January and February Mean More Than Fun In The Sun

Photos: (a) Katie, Gonzalo and Jack meeting Jayme at airport at 3am, (b) Joshua at 4 months old.

Some of you are saying, “WHAT fun in the sun - do you mean fun shoveling SNOW??!!” We’ve had an extra hot summer this year, which is now coming to an end, with the advent of fall and school classes. Our Jayme was able to spend his Chilean summer in Los Angeles with his brothers and sister and sister-in law and new nephew (now 7 ½ months old), whom he had not seen yet. What a blessing! But now he’s back and school has just started, so it’s back to reality.

In the meantime, we in the mission team used our summer making progress in several important areas. Both our DCCC Chile Mission “Gringo” team and the full Chile Team have been meeting once each week to lay a foundation for all future ministries. Each of the two teams began by forming their respective Vision Statements. What specifically are the purposes for existence that will carry us forward in winning and discipling the lost?

For missionaries like us, this vision is distinct, because we are here at the Lord’s bidding in a country and culture that are not our own. While we will always be “outsiders” in that sense, it doesn’t lessen the value and impact of God’s purposes through our presence in Chile. In many ways, the word “transformational” best describes ministry here, as people are not closed to God, but their traditional church approach excludes the need for a live Savior and Lord.

For us, a few things are key:

• the growth of alive, biblically-based churches,
• churches of relationship that meet the needs of people around them, leading those same people into real relationship with God through Jesus.
• connecting with children, as they are not only open to being taught, but also represent an open door to their families.

The vision of our DCCC Chile Mission Team is as follows:

To work alongside Chilean Christians in evangelizing and forming churches that give hope to children, families and others in need.

To start such a church and ministry with real Chilean roots would be the best possible outcome of our time here and a real life example of God’s own promise found in Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (see Ephesians 3:14-21). Wherever you find yourself, this prayer is for you too!

The full Chile Team, including all of us, has formed its Vision Statement as well. Translated into English, it reads:

To reach and transform hearts toward Jesus, bringing hope to where there is none.

Church Photos: (a) Bible School with Janine teaching, (b) Sunday morning church service praise time.

Church Photos: (a) Katie, Yarlen, Ellie, Ghisleine and Claudia, (b) James in English Club.

The new church is very committed to turning these visions into reality, which is evidenced by the ministries already in place. Each of our ministries are now in the process of outlining specific activities, events and goals, which we are will be incorporating into our Web Site when they are approved by the team. The year 2005 will see much more emphasis on evangelism, in addition to continuing to accent and offer pre-evangelistic opportunities to people around us. Various sections of the Web Site are in the process of being completed and approved by the Team.

During the summer, with the exception of the weekend of the Young Adults Retreat, we have been meeting on Sunday mornings as a nucleus worship team, with some others attending. Our time together is divided between a Sunday School time and the church service. We soon hope to divide the Sunday School time into three groups: general topic for youth and adults, basic instruction for new believers and others interested (beginning with a six-week class on the Bible) and a group for children. Jack and Humberto take turns bringing the message in the service and special things are being planned for March 25 and 27, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Our goal these past two months was to settle on style and format and to also get used to working as a unit, which we did. Average attendance has been about twenty people and we now feel ready to invite others. We have a hunger and desire to carry out our vision and to grow.

OTHER JANUARY HAPPENINGS

Photos: (a) New Year's Eve Party on the plane, (b) Katie and James in the Office.

James Coons arrived on January 1, after being on a plane with live music (one trumpet player, a guitarist, a singing pilot and a “choir” of passengers) on the Columbia to Santiago leg of his trip from Miami. His addition to the team has been most welcome and he has wasted no time in designing the format for our new web page and helping us develop material to put on it. He is helping with various administrative tasks, as well, such as budgets, inventories, etc. The Web Site should soon be ready to access and includes sections for Ministry Descriptions, Ministry Opportunities, News Notes, Team Member Profiles, Contact Information, a Photo Gallery and others. James has made a commitment to be here through the end of the year and is seeking churches to help support him with both prayers and finances. He would like to continue in missions on a full-time basis. His initial adjustment to the team and to the culture has been excellent and his natural ability in Spanish is unusually good.

SPECIAL FEBRUARY EVENTS

Retreat Photo: (Front Row) Jack, Humberto, Richard, Carlos ("Chucky"), Gonzalo, Nelson, (Back Row) Carmen, Janine, Claudia, "Snowball", Ghisleine, James, Paula, Quelli, Natalie, Katie

Retreat Photos: (a) Sunday Morning Study at the beach, (b) Humberto sharing a devotion at the beach.

The older youth/young adults group went on a two-day retreat to the coast to kick off the new year. A total of 18 people participated (3 not shown). It was a rewarding time of relationship and learning.

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VBS Photos: (a) The story of Daniel, (b) Luis and Carlos as Jacob and Joseph

We also organized a successful one-week Vacation Bible School, entitled, “Do the Right Thing”. It was great fun, with stories about Bible characters acted out by our construction workers, games, songs and refreshments. Average daily attendance ran between fifteen and twenty children, in spite of some neighborhood children out-of-town on vacation with their families.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Continued construction progress on the first duplex has been excellent and measurable. We are using the living room/dining room of house four as our office space, while the men work primarily at completing the other house making up the duplex. It is in that house that Humberto and his family will take up residence, allowing them to move out of the small single-bedroom adobe house on the front of our property that they have called home for the last three and one half years. Our expectation is to first have their new quarters ready for occupancy by this June and then finish the other house, now containing the office, by September. We are leaning toward using the adobe house as a workshop when Humberto moves out, as least until our first duplex is completed. We are very happy to have made the progress we have to this point and have appreciated the visits of two U.S. supporting churches during 2004 to help. We now have five full-time workers helping with construction. Construction costs average $3,200 per month.

Photos of Duplex One: (a) Front View, (b) Rear View, (c) Side View, (d) Carlos and Luis On The Roof, (e) Humberto With His Plans.

Photos of Downstairs Salón: (a) Front View, (b) Kitchen Area, (c) Meeting Area, (d) Dining Area

Photos of Upstairs Salón: (a) Entry and Living Area, (b) James "At Home", (c) Future Kitchen Area, (d) Bedroom Corner.

TEAM CHANGE AND FAREWELL

Photos: (a) Paul in 2005, (b) Paul at work in 2004.

This is to advise everyone that Paul Overmyer is separating from the team and the ongoing work at the ministry. He spent three full years helping with construction, procurement of materials & supplies and brought his rough carpentry expertise to the work. Since October, he has not helped with the physical labor and feels that now is the time to seek other avenues to serve. Thus, please note that this is the last month that his name and contact information will appear in our News Notes or on the Web Site. We wish Paul well and very much appreciate his past contribution of time, labor and partnership. It is not common to find retired (or not-retired) people willing to put God first to the extent of moving to another country and language to start anew, trusting in the Lord in all things. Paul’s wife, Bonnie, died in October 2001 of cancer and it was her hope that he would come to Chile to represent them both. May God continue to guide and bless you, Paul, in all things!

2005 Internships

Photos: (a) 2004 Interns have arrived, (b) Interns at a church in southern Chile.

The focus of our last month’s News Note was this summer’s internships for college-age Christian young people, to take place in June and July. This will be the seventh such experience offered by our team and as always, we are looking forward to it. So far, we have received one application response and we again encourage any one interested to complete and return the requested information for processing.

The internships, for us, represent a real opportunity for young people in formation in a unique, hands-on way. It’s a very reasonably priced experience that will serve the participant well in several, perhaps unexpected, ways in the future, no matter what avenue of serving and following the Lord that person should choose.

We love and appreciate you all, in a serving and following Jesus.

Jack and Janine and the Chile Mission Team

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