Ralco Mission Trip

Ralco was a blessing.  A blessing filled with backbreaking work that started at 6am everyday.  To be honest I´m glad we got up that early to beat the sun out for a few hours of shaded coolness.  


Before I get into the explanation of what we were doing let me explain a bit about the church.

Pastor Antonio

Antonio, the old head pastor of Oriente (our church) moved down to Los Ángeles (Chile that is) after feeling called to minister and spread the gospel to the people in the surrounding area.  While getting involved with the community and starting his church in Los Ángeles, Antonio got word of a missionary church in Ralco that had imploded and left the congregation in really bad shape.

Long story short the pastor had an affair and left his wife and the church, which we all know can leave a long lasting wake of wreckage.  I point this out because of the demographics of Ralco.  The quaint town of Ralco has a strong influence and representation of Pewenche people, one of the major indigenous groups of Chile.

  Gaining "confianza" or trust with the indigenous groups requires commitment and dedication; I imagine this is the way it is because of the history of being cheated, tricked and burned by outsiders.  Not all ¨conquistadores¨ were as charming as John Smith.   Seeing as how Ralco is also the center point for almost a dozen more smaller pueblos of unreached people it's a vital place to be investing in, serving and loving.  

All that said the work is hard.  I give it up to Pastor Antonio and his passion to serve and love this community and sacrifice many a Sunday mornings commuting 3 hours on a bus with his family.  By the way, he has his Los Ángeles church services Sunday evening.


So, now we have a beautiful church building on a hill, but without water it was a bit inconvenient.  It's ironic/funny/sad what we see as inconvenient at times with our churches.  Some are more like the Y or a country club, but “a cada loco, su tema”... to each his own.  


We dug a 200 yard trench (2 football fields) down a hill, laid the plumbing and reached the water lines of the city. 
After a week of blisters, 

                              back aches,

way to few bathing opportunities, 

and man power by each and everyone of these lovely people water has arrived at the church. 


















 We´ve already started on the foundations for the restrooms which will be completed by future teams to come, who will also be involved in many other projects and outreach events.  It was exciting to be the ground breaking team to serve in Ralco and set the tempo.  We hope that we left a good aftertaste.  

Check out more pictures in the gallery to your right.