Where in the World have the Flincks been?

On Tuesday, Jan. 20th, our family traveled by bus 8 hours south to attend the annual Gospel Mission of South America missionary conference at the Lican Ray camp (see picture on right for the location of the camp in relation to the whole country). We had limited internet access during our week at camp, due to a very busy conference schedule full of meetings (business and preaching).

Some highlights from the week were:

-Fellowship with all the GMSA missionaries from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.

-Communicating with the Chile field council concerning our first term location of ministry involvement.

-Our hearts were spiritually blessed and challenged by the Word of God during the times of preaching and worship. Guest speakers were: Pastor Bill Park (PA), Pastor Bill Hixson (OH), Pastor Larry Clouse (NH)

Above: Lican Ray, Chile - the small town on the lake's region where the camp property is located. The camp is just out of the town on the left and on the lake.

We will be posting a series of entries about the conference over this next week. The hard part will be selecting which pictures to post from the 700 pictures I took during the week at conference.

Thank you for your prayers. God has answered several prayers during the conference and we can't wait to tell you about them.

Arrival in Chile: Picture Edition

We arrived in the Buenos Aires, Argentina airport around 3:30 AM (our body's time) 6:30 AM (Argentine time). Only the kids slept for any length on our long flight.

Jordan didn't feel well upon our arrival in Argentina. He was white as a ghost and not himself. He spent the layover laying down on the seats.

The flight from Argentina to Chile wasn't very long, but the views were impressive. The Andes Mountains form the border of Arg/Chile. We arrived in Santiago around 10 am on Tuesday, Jan. 13th.

Praise the Lord, we had no difficulty going through immigration and customs. Thank you for your prayers.

Kristi's mom (Carol) had arrived in Chile the day before we did, so we were greeted by her and Diana Kunnari at the airport. It was a great blessing to be greeted by family on the mission field. We rented a van to take all of us and luggage to the Santiago mission apartment.

Diana K. (our GMSA co-worker) welcomed us at the apartment with a watermelon, some Chilean candy bars, and some notes of encouragement.

We are thankful to our God for His protection and provision. Our first week was spent unpacking and settling into our temporary apartment in Santiago. In our next post, we will share some thoughts and pictures from our first week in Chile.

Departure for Chile

On Monday night, Jan. 12th, Jane & Raul V. (GMSA office staff) and my parents drove us to the Miami International Airport. It was a bitter sweet moment for everyone...although Kristi and I were so tired that the full brunt of emotions didn't really register. After unloading our suitcases, we all checked in at the ticket counter and then said our final goodbyes. I am thankful for parents who have given us over to the Lord and have faithfully prayed that we would follow God's leading and path with our lives.

Our flight left Miami around 7 pm, bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina (arriving 3:30 am). The kids did well on the flight, despite the incredible turbulence over Brazil. There was an awesome lightning storm outside that kept Kristi and I entertained for about an hour.

Jodie Kunnari, Kaylee, and Kristi sat in the middle row of four seats. The flight was not full so we had extra seats to stretch out.

Kaylee colored for part of the trip and slept the rest of the time.

Ben, Jordan, and I sat in the row in front of the girls. We watched Wall-E on the portable DVD player, I read for a while, and both boys fell asleep.

Thank you for your prayers for our flight and safety. Come back again to read about our arrival in Chile.

Our time in Florida

Our week in Fort Lauderdale, FL before our departure for Chile was special in many ways. It definitely was a more relaxing week since our container packing and loading was completed. David's parents were able to fly down with us, so it was extra time to spend with them.

Kristi's parents work in the home office of our mission board (Gospel Mission of South America). We spent several days around the office learning more about what the mission office does for our family and for our supporting churches and individuals.


Kristi's mom, Carol, is the main receptionist in the office.


Since both sets of parents were there in Florida, we were able to have some special family time. After we move to Chile, we will not have many more opportunities to spend time together with family.


I (David) took my parents on an airboat ride in the Everglades. It was a wonderful trip and we learned a lot about the Everglades.

Jordan and Ben came along with us and really enjoyed seeing several "real live" alligators.

On departure day, we were able to take some last family pictures with my parents. They rode with us to the Miami airport and helped us check in before saying their final goodbyes. Speaking of final goodbyes and our flight to Chile, come back again for that post.

Arrival in Chile

Just a quick note to say that we made it to Chile after a long night of travel. We are unpacking here at the Santiago GMSA office apartment. We will be posting pictures in the very near future after we get settled into our apartment.

Thank you to all who prayed for our trip and for our safe arrival. We love you all and miss you.

Speed Thy Servants

Many have asked about the song I choose to be sung by Steve and Michelle Douglas during our recent commissioning service. I first heard the song while at a supporting church of ours (First BC in Marshall, MN). The words were deep and each verse continued in a logical storyline of a missionary's career. When asked by my church for music suggestions for the service, I promptly answered with Thomas Kelly's Speed Thy Servants.

May the words be a blessing to you and others as they have been to our family and ministry.

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Speed Thy Servants
by Thomas Kelly

Speed Thy servants, Savior, speed them;
Thou art Lord of winds and waves;
They were bound, but Thou hast freed them;
Now they go to free the slaves:
Be Thou with them, ’tis Thine arm alone that saves.
Be Thou with them, ’tis Thine arm alone that saves.

Friends, and home, and all forsaking,
Lord they go at Thy command,
As their stay Thy promise taking,
While they traverse sea and land:
O be with them; lead them safely by the hand.
O be with them; lead them safely by the hand.

When they reach the land of strangers,
And the prospect dark appears,
Nothing seen but toils and dangers,
Nothing felt but doubts and fears,
Be Thou with them, hear their sighs and count their tears.
Be Thou with them, hear their sighs and count their tears.

When no fruit appears to cheer them,
And they seem to toil in vain,
Then in mercy, Lord, draw near them,
Then their sinking hopes sustain:
Thus supported, let their zeal revive again.
Thus supported, let their zeal revive again.

In the midst of opposition
Let them trust, O Lord, in Thee;
When success attends their mission,
Let Thy servants humbler be:
Never leave them till Thy face in Heav’n they see.
Never leave them till Thy face in Heav’n they see.

There to reap in joy forever,
Fruit that grows from seed here sown;
There to be with Him, Who never
Ceases to preserve His own;
And with gladness give the praise to Him alone.
And with gladness give the praise to Him alone.

Commissioning Service

On Saturday, Jan. 3rd, Berean Baptist Church held a commissioning service for our family. We are truly blessed and encouraged by the many who were in attendance despite the stormy weather.

My Bible college professor, Neal Cushman, was the speaker who challenged us specifically to continue to serve God on the mission field. He is one of the few men who has profoundly impacted my life during my college years. Thank you, Mr. Cushman for making the effort to come and speak.

Dr. Cary Flinck, our home church pastor, gave the commissioning challenge from the church.

Rev. Terry Thompson (the General Director of GMSA, and also Kristi's father) gave a challenge to the church on how they can continue to support and encourage our family while on the field.

Several supporting pastors were in attendance and participated in the commissioning prayer and blessing at the end of the service. We were thankful for their effort to be there as well.

After the service, there was a greeting line where everyone said their goodbyes and encouraging words. It was a bittersweet time. We will miss our family, friends, and church family.

Continue to pray for our family as we embark on the next phase of ministry during our first term on the mission field.

Come back to find out about our trip to sunny Florida!