Expert Weavers from the US come to Chile to support local weavers.

All the mission teams that have visited us over the years did good work and left a lasting influence, in ministry and in friendships.  We want to take this opportunity to tell you how, a year later, one group keeps on doing good through its investment in God’s people and mission in Chile.

Last November we were thrilled to receive a short-term mission team from Pennsylvania who came to work with our weavers.   Two members were Betty and Liz Drusendum, mother/daughter owners of The Lamb’s Wool, a natural fibers store, specializing in yarns and weaving, www.thelambswool.com.  They came to spend a week touring each of the weaving groups.  They brought with them a mountain of knowledge, twenty-two pounds of cochineal, the original organic red dye of the Mapuche people, supplies and much more. They brought resources to provide 30 spinning wheels that will expedite yarn production for the weavings and launch a new project for our non-weavers, exporting handspun organically dyed wool to the US.

Local Pastor invests earnings and sets up micro-enterprise

The spinning wheels were designed and built by a pastor from the small town of Lanco, Tomás Vivanco, who is a highly skilled craftsman.   After many trials, he has developed a beautiful wheel and already has orders from the local community now that the 30 wheels are completed.   Our weaving group in Lanco received the first 10 wheels in a special ceremony asking God’s blessing on their efforts.  Tomás invested his earnings in a woodworking machine that will allow him to offer more services to his customers.  Please pray for him as he launches this micro-enterprise.

Rural schools receive a boost

While Liz and Betty were working with the weavers, Don and Betty Helpa, Joni Cabannis, Jeff Wojciechowski, Walter Drusendum and his daughter Martha visited the local schools attended by the children of our weavers. They did fluoride treatments and crafts, took a picture of each child as a gift to their families and most importantly, shared the love of Christ.

This project has had a long term impact on our work, opening doors for our churches to minister to the broader community.

In the rural Curihue school, the director now enthusiastically supports two mission endeavors of the Curihue church.  (1) The Girls’ Club project now is working there, led by a member of the church, using Barb’s materials and coaching.  (2) Children in the school now study their native language, Mapudungun, and the teacher is Alfonso Coñoepan, a leader in the grass-roots endeavor to recover the use of Mapudungun in the life and work of the church community.  

Vision  

Our vision is to see Mapuche churches that are strong in their identity, not ashamed of their culture, much less of the gospel, and so better equipped to do Christ-like ministry in the Mapuche way.

These are just some of the ways that you support and take part in this mission.

Thank You!

We want to give a special thanks to Liz and Betty Drusendum and the First Baptist Church of Lansdale, PA, for spearheading this project. Because of their efforts, the quality of our women’s weavings has reached a whole new level and their ability to produce wool has been greatly increased. Thanks to the individuals and churches who donated their time and money for the spinning wheels and cochineal.

We also want to thank our dear friends and MPT leaders, Don and Betty Helpa, and our church family at Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell, PA. If it were not for the many years of your faithful support and participation with us, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for your friendship and support as we seek to be servants of the Kindgom of God in southern Chile.

1.    World Mission Offering -  A worthy investment in all times

Our mission is to equip and encourage the Mapuche churches to practice the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus in the Mapuche way, that is, to flourish as disciples in their culture, language and historical context. 

If you want to be a stakeholder in what is happening when the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives here in southern Chile, one of the best ways we know of is to invest through the World Mission Offering.  It is the greatest source of financial support for all that our Lord is doing through International Ministries’ missionaries and partners around the world.  Every gift is used 100% to support missionaries and projects.

You may give through your church or as an individual.  You may give to support all of our missionaries or designate us or any other missionaries. 

http://www.internationalministries.org/give  Under Iberoamerica & the Caribbean, click on Dwight and Barbara Bolick- Chile..

http://www.worldmissionoffering.org/read/4914  for different ways to give.

Or you may give the old-fashioned way, by mail or phone:

World Mission Offering       

International Ministries

PO Box 851

Valley Forge, PA 19482

800.222.3872 ext. 2324

                  or

          610.768.2324 (Ask for LISA)

Churches represented in short-term mission group:

Grace Baptist Church, Blue Bell, PA

First Baptist Church, Lansdale, PA

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Fort Washington, PA

Germantown Presbyterian Church, Germantown, PA

Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, TX