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Quick Fact:
Why so many earthquakes in Chile?
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Chile is located in the "ring of fire", right where the Nazca tectonic plate pushes beneath the South American plate. Result: Chile is the #2 country with the most earthquakes! Additionally, because it is long and thin country along the Pacific ocean, there are many cities on the coast which live with the threat of tsunamis.
The strongest earthquake ever recorded on Earth happened in Chile - a magnitude-9.5 quake in 1960 that killed more than 5,000 people. As a result of frequent tremors and quakes, Chile has developed engineering skills and building regulations that surpass many other parts of the world. Truly, the skyscrapers that are built in this country are architectural masterpieces.
The Chilean people do not run away from disaster, but they rebuild and face the future head-on. Our job as missionaries is to connect them to the real "Rebuilder" and give them true Hope for the future!
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Prayer Requests
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* We
praise God for protecting us through the series of earthquakes, aftershocks and tsunamis, and ask for His mercy on those who were affected.
* Continue to pray for Isabel, a new contact who has suffered several deaths in her family recently, yet at the same time is hungry for God's Word. Pray that she and her daughter, Andrea, would finish confirmation classes and become members.
* Thank the Lord for the new missionaries Ted and Cassandra Fischer as they prepare to serve in Guatemala through Global Lutheran Outreach.
* Pray for church member, Arturo, as he works on construction projects at our mission in Constitucion, at the Lutheran school in Valparaiso, and at the new Lutheran community center in the "cerros" area of Valparaiso where wildfires caused destruction in 2014. Pray that God would keep him safe and bless his work.
* Pray for our children, Nika & Ben, as they contine their studies toward their final careers.
* Pray for our daughters, Soni & Gabi, as they work as Lutheran school teachers.
* Pray for Concordia Lutheran Schools in Valparaiso & Viña del Mar (Chile) as they face financial challenges.
* We thank the Lord for the many friends and family around the world who prayed for us and showed concern during the recent earthquakes.
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"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs."
(Mt. 24:7-8)
Since the recent quake, a lot of people have been asking me about the End Of The World. The conversation usually starts with an affirmation: "The earthquake was a sign of the end, right?" The person goes on to comment about how there is more and more evil in the world, more corruption, more bad stuff in general, leading to the conclusion: "When do you think the end will come? This year?"
I'm not sure, but I don't think it will come this year, and here's why: the Bible gives us only one sure sign of the end. Here it is:
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Mt. 24:14). Since the Gospel has not yet been preached to the whole world, my thought is that we still have some work to do before Christ returns!
Do you wish Christ would return quickly? You can hasten the day of His coming by helping to preach the Gospel to all nations!
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Earthquake Report
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"God is our refuge and strength...therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea....Be still and know that I am God".
Psalm 46 has a bit more meaning for us in light of the recent seismic activity in Chile! After we hurried down the 2 flights of stairs of our apartment during the 3 minute long 8.3 earthquake, neighbors advised us to wait until after the tremor passes before you walk through a building. It is difficult to "be still" when the earth is shaking beneath your feet and your hear rattling all around you!
Here in Santiago there has been no damage. The epicenter was about 175 miles north of us, just off the coast. Some coastal areas in that region experienced damage (some extensive) due to tsunami waves. The Lutheran church does not have any work going on in this area. The earthquakes and after shocks happened right in the middle of a national holiday where everyone has vacation time. It was heart-warming to see images of fellow Chileans visiting those who lost homes and businesses, sharing the traditional foods and celebrations.
At this time, there are no plans to send assistance from the Lutheran church to the affected areas. However, the Lutheran Church of Chile is in the process of setting up an "Emergency Response Fund" so that we can have resources on hand for immediate response to future disasters. We will keep you posted as soon as the fund is set up!
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What are your plans for the 18th?
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... has been the resounding question throughout the month of September. Everyone has been anticip ating a holiday similar to our "Fourth of July" in the USA. The 18th recognizes the beginning an independent nation of Chile, and the 19th celebrates the national armed forces. Leading up to those national holidays, the streets have been FULL of vendors with Chilean flags and decorations.
National pride has been evident in presentation of folkdances performed in traditional costumes. Each school celebrates with an assembly of some sort. Around the city there are circuses and carnivals set up for entertainment. The air is full of the smell of barbecuing meat and the traditional "empanada" cooked in outdoor ovens. Families are gathering together. Happiness abounds!
The Lutheran Mission in Santiago embraced the holiday spirit with a special worship service. The hymns were set to Chilean folk mus ic, like the cueca and the tonada. The liturgy reflected the culture of the indigenous people. Many came dressed in typical clothes, or at least wore a "sombrero". After worship, we fellowshipped with "empanadas de pino", baked half-moon shaped pies filled with chopped meat and onion. The people were touched as they realized that God comes to us in our culture, whatever that may be, through His son Jesus.
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Ongoing Outreach
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Jim continues to reach out with the Gospel in partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries. Recently, the Lutheran Hour sponsored a event for people who have been touched by this ministry. Testimonies of how God has changed people's lives were shared, along with food and fellowship.
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| Jim leading devotion at Lutheran Hour event |
Teaser Alert: Big News about a new mission initiative will be coming next month! God is at work in Santiago, leading us to where He wants us to go.
Jim continues to serve as the director of Global Lutheran Outreach, as we seek to enable Lutherans from around the world to pursue their calling to serve the Lord as cross-cultural missionaries. At the GLO board meeting in September, we celebrated the fact that we now have 19 missionaries serving on four continents. Ted and Cassandra Fischer are our newest missionaries, and will be serving in Guatemala. Learn more about GLO here.
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Up and Running!
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| Ladies meeting in Santiago |
... that's where the women of the Lutheran church are in Chile. Energized by our national retreat in August, the ladies at Iglesia Luterana Mision Santiago, had their first organizational meeting on September 13. They brainstormed, planned and prayed about how they can be an evangelistic and supportive branch of the church. Pray that this group can utilize the many talents and gifts of the women of the church.
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OR
Mail a check to:
Global Lutheran Outreach
6709 Ficus Dr.
Miramar, FL 33023
(Put "Tino" on the memo line of the check.)
Projects in need of support (click to view)
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