in addition to initiating needed changes on the land.

June’s land-related prayer points:

• Abraham needs to build kitchen cabinets and install the kitchen sink.
• He is also finishing a storage area in part of the adjoining adobe house.
• Installation of a large 1,200 liter tank (about 300 gallons) and pump to supplement the existing water system.
• Finalize plans with the electric company to move our electric line out to the road from its present location in the middle of the low-lying area designed to be made into a lake.
• That Abraham can find good local help with construction & with other projects on the property.
• We, too, have been contacted by a Chilean missionary family presently living & working at a YWAM (Youth with a Mission) base in Chile.  They would like to move to the land and help us, and we are in communication with them about that possibility.

Abraham is always asking about his next steps, and this is great for us.  We would like him to be in contact with government organizations about building and zoning regulations in rural areas (the nearest house is about ½ mile away), and he needs to find out who is responsible for keeping the road up–sometimes it is at least six inches underwater, so it is hard to travel from the house.  We have told him his goal is to host rustic camping in the summer—January & February 2021—it should be interesting!  Until then, his work includes getting to know as many neighbors as possible.  Also, in the three nearby cities, he needs to get himself known in city hall, and once the schools and churches are up and running, he will be meeting up with them, too.

—We recently met with Cesar & Camila about how they need to increase their work and responsibilities here on the Santiago mission property.  They live on the property cost free in return for their involvement in and coordination of the mission’s work in Santiago.  In spite of having a good relationship with us they feel at present that they are unable to increase their work involvement and thus will be looking to move in the coming months.  Please pray for them and us as God guides them forward during this time and, if necessary, leads us to another couple to live on the mission site and help in the work.

—We will be in the States from June 3 through to Sept.7, mainly to ready our “furlough house” in Cedar Lake, IN for sale.  We are very grateful for how the house has served our family’s needs these last 28 years, and at the same time would like to sell it to the young family that now live in it.  Please pray for our trip and for good progress with the house sale.

—We have now received EMI’s video presentation (in both English and Spanish) of their week-long work trip to our land in middle Chile in February, along with their final report, including designs & stages of construction and layout of all structures.  Click on this link to see their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Pl-s0kw1g&t=28s

We also hope to use our present trip to the States to share plans for the development of the land with supporters and others.  Please pray for all up-coming presentations, both Stateside and in Chile, as well as for our team in Chile as it continues growing people-wise.

In the middle of all of the above prayer requests we give God thanks and praise for how he truly continues to lead forward his work here in Chile and watch over our team’s health.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our “ENTERING NEW LANDS” GOD,

 Jack & Janine

“THE JESUS LIGHT OF THE WORLD”

³ Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (understood) it.  ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The above verses taken from John 1 and Matthew 5 are clear and very significant for every Christian who would put their faith into practice.  Over 15 years ago Jack asked a local Chilean artist to paint the picture to the left and it remains for us an important reminder of Jesus’ and our own impact on our world.  WOW what opportunities we have to be light to both the darkness and tragedies that surround us all in our own families and with others.  We so value your on-going prayers for us and for God’s ongoing work in Chile, as those prayers intensify Jesus’ light here!  Thank you!!  The name of the new camp & retreat center in middle Chile?  LUZ EN EL CAMPO (Light in the Countryside)!!

The month of April was significant in different ways:

Abraham & Catalina (see April’s Prayer Letter) confirmed their commitment to live on our middle Chile camp property and administrate its development and “light” connection to surrounding neighbors, towns, schools, and churches!  This is a significant answer to your and our prayers!!!  Please now pray for their adjustment to all that their up-coming move to the property this month of May will entail, including the adjustment of their 10-month-old little daughter Abril.  (more about their responsibilities in our June prayer letter)

We, with Abraham and Cesar, made several trips from Santiago to the land in April to work on the house that Abraham’s family will live in, passing through gov’t covid-19 check points along the way and at times being refused the go-ahead.  In all, we spent half of April there working, and the house is nearly livable!  We will be making more trips to the land this month and appreciate your prayers toward completing the home.  So far, only Jack has put a large cut in his finger, but with doctor appointments it is healing.  😊 Pictured here are Cesar laying floor tiles and Abraham leveling the kitchen floor, along with a photo of the beginning of another beautiful day in the “campo”.

We’re grateful for meeting two more neighbors (the nearest home is about ½ mile away) in April through unplanned circumstances (needing water to survive and losing a load of lumber off the back of the truck).  Isn’t it cool how God does this over and over, purposefully extending his Light through us all!  Some call these encounters divine appointments.

We also recently met with Domingo & Sandra Aguayo, and confirmed with them our unity of purpose along with better defining our individual roles having to do with taking this important project forward.  EMI’s final video presentation (in both English and Spanish) should be available soon for us to use in the States and for the Aguayos to use in Chile with contacts in seeking additional support for the development of the land.  Please pray for our team in Chile as it is now growing people-wise and for the response of our upcoming presentations.  The prayers of the saints are always key!

Last, but not least, we join you all this month in giving God thanks and appreciation for mothers, especially in these uncertain times with children not in school and confined to their houses.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our LIGHT-EXTENDING Savior and Lord,

Jack & Janine