Chile Trip

As I just mentioned, there is another Chile trip in the works for sometime this fall. Our family is hoping to go down there for 6-8 weeks and coordinate other teams to come and go while we build a cabin on the campgrounds belonging to Union de Centros Biblicos located in Lican Ray, Chile. The newly arrived missionary couple, Dan and Liz Thompson, were just granted permission to live on the camp property which would help them immensely as they seek to get this camp back on its feet, in more ways than just maintenance and new cabins. Over the years it has not been run well and this young couple wants nothing more than to have a thriving camp ministry in Chile, through Gospel Mission of South America, the mission they serve with.The goal of NTI would be to go down and take on the building of a new 50' x 30'cabin ~ it would have two divided sleeping areas, each capable of holding up to 10 people, and two attached bathrooms.

There is a great need on this trip. Electricians, plumbers, masons, finish carpenters, etc. But even if you don't do ANY of those things there are tons of other ways to work and minister. I'm hoping to take on some the cooking duty, alongside Liz and any one else that would be willing. There is general clean-up at the camp, minor repairs, painting, and on and on. It is a great trip to go on as a family. Here are a few more pictures to help show the current state of the camp buildings....

The top left picture is often used as a classroom for children, I attended and later taught lots of classes in there for the children of the missionaries during their conference meetings. The top right is the men's bathroom and then the bottom two are of the cabins, their broken steps and the mold along the bottom from years of a wet climate and no maintenance.

These pictures do not do the camp justice, though. As much as the buildings themselves are in need of help the camp itself is, to me, the most beautiful place on earth. I rode horseback, (this is Monica last time we were there) dove off rock cliffs, paddled in canoes, built tree forts, laid on the beach, laughed my head off at skit night, hiked through the volcanic rock at the base of a volcano, swam like a fish, attended/taught the kids classes, (here's Logan taking part in the classes) and basically had the best times a kid could have. But, more importantly, the missionaries were able to get away from their responsibilities for a week of fellowship among their co-workers. Devotionals, prayer meetings, business decisions, all took place here - things that would impact the ministry of GMSA for the following year. And that was just the one week of camp we were there - not counting the many weeks that followed each summer as group after group was able to go to camp and be blessed. I want so much for our family to be able to be a part in keeping this camp going and being a blessing to the missionaries and the many nationals that will go there in the years to come. Any one want to join us? =)