The Joy and Burden of Missionary Work

• By: Matt Postiff

• August 6, 2019

Pastor Ricardo Daglio reports from Villa Regina, Argentina:

This photo was taken Sunday July 28 in Junín de los Andes. What a joy to meet with these believers. From our home, they are 6 hours away by car (about 300 miles).

The following Monday, a couple contacted me. They live 600 miles away (11 hours by car) in the city of La Punta, San Luis. About eight people gather every Sunday in a home, and they are looking for a sound church. There are no missionaries of sound doctrine around. This “outpost” is similar to Junín. I have a deep burden for all of this.

From joy, to burden, and back to joy: the beautiful testimony of a young lady.

This girl’s name is Priscilla, she’s 10 years old. She lives 62 miles from our church of Villa Regina. Her parents come every Sunday to attend and soon they will be members of our congregation. Priscilla is in her third consecutive year reading the Bible completely. Her example is encouraging for those who know her. Personally, as a pastor, it is a genuine joy since I also visit them every other week to have Bible studies in their home where an average of 10 people gather. We pray that Priscilla’s example will motivate other parents to continue raising their children in the fear of the Lord. Pray for Ezequiel and Romina that they will continue faithfully following the Lord along with their three children.

Could you help in this needy area of Argentina to bring the good news of salvation and teaching of God’s Word? Pray with Pastor Daglio and the believers there for help. May God raise up those laborers, whether from near or far.

The Fray Jorge Effect

• By: Matt Postiff

• August 5, 2019

Diane Steward recently wrote:

Suddenly—in the middle of a ladies’ Bible study on May 29—the women perked up their ears, leaped, and raced outside. No, not an earthquake. “It’s raining!” they told me as they ran to rescue the Sunday school display and phone around for umbrellas. Their reaction was a bit like the excited twirling-in-the-snowflakes in Santiago. Now I could barely hear the sprinkle on the pavement—but then, I’m getting deaf 😊…

Rain again interrupted Women’s Time on June 11. But what really surprised Curtis and me was the drizzle last Christmas morning, during the summer. When we commented on it to Brother Dixon later, he said, “Oh, that was the Fray Jorge effect.” Ah-ha! We’d recently visited the Fray Jorge World Biosphere Reserve, an hour’s drive south of Coquimbo, so we knew what he meant. In an otherwise arid area, a dense Patagonian-like rainforest has formed, moisturized by the condensation of fog that rolls in from the ocean. You might say it’s a garden that the Lord waters.

Praise God, we are seeing the desert flourish here in Punta Mira, and we can’t take much of the credit for it. Víctor, Rodrigo, and Dixon planted… Curtis and Diane have watered some… but only God could give the increase in a dry place like this. There’s lush growth where you’d least expect it. Call it the Fray Jorge effect.

Speaking of the weather… Chile as a country experiences many natural disasters, such as the freak tornado on June 1. One of the greatest changes we’ve faced since moving to Coquimbo is the climate. Inland, the Elqui Valley enjoys 300 nights a year of some of the world’s clearest skies, and astronomers from around the globe poured in to observe the solar eclipse on July 2. But here on the coast we see about 50% sun and 50% complete cloud cover. Despite the frequent lack of sunshine, it only rains 2-3 days a year, for a few hours. Very different from Santiago’s cold, damp (though brief) winters, and certainly a world away from the Chiloé Islands where it rains 13 months a year! The cool temps and high ceilings in parts of our house make it somewhat like living in a barn in November (no joke!) but we’re thankful for the woodstove in the evenings.

Dan Thompson Family July 2019

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 29, 2019

One interesting thing about the Lican Bible Camp is that it doesn’t have a camp chapel.  For years we have depended on the one multi-purpose building for both a chapel and dining hall.  Our main meeting hall makes for a great dining hall, but not such a great chapel, and we won’t even talk about all the set up and take down required everyday, multiple times a day, during a camp week.

As we look to future opportunities to minister, we see the need for the Camp Chapel as a dedicated building for worship services, special occasions such as weddings, and camp teaching times.  We are praying the Lord prosper these plans as He leads and provides in His time.

Pray with us as we take a step of faith and plan for building the camp chapel starting in 2020. 

• Pray for volunteers to help, whether from chilean national churches or from overseas.  Pray that God would move hearts to SERVE.  
• Pray for WISDOM as we design the camp chapel.  It needs to seat 100 to 150 people.
• Pray for God’s PROVISION of funds for the project. 

We are excited to see God’s hand at work already with a US work team in the works for March of 2020.  Thank you for your prayers!

Thank you!

Danny, Liz, Micah, Matthias, Morgan, and Madeline

Temuco Bible Institute Site Work

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 22, 2019

The following photos show some of the work being done (and being observed!) at the Temuco, Chile site of a new Bible institute.

New Work in Angol, Chile

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 22, 2019

The Flincks continue their report:

During our recent trip to southern Chile, we spent a couple of days with Kristi’s parents (Terry and Carol Thompson) in their new (rented) home in the city of Angol.

Terry and Carol moved to Angol this year after serving over 2 decades in the GMSA home office in Florida. They desire to plant a local church in Angol.

Please pray for the Thompsons as they make contacts and start the first phase of the church planting process in this needy city.

In addition to Terry and Carol, the photo includes Andy and Kolette Thompson and their family, and the Flinck family.

Chile Missionaries Mid-Year Meeting

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 22, 2019

David and Kristi Flinck report from southern Chile:

Last week, our family was able to spend a few days with our GMSA Chile coworkers in Temuco for our mid-year meetings. We are thankful for what God has been doing in and through each of our missionary co-workers this past year.

It was nice to flee the desert for several days and experience green grass, rain and cooler weather.

Please pray for the GMSA missionary team here in Chile:

FRONT ROW (L to R): Ben Flinck, Kaylee Flinck, Lukas Flinck, Elias Thompson, Natalia Thompson, Josiah Thompson.

MIDDLE ROW: Kristi Flinck, Gaby Beyer, Earlynne Thompson, Carol Thompson (with Ian Thompson), Bekah Perry, Kolette Thompson.

BACK ROW: David Flinck, Curtis Steward, Hartmut Beyer, Daryl Thompson, Terry Thompson, Mark Perry, Andrew Thompson.

Those not in the photo: Diane Steward, Dan and Liz Thompson (furlough), Dan and Becca Vallette (furlough), and Sharon Bisbee (furlough).

Baptism in the Ocean

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 22, 2019

Missionary David Flinck reports that two weeks ago, the church in the northern Chile desert was blessed to have a baptism service–in the Pacific Ocean! Four new believers were baptized by immersion to profess their faith in Jesus Christ. Their t-shirts read “Disciple of Jesus Christ.” Please pray for these new believers and rejoice with them and the church!

Morrell Moments July 2019

• By: Matt Postiff

• July 19, 2019

Winter is upon us here in the southern hemisphere which means winter youth camp for us! July 22-27 our campus will be filled with pre-teens, teens, and young adults hearing the gospel and be challenged to live for Christ! Fellow missionary Colby Holmes will be the main speaker with the key verse from the following passage: “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2 Please pray for salvations and commitments to serve Christ with all their heart.

This October we will be completing our 5th year here in Argentina. On the one hand it seems like a long time and yet on the other like we just got here. Many have asked when we are planning on going on furlough. That is a bit of a conundrum to be honest.

One of our goals (like most) for our first term of missionary service has been and still is to establish our permanent residency here before going on our first furlough. This process should take us three years, however, without boring you with the intricate details, there have been not a few setbacks most of which are out our ability to control. As of right now half of the family has one year toward residency while the other has one and a half years. (Yes it is complicated).

We are in the process of renewing that one year right now, but once again have faced more complications that are out of our control. If they are not resolved soon, we risk having to start back at “0” once again. Please pray that God would intervene in the hearts of those involved and not allow us to lose another year of time even as Prov. 21:1 says “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.”

By God’s grace, we are getting close to finishing with the second cabin project. All of the rooms are virtually completed except for paint and plumbing/heating finish installations. As we come to the end of the project, we have also come to the end of our funds to move forward. That is as far as we can see; we know that what the Lord starts, He also finishes, so really we are waiting on the Lord’s supply. The major portion that remains is the exterior ceilings, half of the perimeter sidewalks, and one of the heat/air units. Please pray that the Lord will provide for these needs in His timing for His glory. Thank you for your partnership in the ministry through prayer!

James & Donelle Morrell
Serving Christ in Chivilcoy, Argentina
Camp UCB Chivilcoy