Wow, 2010 sure seemed to fly by fast! It’s our prayer that this past year has been one where you kept close to God in all of life’s ups and downs. Our year sure was a roller coaster ride with plenty of high and low moments. But looking back we see God’s hand of providence and protection at every turn on the track. Every time we turned to Him for guidance, we found the solutions and lessons we needed to move ahead on life’s path.
Juliette, the kids and I sure can say God faithful! Juliette has been involved in much of what is listed below. Home schooling, teaching in our schools, women’s groups, water aerobics, swim lessons, surf lessons, surfing, swim team, cooking, cleaning, chasing Katrina (we all do that every day), and time spent with her hubby keep her pretty busy.
Nathan and Cole’ are now married and just completed their twelve week course in Tijuana, Mexico. Their school is called the Leadership Training School and is part of our University of the Nations. They were privileged to learn from some of our best international leaders about servant leadership, good planning, and making the most of their lives and service to God.
Jessica is still number one in Chile for professional surfing. She really has a great gift from God in her surfing ability. Pray she will really use it for his glory. Janelle is now finishing her high school by mid December. She is number three in Chile for pro-surfing as well. She really is fearless in the water on big waves. I see guys in the water stop to watch her (a girl) drop in on big waves. They have such a look of surprise on their faces. (That’s a proud daddy talking.) Michaela is studying, swimming, hanging out with her friends, and taking care of her little sister. She is such a responsible young lady. Katrina keeps us all on our toes. She is twelve now and is such a constant source of joy (and frustration at times) for our whole family. Her unconditional love is constantly reminding us of God’s unconditional, agape love for us.
Mitch has been busy running a host of projects like the rebuilding after the quake, teaching in our schools, and overseeing all the teams, schools and activities around here. He was selected to be a judge of the international big wave competitions here in Pichilemu. The top big wave riders in the world come here to ride huge surf. They sure are an interesting bunch and Mitch has been able to get to know many of them. He also acted in a movie! It was the story of the first surfer in Chile. He came from California to search for waves and adventure. It was in the early seventies so he also found himself in the middle of the military coup. He was a communist sympathizer. There was Mitch, a conservative Christian, working with all professional actors who are for the most part communists! God sure puts us into the craziest places to extend His kingdom! Just last wee he thinks he found the last hole in the pool from the quake! We have been running our swim program but in a leaky pool. Please pray it really is patched up. It's been a long 10 months since that 3 minute quake!
In a nut shell, since our last Christmas letter, we have seen over three thousand people come through our ministry center. We’ve sent out outreach teams to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Haiti, South Africa, USA, India and Germany! It was so great to see these young people get trained up and sent out to share God’s love in all those places. We have received ministry teams from USA, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, England, Switzerland, Mexico, Uruguay. We have seen people from over 43 nations come through our lives in these last twelve months! Our ministry center needs a set of revolving doors at the entrance!
Our base ran 7 six month Discipleship Training Schools, 3 six month Biblical Counseling Schools, 1 nine month School of Biblical Studies, and 2 three month Biblical Studies Core courses. We also ran a host of kids camps, youth leadership retreats, pastors retreats, marriage enrichment seminars, worship seminars, Biblical studies seminars, English courses, music courses, swim lessons, swim team, surf classes, surf club activities, volleyball, soccer and other stuff.
We held our first Pura Vida Surf competition with a concert on the beach. We had the big quake a week before our annual swim meet so it had to be canceled. (Mitch is still trying to find the leaks in the pool.) We did just host the Chilean University Nationals in our leaky pool. (Mitch filled it up and we ran the meet while it drained out!)
We also went crazy with construction! We built over 42, two bedroom houses for the families who lost theirs in the big quake. We also helped build a host of temporary shacks that the government sent out for people to live in. We did much in repairing and rebuilding the damage to our YWAM facilities as well. We began construction on a Gym building that will serve the community in a variety of ways. We are up on the hill in the green zone for Tsunamis, so our gym will also be a refuge for folks who flee the water front looking for higher ground. We have experienced five other tsunami warnings over the last 17 years. People are already used to come running up our way.
A friend from Spain came to visit us last week. He told me about his visit to a horse ranch there in the north of Spain he recently visited. He noticed that so many of the horses were lame, blind and old. This was a horse farm for thoroughbreds! When he asked the owner of the ranch why so many were so messed up, the man gave an interesting answer. The owner said the horses were of great value because of the bloodline they carried in their veins. They were of champion stock. I began to think how much that applies to us. We all have our imperfections, quirks and qualms. It’s Christ’s sacrifice and His blood that gives us such significance and purpose.
I am forever grateful for what Christ did for me by coming to earth to pay for my sins. Because he shed his blood, I am part of his royal family! Since we are now children of the great King, he calls us to be militant with our faith. Instead of just trudging through life and waiting to get to heaven, we are to bring Gods Kingdom into all areas of society. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.” Serving Him and aiming to please him is the greatest adventure anyone can ever have. It’s our prayer that you endeavor to walk out the unique adventure God has for you in the New Year to come.
God bless you and yours. Thanks so much for your friendship, prayers and support. God uses you and others to encourage us on this roller coaster ride of life in His service. Have a great 2011! To the degree that you make his dreams and desires yours, you will have an amazing ride with eternal purposes.
