Dear Partners,
We hope you and your families are all doing well. We know there has been a lot of division in the U.S. pre- and post-election, and so we pray that God would use each of you to be instruments of His peace, sharing the grace, love and truth of Jesus in this time!
We hope you and your families are all doing well. We know there has been a lot of division in the U.S. pre- and post-election, and so we pray that God would use each of you to be instruments of His peace, sharing the grace, love and truth of Jesus in this time!
There has been a lot going on lately in Lautaro, so here is a recap of some of that:
Gus spent most of these past couple of weeks working with a short-term team from Canyon Hills Community Church in the Seattle, WA area! They were good, hard workers with great attitudes! With their help, construction on the school building continued, installment of a rain-water harvesting system in a Mapuche community in the countryside was completed, and a greenhouse was built for a home for girls from social-risk situations. Gus was also able to go to Melipeuco with the team to see the land the church there is in the process of purchasing, which was encouraging to all! As a family we were able to host a couple of the guys in our home, and that was a blessing!
Gus spent most of these past couple of weeks working with a short-term team from Canyon Hills Community Church in the Seattle, WA area! They were good, hard workers with great attitudes! With their help, construction on the school building continued, installment of a rain-water harvesting system in a Mapuche community in the countryside was completed, and a greenhouse was built for a home for girls from social-risk situations. Gus was also able to go to Melipeuco with the team to see the land the church there is in the process of purchasing, which was encouraging to all! As a family we were able to host a couple of the guys in our home, and that was a blessing!
(Team from Canyon Hills in front of school building being constructed)
One of the women on the team is originally from Pakistan and
enjoys cooking, so she had offered to do a special meal for the women of the
church! So one of the local women’s ministry leader's and I (Karissa) organized that meal last Friday, which over 20 women attended! The food was
wonderful and we were able to hear the testimonies of all three women on the
short-term team, which were all encouraging to the local women and led to good
group conversation:
(Pakistani dinner!)
The women’s Bible study I've been teaching just wrapped up this first 6-week cycle! Participation throughout the study has been great,
with about twenty women attending regularly and another five or so that can’t attend
requesting the audio recordings weekly to study at home! They are all asking when we are starting up the next series. (smile) My prayer is that these women are all encouraged and challenged not just to come and participate, but more than that to become more involved in serving and blessing others around them in practical ways with what they are learning!
This past Sunday one of the ladies in our church family here, Tia Paty, lost her husband to a sudden heart attack. It was unexpected and has made for a very somber past few days here. So many people attended the open casket viewing and services, as she and her husband are both well known and loved by many in our small city. It was encouraging to see basically the whole church at her house for the main service. A couple ladies and I had gone back and forth about whether to postpone the final women's Bible study meeting out of respect for Tia Paty, but decided there was no other day it could really work in the near future, so went ahead and had it on Tuesday thinking it might be a much smaller group. But there were 18 of us there and it was a really good study & sharing time! And, Tia Paty was the first person to message me later asking for the audio so she could listen to the study. I hope that is an encouragement for her in this hard time....
As an update on our finances, we have really been blown away as a couple by those of you who have given one-time gifts and offered support in this season of financial struggles. We are humbled by God’s goodness and provision through your generosity, and are just so thankful for all of the help! We have been able to pay off some of that accumulated debt this month, and that is a huge blessing! There is still a remaining debt amount, but it is such a relief to be able to take steps toward that and visualize the light at the end of the tunnel! Continued help and contributions in this area are still very much appreciated! A big THANK YOU to all who have given and those who support us regularly on a monthly basis!!
This past Sunday one of the ladies in our church family here, Tia Paty, lost her husband to a sudden heart attack. It was unexpected and has made for a very somber past few days here. So many people attended the open casket viewing and services, as she and her husband are both well known and loved by many in our small city. It was encouraging to see basically the whole church at her house for the main service. A couple ladies and I had gone back and forth about whether to postpone the final women's Bible study meeting out of respect for Tia Paty, but decided there was no other day it could really work in the near future, so went ahead and had it on Tuesday thinking it might be a much smaller group. But there were 18 of us there and it was a really good study & sharing time! And, Tia Paty was the first person to message me later asking for the audio so she could listen to the study. I hope that is an encouragement for her in this hard time....
As an update on our finances, we have really been blown away as a couple by those of you who have given one-time gifts and offered support in this season of financial struggles. We are humbled by God’s goodness and provision through your generosity, and are just so thankful for all of the help! We have been able to pay off some of that accumulated debt this month, and that is a huge blessing! There is still a remaining debt amount, but it is such a relief to be able to take steps toward that and visualize the light at the end of the tunnel! Continued help and contributions in this area are still very much appreciated! A big THANK YOU to all who have given and those who support us regularly on a monthly basis!!
This Month, Please Pray For:
·
A
conference for leaders in our mission organization that Gus will be attending
outside of Santiago on November 14th-17th, as well as for the kids and I as
we’re home without him during those days.
·
Gus’
Grandma María, who is living with one of his aunts and now needs a wheelchair
to get around, but it still in good spirits. She has gotten a couple of colds
in this changing springtime weather, but has been able to bounce back from
them. Gus plans to visit with her when he goes to the conference.
·
Jeremy’s
final exams to validate completion of this home-school year, taking place
November 21st and 22nd.
He is really nervous about them, so prayers for him to be calm and just enjoy
this experience.
·
Gus’
last few weeks of music classes before completing his certification the first
week of December.
·
The
financial provision to pay off our remaining debt amounts.
·
Our
health as a family in the changing weather, as Diego currently has a cold.
·
Continued
deepening of relationships with local friends, inside and outside of the
church.
-
-Thank you for your continued prayers for our family and for the ministry
here in the south of Chile! We appreciate your faithful support and pray that He would continue to bless you as you
bless others.
Because He Is On The Throne,
Gus, Karissa, Jeremy, Elizabeth,
Cristina & Diego
