Independence Day, Chilean Style

Chileans celebrate Independence Day the 18th of September. Instead of trying to describe our Dieciocho, we offer this...enjoy!

(approx. 10min)

Introducing...

We're pleased to be able to introduce you to some of the folks working to advance the Kingdom here. We encourage you to be in prayer for these leaders and their families. We've also noted the name of the area they/we are focused on reaching for Christ. These pictures were taken at a prayer meeting held at our team leader's home. It was a wonderful time for these pastors to meet and encourage one another, sharing about what is happening in their ministries. It was also a time of prayer for God to do great things in these areas.

The Mapuche Team: Adults (left to right) - Linda Hinds, David Hinds, Anders, Jessica, Trent Tomlinson, Angel Tomlinson; Kids - Caitlyn Tomlinson (left, holding our son Boden), Ashlyn Tomlinson (right, next to Angel), Aaron Tomlinson (center, orange shirt), Nathan Tomlinson (center, grey shirt), Adrielle Snyder (center/middle, with Jess)

Area: Coyahue - Abner & Blanca & their 3 daughters

Area: Butu Mallín - Segundo & Marcela

Area: Nueve de Julio - Pastor Heraldo & Patricia & their 3 kids (left to right): Naomí, Vanessa, & Antonio

Area: Padre las Casas - Pastor Mario & Estela & baby Emily

Area: Laconche Plom - Pastor Antonio & Irma

Isla Huapi

Huapi (Mapudungun) = Isla (Spanish) = Island (English). Therefore Isla Huapi = Island Island.

The last Sunday of August Anders was able to accompany a group of believers from a Baptist church in town to Isla Huapi, about 2 hours from here. This local church, where most of our team attend church (when we're not out in the campo), is helping grow a young church plant on the island. It is not far from a port town, tucked away near the coast.

I was invited along to see the location, meet folks, and enjoy a worship service with this little group. We hit it just right and were able to be there on pot-luck day! Breads, boiled eggs, a little bit of lunch meat, mate (tea), and soda from one of the 5 cups available for the 25 people there to share!

I can't begin to describe how beautiful this landscape is. It's like something out of a Jane Austin novel...movie...'cause I haven't actually read any Jane Austin novels to be perfectly honest.

Vistas aside, the real beauty is in the fact that the gospel is reaching this geographically 'off the beaten path' place. Still, there are young'ns in the faith who need to grow as disciples, there are many many others who haven't heard, and there are only a handful of people to share the Good News (not to mention the fact that virtually none of them have vehicles and many kilometers of separation can mean these 'neighbors' may never cross paths). Pray for wisdom for those who are working in this place and perseverance and encouragement for the believers of Huapi...

...and enjoy the pictures!

The road

The church

The pot-luck

The view

The coast

Don't Jump To Conclusions

Cultural Lesson: In a new place, don't jump to conclusions. We stand corrected.

That's the way the cookie crumbles

It is to my surprise that cookie sheets do not exist in our new city of Temuco. It is very possible that they do not exist in the whole country of Chile. Our team leader's wife shared with me that her Chilean friend told her about a shop downtown that would cut her a flat piece of scrap metal, and she could use that as a cookie sheet. Interesting idea... it wouldn't be non-stick however. Hmmm, I guess I will learn how to bake bars.