ONE IN CHRIST=ONE WITH EACH OTHER=ONE IN PURPOSE!!
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. –Rom. 12:4-5
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. –1 Cor. 12:11-14
It’s absolutely overwhelming to think of how many, many Christians and Christian churches there are in the world, let alone just in Santiago or where you live! The above portions of Paul’s letters to the churches in Rome and Corinth also apply to Jesus’ whole body, his Church in the world. Today comprised of many denominations and individual Christians, our base identity has its roots in only one God and only one head—Jesus himself—furthering his good purposes through us in relationship together for the good of the world.
Relationships here in Chile are the name of the game for all that follows, which is why we work so hard to keep extending them. January has been a month of relationships, both existing and new, beginning with our teammates Julián & Carolina and family in Santiago and Abraham & Catalina and family on the camp property.
We even got to celebrate Julián’s and Carolina’s 25th wedding anniversary with them, as well as meet Abraham’s and Catalina’s latest arrival, Facundo, now almost 4 months old. Enjoying our time together and praying and working together has been a blessing for us all.
On another issue, Catalina’s mother in Santiago has come up with a serious pituitary gland problem in her brain, named Cushing’s Disease. She needs immediate brain surgery and is waiting for it to be scheduled. Please pray with us for quick scheduling and for God’s all-powerful healing touch and protection.
—In Santiago we got to know a new church together where a close friend of Julián and Abraham attends. Now we look forward to having the pastor & family and Julián’s friend’s family over to the mission site for a light meal. Their church has many teens and young people. We will invite leaders of other churches over on other days as well to reinforce relationships we already have.
—Chile vacations are traditionally taken only in the summer months of January & February, so for the first three weeks of February we will be covering Carolina’s duties while they go on vacation, overseeing the arrival & departure of adults here in Santiago for their own medical treatment or that of their child. Some are even here for periods of more than a month. Inside of these relationships comes the possibility of talking about God/Jesus and their faith, and praying together as well.
We are all too happy to report that our Santiago ministry site at present has 12 different people/family members staying here for medical-related reasons. They have arrived from all parts of Chile:
- Parents of 2 separate 1-year-old children, hospitalized with severe burns due to pulling down boiling water on themselves.
- A man & his sister who donated her bone marrow to him in a transplant.
- Mother & grandmother of her baby recently born with heart problems.
- Mother of newly born baby boy, born with his stomach outside of his body.
- Mother with 1-month-old baby and 9-year-old son going through cancer examinations.
- Father of small child needing a biopsy for possible cancer.
—Julián has heard back from the Foundation’s attorney that she hopes that all legal changes and steps that we’ve applied for should be completed within a matter of weeks. Nonetheless, we are here to sign any necessary papers these next two months.
—Below is a photo of us with Juliana, one of the children who lived on our ministry site with Chilean Christian parents with other “children of the State” in the years leading up to October, 2013, when that important ministry was shut down by the government due to lies of one of the children. You might remember that early last year one of the “now adults” children (over ten years later 🙂 came to visit Janine and then in August of last year another came. Now at the end of January Juliana came for the day. It was excellent all the way around and we hope to have a day while we’re here to see if as many of them as possible can visit us together. God is ALWAYS working at redeeming and furthering important relationships, starting with himself—the KEY. Janine was able to talk with Juliana about her faith and walk.
We have also been able to spend a week with Abraham & Catalina in rural Chile
—We began by signing the surveyor’s amended design for the subdivision of the northern third of our rural property that we won’t be using for the future camp. Because of the way that the government works, it may take a few months to be approved.
—We attended a picnic outing of Abraham’s & Catalina’s main church they’re a part of. Above is a photo of the river next to the picnic grounds. It was very wide but not deep and provided an ideal location for the baptism that was part of the day. Relationships within the church were enjoyed and deepened.
—We also walked the camp property with Abraham to view the camping area and pinpoint the location of the two bathrooms he’ll need to construct, as well as re-think the location for the 2-story workshop/storage/parking building we hope to construct this year. The camping area (we have tents, thanks to a church donation) will be ready first.
—We talked with Abraham & Catalina about the importance of Chilean church groups being involved in helping develop the property. It’s an issue of visiting more churches and we are all agreed on that.
—We prayed and talked about the growth of the Chilean team in rural Chile. Yes, workers can be hired, but, unlike the U.S., it’s impossible and expensive here to have confidence in unknown, outside help. Again, we need to rely on the importance of relationships.
Our financial situation has drastically improved over the past year due to large monthly donations from a business, as well as receiving the one-time offerings last year mentioned in our January prayer letter. This gives us the possibility of hiring another Chilean worker to help Abraham. Or is God perhaps telling us that a person, couple, or family from the States might come to be a part?
–Summer is the ideal time for small work groups to come from Santiago to our rural land for short periods of time to help Abraham make progress.
What’s next for Jack & Janine in the States this year
—More contacts with supporting churches and individuals to seek more one-time donors and affirm all possible partnerships with the work of Chile Mission, including short-term mission trips of groups within the church.
—One “put aside” goal for 2024 is to sell our house located on the Cedar Lake, Indiana, Ministries grounds. We will seek an alternative place to “hang our hats” in the Midwest, as our church and friend relationships in the area will always be a top priority for us!
So many ongoing prayer issues are represented in this month’s letter to you! Needless to say, we know that God himself put us together with you first and foremost because of our shared union and relationship through Jesus. We are so thankful, and urge God to bless you for it and also open all doors through each of us to see the camp development to fruition and long-term life!
If you as a church or group of individuals can plan a 2024 or 2025 visit to Chile please 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 also commit to visiting you to help turn your intended trip into a reality. We and Abraham would VERY MUCH APPRECIATE your help!! 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!!
Praising, praying, fasting through our Unified One Christ/Each Other/Purposes GOD,
Chile Mission 