“GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS” 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”  –Lamentations 3: 22-24

We wish each of you the Lord’s faithful presence and blessing as we enter 2023–some of you in the middle of optimism and good circumstances and others living out personal loss and extremely hard circumstances.  But ALL of us truly “born again” in Christ Jesus can enter this new year with the hope and assurance that come with our real relationship with the One True God.  The above verses found in Lamentations served as the basis for Thomas Chisholm’s famous prayer & hymn, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.  What a good reason to go forward in God in the middle and with a continually renewed spirit!

Speaking of “continually renewed” spirits, we so give the Lord thanks for your faithful prayers and support!!

We arrived Sunday, January 1^st, in Chile and we look forward to these next 2½ months of being able to personally connect to his faithful guidance of Chile Mission’s work in Chile.  Again, thank you for doing your part!  Jack even now has his renewed Chilean ID card in hand, so TYL!!  We have several significant developments to share with you that need prayer….

ON THE BODEUCA CAMP PROPERTY, two main works are in process:

1. The drawing of the subdivision of the land’s 30 northernmost acres has now been completed and is ready to submit to SAG, the Chilean governmental agency that governs such issues in the rural parts of the country. While this step does not affect the camp’s ongoing development, it does leave the northern 30 acres of our camp property ready for future development and sale.  We are looking at all sources of financial resources to help financially sustain the on-going development of the camp.
2. Abraham is supervising the work of two excavating machines to level and improve the public access road passing in front of the property and also to fill ravines and low areas within the camp property. Seen below, an excavator can literally transform any section of land!

There is much work left to do with this type of heavy machinery and the cost of renting the two machines and their operators for two weeks in December cost just under $5,000 (USD).  One of the two operators, Rodolfo, has grown up doing such work and knows of some excavators in good condition for sale, leading us to an important opportunity to consider.  Rodolfo will investigate and test these machines.  The cost of good, used excavators is no small investment and should we buy one it will mean also hiring Rodolfo to continue with the needed changes to the camp property.  From observing him these past two weeks, Abraham has a high opinion of Rodolfo’s work habits.  As mentioned, we have much more work for the excavator ahead of us.  As such, when not actively connected to this type of camp property work, we can rent out the machine and Rodolfo to others in the area at the cost we are paying now for such services.  The monthly operation of one machine runs roughly $4,000 in contrast to almost $10,000 in income generated.   Please pray with us for God’s guidance in making the decision.

While Abraham continues seeking a buyer for the Chevrolet pick-up, as pictured above our worker Juan has now finished soldering and installing a solid support framework for the rear bed of the mission’s newly purchased 2022 Toyota pick-up.  Nice work, Juan!!   We plan on insuring the truck and driving it to the camp property this month.  In the meantime, Janine plans on traveling by bus to the camp property this week of January in order to help assess our immediate steps.

Abraham is also almost finished with the new bedroom and bathroom added on to the end of their house.  TYL!!  That is good, as we await the arrival of Mark, a new friend from the States who is due to arrive in Chile on January 9^th to visit and help work with us on the camp property.  Mark, now retired, regularly makes short term mission trips to help others and we’re grateful to receive him in Chile. With God’s blessing he will come again to lend a hand. J

Are you retired and have a skill or experience to lend in helping us go forward on our rural camp property??  We can use you here!! The Lord works in wonderful ways, doesn’t he??!!

Abraham continues seeking a buyer for the Chevy pickup.  It’s in good condition and is a valued form of transportation in rural Chile.  We are anxious to start using our Toyota truck, more suited for the country back roads.

IN SANTIAGO new guests continue to arrive to the mission site in Santiago as well.  It is gratifying to be able to house and spiritually support all who arrive!  Presently with us are:

• Jordan & Laura, the parents of Matías, their 2 month-old baby boy born with a congenital virus known as CMV. As with other infants and children, this very serious virus is typically treated in Santiago hospitals.  Laura basically lives at the hospital to continue breast-feeding Matías. Their family is pictured here below.
• Dina is a middle-aged woman who has been waiting years for a hip replacement. She was told to come to Santiago to schedule the surgery, and after waiting here for a month, the surgery is set for this Saturday, January 7th.
• Also with us is Rocio, a fifteen-year-old who came to Santiago to correct her scoliosis.  She’ll be here for 10 days recovering and resting.

Thank you for praying for Matías & family, Dina, & Rocio and also for Dominíc, who continues forward at home, but with some problems with his feeding tube.

While here in Santiago we hope to continue to make more progress with Julián on all issues having to do with our Misión Chile (Chile Mission) Foundation.  We anticipate having to sign documents related to needed legal changes. Please pray with us for God’s guidance in making the decision

Seen here, our worker Carlos is also almost finished with the periodic (every three years) sanding and re-staining of the wood-sided second floors of the houses and multi-purpose back building on the Santiago mission site.  He’s an excellent worker!

Praising, praying, and fasting in our “ETERNALLY FAITHFUL” ONE, TRUE GOD,

Jack & Janine

THE PERFECT GIFT

 For the wages of sin is death, but The GIFT OF GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  – -Rom. 6: 23

WOW what a gift!!  Jesus WILL ALWAYS BE THE WHOLE WORLD’S BEST GIFT OF ALL!!  As we buy special gifts for those we love and, in general, spread Christmas cheer to those around us, let us PLEASE look for ways to share our Jesus in all ways possible.  He indeed is the MOST SPECIAL GIFT OF ALL!  

Speaking of significant real gifts, we are very grateful for your prayers for us and for God’s outreaches and ministries through Chile Mission.  They have not only sustained and made our work more effective but have in many ways sustained our family throughout the years.  Merry Christmas everyone!!

Between this year’s ICOM mission conference, times with very special friends, and being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with our entire family for a whole week, November was an extra special month for us!  At ICOM, several new people were interested in knowing more about Chile Mission and signed up to begin receiving our monthly Praises & Prayer Needs updates.

IN SANTIAGO our worker Juan has been working to create a soldered metal support framework for the rear bed of mission’s newly purchased 2022 Toyota pick-up.  The truck is replacing our Chevy pick-up and should serve Abraham well in these coming years.  Once the Chevy is sold Abraham will come to Santiago and drive it south to the camp property.

Carolina has attended to several new guests staying at the mission site in Santiago as well.  Our goal is to regularly receive and help as many families as possible.  Thus, she continues to make contact with hospitals and their social workers.  God’s opening and keeping open those doors is a prayer need for December and for 2023.

We give thanks that we’ve been able to purchase (Cyber Monday J) the plane tickets for our next trip to Chile!   We leave the States on December 31^st and will be in Chile until March 14.  We pray in the meantime for continued good health and we’ve done well, with the exception that Jack is in good recovery from a recent bout with the flu, complete with chills, aches, and lots of sweating!  

A PRAISE & ANSWER TO PRAYER:  Jack’s long-awaited renewal of his Chilean ID was completed finally and his new ID card has been picked up.  YAY and TYL!  That means that he can again sign legal and bank documents, etc.

Looking forward to our upcoming trip, two goals for our time in Santiago are the signing of any documents required to make the Chile Mission Foundation fully-functional, and also to help make good progress with the right person in getting our Spanish Misión Chile website up and running.

ON THE BODEUCA CAMP PROPERTY…

• As mentioned above, Abraham is still in the process of selling the Chevy pickup. Thanks for praying with us for this!
• The result of good communication between Abraham and Janine, good continuing progress has been made by the surveyor in subdividing the northern 30 acres. It’s important to complete this process in the coming months, as it is imminent that the government will be changing the minimum subdivision from 1.25 acres to at least 2.5 acres or more sometime in 2023.  The surveyor hopes to begin presenting our proposed subdivision to SAG, the Chilean agency responsible for approving such matters in rural areas this month.
• Also related to the camp property per se, is the filling and leveling areas where ravines have deepened. This will allow for more stable interior roads and more options for the development of camp structures and buildings.  As mentioned in a prior prayer letter, Abraham has been in contact with a neighboring business man who owns an excavation firm, who now thinks that he’ll be able to bring equipment in January to tackle this need.  We pray that door stays open.
• Lastly, Abraham is on track to finish in December the new bedroom and bathroom added to their house. This is good as we hope to start receiving others to help develop the property in different ways beginning in January.

All these above issues need prayer, as we know that God does receive them and answer them according to his good purposes and plan.  We again thank you for your prayers!

Praising, praying, and fasting in a PERFECT GIFT JESUS,    

Jack & Janine

“GOD’S GREAT WHOLE WORLD LOVE”

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  –John 3:16-17

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  –Acts 1:8

QUESTION:  How “in the world” J could God even think about reaching THE WHOLE WORLD with the good news and touch of his son Jesus Christ, that NO ONE would perish?  Was he dreaming??

ANSWER:  God’s very plan and design is to reach THE WHOLE WORLD Through his church!!

The focus of this month’s praises and prayer needs is the Church’s going and sending of missionaries literally into all the world that includes right where we live, to extend the touch and good news of Jesus Christ.  As we write our November letter we are on our way to participate in ICOM, the annual missions conference of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. The place is the Columbus, Ohio convention center and the dates are Thursday through Saturday, November 3^rd through the 5^th.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY:  We are renting a three-bedroom Airbnb house approximately 15 minutes walk from the Convention Center, and have room for two more people to stay overnight!  Call us on our cell 949-394-8282 if you are interested in making the trip to Columbus.  What a super last-minute worthwhile outing this would make!!   

It’s a fantastic, outward-focused conference with great speakers and many types of workshops, amid a huge variety of booths of missionaries (including our CHILE MISSION display every year J).  Please consider going for an entire day, and if that’s not possible, please join us in praying for its connection and impact on all those who attend.  More information can be found on the ICOM website, www.theicom.org

The key to it all is the church’s going, and sending & supporting of missionaries into all the world.  PTL!!

Our recent time in Chile was fruitful from beginning to end.

On the Campo Vivo land in middle, rural Chile:

• Referring to last month’s letter, we were able to decide with Abraham on the location of several future buildings, including the work shop/storage building, the dining/meeting hall, and cabins.
• We decided to subdivide and sell roughly thirty of our ninety acres not needed for the camp on the northern end of our property. We may very well hold on to some of the land to be sold for purposes of a type of club house area, but the income will provide much-needed resources in the development of the camp & retreat center.  A surveyor is in the process of dividing the land into acre plots and will contact Abraham when he’s ready to finish the process and “mark off” the divided acre lots.  Our property is divided by the public road, so this residential/second home area will be separate from the camp.  We are seeing a great upsurge in our area for people that live in urban areas looking for a little bit of country to install a fiberglass pool and camp area.  Plus—our property is gorgeous for this!
• In identifying ravines to be filled and leveled, Abraham has contacted a neighbor who owns an excavating company to see about the cost and availability of his equipment and operator. As mentioned in past letters, this work will be costly but we will know more after he is able to personally look at these areas with Abraham.
• We were able to locate and purchase a 2020 Toyota Hilux 4×4 pickup truck! This is a praise, as Toyotas are known to be well-designed for the tough conditions in which our land is located and it came with the larger-tread tires as well.  Abraham is now in the process of selling the Chevy 4×4 pickup.  The only drawback is the 20” step-up to enter the cab of the new truck!!

Here in the States we again met with our friend Kevin at his Christian camp in IL to discuss his possible trip to Chile.  His counsel on core infrastructure development is invaluable, gleaned from his many years of serving the Lord in that capacity at the camp he lives on!  We looked together at more photos taken during our recent time in Chile and discussed everything from the advice needed to dig a lake to the order of priorities in approaching the construction of needed buildings and structures.  It was decided that his time in helping us will be better served with his remaining in the States instead of making a short trip to Chile at the beginning of 2023.  Cell phone communication is so handy, isn’t it?!!  He also will be able to make contacts in the States with companies that have helped in the development of his own camp.  We’re very grateful!

Thanks for continuing to pray and give thanks for these initial stages in the development of CAMPO VIVO!!

In Santiago: 

• We have no recent news on baby Dominíc, now 8 months old, other than he is in good health and “hospitalized” at home in Chillán roughly 5 hours south of Santiago. We did, though, receive this new photo of him.  What a cutie!!  Pease continue to pray with us for God’s miracle healing touch on his heart and other organs.

• Carolina is in the process of visiting Santiago hospitals to refer parents of children from other parts of Chile to us for housing. We are truly a Christian Casa de Acogida (House of Refuge) for these parents and families!
• Concerning the development of a Spanish Misión Chile (Chile Mission) website, we are first writing up our own history of Chile Mission ministries development in Spanish to provide a base of information on which to build the website. Our goal is to have this completed during November.
• Jack was able to “re”-finish J the application for the renewal of his Chile ID. That is a praise, other than the fact that the government office in charge of that process is very behind in issuing those cards and thus it won’t be ready to be picked up until the end of the first week of November.  He signed a power of attorney allowing Carolina to pick up his card in our absence and we are looking forward to the good news that she has it in her hands.  We are planning on being back in Chile for their summer months of January, February, and March.
• The Foundation’s legal steps in registering with Chile’s federal government are back in motion, including the official registering of our Foundation to receive all types of donations, both in funds and in other items, etc. This process can still take months to complete, but we are grateful for the help of others who have connections and experience in these matters.
• We were able to meet with all relevant parties to discuss all of the above. TYL!!

Getting back to the specific Missions Theme of this month’s praises and prayer needs, we end with the mission statement of CHILE MISSION:

Sent out by the Church…. to reach people, and especially children, with the love of Jesus, that they might know and follow him too.

Isn’t that the call and mission of us all?  Praise God and thank you so much for your on-going prayers!!  We’re in it together!

Praising, praying, fasting, in and with God’s Great Whole World Love,

Jack & Janine 

“THROUGH HIM, FOR HIM, AND TOWARD HIS PURPOSES”

 For in him (Jesus), all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  –Col. 1:16 (NIV)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  –Rom. 8:28 (NASB)

We have much to report on and give thanks for during our current time in Chile at Campo Vivo (The Countryside Alive) camp property in middle, rural Chile and with Chile Mission’s work in Santiago!  Regarding Campo Vivo we celebrate the fact that ALL of creation was created through Jesus and for Jesus.  We also take strength in the fact that God will continue to work for the good of Chile Mission in all the details and steps it faces both in rural Chile and in Santiago.  No detail is too small or too big for God!

CAMPO VIVO

We and Abraham have spent a good amount of time walking the property and the public, sand road outside of the property.  Certain portions of the road are still under water coming out of Chile’s winter season, and steps will need to be taken to put in some large diameter tubes to detour the water from the road and to possibly also change the location of the road in certain places once the road dries toward summer.  Inside our property we spent time studying the lower area to be dug for a lake, along with all the issues having to do with that—e,g. size, inflows, outflows, and depth, etc.  We pray that we will be able to start on the lake toward the end of this coming summer, around March.

We also looked at the best location for buildings to be constructed in 2023, beginning with the 2-story workshop/storage/parking building.  Included was a study of the condition of our interior roads in place and ravines.  As mentioned in our September letter, we pray that some with good camp work experience from the States can visit this coming January to help us think out the above issues.  One of the German Shepherds, Summer, accompanied us on our walks to help us study the terrain. 🙂

In addition, we and Abraham walked the northern section of the property located on the other side of the public access road to look at terrain challenges such as ravines, the location of interior roads, and areas to subdivide for sale to others.  Here are some photos below.  The flowers in Janine’s hands were quite small and grew in many areas.  Some of the views were spectacular as well.  The ravine pictured below was one of the deeper ones we came across, and we need to relevel land in various places.  How intricate and varied is Jesus’ creation!

Abraham will be meeting with a surveyor early in October to set up the clear delineation of property lines, along with the areas to be subdivided in the northern section of the property.

We thank you for praying about and giving thanks for all of the above issues mentioned above and below!

Other prayer points and praises:

• With Abraham & Catalina we attended a meeting of many landowners (a kind of owner’s association) from the larger local area and met several new people—all older. Almost all of the land owners have grown up in the area, while their children have moved away and live in cities.
• We must decide between renting or buying a used excavator in order to rework the several ravines that exist on both ends of the camp property. Either option will be expensive, but the machine is an essential piece of equipment in the ongoing development of the property.
• We are also looking to sell our 2017 Chevy 4X4 pickup and replace it with a newer Toyota 4X4 pickup. It’s interesting that those here we’ve consulted with say that the Toyota Hilux is the only pickup well-designed for our hard terrain conditions.  We’ve also had some recent large repairs with our Chevy.

SANTIAGO

—Carolina continues to do a good job with regard to her responsibilities.  She and Janine have spent time discussing her reports and initiatives, etc.  Even though it will take God’s supernatural touch for baby Dominíc to survive his serious heart condition, we continue to pray for him and his parents. He recently was hospitalized with pneumonia and survived. What a happy baby!  We also give thanks for the recent healthy birth of twins to Edison and his wife, who stayed at the mission site.  She was brought in to Santiago with eclampsia.  PTL!!  The emotional and prayer support we’ve been able to provide to parents in their difficult medical situations with their children has been significant.

—The APEM prolife pregnancy center moved from the mission site after over three years of meeting in one of the houses on our site.  The new director lives in a different sector of Santiago, so it was better for them to find a location much nearer to her.  It’s been a blessing and privilege to provide them with housing these past recent years and we wish them the best as we continue to pray for their good path forward!

—Jack did go to the main office of the government department that deals with the Chilean ID cards of foreign permanent citizens such as ourselves and all went well—so it seems!!  He is supposed to be able to pick up his new renewed ID card the second week of October before we fly to the States on the 19^th of the month.  Of course, the “proof is in the pudding” as they say! J

—With regard to our Foundation CHILE MISSION, we, Abraham, and Julián (husband of Carolina) recently had a conference zoom call with an ex-representative of the government that deals with Foundations.  She hopes to put us into contact with both an attorney who works with Foundations and with the representative of a bank that can open an account for us.  Our contact with her represents a good step forward in getting needed legal changes and steps put in place and we’re grateful!  In the past we have not had a good attorney to work with, and the bank account the Foundation did have was costly.  Also, our past attempts to obtain a certificate and standing to receive donations from inside and outside of Chile were never achieved, so these current steps represent a definite prayer need.  Thank you for that!

We are still working on locating the right person to finish developing our Spanish CHILE MISSION website.  Thanks for your prayers.

Finally, before leaving Chile we will have a board meeting.  We give thanks for our working with an excellent Chile Mission team!

Praising, praying, fasting, in OUR “CREATOR, PURPOSE-ACHIEVING JESUS—Lord & Savior!!

Jack & Janine 

“IN STEP” WITH GOD

^{By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.   Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.  –Ex. 13: 21-22}

God has always guided his children, be it through his Word and Holy Spirit, or even through a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire.  We see this as well in Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart man plans his course, but God determines his steps.”  As such it’s important to remember that WE are now his children!  Thus for us, Frank Sinatra’s song “I did it My Way” is definitely out of the question!  🙂

We and Abraham & Catalina gleaned much good information, tips, and encouragement of different types during our two-month tour of Christian camps in the States this past U.S. summer!  They returned to Chile August 1^st and we now fly to Chile Sept. 4^th, staying through to Oct. 19^th, where much of that time will be spent on the camp property in middle Chile with them to assess and plan next steps forward concerning the development of the land.  These three photos tell the next steps:

During our recent two months of visits to camps we received lots of valuable advice on first steps to take in Chile.  We are hoping that Kevin (one such long-time camp worker), who has been responsible for all the physical plant development of his camp over the last 40+ years (WOW!!), can come to Chile this coming January (Chilean summer) to walk our property and discuss first hand our overall plan of land development.  His (and others’) biggest advice of all?  “Be sure to not get ahead of God in all you plan to do, but be patient and attentive to his leading, and he will guide you and the Christian camp & retreat center WILL BECOME A REALITY!  You can COUNT on it, including the raising of every bit of needed finances.”  With good reason we firmly know that your prayers have been yet another central reason for these great developments!

Chile camp property

Abraham, Catalina, and Abril arrived home safely to heavy winter rains that have rendered the public road outside of the camp property impassable from time to time.  Still, they are glad to be home and he is working mainly indoors, finishing the new bathroom/bedroom addition begun months ago.

When we arrive in Sept.

• we will work with him to specifically identify upcoming developmental steps and issues needing to be addressed now and during Kevin’s short visit in January.
• Abraham will also continue to search for a Chilean certified architect to be our needed go between with the Chilean government to proceed with building plans on the property.
• We plan and hope to follow up on the purchase of a used excavator for sale. It was the property of a relative of Chilean friends.  He since has died, but used this equipment in his work and his children want to sell it.  If it’s in good operating condition and the price is reasonable, it represents a very good and needed purchase, given the amount of work we will have for it on the camp land.

Once Kevin visits and the architect is located at a reasonable cost, we will be in a better positon to project the cost of upcoming construction of buildings, along with other work: i.e., digging the lake and proceeding with wells, septic, interior roads, and buildings, etc.

Thank you for your prayers for our upcoming visit!

In Santiago

We look forward to visiting with Carolina & family to discuss God’s ministries taking place on the Chile Mission site.  This will include talking over hospital and clinic contacts, internal policies & reports, and interactions with those staying on the property for medically-associated reasons.  She is committed to doing a good job, which is central to going forward well.  The latest information she has is that baby Dominíc, whom we’ve mentioned as needing prayer in his fight for survival in our two last monthly Praise & Prayer Needs letters, continues making steady, slow progress at home.  Thank you Lord!

In addition, Jack must renew his Chilean identification card, a process that is always automatic and not difficult, but the government advised us that they cannot confirm his residency status.  On the other hand, Janine’s came through slowly but fine—she had extended her visa during covid, but Jack had traveled back twice.  It should be a “fun” process!!  Instead it is just another use of time and effort that we have to spend time on.  Hard to believe that Janine has her new identification card, considering that she is “under” Jack’s approved status!!

We will also be meeting with Chile Mission board members to discuss progress and ministry outreaches.  There are, in addition, further legal steps necessary to make needed changes to our Foundation’s by-laws.  These basic changes have been previously applied for, but still not terminated.

Lastly, we are still seeking a Chilean to take charge of developing our Spanish Chile Mission website.  We do have a web “server”, but the actual work has much farther to go.

In all of the above we seek and give thanks for your steady prayers and gratitude!!

Praising, praying, fasting, to OUR “STEP-LEADING” GOD OF ALL!!

Jack & Janine 

“GOD” DIMENSIONS

The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.  –Ezra 6:15

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.  –Nehemiah 6:15

Monumental tasks faced both Ezra and Nehemiah in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the city’s walls as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned from exile!  Their enemies scoffed and threatened them and the Israelites themselves were daunted and overwhelmed at the size of the project before they even began.  Years later, in measuring the overwhelming odds against overcoming apartheid racial discrimination in South Africa, Desmund Tutu summed up the size of the challenge facing the people of South Africa this way: “There is only one way to eat an elephant… a bite at a time.”

Similarly, we now look to how GOD HIMSELF will approach the development of HIS camp in the middle of Chile through us all (as only HE is capable of :).  The glory will come in terms of Chilean children, youth, and adults coming to know and follow Jesus Christ.  Just as it was for the above men of God, the size of our own impending project is overwhelming to us, were it not for God’s hand!  THE LORD’S eternal plans and purposes are in motion in Chile, which means that Chile Mission too will see its camp developed and launched, one step and stage at a time.  Thank you once again for your prayers and Kingdom partnership in Chile!

We were so blessed in our June and July travel with Abraham, Catalina, & 3-year-old Abril to Christian camps in the States.  All in all, we traveled more than 3,500 miles were able to visit 16 separate camps over the two months.  We experienced no relational problems, no traffic accidents, and no sickness, on top of enjoying excellent weather along the way.  It was surprising on how well Abril handled all the traveling.  We concentrated on the camps’ infrastructures, experiences in digging lakes, and stages of development, in addition to safety guidelines, adult to child ratios, and approaches to social issues.  In short, we learned much, met many special people, and enjoyed super times with family, close friends, and churches.  We SO THANK YOU for your prayers that helped carry us forward and open doors all through the trip!

Here are additional photos taken during our trip.  Climbing walls and rope courses came in a variety of sizes and styles.  Also pictured are the stages of development of Sky Ranch in Tyler, Texas.

MEANWHILE,

At the Chile camp property Catalina’s mother and brother were able to stay there for much of these two months without incidents or problems (TYL!!), in spite of heavy winter rains that have rendered the public road outside of the camp property impassable from time to time.

Abraham, Cata, and Abril now fly back to Chile on August 1^st, arriving in Santiago on August 2^nd and then on to the camp property late in the day.  Please join us in giving thanks and in praying for their safe arrival.  They’ll also be going home to eight new German Shepherd puppies, born just recently—a surprise to be sure.

With God’s blessing, we return to Chile for one and one half months the first week of September.  We’ll have much to think through and plan with Abraham & Catalina at the camp property.  In the meantime, Abraham will have plenty to look at in light of much good advice received during our recent U.S. camp visits.

In Santiago all is well at the Chile Mission ministry site. New parents also continue to arrive and be blessed to stay on the property.  Now home in Chillan, Chile, Baby Dominíc, pictured here, continues with weekly in-home doctor visits, growing in spite of the on-going grave physical problems that he faces with his internal organs.  Thanks for continuing to pray for him and for his parents.  We praise and thank you, Lord!!

We have one more photo to include.  It was taken of us in family 30 years ago this month as we prepared to leave for one year of language study in Costa Rica and then to Chile to begin serving the Lord there.  Jayme was newly 2, Julian 5, Jordan 8, and Jonathan 14.  While we are referred to as “missionaries”, it gives the Lord much praise that our family is one more extension in another country of his overall mission to bring ALL PEOPLES OF EVERY NATION back to himself through his son, Jesus.  Thus, in truth we ALL are his missionaries every place that we live!  Bless you all and thank you again for your on-going prayers and partnership with us and with Chile Mission!!

Praising, praying, fasting, to OUR “GOD” DIMENSIONS Lord & Savior JESUS!!

Jack & Janine 

“FREE – Raising JESUS”

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  –John 8:31-32, 36

As we celebrate the United States’ freedom from English rule this month, the above verses come to mind.  John 8 speaks of a TRUE freedom found ONLY in Jesus—the one REAL freedom we Christians live and teach to our children and others.  In reality, we all are always growing in our relationship with God. 🙂  In the same way, Christian camps also do make a difference in lives.  How sad that someone can be physically free and yet be spiritually lost.   

In our travels to Christian camps these two months of June and July with Chilean camp teammates Abraham, Catalina, & little girl Abril we are paying special attention to the messages and relationships that the camps have with children that attend.  We so appreciate your prayers for our travel, contacts, and learning along our route!!  Abril is traveling very well and we are virtually learning A TON!  There are some camps that even may be able to come to Chile and help us develop our property there in different ways.  What a blessing! 

Beginning our camp visits on June 5^th in southern California, during June we visited seven Christian camps and presented to five churches and have several more camps to visit in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas in July.   Camps are a combination of fun, challenges, God messages, and new relationships.  Here are some photos from our June camp visits….

The upper left photo was taken at The Ark camp. The lobby is full of animals and flags of different countries to emphasize their focus on world mission. During our time with them they were in the middle of a camp for people with special needs, and the lower right photo shows Jack with a new friend.

A short quote from Abraham and Cata:

“Ha sido un mes de mucho aprendizaje, donde cada día podemos comprender más el propósito de Dios para nuestro trabajo con los niños en Chile.  Pedimos oración para que Dios levante más trabajadores dispuestos a desarrollar este proyecto junto a nosotros. También oren para que Dios ponga los profesionales y autoridades correctas en Chile para poder lograrlo paso a paso. Amen”

Paraphrased, the above says, “It has been a month of much learning, in which we are understanding more and more God’s purposes for our work with children in Chile.  We ask for your prayers that God would raise up more support and workers inclined to come alongside us in our camp project.  Also please pray that God will put us in contact with the right Chilean professionals and authorities to move forward step by step.  Amen”

MEANWHILE, IN CHILE:

At the Chile camp property

• We always have to have a physical presence on our camp property, due to stealing.  We had planned on Abdías being there during Abraham’s trip, but for health reasons he returned to Santiago.  Catalina’s mom and other family members are now on the property to feed the dogs and care for daily problems.
• Cata’s brother suffers from allergies and asthma as well, so please pray for his health during their time on the camp property, that he will not have any crisis situation.
• Also please join us in giving thanks for Abraham’s & Cata’s neighbors Luís and Pedro & Raquel, who are so willing to step in when needed.

In Santiago

All continues well at the Chile Mission ministry site.  Also, Carolina tells us that baby Dominíc (now back home) continues in stable condition, gaining weight much like a normal baby.  Medical personnel are going to Dominíc’s house every other day to check on him.  The doctors have not decided on what treatment to pursue, if any, and are surprised that he continues in seemingly stable condition.  We praise and thank you, Lord!!

Praising, praying, fasting, to OUR FREE — RAISING JESUS!!

Jack & Janine 

“GOD THROUGH JESUS—OUR ONE, TRUE SOURCE AND ANSWER”

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

If there were any three key ingredients that society and the world badly lack, they are those mentioned in the above Bible verse.  1 Corinthians 13 is a tremendous chapter on the importance and meaning of love in Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.  Do faith, hope and love have One, True source??

God, and more specifically Christ Jesus, have always been the One, True Source and answer for where to go to find what we truly seek and need.  All good values and all human life matters, and many people believe that there is no one, true answer and source of good values. The world says we need to rely on our own truth and God tells us to come to and connect with Jesus.  We Christians, in whatever country that God puts us, can have no other more important singular mission than to make Jesus known and equip others to do the same, starting with the testimony of our own lives.  How great an honor and responsibility for us of Chile Mission to be in Chile to carry out the mission of Jesus there and how thankful we are for your prayers!!

YOUR PRAYERS HELP IN MANY WAYS….

• Abraham, Catalina, & daughter Abril are set to fly from Santiago to Los Angeles on June 1, arriving in the morning June 2. Thanks for praying against any anxiety that Catalina may have, as she has never flown and has never been outside of Chile.
• Abdías is set to stay on the Chile camp property during the two months that Abraham and family are in the States with us. Other key people will be helping and accompanying Abdías from time to time as needed. Abraham has some great neighbors living close by, which is a big blessing. His nearest neighbor is more than one half mile away.
• Several good visits to children’s camps have fallen into place and are scheduled, starting with two excellent camps in southern California the first full week of June and then continuing from Illinois through Indiana to North Carolina and over to Alabama and Texas.
• From helping host 5 consecutive Chile summer vbs camps through 2020, we have seen how the outdoors & nature, combined with fun and healthy relationships are an effective way for opening children and youth up to meeting Jesus firsthand. The Holy Spirit is working in all of it! J
• Roughly half of Chilean youth either doubt that God exists or don’t believe in Jesus. The developed camp & retreat center in middle Chile will be a great outreach ministry!
• Abraham and Abdías have made good progress toward completing the extra bath and bedroom they’ve been working on.

In Santiago

• Parents are regularly staying at the Chile Mission site, with many facing very difficult circumstances of their children. Recently, parents Victor & Isabel stayed for roughly two months after Isabel gave birth to a baby boy, Dominíc, pictured above.  Sadly, he was born with a severe heart defect and his stomach is upside down—something extremely rare.  In the end the doctors felt that they could not improve Dominíc’s situation and sent him home with his parents to Los Angeles, Chile (roughly 6 hours south of Santiago) to die.  In checking today, he is again hospitalized with an infection, but is gaining weight.  Thank you for praying with us for a miraculous healing for Dominic and for the reassurance for Victor & Isabel that God is with them as a family.
• We continue to look for other Foundations and ministries that may be able to have some needed space on our mission site.

Jack’s health ….

Thanks for praying for Jack’s health these last several years.  He was referred to a rheumatologist early in May that has identified Jack’s condition as “Auto-Immune Neutropenia (AIN)”.  Neutropenia is what is dangerous for people going through chemotherapy, as their white blood cell count is dangerously low.  Jack’s bone marrow is producing white blood cells, but his body is destroying them.  While it remains unclear about treatment to improve his blood count, it’s good to be on the right track one step at a time.

Praising, praying, fasting, to GOD–OUR ONE, TRUE SOURCE AND ANSWER !

Jack & Janine 

“EXCELLENT AND PRAISEWORTHY”

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 is certainly a great passage on prayer and Christian living in Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church!  In looking for a passage to start off our May prayer & update letter, the words excellent and praiseworthy seemed most applicable, because in the end, they apply first and foremost to our One, True God who makes all things possible, with his perfect timing to boot.  They also apply to your regular prayers for Chile Mission and for us!!  We in turn send the Lord our prayers for each of you.  Thank you!

Another excellent and praiseworthy opportunity coming our way in June and July is the impending visit of Abraham’s family’s trip to the U.S. this summer.  They are due to arrive in Los Angeles on June 2^nd and leave from there on August 1^st.  As we mentioned in our April prayer & update letter, they will be traveling with us to Christian camps in California and other states—especially those camps with similar physical characteristics as our land in Chile being developed and camps that have built lakes.  This kind of extra time taken represents our and their desire to continue with excellence in our approach to this significant step to reach and enrich Chilean lives with the gospel.  Abraham, Catalina, & Abril have their passports in hand with one month to go and we will have more trip details to share in next month’s prayer letter.

We are now in the process of setting up visits and very much appreciate your prayers for those contacts.  As always, God is the Master Door Opener!  We also ask you to be in prayer for the right person that will live in their house and take care of needed details on the Chile land in their absence.  It looks possible that Abdías, son of Julián and Carolina, who live and work on the Chile Mission site in Santiago, may be able to do so.  He has been helping Abraham with the addition of an extra bedroom and bathroom to their house on the camp land.  We know that God will provide for the need.

In Santiago….

Carolina is one more month into her duties as our new main coordinator of Chile Mission’s ministry to parents coming to stay at our mission site for periods of time ranging from a couple of days to a couple of months.  Julián, Carolina, and son Esteban are adapting well and Esteban really likes his new military school in Santiago.  In addition, Joherlit (who formerly handled the details of the job that Carolina now holds) continues to help her with details of the job and with hospital contacts.

A variety of parents have come to stay on the mission site and Esperanza, the infant mentioned again in last month’s prayer & update letter, has been transferred to a hospital in the town where Esperanza’s parents live.  Her infection was treated and doctors are continuing to look at her heart problems.  Thank you for continuing to pray for her and her family!

In the U.S. ….

Many of you have been praying for Jack’s low white blood cell count.  Initially diagnosed early in 2015 as CMML, a rare type of leukemia, a recent bone marrow biopsy now shows that neither leukemia or other form of cancer are the cause of his on-going condition.  Instead, the oncologist believes that an auto-immune problem is responsible.  To investigate further, Jack has an appointment with a doctor specializing in such conditions.  His main symptom is chronic fatigue, but he moves forward and deals with that!  Thanks for your prayers and thank you, Lord, for taking us forward!

Stateside we are concentrating on short-term mission trips of supporting churches and individuals in helping in specific ways with the development of the camp property.  Such trips are definitely both excellent and praiseworthy!!

Praising, praying, fasting, to our ONE, TRUE, EXCELLENT AND PRAISEWORTHY GOD!!

Jack & Janine 

“FROM DEATH TO LIFE – our purpose starts there!!”

 ¹⁶ For God SO LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE THE WORLD through him. ¹⁸ Whoever BELIEVES in him is not condemned, but whoever DOES NOT BELIEVE stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

There can be no other greater purpose for Christians to go throughout the world than to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ contained in John 3:16-18 and to do what he did while on earth.  Except for Jesus’ death and resurrection commemorated and celebrated this month of April, ALL MANKIND would be condemned and eternally separated from God.   How amazing it is that God’s deep love for his creation sacrificed his own son Jesus to bring us back into relationship with himself.  That makes Jesus Christ not just another “religious choice” to consider, but rather the difference between eternal punishment that I pay myself and eternal life—ALL because of God’s love for us.

Thank you again for your prayers for the work of Chile Mission!  Paul said it well in his letter to the church in Ephesus when he asked for their prayers with these words found in Eph.6:19-20, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

A SPECIAL HOLY WEEK AND EASTER TO YOU ALL!!

GOD IS ALWAYS MOVING – thanks for your prayers for all of the following!

In Santiago:

Julián & Carolina and family are adjusting well to living on the Chile Mission site and Carolina is also capable and doing well at adapting to her duties with parents arriving to stay for medical reasons of their children.  Janine regularly talks with her via WhatsApp as needed.  Johe is also working with them in different ways, answering questions and making calls to hospitals and clinics.

At the same time, Paola has finished her work with us at the end of March.  Our main legal steps have been put in motion, along with helping get our necessary monthly accounting in order.  She helped a lot with Caroline’s orientation in March.  Thank you Lord for working in team, plus all of you who play a big part with your prayers!

Esperanza had her heart surgery to connect her heart blood vessels to her lungs, but after the surgery she contracted an infection.  Her doctors are still consulting on the best next step, and in the meantime she stays in isolation in the intensive care unit of the hospital in a type of coma-induced state.  It’s a hard situation for their family, to be sure, and they very much appreciate any and all prayer support.  They also have a two-year-old daughter, and Mom Gabriella is pregnant again and at risk with another cesarean birth.

In rural Chile at the camp property:

Abraham has been able to start on the bedroom/bathroom/laundry addition to be built on to the side of their house, with the readying of the footings ditches for the cement that will support the new walls.  Abdías, the oldest son of Julián and Carolina in Santiago has come down to help him, which is great.  As we have written in recent months, the extra bedroom/office and bathroom with an exterior entrance will help when workers and others come to help with construction and other projects. They will have their own bathroom!! 🙂  Plus, Abraham will have room with a private office in between visitors to work away from the home activity.

Abraham, Catalina and Abril have applied for their passports in order to come to the U.S. in June and July to visit Christian camps in various States, starting with California.  The passports were supposed to be ready by March 31, but like with many Chilean governmental offices, are still in process.  Thanks for your prayers!  The two main purposes for bringing them to the U.S. is to 1) go to camps that have tackled similar improvements that we have in mind, such as make a lake and build an outdoor amphitheater with a good sound system, etc.  and 2) to take a close look at our approach to both children and youth spiritually.  Our message is evangelistic!

Praising, praying, fasting, and giving thanks to our TRUE “FROM DEATH TO LIFE SAVIOR AND LORD!!

Jack & Janine