Ten Days In Temuco, Chile

Temuco. On a ride out to the country to participate in an all night prayer vigil (we only made it 'til 2am), I learned the meaning of our new city's name. Temuco is a Mapudungun word, or rather two: temu - name of a local tree; co - water...so, a tree in the water? Forgive me, things still come across somewhat patchy in Spanish. I suppose the name is fitting, though, since it has rained nearly every day we've been here.

A nine hour drive south from Santiago takes you through some beautiful countryside - vineyards, orchards, mountains - right to Temuco. Here are a couple shots from the journey.

So what can one do in ten days in Temuco? A tourist might use his ten days differently, but we have been working toward making a house a home, learning and experiencing our new ministry, and finding our way around a new community...even the local hospital. This might sound simple enough, but it takes a little more time and effort than you might think!

By the way...Boden is now 2! It's a little tough to throw a big bash 6 days after arriving in a new country, but we know how to have a good time. The Tomlinsons, along with the help of Pizza Hut and someplace with a Tweety Bird cake, saved the party day since we weren't yet sure how to light our gas oven! The Mapuche team (the Tomlinsons, Hinds, and Snyder families) were the guests and Boden had a great time!

Stay tuned for more...

...And: Chile

It's hard to explain, but as we rode in some new van with yet another new visage next to me in the driver's seat, and as my mind reviewed the day's travels, there was a certain palpable reality of what it means when God says, 'I'll be with you.' We are now in Chile. The travels went well. Really, those two statements are true. They sound rather uninformative and commonplace. Yet, what were, in all reality, just my little family's non-newsworthy circumstances, the Lord took up as His own and responded by guiding our journey. I'd try to explain the details but for fear of drawing out this little point. My kids behaved well, we felt calm, the transitions from ride to desk, from desk to security, from security to plane, etc., went well. Yes. But for me, I sensed in the midst of it, that the Lord was with me. Pause. The Lord, Jehovah God, the Maker...was with me...was paying attention. These were my little things. The Lord pays attention to yours too, He can do that.

As we speak, 6 out of 8 of our bags are perhaps chilling out in Peru, perhaps on their way here. No worries...'for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go' (Joshua 1:9)...at least He was with Joshua, why not me and you too?

We are here. Finally. It's time to make the most of the time. Pray that we do for the sake of the kindest, most loving God I know: the one true God, Maker of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ who proved His love on the cross and sealed His promise of life by conquering the grave. And may a few more Mapuche find it out, too!

Signing Off From Costa Rica

They say that missionaries are always saying goodbye to one and hello to someone else. We are living that right now. We are filled with excitement that we are finally on our way to Chile! We depart on Saturday, August 15th and will arrive sometime in the middle of the night on Sunday morning, August 16th. Today we said goodbye to classmates, teachers, and colleagues we have been with since our time of training in Virginia. There was a tear or two. Tomorrow we will meet our team leaders and others who work in the offices in Santiago. There will be smile or two. You know how there are certain passageways along life´s path when you all at once feel like you´ve been doing something or been somewhere an eternity and at the same time as though some quantum leap had just taken place and ´how did we get here so fast anyway´? Yep. So, we are signing off for a while and will see you on the other side! Thanks for your prayers. May all these steps and logistics not just be for the sake of an adventure, but something that turns out for the glory of the Risen Lord!

Legacy

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Philippians 1:20

What happens when someone gives their life to Jesus Christ? Among a great many other things, a story is begun, or perhaps better said, one's story, already in progress, in some sense begins anew. It becomes a tale about the goodness of God, a testimony to the incredible love He has for his special works. However, this story never starts and ends solely with the person in question. The beautiful thing is that the abundant life of Christ always seeps out and into the lives of others. This is how a legacy begins - a new legacy of faith and grace that is from and to and about Jesus Christ.

We just returned from the Kansas City area. Plans were quickly made to make a short trip back to be with Jessica's family as they said goodbye (or rather, 'see you later') to Raymond Clark Killingsworth, Jessica's grandfather. Similarly, we gathered together almost exactly a year ago to do the same for her other grandfather, Donald Combs, Sr. Rather than using this space to recount for you details of a trip or of spending time with family, we offer a few thoughts which have come together in light of these events.

The Apostle Paul desired that Christ be exalted in his body, whether by life or by death. We can confidently say that Grandpa K and Grandpa Combs exalted Christ by their lives. And, after attending what certainly was a remembrance, but also in that bitter-sweet way a testimony to the lordship of Jesus in their lives and therefore a time of worship and celebration - a home coming for both men, we can confidently say that Grandpa K and Grandpa Combs exalted Christ by their death. This is a testimony: a story about Jesus and what it means to know Him...throughout one's life...the last week of one's life...the last moment of one's life. What did it mean the day each of these men gave their lives over to Jesus Christ? Did it mean that they, in that moment, were gifted a righteousness not their own, appropriate 'wedding clothes' to one day be able to stand pure before their Maker and spend eternity with Him in heaven? Certainly. But it also meant the beginning of a testimony, a story of Jesus that would seep out into the lives of others: a legacy. The day these men gave their lives to Jesus Christ was a day that effected me, a married-in grandson, their children, their grandchildren, friends, community and others. Anyone who shared in the times of remembrance for Grandpa K and Grandpa Combs will have seen and known that Jesus was their story, and could be the tale of any life that bends the knee to His lordship.

I read this week about God, who describes Himself in Exodus 20:5,6 as the Lord, a jealous God who punishes sin to the 3rd and 4th generation of those who hate Him, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

What happens when someone gives their life to Jesus Christ? Many things, but it appears it could take a thousand generations to account for the results of the faithfulness of one... Legacy.

May the Lord be so gracious to work such a thing in me...and in you.

Grandpa Killingsworth

Grandpa Combs