Here we'll try to keep everyone updated on the latest news and fun from our family on the mission field in Temuco, Chile
Hopefully, we can begin again to update this webiste once a month to keep you informed on what is going on here in Chile. Right now, it is VERY CHILLY as winter has come. We so enjoy those days we have without rain. God so blessed us with an extended autumn allowing much work to be accomplished. How thankful we are for those who joined us in reaching out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami -- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. God has blessed your efforts and our lives.
Angel's parents stayed with us for six weeks taking care of our children and keeping house. The comfort and security of having Mimi and Poppa here gave us the freedom to accomplish many things we could not have otherwise done. The logistics of organizing the various volunteers who came to help was exhausting but the work was so rewarding. Meeting the physical needs of many has opened many doors for us. Relationships result in respect for one another.
With the earthquake disaster relief now taken over by the Chileans and other organizations, we are re-focusing our lives to our first ministry: sharing the gospel with the Mapuche people. God continues to multiply our efforts and we stand amazed once again how He is opening doors for us to minister in ways we never considered! Here is a condensed run-down of our MAPUCHE MISSION TEAM's current ministry opportunities.
Sundays - we attend a Chilean Baptist church here in Temuco assisting with the organization of "cell groups" -- weekly Bible study and fellowship in homes throughout the city. PRAY for the many unchurched people who come to these community get-togethers and hear the gospel. Also pray for those who so willingly open their homes.
Mondays - our Mapuche Mission Team (us, the Hinds, and the Snyders) meet for praise and worship together IN ENGLISH! Caitlynn and Ashlynn prepare and conduct children's church for the younger children while the adults enjoy a time of in-depth Bible study, prayer and worship. PRAY fos us as we seek God's guidance and sense His presence, protection, provision and purpose for us.
Tuesdays - we have been asked to teach a "religion class" in the small one-room schoolhouses throughout the area. Given permission to "use whatever materials you want" has opened the door for us to present the gospel to these children and gives us the opportunity to meet their parents. PRAY for these children and their families as they learn the Truth of God's Word and choose to reject the false doctrines of their tradition and animistic religion.
Wednesdays - During the day our ladies meet with Marcella, Erika and Luci and other Mapuche women in the village of Buta Mallin to pray for the lost souls there. These three ladies spend hours on their faces weeping for family and firends who do not know the Lord. PRAY as others accept Christ and seek God's guidance and wisdom in reaching their village.
At night Trent and Angel conduct leadership/discipleship training for Chileans/Mapuche who have recognized the need to "go ye therefore". They are learning how to plant churches throughout the area. A group which has already been trained now drive to San Ramone each Monday to lead a Bible study in that community. We expect that soon a church will be planted there as God blesses their devotion and commitment. PRAY for these men and women who accept the challenge to plant new churches and trusting the Lord to use them as they disciple new believers.
Thursdays - Anders drives about an hour to Ran Ramone to continue the Bible study begun each Monday led by the nationals who attend the leadership/discipleship training. PRAY for safe travel, open hearts and minds as he share the truth of God's Word with those who will be the founding members of the new church there.
Fridays - Trent makes a three-hour drive to the village of Tirua to lead a Bible study and disciple new believers. this fishing village was devastated by the recent tsunami and earthquake. Our team adopted the Arauco area s the focus of our disaster relieft efforts. As a result, three families have made professions of faith. The temporary shelters built and delivered to them serves as the meeting place for this Bible study. PRAY for these new believers and the other villagers who have shown interest in accepting Christ.
Saturdays - We try to keep this day as "family day." It is a special time to work, play, laught and cry together as a family. PRAY for each family member as we share with each other what God is doing in our lives.
In addition to these ministry ventures, each family unit still has the same responsibilities your own family has. We still have grocery shopping, meals to cook, house to clean, household and car repairs to make.
On a personal note: You may add to your prayers for the Tomlinsons the following concern:
Added to the challenge of homeschooling four children, Angel is once again a college student. She began her on-line classes to complete a master's degree in the field of special education. PRAY for wisdom and endurance (NOTICE WE DID NOT SAY PATIENCE) as she teaches, studies, and fulfills the normal routines of being wife and mother.
God bless you as you also seek to serve Him.
Whew - don't you love the unpredictableness of having kids? What is it about that unwritten rule that the traumas happen only when Daddy is gone? Sunday, a week ago, I was cleaning up the kitchen from supper and the kids were in the livingroom. A blood-curdling scream comes from Nathan along with Caitlynn's voice, " I TOLD you not to climb on top of the couch!"
Nathan had fallen off the couch with a plastic rod in his mouth, leaving a nasty hole in the top of his mouth - YIKES! Not a sight for the weak-hearted! Leaving Caitlynn in charge, I hurried Nathan to the car biting on a cold rag to slow the blood flow, thanking God that we live only 3-4 blocks from the hospital. Trent arrived home to a lovely surprise, packed me a bag and met me at the hospital. 5 hours later, Nathan was in surgery to repair the roof of his mouth as well as the muscle tissue connected to his tonsil and uvula.
We stayed 2 days for IV antibiotics and observation and Nathan seemed fine as soon as he was out of recovery from surgery - prayers work! He never did complain about pain and quickly tired of ice cream, jello and yogurt. He's still mad now that we won't give him chips or crunchy cookies - he's on a soft diet for another couple of weeks.
God is faithful in His care of us. When the nurse came in to take out the IV, Nathan panicked in seeing the needle and blood. I told him to look at me. As he turned his head, his face brightened and he immediately relaxed - " A rainbow!" We had just recently done the story of Noah's ark with the rainbow being God's promise to never flood the earth and to take care of him. I then told Nathan God was taking care of him, too. He had no more trouble with the IV, and as soon as the nurse was finished, we looked back out the window and the rainbow was gone. Isn't God awesome?!
September 18th is Independence Day in Chile. This is possibly the biggest celebration of the year here. Everything is closed; everyone spends the day with family and friends grilling out, dancing the cueca, flying kites, playing games - in general, having a great time. Here on this side of the equator, this is the beginning of spring and good weather - another reason to celebrate!
We had a great day with our friends in Padre las Casas and Coyahue, where we had our first church plant. The Hinds and Snyders seemed to enjoy their first "Dieciocho" - (18th) and even ate horse steaks! There are plenty of pictures and video to get a look at our day. For a nicer video, go to www.arethesnydersthereyet.blogspot.com - Anders and Jessica are a bit more technologically advanced than we are!
We are now slowly getting into a routine. Homeschool has finally started with success! We still have a few scheduling kinks to work out, but it is going well. Both girls have A's in math - their least favorite subject! The boys are plugging through their work each day, but still very much prefer being able to run and play outside.
We are heading into spring here and are absolutely loving the nicer weather! We can go out without a jacket in the afternoons now, and all the trees and flowers are blooming. This week - the 18th of September, is the Chilean independence day. We'll spend the day with national friends grilling out, dancing the Cueca(Chilean national dance), and flying kites. It'll be a great time!
The mission work is going. Having a team now is a big difference this term! David and Linda made it to Temuco before we got back from our time stateside and seem to have adjusted well. Linda is working on a mapping software that will help us out immensely with plotting out the lost areas and communities. Anders and Jessica, along with Addi and Boden, their little ones, are still in the midst of adjusting, not having been here a month yet. Boden's welcome to Temuco was develping pneumonia his first week here - poor baby, and poor parents! They got oriented to the medical system here first off!
David, Anders, and Trent were out all day today in Guapi. Pray for that area - things don't seems to be progressing as we were hoping to see.
I still find myself organizing and sorting through closets and cabinets. I have to remind myself that we've only been back 2 months ourselves and our crate full of goods only arrived a couple weeks ago. I have a tendancy to want everything done NOW! And with a full schedule, things just don't get accomplished as quickly as I'd like!
I'll try to "blog" regularly on here, but I do not promise to always make sense or have a deeply profound statement!
Angel
Nathan trying to show off his first lost tooth
Nathan is excited about his party!
Star wars cake
This cake mix arrived just in time for the party - THANKS Duck River Baptist!!
This "Deathstar" pinata made a great homeschool project!
(Nathan)
(Anna)
(Caitlynn)
(Marcus)
(Brandon)
(Addi and Boden)
(Aaron)
(Ashlynn)
(Angel)
Everyone ready for a lightsaber battle
Angel & Nathan
Ruthanne, Aaron and David
We had fun!
Brave Chad and Anders held the pinata up! Our plans for doing the pinata outside were ruined by the rain!
The pinata lasted through everyone hitting it and then some!
Thanks Dustin, Kierstyn and Stephen!
The Big Wheel was Trent's favorite toy as a child!
The favorite present!
What a fun group!
Left to right: David, Mario, Segundo, Antonio, Anders, Jessica, Hernaldo(with back to camera)
Mapuche pastor in Lonconchi plom
Our entry point into Buta Mallin - her family is from there.
Gigi, Paulette, Blaca, Abner, Javiera
pastor and wife in Loncochi Plom
Great couple - entry points into Buta Mallin
showing the Snyder kiddos how to play wii
Ashlynn on our "Passport to Purity" weekend
a "house church" meeting - at the park
playing hide and seek
hide and seek
that's some serious discussion
David & his walking stick
Caitlynn loves taking care of the younger ones
Those Snyder kids know how to say cheese
Ashlynn, Addi, Aaron, Nathan, Boden, Caitlynn - overlooking Temuco
won't be able to do this much longer!
here we go
We hiked up a ways!
This was a serious team meeting!
swing me!
First Christian worship service!
Irma, Estela, Marcela, Mario(with Emily) and Antonio
Nathan, Boden and Jessica Snyder
The Cueca is the Chilean national dance - children begin learning it in preschool!
You had to dig through a bowl of flour with your mouth looking for a piece of wrapped candy - AFTER getting your face wet!
Crazy big sister (I learned it from her) She thinks of the craziest things.
An artistic girl who loves to draw flowers and leaves.
Insane! A very silly girl – even Momma says it.
Truthful. She always tells the truth.
Listens to my problems and stories and makes up some hilarious parts.
Youth who goofs off but still pays attention
Nice girl who loves me
Not bad at all
-Ashlynn Tomlinson, 2009, 11 years old
A poem in the Hebrew Style (repeating, reworded thoughts)
Why should we complain over what we have
When others have nothing?
Why do we gripe over our possessions
When some possess nothing?
We can fill the empty hands;
But we obsess over overflowing ours.
We can feed the poor;
But the only tables we set are our own.
-Caitlynn Tomlinson, 2009, age 13
I was invited today to Erika's house out in Buta Mallin. Erika and Lucia are two believers in this area with a desire to see their area reached and a church planted. They asked the missionary ladies and Marcella and Estela from our partner Chilean church to come out and fast during lunch and spend that time praying for this area. These ladies were literally on their faces on the floor, crying, begging God to save the souls of their families and friends. What a testimony! If only all Christians were as heartbroken over the lost as these ladies.
Angel and a group of ladies went out recently to the community of Quillimanzano - a little over an hour and a half away. With us was Ester, who grew up in this community. Ester has such a burning desire to see this community, a great majority of them family, come to Christ. The people we visited seemed quite open, and one lady, Fredi, prayed to receive Christ that day!
We have plans to continue visiting house by house with the idea of bringing new believers together in worship to start a new church. Please pray that God will bless this area! Enjoy the pictures of this beautiful land God created.
What an exciting thing to see the first Christian worship service in an area! There was a houseful of Mapuches hearing the word of God in their native Mapudungun language! Most Mapuches do speak Spanish, but their heart language is Mapudungun.
Pray a special blessing on Antonio - our favorite Mapuche pastor (Mario is the favorite Chilean pastor). Antonio suffered a stroke 2 weeks ago. The day he got home from the hospital, they found his 33 year old daughter, Fresia, collapsed on her floor - on old boyfriend came back to their land and beat her severly - in front of her 4 children. She is still in the hospital after having surgery for injuries. It will take another month of therapy until she can walk again. BUT - in the midst of all of this, Antonio was determined to go preach in Buta Mallin! Trent carried him there and back in the truck, and Antonio was filled with the Holy Spirit's power to proclaim the word of God to his lost Mapuche brothers and sisters. What an awesome man!
I will try to post a small video of Antonio preaching:
We are gearing up for a first church service in Buta Mallin (October 3rd) - an unchurched area. Our missionary team, along with some national chileans and Mapuches have been visiting this area for over a year. The door is now open and we will begin our first worship services in the house of the community chief (Lonko).
Pray for Pastor Antonio. He'll be leading the services in Mapudungun, the Mapuche language. Antonio just this past Thursday suffered a stroke, but seems to be making a wonderful recovery. He is very enthusiastic and can't wait to be a part of this work!
In a different area in the campo, Nueve de Julio, Anders Snyder, one of our newest team members, will begin his first evangelical Bible study in one of the homes of this community. Please pray that this group will grow in number and many will come to Christ and quickly mature into a new church plant.
David and Linda Hinds are hard at work on our new mapping software - pray that all the kinks get worked out and we can make the best of this tool!
