“THROUGH HIM, FOR HIM, AND TOWARD HIS PURPOSES”

 For in him (Jesus), all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  –Col. 1:16 (NIV)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  –Rom. 8:28 (NASB)

We have much to report on and give thanks for during our current time in Chile at Campo Vivo (The Countryside Alive) camp property in middle, rural Chile and with Chile Mission’s work in Santiago!  Regarding Campo Vivo we celebrate the fact that ALL of creation was created through Jesus and for Jesus.  We also take strength in the fact that God will continue to work for the good of Chile Mission in all the details and steps it faces both in rural Chile and in Santiago.  No detail is too small or too big for God!

CAMPO VIVO

We and Abraham have spent a good amount of time walking the property and the public, sand road outside of the property.  Certain portions of the road are still under water coming out of Chile’s winter season, and steps will need to be taken to put in some large diameter tubes to detour the water from the road and to possibly also change the location of the road in certain places once the road dries toward summer.  Inside our property we spent time studying the lower area to be dug for a lake, along with all the issues having to do with that—e,g. size, inflows, outflows, and depth, etc.  We pray that we will be able to start on the lake toward the end of this coming summer, around March.

We also looked at the best location for buildings to be constructed in 2023, beginning with the 2-story workshop/storage/parking building.  Included was a study of the condition of our interior roads in place and ravines.  As mentioned in our September letter, we pray that some with good camp work experience from the States can visit this coming January to help us think out the above issues.  One of the German Shepherds, Summer, accompanied us on our walks to help us study the terrain. 🙂

In addition, we and Abraham walked the northern section of the property located on the other side of the public access road to look at terrain challenges such as ravines, the location of interior roads, and areas to subdivide for sale to others.  Here are some photos below.  The flowers in Janine’s hands were quite small and grew in many areas.  Some of the views were spectacular as well.  The ravine pictured below was one of the deeper ones we came across, and we need to relevel land in various places.  How intricate and varied is Jesus’ creation!

Abraham will be meeting with a surveyor early in October to set up the clear delineation of property lines, along with the areas to be subdivided in the northern section of the property.

We thank you for praying about and giving thanks for all of the above issues mentioned above and below!

Other prayer points and praises:

• With Abraham & Catalina we attended a meeting of many landowners (a kind of owner’s association) from the larger local area and met several new people—all older. Almost all of the land owners have grown up in the area, while their children have moved away and live in cities.
• We must decide between renting or buying a used excavator in order to rework the several ravines that exist on both ends of the camp property. Either option will be expensive, but the machine is an essential piece of equipment in the ongoing development of the property.
• We are also looking to sell our 2017 Chevy 4X4 pickup and replace it with a newer Toyota 4X4 pickup. It’s interesting that those here we’ve consulted with say that the Toyota Hilux is the only pickup well-designed for our hard terrain conditions.  We’ve also had some recent large repairs with our Chevy.

SANTIAGO

—Carolina continues to do a good job with regard to her responsibilities.  She and Janine have spent time discussing her reports and initiatives, etc.  Even though it will take God’s supernatural touch for baby Dominíc to survive his serious heart condition, we continue to pray for him and his parents. He recently was hospitalized with pneumonia and survived. What a happy baby!  We also give thanks for the recent healthy birth of twins to Edison and his wife, who stayed at the mission site.  She was brought in to Santiago with eclampsia.  PTL!!  The emotional and prayer support we’ve been able to provide to parents in their difficult medical situations with their children has been significant.

—The APEM prolife pregnancy center moved from the mission site after over three years of meeting in one of the houses on our site.  The new director lives in a different sector of Santiago, so it was better for them to find a location much nearer to her.  It’s been a blessing and privilege to provide them with housing these past recent years and we wish them the best as we continue to pray for their good path forward!

—Jack did go to the main office of the government department that deals with the Chilean ID cards of foreign permanent citizens such as ourselves and all went well—so it seems!!  He is supposed to be able to pick up his new renewed ID card the second week of October before we fly to the States on the 19^th of the month.  Of course, the “proof is in the pudding” as they say! J

—With regard to our Foundation CHILE MISSION, we, Abraham, and Julián (husband of Carolina) recently had a conference zoom call with an ex-representative of the government that deals with Foundations.  She hopes to put us into contact with both an attorney who works with Foundations and with the representative of a bank that can open an account for us.  Our contact with her represents a good step forward in getting needed legal changes and steps put in place and we’re grateful!  In the past we have not had a good attorney to work with, and the bank account the Foundation did have was costly.  Also, our past attempts to obtain a certificate and standing to receive donations from inside and outside of Chile were never achieved, so these current steps represent a definite prayer need.  Thank you for that!

We are still working on locating the right person to finish developing our Spanish CHILE MISSION website.  Thanks for your prayers.

Finally, before leaving Chile we will have a board meeting.  We give thanks for our working with an excellent Chile Mission team!

Praising, praying, fasting, in OUR “CREATOR, PURPOSE-ACHIEVING JESUS—Lord & Savior!!

Jack & Janine 

“IN STEP” WITH GOD

^{By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.   Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.  –Ex. 13: 21-22}

God has always guided his children, be it through his Word and Holy Spirit, or even through a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire.  We see this as well in Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart man plans his course, but God determines his steps.”  As such it’s important to remember that WE are now his children!  Thus for us, Frank Sinatra’s song “I did it My Way” is definitely out of the question!  🙂

We and Abraham & Catalina gleaned much good information, tips, and encouragement of different types during our two-month tour of Christian camps in the States this past U.S. summer!  They returned to Chile August 1^st and we now fly to Chile Sept. 4^th, staying through to Oct. 19^th, where much of that time will be spent on the camp property in middle Chile with them to assess and plan next steps forward concerning the development of the land.  These three photos tell the next steps:

During our recent two months of visits to camps we received lots of valuable advice on first steps to take in Chile.  We are hoping that Kevin (one such long-time camp worker), who has been responsible for all the physical plant development of his camp over the last 40+ years (WOW!!), can come to Chile this coming January (Chilean summer) to walk our property and discuss first hand our overall plan of land development.  His (and others’) biggest advice of all?  “Be sure to not get ahead of God in all you plan to do, but be patient and attentive to his leading, and he will guide you and the Christian camp & retreat center WILL BECOME A REALITY!  You can COUNT on it, including the raising of every bit of needed finances.”  With good reason we firmly know that your prayers have been yet another central reason for these great developments!

Chile camp property

Abraham, Catalina, and Abril arrived home safely to heavy winter rains that have rendered the public road outside of the camp property impassable from time to time.  Still, they are glad to be home and he is working mainly indoors, finishing the new bathroom/bedroom addition begun months ago.

When we arrive in Sept.

• we will work with him to specifically identify upcoming developmental steps and issues needing to be addressed now and during Kevin’s short visit in January.
• Abraham will also continue to search for a Chilean certified architect to be our needed go between with the Chilean government to proceed with building plans on the property.
• We plan and hope to follow up on the purchase of a used excavator for sale. It was the property of a relative of Chilean friends.  He since has died, but used this equipment in his work and his children want to sell it.  If it’s in good operating condition and the price is reasonable, it represents a very good and needed purchase, given the amount of work we will have for it on the camp land.

Once Kevin visits and the architect is located at a reasonable cost, we will be in a better positon to project the cost of upcoming construction of buildings, along with other work: i.e., digging the lake and proceeding with wells, septic, interior roads, and buildings, etc.

Thank you for your prayers for our upcoming visit!

In Santiago

We look forward to visiting with Carolina & family to discuss God’s ministries taking place on the Chile Mission site.  This will include talking over hospital and clinic contacts, internal policies & reports, and interactions with those staying on the property for medically-associated reasons.  She is committed to doing a good job, which is central to going forward well.  The latest information she has is that baby Dominíc, whom we’ve mentioned as needing prayer in his fight for survival in our two last monthly Praise & Prayer Needs letters, continues making steady, slow progress at home.  Thank you Lord!

In addition, Jack must renew his Chilean identification card, a process that is always automatic and not difficult, but the government advised us that they cannot confirm his residency status.  On the other hand, Janine’s came through slowly but fine—she had extended her visa during covid, but Jack had traveled back twice.  It should be a “fun” process!!  Instead it is just another use of time and effort that we have to spend time on.  Hard to believe that Janine has her new identification card, considering that she is “under” Jack’s approved status!!

We will also be meeting with Chile Mission board members to discuss progress and ministry outreaches.  There are, in addition, further legal steps necessary to make needed changes to our Foundation’s by-laws.  These basic changes have been previously applied for, but still not terminated.

Lastly, we are still seeking a Chilean to take charge of developing our Spanish Chile Mission website.  We do have a web “server”, but the actual work has much farther to go.

In all of the above we seek and give thanks for your steady prayers and gratitude!!

Praising, praying, fasting, to OUR “STEP-LEADING” GOD OF ALL!!

Jack & Janine