A busy month - of blessings!

From the Ends of the Earth

Chile Mission News from Jim and Liisa Tino

September / October 2022

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Mission Partner;

Before we get into the news from God's mission in Chile, we have some sad news to share with you. Liisa's father, Edwin Mattson, went to be with Jesus on October 2. As you are reading this, we are traveling to New Hampshire to be with family and to celebrate Dad's life in the company of our family and family of faith.

The apostle Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21). For Dad, both halves of that verse are true! His life was dedicated to Jesus Christ, as all who knew him can attest. And now that he has left his earthly body, we rejoice in his "gain" - in the arms of Jesus for all eternity!

Oh, that the Lord would grant that same faith to many, many more people - our families, our neighbors, and to countless others in Chile and all over the world! Thank you for being a part of our ministry to share our HOPE in Jesus!

A joyful month!

Here are the definitions of the terms used in this article:

Cueca: the national folk dance of Chile.

Fonda: Open, outdoor areas that can be compared to fairgrounds or carnivals set apart for partying during the independence day celebrations. They include stands which sell typical Chilean foods and beverages or handicrafts. There are also areas to play traditional games and stages where folk dances are performed.

Empanada de pino: A baked, half-moon pastry filled with a mixture of meat, onions and sometimes raisins, olives and hard-boiled eggs.

HAPPY SPRING! Yes, south of the equator, things are quite different than the USA. Not only is Chilean Independence Day celebrated in September, but it also means summer is just around the corner! People are hustling about buying food for family cookouts and preparing their houses for visitors. Joyful “cueca” melodies (see sidebar for definitions of chilean terms) are heard everywhere – from grocery stores to schools where children practice the traditional folk dances, to parks were “fondas” are organized. The air is filled with sweet spring blossoms and the smell of onions and ground beef being prepared for the typical Chilean “empanadas de pino”.

At our mission church things were buzzing, too!

Anniversary!

The first Sunday in September was the 5^th anniversary of Divina Providencia Lutheran Church. We had a festive service followed by a meal. We presented the congregation with a special banner made by a Lutheran sister from the church where GLO missionary, Steve Massey, serves in Guatemala. (see photo). Some of the women from the congregation made anniversary keychains to give to everyone in attendance.

"El Dieciocho" (the 18th) in Chile is like the 4th of July in America. On September 18 1810, the first Chilean government was formed, which began the process of becoming an independent nation. That process lasted almost eight years, culminating on February 12 1818. We celebrated the true eternal freedom we have through the blood of Jesus with a special worship service. The liturgy, the hymnody and the décor of the sanctuary all reflected the Chilean culture. It was an important day for the many immigrants from the congregation who are thankful for the opportunity to build a new life in Chile.

God's family in Santiago grows - again!

During September, Pastor Jim was busy preparing his confirmation class for their “big day”. On September 25 our simple wood and tin temple in Santiago was at full capacity as we rejoiced in the reception of 8 new members! Little Emma was received by the saving waters of baptism, while her brother, Ezequiel, gave testimony of his faith through confirmation. Six other adults were also confirmed that day. Of course, we had a great celebration afterwards!

Finally, the month came to a close with an intensive 2-day course taught by Jim on “Evangelism and Mercy”. This is part of the Lutheran Bible Institute here in Chile, of which Jim is the director. Participants came from several Lutheran churches in the country. Members from our congregation helped host the event, and all those participating were blessed and equipped to serve their Lord in their individual congregations.

Liisa's Update

Personally, this month has been difficult. We are thankful for the many brothers and sisters who join us in prayer for God’s mercy and peace during these trying times. Amid tears and heartache, we rest on the promise that Dad is no longer suffering, but rejoicing by the side of his Savior, together with many loved ones who have preceded him.

We will be traveling to the USA to be with family. All of our children as well will be arriving in NH for the funeral. Later, we will be attending other events as well, including speaking at several churches. We are thankful your support and prayers during this time.

PRAYERS AND PRAISE

*Pray for peace and comfort for Liisa, her mom Shirley and her siblings Leila, Loreen and Luke, and for all of the family.

*Give thanks that Sonrisa & Tyler were able to buy their first home and move to Powder Springs, Georgia. May God bless them in their new home!

*Pray for the congregation “Divina Providencia” as we continue to wait for God to lead us to the next pastor who will continue to care for and lead the congregation in Santiago.

*Pray that God would bless our 5-year-old mission with the means to acquire their own property.

*Give thanks for Elizabeth Hernandez, a friend from our early years in Maturin, Venezuela, who recently reconnected with us in Chile. Pray for her as she witnesses to her family and grows in her reignited faith.

*Ask the Lord's blessings on our future plans! We will be sharing some great news in our next newsletter, Lord willing. (Sorry for the "teaser", but we want to make sure our plans are the Lord's plans before providing more detail!)

*Pray for GLO missionary Victor Rivas who is suffering from Bels Palsey. We ask God to heal him completely and rapidly, according to His will.

* We pray for Rosa, a sister in Christ, who is leaving Chile to join her daughter in Spain. We commend her to God’s care and protection, as we will miss her presence in our congregation.

*Praise God for Global Lutheran Outreach as we meet the challenge of sending missionaries from EVERYWHERE to EVERYWHERE. Pray for financial stability of our role in this important ministry.

* Continue to pray for our loved ones who are facing serious health concerns: Liisa’s friend Katy, with cancer; Jim’s mother Norma., suffering from dementia; and Jim's father Dennis who is Norma's full-time caregiver and was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.

*Praise God for the congregations who invited us to preach/present during our "planned/unplanned" trip to the States. We will be at Guardian Lutheran in Dearborn, MI on Oct 23, and St. Paul Lutheran in Flint, MI on October 30.

SUPPORT CORNER

We praise the Lord for our faithful mission partners who were moved by the Holy Spirit to give "above and beyond" and help to stabilize our financial situation. We will be in the USA through October.

To make an online contribution, click here.

Or, you can mail a check to:

Global Lutheran Outreach

6709 Ficus Dr.

Miramar, FL 33023

(put "Tino - Chile" on the memo line of the check")

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.

LEAVE A MISSION LEGACY!

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