Looking back to go FORWARD – TYL!!
THE LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. HE makes me lie down in green pastures, HE leads me beside still waters, HE restores my soul. HE guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me. YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. YOU anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.
What better way to start 2024 than by looking back on 2023 with gratitude. Psalm 23 really DOES tell the story of how God takes us all forward. Every single sentence of David’s Psalm gives him all praise and credit! Our gratitude goes first to him and also to each of you who partner with CHILE MISSION with both your prayers and your financial support! We can’t give him or you enough thanks for “shouldering” his gospel work in Chile! As Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the purpose of the Lord that prevails.”
AMEN to that and let’s go!!
2023 in review
We’ve listed here several significant steps and stages that have impacted our going forward this past year:
In Santiago
- In February our Chilean not-for-profit Foundation began receiving Pro Bono (without cost) legal assistance in making needed changes to our statutes & bylaws and in turn register them with the government. Among the changes are increasing the number of board members from four to five, register the Foundation as being able receive monetary and non-monetary donations of all types and from all sources in country and out, and also transfer all properties and assets currently under our names into the Foundation itself. Both Carolina’s husband Julian and Abraham will be added to the Board of Directors of the Foundation. We also will be opening a bank account in the name of the Foundation.
- Throughout 2023, the mission’s Santiago site provided housing and other assistance to many adults and children from other parts of Chile coming to Santiago for complicated medical situations and treatment. The majority of these cases were related to long-term treatment of their children. Our Chilean teammate Carolina, who lives on the property with her family and who carries out this important work, has a personal connection with all who stay on our property and has the opportunity to provide personal comfort to them should a child die. She also stays in touch with several families. Lastly, she is in constant touch with Chilean hospitals and clinics to initiate and/or strengthen our relationships with them, as they are the ones who refer their patient’s families to us.
On the Mission’s land in middle, rural Chile
The development of our 90-acre property into a Christian Camp & Retreat Center is NO SMALL TASK! 😊
The property was purchased in Oct. 2019 and our Chilean teammates Abraham & Catalina have now lived on the property for 3 ½ years with their family. 2023 included several significant steps and stages:
- In February we purchased an excavator, a large machine quite necessary in all the moving of earth to level ground, fill ravines, and remove trees and brush where needed. In addition, it will be used to dig a lake for the camp. While the machine requires constant maintenance and fuel to operate, the cost of renting such a machine costs much more, justifying its $40,000 purchase price. We will also hopefully be able to rent out the excavator with an operator to others and use that income to offset the cost of using it on our own property. Abraham has enjoyed learning to operate the machine, but an on-going prayer has been to find an excavator operator!
- Also in February Abraham completed a second bathroom and bedroom addition to his home for groups and workers, complete with their own exterior entrance. When not in use by others, the addition is also accessible to Abraham & Catalina by way of a new hallway door.
- January and February saw the arrival of one Chilean church and three other groups of visitors to help on the property for short periods of time. A tent camping area was cleared of trees and brush, along with other areas of the property.
- Lastly, in February a devastating forest fire raged through the general area surrounding our land, with several houses and many other buildings destroyed. While our buildings were spared, the northern third of our property lost many trees. Abraham was able to help several neighbors rebuild, including his closest neighbor and friend, Luis, who lost the storage building used for his equipment and hay for his cows.
- Throughout the year Abraham has worked on a myriad of tasks related to the continuing development and maintenance of the property and his home, including the upkeep of interior roads and the installation of needed fencing and entrances.
- In October, Catalina gave birth to their second child, Facundo, a boy. Their daughter Abril turned four. We celebrate with them.
With Jack & Janine
We began the year by eliminating our salary to make more funds available for the work of the mission. We were in Chile twice in 2023, once in Chilean summer (Jan.-Apr.) and again in August. When we’re there, we are able to touch base with the work of our Chilean teammates, help and guide in the work, and enjoy community and fellowship with our teammates. We also signed necessary legal and other papers. While in the States our mission’s work takes on a different look, and 2023 was very busy for us. Our work in the States now mainly consists of reporting to supporting churches and raising awareness of and funds for Chile Mission and its work.
- For seven weeks between the beginning of June through to the first week of August we were the “in-camp missionaries” at Round Lake Christian Camp in Ohio. As such we not only interacted with almost all of the church groups that came to the camp, but Chile Mission also received all of the offerings and support that those groups designated for missions. What a blessing to be with the children and also what a huge blessing was the $20,000+ total offerings—all toward the development of our own camp property! During that time we also were the missionaries for two separate Ohio church VBS programs and thank God for that offering as well.
- Days after returning from the camp we headed to Chile for our second visit of the year.
- We spent three weeks of October as part of a “School of Mission” doing presentations in 17 separate churches in Oklahoma, Texas, & Kansas. It was quite a grueling schedule, but also rewarding regarding the people we met, including the other five missions who also circulated between the churches. We were very blessed to be a part and also very blessed in terms of the offerings equally divided between the six missions. Our share for the work of Chile Mission ended up to be almost $16,000. TYL!!
- At the end of October we had two weeks before the ICOM missions conference (also held in Oklahoma in 2023) that we annually participate in with our Chile Mission booth so we had the added blessing of being able to visit son Julian & family in Houston and son Jayme & family in Boulder.
- Our mission year ended just before Thanksgiving with our participation in the ICOM missions conference. We were able to visit a few supporting churches and individuals in 2023 as well.
2024 is here!
We are looking forward to traveling to Chile on January 9th for three months and as with 2023, we have expectations and plans for what we look to be part of accomplishing this new year with the Lord’s blessing and your prayers, of course! Please pray with us for all of the following:
In Santiago
- We will hopefully be signing the final legal documents to finalize the necessary steps to accomplish all of the above-described legal issues of 2023. What a blessing it will be to have both Julian and Abraham added to the Foundation’s Board of Directors!
- Janine will work with Carolina to help her be more organized and successful in her contacts with hospitals and clinics. Our goal is to have our residence at full capacity in order to extend Jesus’ care and name to as many as possible.
On the Mission’s land in middle, rural Chile
- Sign the architect’s revised plans to separate and subdivide the northern third of our mission property into separate 1 ¼ -sized lots to be sold to interested Chileans for a place they can spend vacations at.
- Follow up with Abraham to receive final commitment of the government to re-route the worse-flooding spots in the public access road that he and neighbors use. For many years winter rains have made those areas in the road totally impassable, and the government representative responsible for the road came out to see it in 2023, making the promise to re-route those sections of the road. About time!! 😊
- Continue clearing and making ready the new tent-camping area of the camp, along with constructing two bathrooms and showers for those campers.
- Review plans for the construction of the camp’s 2-story workshop/storage/living quarters building. It represents the first new building to be constructed and will be quite a blessing for Abraham and also provide much more space for visiting work groups. The goal is to begin construction before Chilean winter rainy season beginning in June and Abraham has made contact with the construction-certified engineer who will make the necessary design & materials calculations to insure proper construction.
- We continue to pray for an additional couple/family to come and live on the property and work with Abraham & Catalina, a VERY BIG need for them in forming a camp team and in getting more work done! Even the excavator is praying! 😊
With Jack & Janine
- In addition to visiting supporting churches and individuals, our focus in the U.S. this year will be related to coming into contact with individual donors capable of making one-time large donations toward the development of the future (but getting closer and closer) Christian Camp & Retreat Center.
- We also will be in contact with churches and individuals to plan short-term mission trips to help develop the property, if not in 2024, then in 2025.
You can contact us at our cell #949-394-8282 or at chilemission1@gmail.com Perhaps we can combine some of you into one visiting team. We and Abraham would VERY MUCH APPRECIATE your help!! As we mentioned in last month’s prayer letter, it truly IS amazing how God uses short-term mission trips to motivate and energize churches and individuals alike in terms of Kingdom and God identity.
Thank you SO MUCH for praying for ALL of the above Chile Mission issues and needs!!
From our family to you and yours, we wish you all a steady, blessed 2024!!
Praising, praying, fasting through our ONE & ONLY STEADY, LEADING, BLESSING GOD,
Chile Mission 