Yikes! God is answering prayers!

Saludos from Chile, where the weather and the activity are hot. God is moving in grand ways as we struggle to get details ready for the construction of Colegio Cristiano Conosur (CCC), our K-12 Christian school for the families around Talagante, Chile.


Does our community WANT Colegio Cristiano Conosur?

We're pretty sure that the answer is "yes." I don't know if I ever told you that CCC will be the first and only Christian school in an extended community that includes about 400,000 people. People say that they want the quality education we promise them, along with the uniform and loving discipline, and the cross-cultural opportunities.

So, it shouldn't be a surprise that we have 300 families who have expressed enough interest to put themselves on our CCC mailing list in Chile. And our marketing guy, Cristian Godoy, has accomplished that all through personal contacts, without one word of advertising and without leaving the city limits of Talagante. Soon he will begin work in Padre Hurtado nearby, which I believe is the fastest-growing community in Chile right now. Our goal is to have 720 families signed up by August. That is 2x the number we hope to enroll in August-November, or 360 students. Imagine the blessing of having a waiting list! It could happen.

Preparations for construction are moving rapidly!

The engineers and architects who are designing the specialty projects, such as construction engineering, electrical, potable water, sewage, etc., are making a heroic effort to have all drawings and calculations ready for review by an independent reviewer by February 23. Then, our own Independent Reviewer will check the calculations, and we will present the information to various construction firms for bids.

At the same time, the plans go in for approval at the Municipality of Talagante. We have had three impromptu meetings with the top guy in the Works Department, each time with good results, so we're hoping our permits to build will come quickly.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PLEASANT SURPRISES ON THE BIDS! Even if God may shock us with costs higher than we want, we are trusting him to open and close doors in clear ways.

The bank continues to send positive signals, asking for more information to keep our file updated.

Did you ever have that feeling about something you prayed for for a long time, then there's that scary moment of "Yikes, God is giving us what we asked for! Now what?" With bank approval and building permits in place, we could be building in early April!

A couple of great advances on the financial front.
Great news on this front. Since our last letter, we have received gifts or pledges totaling $47,800, which becomes worth $95,600 with the contribution of the contributor who will match funds 1-to-1. We need to have $260,000 in hand when we sign the final deal with the bank.

Please consider how you could help make this start-up a reality. God has been fantastic, but he always does it through His people.

Contact me at the email above if you are interested in making a loan to CCM, transferring appreciated stocks, or making a donation specifically for startup.

Cheryl and I and all the Conosur team pray for God's richest blessings to overflowing in all of your lives! Thank you for being partners with us as we work to see Jesus Christ glorified.

Jim Green