Oregon, August 1st to 4th.- The Chilean Gathering has been developed for several years by former missionaries and people related to Chile who are living in The United States. They normally gathered every two years in different places in the country. They take turns between the west coast, east coast and middle of the country to hold the gathering. This 2008 the Chilean Gathering was, from august 1st to 4th, in the Alton Collins Retreat Center in Portland, Oregon.
Being Chilean and an active missionary to Uruguay, I decided to take part in this reunion. To my surprise, most of the people, involved, were former missionaries who I had heard of, or met, during my time in Chile - missionaries such as Stanley and Beryl Moore, who served several years in the South and North of Chile, with whom I met and worked in the EMANA Project and the Kusayapu Agricultural School for Aymara Indians; Howard and Peggy Heiner, who met me when I was a five-year-old kid in Valdivia (city located in Southern Chile) while my parents were serving as pastors at the local church; Robert and Dorothy Johansson, who were also missionaries in Iquique and Arica, Chile, and many others who have been an important part of the history of my native Iglesia Metodista de Chile (Methodist Church of Chile); also. Bishop Neftali Aravena, of the Iglesia Metodista de Chile, who was the main speaker at the Chilean gathering.
I don't have enough expressions of gratitude for this magnificent experience of being part of this gathering. I was able to see the love of Christ in the lives of all of those who served so many years in the field, and still have memories and feeling so f the places where they served, and who continue to have hope and love for the future of the Chilean church.
Oregon hospitality: I would like to thank the Elys and the Waltmats for their hospitality during my time in Portland, OR.
Being Chilean and an active missionary to Uruguay, I decided to take part in this reunion. To my surprise, most of the people, involved, were former missionaries who I had heard of, or met, during my time in Chile - missionaries such as Stanley and Beryl Moore, who served several years in the South and North of Chile, with whom I met and worked in the EMANA Project and the Kusayapu Agricultural School for Aymara Indians; Howard and Peggy Heiner, who met me when I was a five-year-old kid in Valdivia (city located in Southern Chile) while my parents were serving as pastors at the local church; Robert and Dorothy Johansson, who were also missionaries in Iquique and Arica, Chile, and many others who have been an important part of the history of my native Iglesia Metodista de Chile (Methodist Church of Chile); also. Bishop Neftali Aravena, of the Iglesia Metodista de Chile, who was the main speaker at the Chilean gathering.
I don't have enough expressions of gratitude for this magnificent experience of being part of this gathering. I was able to see the love of Christ in the lives of all of those who served so many years in the field, and still have memories and feeling so f the places where they served, and who continue to have hope and love for the future of the Chilean church.
Oregon hospitality: I would like to thank the Elys and the Waltmats for their hospitality during my time in Portland, OR.
