“Rejoicing, praying, & giving thanks”
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. –1 Thess 5:16-18
We’ve used the above real encouragement in the past, but each time we see it, it speaks volumes of the importance of well-balanced prayer in the life of every believer and missionary as well. As you know from our monthly prayer needs and gratitudes letters, we are constantly praying for groups from churches and from other missions (both from the U.S. and from Chile & other countries) to come for short periods of time to help in the development of our large tract of land in rural Chile into a Christian camp and retreat center. Jesus deeply desires for Chilean children, teens, youth, & adults to know and follow him!
As a result of our and your prayers set in the middle of God’s eternal purposes in Chile, Dover First Christian Church did respond and their 9-member team did deliver BIG TIME in terms of precisely the types of work that was before us at the time of their 8-day visit ending on January 30. Almost all of what they did involved their use of our excavator and the laser transit that they brought with them to leave with Abraham for use in perfectly leveling ground. Sixteen 20’ long 4” x 4” steel posts were erected in the rebuilding of the parking, storage, platform behind Abraham’s & Catalina’s house, and this time it will be constructed to include a bedroom with bunkbeds for housing of workers. Some of their team even repaired a few items in the house and others organized Abraham’s work bench area. Janine did most of the cooking (with help for the chopping tasks). Her arm is better but lacks strength. She now has a few Chilean recipes in her repertoire. 🙂
The second from the right bottom photo is of all of us on their last day and the bottom right photo shows them praying and giving thanks–the same way they started day 1. You can left-click on any photo and it will enlarge in size and then simply hit the left arrow on the top left of your screen to return to our post.
Also accomplished was the finishing of the retaining wall of the septic field, the pruning of many fruit trees, clearing in the proposed camping area with two chain saws, and the leveling of ground on the site for construction of the metal 2-story maintenance building. The group would have liked to have begun construction of that building, but due to their attentiveness in looking over the plans for the structure, it is being redesigned in a much better way. BUT as we’ve written above, there were many other important tasks to do anyway. Thanks, Dover!! Abraham still hopes to hire a Chilean construction team in February to put up the building and we, too, will go back to the property to help think it through. God is always in charge of timing and we ARE rejoicing in the Lord and giving him thanks.
Prayers are POWERFUL and IMPORTANT in all we would hope to realize in the Lord, as they draw on God’s faithfulness and limitless power. He loves to receive our rejoicing, prayers, and thanksgiving and we give you many thanks for your partnership with Chile Mission!
We are praying all for all future work teams, giving God thanks for them and praying for all preparations, travel, and time in Chile and we SO appreciate your accompanying prayers for them!! First Christian Church in Wilmington, IL is set to arrive the last week of March. We’re VERY grateful as we pray forward their arrival.
Please continue praying for our three months in Chile. On the docket are:
- Two or more meetings of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
- Signing one or more documents for the Foundation’s attorney
- Opening a checking account in the name of the Foundation
- Re-designing and printing trifold publicity for the Foundation’s ministries
- Spending more time with Abraham on the camp property
- Purchasing more tools and supplies that he will need.
We have asked for prayer for Raquel, diagnosed a month ago with liver cancer. She and her husband Pedro are good friends and neighbors of Abraham & Catalina living near our camp property. She is now waiting for the beginning of chemo treatments, set to start in the coming weeks. Please continue praying with us for a miracle through God’s touch.
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks to our “ALL DESERVING” One, True God,
Chile Mission 