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To the Ends of the Earth
Chile Mission News from Jim and Liisa Tino
June 2019
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Greetings!
“A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.”
(2 Cor. 9:6, LB).
I think most people tend to be risk-adverse. I know I can be that way. In business or in life, we prefer that things progress orderly, logically… safely. “Slow and steady wins the race”, is a saying that I was taught as a child. But for many of us, there comes a time when you have to roll the dice, take a chance, put it all on the line - in other words, take a leap of faith. Maybe things will work out great! But then again, maybe they won’t.
Faced with a decision for the next step of our ministry, I have been looking for the sure bet - a logical progression from “small” to “not quite so small”. God has put before us something else, much bigger than what we had in mind. Maybe it will work out great, but then again, maybe it won’t. But I wonder - have I been planting just a few seeds? Is this God’s way of saying, “plant for a bigger crop”?
Pray with us that by planting much, we will reap much!
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Our Next Step - bigger than we imagined!
For some months now we have been looking for a larger property to rent for our ministry here in Santiago. To give an idea of scale, our current mission/house costs about $1,700 per month in rent, which is paid from a combination of sources including the rent that Liisa and I pay to live here. Our plan has been to find something larger (which means, more expensive) that would provide us more space and also have room to sub-let offices or similar in order to generate additional funds. We have been looking at properties in the $2,200 range - a step up for sure, but not SOOO much.
Through a series of circumstances (see "Backstory", below), God led us to a very LARGE property owned by the Lion’s Club in Santiago. (As an aside, I used to volunteer for the Lion’s Club White Cane Day in Detroit when I was a kid.) They were asking around $3800/month in rent. For some reason, I offered $3000/month… and they accepted! The property is HUGE, and if God so wills, we can envision sub-letting for a variety of income-producing activities in addition to our regular ministry. We will be able to house around 16 immigrants, have worship space for up to about 150, and offer a thrift store for reselling donated items at bargain-basement prices, which is very much sought-after by the immigrant community. Other ideas for the property (from our current members) include a doctor’s office; lawyer’s office; food delivery service; and beauty salon.
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The building we will be renting! Owned by the Lion's Club of Santiago
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Emergency Volunteer Team Needed!
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Have you ever been on a mission trip? Would you like to go on one to Chile?
We are looking for volunteers to come help us to get our new location in shape and help us move from our current mission house. The Lion’s Club building is structurally sound, but in run-down condition. It’s going to need a lot of work to get things in shape and to move all our stuff.
WHEN: Any time between August 1 and August 15.
WHO: Able-bodied and willing people of God! We are looking for a small team, anywhere from 2 - 6 people.
WHAT: Cleaning, painting, moving furniture and stuff, cleaning, perhaps some construction, some repair work, and CLEANING.
COST: Airfare will be your major expense. We will work out meals and lodging in accordance with the number of people who come.
TIMELINE: We will be closing on the contract in July and taking occupancy August 1. We have to turn in the keys for our current location on August 30. Therefore, we are planning to spend the first two weeks of August getting things ready. That’s when we need the help.
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Here's the back-story…
I (Jim) had a pretty clear idea of what we needed for the next (logical) step for the ministry. My price limit was 1,500,000 Chilean pesos, or $2,200 dollars. I looked at literally dozens of properties in that price range but found nothing suitable.
Liisa attends a free aerobics class a few times a week. Over time, she has made friends with several of the ladies in the class. Her aerobics buddies are always curious about Liisa - what does she do? Why is she in Chile? Why does she speak Spanish so well? Their curiosity gives Liisa the opportunity to talk about her faith and about our ministry to Venezuelan immigrants.
Recently, she mentioned that we were having a hard time finding a property to rent. One of the ladies offered the name of a realtor. Another lady - Olga - said, “Hey, my father-in-law is the president of the Lion’s Club. They are closing down and are trying to rent their building. Maybe you would be interested in it?” No price was mentioned.
Liisa told me about it, and we went to take a look. Olga’s father-in-law showed us around. This is the first and only property we looked at without first knowing the price. When we found out the price, I said, “It’s too much money”. But I made an offer anyways.
After they accepted our offer, I had second thoughts and tried one more time to find the property I had envisioned - and I found it! Perfect in every way, including size, location, and price! I couldn’t believe it! I made an immediate offer on the property. Three days later, I got the answer.
They rented my “perfect property” to someone else.
That did it. We are done fighting with God. Lion’s Club property, here we come!
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- The "small" room which we will initially use for worship. The big room is in another part of the building!
- Side hallway leading to immigrant housing in the back.
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* Pray for courage, as we step out in faith for the next phase of our ministry here in Santiago.
* Pray for the GLO Board of Directors, meeting in Dallas at the end of July.
* Pray for Jim as he "wears two hats" - church planting missionary in Santiago, and director of Global Lutheran Outreach.
* Pray for Marion Otula, daughter of GLO missionaries Rev. Amos and Evelyn Otula (form Kenya). Marion almost died due to pneumonia. She is out of the hospital now, but still needs prayers for health and healing.
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* Praise God for Jorge and Carlos who will be confirmed before our next newsletter!
* Praise God Liisa's English outreach! She now has about 30 students. Pray that more would visit our worship.
* Praise God for a successful conference on legal matters facing immigrants in Chile, led by a Chilean immigrant lawyer! 16 people were in attendance
*
Praise God for the 8 new participants who are waiting to begin Bible study with Jim! This will be their first formal introduction to Jesus and the Bible.
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We praise the Lord especially for YOU, our mission partners - those who give EVERY MONTH, as well as for the many people who support us quarterly or as they are able to do so. May the Lord pour out unexpected blessings on you!
OR
Mail a check to
:
Global Lutheran Outreach
6709 Ficus Dr.
Miramar, FL 33023
(Put "Tino - Chile" on the memo line of the check.)
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Choice Dollars charitable grant funds make a world of difference to missionaries through our Global Missionary Fund, which supplies dollars to missionaries who experience a shortfall in funding. Directing Choice Dollars is easy. Simply go to:
Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.
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Global Lutheran Outreach is a not-for-profit corporation under section 501 c 3 of the Federal Tax code. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by the IRS.
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