The first 8 verses of Ecclesiastes 3 remind us that there is a “time for everything”.  Verse 1 reads, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  What is perhaps harder to grasp than the concept of the timing of stages and seasons is to trust in the knowledge that God is the one and only controller of timing.  This does not detract in any way from his call of us or his good purposes and plans through us but rather benefits us and conforms it all to his will.

We have seen this truth play itself out time and time again on the mission field.  Isaiah calls it in chapter 40:31 “hoping (waiting) in the Lord”.  We might say that nothing is begun OR ENDED, before God himself says so.  In that light we’ve all experienced God’s timing in our lives in the stages and seasons we find ourselves in and it is He who would receive the glory in it all.

We would like to start our April letter off with some praises:

• After initially finding a house to serve our needs to rent and move to in April it appeared that it wouldn’t happen after all, due to some important necessary repairs, an increase in the monthly rent initially quoted, and their restriction against our having a guard dog on the property. Nearing April we received a call from the owners lowering the rent back to its original quote, removing the restriction against having a dog, and saying that the repairs were well under way.  We signed the lease today, April 1, and will have access to the house beginning April 4.  PTL!

Our moving from our mission property/children’s residence frees up needed space to receive children.  The first couple to receive them, Ross and Raquel, are already living in one of our property houses.  We must trust God’s timing of these important steps.  Please pray that we are successful in finding and hiring the right Christian Chilean woman to direct our work with abandoned children.

• Our steps toward the legalization and development of the new Christian Camp/Center in middle Chile also continue to move forward. The team has been meeting in March and we hope this month to better define the exact land we’ll be able to count on and also be able to initiate the legal steps necessary to insure the land’s purpose and vision going forward.  Please pray for good progress this month in these steps.  There are several people involved and we would operate as a team that is “one in spirit and purpose” Philippians 2:2.

• God, in his perfect timing, is bringing Todd Kepschull closer to being able to be sent from Cornerstone Christian Church to be a full-time missionary with us in Chile. Todd continues to seek supporting churches and individuals who will be a part of his support team through prayer and/or financial support.  His website www.cornerstonechilemission.org  is excellent!  It gives Todd’s contact information as well.  Please pray for Todd’s April progress and resulting arrival in Santiago.

• Lastly, please continue to pray for Millarai. The surgeon ended up amputating Milla’s left leg just above the knee to make sure that he removed all of the tumor areas of the leg.  Pray for Milla’s adjustment to this impacting change and for what it means.  We are still not sure of the time it will take for her leg to heal in order to be fitted with her prosthetic.   She seems to accept this as just another step and stage in many she has already been through.  The doctors also say that it is likely, due to the bone cancer she has, that tumors will return.  Her long-term prognosis is not good.  Yet we are praying and encouraging Milla forward, as she and we look to all of what God would do through her life.  As our beginning verses indicate, nothing is begun OR ENDED, before God himself says so.  Milla and twin sister Ana are now living in a home for girls in another suburb of Santiago.  From the staff we have met, it seems like a very good placement for them.

Here are photos to help you thank the Lord and pray for the above April prayer focuses:

Praising, praying, and fasting as we all serve Our Perfect-Timing God,                       

Jack & Janine

Look to the Lord and his strength;  seek his face always.  –1 Chronicles 16: 11 (Psalm of thanks of David)                                                                                                                                                                            But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  –Luke 5:16                                                          Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  –Phil. 4: 6

Easter falls in March this year, centered on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  He literally gave himself as the sacrifice of all time on behalf of mankind to reconcile us all with God.  We have absolutely no idea of the suffering he underwent to do so, not to mention the emotional and spiritual burden of it all.

The above Bible verses reflect the absolute need we have (just like Jesus himself did!!) of remaining connected to the power of God through prayer in whatever mission he has called us to.  Our prayers are not designed to free us from the struggle, nor many times from suffering or trial, but are necessary to carry out God’s will, plan, and purposes–that on top of always being subject to HIS timing and way.  We have much to give thanks for in Chile Mission this month, as well as significant March happenings to pray for.

—The 3-day camp for children in middle Chile went extremely well.  Twenty-six children participated, we met families and churches, and became known by many.  For a first step in the community, much was accomplished by our 14-member team that will help us in the future as we develop the Christian Center property there.  Please continue to pray for these months of follow-up with the surrounding community, necessary legal steps to form and define the organization, and in defining vision and scope of ministry.

—It was very demanding having twin sisters Ana and Milla under our care for almost seven weeks.  At the same time, we know that they both benefited much from the experience and Janine was able to help Milla with all of her medical tests and doctor appointments.  In the end, Milla also for the third time in less than three years was hospitalized with a septic shock infection (extremely serious).  Thank you Lord that she recovered and was recently released on Feb. 26^th.  Another praise—Ana was baptized on Feb. 21^st as her response and decision to have Jesus as both her savior and Lord!  As mentioned in this last month’s Praise & Prayer Letter, it was necessary to relocate the girls to a children’s home in Santiago.  Praise God that a home for girls was located by SENAME (Chile’s Dept. of Children & Family Services) that has on staff a medical person dedicated to the children’s medical needs.  The girls moved there the last week of Feb.  Please pray for their adjustment and that it will be a good place for them.

We have one more significant prayer request to share involving Milla.  Cancer has reappeared in her leg—even larger in size than the first tumor removed two years ago.  A praise is that we’re told that cancer has not re-appeared in her lungs.  However, the doctors have decided to amputate her lower left leg just below the knee.  What a huge thing for a 15-year-old to adjust to!  We will keep you posted.

—Another major praise is that we think that we’ve found a house to rent in our community that will allow us in March to move from our ministry property and allow us to move forward with finishing preparing the mission property to begin receiving children.  Please pray for these steps—the rental house first needs electrical re-wiring, but it all looks do-able.  The house represents an answer to prayer.

Daniel’s and Ingrid’s first child, Joshua Samuel, was born in good health on Feb.14, Valentine’s Day.  We are all grateful.  The family is very BUSY adjusting to him—as all parents know!

Praising, praying, and fasting as we all serve Our Prayer-leading and Prayer-teaching Lord Jesus,

Jack & Janine

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. –Psalm 24: 1

Why this verse for this month’s Praise & Prayer Letter??  Because we find ourselves in Ñipas in middle Chile this first week of February hosting our first “day” camps for young children from the area, also meeting families that live here, and visiting churches in the area.  In looking at the natural beauty of the countryside we are reminded that the earth truly is the Lord’s, along with ALL who live in it.

Colossians 1: 15-16 reminds us that through Jesus ALL things in heaven and on earth were made.  Verse 16 goes on to say that “all things were made through him and FOR him.” Continuing in verses 19 & 20: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  God, in his great love for all people, sent and sacrificed his own Son to reconcile all who believe and follow him back to himself.  Christian camps and centers throughout the world are an extension of that love and touch of Jesus.  We are blessed to be a part of His work!

As we’ve mentioned in past letters, the Christian camp and center is named, “LUZ EN EL CAMPO” (Light in the Countryside).  We so appreciate your prayers (and thanks) for this largely Chilean outreach and for what this beginning signifies for this central part of the country—for children and for families—in combatting social problems and transforming lives to reconcile people with God through Jesus.

We will be going out this week into the communities closest to our location and have been given the local school to use for activities (there are no facilities yet on the camp land).  We are inviting children between 5 and 9 years of age to participate, and we are a team of approximately 14 persons in total working with them.  We hope to have about 30 children participating.

Millarai and twin sister Ana are also with us and are part of those helping.  Our second praise and prayer request for this month is for them.  On January 26^th they turned fifteen.  In Milla’s case this is a BIG praise for being the same girl in her fight against bone cancer that the doctors said twice in the last two years as she laid in induced comas that she would die that very day.  At present, the future of where they will live is very much up in the air, as circumstances in Gilda’s family (the mom in the house of relatives where they have lived for the last three years) have made it necessary that the girls be moved elsewhere.  They can’t stay under our care, as we both have full-time ministries to pursue.  The girls’ options aren’t good, as being placed in a children’s home is one of them, and those facilities here in Chile are not good in many respects.

Thus, as you give thanks for their lives, please pray for their immediate future.  We are doing what we can to think of others’ involvement and placement options.  Milla and Ana are good girls, especially in light of their growing up to this point in in some very difficult circumstances with minimal love from any family.  Milla also continues to make slow but good progress physically, gaining weight and strength.

Here below is a photo of one of our recent planning meetings to prepare for this week’s camp, along with two photos taken of Ana and Milla. Their party was fun, with several in attendance.  By left-clicking on the photos, they enlarge.

Lastly, please pray for a safe delivery for Ingrid of her and Daniel’s first child, expected to arrive the first week of February.  They have been part of our work with children in the past and are presently living in one of our houses on the ministry site.  They would like to continue helping us in one capacity or another.  They know that the baby is a boy and have named him Joshua Samuel.  A great blessing for them!

Praising, praying, and fasting as we all serve The One True Reconciling Creator God and Lord Jesus,

Jack & Janine

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.  –Deut. 7:9

God’s words through Moses to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land, and through Jesus, we too now receive the same love and faithfulness of the Lord.  We are so grateful for your supporting prayers month after month and year after year, as we are convinced that mutual prayer and prayers “in common” are powerful.  There are so many biblical examples of this, especially when combined with fasting.

Our time in the States with family, friends, and churches was rich and blessed indeed. Below is our 2015 family Christmas photo—the one day, as it turned out, that we were all together.  January’s Bible verse speaks of “a thousand generations”.  Our family now contains four generations and we’d like to think that our smiles reflect the real relationship with God we have through Jesus.  Many of you remember the Swanson family as we departed for language school and Chile with 2-year-old Jayme, 5-year-old Julian, 8-year-old Jordan, and 14-year-old Jonathan.  To see the photo “full-size” just click on it.

This month’s gratitude is for God and for his faithfulness and covenant of love to all generations of Christians.  It doesn’t mean the end of “messy” life complete with very hard circumstances, but it does mean that he is right there with us, to strengthen and heal.  His faithfulness and love call us to respond in like kind.  What a good and right way to enter the new year, as God doesn’t dwell on the past, but is a God of all time that lives and works and reaches and heals and renews always, in us and through us.

Please especially pray this month for:

• The readying of the property in mid-Chile to host “day” camps for children in February (Chilean summer). This involves contacts within the community to introduce ourselves and ask for donations of food, supplies, and other needs; the building of some outdoor activity equipment, such as a short swinging bridge to cross a gully; and the finalization of leadership and those youth willing to help guide children, etc.  There is much to do, but with a unified team effort it is possible.
• Initial feelers in seeking the right Chilean Christian woman to direct our work with abandoned children. We would like to re-commence with children as early in 2016 as is possible.
• Initial seeking of a house for us to live in somewhere close to our mission property.
• A successful, good visit to Santiago of Millarae and her twin sister, Ana, who will be spending two weeks with us this month in Santiago during their summer vacation.
• The on-going preparations of Todd to arrive and work with us full-time as a new missionary. He is concentrating on church support contacts in Florida.  Please contact us with suggestions.

Praising, praying, and fasting as we all serve The One and Only Faithful, Loving, True God together,

Jack & Janine

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

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him JESUS.    He will be great and will be called the SON OF THE MOST HIGH.  —Luke 1: 30-32a

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is THE MESSIAH, THE LORD. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and ON EARTH PEACE to those on whom his favor rests.”  –Luke 2: 10-14

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  –Rom. 5: 1-2

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD, shed on the cross.  —Col. 1: 19-20

A very special Christmas to you all in the Jesus of the above verses!!  (All highlighting in them through italics, bold print, and capital letters are our own, to better drive home the message.)

As we enter December and end 2015, we are so grateful for & blessed by your financial support and your partnership through your prayers.  Some of you join us in fasting to further connect with God’s working in Chile.  This is an E-mail of Real Joy, Peace, and Hope in JESUS and a tribute to our One True GOD.

• Our Children’s Residence for abandoned, adoptable children is now legal and able to carry on with this important work in 2016. The work is guided by a board, there are two couples now living in two of the Residence’s homes, and the houses are ready to receive children.
• The new Christian camp for children/Christian center in middle Chile will take its “first steps” in January & February (Chilean summer) through offering some day camps to area children. A Chilean couple is in place to guide those camps, and a directing board is in formation to take the further development of the camp & center forward.
• Men living in the Casa del Alfarero Christian drug & alcohol rehab center continue to come to the Lord, making a commitment to him through baptism, as God restores lives.
• Millarae is alive and doing slightly better physically. She is currently in Santiago for part of December to continue with medical assessments and treatment, before returning to northern Chile.  She and her twin sister, Ana, will turn 15 years old in January and both will be with us again for a couple of weeks between January and February so that we can spend part of their summer vacation with them.  Many of you have been praying for Milla for almost a year.
• Several new faces are becoming a part of God’s work in Chile, joining us in different capacities going into 2016.

The words PEACE & JOY can seem so incongruent in a world filled with terrorism, persecution, hate, wars, disasters & death.  In reading the Bible, we realize that this horrible condition is exactly the setting into which Jesus was sent by God the Father.  He was sent to respect and value the lives of all persons; to enter the houses of sinners meeting them where they were at; to feed the poor, heal the blind, & free the oppressed; to live & preach the Way, the Truth, & the Life—to live & preach himself.  He taught & prepared true followers and disciples.  He was sent to sacrifice his own life.  He calls us to do the same.

Both evil and good will always be with us.  In ALL of the above, though, Jesus is the Light & Hope of the world and the only Way to real peace and to eternity with God.  Jesus lives on and now WE are to extend HIM to this dark & hurting world of ours.

Praising, praying, and fasting in a Born AND Real Peace CHRISTMAS JESUS,

Jack & Janine

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  –Prov. 19: 21

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  –Isaiah 55: 9-10

The missions conference (ICOM) was excellent, having ended November 1.  Everything is made better when we can enter a conference or day or week or month expectantly looking for the Lord’s purposes to be accomplished.  With regards to the conference, with many missions represented and so many attendees, both young and old, we know very well that God had many purposes accomplished.  Here pictured is one of the main sessions, along with a picture of Janine & me with Charlotte Barkley, missionary to Africa whose needs we have highlighted in recent months.

As a general encouragement to all, no matter how good or difficult or painful our situations, we need to remind ourselves that God really is at work in different ways through every circumstance.  We can be assured that He is in them with us and we can always trust that his good purposes will be accomplished, be they visible or invisible at the time.  We often become his extensions through them to others.

Janine & I are blessed to be in the States these two months, and we know good and well that we are here to serve God’s purposes through the trip.  We always look forward to having time and or interactions with as many supporting churches as is possible, in addition to making special trips for specific reasons that sometimes surface during the trip.  God receives glory when we Christians listen, are flexible, and respond.  So many of you individuals and churches already do this.  May the gratitude of all of us for God’s purposes realized be our NOVEMBER PRAISE in this month of Thanksgiving for his bounty and blessing.

Thank you for praying this month for Chile and the work of our mission.  We are praying for:

• The safety of our mission property during our absence. One couple, Daniel & Ingrid, are living on the property now, and a second couple, Ross & Raquel, will be joining them early in December.  Likewise, our worker Carlos continues readying the property for receiving children in 2016.
• The necessary on-going planning related to the new camp property to able to offer “day” camps in January and February. Letters of introduction need to be written and visits within the community made during November and early December.  Please continue praying for “like-mindedness”, good direction, and follow-through on the part of the team in Chile to get these things done.
• Millarai’s going forward.  She is no longer hospitalized in northern Chile. That is a praise, and she texted Janine to let her know that she is eating properly again.  We have no information, however, on the outcome of last month’s court hearing to determine with whom Millarai and sister Anna will live in northern Chile, while Milla continues cancer treatments.  Please pray for their future.
• Todd’s preparations for missionary service in Chile–that they continue to move forward well, with the help of his home church and Christian friends who are taking on needed stateside roles he will need.
• Chile as a country has for years enjoyed an extremely stable economy, based in copper, fruit exports, and growing tourism. With the fall of copper prices and challenges related to needed education reform, the country is now faced with harder times.  Please join us in praying for the country’s leadership, that it be able to unify and make good decisions.  Chile is currently ruled by the socialist party and President Bachelet does not adhere to any religion.

With love and gratitude in our Good “Purpose-Driven” God,

Jack & Janine

I (Jesus speaking) tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me WILL DO what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  –John 14: 12-13

WOW, what a strong statement of Jesus, with an equally strong promise of results!  The above verses are a good reminder and encouragement that our Christianity is an active, responding, extending relationship that changes our focus and purpose of life.  It’s a beautiful transformation that gives impetus to both our focus and our prayers in all their aspects.  God backs it all with his full attention and power.  PTL! and very cool!!

—Last month we wrote of Todd Kepschull’s visit to Chile.  He intends on coming here early next year in missionary service and has now begun preparations in that direction.  Please pray for his encouragement and understanding of what all his preparations will entail.  He has a good home church in Vero Beach, FL.

—Speaking of Kingdom service and preparations, we want to highlight this month’s annual International Conference on Missions (ICOM) of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.  You can go to the conference’s website by clicking on http://theicom.org  It will be held the evening of Oct. 29 through the morning of Nov. 1 at the Convention Center in Richmond, VA.  We participate each year with a CHILE! CHILE! CHILE! booth.  It’s a very well-done conference with good messages & praise time, good workshops for all ages, and good booths from around the world and the U.S.—all with focus on informing, equipping and connecting.  We’d LOVE to see you there.  If you are a church that goes and sends, you should also go to Richmond!  Please pray and give thanks for this year’s conference.  It in so many ways represents God in motion.  Please also pray for our safe travels in the States, as we (as always) will be covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time.  We fly from Chile Oct. 21.  Our time “in family” for Christmas is a great bonus that we give God thanks for and look forward to.

—This month will be important in terms of meeting with those most involved in the planning and carrying out of the first “day camps” at the new Christian camp/center this coming January & February/Chilean summer.  Please pray for “like-mindedness” and good direction, along with the full commitment of the team.  These are the camp/center’s first steps toward a future of effective ministry to many in that general area of the country.

—Everyone knows from our mid-Sept. update Praise & Prayer Letter that our Foundation papers (for the residence and work with abandoned children) were finished and are now signed by us.  They are now in the process (hopefully by the end of Oct.) of being officially registered with the Chilean government.  PTL!!  A couple hopeful of becoming our first set of house parents in receiving young children anew are set to live on our mission property starting this November.  With both of these steps in place, after returning to Chile from the States we will be able to seek the right Chilean person to guide the work as its director and begin receiving children.  Please stay praying and giving thanks for this tremendous ministry!

—Millarai’s impending trip to Santiago for her cancer check-up has been put on hold.  She is hospitalized in northern Chile where she lives, due to experiencing extreme weakness with convulsions.  On the other hand, she has not been not eating as she should.  It’s a very complicated situation and Gilda (the mom) doesn’t know what to do, as she must work during the day.  The doctor from Santiago handling Milla’s case has temporarily suspended Milla’s chemo pills and will keep her hospitalized at least two more weeks before re-evaluating her condition.  Thank you for your on-going prayers for Milla and for her desire to go forward.

—We tried to send out an E-mail from southern Chile, following September’s 8.4 earthquake that hit Chile’s coastal area near Illapel, roughly 3 hours northwest of Santiago.  Santiago itself was not damaged, and we are fine.  Thanks so much for your prayers and E-mails as to our safety.  Although the quake was much less widespread and less severe than the one in Feb. 2010, many lost their homes and 11 people lost their lives.  We are looking to respond to the need through one of the churches located near that zone and we’ll send out that information once we’ve got it, in case some of you would also want to respond through our ministry. In the meantime, please especially pray for families who have lost a loved one or lost their home.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Sending Us Forward and Out Jesus,

Jack & Janine

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.  –Deut. 7: 9

We have two real praises to share!

1. Jack was able to be a part of a team in northern Chile constructing a much-needed addition to help finish the replacement house for a Christian woman, Domitila, who lost her home in the heavy rains a couple months ago. In the desert area of northern Chile the mountains consist of rocks and boulders—rain of any kind is also extremely rare.  Many homes in the region hardest hit were destroyed by flood waters, while Domitila lost her home when part of the lower portion of the mountain next to her house gave way, sending stone, sludge, and boulders down to where she lived.  Two boulders crashed through her house.  If it had occurred at night when they were sleeping, they would have been dead.

The government determined that those living in that area could not rebuild there, due to the possibility of future rain and the instability of the mountain.  They gave her a small plot of ground and a basic 20’ X 20’ replacement house, but one without interior walls, doors, or fixtures.  It’s difficult to imagine a family of four adults living in such a small space.  The Christian ministry Filadelfia in Vallenar, roughly one hour twenty minutes away, became aware of her plight and decided to help by constructing an additional space onto the basic government home to give her two needed extra bedrooms and an extra bathroom.

The above photos show Domitila & her nephew (who is one of the adults that live with her), the mountain next to their home showing the section that gave way, the bedroom with a boulder still inside, her replacement basic house with the addition begun, and finally, after three days of work, the addition under rood and taking shape. 

Two Chilean churches had made donations to help cover the cost of construction and our ministry, along with donations from two U.S. churches and our own Chilean church were able to cover the remainder of the cost.  Jack spent three full days helping and the construction should be completed by this Friday (Chile’s Independence Day), Sept. 18.

2. At the same time, we received a call from the attorney working to complete our new Foundation for our work with abandoned children. When he called (as this process has taken over two years) all Jack could say at first was “NO—don’t tell me!!”  but yes, our papers had just been completed.  He and Janine signed the papers on Friday, Sept. 11.  Praise the Lord to be sure!!  Notice will now be published in a Chilean paper, and the remainder of the process should be completed in roughly three to four weeks time.

              Jack & Janine signing the Foundation papers.  We can hardly believe it, we’re so happy and grateful to the Lord!!

One couple is now moving into one of our ministry property’s four houses and another couple is set to move into another of the houses the first week of Nov.  One or both of these couples might be involved in one way or another in the care of children sent to us in the future.

TIMING-WISE, we will be in the States the last week of Oct. to participate in the annual Missions Conference (ICOM) of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and to report to supporting churches and then finally spend Christmas with our children and grand-children.  We will then be back in Chile in the first days of 2016 to be involved in January and February in some initial “day” camps at the new property in middle Chile that we have been reporting about.  Here in Santiago our goal is to be able to have at least one house parent couple in place before March so that we can start receiving children in the houses shortly thereafter.  The laws governing the care and placement of “wards of the government” children are seemingly constantly changing.  We thus are not sure at this point how those laws might affect us in this important ministry.  At the same time we will be in the best position possible with the Foundation and board both in place to take the work forward.

Thank you again so much for your valued prayer support!  God is so faithful!

Love and blessings in our “Covenant of love to a thousand generations”  God,

Jack & Janine 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  –Matt. 11: 28-30

The passage from Matthew 11 seems appropriate for several reasons and it applies to all of the ministries, outreaches, and projects (the new camp in middle Chile) we are blessed to be a part of.  There seem to be so many reasons for being “weary and burdened”–including being burdened from living one’s Christian life as a list of “requirements of the law”, to being weary from carrying one’s “own load” instead of being able to give it to God, to living under the control of a certain sin.  God favors and responds to the weak and weary who come to him through Jesus, as opposed to the arrogant person who rejects his help preferring to face life alone, and Jesus PROMISES to give us rest.  His yoke can only help us, as it does the animals that pull carts and/or plows.

Jack and Todd (Kepschull) did the morning devotional at the Casa del Alfarero (House of the Potter) live-in Christian drug center, and both his testimony and scripture were a solid encouragement for the men.  Please keep praying for them, giving thanks that they would seek restoration and rest.  Todd is visiting from our supporting church in Vero Beach, FL.  Feeling God’s call into full-time missionary service, he is with us for 10 days to see what we do and to experience Chilean culture.  Please join us in giving God thanks for how He prepares us all to serve him in unique, specific ways.  Todd also accompanied Jack to the annual retreat/conference of the pastors of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in Chile the last weekend of August.  It was an excellent time of good topics, renewed relationships and mutual prayer & encouragement.

An important event over the weekend of September 4-6 to pray for is the Marriage Encounter of the Metropolitan Christian Church.  Held twice a year, the Encounter is very effective as a positive influence toward re-grounding one’s marriage in God.  We have invited a couple to this weekend’s encounter and hope that they can attend.  The invited couples participate without cost, and then are able in future encounters to invite new couples themselves.

Our Foundation papers continue in process and our attorney still expects final approval soon.  A couple hopeful of becoming our first set of house parents in receiving young children anew are set to live on our mission property starting this November.  With both of these steps in place we will be able to begin receiving children in 2016.  Please pray with us, as we know that God is in charge.  So many laws regarding the care of children continue to change in Chile, as do the laws governing hours that people can work.

Millarai is due back in Santiago the 21^st of Sept. for blood tests and doctor appointments.  We pray for her continued health, with no new or active cancer to battle.  We also give thanks for our trip to the new camp property in central Chile last month with Roberto and Romina, the couple who we hope will lead and coordinate “day camps” there this coming January and February.  We pray for the cooperation of the municipal officials and the several volunteers needed to successfully offer the day camps.

                 Pastors’ retreat             Todd giving devotional          Roberto & Romina

Thanks to those who prayed for Charlotte Barkley of the Persecuted Church Ministry in August.  Not only did the needed funds for the sending of the second much-needed container of food and other supplies to the Congo come in, but she is now in Africa visiting and encouraging churches and ministries in various countries over a period of two months.  Safety is nothing to take for granted in those areas and countries she travels in, as war, killings, and violence are common.  The church in many parts in Africa is persecuted.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Give Us Rest Jesus,

Jack & Janine

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me (Jesus), because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has SENT ME to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus’ words in Luke 4: 18-19, first written in Isaiah 61, are no less applicable to us today—not just in our own “backyards”, but all around the world.  It is God’s call to the church.  There is so much need.  In Chile we strive to keep those needs in front of us in and outside of Santiago through our work with children, those striving to break free of addictions, and others recovering from natural disasters, just as we now must do through the new Christian camp and center being developed in central Chile.  Isn’t this what we as churches offer to those we invite into relationship with us, either through entering our building or through us entering their homes?  What a privilege to serve with you from here.

Our minds seem to jump to the “physical” when we hear the words poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed, and unfortunately all of those needs are real and often go unmet, but equally devastating is the reality of the overwhelming number of emotional, spiritual, and psychological poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed.  The proclaiming can only come about through relationship, going, and sending.  The true need of so many people is masked by Sunday smiles and greetings and other public encounters.

The Spirit of the Lord is now on us, the church—Jesus’ body on earth—and as the Father sent him, he sends us.  Janine & I, along with Paul & Silas in the Book of Acts and all other missionaries, have been sent out by the church to further extend Jesus’ touch, healing, and restoring.  Thank you for praying and otherwise supporting God’s work through us in Chile!

Please pray and give thanks in August for God’s working through the below ministries and their development.  Each of these ministries has JESUS at its center.

• Awaiting the finalization of the new Foundation for our work with abandoned children, we continue to work on our mission property so that it will be ready to receive children.  In addition, God will soon lead us to the right Christian Chilean couple who will serve as our first set of house parents in restarting this important work.
• All first steps (see our May Praise & Prayer Letter in the website) in developing the new Christian camp and center in central Chile.  The center will not only offer unique camp experiences to children, but also work to meet and address needs of area children, youth, adults, and families.
• The work of the Casa del Alfarero Christian drug & alcohol rehabilitation center for men in Santiago.  They work with the whole family.
• Our work with church members and others to help them realize their God-given potentials.
• Chilean Christian Church pastors and their vision.  Our annual Pastors’ conference is August 28-30.

A BIG praise—Millarai came with her mother to Santiago at the end of July for medical exams and appointments and the cancer doctors have confirmed that her health is holding.  She does need more regular nourishment and exercise, but all in all, is doing fine.  PTL!!  Please keep praying for her and for their family.

One blessing of long-term mission work comes in the form of meeting, praying for, and building relationships with missionaries working in other countries.  Charlotte Barkley, of the Persecuted Church Ministry, has worked many years in African countries in ministries directly related to this month’s Bible passage.  She has been helping Heaven Sent Ministries to send two much-needed containers of food and other supplies to the Congo.  The first container was sent off in July, but they still lack 40% of the cost to ship the second one.  To help, contact Charlotte at bushtelegraphafrica@yahoo.com  The Congo is listed as the poorest country in the world; population 65 million; 97% unemployment; Goma, the area where the two containers are going, has 1 million people and presently experiences the most violence, rebel attacks, mass killings, etc. in all Congo; 10 million have died in the past 10 years, but no one hears of this tragedy; Kinshasa, the capitol, has over 20,000 street kids.

Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our Going, Sending, Luke 4:18-19 God,

Jack & Janine