Mid April Family & Ministry Update

Family:

Kristi - She will have her first appointment with the new Dr. here in Temuco next Thursday. She and the baby have been doing well (other than the normal tiredness that a pregnancy brings). Last week, Kristi added homeschooling the boys to her morning routine. She is still unpacking things here and there and finding their final places around the house.

David - Is enjoying setting up his new office at home. Most days he is assembling some new piece of furniture around the house (like a bookshelf, a school desk for Ben, and an end table...just to name a few). He will be starting tutor sessions with Rodrigo (see picture below) next week (hopefully three times a week, two hours each session). One of the ideas that we are discussing for Rodrigo's compensation for tutoring me, is partially supporting him to take one Bible Institute class this next semester.

Jordan - He has started homeschool this past week and spends his morning learning new things. During the rest of the day, he is drawing up plans for a fort in the backyard (that supposedly his dad said would be ok to build). He also spends his time listening to "Adventures in Odyssey" while playing Legos in the playroom.

Above: The proposed fort location. Notice the gathered wood under the water bottle to build the fort.

Ben - He is in a growth spurt right now. He also started school last week. He, out of all of the children, enjoys trying new Spanish words out throughout the day. Ben is also in partnership in this conspiracy to build a fort in the backyard.

Kaylee - Loves her new "princess" room, but is still "too scared" to actually sleep there at nights. She is supposedly waiting for the "Princess nightlight" to be purchased at the local hardware store (that has been on back order for what seems like FOREVER). She seems to have caused quite a stir at church, cause she comes home each time with loads of ladies lipstick on her cheeks.


Ministry:

21 de Mayo - We faithfully attend Sunday morning and evening services, Wed night Bible Study, and Friday night prayer meeting. We continue to get to know the people, their names, and their family dynamics. The children have been enjoying going to the same SS class each Sunday. David has opportunities to converse with the members before and after each service. Kristi is attending the weekly ladies Bible study on Saturdays and David plans to start attending the young people's Bible study and activity on Saturday nights.

Please pray for our family to be an encouragement to the church and its members during this time of orientation.

San Ramón - Starting in a week or so, our whole family will go out to San Ramón after the Sunday AM service to attend the afternoon service. The plan is for David to go out to San Ramon (possibly with Ben and Jordan) about three out of four Sundays to help, observe, and eventually have opportunities to lead the songs, teach a Bible verse or a Bible story. With Kristi being pregnant and the winter months approaching, Kristi and Kaylee will most likely go out to San Ramón once a month.

Continue to pray for fathers in the San Ramón area to be reached in this crucial beginning time of the church plant.

Bible Institute - David plans to help out at the Bible Institue several mornings a week in the areas of technology, data entry, and helping in the library. There is a need for more institute professors, and David has been forewarned of the possibility of teaching next year.

Pray that David will be able to learn much from this exposure to the Bible Institute ministry. Also that he will be a blessing and encouragement to the BI students as he gets to know them throughout this year.

Camp Ministry - In the next few months, our family desires to travel south several times to help out Dan & Liz Thompson at the Lican Ray Camp property. These trips will double as times of work around the camp and also for times of prayer and fellowship with our co-workers. The icing on the cake is that Dan and Liz are also family (Dan is Kristi's younger brother).

Pray that our family will be able to be of practical help around the camp. There is so much to do on the property and so little man-power.


Vehicle Release:

Last week our paperwork for the full release of our vehicle was denied for the third time. This, obviously, was discouraging news. The course of action will be for our field director to write a letter of appeal to the department head that lays out the blatant discrimination against our "non-Catholic" mission.

Please continue to pray for wisdom and patience in this waiting game of red tape. We are confident that God is able to change the hearts and minds of these government officials to speed our vehicle through the appropriate channels in a timely fashion.

Support Update:

Currently, our family has been faithfully supported at the 89% level. We are thrilled to have engaged supporters who give, pray, and communicate with us via email, Skype, and Facebook. Please pray with us for God to bring in the remaining support.

Contact Info Update:

If you would like to have our new home address and phone numbers (land line and cell), please contact us via email and we will gladly send you that information.