Perhaps you've sung those very words around a campfire a time or two.  Authorities believe it was one such campfire that was not properly put out or a cigarette butt that ignited the massive forest fire pictured above on Monday (May 2).  Because the fire is over a mile high in the Andes, the only way to reach it is on foot, horseback or air, yet it is clearly visible from our bedroom window.  We've seen helicopters filling large buckets from the duck pond at a nearby park in order to help defeat the blaze.  Due to the smoke in the air, some schools were canceled today and all physical education classes and sports activities were suspended on this side of the city.    

Clearly, one little spark not only started a massive fire but had a broader affect on the society-at-large.  It is our prayer that our ministry ignites similar fires - ones with far-reaching affects.  We pray that as people come into personal relationships with Jesus Christ, they may also influence their surrounding neighborhoods, cities, countries and world for Christ!  

(Unfortunately, due to technical problems, we lost all photos of this event.) 

Beth also had the privilege of going to Chillan (a city 5 hours south of Santiago) to teach a seminar for Children's Workers.  She was asked to teach about the system that has met with success at Casa Grande in which the children of various ages rotate from class to class each Sunday, similar to how many VBS programs are organized.  Several people have already reported that they are implementing the system at their churches.  Please pray that these Children's Workers will understand the importance of their ministry as they educate and train future community and church leaders!  Also pray that God will call and equip more Children's Workers.  We could definitely use more at Casa Grande! 

For the past 2.5 years we have been praying for ways to reach the people living inside the nearby apartment buildings.  Esperanza is a lady who came to our outdoor Christmas celebration...she lives in the closest high-rise building with her elderly mother and 8 year-old son.  All 3 have become faithful members of our church family and may be the inside connection that we need to reach the people.  She left church on Sunday with a handful of invitations to church.  As a resident, she can pass them out to her neighbors, something we can't do!  We pray that God's redeeming and saving fire will be ignited as each neighbor witnesses to other neighbors about what God is doing in their lives.  

 The Holy Week celebrations were both well attended and very significant for our church family.  In the week prior to the festivities we celebrated as Margarita accepted Christ at one of the church's women's ministry events.   On Maundy Thursday, we relived the "Last Supper" together, learning from the traditions and symbols of the Passover Meal and applying it to our lives.  Then on Sunday morning, we celebrated Christ's resurrection with a shared breakfast and very participatory but meaningful service!  It was great to see the youth of the church visibly enjoying their participation in both services!  The children and adults also appreciated and learned from the Biblical lessons. 

The Alpha for Couples Course continues to ignite meaningful and useful conversations amongst the participants.  One of the wives said that her husband was surprised at first when she started using an endearing name for him, however, it has now become a normal part of their vocabulary.  Their rocky relationship is in a healing process.  Please continue to pray for complete healing in their marriage and pray for healing/enrichment in the other marriages which this course serves.