This is going to be a long post, because it’s the first
time I’ve had internet on my computer in a while. I think the trip can be
divided into the following cities: Santiago, Loncoche, Lanco, Panguipulli, Puerto
Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, and Coyhaique. As you read, keep in mind that this is roughly
1,000 miles of travel. Another thing to remember is that the words I will use
could never truly describe the trip. Chile is one of the most beautiful places
on earth and we saw about half of the country (the longest country in the world).
Santiago
We left Santiago early Friday morning. It was a great
trip! There’s a very tasty sausage in Chile called a longaniza…not to be
confused with the Mexican longaniza that you can get in the states. Well
everybody in Chile knows that the best longaniza in the whole country is in the
city of Chillán. I decided that we couldn’t drive through Chillán without
trying their longaniza! So we made a little stop there. In the afternoon we
visited a place called Monte Águila. There are two Mexican missionaries there,
and I was there specifically to meet a third who we found out is back in Mexico
right now. I enjoyed meeting the others anyway. One of their names was Rodolfo
Ventura and the other’s first name was Roberto.
Loncoche
Our first stop to stay overnight was in Loncoche. It was
there that we met up with Jody Ray. She is a great example of what a Christian
lady should be and we sure love her. She opened her home to us Friday and
Saturday night. There we also made a couple of other friends named Cyntia and
Cristian, a young couple living with her. Cyntia has a brain tumor and is
taking medicine that makes her extremely ill so I have been praying for her.
Lanco
Iglesia Bíblica Bautista el Calvario is the church in
Lanco where Jody attends. It is about 15 minutes or so from Loncoche. Her
son-in-law Neil Arias started the church. He is now pastoring a Spanish
department of a church in Tucson, Arizona. I was invited to preach at this
church on Sunday morning, and we also sang.
Panguipulli
After Sunday lunch we left Panguipulli to meet some new
friends, Steve and Sandra Reyes. They have 3 adorable children, and they’re
funny kids too. Their son said to me, “You’re stomach is big, you must have
eaten too much fish.” Then the next day he said, “Carl, you have a funny name,
but it’s a good one anyway.” We attended church with them Sunday night and sang
in the service. After church and the next morning we played games with them. It
was refreshing for all of us, and I think it will be a good friendship in the
future. The highlight of my stay with them was late Sunday night. There is a
lady in their church whose mother was ill to the point of death, and the
doctors said that she’d never wake up (I’m not sure if it was a comma, or if
she was just sleepy/incoherent for a long time). Steve received a phone call
informing him that she had woken up, so he and I headed out to the hospital and
I stood next to her bed as Steve led her to Christ.
Puerto Montt
Our plans changed a couple of times as we tried to
determine what would be the best way for us to get to our destination in Patagonia:
Coyhaique. It was a blessing to cross paths with Cyntia and Cristian in
Loncoche because as it turned out they had a lot of family that had made the
trip to Coyhaique. The trip is not as straight forward as one would think
because of the Andes. You can’t just drive there. Instead you have to either
travel through Argentina or take 1 or several boats to get there. We determined
that though it was a little pricier, taking one boat from Puerto Montt to
Puerto Chacabuco would be best because of the gas we would have spent, the
uncertainty of travelling the other route, and because of the dirt roads we
avoided with our excessively loaded vehicle. Pastor Louis Long and his wife
Kathy received us into their home on Monday night in Puerto Montt. Sweet
couple. We shipped out Tuesday night at 8 pm.
Puerto Chacabuco
The boat trip from Puerto Montt to Puerto Chacabuco was a
24 hour trip. We were very comfortable in a cabin with four beds and a private
bathroom. I loved the trip, though I must admit I’ve never really developed my
sea legs. I saw dozens of islands on the trip. On one of the islands were two
populations: one by the name of Puerto Aguirre and the other by the name of
Caleta Andrade. We really need to plant a church there…maybe two.
Coyhaique
Late Wednesday night we got in to Coyhaique. Home sweet
home. This is where we will live and do ministry. Coyhaique is the capital of the XI Region of Chile with a population of
over 50,000. We were received into the home of some friends and are there until
we move in to our own place. I believe the Lord ordered our steps to a certain
home and we sealed the deal with evangelism in that neighborhood on Saturday.
We write up the contract this Tuesday and move in whenever we are ready. I can’t
wait to get settled in and start a weekly Bible study that will pave the way
for the church we are starting in a few months.
What an adventure! I’m so glad to share it with my best
friend, Annie, by my side.
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