Rainwater and Peacemaking

ow´s that for a combination? These words describe the horizons before us, the future God is drawing us into. On this page we commit ourselves in faith to the vision and promises of the gospel that have gripped us : seeing people become “oaks of righteousness,” changing their world, seeking Shalom.

Rainwater Collection System

lthough southern Chile´s annual rainfall is comparable to Seattle´s, one difference is that it doesn´t rain in the summer. Therefore the majority of rural Mapuche households, who depend on springs or wells for their water use, have to bring in water because their springs and wells dry up for up to four months in the summer.

We have listened to our friends’ stories of summer water needs for years. Somehow they always seemed to get by. However, in all of rural Chile the water problem is now becoming acute.  From January to April, their springs and wells stop flowing, and they have to bring in water, for their households, and for their animals.

This week and next, our friend from Austin TX, Chuck Kinzler, is here to help us design and install two rainwater collection systems at two sites in Curihue. Chuck will help Dwight and other friends in Curihue set up two system in the next two weeks. They will demonstrate how rainwater collected and stored during the rainy months can be stored safely and used during the dry months to water gardens and animals, and provide potable water. They will be replicable systems that can be installed on a massive scale, privately, or applying for government grants.

Part of a Bigger Project

The building site for the rainwater project is a rural medical clinic. We helped organize a rural health committee and renovated the building, and the municipality agreed to return weekly medical services to this area which covers 300 households. This partnership now gives us access to the whole site where we can create a community development training center, a little farther along the horizon.

On November 23 we will inaugurate the clinic by bringing a group of twenty medical professionals from a church in Concepción ­to provide services for a day. This partnership between church, community, municipality, and missionaries strengthens and equips the church to “seek the Shalom” of their home. (Jer. 29:7)

Peacemaking and the Mapuche Situation

he Mapuche, like indigenous people everywhere, lost their land when European settlers claimed territory and established a modern state. The Mapuche people still seek justice for their losses, principally in the form of returned lands. Some sectors pursue their claims through violent actions.

For many years we have felt the Spirit nudging us to offer the service of the Gospel of peace to this situation, with due humility and bold hope. Therefore we invited Dan Buttry, IM´s global consultant for peace and justice, to come and train church and community leaders in conflict resolution. He accepted and now we must begin inviting and gathering people who may not even be thinking about it.

We believe God can do far more than we can ask or imagine. And we are convinced that the dreams and callings God places in our hearts are invitations to take the first steps towards that good work he has prepared for us to do.

Please pray for us and this initiative as it takes shape over the next seven months.