They say our Region of Coquimbo has experienced a drought this summer due to excessive consumption of water.
In a place where rain’s only remotely likely during a few months of the year, that’s hardly surprising. Despite Covid, the seasonal flood of tourists hasn’t diminished either, and it’s been sunnier than usual, without much morning mist. AND then we’ve experienced our personal summer “drought” since we didn’t arrive back in Chile until almost the end of January. After our mission conference in Florida (Jan. 3-9), we along with many other missionary families came down with Covid (possibly a second case for us) and had to reschedule our return flights. In the meantime, Curtis returned to SC with our daughter Emily to help with house projects, I got a head start on the year’s women’s Bible studies, and daughter Christina preceded us to Chile and ended up in a 10-day quarantine there!
When we finally reached home in Totoralillo-Coquimbo, we faced a string of minor disasters and disappointments: a return to pandemic protocols which eliminated church meetings again, a mysteriously unplugged porch freezer, an entire porch of randomly loose tiles (still in the process of redoing this job completed in Oct.), and a herd of abandoned horses roaming our semi-desert neighborhood in desperation for anything besides cacti to eat! (Like gardens.)
All that aside, we enjoyed the summer month of February and the opportunities to help Chris get settled in Chile once again, deliver American treat bags to our leadership team’s kids, and swing by the seashore at the foot of the hill occasionally. The church held an online VBS again. A young couple asked us to show them how to cook a “Thanksgiving” turkey . All abundant blessings, not drought!
As the new school year begins in March, plans and activities have got underway again. We’re asking the Lord for a year of fresh growth, that we may be like the tree in Jeremiah 17:8, whose “leaf shall be green in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Meeting restrictions have eased (again), so our congregation is gathering weekly in four home cell groups with good success thus far. Last weekend we celebrated a baptism (2 married women and 2 teenagers) and a “fish fry” picnic at Camp El Molle. Our women’s group will start with a Zoom kick-off this week, then break into two weekly home Bible studies.
Prayer Requests:
- Although it seems repetitious, can we ask you to pray on for our church property needs? We’re still seeking a suitable place.
- Pray for the leadership team and others who serve in different church ministries.
- For God to use the recently completed ladies’ Bible study book, STRONG TOWER
- That I will recuperate my voice to be able to teach (Covid aftereffect).
- For 2 church families who lost loved ones during the summer.
- Christina’s job decisions. Meanwhile she helps with the youth here while teaching online classes.
- For help in finding a gastro surgeon for apparent gallstones.
