As 2017 Draws To A Close…

Dear Partners,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that this last week of 2017 is a time to remember this year’s blessings!  We are so thankful for all that God blessed us with as a family and in ministry over these past twelve months, and we look forward what He will do in 2018!  

(Beautiful southern Chile)

In addition to countless blessings, there have been very hard circumstances for us as a family over this past year, as there probably have been for your family as well... But through it all we see God’s goodness, love & peace shine through:

(Grandma María visiting us in February of this year… She went to be with Jesus in July)

Updates From Past Prayer Requests:

On his missions trip with Gus to Ecuador back in October, Jeremy really grew a lot, personally and socially. He was able to see a totally different reality of life as well as serve in ways he hadn’t before: helping show other kids songs and games, translating Bible stories for a Sunday school class, trying new foods…. (Stay tuned for more implications of Jeremy's spiritual growth later on in this update!) It was such a great bonding experience for father & son, so thank you so much for your prayers for that: 

(Gus & Jeremy in Ecuador)

Thank you for your prayers for the women’s retreat last month! It was an encouraging and motivating all-day event attended by over 30 ladies! They are all looking forward to another retreat in 2018 where they can invite more of their friends and family members!

(30+ women attended the retreat in November)

(Fun & encouraging times of fellowship)

(Great teaching sessions from Tia Mity from the Oriente church in Santiago)

Jeremy & Liz passed their final exams! They had fun taking their tests last month and were thrilled to find out a couple days ago that they did well on those. Thank you for your prayers for this home-school year and these exams specifically!

(Jeremy & Liz at the school before taking their final exams!)

December Happenings:

Over the past week, Karissa & the kids made 400 cookies to give to friends here in Lautaro (and Gus helped make the plates look fancier 😉)! It was a fun way to serve as a family and bring a smile to lots of friends’ faces:

(Christmas cookie plates ready to be delivered!)

This past Sunday, we had a special Christmas Eve & Baptism service at church! There were over twenty visitors present as 10 people were baptized, including Jeremy!! Besides the amazing, inexplicable blessing of seeing our son get baptized, it was also just such a beautiful and full service, with every available seat taken and a dozen people needing to stand in the back for lack of chairs! May God continue to draw people in this city and region to Himself:

(Gus baptizing Jeremy!)

(The 10 people baptized on Christmas Eve!)

Gus has continued going to Melipeuco once a week to equip and guide the leadership of the daughter-church there as they set goals in ministry for this next year. The church there had a special dinner service last Saturday, and dozens of new people came for that, so the leadership is very encouraged! We also started marriage counseling with one of the leader-couples in Melipeuco, so we hope that progresses in healthy ways over the next months!

In January, Please Pray For:

- Continued growth (in numbers & maturity) for the church here in Lautaro, even over these summer months when small groups take a break and weekend attendance tends to diminish as people are out of town on vacation or at other summer activities.

- A refreshing three-month sabbatical for Pastor Miguel and his family (who for the first time in 17 years is now taking a much-needed extended break from most ministry responsibilities) and good unity for the team of church leaders, made up of Gus and three other men. 

- The leadership team in Melipeuco as they plan and set ministry and family goals for this next year and beyond. 

- A four-day, missions-wide conference (called VIVE) which will be held at the church here in Lautaro at the end of January - beginning of February. The emphasis will be on worship, evangelism & missions (both locally & globally), organized by several of our fellow leaders in Santiago. Pray that God would bring those that need this encouragement & spiritual push, and that this conference would be a blessing to all of those in attendance! 

- Good down times as a family over these next couple months of summer, even in the midst of ministry-planning meetings, teaching, worship, and counseling responsibilities. That God would renew our strength and allow us to be a blessing to each other as a couple, to our children, and to the churches and communities we are serving. 

(In Melipeuco a couple of months ago, helping as a family with ministry activities)

You have probably noticed that we frequently call you Partners, and we mean that very seriously. We would not be able to be here in Lautaro, serving in this way, were it not for your faithful partnership. The Great Commission is about individuals growing in their relationship with God, but also in their relationship with those around them. And we do not take lightly this role of church community and of support for Kingdom work around the world! So, thank you for being essential partners of the ministry in Lautaro!

Wishing you God’s love, hope, wisdom & peace for 2018,

Gustavo & Karissa

Jeremy, Elizabeth, Cristina & Diego