PSALMS 46:1-3,19--"GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, THOUGH THE EARTH GIVE WAY AND THE ...

A whole lot of shakin' goin on...
On March 11th CNN reported "A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit at 11:39 a.m. local time (9:39 a.m. ET), followed by a 6.9 mgnitude quake 15 minutes later, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. A third, measured at magnitude 6.0, came 27 minutes later. They were the strongest aftershocks to rattle Chile since February 27th when an 8.8 earthquake on the country's west coast toppled buildings and spawned a tsunami, killing serveral hundred people near Concepcion. Since that time there have been 200 aftershocks. Each one brings a renewed fear in many people. Local news in the worst hit areas report a mother and a small son who were resued from their 14 story apartment building that fell on its side; people camping out on the hillside beside their city that was wiped out by the tsunami's; and hungry and thirsty people desperate for relief from their situation and from the paralysing fear of the aftershocks. Chileans are pulling together to lend a helping hand to their fellow countrymen. Baptist churches are collecting food, water, clothes, medicine, etc. and are already distributing it to those in need.
PRAY FOR:
Wisdom as a ministry plan is formed
The families who have lost loved ones
Opportunities to share the love of Christ
For peace and order among the people as they adjust to this disaster
Safety, rest, and calm nerves for all involved
That we can "be still and know God" in spite of the unrest we feel from the aftershocks

PRAYER WALKING IMPRESSIONS

THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY AS LONG AS WE MAKE THE INITIAL MOVE. THE CHILDREN ARE GREETING US AS WE ENTER THE COMMUNITY NOW THAT THEY RECOGNIZE US. LIFE IS HARD HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BARE ESSENTIALS. THE COMMUNITY IS GROWING BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILDING NEW HOUSES. ROSA, OUR INITIAL CONTACT, SELLS SMALL ITEMS TO THE COMMUNITY AND IS VERY HELPFUL. THERE IS A LARGE SOCCER FIELD FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY ON ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS WELL MAINTAINED AND THE OPEN BUILDING WITH BLEACHERS AND BASKETBALL HOOPS IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD HAVE A GATHERING. THE PARK OR PLAZA IS BESIDE THE SCHOOL. IT HAS BENCHES TO SIT ON AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY ON ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE IN THE AREA. THE CHILE DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE. SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OWN HORSES WHICH SEEM TO BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. AS WE WERE PRAYER WALKING ON THE DIRT ROADS AND PRAYING FOR EACH FAMILY IN THE HOUSES WE CAME UPON A HOUSE WITH CHILDREN'S VOICES. IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT ABOUT THREE CHILDREN WERE PICKING ON ANOTHER CHILD. THIS GIRL WAS A LITTLE OLDER WITH BLONDE HAIR AND WAS MONGOLOID. SHE WAS CRYING AND THE OTHER CHILDREN RAN ACROSS THE ROAD LAUGHING AND HIDING IN THEIR YARD.
PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD ALLOW US TO MINISTER TO BOTH FAMILIES.

PRAYER WALKING IN CHILE

AS TEAM MEMBERS IN THE ANDEAN RIVER VALLEY WE TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE RIVER VALLEYS LOOKING FOR THE AREAS WHERE THE GOSPEL OF PEACE HAS NOT REACHED THE PEOPLE. PRAY FOR US AS WE TRAVEL DIRT AND GRAVEL ROADS AND BYWAYS WITH THE GOAL THAT EVERYONE MAY HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE CALL OF CHRIST FOR ETRNAL SALVATION

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THREE MONTHS HAVE GONE BY SINCE I LAST UPDATED THE BLOG SITE..A LOT HAS HAPPENED INCLUDING AN 8.6 EARTHQUAKE HERE IN CHILE. IT HAS LEFT THE COUNTRY DEVASTATED. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN THE NORTH BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE BUT THE IMAGES YOU SEE ON TELEVISION AND ON THE COMPUTER ARE HEART BREAKING.

We have been very busy with adapting to our schedules, learning the language, working with the nationals and doing our survey work. We are now going into an area once a month, doing some prayerwalking, talking to people and trying to find out the names of contact people and if there are any schools, evangelical churches, municipals, etc. The information is looked over and then it is decided if it is an area that we should enter. We send the information to churches and ask them to adopt an area and pray for it for a year. We will send updates and pictures of the communities.