June Progress on Christian Center

GOOD MORNING---I'M  TRUSTING WHERE YOU ARE IS A GOOD MORNING--BLESSED OF THE LORD, AND YOU ARE READY TO SERVE HIM TODAY  WHEREVER, AND IN WHATEVER WAY HE LEADS.
 
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I'VE WRITTEN TO SHARE THE PROGRESS ON OUR CHRISTIAN CENTER- MISSIONS BASE, AND MUCH HAS HAPPENED.  FOR AWHILE WE WERE A BIT STOPPED IN PROGRESS DUE TO LACK OF WORKERS, AND BAD WEATHER, BUT WITH THE GREAT WORK OF THE CARETAKER GOD SUPPLIED US WITH, AND ANOTHER TEAM OF 4 FROM COLOMBIA THAT HAS BEEN HERE A MONTH NOW HELPING WITH REPAIRS AND PAINTING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROGRESS MUCH MORE RAPIDLY AGAIN.  BAD BOARDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, INSULATION PUT IN ON THE WINDIEST SIDE, AND 2/3 OF THE PAINTING INSIDE AND OUT IS DONE ON THE BOYS DORM.  APPLE TREES HAVE BEEN PRUNED OF THEIR BAD BRANCHES, THE NECESSARY SHEEP FAT RUBBED ON THE CUTS TO PREVENT BLEEDING OF SAP, AND COPPER NAILS INSERTED TO HEAL THE FUNGUS ETC. THAT OCCURES.  THE GREENHOUSE IS FINISHED, GARLIC AND CILANTRO PLANTED, AND NOW WE'RE PLANNING TO PLANT LETTUCE, CUCUMBERS TOMATOES AND OTHER PRODUCTS.  WE"VE BEEN GIVEN A COUPLE SMALL MAPLE TREES (UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF COLD YOU NEED FOR MAPLE SYRUP!) - AND OTHER KINDS OF APPLE AND FRUIT TREES WHICH HAVE BEEN PLANTED AROUND THE GROUNDS. NOW THE LAST OF THE APPLES FROM THIS YEARS CROP HAS BEEN MADE INTO APPLE SAUCE FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD.
 
WE HAD A LUNCH FOR PASTORS A FEW WEEKS AGO TO PRESENT THEM WITH THE FACILITIES ETC., AND THE RESPONSE WAS GOOD FROM THOSE WHO CAME.  ONE CHURCH IS ALREADY PLANNING AN ALL-NIGHT WATCH -NIGHT SERVICE FOR THIS WEEKEND.  THERE IS NO PLACE IN CHILOE FOR RETREATS ETC FOR THE CHRISTIANS - ONLY A CATHOLIC RETREAT CENTER, SO IT HAS BEEN A MUCH-NEEDED FACILITY FOR A LONG TIME. 

THE COLOMBIAN TEAM (TEEN MISSIONS ) IN ADDITION TO WORKING AT THE BASE,IS ALSO VISITING CHURCHES IN THE AREA, AND PRESENTING THEIR MONTH-LONG SUMMER CAMPOUT FOR YOUTH FOR FEBRUARY AT THE BASE HERE.  THIS IS A CAMP OF EXCELLENT TRAINING  IN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND CHARACTER BUILDING.  I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE YOUTH THAT HAVE COME FROM THIS CAMP THERE IN COLOMBIA. THEY SPENT 15 DAYS TRAVELING BY BUS FROM BOGOTA TO CASTRO, WITH SEVERAL INCONVENIENT DELAYS ETC, BUT I NEVER HEARD ONE WORD OF COMPLAINT!  ONCE HERE THEY NEVER STOP WORKING - CLEANING, STUDYING, BIBLE MEMORIZATION ETC!-I HAVE TO KEEP TELLING THEM TO TAKE A REST!
 
THIS WEEKEND WAS A MEMORABLE ONE FOR ONE OF MY EX- BOARDERS.  MIGUEL LIVED HERE 4 YEARS - A MODEL YOUTH. HE WORKED IN A NEWSPAPER PRINTING FIRM, AS A GUARD ON FISHING BOATS, AS A WAITER, AND VOLUNTEER FIREMAN DURING THOSE YEARS.  LAST YEAR HE ENTERED A POLICE ACADEMY AND GRADUATED THIS APRIL.  I HAD THE JOY OF BEING THERE FOR THE CEREMONY.  THIS WEEKEND HE WAS ABLE TO COME FOR A VISIT, AND AFTER A LOVELY FATHER'S DAY MESSAGE HERE AT OUR SEVICE SUNDAY, HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO TRY AGAIN TO FIND HIS REAL FATHER WHOM HE HAD NEVER KNOWN.  HIS MOTHER WAS SINGLE WHEN HE WAS BORN, AND HIS GRANDPARENTS RAISED HIM.  NOBODY WOULD EVER TELL HIM ABOUT HIS FATHER AND I HAD ENCOURAGED HIM TO TRY TO FIND HIM.  ABOUT A MONTH AGO HE FINIALLY FOUND OUT HE LIVED ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HERE, BUT NO-ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE WHEN HE HAD TRIED TO CALL.  THIS SUNDAY ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE POLICE BARRACKS IN THE CITY WHERE HE IS WORKING (ABOUT 7 HOURS FROM HERE) HE WAS ABLE TO FIND THE HOUSE, AND KNOCING ON THE DOOR, ASKED THE MAN WHO ANSWERED TO PLEASE COME OUTSIDE SO HE COULD TALK TO HIM.  THERE HE TOLD HIM "I'M YOUR SON, MIGUEL IGOR" HE SAID THEY HAD A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT--HIS FATHER NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD WANT TO FIND HIM. HE WAS INVITED IN, AND GOT TO MEET HIS HALF SISTER AND BROTHER (13 & 15),AND THEIR MOM,  AND THEY HAD A WONDERFUL VISIT, INVITING HIM TO RETURN TO SEE THEM WHENEVER POSSIBLE. FOR ME IT WAS ALSO AN EMOTIONAL TIME WHEN MIGUEL CALLED TO TELL ME, AND SAY HOW GLAD HE WAS I HAD ENCOURAGED HIM TO LOOK, BECAUSE IT HAD ANSWERED A VACUUM HE HAD ALWAYS FELT IN HIS HEART.  A PERFECT FATHER'S DAY STORY!!
 
OUR DAILY MORNING INTERCESSION GROUP CONTINUES AND GOD HAS BLESSED THE FAITHFUL BROTHERS WHO BRAVE THE RAIN AND COLD TO BE HERE.  ONE WOMAN WE PRAYED FOR OFTEN RECENTLY GAVE HER LIFE TO THE LORD, AND EAGERLY WORKS WITH  US NOW.  SHE HAS MANY ABILITIES THE LORD HAS USED TO HELP US IN OUR PROJECTS, AS WELL AS A BROTHER FROM ANOTHER CITY WHO HAS JOINED OUR STAFF OF WORKERS.  WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED!
 
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE CONTINUING WORK AT THE NEW BASE--WE URGENTLY NEED 50 MORE BEDS AND MATRESSES, AND TO REPLACE A ROOF ON THE HUGE DINING HALL.  SEVERAL HAVE HAD DREAMS OR WORDS THAT THE LORD WANTS TO USE THIS PLACE TO TRAIN MANY TO EVANGELIZE IN THE ISLANDS, AND BRING IN A BIG HARVEST OF SOULS IN CHILOE.  I SO GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FAITHFUL PRAY-ERS AND GIV-ERS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED US FOR SO LONG.  WITHOUT YOU WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE HERE OR DO THIS.  GOD BLESS YOU AND MULTIPLY YOUR SEED FOR SOWING IN WHATEVER AREA HE LEADS YOU.

IN HIS LOVE,

ELLIE 
 
FOTOS--GIRLS DORM BEFORE AND AFTER
             BOY'S DORM BEFORE, AND GETTING REPAIRED AND PAINTED
             THE GREENHOUSE
             VARIOUS WORK SCENES,
              AND YES, FLAMINGOS