Inescapable

“At 20 years of age, I began to really live....

2011-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

“At 20 years of age, I began to really live my life and be able to enjoy it. It all began last year when my life began to lack purpose, direction and self-acceptance. I began my university studies thinking I had achieved something great, but with my life being so empty, I quickly lost motivation to work hard. I was a self-centered person and very cold on occasion. One day I met a classmate during a workshop, and we became friends. She invited me to a Vida Estudiantil (Campus Crusade for Christ in Chile) event, and I went without hesitation. Time passed and I began to realize that I lacked something. I was not happy and, for some reason, I did not have a good relationship with my parents. Time passed, and I unintentionally became more involved in the ministry.The joy that the students from the ministry seemed to share impacted me greatly, and this year I asked God with all my heart to pardon my actions and enter into my life. I asked that He would give me the opportunity to be a good person, to love my parents, and love myself. Soon I realized that my life changed, and now I can share with other people that the love of God is infinite.”

-Macarena Llanquinao, Student of Medical TechnologyA few months earlier another story was just developing.11:30pm Skype conversation: “What have you been thinking about what we discussed the other day?” Lisset asked Anna Maria. Anna- “Well, I agree!” Lisset- “You agree with what?” Anna- “I agree that I need to accept Jesus in order to receive forgiveness for sin and have a relationship with God.” Anna’s newfound joy in Christ soon overflowed into Maca’s life.

Grandma Finds Something New

2011-09-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Family News

It is with great joy that we share with you the news that Lisset’s grandmother, Matilde, has placed her faith in Jesus Christ! This has been a prayer and hearts desire of mine for years. She has pulmonary fibrosis. When she got bronchitis last July she was hospitalized. And there in the hospital my dad and mom shared with her and she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. Pray with us now that she grows to maturity in Christ. Lisset

Preparing Missionaries for Serving/Living Overseas

2011-09-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

“Instead of just looking through the window, come inside.” “Dive into the water, don’t just look down into the depths from the boat.” These were just a few word pictures that helped us begin to grasp the difference between transparency (to see)and vulnerability (to join). In our coaching groups at X-track we were invited to let others really take part in our stories, vulnerability. We found that God showed up as we engaged each others stories with all the mess and the glory. The gospel took deeper root in our lives as we processed our life experiences in it’s light.This summer’s training for cross-cultural missionaries, X-track, was one of the best things I have been a part of during my 12 years on staff. The heart of the missionary being transformed by the gospel was the clear emphasis. And it was also the experience of the participants. There was also good content to put in our heads that will help us do well in life and ministry abroad. We acquired language learning skills, advice for raising children in a culture different from that of his/her parents, and input about making study of the Word and spiritual disciplines a constant area of growth.I was amazed by what God did as we were vulnerable with each other and asked the Holy Spirit to help us see our true self. This exposed both how we were uniquely formed for His glory (very encouraging) and ways each of us were needing the gospel to continue transforming our hearts (leading us to repentance). The experience of grace and truth in spiritual community impacted our lives in a profound way. For me it was humbling and exciting to be used by God to prepare these men to thrive as they leave for their respective assignments in the next few weeks. George

May: New Staff Training

2011-09-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

“With God there are no transitions, just preparation...” At the end of last November, before leaving Chile for what will be most of 2011, we attended a weekend marriage retreat with our church in Santiago. One afternoon during a time of prayer the pastor and his wife prayed for us and encouraged us with those words. The first week of May we attended new staff training. It was great to be part of a diverse group, most of whom where professionals who left their jobs, following God’s call to join staff. They will be ministering to families in FamilyLife, soldiers in the Military Ministry, grade school teachers with International School Project and athletes with Athletes in Action. Lisset officially became a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ at this training.With this new job comes the responsibility of financing our employment as a family in missions. Right after new staff training George went to Bogota Colombia for a week long leadership retreat with leaders representing the campus ministry in 18 countries in Latin America. Next month we will attend the International Campus Staff training called X-Track, which prepares missionaries to establish life and ministry in another country long-term. George will work as a coach at X-track.We are thankful for God’s call to serve and grateful for this time to prepare for the coming years serving Him in Chile.

"On The Road"

2011-03-17T18:10:00.001-07:00

“On the road” is the phrase that captures 2011 for us. On January 4th we left Santiago for three weeks of summer camp and national missions projects in southern Chile. During the last week of January we packed our bags, and our apartment as we prepared to leave Chile for what will hopefully be only 11 months. February 3rd we arrived in Cali Colombia with the team of nine Chileans and one American. During the rest of the month we served alongside Colombian students on 5 university campuses in Cali. On March 3rd we set out again, this time on vacation in Colombia and Mexico. We enjoyed getting to know Colombia for a few days and on March 9th arrived in Acapulco, where Lisset’s family lives. In just a couple weeks we will be on the road again, making our way to Nebraska. We have traveled thousands of miles and slept in 19 different beds so far this year. But with all the travel we are never waiting, every day and every place God is at work and we are thankful to be His servants. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.

2011-03-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

The second day of the national missions project our truck had a serious breakdown. After a major delay in getting it repaired, we finally hit the road, only for it to break down again. Finally after the third repair, it still isn’t fixed. We planned to sell it before leaving Chile. Now our good friends in Chile are stuck with the work of getting it repaired and selling it.
But as is usually the case, God used this experience to expose ways in which I fail to trust Him. The idols of money and control were clearly exposed as I lost control of this situation and continue to loose a fair amount of money. All I had left was to trust God. And that was just it, God took me to the place where I had to face that in this area of my life, I was in control and worse yet I did not want Him to be in control. He is in control! And now my heart is being freed of idols that were making it hard to enjoy the gospel.

Ultimately

2009-08-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy frisbee, disc golf, ultimate frisbee... all good!
In 2005 there were two groups of summer project students who visited Chile. I joined a team from Mexico for two weeks. Both groups got to know Gabriel, a physical education student at the Universidad Andres Bello. Gabriel came to know Christ personally during that time. He continued to be involved when I arrived in Chile long term in 2006. But during the second semester of 2006 we lost touch with Gabriel. He had decided not to continue in discipleship.
The marvelous tool of facebook reconnected us last year. Gabriel now teaches at the Universidad Católica, one of the most prestigious schools in Chile. While in the USA he learned to play frisbee. And when he came back he began to teach others to play. Through facebook he invited me to come. A couple weeks ago we finally were able to meet up. I had not seen Gabriel in person for a couple years.
Today a group of young men, Lisset and I were able to go to the Universidad Católica and play Ultimate Frisbee with Gabriel and his class. Gabriel has not grown much spiritually, but he has a clear conviction about the new life he has in Christ. He also has a desire to know the Scriptures better, serve God and be in community with other believers. Pray that these desires would grow to be stronger than his desire for others good things.
For me it was an awesome afternoon, playing a game I enjoy with eight young men representing five universities and Lisset, seeing the fruit of years of sowing…
And Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
(Mar 4:26-29)

Personal Stuff

2009-08-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning June 7th I was taking the summer project students to church. As we walked to church a friend of mine called and informed us that the service had been canceled due to a swine flu outbreak. So we changed plans and went to another church nearby. We arrived 30 minutes early because of the different service time.
Before the church service I ran into Jeff and Aki. They led a small group at the church I go to several years ago. It turns out that Jeff is studying the same program, MA in Religion at Reformed Theological Seminary, and is in the same course, History of Christianity I. Although adding studies to my responsibilities is a challenge, this seems like a good time. I am more established in ministry here and finally have a bit of learning community while on the mission field.
We will be meeting Friday afternoons to discuss the study questions and try keep each other on track with readings. In addition last week I met Tim, who is Australian, but teaches at a pastoral training institute here in Santiago. Hopefully he can be my mentor, which is a requirement for each course.

I spent the afternoon of June 7th with Lisset. The month not dating allowed us to work through some issues. I am grateful that God has put a godly beautiful woman in my life. We covet your prayers as we continue to pursue God’s purpose in our lives and in relationship with each other.

2009 Santiago Summer Project

2009-06-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

Sowing and Reaping

2009-03-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

The week before classes start students were on campus arranging their class schedules and financing for the new semester. I went to campus to meet with Diego, a young man who is trusting God to reach his peers in the electrical engineering department. We refreshed our minds and hearts with what the Word has to say about living the Spirit-filled life. As we were talking a student that I had met years ago walked by, and I immediately remembered her name, Fernanda, but did not have the opportunity to say hello.
About an hour later I was standing at the entrance to the university with one of our staff. And there was Fernanda making her way towards the metro on her way home. I called out her name and we got to chat for a few minutes about how things were going in her life. Three years ago we had met her and some of her class mates as freshmen. She had come to a few things and had the opportunity to hear the gospel but did not stay involved or trust Christ. It had been about two years since I had talked to her.
I asked her how her family, studies and plans were going, and then asked her what her experience has been spiritually for the past few years. She admitted that for most of that time she had distanced herself from God and been very focused on her studies. But she recently had started to think more about God. I asked Fernanda if she considered herself to have a personal relationship with God. She said yes. Then I asked her how confident she was that she would be with God for eternity. She said that she thought she probably would but that it is hard to know. My next question, "If you could experience greater confidence and intimacy with God, would you want to?" She replied, "Sure!"
So we got a drink at the cafeteria and sat down in the grass for about 45 minutes. She was very honest and genuine in her desire to know God. We talked through the 4 Spiritual Laws. But more importantly God was talking to her heart if a special way and she received Christ with the joy. Her hunger for truth was evident in the questions she asked as we finished our conversation. She immediately accepted the invitation to study what the Bible says about growing a relationship with God.
Three years ago during my first semester, I do not remember anyone coming to Christ all semester. And without a doubt there are no new believers involved with us from that first semester. But we sowed. And now it is time to reap.
Over 40 students have trusted Christ in the past year. Most of them are studying the Bible with us. Just today on campus three young men from electrical engineering met over lunch to plan how to reach out to the freshmen class. All of them have trusted Christ within the past two years. And two of them just came to the Lord last semester. Seeing their desire to study the Word, reach out to the lost and encourage the body of Christ is a tremendous joy for me.

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."(Psalm 126:5-6)

Re-purchased

2009-03-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday I bought my own bike back, it was a pretty cool experience, living out Luke 6.

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

(Luke 6:27-30)

While waiting in the long lines at the bank. A couple thieves stole my securely locked bike just 15 feet from armed guards. Life in Chile is usually normal, but defies common sense at times.

When I realized it had been stolen it I immediately... was angry.. and then prayed that God would work in the lives of the thieves. Then I told the cops of the incident, which felt like wasting my time. A week later a bike suspiciously similar to mine appeared on a eBay-like website in Chile, for the same price I had bought if for in December. I made the purchase online and arranged to meet with the individual.

I gave it the normal test ride and bargained him down a bit. After paying him for the bike I let him know that it was absolutely my bike. He offered to give me my money back. Assuring me he did not know the bike was stolen when he bought it from his friend. He was lying and I was telling the truth. I told him that I forgive him and even though I had little reason to believe him, I would give him the benefit of the doubt. So I asked him return to me what would have been his profit from the sale. Then I shared the gospel with him, and with his little brother who accompanied him. And exhorted them to repent and live lives of self sacrifice not selfishness. I am praying for Cristian and Esteban. And plan to send him and email and or give him a call next weekend to see if he would like to get together to talk more about the extraordinary love of God.

God works according to His word, answers prayer and is in control, even when it feels like the world is evil and we suffer loss. This could not be any clearer; the cross screams these truths at us every day.

I am the only person alive who can tell that thief, "I forgive you for stealing from me." And show him the generous mercy of the King by paying him for my own possessions. And Jesus is the only one who can truly forgive his sin, and I am forever indebted to Him for paying for mine.

The Team in Santiago

2008-10-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Israel, Lisset, George, Maria Ignacia, Veronica y Juan Carlos on campus at USACH
As Jesus taught us, we are asking God for more laborers for the harvest. Our staff invest their time sharing the gospel with students and primarily training students who are following Jesus to multiply their experience with God through evangelism and discipleship. This year we have experienced lots of growth in the number of students being trained, the number of students coming to faith in Christ and the number of campuses were we are working.
It is a great joy to receive Juan Carlos, his wife Veronica and Maria Ignacia into the campus team here in Santiago. They have recently completed their team of ministry parters and are now with us on campus. I appreciate their faith and enthusiasm, as they trust God to use them to start spiritual movements.

Listen

2008-10-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

Everybody appreciates it when someone listens to them. A few months ago in a staff meeting we were considering how to more effectively engage students and share the gospel more often. One of our main conclusions was that we needed to create a space where we could listen to them. During the past month we have been using a new evangelism tool called Soularium. Soularium is a set of 50 images that help people share their experiences, hopes and beliefs. The tool is used by a facilitator (staff or student leader) who poses a question to which the audience responds using an image to help them explain themselves. In this way it helps foster authenticity and allows people to talk about things they often do not share. While you can pose a wide range of questions, the main idea is to hear what their experiences and hopes are in life, both with respect to their personal plans and their spirituality. We also ask them to talk about God. It is really pretty special to have someone share these things with you. And almost universally students tell us they appreciated the opportunity to express themselves. At the end we offer to pray for them and contact them if they are interested in talking more. www.mysoularium.com

We already knew that individualism, pluralism, relativism and pragmatism are significant influences in the minds of young people. As we hear their stories there is a sense that this generation is generally full of hope, believes in a god without religion and is pretty comfortable with the “confusion” of conflicting ideologies. Many indicate they are searching, but a search for truth is seemingly out of reach. The search is much more passive and their choices while not unreasoned seem to be based on sentiment than evidence. While there are lost of answers that might be helpful in the midst of the confusion, belief is experiential for this generation. A good argument is interesting but rarely convincing. They need to see it work.
What a great challenge! And the church is up to it, because the Holy Spirit is at work in us.

Church Planting Among the Mapuche

2008-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Each summer we spend a week training our students in a cross-cultural mission’s experience. Planting churches among the Mapuche is a challenging task. In the region where we are working there is a clear need for a person who will disciple local church leadership. A couple weeks ago I was able to travel up into the mountains once again, to encourage the local church leadership, share from the Word with families and get a head start on the plans for the missions experience with students in January. During the trip three people indicated a decision to trust in Jesus Christ. We also were able to visit local pastors and encourage them.

Jerry and Daniel are pastors and missionaries who are also committed to helping establish churches in this region. It is great to partner with such quality people who work with a kingdom mindset. Unfortunately others who are “serving” in the area do not have this perspective. One of the biggest problems we face in evangelism in the area is a hypocritical and religious church that is divisive within the community and does not teach the Scripture.

Another challenge in evangelization in this region is the limited ability to comprehend texts. Reading is simply not a normal way of learning for these people. The Mapuche have an oral not written tradition. They are largely ignorant of the Bible. But asking them to read it is not practical. We are trying to overcome this difficulty with the use of solar powered audio devices which allow them hear the Scripture. We will also be using an audio and DVD based tool called, “God’s Big Story”. This material gives a brief overview of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, helping people understand more clearly what God has done and is doing.

This summer we hope to have 6 teams of students. They will spend significant time with families who are open to the message. Rather than visiting a family for a couple hours and asking them to come to a film showing, our evangelism will be based on two or three days teaching the Bible from start to finish with families who are open. In this way we hope to help these families know Christ and get involved in a local church that teaches the Scriptures.

No Reason To Believe

2008-09-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

Our first time setting foot on the INACAP on Av. Apoquindo campus we met Juan Pablo, Kenneth and Camila. The week before a student from this campus, Felipe, attended our student leadership meeting, Raíces. I set up a time to visit his campus with some of the summer project students who were visiting us from the US. As we introduced ourselves and shared briefly the vision of Vida Estudiantil it was natural to ask them about their beliefs.

I asked them, “On a scale from 1-10, how interested are you in knowing God personally?” It doesn´t happen very often, but Kenneth answered “zero” with an honest grin. He indicated that he thinks people make too much of religion. He did not understand my question, but I could understand his point of view. Over the next month we got to hang out with them a couple of times on campus.

Last week when Felipe and I had made a time to go share our faith, we ran into Kenneth. After talking about girlfriends and different places in Chile, I reminded Kenneth of his response and asked him if he would be willing to share more of his story. He gladly accepted. While he went to buy a pack of cigarettes Felipe and I prayed.

Kenneth has just gotten to campus from donating blood to help his grandmother who is very sick. As he told his story it was easy to see why he found it so hard to “believe”. His story is full of difficulty. The injury that almost cost him his leg when he was young, his broken relationship with his father, the tension in his living situation with uncles and a very ill and cranky grandmother… He could find no reason to believe, even though he had tried. (Kenneth is at the far left, with the summer project)

Even though many things in life may not have a satisfactory explanation, Felipe and I could share how the cross of Christ and the unconditional love of God were even more inexplicable. Kenneth told us that he felt like something really extraordinary would have to happen for him to be able to believe. We helped him consider that perhaps something extraordinary was happening and had happened to reconcile him to God. Please pray that God help Kenneth to see light of the world, Jesus, and that God help us to be lights in the darkness on campuses in Santiago.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2Cor. 4:4-6)

Many Reasons to Believe

2008-09-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

We met Tomas, a student at the Universidad Andres Bello, in English Club. Israel, who coaches student leaders at UNAB, copied me a portion of an email from Tomas

“After thinking about it and having it on my mind for several years, I decided that it is the best thing I could do in my life, and I feel very good about it, so during my winter vacation I decided to be a Christian… several factors influenced this decision: my mother has been a Christian for no more than 4 years, I have seen her happier than ever during these 4 years, my brother and I experienced a couple miracles (we had an accident 3 years ago, and today we are without adverse effects). Another important factor was the English Club of Vida Estudiantil, to which I went with the sole purpose of learning some English, but little by little I realized the quality of people who have a happy spirit, a kind-heartedness and availability, and a great strength in their beliefs which in an authoritative way coincide with each other.
Another very important factor leading up to my decision was a special Christian young lady who I had gotten to know. She is able to speak with ease about God in a simple way, coherent and pleasant, and with the same point of view as many others… so I told myself, I should belong to this group, it is without a doubt the best! On top of this I would have to add the services of the church in La Serena that my mom goes to, where there is a an equally pleasant atmosphere. I admire the pastor, very intelligent, and he knows how to apply Biblical values to everyday life. Also my mom is always reminding me of the things the Bible describes and how they are based in history and still speak to our world today, and this is very convincing!
So there are many reasons, I just was slow to see them and take them into account, but I am happy to have given myself to Christ because unquestionably, it is never late. That is all! Haha. I hope to see you more often this semester!" Tomas
After English club one day we went bowling with the students. Tomas is holding the dark blue bowling ball.

31

2008-07-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Two surprise parties for one birthday. The first was Thursday the 28th with students and also with Kelly, a leader of the summer project with whom I share the 30th of June as our birthday. The second was on my birthday. I had planned my own thing, last minute of course, and got together with 7 guys at an pub that evening. But I was blind folded and taken to a mysterious place (turned out to be my apartment, but with a few extra turns on the way there) where I was greeted by a room full of people. Turning 31 was special. I am deeply grateful for all that God has allowed me to live. It has been quite an experience, from being a introverted farm boy from southeast Nebraska, to living in Santiago Chile and following Jesus as the leader of a spiritual movement that is touching the lives of many people.

Faithful and Fun

2008-07-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

Diego and Connie got connected with Vida Estudiantil back in April through our effective study seminar. After the seminar we offered personalized coaching to help students apply some of the study techniques and allow us to get to know them better. Lisset led their coaching times and was able to connect them with our mission on campus.
They are from Osorno, in southern Chile. And have been dating for a year. They both knew Jesus personally, and asked us to train them to share their faith and how to establish new believers in the Christian faith. It has been a real treat to teach them and get to know them over the past few months.
I think they are probably the most faithful students I have ever had the opportunity to train. They showed up for every meeting and generally had prepared the lesson. Diego has also been able to involve a classmate of his. It is a real joy to work with such great people. Cote, pictured also invests time with Connie in discipleship. It is sweet to be part of a team that invest their lives in others.
I am confident that Diego and Connie will both see the lives of many of their peers transformed by the Lord. They both have 5 more years of studies at the University of Santiago de Chile. Diego studies Electrical Engineering and Connie, Surgical Medicine.

Good Time For A Protest

2008-07-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

Each year May has great potential for some riots or strikes here in Chile. The month starts with Labor Day, in which Chileans celebrate with tear gas and marches to protest the law which allows the wealthy business owners to employ people for $300 a month, far less than a living wage. May also is a month in which students usually protest the inequality of education. This May’s protests and strikes lasted all the way through June. Two weeks ago they voted for a very important reform to the law. This new legislation will give more administrative power to the national government. The municipal governments had been empowered under the old law. But this was creating a very unequal education, in which the quality of education in poorer areas was not adequate. Students from poorer areas were less likely to get into the university because their education did not adequately prepare them for the national entrance exam.

For our ministry the strikes have historically been harmful, causing us to loose our momentum on campus and loose touch with the students we were getting to know. But this year it has been a tremendous opportunity for us. The reason is that we now how a critical mass of involved students leaders and have a base of contacts already established among the freshmen that allows us to continue our ministry. In fact the strike helped us in significant ways because students had lots of free time. For the newly involved students it allowed them to spend lots of time together during the past 6 weeks. And the contacts that we are developing relationships with were also able to participate more. In the end our relationships with key students have really grown through the shared experiences we had this past month.

Two weeks before the strike started I was able to get an English Club started with the freshmen in Electrical Engineering. We have had English club every week except one. And as a result I have gotten to know Oscar, Cristóbal, Pablo, Jaime and Carlos. I have also been able to continue to involve Alan and Nicolas, seniors who are preparing their thesis, in co-leading the English Club. Students have been enthusiastic about English Club and have also been open to the gospel. With classes re-starting this next week I hope to continue the English Club for a few more weeks and grab lunch with them from time to time to continue the spiritual conversations that we have started.

Roommates: From all over the world and now one who is not of this world

2007-11-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

In January we moved into a new apartment. But we knew that in six months David would be leaving to go back to the U.S. We would have to find another roommate. In the past few months we have had the world come through our door: Swiss, Kiwis, Australian, Venezuelan, Bolivian, Peruvian and Chilean/Mexican.At the end of October we were once again a few days away from having to pay for our three bedroom apartment between Israel and myself. Israel posted an advertisement on a website one evening. An hour later Guillermo calls us to set up an appointment to view the apartment and meet us. An hour after that he was sitting on our couch and we made a verbal agreement. Amazing, 2 hours from advertised to occupied.
Tonight we had the tremendous privilege of seeing Guillermo place his faith in Jesus Christ. He moved in almost exactly a month ago. We have had several good spiritual conversations. His marriage troubles brought him to the end of himself. As he came to the King in his need, he received repentance, the forgiveness of sins and new life.

Developing Multiple Generations of Leaders

2007-11-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in November we simultaneously hosted our second Student Leadership Encounter and the first LeaderTreks workshop. Development and multiplication of students leadership is a critical step in communicating the gospel to every student. The fellowship and community we experienced as the proven leaders, emerging leaders and staff spent the weekend together were extraordinary.

The Encouentro de Liderazgo Estudiantil was a time of teaching and practical ministry training. The theme was “Sowing”. We were able to engage the scope of world evangelization and process as a team how to communicate the gospel on the university campus. This space is one of the key elements that we have been able to generate this school year.
One of our new staff, Israel, has been attending a training in Bolivia for a leadership development curriculum called LeaderTreks. The first workshop, “Fundamentals of Leadership” was attended by 9 students from four different universities. This is a great start for another program that will help us see students lives changed. It works well for both Christian and non-Chrsitian students.

The ability to generate multiple generations of leaders is important on the college campus where leadership necesarily changes every few years. Establishing the programs and culture of multiple generations is an important step for us as we consider the challenge of reaching the nearly 250,000 students in Chile.

Invasion and Progress

2007-11-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

Once a month student leaders from different campuses are gathering to help establish the ministry on a campus that is not their own. Yesterday we had a great experience at Universidad de Ciencias Informaticas. Student leaders from 4 campuses showed up. The sense of teamwork among the student leaders in launching and building movements was stellar.

The primary goal of Invasion is to equip students in evangelism. While we are also publicizing the activities that we are doing to serve students the main focus of this time is to train students in the art of initiating gospel centered conversations. The benefits of doing this together are many. It allows our staff to model evangelism with student leaders. It creates an awareness of the scope of every campus and every student. It deepens the sense of teamwork among students. It creates momentum on the campus we visit. It fosters the sharing of ideas. It builds up the faith and courage of the staff and students. And it created the instance for at least 20 students to hear the good news and consider Jesus' offer of new life; abundant and eternal. In the future I believe that Invasion will become an instance where student leaders launch movements on new campuses.

There is still a lot of work to do, but many of the key elements of the ministry are beginning to take shape. As this second school year draws to a close, I am really grateful and a bit surprised at all that God has given us.
We have developed and refined several ministry tools that are helping us step into the lives of lost students: English clubs; a campus meeting format and content that is getting positive feedback from non-Christian students; the Effective Study Seminar that will help us reach freshmen and has caught the attention of school administration as a valuable service to the university; a fall retreat format that got positive feedback from non-Christian students who attended.
We have also refined and adapted our student leadership development. Raices is a community of personal and leadership development that is structured so that we can develop multiple generations of leadership. We have a yearly calendar of student leadership retreats, and have seen God bless these times. In January we will have our first national conference aimed specifically at developing Christian students for mission. In January we will also establish our national summer missions project which will cast vision for and train students in trans cultural missions.
We have seen God bless us in the development of key resources. One of the biggest challenges has been to form small groups where non-Christians can engage with Christians in life and seeking the truth. We are still working on this but have made significant progress in the past year. We have been blessed with the financial support from Chileans to advance needed initiatives. Right now we are in the process of getting a new evangelism tool into print. Our website is also a significant resource. http://www.vidaestudiantil.cl/

The progress we can see after two years here in Santiago has been the result of hard work and the grace of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1Co 15:10)

A Hard Winter

2007-09-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Icalma, just a few kilometers from the boarder with Argentina at 11 a.m. It was sunny and warming up. As we left Temuco that morning around 6 a.m. it had been raining and as we climbed into the Andes it began to snow. The road was quite slippery last 20 kilometers before we reached the tunnel. On the other side of the sierra it had already stopped snowing and the road was clear. This was a good sign as we would soon leave the highway for dirt road winding along the side of the Bio-Bio river valley.

In Icalma the pastor and others from the community quickly gathered after our arrival. Visitors were a welcome site after a very difficult winter. The pastor told us, "In my 63 or 64 years I have never experienced a winter like this." Meteorological records indicate this was the most severe winter in over 80 years. The first snowfall came in February, which would compare to our month of August in the northern hemisphere. In some ways this was helpful because it sent a very clear message that a long hard winter was coming. The people were able to collect extra firewood and buy additional forage for their animals. But it often was not enough. In Quienquen, one of the few communites where there is no church, Ricrado told us, "We stored up double the normal amount of forage and concentrate. It was not enough." There is still several feet of snow covering the grazing areas in this narow valley.

The motive for this trip was to provide some basic provisions in the way of food and clothing to the people, and to continue to develop a partnership with local pastors. We were able to pass out bags of food containing, flour, rice, sugar, oil, yeast and mate to 60 families. We left clothing with the pastors to distribute to those in need. They were glad to hear that we would be back in the summer, helping with children's ministry and evangelism training. In all we visited 7 communities in the region.

Pato's CM2007 experience

2007-08-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Patricio, on the left with other Chilean students who went to CM2007, just got his degree from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile in Human Resources (Administracion de Personas). He is currently completing an internship required by the school. Before leaving for the US in June I sat down with Pato to help him establish a biblical perspective for determining his vocation and invited him to join us as campus staff. A month later Pato was on a plane to South Korea for CM2007. This was the first international student missions conference for Campus Crusade for Christ. I wanted to share with you his comments about the experience. They are tremendously encouraging to me as we trust God for movements everywhere, specifically that Vida Estudiantil would be used to increase involvement of Chileans in world evangelization.

“CM2007 in South Korea was an unforgettable experience because God put in my heart a passion for missions. I know that I am called to be on mission and share the gospel with others students in Chile and the world, and in reality we are all called to this. I came to understand this much better in Korea. Personally I would like to go to another part of the world where there is great need for Christ. I could see, because of my experience at CM2007, the great need for Christ in other countries is shocking. They lack people who are guiding others to Christ. Yet first I want to work to reach the students in my university, and if God permits to be a missionary in another part of the world. This is what I feel that the Lord is calling me to every day and it is what I want to do.” Patricio Maricán

Honor Thyself

2007-08-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday I heard that Barry Bonds tied the home run record. When it was reported on TV, they gave equal time to Alex Rodriguez hitting his 500th. I opened the Sunday paper to the sports section and it did not even make the lead article. When there is so much sensationalism in the news, it struck me as strange that the media seemed to be playing down this achievement.
While in Colorado, a friend of mine said, "I have always thought of you as driven." I think he meant it in a good way. But God wanted to test me with it. I was getting burned out during the last semester in Chile. Unless I am led by the Lord I will mainly have my own strength to depend on. And that is not enough. And even worse the result would be me getting the honor for any accomplishments. Another friend of mine always tells me, "God is not so interested in what you do for Him, as He is in who you are and who you are becoming in Him." God simply wants to be the source of our strength and make us more like Christ. He wants us to live out of abundance for His glory, rather than live to get what we lack for our good.
What is interesting to me is that this is a universal value. Most everyone seems to know that what really counts is character, what is inside of a man. The lack of integrity of Barry Bonds and his "it is all about me" attitude are repulsive. They totally undermine his stellar achievements.

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4

New Semester Soon Underway

2007-08-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

The spring semester in Chile is about to start. I was able to chat on instant messenger with one of the guys I know from the USACH basketball team. He is already practicing and is back to class on Monday. The ministry staff in Chile had the national staff conference this past weekend. It was a good time to seek God together, strengthen relationships and establish focus for the rest of the year. There have been lots of changes. Nine short term missionaries completed their term in July and have returned home. We will have to work smarter with less people this spring.
One of the most encouraging things from the first semester is the commitment of student leaders from seven different campuses. God is raising up committed laborers who are trusting Him for spiritual movements everywhere.
The staff and students are currently making plans for the semester. There are many things we could do. Please ask God to help us follow His lead with great sensitivity.
"Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." William Carey

U.S. Staff Conference

2007-07-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

The national staff conference is held at Colorado State University every two years. Now that I am international campus staff I am not required to come. But I may still come occasionally because of the valuable interaction with our fantastic staff and the way God uses the time to refresh us in the singular vision for seeing spiritual movements everywhere.
During the first few days of the conference the staff for each ministry meet. I serve in the campus ministry, but there are dozens of different ministries that are part of Campus Crusade for Christ. One of my passions in ministry is to be a sender, to mobilize young men and women as missionaries. I have been seeing that we lack some expertise and resources to make our campus ministry more effective in this area. It was great to hear that they have assigned a new leader at the national level to address this issue. The vision, 100% sent, that every student who is involved with us is prepared to make their lives count for fulfilling the Great Commission after they graduate. I also felt like God was challenging me to think outside of Chile and try to help the campus ministry throughout South America create solutions to common problems or needs that we face in each country.
The second part of the conference is for all the staff. One of the ideas that was repeated was that of story, how our lives are a story that God is writing and how we can use story to tell the good news. I also really enjoyed seeing staff friends from around the country. The whole time helped increase my desire to trust God for supernatural things in my life and in Chile.

Mori Mattias

2007-07-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Kurt and Melissa Adams are in X-track with me right now. We have been working together in Chile since January 2006. They are fantastic people that I really admire. Yesterday Melissa went into labor and Mori Mattias was born around 9:30 p.m. July 2nd. They are thankful for a natural birth and a healthy little boy. We visited them today over in Greeley.

Golden Birthday

2007-07-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

Having your birthday fall on a Saturday is a definite plus. I celebrated my 30th birthday last Saturday June 30th. I had not heard of this much before but apparently when the day and the year are the same that is called your golden birthday.
A highlight so far this summer has been the good times with the other staff. I had a great day with the other staff who are preparing to go overseas long term. We hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park for most of the day. And in the evening went out for dinner and a refreshing beverage. As one who enjoys a good beer I appreciate the many microbreweries and variety of beers here in Fort Collins.
30 is definitely a milestone. Someone asked me to share a highlight for every five years of life. As I scanned over my life I can appreciate both the big and the small things. And looking forward I am full of anticiaption that God has many more experiences, both unmistakably large and creatively subtle in store for me.

X-track

2007-06-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have been in Colorado for three weeks. X-track is a 6 week course to prepare cross-cultural missionaries to live and minister in a foreign country long term. I am planning to live in Chile until 2010 or 2012. My desire is to help establish a ministry that raises up young men and women who will go to the world with this good news of abundant life in Christ. This training has been helpful in processing the experiences of my past year and a half in Chile. I have also enjoyed the fellowship and fun times with the other staff.

This past week we learned about language acquisition. The language learning method we learned is comprehensive, covering the process of learning a new language from beginning to advanced stages. I learned my first 20 words in Mandarin during our first meeting with a language helper. Xin Ching had been in the U.S. for less than a week. He helped me learn by listening; saying the words as I pointed to the object they referred to. My Spanish is pretty good. But I am excited to now have a plan and some methods to help me continue to improve when I get back to Chile. In a few years perhaps we will be training our first team of Chileans this method as they prepare to go to a country that does not speak Spanish.

This summer 4 Chilean students will be at CM2007, a global missions conference with 18,000 students from 105 countries. I am encouraged by this and hope that in a few years we will see not just a few students but a movement of students going and sending to the nations from Chile. The conference will expose our students and new national staff to the global campus movement and give them vision for their part in helping fulfill the Great Commission.

superNaturally

2007-05-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

After the fall getaway we have continued to connect individually with students. Developing a community of students is important. On Sunday afternoon we invited all the men involved in Vida Estudiantil to come to the apartment. This space, which we will have about once a month, is just one more example of how things are slowly but steadily moving forward.
These guys lives will be transformed as they pursue truth together. One thing that is true of university students today is that if they do not feel like something is relevant and comfortable they are probably not going to come back. Commitment is not evaluated based on some objective truth, but rather on how they feel about the people and the experiences they have. This is just fine because Jesus is real, personal and is inviting us to live an abundant life. Commitment will come naturally as they have an authentic experience with their Maker. But it is a battle to help them move towards God in the midst of a society that invites them to be their own gods in so many ways.
On Sunday we invited them to get together once a month to build authentic friendships, consider what the Christian life is all about and pray for each other. We started by sharing with them how to experience the abundant life Jesus promised, the Spirit-filled life. Next month we will consider the signularity of Jesus Christ among so many other religous leaders or gods.

Leadership that Changes Lives

2007-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

Isla Negra is a small city on the coast about an hour and a half from Santiago. It is best known for one of the homes of the Nobel prize winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Besides being a great poet Neruda was also involved in politics. He was a socialist who owned three luxurious homes. True servant leadership is really hard to find. And Latin America has had some (and currently has some) very poor leadership.

Mario Bloise, the Continental director, came from Argentina to serve our staff and students for the weekend. The content of the weekend was centered on being leaders that serve, bringing positive change for others. We had a great couple of days with the students. A high percentage of those who came were new students and non-Christians. Most of us were just acquaintances when we arrived, but we left having started new friendships. During the past couple weeks those relationships have continued to grow and we have had gospel centered conversations.

The students were challenged to develop their character and other leadership skills. Mario challenged them to establish clear convictions, to figure out what they are living for. He shared how following Jesus has transformed his life. I had the privilege of speaking to the new students at the close of the conference. By addressing several of the common presumptions that guide how we figure out our purpose in life I hoped to help us consider how we could live extraordinary lives of integrity... living to glorify God by enjoying Him as our greatest treasure, and helping others live this extraordinary life by faith.

Getting Started

2007-04-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

It was the fourth time we met and the first time all four attended. Building commitment and community takes effort. I am so happy to see Diego, Mauricio, Patricio and Cristobal each forming a commitment to serve God together in reaching lost students in the university. Our first meeting we talked about how God could use us to start a spiritual movement in the university and I challenged them to develop a plan. At other times during the week we share our faith together. During the past few meeting we have talked about some of the vital aspects of our character; love, holiness, service and faithfulness. I am excited to see what happens as we help each other set clear objectives in our personal growth and effectiveness in mission. The mission of turning lost students into Christ-centered laborers is something that genuinely motivates these guys. It is hard to imagine all that can happen as God uses us to change lives in the university and outside of it! Please pray that God gives us great faith and grace to complete the goals that each one purposes each week.

Process

2007-04-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

The start of the semester is over. Students are starting to experience the stress of the first round of exams. Last Thursday we finished the "Study Effectively" seminar. Alejandro spoke up at the end of the seminar, "thank you for all the affection and concern you have showed us by offering the seminar." The evening before Israel, one of our new Chilean staff, and I sat down with Alejandro to talk about a variety of questions he had about spirituality. He was curious about how we experience God in our lives.
Earlier in the semester we had a stand that allowed students to come to us. Several hundred stopped by and filled out a short survey. About 1/3 expressed interest in having an objective discussion of the Bible. That was encouraging. The vast majority of students also express a high desire to know God personally. But they usually don't have any idea how they would go about it and are hesitant to get involved in the things that might help them.
We also had an orientation event for freshmen, "How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun". We faced many difficulties with this event, getting a time and place on the university campus, and being able to promote it like we had planned. We postponed it for two weeks. While I was hanging up another poster where they had been taken down two guys asked me what I was promoting. A few minutes later Rodrigo, Francisco and I were in a significant spiritual conversation.
I had to cut the conversation short to meet with my discipleship group. We scheduled a meeting, and a week later we talked at length about how we know what is good and true. Ask we talked through the typical answers (I if I feel good and it doesn't harm anyone else...etc) and examined if they were sufficient to help us deal with reality we eventually narrowed our focus. The gospel became our focus. We could agree that we are basically egocentric people and that many of the problems we face are caused by this heart problem. The law hasn't changed people. A personal relationship with a God who loves us perfectly is a unique and real solution. Rodrigo and Francisco are considering the gospel!
I am not completely sure that the strategies we used are the best ones, but as part of a process they are helping us connect with the campus as a whole and leading us into effective evangelism with students. The reality that about 1% of the students you invite will participate is a discouraging reality. My friend Pablo observed, "participation for me was to go to mass on occasion, that is what has defined participation culturally for centuries here in Chile."
I am also encouraged by how I have been able to re-connect with the many students that we got to know last year. As we invite them to things and are more direct in sharing our faith I am sure some will place their faith in Jesus. Today Christofer, a non-Christian student who went on summer project with us, had dinner with Israel and I. He got to consider the gospel one more time. While I would love to see things go more quickly (for example I believe we could see several spiritual generations before the end of the semester) I know that seeing a ministry become a movement is is about bold faith and patientce in the processes. Thanks for praying that God would start spiritual movements in Chile and for your prayer for our encouragement, perseverance as we face many barriers in the ministry here.

Shaken

2007-04-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Chile has experienced a series of earthquakes in the past day or so. This morning I woke up as a level 4 quake shook Santiago. That is the most significant earthquake that I have experienced. During my first months in Mexico back in 1999 there was a severe earthquake in Oaxaca. I was studying at the language school and didn't feel anything. In Santiago we feel tremors regularly.

Yesterday a 6.2 quake created significant damage and left 10 people missing in southern Chile.

Estudio Eficaz

2007-04-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

One of the things we hear too frequently while talking to "freshmen" students is that this is their second year in the university but they are repeating many of the first years courses. The difference between high school and university study finds many unprepared. On top of that the number of distractions and temptations also multiply with the freedom that this stage of life offers. Today we hosted the first of four sessions of the Study Effectively Seminar. We had a good turn out and the students expressed an interest in the upcoming sessions. It is a lot of work, but serving students, loving them, helping them do well is a joy.
As we expand to more campuses in Santiago, strategies like this seminar will allow us to help student leaders cast the net broadly on campus, be visible and serve students needs.
Before speaking at the seminar today I spent a few hours with Mauricio. Yesterday was our first time going out to share our faith together. Today he was ready to talk to more of his peers. The platform of service to the student community encourages Mauricio to engage his peers in spiritual conversations. When people know that we care about what is important to them, they are much more willing to talk.

Three Phase

2007-03-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

In Santiago we are trusting God to raise up student led movements on every campus. After one year we have a presence and student leaders on three campuses. While we could easily spend all our time trying to build up those ministries we don't want to build ministries, but rather be used of God to mobilize students.
During the next month we have a three phase process to identify and focus on three more campuses. The University of Chile and the Univseridad Catolica are the two most prestigious schools. The first phase is to visit 8 different campuses of those two universities. We will investigate the campuses and look for opportunities and key contacts on Friday. Phase two will be to explore another 8 campuses of private universities. We also will try identify where the 15 summer project students from the US can help launch movements in May and June. Phase three is to focus on 2 or 3 campuses where we see the best opportunity and contacts.
I am confident that we will find students who share our passion for seeing lost students become Christ-centered laborers. Through personal discipleship and our community of leadership development, Raices (from Psalm 1, roots) our team is being used by God to prepare students for living out the great commandment and great commission.

Weddings and Chinese Food

2007-03-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

One year ago I was curious about the large corporate building across the street from my apartment. I asked a guy on the street what the company Endesa does? Pablo informed me that they were an energy company. It turned out we lived in the same building. A friendship was started and through the influence of several people Pablo eventually decided to follow Christ.

Friday my friend Christian and I met with the owner of a chain of Chinese restaurants for dinner. Chen is Chinese but has lived in Chile for 20 years. He is a friend of my former neighbour Pablo. I met Chen for the first time at a discotheque, celebrating Pablo's birthday. We shared with Chen about the ministry of Vida Estudiantil and invited him to invest with us in reaching college students. He was excited to hear about what we are doing. This Wednesday we will meet again at the national office of Vida Estudiantil.

When I arrived at church today I saw Pablo and Karen sitting towards the front dressed a little better than normal and I immediately knew... they were going to announce their engagement. Pablo and Karen had gone to Brazil for their summer vacation last week. And I suspected that he was going to propose. It is a joy to see Pablo continuing to grow in Christ and being blessed by God.

Freshmen Orientation

2007-03-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

This week I have been getting together with the guys who were involved with Vida Estudiantil last semester. We have been in touch with most of them throughout the summer. It is fun to see what develops as we invite them to trust God to reach their peers. Students have a better feel many times for where to be, when and who to talk to than we do as outsiders. Yesterday we were on campus because when I met with Jorge, a sophomore, on Tuesday, and he told me about a freshmen orientation event for his faculty. So we showed up to see what it was like. After a formal meeting with all the freshmen there was a breakfast where the student government and other student representatives got to present themselves to the students. We asked for a couple minutes to present Vida Estudiantil and invite them to our first event, "How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun". Jorge is still just getting involved with us, but he opened some doors and got to see how he can reach out to his peers.
Next Monday classes start, but it will be a relaxed week, with lots of parties and the typical freshmen hazing. There is lots of talk about new rules limiting what the upperclassmen can do to students. We will see how that turns out.
Since mid-December we have been trying to get a meeting with the student activites director. Juan Carlos, one of our chilean staff, and Patricio one of the students leaders at USACH, will finally get to sit down with him Wednesday the 12th. This will be an important time for establishing a relationship with the university and getting access to information, opportunties, funding and meeting space on campus.

Rolando

2007-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

Back in October I ran into a guy from Peru as I was walking home from church. I shared the good news of God's love and forgiveness and tried to help him cope with his wife's unfaithfulness. It was a Spirit-led time. I gave him a Bible and wrote my email in the back. I thought I would hear from him. Well more than two months past and I was starting to think that maybe I would never hear from Rolando. But he finally wrote me, basically expressing how important that short meeting was for him. What an encouragement to know that the truth is bearing fruit in his life!!

Back In Town, Still Unpacking

2007-02-09T20:41:00.000-08:00

After nearly two months on the road I am finally back at my home in Santiago. I moved out of my old apartment in downtown Santiago December 20th and flew to Nebraska that same day. After a few great days with family and friends I returned to Chile on January 6th. A day later we started a week long theological development class that all our staff in Chile. Instead of studying I spent the afternoons trying to find an apartment and sign a contract. We left for summer project on January 17th. On February 1st summer project ended and I met up with my parents who had arrived in Chile the day before. We spent a week in southern Chile. And that brings me to today. We got home at 1 a.m. and I threw my backpacks on my bed. I realized that I haven't even gotten my suitcases from January unpacked yet. It is really good to be home. I leave next Tuesday...

Eusebius on the Evangelists

2006-11-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

"Very many of the disciples of the time, their hearts smitten by the word of God with an ardent passion for true philosophy, first fulfilled the Savior's command by distributing their possessions among the needy; then, leaving their homes behind, they carried out the work of evangelists, ambitious to preach to those who had never yet heard the message of the faith and to give them the inspired gospels in writing. Staying only to lay the foundation of the faith in one foreign place or another, appoint others as pastors, and entrust to them the tending of those newly brought in, they set off again for other lands and people with the grace and cooperation of God, for even at that late date many miraculous powers of the divine Spirit worked through them, so that at the first hearing whole crowds in a body embraced with a wholehearted eagerness the worship of the universal Creator."
Eusebius compiled a history of Christianity in the early 300's.

The Margin?

2006-11-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Halloween was my official start date for History of Christianity I. I have enjoyed the readings and study. My first week went well, and then two busy weeks and weekends in a row hit me. Now it is the fourth week of class and I am just into the second weeks work. The concept of margin has been a helpful one for me. The idea is that if you think of your life as a page with many things on it, you want to maintain some white space, margin. Filling your life to the edges is not healthy. So I am wondering, with travel home at the end of the year, summer project in January, and leading our team into new territory at the beginning of the school year in March, if I need to postpone my studies. I know that I will further my studies at some point, but it seems now may not be an opportune time.

Happy Birthday Blanca

2006-11-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

Friday the 17th was also sweet! Our staff team meets on Friday morning to share a time of fellowship, development and planning. It was Blanca's birthday, so we celebrated a little during our staff meeting. She had no idea what we were planning for later, je je. After staff meeting Christian and I met with the businessman we had met the night before to talk about our idea.
Later in the afternoon we had our student leadership time, Raices. Christian did an great job laying out the vision and historical reality of spiritual movements. Everyone left the meeting like they were going home. But actually we were all headed to celebrate our good friends birthday. As Blanca left the subway on her way home she was surprised by Mariachi and many of her friends and students. It was awesome! From the subway stop we went to Christian's and Blanca's home to continue our celebration.

A Good Day

2006-11-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Thursday the 16th of November was a memorable day. The day before David, a STINTer from Argentina, got into Santiago to visit for a few days. Thursday's always start with a staff prayer meeting. I gave the talk at the weekly meeting about stress and final exams. The meeting went really well. We got lots of good feedback. Immediately after the weekly meeting I met with the other leaders here in Santiago to talk about our vision and goals for next semester. We needed to set the direction for getting to new campuses. The meeting served to reaffirm the vision of movements everywhere and helped us consider realistic steps for getting there. Later that evening Colo-Colo (a favorite Chilean soccer team) played Toluca(a Mexican team). Most of my team went to the game. I went home to rest and prepare for our staff meeting the next day. When I got home the electricity company had cut my electricity. A long story, but basically they were wrong:) It was already dusk, so I was at home with no computer or lights. Wanting to make the most of my time I went to buy groceries since my frige was pretty much empty. On the way I call Christian and tell him my story. He invited me to go watch the game on TV at a sports bar. Change of plans... I arrived at the bar as the first half ended. After the game (Colo-Colo won 2-1) we went up the street to talk to a friend and business owner in the area. He introduced us to another business owner who is a key contact for starting a new strategy that we had been dreaming about for over a year. A really good day.

Team Leaders In Talca

2006-10-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

I got up early this morning to catch the train to Talca. We needed to be at Tulipanes restaurant in downtown Talca by 11:30 for a meeting with the ministry team leaders in Chile. There were 6 of us traveling from Santiago, Doug, Kurt, Christian, Clint, Maggie and me. Maria Jose and Veronica from Concepcion met us in Talca. This is our second meeting this semester with all the team leaders in Chile.
These have been important and productive times as we establish and grow the ministry. We are establishing a plan for national events (summer projects and conferences), adapting a discipleship curriculum for Chile and other resources essential to growing a healthy ministry where students are involved in spiritual multiplication.

Rolando

2006-10-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

Today on my way home from church I decided to take the bus to Plaza de Armas. There are some international call centers there that are half price. Plaza de Armas is the main plaza in Santiago, surrounded old buildings that are now museums, the old post office, cathedral etc. It has also become the place where "evangelical" pastors and a few of their faithful go to shout at people. As I walked across the plaza on my way home I saw a guy reading some of their literature. I sat down next to him and asked him what he thought. Turns out he had just learned that his wife is cheating on him and... We talked for about an hour. Mostly about how we can love and forgive even when it is hard. And how God loves us and forgives us. Rolando responded the gospel of grace. He told me, "I've always believed God exists but I have never put Him first in my life. I am going to put God first. I feel a great relief." He leaves for Peru tomorrow.

Dario

2006-10-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I met with a student who had come to a couple of our weekly meetings. In fact we showed a short interview with Dario at our meeting two weeks ago about self esteem. His honesty answering the questions was refreshing.
Dario is a classmate of several students that we have been getting to know. I think two of them have also trusted Christ and started follow-up Bible studies with Adriana, one of our Mexican STINTers.
When someone comes to our meeting we try to meet with them the next week and get to know them a little more. Dario and I talked for about an hour. We talked about how trust is so important for good relationships with friends, family and God. He indicated that he was about 60% confident that God would accept him. As we talked through the "Would You Like to Know God Personally" booklet Dario understood that God is completely trustworthy. And he placed his faith in Jesus Christ. It is a great joy to be part of God's working salvation in people's lives! What an awesome adventure Dario has ahead of him.

Against the Staus Quo2

2006-10-12T19:19:00.001-07:00

This week I was inviting students to our weekly meeting when a student said (I think hoping that I wouldn't hear or understand) "these will brainwash you". His friend (I think hoping to make up for his friends blatant prejudice) asked me, "are you a religious group?" This is probably the most frequent question I get from students and administration. Given what we do on campus and how we have consistently presented ourselves this question can only be based in prejudice.
Today a student told me with a straight face that he has no personal conflicts. I wanted to ask him if he had ever told a lie! Another told me in his own way all truth (especially religious) is relative and that anyone who would try to persuade otherwise is not tolerant.
These prejudices, indifference, spiritual blindness and close-mindedness we see among students are difficult to deal with. "The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way--never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Against the Status Quo

2006-10-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I started a project to help improve the gym at USACH. This week I met again with the assistant athletic director and another person in the athletics department. This time I got more help than my first visit. Juanita was the person I really needed to meet. She knows about donations, an existing process to expand the gym that lacks funding and other politics of the university. Next week I will meet with her again to get the information I need. As I was waiting at the reception desk to meet the assistant athletic director the tennis coach talked with the secretary about his perspectives on spirituality and salvation. He hopes that his good life will help him earn his way into heaven. Maybe I will get to talk to him one day on campus. It is those instances that I am looking for as I serve students and the university. Pray that He would give us opportunities to share the gospel!

Vader Trap

2006-10-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Turns out those limits they put in elevators are good to follow. We were getting along so well at our staff conference that we decided we would stick together, all 13 of us on an elevator built for 8 people. Well, the doors closed and that was about it. So there we sat for a few minutes pressing the alarm button, and taking a few pictures. We didn't make it to the next meeting on time. I think the trap door on top only exists in the movies.

Expanding

2006-10-01T20:34:00.001-07:00

September 21-24th all the Crusade staff in Chile gathered for our national staff conference. Just a little over one year ago there were 5 staff in Chile. There were 26 at the conference. This is a big answer to prayer. We are excited about what the Lord of the harvest has planned for us!

September Was Wacky

2006-10-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

September has been a different kinda’ month. We had to cancel our weekly meeting on the 7th due to riots on campus. This was the beginning of our first week off campus. Friday the 8th was our first official student leadership meeting of the semester. The 9th we went to a concert featuring popular Chilean bands. The concert was put on by the Federación de Estudiantes of USACH to support the growing movement for reform of public education in Chile. The anniversary of the military coup, 11th of September, was another day of violence. Strange how people protest the violent deaths of many innocent people with more violence. We had a party for students at my place on the 14th. It was cool because students brought their friends and we got to connect with others that we hadn’t seen for a while.
The second week was all about independence celebrations. Our team has three Mexican’s. Mexico celebrates independence at midnight on the 16th. In Chile there the 18th is a holiday. The major city parks turn into festivals that they call “fondas”. There was lots of traditional Chilean food (empanadas, kabobs, sausage, mote, chichi) and musica andina. The national dance here is called the cueca, which is supposed to mimic a rooster chasing a hen. That being said it isn’t as strange as it might sound. When well done it is pretty cool. On the 20th we finally got back on campus. The 21st-24th we had our national staff conference, 26 staff! It was a good time of alignment and develop. The best part was building deeper friendships with the other staff. The 28th we had our second weekly meeting of the month, about life priorities and time management. And Finally on the 29th our second meeting with new student leaders.
What made September wacky? The main thing was that we weren't on campus. I think I expected that not being on campus and having two vacation days was going to be restful. But now that I look back, it was a full month.

Live Radio

2006-09-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

It has a crackly sound but you can follow Husker football in Chile!

Spring Break

2006-09-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening we had a party at my place. About 30 students from 4 different campuses came. We spent three hours together, talking, playing ping pong, foose ball and cards. It was a good time to talk to students I hadn't seen in a while and meet new people. The involved students are great about bringing their friends! It is also nice to see that we are impacting students on campuses all over the city in a very natural way. As we get more established I am excited to see what happens as we are more intentional about expanding to every campus.
This week campus was closed. Something like spring break. Our team got some special devotional time and also worked on content for our ministry (weekly meeting talks, small group materials, evangelistic resources). I am proud of our team. It is fun to be part of a team that is producing materials. We are trying to develop a culture in the ministry here that is balanced with action and thought. The hope is that our staff will feel like it is normal to be investigating the culture and producing materials that help us reach it.
Next week Chile celebrates it's independence. They say these are the best fiestas of the year in Chile.

"You Are Reading!"

2006-09-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday I went to church and was blessed to hear one of the most clear and relevant calls to mission I have heard in Latin America. It was perhaps the best sermon I have heard in Latin America. It is a blessing to be at a church that is sold out to mission and passionate about seeing the Holy Spirit empower the church for mission. Afterwards I was at the mall with Francisco, a young man that I have gotten to know at church. It was fun getting to know him a little more.

After Francisco left I got a cup of coffee and sat down to read for an hour. As I sat there I noticed a older man looking for a place to sit and invited him to take a seat at the table I was at. Always hoping for opportunities to share the gospel I wondered what might happen. I continued reading. A few minutes later I was interrupted by a young lady who made a simply observation to start a conversation with me, "You are reading!" Well, "Yes" Turns our Leonor is a geography student at Cambridge, in Chile doing a research project. Her observation was not quite as random as you might think, because Chileans don't read books at malls, especially at this mall. As I looked around I noticed that I was quite out of place. Anyway we had a fascinating conversation for the next hour. Her parents were exiled from the USA and Chile because of their communist ties. We discussed politics, consumerism and spirituality. She shared about her near death experience and how she sees God working in her life. Fascinating...what will God do next in her life. It will be a privilege to be a part of it, if that is His purpose.

Team Santiago

2006-09-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

For one month now we have had all of our team members together in Santiago. There are eight of us, two couples and four singles. Kurt and Melissa Adams are from Colorado. They are international campus staff with Crusade. They have a one year old boy, Aiden. Kurt is outgoing, hard working and always learning. Melissa helps us by leading prayer and has a tremendous heart for the nations. Christian and Blanca Maureira are some of my best friends. It is a real joy to work with close friends. Christian grew up in Santiago. We became good friends in Jalapa Mexico while we lived and worked together on campus there. He married Blanca in Mexico and they moved back to Chile a year and a half ago. We are excited for them as they are expecting their first child. They are both very talented and passionate about making disciples.
Esther Kim is originally from Philadelphia. She is doing a one year STINT, which we are hoping turns into two. Esther has led many English clubs and gained the friendship of many students by loving and serving them. Carla Ramirez and Adriana Salas are both from Jalapa Mexico and doing a year long internship with Vida Estudiantil. Adriana and Carla were actually neighbors and best friends in Jalapa. Carla brings a lot to our team with her servant heart and skills with publicity, English and discipleship. Adriana is our most outgoing team member. She has a lot of energy to meet and love students. Adriana likes to have fun and include others in it.

Starting A Movement

2006-08-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we had an awesome meeting! Students from three different universities gathered to take a look at the big picture for this semester. We talked about some basic leadership skills and gave students ownership of the ministry. What is really exciting is that some of these students have just started following Jesus! They simply want to see others experience Jesus as well. They are interested in starting a movement on their campus.

Basketball

2006-08-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Last semester I practiced and played a few games with the basketball team at USACH. It was fun and a great way to get to know some guys. The exercise was a bonus. Last week I connected with the guys for the first time in a few weeks. Marco lives just a few blocks from me. He stopped by my apartment on his way back from class Wednesday. We talked, ate dinner and played a few matched of ping pong. Marco is agnostic but knows that he needs to move towards a decision. We have been able to talk about Jesus a few times. It is great to have friendships with students like Marco. Rodrigo is also on the team. He came to a few things with Vida Estudiantil last semester. I like Rodrigo, he is real easy going and witty.

I need to decide if I will make the basketball team a priority this semester. I know 10 guys pretty well and there are 10 new players this semester.

Four Month Float Trip

2006-08-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Before I left for Chile I got the ball rolling for studying theology. I got the applications in. And figured out what classes I wanted to start with. But I didn't get the books ordered before I left. Things kind of piled up on me during December. In March I ordered all the text books for Church History I and Systematic Theology I. A substantial investment. So my parents dropped them in the mail at the beginning of April. I figured, maybe a month or so. About the first week of July I had given up. I told my mom on the phone that we needed to make one last effort to get the postal service to tell us what might have happened. The next day I got a slip in my mailbox telling me they had arrived! We are so used to having everything fast! Four months to get a package seems like something from the early 1900's. I'm pretty sure "surface" means the package came on a ship. A little worse for wear, but I got everything I need to start class.
As the ministry gets into a good rhythm this spring semester and I finish my adjustment to leading the team I hope to enroll in church history.

Literacy Exceeds Expectations

2006-07-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

One of the things about Mexico and Chile that you just have to get used to is stray dogs. We met to pray in the park with our emerging student leaders last semester and a few joined us. Maybe they are really alien spies...

Humble Take Over

2006-07-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

One year ago I made my first visit to Chile in late July. I joined a team of Mexican students for two weeks on campus. It was good for me to learn about Chile and create realistic expectations for leading the STINT team. As it turns out my good friend Christian decided to stay in Chile, and led the team this past semester. Having a Chilean to lead us through the first semester was a blessing, as he was able to help us navigate cultural differences that might have taken us much longer to realize and adjust to as foreigners. Christian and Blanca are great friends. It is great working along side them.

I will be leading the team for the next year as Christian focuses his efforts in developing a new strategy that will help us mobilize every student in our ministry for a lifetime laboring to help fulfill the Great Commission. Leading the team is a great challenge for me. I look forward to trusting God for this new responsibility.
While there are certain things that are expected of a team leader. I think of Jesus kneeling down to meet his disciples basic needs as a humble servant. I think of Jesus hanging there on the cross, as a humble Savior, meeting my most profound need. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." My hope for leading the team well is that as we live out the gospel that we will be blessed by the King and people will know we are really following King Jesus

High Water

2006-07-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

While I was in Chile last year a big news story was the death of about 15 Chilean soldiers in the Andes. They were poorly led into a terrible winter storm doing a mountain training exercise. Heavy rains July 11-13th led to extensive flooding in the same region of the country . Approximately 28,000 peoples homes or property were severely damaged. Many lost almost everything.

Doug, Kurt and I traveled down to the disaster area to help the family of one of our Chilean staff who lost almost all their livestock and whose home was almost completely destroyed. We visited neighbors to serve them some hot coffee and bring them food and blankets. We felt quite humbled and inadequate as we realized that these poor farmers had lost everything.
We had hoped to connect with some other relief organization with whom we could partner. The only clear signs of organized relief was the delivery of water by the municipality. And the Army delivered cots and sheets of plastic. It is still unclear how we can best mobilize students to help.

Get Out!

2006-07-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

With students busy in finals our team took the past week to work on personal stuff and vacate. Life in the city truly makes you want to get out. We also said goodbye to the summer project this week. This past weekend, Carla, Esther, Chris and I took a road trip south. We were able to visit a cool park, 7 Tazas, which has some awesome waterfalls. My good friend, Christian, who is from Santiago, talked his uncle into renting us a truck. That came in handy as we probably drove 200km on dirt roads in the Andes.
A highlight of the trip was staying with Romi's family. She is a freshman at USACH. It was great to experience hospitality from a normal Chilean family. They run a bakery near Curico. We also got to go to church with her on Sunday morning.

We also went down to Chillan, which has a sweet ski resort. Cote, one of the Chilean staff joined us for a day. It was a great time talking and getting to know everyone better. Bummer was that it rained all day instead of snowing, so no skiing. That is my second failed attempt... But we are just starting the main part of the ski season.
The next morning after getting back I met with Patrico on campus. He is one of the guys I am discipling. He was doing a presentation in his class about the truth and fiction in the "Da Vinci Code". He has a great witness with his classmates. He told me today that he was surprised that his teacher, who is an atheist, commented favorably about the subject. He gave a book by Josh McDowell to each of his classmates. I also got to share my testimony with one of the guys on the basketball team and connected with a few other students. Amazing what happens in two hours on campus during vacation. Makes me think, "get out" life is good serving the King!

29 on the 30th

2006-07-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my 29th birthday. Being twenty-nine doesn't stand out much, it seems more like "almost 30". But yesterday stands out for a couple of reasons. First of all I didn't wake up in my apartment on my birthday. Before you come up with any strange ideas, there is a good explanation... A good way to break up the regular routine of life is to do something dumb, so I locked myself out of my apartment and ended up sleeping at the hotel with the summer project. I have broken into every other place I have lived at, but this one is impenetrable. Which is good news overall.
Yesterday also stands out for how people celebrated my birthday. At our final staff meeting in the morning I was greeted with various versions of birthday songs, gifts and a cake. My good friend Christian invited me to lunch at one of the few authentic Mexican restaurants in Santiago. Christian and I lived in Mexico together for a year and a half when I came on staff with Crusade.
Later in the evening we had a party for students to close out the summer project. It was exciting to see so many students come. We rented out a whole bowling alley and overfilled the place. Later we all had dinner together and invited students to come to our winter conference. Twenty five signed up! Many of them are students that we have been getting to know all semester. Personally I was surprised that several students brought me gifts and encouraged me by their kindness. We have been praying for and loving students, and it is awesome to see that God is giving them a love for us as well. As this sense of community builds we are also beginning to see students make decisions to follow Christ. Many of the students come to Vida Estudiantil with a few friends. It is our desire that God would spark movements of evangelism among these friends and that this would expand to the rest of their classmates on campus. We dream of the day when every student will know someone who truly follows Jesus.

Whole New View

2006-06-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a holiday here in Chile. We have had beautiful late fall weather. It was refreshing to get out of the city and enjoy nature. The summer project students and some of my team went on a hike to El Pochoco. After a steep climb you get rewarded with a whole new view of the central Andes from the summit. They are big! The creation declares the glory of God!
Today on campus I met with Patricio for discipleship. We went to a classroom of freshmen and invited them to our winter conference. Afterwards we ran into one of his classmates. She had just given a talk in her class about world hunger. And it wasn't just homework for her she truly values the needy, working for a social service organization here in Chile that creates jobs for the poor. We started talking about world hunger and ended up talking about the gospel for over an hour. It was great to be able to take her to a few new places where she could begin to gaze into the beauty of God. He is BIG!

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90

My Heavenly Father

2006-06-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

As I think about my dad, all the memories, I am filled with gratitude to my Heavenly Father. There are so many good things, indeed everything comes from Him. And as I think upon the good memories I can't help but recall things I would like to forget. But thank God I am free! Thank you Heavenly Father for the cross where your Son died for my sins and set me free! The wonderful cross, that bids me come and die and find that I may truly live. This love so amazing, so divine, demands my souls deepest affection, my life, my all. Thank You Father, your steadfast love is better than life.

My Dad

2006-06-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

I grew up on a farm in southeast Nebraska. As I grew up I was able to do more things and spent more time working with my dad. We would work together in the shop fixing and maintaining the machinery. Listening to Christian radio as we worked was a significant part of how I began to walk with God in the mid 90's. My dad had already laid a foundation in my life by reading the Bible as a family on Sunday mornings when we were kids.

My dad loves music. He plays the guitar and encouraged and taught me to play as well. My dad is a learner. I remember him reading lots of books during the winter when there is a little less work on the farm. He modeled to me the value of reading. My dad and his dad are inspired. When they talk about certain things their eyes will tear up and you can tell that it is more than an idea, but truly inspiring to them. They have shown me to be passionate about things. My dad is fascinated by maps and loves to travel. We would pile in the van as a family every couple of years and take off on a long road trip across the USA, good times. My dad and his dad are faithful men who have loved their wives. My dad is talented and knowledgeable. After many years being a farmer, when God gave him the opportunity to work at the nuclear power plant, he studied hard and passed all the exams to work as an engineer. I am proud of my dad! And thankful for all he taught me and for his love.

My dad loves God and is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. He has made knowing and following Jesus the main thing in His life.

Dancing In The Streets

2006-06-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I spent the afternoon with Chilean students and summer project students. We went to La Moneda, which is like the capital building and went to Bellavista, a part of town with lots of places to hang out. Joel is a project student who happens to be a dance instructor. He surprised the Chileans by inviting them to dance in the street. It was a fun afternoon hanging out with students and building friendships. I had a few of the project staff over for dinner that evening.
Most people aren't dancing in the streets, more like protesting in the streets. Tonight as I went to buy groceries I got a good dose of teargas. Classes are still suspended at USACH and many other schools. Protests will likely continue most of the week. They are usually not too violent. But if they are not authorized by the government the police do break them up with force. They have these big trucks that spray water on the crowd. Chileans call it the guanaco, which is an animal like a llama that spits a lot. Rumor has it that they use sewage water. But I took this foto of them filling up at the fire-hydrant on the corner by my apartment building.
We will have to be extra creative as we try to keep moving forward in establishing a movement during this last month of the fall semester.

Summer Project in Winter

2006-06-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

The summer project from the USA arrived last Saturday. And Chilean students gave them an interesting welcome week! The protests have continued to escalate. The major public universities (USACH is one of them) decided to join the high school students in pressuring the government to change the laws that guide education in Chile. This means a strike, with classes canceled most of the week, and probably next week as well.
On Wednesday I was waiting at USACH to welcome the project students. Everything was very normal, and then all of a sudden 1000 high school students showed up and started going nuts. Marco, one of the basketball players, helped me escort the students away from the violence and we were able to get in the back entrance. We had a great day on campus! Meeting students, hanging out and doing a survey about the Codigo Da Vinci. In just over an hour we had 200 students fill out a survey. We gave them a magazine that addresses the fiction and provides the facts about the secret societies, the church and Jesus. It was very interesting to see the different viewpoints of students as we looked through the surveys later that evening. One student wrote, "I am just starting to learn more about Jesus." Another said, "Jesus was just like us, not important." Other expressed their faith in Jesus.
We are also spending time at the private universities. They don't close when there are strikes! Hopefully we can establish student led movements at these campuses next semester from the contacts that we meet through the summer project. Oh, the weather is not all that wintry, but it is definitely not summer in the southern hemisphere.

Following Jesus with my Pañuelos

2006-05-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Pañuelos are the Spanish equivalent to Kleenex. I have used way more pañuelos in the past year than I might like. The subject comes up again today as I am battling my monthly respiratory infection. Being sick one week of every month this year makes me think, what is wrong? While some of my theories and solutions might be interesting, I want to offer a more universal observation. Basically the human spirit is set on having a good life, the best life. We all have our own vision of it. Whether it is considered or largely unconscious, we are in search of the good life. Parenthetically those of us from Nebraska may have a distinct advantage to the rest of the world, since Nebraska is objectively the state of "The Good Life".

This week on campus I asked a lot of students what was most important to them in life? The most common response is family. But one guy this week said health. A unusual response for young people, who usually don't consider that it is hard to enjoy life when you are not healthy. How do you know if you are living the good life? Well you have joy! You are enjoying life!

So here I am this past week, with too many things to get done, and a cold that is slowing me down, and frankly not enjoying life all that much. The weird thing is that when I get exhausted I find it can be harder to go to God. When I don't feel good I think I have this rather strange idea that maybe I can control God by not loving Him until he makes my life better. There are these frequent moments in life when I would rather have my way than have God! Of course God certainly doesn't become any less worthy of my love when my life doesn't go the way I would like it to.

I guess this is all as old as the serpents question, "Did God actually..." For me today it is "God, do you really know what is best for me?" Well if God doesn't know then who does? My own choices in life have shown me that I probably don't know what the good life really is. It makes sense the creator of life knows what is really really good. And it is Him! In a love relationship with God we have the best!

No, I don't think disease is God's best for me, but it does lead me to truly find my joy in what is best. Health is good, God is better.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
(Psalms 16:11)

Linda, madre linda

2006-05-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

This is my beautiful mom, Linda. Linda means beautiful in Spanish. It is hard to even know just how much your mother influences who you are. My mom's unconditional love and pursuit of godliness bless me every day. My mom is compassionate, encouraging, a teacher, a steady doer, interested in culture and merciful to those in need.
My mom taught me to get a job done and done right. Her help and encouragement with all those 4-H projects taught me a variety of skills. Thanks mom! My parents lived in Germany for a few years and my mom also helped place international students with host families in our community. It was cool to get exposure to different cultures as a kid even though we couldn't travel overseas. My mom is compassionate. She worked in special education for several years. She also is constantly making herself available to single mothers or other women who need support. Currently my mom is studying to be more effective in counseling people from a Christ centered perspective. She is a blessing to many many people.

I Love you Mom!

Bomba Lacrimogena revisited

2006-05-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

I cried on campus today. The police bombarded the campus with tear gas (bombas lacrimogenas) for several hours. We had planned to have a party on campus today. We are trying a variety of things to see what works and what doesn't to gather students.
For two weeks now there have been protests by students in secondary education because of increasing charge for the PSU (like ACT of SAT) and inefficiency in distributing the transportation ID for low cost transportation. The police showed up at campus to try and disperse the crowd of students with tear gas and other tactics.
Four days in the past two weeks I have showed up to campus to find the main entrance closed. There is always another way in. For the most part we have been able to keep doing things on campus. Today I spent four hours on campus. It was sweet to be able to interact with lots of students. Our exposure of the freshman class and other efforts to get connected on campus are paying off. We are constantly running into students we know.
Schedule seems to be one of the major obstacles. We hope to start a number of groups so students that really want to get involved can find a spot that fits their schedule. These groups, which we call "Punto de Encuentro", will be the basic community where students can build or explore a relationship with God.

Happy Dia Del Trabajador

2006-05-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well it is the beginning of fall here after all. And what better way to celebrate Labor Day than with a day off work, so you can go downtown and... start a riot, walk around naked with burning flags and destroy stuff. All the action was just two blocks from where I live! "Bomba Lacrimogena" is among the many new words I have been learning here in Chile. Luckily I left early in the morning to climb a mountain with some friends. With a minimum wage of $247 a month clearly there is need for change. Maybe some of the leaders we will influence on campus in Chile in the coming years will help bring change so the workers in Chile can have good jobs and a fair wage. I hope that we can see Matthew 5:16 being realized in this an many other ways.

Polarized

2006-04-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

I went to church on Sunday excited to celebrate Jesus' power over death and simply amazed that the God who created everything went to such great lengths to save rebels like us. I can barely get my mind around a group of Christians who don't make mention of the historical reality of His resurrection from the dead after Passover, but that is what happened. This illustrates the tendency to polarize that is part of Chilean culture. Some say the tendency to polarize into one group or another among Chilean's comes from the colonial times and the polarization between indigenous and Spanish people. That makes sense. Not celebrating Jesus' resurrection on the other hand... This effort to not identify with the Catholic church seems to have gone too far.

There are extreme circumstances where the search for and giving of identity happens in society. However I think this search for identity is just as real but more subtle in our ordinary lives. The first question we ask a stranger is often, "What do you do?" Why? Because we think that their line of work will help us identify them. It would be highly irregular to ask, "Who do you love?" But that question would probably help us know the person better. Maybe that question asked as frequently as "What do you do?" would begin to change how a society understands and creates identity. That would be an interesting experiment!

The shocking thing about a church not celebrating the resurrection is that it is the church that should be most given to finding identity in relationships and not work. Our relationship with Jesus should cause us to celebrate Him, and our salvation in Him. Having been reconciled to God by grace not works, this relationship with God is the center of this community, the church. There is plenty of room to celebrate in different ways. But to polarize so much as to not even mention the resurrection on Easter Sunday seems to fail to apply the gospel to life. Being Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal or Evangelical does not give a CHRISTian their true identity. Those titles define the form of religious practice and point to important doctrinal beliefs. And while I love God with my mind by pursuing sound doctrine, I don't think I can love God at all until I am reconciled to Him/identified with Him in love. We love God because He first loved us. The good news is we can know the most wonderful King as our King. Our identity, first and foremost, is in relationship to Him, not in what we know about Him or what task He gives us.
How do we create a movement on campus where the gospel does not isolate us from a culture that is already prone to polarize? By understanding and applying the gospel to our lives! Our good works and our speaking in love are what students will see.

Freshmen

2006-04-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

The freshman class is getting the hang of things. Last week was 'semana cachorro' or 'freshman week'. There were lots of activities for the first year students. Thursday between 4000 and 5000 students piled onto 100+ buses for a huge beach party. You can imagine what a all day beach party of freshman and sophomore college students is like. The trip is financed in part by the donations that the freshman gathered as people pitied their mechoneo experience during the first week of classes.
This week we have been tracking down the classrooms of freshmen so they can get to know us. Just before the professor starts class or as he is leaving we take a few minutes to present Vida Estudiantil to students. We invite them to our meeting and English clubs. We also give them a pen and a contact card so they can let us know if they are interested. We are trusting that the follow up of hundreds of interested students will provide opportunity for spiritual conversations and an open door for the gospel.

I'm a pluralist

2006-04-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

I sat down to speak with the secretary of the Federacion Estudiantil at USACH. After explaining a few of the things we do and the purpose of Vida Estudiantil he summarized what we are doing with the word 'pluralism'. My first thought was, "That is not a word I would use to describe our work." My second thought, "Fantastic!" Paul said, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." As we explain who we aim to serve and what we do it seems that this administrator understood that we want to appeal to everyone. We want to remove all excuses that are keeping people from the truth about Jesus. We are carefully engaging a culture that has embraced pluralism so that they can see the gospel, hear it and believe.
Later that day, Christian, my good friend and teammate met with the president of the federacion. After a month of bureaucratic maneuvers to get a room for our meeting with other administration, this guy offered us the Salon de Honor (the name speaks for itself) for our first meeting. These kinds of experiences are encouraging because we are becoming known as a group that serves students and is a blessing to the campus.

Concepcion

2006-03-31T06:23:00.000-08:00

I will be traveling to Concepcion once a month to support the ministry there. Cote, Veronica and Delia are Chilean staff working on 3 campuses in Concepcion.
Yesterday at the Universidad de Concepcion I met Gustavo and Tania. They are first year biology students. They showed me around campus and we talked for about an hour. Later on they came to the Vida Estudiantil meeting. In some ways this is a very small thing, but these simple things are how a movement grows.
Today I will be meeting with the men involved here in Concepcion for discipleship. And we will also have a meeting to equip students leaders to lead a movement on their campus.

Creating and Joining

2006-03-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

Last week I started training with the basketball team at the university. Soccer is the undisputed favorite sport of chileans. I don't play much, and fankly was missing a good game a basketball. I told the coach that I wasn't a student, asd was just looking for a good game. He invited me to practice with the team. Besides enjoying basketball I also hope that by joining this community that already exists I can be a blessing and influence in those young mens lives.
Our ministry team is also working to create a community for students. As we meet more and more students each day we are inviting them to English clubs and will also have a meeting every other week for students to come together, have some fun and interact about some topic that relates to what they are facing in life.

Raices

2006-03-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts of serving the Lord and people is you get to see people grow and change. This past Saturday we had our first meeting with a group of committed students who's lives are being transformed by the good news that the King of heaven has included us in His kingdom, and gives us everything we need for life and godliness.
Raices (roots) is a time we have each week with students who are committed to bearing fruit as they know and follow Jesus. We want to help them experience the promises that God has made about those who have good roots, getting abundant life from Christ. Our goal is develop mature people who will follow Christ and be effective in accomplishing the commission He gave us. Many of these students have come to Christ in the past year.

God has some sweet promises for the those who trusts in Him:
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:3)
"Abide in me [Jesus], and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

On a fruitful mature life:
So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Mechoneo

2006-03-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

Bienvenidos??? Mechoneo is the official term for the welcome that all first year students get at the university in Chile. This was the first day of classes at the Universidad Santiago de Chile, and the first year students were subjected to all kinds of crazy stuff. The typical thing is to smash an egg in their hair, spray them with water and then put flour and other stuff all over them. They also cut their hair and clothes up, steal their shoes and make them beg for money for a party that they will have at the end of the week. Sometimes it gets extreem. I am not sure how I would feel about it if I was a student. But it seems like it might help them take themselves a little less seriously.
As you walk around campus and talk to students you will find the occasional first year students who decided not to show up to their assigned classes today. However I am not sure that strategy actually works, I think they track you down eventually... What would you do if you knew that you were going to be "welcomed" to campus some time this week?

Opening Doors

2006-03-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

There are campuses all over this city. I couldn't begin to tell you where they are at, how many students they have or when we might show up there. Some time in the future we might figure all that out. But for now our team is going to focus our efforts on the Universidad Santiago de Chile (USACH). Not so much on the campus really as on people, on students, reaching lost students and making disciples.
One of my roles on our team is to think about expansion, how we will get to students that are on campuses where there is not a movement of students reaching their peers with the good news about our God who saves.
Yesterday as I sat in the metro waiting to meet someone, I struck up a conversation with a man who was a professor at a growing private school. Today he introduced us personally to the public relations director, who received us very well and put in a good word for us with several other staff at the university.
As I went back home I stopped in a barrio that has a number of larger private schools. At one university I was introduced to the assistant to the president. He was extremely helpful and interested in the possibility of having us serve students on the campus.
These seemingly open doors do not mean that we have to go to these campuses. When someone asks us to come, then we have to go. Pray that the doors continue to open up for us to share Christ.
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
(Colossians 4:2-4)

First Day

2006-03-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

This was the first day our team went to campus. I went to the Universidad Santiago de Chile. I figured out the geography of campus by walking around and praying for the students. Unlike most Chilean universities this one has most of the areas of study grouped together in one major campus. After getting the lay of the land I introduced myself to some students. Juan, Jonathan, Jose and Joanna are second year math students. There were planning the hazing that many first year students go through. We talked for about an hour.
Yesterday was my first full day living in my apartment. I had been praying for direction in reaching the young professionals and others who live in the building of about 400 apartments. God answered that prayer yesterday as I returned from my run along the Maipo river. Pablo was walking down the street, and I asked him about a large business whose headquarters is across the street from the apartment building. From there we ended up spending several hours together and talk about many things, following Jesus, golf, economics, family, the kingdom of God. He knows others who are Christians in the building and is very open spiritually. Pray this would be the beginning of a community of God seekers and Christ followers in this building.

Move In

2006-03-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

Moving into an apartment downtown is a surprisingly significant achievement. I am grateful to have a place that is very centrally located for getting to the major campuses in Santiago. Being a block and a half from the metro is a plus.
The process of finding a place and getting moved in has been much more challenging that I had expected. Learning about the different areas in Santiago, figuring out how to utilize websites and newspapers, getting a cell phone to communicate... Finding the place took me about two weeks. Then I spent another week getting the papers, securing a co-signer and getting his papers together. Getting the contract signed and then getting the keys took a few more days. Moving in has taken a few more days.
Along the way I have been surprised by the culture shock that I have experienced. I have had to adjust my expectations. Things will be more difficult, move slower and require more effort than I think they should.
Being in a new place means I am around new people. I am praying for opportunities to bring the blessing of the gospel to people around me where I live. And I am thankful for God's provision.

Following Jesus

2006-02-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

A Christian is a follower of Jesus. But I think we see a lot of Christianity that is at best an attempt to follow Jesus' example. However you can´t really do that unless you love Him in an intimate, relational, joyous way. Without really wanting to we define our Christian faith by a very small subset of things Jesus does and goals that our church or mission organization helps us take on.
Jesus did everything the Father gave Him to do and spoke what the Father gave Him to speak. And He did it so that the Father would be glorified. (John 14) We can´t really follow Jesus and try to follow His example if we won´t love God with all we are. I can´t follow Jesus unless I experience Him personally today and want to be with Him, love Him, obey Him, and bring Him honor and glory with all I am. Thankfully He gave us the Spirit to help us do just that. The promise is that He will teach us and empower us to be witnesses of Jesus. What do you see Jesus doing today? The greatest adventure ever, seeing and following Jesus!

Oh The Places You´ll Go

2006-02-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Before I left for Chile a good friend of mine, Kip, told me to go to Borders and read Dr. Seuss´s "Oh The Places You´ll Go" That was a great read standing there in the isle. As I walked up the hills and valleys in the southern Andes of Chile last week I was often struck with the thought, "Who would have ever guessed I´d end up here.."
The Mapuche are the indegenous people of southern South America. Mapu means land and che means man. And they are a people who´s identity is deeply connected to the land and the araucaria tree. We were told to expect resistance and social problems. They certainly are skeptical, but they should be after hundreds of years fighting for their land and their rights. Meeting the community leader, called the lonco, and hearing his stories and reflections on their lives, goodness, politics and spirituality was an amazing experience. We got permission to show the Jesus film in each of the four communites and showed it in the Mapudugun language.
One day we faced significant spiritual battle and it looked as if we might not be able to show the film or get to the remote houses to meet the families. In the midst of it God continued to give us a love for these poeple that would not quit. It was an emotional experience to see a pickup full of people arrive to the film that evening.
On this first trip we established trust and learned a lot about the people. I hope to return in May before the hard winter sets in with several students. We will follow up with several families that received us well and expressed an openess to the gospel. Pray for Luis and Cresencio's families.