September 2014 Prayer Letter

¡¡CHICHICHI  LELELE VIVA CHILE!!

On September 18, 1810, Chile officially declared its independence from Spain.  The celebration now lasts almost a week and includes folk dances and special events in schools and towns across the country and two official days off—Sept. 18^th and 19^th.  Today Chile is a leading, economically-developing South American country with many opportunities and trade partnerships in hand.  In secular terms, Chile is “in”.  Inflation rates have not been out-of-control since we arrived at the end of 1993.

At the same time, it is a country grappling with significant, on-going social issues and problems that include civil unrest, demonstrations, and physical, mental and emotional abuse.  Education continues at center stage in the political arena battlefield, and the difference between the typical family’s standard of living and that of the educated continues to be vast.  Jesus is “God and Lord” for few, most Chileans finding human solace in Jesus’ earthly mother Mary, whose statues are everywhere.  We are here to lift up the name of Jesus and make him known every way we can.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –MATT. 28: 18-20

Speaking of Jesus, Colossians 1: 19-20 says,

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ 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.

We, as missionaries, are part of active, on-going Christian ministries in Chile that God has built up over time, many of which, along with new ones, will long outlive us.  We are especially grateful for your continuing support of us through prayer and fasting–we have been sent to Chile to make a difference in real lives, from children on up.  Pray for this country.

Thanks, too, for continuing to pray for our specific petitions:

• Millarai continues with chemo treatments. She has four cycles of three treatments each to go, with each cycle spread over a month.  At the same time, she must begin to walk with crutches (from where the tumor was removed just below her left knee).  She and her family would love for her to be back home in northern Chile for Christmas.
• We have a significant praise and request with regards to our children’s residence. First the praise: The renewed legal process to become a Foundation is moving along well, with the expectation of having all documents finalized and submitted this month.  The process itself that follows should take three months or less.  We thus hope to be functional, with a new director and house parents in place within the first months of 2015.  With the extended time frame from what was originally hoped for, Jorge and Marilyn, the Peruvian couple currently with us, will be moving.  Please continue praying and giving thanks with us that all comes to fruition and that God is glorified.
• The church has begun meeting on Sundays in homes of members. It’s been a good start. Pray that more friends are invited.
• We are sponsoring a couple for this weekend’s Marriage Encounter (Sept. 5-7) offered by the Christian Church we originally worked with here in1974 through mid-1976. The couple, Juan & Lina, have grown children and are in the process of reconciling their marriage. They are Christian friends who have been serving the Lord in southern Chile.
• Meetings are scheduled this month near Concepción to move us all closer to seeing a Christian camp for children take shape in that area of the country.
• God seems to be saying that we need to wait to find a house to live in away from our mission property until returning from this fall’s time in the S. (mid Oct.-Dec.) We’ll keep you posted.

Praising, praying, and fasting in a CHILE Jesus,

Jack & Janine