mission – Cornerstone Chilean Mission

Supporting Your Missionaries: Investing in the Kingdom

July 5, 2018 by cornerstonechileanmission, posted in Informative, Mission Update

Dear friends, family, and supporters,

We are always grateful to have the privilege to work overseas, in Chile. Our years here have been abundantly blessed, as we strive to be a blessing to those around us.

We try to gear our work to our strengths, which is why Mike has focused on teaching, and Tabi has focused on translation and website upkeep. These ministries don’t occur in a vacuum, so between the work and the long hours writing and preparing, we also make sure to extend and maintain the bonds of friendship.

We also do our best to stay connected to you, our supporters, and to keep you informed of our ministries and our day-to-day life through newsletters, Facebook updates, and blog updates.

We have, for the 9 years we’ve been here, returned to the United States every 2 years, in order to reconnect with our supporters and supporting churches and give detailed updates in person. These furloughs are good times for us, and have been even better as our family grows.

We strive to be honest and transparent about our life and ministry here. We want our supporters to always feel confident in their decision to choose us as their missionaries. We know that times are hard and money isn’t easy to come by. We want you to know that you have made a solid investment in the Kingdom by investing in us. We also recognize the sacrifices so many of you make for us other missionaries and your generosity.

So, in an effort to be transparent, we have written this letter to let you know that our plans this year have hit a snag– due to our funding steadily declining over the last few years, we do not have sufficient funds to do our furlough this year. Unless our funding goes up, or we receive a special offering, we will be unable to make the trip up with all our family.

We want you to know that we are committed to staying in Chile, and have no intention of letting hardships get in our way. We believe in our mission here, in the value of teaching and training leaders, and of providing accessible materials for the Body of Christ. We have a calling, and we will heed it.

We also want you to know that we will still be trying to get at least one of us up to do the furlough, but we would like our whole family to go, if possible.

We would like to be able to share our successes and joys, our sorrows and yes, even the times we feel we dropped the ball. We want you to be able to share in our ministry, as you have these last 9 years.

Thank you for giving us the time to read this letter. Thank you, as well, for being our supporters through these years.

If you would like to donate to our mission online, please click on the button to donate.

May the Lord bless you all, and fill your lives with His joy and peace. “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Blessings,
Mike and Tabi Boyce

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A Day in the Life: Tabi

October 24, 2017May 28, 2018 by cornerstonechileanmission, posted in Family Life, slice of life

A Tour in Black and White
(because I’m artsy and stuff)

IMG_20171023_122958237_HDR — My daily dose of caffeine. You know what’s expensive in Chile? Milk. We buy milk anyway, for Lydia, but I found a recipe for oat milk. Surprisingly similar to creamer! And it’s cheap. I’m sold.

IMG_20171019_095213138 — These two. They drive me nuts and fill me with joy. Most of my day is about them.

IMG_20171015_164914293_HDR — Most days, after breakfast, we play or watch TV. If it’s TV time, Mami has some time to spend on the computer, or to do housework.

IMG_20171003_170003849 — If it’s a really nice day, we might take a dip in the pool.

IMG_20171012_173430261 — Then it’s lunch time. “Noonows, peas?” Noodles, please?

IMG-20171006-WA0008 — Lydia often helps me cook. She does very well!

IMG_20171002_205146520 — Then it’s nap time. Mami’s favorite time of day!

IMG_20171020_133338_969 (1) — This is the time of day when I can get some serious work done! It’s during this time that I buckle down and tend to the website, update blogs, translate, do some studying, upload articles, work on newsletters, write articles, or work on photos.

IMG_20171018_174133559 — When the kids wake up again, we might stay home and play. Sometimes, though, we go out. This may be to the mall or to a nearby park.

IMG_20170923_121123411 — The mall has three free playgrounds, two fish tanks, several paid play areas, mechanical games, and, Mami’s favorite . . .

IMG_20171014_181044595_HDR — The Starbucks has a kids corner, where Lydia can play and color. We usually get much cheaper drinks than in the picture, but I had a free drink pending on my account, so we enjoyed something nicer.

IMG_20171013_113913504 — If we stay home, we might go to the store to pick up some fresh veggies, or some fresh bread. Lydia likes to help me carry the bags.

IMG_20171003_101508417_HDR — On special days, we go out in the morning and do a day trip! Lydia likes the bus, because she gets to sit like a grown up and look out the window. We don’t get work done those days, but it’s a good time to bond.

IMG_20171004_190349984 — They go to bed early, so I can have a little more time to work (as long as I don’t end up falling asleep as soon as they’re down!). I use the night time to either have a little bit of “me time”, or to work some more on urgent projects.

And that’s what an average day looks like for me. I am, first and foremost, a mother and wife, but I try to make sure to get my missionary work done as well. Both are priorities to me, and I want to make sure they both get my time and attention.

I am grateful for my life. It is blessed, and it is beautiful. It isn’t always easy, but it is full of love, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Seminario Bíblico Restauración Cristiana

August 26, 2017May 28, 2018 by cornerstonechileanmission, posted in Mission Update

“No one cares about your fancy degree, son. To them, you’re just a young man pretending he knows more than they do. If you want to teach, first you have to gain their trust.” The man leaned back in his chair and eyed Mike skeptically.

It was 2007, we were recently graduated and beginning our fund-raising journey. We had decided to visit Chile so that I could get to see it before moving here. We also wanted to meet the director of the Institute that Mike wanted to join, once we made it to Chile. He was unimpressed with Mike, but decided to give him a chance, once we came as missionaries.

So we considered it all set up. We came. And, as things often go, we found upon our arrival that the Institute had stopped functioning from lack of attendance.

From that point on, he made it his goal to start another one. Remembering the advice given to him, he has patiently worked toward that goal for 7 years– building friendships, earning trust and a reputation, developing material, and finding a place to begin. He taught classes at churches, and word spread about them. After a few years, the ministers hosting the classes at their churches began encouraging him to start the Institute.

Which brings us to now. Seminario Bíblico Restauración Cristiana has finished the first semester of the trial run successfully, and is set up to start its second semester of the trial run in September, with four professors, as well as the excellent support of Habacuc Díaz and his media team. We are so grateful for how well things are going. We pray things will go well. We ask for your prayers, as well. Seminaries are difficult to run and maintain. Often they start off strong, only to taper off in attendance later. We hope that this will not be the case, but time will tell. For now, things are looking good.

Please visit the Seminary’s YouTube page, where you’ll find promotional and educational videos. You can also visit their Facebook page. Thank-you for all your support and prayers.

A Tour in Black and White (because I’m artsy and stuff)

A Tour in Black and White
(because I’m artsy and stuff)