In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.  –Judges 21:25

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  –Isaiah 9:6

How very similar, Israel’s approach to life at the end of the Book of Judges and that of so many people today, as we, too, “do as we see fit” and decide our own “truths”.  How amazing and wonderful, Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus’ coming—the same “I am the way, the truth, and the life” JESUS!!  This month we celebrate Jesus’ birth.  He IS the REASON for the Season and the REASON we are alive everywhere in the world with hope and purpose.  Let’s celebrate his birth and arrival by re-committing ourselves to him and to life!

NOVEMBER GRATITUDES

—The ICOM was very good, as always.  There were inspiring speakers, and many “how to” workshops and exhibits showing what God is doing in the world.  We had the opportunity to connect in different ways with many who stopped by our booth (photo 1), see Jason (a year-long intern to Chile in 2011) and wife Kate (photo 2), and see Daniela from Chile, now studying at Mid-South Christian College in Tennessee (photo 3).  With God’s blessing we will be a part of ICOM 2019 in Kansas City, next November 14-17.  Please join us in continuing to pray for the work and growth of Jesus’ Church in the world.

—Cesar & Camila are off to a good start on our Santiago mission property, receiving mothers and families from different parts of Chile arriving with their children who are in long-term medical care.  Thank you for continuing to pray for this significant ministry.  We also pray for Camila’s pregnancy.  She is due in March.

DECEMBER REQUESTS FOR PRAYER

—Upon returning to Chile on December 9^th, we will be meeting with Domingo and Family about our readiness for the up-coming children’s summer camps in January.  As previously mentioned, their adult daughters Viky & Renata, will be leading these camps.  Please pray for all preparations, for the hearts of parents willing to send their children (8 to 12 years of age), and for good community support and involvement.  The camps are creative and instructional in an outdoor setting.  Children are so open—how good to influence and teach them about a God who loves them through Jesus.

We will also speak to Viky & Renata about accompanying us to the States in June to visit and be a part of children’s camps to learn more about Christian camping and see the dynamics and outdoors used to teach Jesus and respect for others.  Pray for the availability of their time to join us in the trip.

—As an extra special blessing, we will join son Julian & Devyn in Peru for Christmas, and not only them, but also son, Jayme, with Malia and their two children.  Malia, currently in Family Medicine residency, will spend the month of December in the hospital where Julian works, with Julian as her supervising doctor.  Please join us in giving thanks and pray for a blessed Christmas.

Jesus DID come into the world to heal, touch, and connect with people, living what he taught, and then dying for us all to reconcile us back to God.  He now lives in all of us who accept him, extending himself through us to reconcile all of creation. (Col. 1:19-20)  Thanks to you all for prayer-partnering with us in Chile!

MERRY CHRISTMAS as we together praise, pray, and fast to the One, True God who came into the world to save and reconcile it. 

In Him, with love,   Jack & Janine

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me (Jesus) will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  –John 14:12

And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church;  –Col. 1:18a

While they (the church at Antioch) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.  –Acts 13: 2-3

….and in returning to the Antioch church from their 2-year missionary journey……

On arriving there, they (Barnabas and Paul) gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. –Acts 14: 27

The above verses are very clear AND very exciting for both the church and for its sent missionaries!  Thank you, Churches, for sending us to Chile; thank you, Churches and individual supporters, for supporting us—especially through your prayers!!  Today’s churches are the extension of the first churches!

IN THE U.S.

Please pray for this year’s ICOM (International Conference on Missions) held November 15-18 at the Duke Energy Convention Center.  We annually have a booth at this excellent, Great Commission conference, and we encourage all to attend, with its great general sessions, useful workshops and interesting booths (like ours! 😊), and special programming for adults, teens, and children.  If you plan to attend, please pray for it and come by and see us, and if you can’t attend, mark those days on your calendar to pray for it.  Jesus, through all of us in his Church, will always be the hope of the world!

IN CHILE

—Thanks for praying for our October return visit to Licantén and Vichuquén in middle Chile!  The House of Prayer Church in Licantén is ready to sponsor one of our two summer children’s camps this coming January 2019.  PTL!!  We also were able to see some wooded parcels of land for sale near the lake in Vichuquén.  Neither parcel provided what we will need for the site of the retreat center/children’s camp in the future, but we were able to establish more good contacts in this all-important search.  Reasonable prices are also a main issue.  Please continue praying for our on-going search for the right land to purchase and develop.  Funds have been donated (some several years ago) and will be used for this purpose!

Regarding our January 2019 summer camps, Jack met with Viky and Renata, Domingo’s & Sandra’s grown daughters, who will lead the planning, preparations for, and coordination of the camps.  We are planning two camps—one in Ñipas for the fourth year in a row and one in Licantén.  Both girls are capable and have participated in helping lead in our past camps.  Please pray for them as they initiate first meetings with those that will be a part of the leadership of the camps.

—Ross & Raquel left for Australia on October 29 for Australia, arriving there safely on the 30^th.  In the meantime, Cesar & Camila moved into our ministry site the last weekend of October, ready to begin serving in their new role overseeing the mission site. They are enthusiastic about their responsibilities here and are anxious to serve.  Please be praying for their adjustment into their new setting and roles.  Another PTL!!

—Lastly, thank you for praying for the on-going development and good going forward of our Foundation!  We are broadening our vision and are increasing our number of board members from four to five—all legal steps such as these take time to finalize with the government.  We are also planning to visit summer camps in the States this next U.S. summer and we are hoping that Viky & Renata will accompany us.  The purpose is to focus on the main “how to” of Christian children’s camps. We are interested in visiting several camps for a week or less, so please contact us should you want us to include your camp.

Praising, praying, and fasting as the One, True Church of the One, True Jesus,

Jack & Janine

And they sang a new song, saying: “You (Jesus) are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. ¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”  –Rev. 5: 9-10

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” –Rev. 7: 9-10

What a glorious ending in store for all believers and followers of Jesus!  The church is called to be God’s living multitude testimony in those we work with and in all those that we seek and invite into fellowship.  Multitude not only is the result of the oneness and unity of all believers that Jesus prayed for in John 17, it also adds power and depth to the many of you who faithfully pray for us and for God’s mission in Chile. Here on the mission field we especially reflect multitude and we pray the same for you as well. Thank you to all of you!!

In September we were blessed to visit Julian & Devyn in Curahuasi, Peru.  The hospital staff is a great example of multitude, arriving from many places and countries to work together.  The first photo is of the monthly Saturday morning Christian men’s group, which Jack was able to attend with Julian—men from European and South American countries & the U.S. praying, studying, and fellowshipping together.  Jack is also pictured sharing a message during a weekday chapel at the hospital.

GOD WORKING

Children’s camp/retreat center & Foundation:  We travelled with Domingo & Sandra Aguayo’s family in September to middle Chile to meet with a church that wants to host one of the children’s camps this next summer in January or February, 2019.  Domingo’s and Sandra’s girls, Vicky & Renata, will be leading and coordinating the summer camps.  We also visited a nearby lake in Vichuquen during the trip and were all impressed with the area’s suitability for a children’s camp & retreat center, with its forests and lake access. In mid-October we plan to make a return trip to the area to visit again with the church and hopefully also see parcels of land for sale.  Here are two photos from Vichuquen and one of Janine with Vicky & Renata.

Together with the Aguayos we decided to include the new work in middle Chile as part of the Santiago Foundation, rather than forming a new Foundation at this time.  This will allow for an immediate going forward under the direction of the existing board of directors, realizing that changes in the make-up of board members will most likely occur.  It is the goal of us all that God is glorified and that his working in the country will go forward and broaden as well.  Thank you for praying for these decisions and for the spreading and impact of our summer camps, as well as for God’s provision of the exact land for this important work!

Going forward without Ross & Raquel:  After much prayer and discussion, Ross has decided to return to Australia for an indefinite amount of time to care for his mother.  He and Raquel will be leaving at the end of October and they have introduced us to Cesar & Camila, a couple that very well might replace them, moving into the mission property also at the end of October.  They are very active in their church and we have met with them twice about the work of our mission on our property.  Ross & Raquel know them from working with them in an African Mission ministry to Kenya (http://www.misionafrica.org) and we are very impressed with them as well.  They have been married over 5 ½ years, and Camila is pregnant with their first child.  Camila also has many contacts for networking.  Thank you for your prayers for Ross’ and Raquel’s decision and their adjustments in Australia—especially Raquel– and now for the possible transition of Cesar & Camila to the mission property.  Our foundation board will need to approve both of the above changes early this month.

New director of the mission’s Santiago work:  We will continue to put out feelers for the right person to be director of the mission’s Santiago work.  Thank you for continuing to pray for God’s provision of this person.

Praising, praying, and fasting to the One, True, World God,

Jack & Janine

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to PRAYER.  Acts 2: 42

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in PRAYER.  Romans 12:12

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ PRAY CONTINUALLY, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thes. 5: 16-18

And PRAY in the Spirit on ALL occasions with ALL kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING for ALL the Lord’s people.  Eph. 6:18

In looking at the early church and its essential components, there is no question that “body-wide” prayer was a given.  Not to be confused with Spiritual giftings, prayer was practiced as part and parcel of the church’s two-way, powerful relationship with God.  It covered and included everything.  As such, please know how much we appreciate and need the prayers of the body—i.e., your prayers—for our well-being and for God’s work in the country of Chile in and through us and others.  It’s a mutual need and benefit that all Christians share in– as Jesus’ Church today!

PRAYER REQUESTS & PRAISES:       September promises to be a month of “decisions”.

• It has been suggested by the attorney that is helping in the formation of the new Foundation for the retreat center & children’s camp in middle Chile that we (ourselves and Domingo & Sandra) consider incorporating the new work into the existing Foundation that coordinates our Santiago work rather than form a new one.

The main advantage would be time saved in not having to wait for government approval of a second Foundation.  The complication would come into play in that the directing board would have to be re-formed to include both works.  The current Santiago board consists of only five members and the retreat center & children’s camp represents a separate work in a different setting in a different part of the country.  Thank you for prayers for wisdom and clear thinking on the part of us all.

• We are in an on-going search for a new director of the work in Santiago primarily carried out through our mission property. This person would most likely be a Chilean woman (due to the nature of the works being carried out).  It would also start out as a part-time position.

Our director needs to be Chilean to eliminate any possible cultural obstacles that might arise through having a non-Chilean in that position.  The Foundation’s director is our representative in dealing with public hospitals and governmental agencies corresponding to the welfare of children and families, as well as in seeking in-country financial support of Chilean businesses and organizations.  Thank you for praying for God’s provision in answer to our search.

• Raquel is proving herself very capable in fulfilling her important role on our Santiago mission property. This is a big praise!  She not only receives and coordinates those parents who stay in the mission property while visiting their children undergoing treatments in Santiago hospitals, but she also is the one in communication with the hospital social workers.  Our mission helps financially support her and Ross, and they also occupy one of the property’s four houses.  Ross helps with maintenance issues and also coordinates the pre-evangelistic English Club for Chileans interested in learning basic English or in improving their present language skills.

Ross’ aging mother in Australia is needing much more help in being able to continue living alone and he is now needing to decide what role he should take in this transition time.  He already is planning to visit her (as he does annually this time of year) during November, but he also needs to consider a more extended time there in helping arrange for her long-term care.  Please pray for Ross’ and Raquel’s decisions as a couple and for God’s opening of the best possibilities for his mother.

Praising, praying, and fasting as JESUS’ BODY-WIDE PRAYING CHURCH OF TODAY,

Jack & Janine

“PUT IN PLAY & KEPT IN PLAY—EXPECT RESULTS!!”

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  –Romans 5: 5-8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory in the heavens. ² Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. ³ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  ⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. ⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: ⁷ all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, ⁸ the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. ⁹ Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  –Psalm 8

In our Monday morning team devotions we read the above verses and talked about the importance to stay steady and connected to God’s purposes & plan through us, in on-going prayer and connection to those we pray for.  There are so many people, marriages, and families in need, for all sorts of reasons.

In light of Romans 5 and Psalm 8, the answer to WHY we are called to diligence and steadiness becomes obvious as we look at what we ourselves have already received through God’s love for us and the place we hold in his heart and plan.  People, marriages, and families will always be the priority at the center of God’s attention, and everything else supports that!  Christians are designed by him to be his children in steady action and prayer.  What a privilege and responsibility.  Thank you so much for your on-going prayer partnership!!

PRAISES & REQUESTS FOR PRAYER

We moved into one of the ministry site houses in July, and while there are many no longer needed items and furniture still for sale, the move is complete.  TYL!!  Please pray for the sale of what remains and for a new Chilean home for Chica, our great German Shepard guard dog.

APEM (Christian pregnancy center) also moved into one of our four ministry site houses in July and now prepares to do training and orientation of those volunteers that will work with girls and women coming for help.  Please continue to be in prayer for them.

We are meeting with the lawyer helping to form the new foundation for the middle-Chile camp & retreat center.  She is currently working on the purpose and statutes that we will need.  The formation and development of the camp/retreat center represents a long-term prayer need.  Thank you for praying!

One additional blessing and gratitude for August is that we will be in the States as part of Janine’s family in a time of remembering their father, Ed, who died over 40 years ago.  He would have turned 100 years old in middle August.  He was a good father and would have been a super grandpa.😊  Janine was able to go in late July to Birmingham, Alabama to help Jayme & Malia and get to know their new baby boy, Matthias, for the first time.

In our absence from Chile, Ross & Raquel will coordinate things on the Santiago mission property and we will be back in Santiago at the end of the month.

Praising, praying, and fasting in our ALWAYS “IN PLAY THROUGH US” ONE, TRUE GOD,

 Jack & Janine

“I am praying not only for these disciples (his original disciples) but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.  My prayer for all of them is that they will be ONE, just as you and I are ONE, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.”  (New Living Translation, with font accents added)

We Christians need unity in Jesus with each other—in prayer and gratitude and in our work!  The value and strength of unity in God are taught throughout the Bible, and we can’t help but give thanks for how He has put us together with so many that believe in the name of his Son in carrying forward his purposes and plans here in Chile.  Yes, we might come from different types of churches, but the common denominator we share comes from unity in Jesus.  This month of July also marks the independence of the United States of America–…. “one nation under God”.  One can’t help but ponder that those exact words give God more glory than the actual independence of the country.

In entering July:

We have been almost overwhelmed these past two weeks and into the first weeks of July in moving into the one house (out of four) of our Santiago mission property not directly involved with the carrying out of our work.  This has meant moving out of the house we have been renting for just over two years and has also meant MUCH work on the part of all of us.  While we have been blessed by living in our rented house, the timing of the move was right to allow for our travel in and outside of the country.  In Santiago break-ins and robberies are not uncommon.  It makes it necessary to have an almost daily presence in your home (plus guard dogs 😊).  One especially good blessing coming out of the move has been the donation of our custom kitchen cabinets and sink to a home for older girls.  One of their houses lacked a kitchen, so they really appreciated now being able to install ours, along with receiving our clothes dryer and Jack’s office desk and bookcase.  Thank you for praying for the successful finishing of our move.  It’s been difficult for Janine to participate much in the lifting and moving process, but on the other hand, her arm continues to heal with therapy and we are thankful for modern medicine.

In the meantime, APEM (Apoyo para el Embarazo), the new pregnancy center mentioned in last month’s prayer letter, has been moving into one of our mission property houses.  We are both excited for them and grateful to be able to support such a work that goes hand in hand with our own—just another example of “being ONE”.  They hope to train their volunteers in July to be ready to counsel and aid women beginning in August.  Thank you for your continued prayers on their behalf.  Here is a link to view our interview with Kathy Anderson, president of their foundation:

https://youtu.be/yGk-bZV9-34

We also pray that additional progress be made this month regarding the middle-Chile camp & retreat center, especially in achieving some concrete steps taken in the formation of its legal identity.

Praising, praying, and fasting for all believers’ “ONENESS in our absolutely ONE” GOD,

Jack & Janine

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  –Luke 11: 9-10

Jesus teaches on the importance of our persistent and bold prayers in Luke 11 (and also in Matt. 7: 7-12), with the implication being that God answers steady asking, seeking, and knocking as he carries out his purposes and plans through us, his children.  Such is the importance that prayer plays.

We thank you once again for your steady prayers on our behalf and on behalf of God’s developing outreaches and ministries through us and through those we work with in Chile!  As a result, we have good news this month to share particularly concerning the work of our Foundation in Santiago.

Regarding the Chile Mission’s Santiago ministry property:

We have been in communication with APEM (Apoyo para el Embarazo), a new pregnancy center in the Santiago area.  They also have formed a Foundation to provide information and support to pregnant women, replacing depression, helplessness, and ignorance with solid information and good options in birthing the baby inside of them.  In seeking a location to receive and guide women, they visited our ministry site toward the end of May and today, June 2^nd, their full board approved our site as their new location!  TYL!!  This is very significant, as up until now there have been NO Christian pregnancy centers in Santiago, the capital of Chile and city of roughly six million people.  Now there are two such centers coming into existence and we are blessed to know the founders of them both.

Presently, one of our houses is dedicated to receiving mothers of children in long-term treatment in Santiago children’s hospitals and another of our houses is set aside for fathers.  It is not likely that many fathers will be seeking shelter with us, so we will save one bedroom (with bunkbeds) in that house for them and use the rest of that house for APEM, who will have access to the full first floor and three bedrooms upstairs.  Their purpose and services fit well into our broadened vision to minister to children and families in need in various circumstances.  We look forward to keeping you informed, as they move in and begin receiving women.

Meanwhile, Janine and Raquel have increased our communication with area children’s hospitals and have revised and improved the information we give them regarding our mission property.  We are also thrilled that a Christian outreach has been started for placing wards of the court with Christian families. Lastly, the attorneys working on the approval of changes to the statutes of our Foundation are making progress.  Thank you for your continued prayers in all of the above, as we ask, seek, and knock together and God answers.

         When Asking, seeking, & knocking: ALWAYS GO TO GOD!!!

The middle-Chile camp & retreat center:  Our first step in the process– that of forming the foundation— is still not complete and we are pushing!  It represents a primary step for getting in-country (Chile) donations and our Chilean partners in this outreach must take more initiative.  Thank you for your continued prayers!

Also, thank you for praying for the healing of Janine’s arm!  The three pins and stitches were removed two weeks ago, and she now has 10 sessions of physical therapy to regain dexterity and strength in her hand, wrist, and arm.  X-rays show the bones to be straight and well-set and the doctor is pleased.  She no longer has pain—just discomfort—and is grateful to be healing.

Also, son Julian and wife, Devyn, continue to adjust and go forward in Curahuasi, Peru.  Their blogs are interesting and informative and they, too, appreciate your prayers.  Their internet site is www.swansonponatime.com   Check it out—we love their blog!  It is SO missionary! 😊

 Praising, praying, and fasting in our GIVING, FINDING, AND DOOR-OPENING GOD,

 Jack & Janine

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  –Prov. 3: 5-6

Our first photo to share entering May is of Jayme & Malia, daughter Havalah and their newest addition to the family, Matthias James Swanson.  He was born April 15^th, just over one week before Havi turned 2 years old.  Both Malia and Matthias are healthy and we are very grateful.  As a quick update, Malia finished medical school and is now entering her three-year residency in Birmingham, AL.  They are moving there this month.  She will be working, and Jayme, who is by profession a nurse, will basically be a “stay-at-home” dad. Residencies are normally very demanding.  We are excited for their new adventure!

The work in Santiago:  As you know, ministry partners Ross & Raquel live in one of the houses on our Santiago mission property.  Raquel is the “hands-on person” who meets with and relates to mothers and fathers of sick children who come to our mission property for housing, often accompanied by their child being treated for a long-term illness in children’s hospitals in Santiago. (Cases similar to that of Millarai, who we worked with a couple years ago.)

Their photo and May’s Bible verses go hand in hand.  We very recently met with Andrea and husband Ellier, learning of their decision that she will not be continuing as director of our ministries conducted on the mission property.  Between her full-time teaching job and Ellier’s not having a job, she feels that she cannot give the time necessary to develop the current and future use of the mission site and vision of the Foundation.  We are grateful for her role in being an initial part the work of the Foundation.  Raquel’s role in the meantime will now be broadened to encompass visiting more hospitals and making contact with other institutions having a similar focus on children and families.  Raquel is very personable and capable, and we feel that she can handle the job well.  Janine will be accompanying her on these visits at first.  Please pray for all of us in this transition.  We give thanks for Raquel’s willingness and commitment to go forward with new responsibilities.

Also please continue to pray for the legal process already in motion to make needed changes to our Foundation’s statutes—mainly to broaden the types of ministries that the Foundation can encompass and also to increase the number of directors of the board from 4 to 5.  These legal processes can take a long time.

The middle-Chile camp & retreat center:  In terms of priority, we will continue to work with Domingo to first define and legalize the Foundation “Luz en el Campo” as we continue to identify the exact land that we can purchase to augment or replace his property.  Domingo did hear back from his cousin that at this time he is only interested in selling his land for a high price.  Please continue praying for these important issues.  We are in a position to buy and we know that God already has in mind the exact property for us.  Prov.3: 5-6!!

Last, but not least, in early April Janine fell in the bedroom and broke both bones near her wrist.  Ay yay yay!  She is doing fine, with a metal plate installed to aid in the placement and healing of the arm.  Wouldn’t you know it, it had to be her right arm on top of it. ☹  Her attitude is great, and she lacks roughly 3 weeks to have the stitches and 3 pins removed.  We appreciate your prayers on her arm’s behalf, and TYL! that our car is an automatic. 😊

Praising, praying, and fasting in our ONE, TRUE, TRUSTWORTHY & LEANED-ON GOD,

Jack & Janine

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives BY BELIEVING IN ME will never die.  Do you believe this?”

What appropriate Easter verses John 11: 25-26 make!  God’s mission through his son Jesus is now complete and through Jesus’ resurrection, death for the Christian is also overcome.  Jesus’ above answer to Martha should make perfect sense to us, as through our baptisms we Christians join in both Jesus’ death and resurrection to carry on his work in the world.  The question, as it was to Martha, is “Do WE believe?”  In the meantime, in this short physical life we get to share him with the world.  Thanks so much for your prayers both for us and for God’s work through us in Chile!

With regards to our Santiago ministry property, it is good to have Andrea back from vacation.  It does look as if she will continue her full-time teaching job, so please continue to pray that the already-in-place constraints on her time will allow her to give the energy and time necessary in the development of the Foundation’s work.  Our mission houses are still not being utilized by area children’s hospitals for housing of parents of children in long-term treatments as we have hoped they would be, which means that visits are in order.  We would also like to become a facilitating source for social issues such as foster care and adoptions, in addition to being involved in other areas of child and family-related needs.  There are so many social needs in Chile, and Andrea’s time in addressing all of the above is crucial.

We have initiated legal steps to make necessary changes to the statutes of the Foundation in order to pursue a broader vision.  Included in those changes is the change to increase the number of board members from four to five, as we voted to take Tamara on as a fifth board member.  Please join us in praying for the successful and timely termination of these legal steps.

The middle-Chile camp & retreat center: With Domingo & Sandra back in Chile after vacationing in Brazil (where Sandra is from) we will be able to follow through with the possibility of purchasing additional land—a significant step needing the attention and agreement of all of us involved.  Thank you for your continuing prayers, as this year’s fervent hope and prayer is to finalize identifying the exact land we can plan on developing!  This new good work, LUZ EN EL CAMPO (Light in the Countryside) also needs it own legal structure to go forward.

It probably seems like we keep asking for the same prayers 😊, but in Chile and other South American countries what might be more straight forward and timely in accomplishing in the United States is anything but that here.  Now with the new president taking office this past month, for example, Chile’s adoption laws might very well change once again.  Thank you for your prayers, as God is the One we serve and look to.

Praising, praying, and fasting in Jesus, OUR SOURCE OF ETERNAL JOY AND PURPOSE,

Jack & Janine

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Psalms 33: 10-11

This month Christians throughout the world re-live and commemorate the completion of Jesus’ mission to liberate and reconcile the world to God through his own death on the cross–the grand purpose of God in sending his Son into the world (John 3:16-17).  We humans can’t begin to fathom the full extent to which Jesus needed to empty himself and rely on prayer to his Father in order to complete his overwhelming task and mission.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit needed to be ONE in complete unity and purpose.

Your continuing prayers for us and for God’s work through us in Chile speak of the same oneness in unity and purpose.  We so appreciate you all and your ongoing prayers!  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  –Phil. 2: 1-2

MARCH IN CHILE:  You probably aren’t aware in the U.S. of the “grand re-awakening” that takes place annually in Chile during the first week of March.  While we will technically be in the last weeks of summer here (until the 21^st, when we enter fall), everyone is back in Santiago for the beginning of school year.   Many Chileans, including the majority of lawyers, doctors, and small businesses go “out-of-town” in February, so March in many ways represents the return to normal life 😊 for many.  Andrea, the director of the Mission Foundation’s work on our ministry site in Santiago, is also back from vacation this first weekend of the month.  She and husband Ellier had the blessing of being in the U.S. during all of Feb. to see family & friends and be part of a Marriage Encounter hosted by the Spanish church in Texas where Marcelo & Cecily Landeros work.  Cecily was a year-long intern in 2009.  A few years later they were married and then assisted our mission in various ways until leaving to live in Texas, where they continue to serve the Lord.

MISSION FOUNDATION:  For Andrea, March will mean visits to more hospitals and other institutions, as the Mission continues to offer housing to parents of hospitalized children, as well as expand its horizons with regards to other ministry possibilities.  At present, she plans to continue working full-time as a teacher, so this represents a significant prayer issue for us all.  Please pray for us as a board as we sort out Andreas’s time commitment with her.  Likewise, her working relationship with Raquel in approaching Raquel’s & Ross’s work on the mission site needs to be personal and active.  Lastly, as a separate issue, we will be voting this month on the induction of Tamara as a fifth board member.  She has a big heart for children in need, as well as an outward focus as a Christian, and represents the type of young person we will need on the Foundation board if we are to complete and enlarge the vision of the Foundation well into the future.  Please pray for this step forward on the part of the board.

THE CAMP & RETREAT CENTER DEVELOPMENT:  We and Domingo & Sandra are hoping to purchase additional property this year to either augment Domingo’s & Sandra’s land (roughly 8 acres) or replace it with a different, larger site in that area.  Domingo’s cousin just recently communicated that he is willing to sell some of his land to our team.  It adjoins Domingo’s property in the hills above his.  Although less accessible, it would be ideal for tent camping and for hiking and other outdoor activities.  Domingo & Sandra will be gone for the month of March, but on their return the team will talk to his cousin about the purchase and about the availability of more of his property nearer the main highway as well.  Please join us in prayer about these recent developments.  We know that God WILL SEE his purposes accomplished.

JULIAN & DEVYN:  We will be flying to Peru early this month to visit Julian & Devyn in Curahuasi, where Julian works at the hospital.  Curahuasi is located roughly two hours outside of Cusco.  We are packing a “seemingly short” 😊 list of items they are asking us to bring that includes a ceiling light/fan combination for their main living space.  Their adjustment is going well, as God blesses their going forward inside of his good purposes for both them and for the people they serve.  Thanks for continuing to pray for them.  Here below are photos of the town of Curahuasi and of the Diospi Hospital where Julian works.

Praising, praying, and fasting in our THREE-PERSON GOD, COMPLETELY ONE IN UNITY AND PURPOSE,

 Jack & Janine