¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

We are about to celebrate our 3rd Christmas in Chile! Again we will miss our family and friends in Australia.

What is Christmas like in Chile?

• Tinsel, trees, toys, fairy lights, Santa and nativity scenes
• Candles service at church
• Big family dinner on Dec 24, with presents at midnight
• A quiet day to recover on Dec 25
• Pan de pascua (like fruit cake) and cola de mono (alcoholic drink)
• No church on Dec 24 or 25
• Hot dry weather
• Back to work on Dec 26

Christian and Faby, two of our CEP graduates, who will pastor a small Anglican church near Santiago.

We want to thank you for your support of CMS and of us this year. We pray that you will have a happy Christmas and that you will know the Lord’s blessings in the new year.

Give thanks...

• For the six students who graduated from the CEP last week: Raquel from Paraguay, Julio César from Bolivia, and Gerardo, Christian, Fabiola and Maricel from Chile.

Please pray...

• That Chileans will remember the reason for Christmas festivities, and kneel before the one born to be king.
• For the diocesan youth leaders’ camp run by the CEP students, from 5–9 January.
• For safety as we drive about 3000km for our holiday in January, through the desert in the north to Antofagasta.

He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. -- Isaiah 9:7

Danilo

It is with heavy hearts that we tell you the latest news from Danilo, ex-CEP student. He has been told by the doctors that his cancer is terminal. He has decided not to go ahead with aggressive chemotherapy, so that he will be well enough to continue sharing the news of salvation in Jesus for the time that he has left. He is ready to face God as his judge—are you?

CEP
The CEP students have one more week of classes before end of year exams. Stephen has a growing pile of marking, but only a few more classes to prepare for this year. The staff are working hard to evaluate and refine the course for next year.

Other news
Stephen has had the opportunity to preach at the CEP, our church and at a new church plant which is now led by César Guzmán. He is also preparing his doctoral thesis for publication in 2009, which is proving to be very time-consuming.

Give thanks...

• For all that the CEP students have learned this year.
• For Danilo’s commitment to and love for Jesus.

Please pray...

• For Danilo and his family as they come to terms with the news, and that there may yet be a miraculous healing.
• For the CEP students as they prepare for their exams.
• For the students who are graduating, as decisions are made about ministry placements for 2009.
• For wisdom for Stephen and the other teachers at CEP as they plan the course for next year.

Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. -- 1 Corinthians 15:54

Liliana and Ben both had very happy birthdays in October.

October newsletter

We have just posted our October newsletter, which you can download as a PDF here (or a high-res version for printing here).

To whet your appetite, here are the highlights:

No, really, here they are:

• Another milestone! Two years in Chile
  
• CEP mission in Coquimbo and La Serena, with some "thoughts from the trenches"
• Church and family life (special feature: Rebecca's lesson in how to make empanadas! see yummy photo...)
• Update on Danilo, the CEP student who has been fighting cancer

And as well as all this, of course, you can get our latest thanks and prayer points.

Rev. Pablo Zavala, pastor of the Anglican church in La Serena

Where did that come from??

It is hard to believe we are approaching 2 years here! We are very grateful for how our Spanish has progressed, but sometimes we feel very limited in our ability to express things, especially when we are unhappy about something. This can lead to surprising outbursts, and we wonder where all that frustration came from!

CEP news

Stephen is enjoying teaching OT. But he struggles to keep up with class preparation, and often feels drained. His week seems to fill up with good things that crowd out his preparation time. Last week he began teaching a course for pastors on the Psalms.

Some of the pastors in Stephen's course

The CEP women have a day conference on August 30, with Terry Blowes speaking on Submission in Ephesians.

The annual CEP mission is coming up soon. Please pray for God to be working in the hearts of those who will come, for the students as they prepare and the wives left behind for the week.

Give thanks...

• That Stephen's classes are going well.
• For the great support we receive from CMS (that means you!) and our annual pastoral visit later this month, with Peter and Terry Blowes.

Please pray...

• For us to keep working hard at our Spanish, and for self-control and patience when we find ourselves frustrated.
• For Stephen to manage his time well.
• For the CEP women's conference, and Terry Blowes as she prepares and leads the day.
• For the CEP mission on September 6-14.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check. -- Proverbs 29:11

A bit of a break

After a long first semester, we are now able to enjoy some holidays. Stephen is glad to have finished teaching his first Old Testament course, and to have finished marking their exams. The boys (and Rebecca!) are enjoying not having to get up early in the mornings. We are not going away, but are exploring Santiago with Rebecca's brother and sister-in-law, who have come to visit.

Driver's licences

Last week we were both able to get our driver's licences! Finding a way to do it lawfully was a big headache, and we are very glad that God provided a way - thank you for your prayers.

CEP news

Michael Charles (CMS NSW) has been appointed Acting Principal of CEP for the next 2 years. Please pray for him as he faces many challenges, and for Cesar and Ani as they adjust to changes
and start planning to return to pastoral ministry next year.

Liliana was baptised on the 13th

Give thanks...

• That we have our driver's licences.
• That we were able to have a break from school and CEP, and spend time with family.
  

Please pray...

• For Michael Charles, newly appointed CEP principal.
• That our break will be refreshing, and we will have good health despite the pollution.
• For Stephen's class preparation for next semester.
  
• For follow-up after an urban youth mission in Santiago.
• For Liliana to grow up trusting in Jesus for the forgiveness of her sin.
  

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:39

Changes at CEP

After 5 1/2 years of César Guzmán's hard work and unwavering leadership in getting the CEP well and truly up and going, he has felt that it may be time for someone with fresh vision to take the CEP forward to its next stage of development. After much consideration, the Bishop and the Board have decided that César will finish up as principal at the end of this year, gradually handing over responsibility to a new leader, with a view to César taking up a pastoral position in Santiago.


So, please pray:

• for a smooth transition from César to the new appointee (who is yet to be announced).
• for César, his wife Ani and son Sebastián, for whom this will be a significant change.
• for the student body.
• for the Bishop and the Board as they consider César's replacement.
• for good relationships between the churches and CEP, and sustained relationships both with supporters and with neighbouring dioceses who have sent students to the CEP.
• for us and the other missionaries who work in CEP - it will also be a big change for all of us.

Permanent residency!

We are very glad to be able to tell you that God has answered our prayers and we have our visas! Today was a busy day, as we dragged the children across the city to three different government offices, to sign papers, have photos taken and pay money for various official requirements. God willing, we are now allowed to stay in Chile as long as we like!

Tristan, Ben and Lachlan - happy to be staying in Chile

Thank you for playing your part

Thank you so much for your prayers for us, and for your financial support which allows CMS to pay for things like our visas. It is only through your partnership that we can stay in Chile and serve our Lord here, and we thank God for you all.

If you would like to give financially to help CMS keep us here, please go to www.cms.org.au and make a donation today!

Give thanks...

• That the Chilean government has said we can stay!
• That all the necessary paperwork was done without any problems.

Please pray…

• That we will continue to improve our Spanish so we can talk more easily with people about spiritual things.
• That we will make the most of every opportunity to share Christ with people we meet.
• That we will be an encouragement to believers and a good witness to unbelievers.
• That God will use us to bring people in Chile into His kingdom.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 1:3-6