05/25/2026
From the Saints ( Our missionaries)
Dear Prayer Partners,
Furlough is always a time of mixed emotions for missionaries. On one hand, we
dread the miles we have to travel. We miss our friends and church family back in Chile
and the stability of living in our own home and generally having a set weekly schedule. On
the other hand, we are encouraged by just about every church we visit. Not having to be the
pastor also allows the kids to spend more time with their dad than they normally get in Chile.
For us adults, it really isn’t a matter of what we want to do, but rather what God wants us to do
and, in that sense, we enjoy the opportunity to travel and remind churches in the States of the vital
role that you play in taking the gospel to the rest of the world. But I think those mixed emotions
are even stronger for our kids. America has never been their home. While we enjoy the flavors of
the States, they miss the food from Chile. We all enjoy spending time with family, but they miss
their dogs and cats. Reconnecting with some of our supporting pastors is kind of like getting
together with old friends for us (plus, we get to meet up with old friends from college or even our
childhood as we travel), but their only friends are back in Chile. So, thank you to each one who
goes out of their way to make furlough a little more enjoyable for our children. And please don’t
start to have a pity party for them either. Over the past few weeks, we got to go to Washington, D.
C., we visited the Statue of Liberty (actually went inside it, something Christine and I had never
done before) and Ellis Island, and got to see Niagara Falls and some night-time fireworks. More
adventures await, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are looking forward to going back to
Chile in November.
Please continue to pray for everything that is going on in Chile. Pastor Juan Carlos continues
to do a good job (from all we can tell) of leading the church in San Pedro. Attendance may have
dropped of a little bit since we came to the States, but has generally remained constant. Winter is a
rainy season and the weather can negatively affect attendance, so please pray that he would remain
faithful and not get discouraged. The church continues to knock on doors in the community and
invite their neighbors to church as the weather allows. They also visit Cañete once a month to help
evangelize there and encourage Celso and Karla. Juan Carlos continues to rebuild his home after
the fire, but he and his family are able to live in the apartment above the church in the meantime.
Please pray for Carlos and Jaqueline in Cañete (kahn-YET-eh). They bought a house near
Celso’s house about five years ago, intending to retire and move down there. They briefly met
Celso and Karla at their old church near Santiago, so we were all hopeful that they would quickly
join with us in the Cañete church. A couple years ago, however, they made it clear that they would
not be joining with us for reasons that are hard to explain in a brief letter. Essentially, they believed
what others (our critics) said about us instead of getting to know us personally. Fast forward to
a few weeks ago. They have finally moved into their home and expressed an open mind about
joining with the church. Celso and Karla spoke with them at length and we are praying that they
will be able to join with us if they can do so with a right heart and attitude. Please pray for that
situation, as well as the other people that Celso and Karla have witnessed to and invited to church.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us and for the Lord. To those we have
visited already, you were an encouragement to us. Thank you for your hospitality. We look forward to seeing you soon!
