Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving
from the Flinck family.

Technical Difficulties....

Please forgive our lack of posting on the blog in the last few weeks. We have been experiencing some serious technical failures with both of our laptops. We have purchased a new laptop and we hope to have it up an running during the first week in Dec. We have much to catch you up on with the ministry here in Temuco, so come back again soon to read those posts.

In the meantime, please keep the following in prayer:

*The end of the BI school year. There are several BI events during the next three weeks that David (and the family) will be participating. Pray that the students will finish their semester strong.

*We have some important field meetings in the next two months. Please pray for wisdom, clear direction, and sensitivity to God's will in our lives and ministries.

*Pray for our family as we are pursuing moving to a new ministry location in the early part of 2011. We will post more details about this in the coming weeks. We are excited, but we need your prayers, since the process of moving always has it's challenges and setbacks.

Oh, so THAT'S what your name is!

When I first met our neighbor, he told me his name was Pancho. I thought to myself, "Pancho? That's a weird name." A few days later, I was talking to Kristi about this "Pancho" and she told me that Pancho is the common nickname for Francisco. Who knew? I sure didn't. Then it hit me. I was going to have to learn a long list of common Chilean nicknames if I was going to continue to work towards fitting into the Chilean culture as a missionary.

What was (or is) your nickname? Most people have one that was either given to you (Red, Hot Shot, Gunner) or based on your first name (Bobby, Jimmy, Ginger, Tina, etc). Growing up, my nickname was "Flincker". What was your nickname?

Chileans LOVE to give people nicknames. Nicknames based on a person’s given name, for the most part, fall into one of three categories: 1.) “Shortened” 2.) “Younger sibling” 3.)and “Imported”

1) Shortened: These nicknames are easy to connect to their full name counterpart, since they’re usually just the first one or two syllables of the name. They may sound confusing at first to foreign ears, since male nicknames can end in “a” and female nicknames in “o”. Examples: Fran, Manu, Pau, Rafa, Seba. In the case of compound names such as Juan José or Carmen Luz, the shortened form will usually be made up of the first syllable of each component name, producing Juanjo and Calú, respectively.

2) Younger sibling: These nicknames sound vaguely like the original, though they never have more than two syllables, and they simplify complex sounds, in much the way a child learning to talk might pronounce her older sibling’s name. For example:

Jorge changed to Coke: the /j/ is replaced by the easier-to-pronounce /k/, and the adjacent /r/ is removed.

Gloria changed to Lola: the /g/ is removed from the first consonant cluster, /r/ is replaced by the easier /l/ and the diphthong /ia/ is reduced to /a/.

3) Imported: These are Anglo-sounding nicknames, like Paty and Naty

Here is a list of common name-based nicknames. As you’ll see, several have both shortened and younger-sibling forms.

Alberto: Beto
Alejandra: Ale, Jani
Alejandro: Ale, Jano
Andrés: Andy
Antonia: Anto
Carolina: Caro, Carola
Carmen Luz: Calú
Claudia: Clau
Daniela: Dani
Eduardo: Lalo
Enrique: Kike/Quique
Felipe: Pipe
Fernanda: Feña
Fernando: Feña
Francisca: Fran, Panchi
Francisco: Fran, Pancho
Gabriel: Gabo
Gabriela: Gaby
Gloria: Lola
Ignacio: Nacho
Isabel: Chabela
Jorge: Coke
José: Pepe
José Miguel: Cote
Josefina: Jose (not José)
Juan Claudio: Juancla
Juan José: Juanjo
Leonardo: Leo
Luis: Lucho
Manuel: Manu, Manolo
Manuela: Manu
María Elena: Mane, Mae
María Eugenia: Kena/Quena
María José: Coté, Jose (not José)
María Luisa: Malú
Mauricio: Mauro, Mauri
Natalia: Naty
Paola: Pao
Patricia: Paty
Patricio: Pato
Paulina: Pau
Rafael: Rafa
Rebeca: Rebe
Roxana: Chana
Sebastián: Seba
Sergio: Checho
Sofía: Chofi
Verónica: Vero

Then, of course, there are always the nicknames that come not from a person’s given name, but rather from a physical characteristic of theirs.

The most common of these are:
Chascón (needs a haircut)
Chico (short)
Chino (Asian-looking)
Flaco (skinny)
Gordo (fat)
Guatón (fat)
Pelado (bald)
Negro (dark).

These are generally pejorative terms, but always used with some kindness (con cariño). The nicknames are often assigned by peers in primary or secondary school and can never be shaken. They stick so fast to their owners that they can often be spotted in mainstream media, followed by a surname, as though they were official.

(the majority of the above information came from THIS helpful article)

Sept 18 - "El Dieciocho"

This year for the 18 of Sept (El Dieciocho"), our family traveled down to the Lican Bible Camp to celebrate Chile's 200th anniversary of their independence.

We had an enjoyable day of relaxation, food, fellowship, and some work around the camp property.

Our family, Dan & Liz's family, and a few Chileans were around the large table that day. To view the rest of the pictures from our time at camp on the 18th, click HERE.

Kid's Edition (Sept '10)

Typical scene after church...Lukas being passed around and hugged by church members

Jordan, Ben, & Kaylee participating in a SS class skit
about King Solomon and the two mothers.

Lukas playing with firewood.

Lukas at camp.

Kaylee at camp.

Benji playing at camp.

Jordan swinging at camp.

Uncle Danny giving "the cousins" a ride.

Ben turned 8 on Sept. 27th.

Church Bathroom Project

This past year (2010), our church has set a goal of funding and completing several projects in and around the church building. This was important, since many things needed to be replaced or installed (i.e. property fence, cement entryway, bathrooms, fire extinguishers).

We are thankful to God that the members have given of their money and their time to see many of these projects completed.

Men's bathroom (halfway finished).

Men's bathroom completed.
New sink, toliet, door, floor and wall tiles.

Women's bathroom before.

Women's bathroom completed.

Next year will bring new challenges and new projects for our little church. We trust in God to provide for future projects.

Maritza's New Bike

Recently, our church did something very special for a faithful member in need. Maritza (below), a long time member of the church, was born with hip dysplasia. Her condition has made her childhood and adulthood very difficult, due to limited mobility. She works out of her home as a seamstress and uses a bicycle to get around town. She rides her bike to church and affectionately calls it her car (mi auto). Her bike is old and falling apart. It was getting to the point where the bike repairman couldn't repair it anymore. During a prayer meeting, she simply requested prayer for God's provision to buy a new bike. She expressed that she didn't know HOW she could possible buy a new bike without God providing extra work or funds. But without a bike, she wouldn't be able to get around town to buy the needed materials for her sewing jobs.

So, our church secretly took up an offering and went out and bought Maritza a brand new red bike! Just to show you how wonderful Maritza is, she even gave some of her own funds for this special offering, without knowing why the offering was being taken.

Pastor Marcelo (L) with Maritza and the two elders of the church (Julio & Fernando)

The church body presented the new bike to Maritza after a church service. She was in total shock and wasn't able to speak at all. She was so overwhelmed with emotion, and everyone in the room was as well. A week or so later, she asked to give a testimony of thanks to God and the church for providing the timely and practical gift of a new bike.

Maritza leaving the church with her brand new bike.

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us to good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Galatians 6:10

Maritza has two sisters (Carmen & Viviana) and they love to sign together. Occasionally, they sing special numbers at church. Listen in as they sing...

How Corrupt is Chile?

Transparency International (The Global Coalition against Corruption) has done us a great favor by producing an interactive map explaining the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index. The less corrupt a country is, the higher the number. More corrupt countries have low numbers. Take a moment to click on the link and compare countries where you know missionary families live and serve.


The corruption question is important to missionaries in Chile and in other countries, because many times there is a direct correlation between government corruption and Gospel persecution. We are very thankful that Chile is the least corrupt country in South America. Daily life in Chile is relatively free from government and corporate corruption...but that is NOT saying that it never happens. Missionaries in Chile still have to deal with a lot of "Red Tape" when it comes to official paperwork (building permits, government documents, etc).

Speaking of "Red Tape", please pray that the building permits for the Lican Bible Camp and the Temuco Bible Institute to be approved in a timely fashion.

BI Apartment Repairs

We are please and thankful to be able to report that Daryl's apartment repairs have been completed. If you remember, they had a fire in their apartment several months ago.

What the hallway looked like immediately after the fire.

...what the hallway looks like today.
Daryl installed "floating floor" in the hallway.
It looks great!

The living room before...

...and the living room now.
New carpet and a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

We praise the Lord that the insurance company paid out a fair sum for the fire damage. This apartment not only houses Daryl & Earylnne, but it provides a place for GMSA missionaries to stay when they are traveling through Temuco.

Kid's Edition (Aug 2010)

The month of August means: Back to School!
Jordan is in 4th grade this year.

Ben is in 3rd grade.

Kaylee is in kindergarten, while Lukas is a curious observer.

The kids with their new friend, Nadia.
They recently met her while playing at the nearby park.
She comes over sometimes to play.

Watch out world!!!
Lukas is more mobile than ever.

Kaylee with cousin, Morgan.

Jordan working at the Bible Camp.

Goofin' off with the cousins at camp.

Lukas turned one years old on Aug 1st.

Kristi and Lukas at church

The Flinck family pew at church.

Listening to "Adventures in Odyssey" in daddy's office.
It's a weekly tradition.

Family & Youth Group Work Day

A couple of months ago we made two separate trips down to the Lican Bible Camp to work on the ever growing list of projects.

One major project that our family was able to help with was tearing down the old workshop to make room for the completion of the new workshop & woodshed.


David was able to cut down this dead tree and cut it up for firewood.

On another trip, David was able to take several from the church's youth group for a full day of work. We plan to go and work again soon.

Click HERE or HERE for more pictures and commentary on what work was done during these two work days.

Please pray for the Bible Camp ministry as it is gearing up for the summer camping season, starting in Jan.

Bible Correspondence Course Ministry

For quite a while now, we have wanted to share what God has been doing through the Bible correspondence course ministry here at the Temuco Bible Institute. This ministry provides Bible book courses and Bible doctrine courses for free to those who commit to reading them and filling out the questions. These courses have been able to go places we could have never imagined...more about that later.

Located at the downtown Bible Institute building, the Bible Correspondence Course office is open several days a week for people to stop by to either purchase courses, turn in their completed courses, pick up their next course, or just talk to someone about spiritual things.

Gaby Beyer, our German co-worker, has been overseeing this ministry for many years. She is in charge of the purchase, promotion, distribution, and correction of each Bible course booklet.

Above: An example of a completed course booklet. Gaby has told us that the process of correcting and answering the booklets takes a long time and is quiet a challenging ministry. There are several groups who are taking these doctrinal courses from local prisons, local Catholic and Pentecostal churches. Those who take these courses are looking for solid doctrine. Many times their own church is NOT teaching them the Bible, so they turn to the Temuco Bible Course ministry for help.

It is exciting to hear of how God is working through these courses. Every Thursday, our missionary co-workers meet for prayer time, and Gaby often tells us of new testimonies of those who have benefited spiritually from the Bible courses.

The Bible course ministry was started many years ago by a GMSA missionary (Janet Drukenbrod). The ministry has gone on ever since and, Lord willing, will continue in the future until the Lord returns.
In the back storage room, the extra Bible courses are kept and organized until orders come in for certain titles. One recent blessing of this ministry is that Mauren, one of my BI students, has been working part time with Gaby in the Bible course ministry. This has provided her a great opportunity to grow in her spiritual walk while correcting the courses and answering the questions that people write on the sides of the pages.

Click HERE for more information on what Bible courses are used at the Temuco Bible Institute.
Click HERE for the Bible courses offered in Spanish.

Please pray with us for this special and exciting ministry here in Temuco. This ministry is constantly looking for additional inventory to buy to be more effective in meeting the spiritual needs of those who stop by. For more information on how you can help the Bible Course ministry please contact us via email.

The Chilean Mine Rescue: By the Numbers

Our family, everyone in Chile, and many around the world have been captivated by the recent rescue of the Chilean miners in northern Chile. It has been quite an experience to live in Chile during this past year. 2010 has been an extremely difficulty yet historical year for Chile due to the Feb. 27 earthquake, 200th anniversary, and the San Jose mine disaster.




Steven Hoffer compiled the following numbers that sum up the amazing rescue.

700,000 tons -- Amount of rock that collapsed on the copper mine on Aug. 5.

2,041 feet -- Distance through the escape shaft from the Earth's surface to the stranded miners.

1,000+ -- Number of journalists covering the rescue from the scene.



926 pounds -- Total weight of the escape capsule.

100 degrees -- Common temperature in the collapsed mining shaft.

69 days, 8 hours -- Amount of time from collapse to rescue. Obviously no short period of time. However, compared to early estimates that the miners would not be rescued until late December -- a scenario that would have left the miners underground for approximately 140 days -- the 69-day rescue mission is an impressive accomplishment.

63 years old -- Age of Mario Gomez, the oldest of the miners.


48 hours -- Amount of time the standard emergency rations carried by the miners were intended to last. The 33 miners survived 17 days on these rations.

33 miners -- Trapped below the earth's surface.



28 inches -- Width of the escape capsule.

22 hours, 37 minutes -- amount of time to remove the miners.



(A side note on the video above: right at the end of the video the president swore in one of his "Viva Chile" shouts. When asked later on that night about why he swore he responded by saying, "It just came out without a filter. When in the heat of the moment, it was justifiable.")

13 feet -- Length of the escape capsule.

1 Bolivian man -- Among the 33 miners

1 Chilean flag --

1 white butterfly -- Credited with saving two miners, according to local Chilean folklore.



For additional pictures go to the Chile Govt. Flickr page.


Our family would appreciate your continued prayer and financial support as we labor to spread the Gospel to the Chilean people. Thank you to those who have been praying for our family and for the country of Chile these past few days.

To God be the Glory
Great things HE has done.