Ministry opportunities have come to us these years in Chile through these years in Chile–some planned and hoped for, and some unannounced. One such unannounced opportunity to extend the Lord came in the form of the Feb. 27, 2010 severe earthquake off Chile’s coast, roughly 5 hours south of Santiago just north of Concepción. We, along with much of the country, immediately responded to help rebuild and address peoples’ needs and it ended up to be a short-term once per month trip to Penco, a small town on the coast. Our goal, in addition to helping people nearby with our ministry funds, was to build relationships and especially work with Penco’s children. We were given permission to stay at and use the local school, arriving with teams to do weekend outreaches to them. Our presence was both appreciated and felt, and although no new churches were planted, Jesus was there in many ways. We ended up visiting Penco once per month for 2 1/2 years.
A new Children’s Camp & Retreat Center in middle Chile (roughly six hours south of Santiago) is in its initial stages of becoming a reality. The Christian camp & retreat center property, purchased on October 4, 2019 is 37 hectares (90 acres) in size. The land holds MUCH PROMISE AND POTENTIAL INSIDE OF THE BROAD VISION THAT THE CAMP TEAM HAS FOR IT! That vision and focus will be on ministering to children, youth, & adults, in hosting camps and retreats of various kinds, including marriage encounters, church retreats, and special presentations and seminars. The camp will also serve as a Christian Center of outreach to people of the surrounding area such as periodic medical clinics and programs and presentations of various kinds. At present there are few other such outreach-based Christian camps located in Chile that we know of. The camp team is currently comprised of Domingo & Sandra Aguayo and us.
We have already been blessed in TWO HUGE WAYS:
- In Feb. 2020 a group of 14 engineers, architects, and a surveyor–professionals from the United States and others serving in Nicaragua came to Chile to study all physical aspects of the land (including water supply and waste management), to assess next steps & stages of development, and design the construction of all structures. This international ministry is known as EMI (Engineering Ministries International). Their website is http://emiworld.org
Taken from their website,
EMI is a non-profit Christian development organization made up of architects, engineers, surveyors, and construction managers. We use our skills to serve people worldwide through the design of hospitals, schools, water systems, and many other facilities. Together, we are designing a world of hope.
Photos taken during their one-week visit spent with us at our new camp property:
We have received EMI’s final report, complete with detailed site plans and designs and recommendations, along with a superb re-capping video of our land and project. To see it click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Pl-s0kw1g&t=28s
Here also is a link to EMI’s final suggestion as to site layout and building designs: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gl7492b6b7SC9hCCC2utW4SniR8f9OnY/view?usp=sharing
EMI’s rough projected costs of construction, using Chilean peso and cost estimates then converted into US dollars for the above-shown buildings & structures is as follows:
According to data found online, the average cost per sq. meter at full build out, modestly finished and equipped in Chile is 12 UF (unidades fomento). 1 UF= $27,700 CLP or approx. $40 USD. With that analysis then each sq. meter (m2) = $480 USD.
Therefore: (taking out electric and plumbing)
- Chapel: even though this building does not need much investment in equipment and or installations, it requires detailed construction experience. We estimate a cost of $300 USD per m2.
o 117m2 x $330 = $38,610 USD
- Dining Room: This building is the largest and requires the most investment. We estimate a cost of $400 USD per m2.
o 175m2 x $400 = $70,000 USD
- Garage/ workshop: We estimate a cost of $300 USD per m2.
o 132m2 x $300 = $39,600 USD
- Individual cabins: We estimate a cost of $300 USD per m2.
o 32m2 x $300 = $9,600 USD
- Guest house: We estimate a cost of $400 USD per m2
o 128m2 x $400 = $51,200 USD
- Amphitheater: Depending on the level of detail you want for this area we estimate a range of $150 – $300 USD per m2.
o 134m2 x $150 -$300 = $20,100 – $40,200 USD
As we look toward 2021, we thank God for his faithfulness and plan to reach MANY IN CHILE OF ALL AGES TO & THROUGH OUR CREATOR CHRIST JESUS (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-16) at the camp & retreat center in middle Chile. If the Holy Spirit is working on your heart to help by giving funds toward this special project, or by coming to Chile in 2021 to help use your energy and physical gifts & experience, we very much welcome your help!! You can contact us through our E-mail chilemission1@gmail.com or support us financially by mailing a check to Chile Mission, P.O. Box 11731, Merrillville, IN 46411. God is truly amazing in how he moves and how he blesses!! Also be sure to E-mail us if you (church or individual) would like us to visit you!
2. God brought us together with Abraham & Catalina Salazar. 
Abraham was a classmate of our son Jayme in Chile. He’s humble, a Pastor, and has studied construction. They as a family have been living and working in southern Chile churches and are now available to work with us. Their 1st child, Abril (April, in English :), was born on June 25, 2019. Several trips to the land in April and in May to ready the small house already there for their arrival, and on May 12, 2020, they drove from Santiago to the land to begin living in the house and work on final improvements to it, as other final systems (water supply and internet availability) are put in place!
In this first stage, Abraham & Catalina will mainly be involved in the following:
- Improve and maintain essential systems such as water supply and sewage.
- Working to renovate buildings and storage structures located near the house.
- Supervise and coordinate the moving of electric lines.
- Build a new guest house to receive workers and others coming to the land to help in different ways.
- Building and furthering relationships with churches and neighbors.
- Begin the cultivation of crops and initiate the bringing in of animals.
We, for our part, are forming with Domingo & Sandra the Chilean Foundation & board that will take the project forward in the coming years. . The foundation’s name will be “LUZ EN EL CAMPO” (Light in the Countryside).
Our summer camps: Our children’s camp team, led by Viky & Renata Aguayo (Domingo’s & Sandra’s two daughters) in Feb. 2019 & 2020, with the help of university students and other adults, have been hosting Christian summer camps for children in middle Chile. WE BEGAN DOING SUMMER CAMPS IN FEBRUARY, 2016, IN THE SAN IGNACIO AREA OF ÑIPAS, CHILE. Ñipas is located roughly 5 hours south of Santiago between Chillán, Chile on the east and Concepción, Chile on the west coast. Concepción, on the coast, is Chile’s second largest city.
All activites were designed for children of 6 to 10 years of age, and roughly 26 children participated. Our 14-member team outdid themselves, and all children received an illustrated New Testament. Here are some photos of the fun and time together over these years:
2020’s SUMMER CAMP TIME WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS:
We used a variety of verses to know our One, True, God better in and through his three persons: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Our camp time began with a weekend retreat for teens on a property adjoining the local river, February 1st and 2nd. Eight teens participated, the majority of them from non-Christian families. We used tents for sleeping, and divided the time into a variety of activities and teachings. The nearby river was somewhat cold, but very refreshing. Here below are three photos:
The retreat was followed by a three-day camp/Bible school carried out in the same school in Ñipas that we have been blessed to use the four previous summers. The children were divided into two age groups: 6 to 9 year-olds who participated in the morning and 10 to 14 year-olds who participated in the afternoons. Attendance was good, with 18 children in the morning and 8 in the afternoon. This brought this year’s total of participating children and teens to 34. What a wonderful opportunity to plant God’s seeds and re-enforce Jesus.
THANK YOUR FOR SUPPORTING OUR SUMMER CAMPS WITH PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT!! EVERY CHILD AND TEACHING ARE SO WORTH IT!!! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW CAMP/RETREAT CENTER AS WELL!!!
The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33: 10-11
Misión Chile 