The Housing Search

One of the challenges that face our family and ministry in the following months is searching for a house to buy. The housing market in Antofagasta is crazy, cut-throat, and caro (expensive). Our rental contract for our apartment ends in April 2012. It would be ideal if we could buy and move into mission housing before or around that date. There are many unknowns.

There is no problem finding housing. The trick is finding something that is affordable, in decent condition, in a decent location, and that has enough space for our family.

We have (as a family) visited a few places to get a better feel for sizes, location, and conditions of housing around the city. Each week, we are keeping our eyes open online for housing leads and information.

We are praying for a house with a combined living room/dining room which would allow us to host larger group Bible studies and/or services in the next phase of the church planting ministry.

Please pray for the following:

*God's provision of sufficient funds to buy mission housing.

*Patience and trust in God's timing

*God's provision of a house that would be suitable for our family and ministry needs.

Stay tuned to the blog or our Facebook ministry page for updates on this housing search.

Trip to Iquique

Back in mid September, our family took a 5 day trip up to the city of Iquique (4 hours north of Antofagasta). We've been meaning to take the trip for a while and the opportunity presented itself the week after Chile's Independence Day (Sept 18th).

Instead of driving on the main freeway (Ruta 5) that goes inland quite a bit, we chose to take the coastal road up to Iquique. We were glad we did! Around each curve were more breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the desert.

Iquique (pop. 226,000) is more a tourist city than Antofagasta.

Kristi's childhood MK friend, Steph Garcia, and her family live and serve in Iquique with ABWE. We stayed at their house and had a blast going to the zoo, the beach, a museum, and just playing with their children. The house was hopping with nine children running around!

The Spink family (Jon & Kim and 7 children) also live and serve in Iquique. We went to language school together in southern Texas for one semester. We were able to spend an afternoon with their family catching up after three years.

One afternoon, we were able to visit Hector (Chilean national pastor) and his family who are planting a church in a suburb of Iquique, called Alto Hospicio. We were able to get to know them, and the ministry that they are involved in there in that needy town. Hector and his wife, Hilda, do not get many visitors, so our time with them was special and needed. We plan to visit them again soon.

One our way home from Iquique, we stopped in a little town called, Tocapilla, to visit Dorka and her family. She is a pastor's daughter and a family friend. We wanted to encourage them with a short visit. They come to Antofagasta once a month, and would like to attend our Sunday Bible studies.

All in all, our family had an enjoyable mini-vacation. It was great to get away and spend time with ministry friends.

Click on the following links to view all photos from our trip: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, & Part Four

Sept. 18th Celebration

September 18th is Chile's Independence Day.

It's a big deal.

Since all of the families in our small Bible study group were out of town over the independence day weekend, our family attended the Immanuel Bible Church's service and special church activity on the 18th. The following are some photos of our day with them.

Empanadas - Chilean's version of a pot pie (but better).

The church hosted a big cookout after the morning service.

The food was amazing!!

Some missionaries went a little overboard on the "dressing up".

The kids dressed up in patriotic costumes.

Click HERE to view the entire photo album of our time with the members of Immanuel Bible Church. We are thankful to have close Christian fellowship with believers from the other side of the city.

Faces

Edgar & David

Clockwise: Kristi, Patricia, Yariza, Milagros, & Cecilia

David, Juan, & Daniel

L to R: Dr. Alvaro & Darko

Edgaro (Edgar's dad) with son, Rafa, Jordan, & Ben

Susana (Edgar's mom) with Kristi

The Pulpit

Darko Diáz, a new believer from Santiago, is currently working in Antofagasta on several construction jobs. He was referred to us by his pastor and has been attending our Bible studies.

One Sunday afternoon, he called me and said that he found a sturdy wooden pulpit for the ministry and he would like to drop it off at our apartment. It was an unexpected surprise. While we don't have a need for it immediately, this pulpit will be used in the ministry as God grows the church plant.

Kaylee is demonstrating how the little step stool works. The pulpit has a storage area for cables and sound equipment. It is already set up with microphone outlets and pull-ins.

We are thankful to Darko (and ultimately God) for providing this pulpit for the local church plant in Antofagasta. Currently it is sitting in our living room (since we have no room to store it) as a prayer reminder for our growing Bible study group. We are praying for God's provision and direction in purchasing a church building in the future.

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;

reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,

but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves

teachers to suit their own passions,

and will turn away from listening to the truth

and wander off into myths."

-II Timothy 4:2-4

Kid's Edition - July '11

Time to catch up with what Jordan, Ben, Kaylee, and Lukas have been up to during the month of July.

Lukas - our little Curious George

Kaylee singing with her S.S. class

Game time at the kid's club at our apartment building.

Kaylee wants to know what you think of her flannel graph story.

J, B, and Kaylee with their next door neighbor and best friend, Camila (10 yrs old).

They spend hours together playing LEGO and making up new games at the apartment playground. She is so patient with the kids as they are learning to be more confident in their Spanish skills.

Kaylee and Lukas coming home from an errand with mommy.

Lukas goofin' off

Kaylee with her special friend, Arleth

Playmates: Lukas and Bastián (Arleth's little brother)

I love books!

Lunch with friends after the Sunday Bible study.

Listening to the Bible story at the kid's club in the park.

Kaylee and Lukas setting up chairs for the Sunday Bible study.

The kid's Sunday school class.

Thank for praying for our children. There are challenges to living on the mission field, but their lives are full of special blessings and special people as well.

An Afternoon with Miguel

Wow, the month of September slipped by so fast. A whole month has gone by without a blog post. I will attempt to catch up on some posts here in the next week.

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Back in August, Dr. Daniel asked me if I would be interested in joining him and a few others in volunteering one Saturday afternoon at a Home for Handicapped Children and Adults called "Hogar de Don Orione".

The home is located on the north side of Antofagasta and is run by a Catholic organization. Dr. Daniel has made a few contacts with the administrators since moving to Antofagasta, and he desires to start a formal group of Christian doctors and medical professionals that can provide periodic medical assistance in homes similar to Hogar de Don Orione. The overriding goal is to attempt to minister spiritually to the administrators, workers, patients, and the patient's families. As a pastor/missionary, I desire to help Dr. Daniel develop this group in whatever ways I can. It will not be my main ministry, but I do see the value of teaching members of a local church to volunteer their time and service to an outreach like this in the future. As the Lord provides, we desire to have a church building that meets all of the handicapped building codes in order to better minister to families with handicapped members.

Upon arrival, we were divided up and given a patient to walk around the campus for several hours. I was given a man by the name of Miguel (above). He has lived in this home all his life. His mom dropped him off at the home when he was a tiny baby. She couldn't take care of him due to her lifestyle choices.

After helping the nurse get Miguel out of bed, undressed, bathed, and re-dressed, Dr. Daniel gave him an examination. Miguel's feet and hands are all shriveled up due to his condition. His nickname is "Michael Jackson" because he only can walk backwards, due to his feet.

Miguel was extremely excited about his time outside with me. He rarely has any visitors. Our mere presence that day showed the staff and patients that we care for them and what they do. For two hours, I pushed Miguel around, singing Spanish choruses to him about the greatness of God and His love. Miguel can't speak, but he can hear. Our time was special, and it was a wonderful experience to volunteer that day.

Here is a photo of our group of volunteers. Several were Dr. Daniel's university medical students. A few more were members from the Emmanuel Biblical Church. We spent some time in prayer afterwards, thanking the Lord for the opportunity to serve, as well as praying for more practical opportunities to show God's love at Hogar de Don Orione or similar places.

Click HERE to view the entire photo album of our time at Hogar de Don Orione.

The Barrage of Birthday Bashes

Each year, starting in July, our family celebrates four birthdays in seven weeks.

Jordan turned 10 on July 5th

Jordan's b-day party.

Kaylee turned 6 on July 12th.

Kaylee with two of her best friends, Antonia & Catalina.

Lukas turned 2 on August 1st.

Kristi turned 35 on August 24th.

FYI - calm down ladies, I got permission from Kristi to post her age.

Several friends surprised her with a late night b-day party in our apartment.

Kristi was given a notebook workstation for her Netbook.

Birthdays on the mission field are fun and full of fine friends, foreign food, and filthy floors. Thanks to all who sent e-cards, emails, Facebook messages, actual snail mail cards (yes, you read that right I) and Skype calls. Each are appreciated and encouraging.