Chynoweth Family Update

Bogotá, Colombia
A Look Back...

Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing today to let you know that our time here in Colombia is drawing to a close and that on June 11th, 2008 we will be returning to the United States. We are going back to Florida to spend some time with our families, supporting Jim's mom as she continues her cancer treatment, and be with Jessie's family as they celebrate the marriage of Joy, Jessie's younger sister.

As we look back, it has clearly been an incredible year and a half here in Colombia serving with CDA, learning, growing and helping. We have experienced all sorts of joys and challenges and we are so grateful for your faithful support and all your prayers during the last 18 months. Jesus said that "whatever you do for even the least of this you do for me," and we want to let you know that your faithful support enabled us to come and serve here, making a tangible difference in the lives of people from some of the neediest and poorest communities of Colombia. Thank you for making this opportunity possible for us, thank you for all your prayers and thank you for partnering with us in this adventure!

As our time here rapidly draws to a close, I'd like to take this opportunity to look back at the journey and recognize God's faithfulness and remind you of all the things you have helped make possible.

On November 15, 2006, Jessie who was eight months pregnant, and I moved to Colombia with only half the support raised that we needed, trusting God that he would provide for us if we followed him. Within weeks, He demonstrated his faithfulness and we reached our monthly support goal. Thank you!

On December 20th, 2006 Isabella Marie Chynoweth was safely born at the Fundacion Santa Fe Hospital.

In January 2007 I began translating (slowly at first) for the short term missions teams that were coming down to Colombia, as well as for visiting donors and VIPs. As my spanish improved I also began translating documents, reports and plans since all of CDA's communications had to be translated prior to being sent overseas. When people ask how I learned Spanish I always share how many people I had back home praying for our rapid language acquisition.

In April 2007, Jessie, Bella and I moved into our little house at the Children's Home in Tenjo where Jessie began using some of her nursing skills in addition to befriending some of the girls and sharing her heart and life with them.

In June I had the opportunity to translate for and participate in CDA's international partners conference that brought together key people from CDA's primary donor organization in Holland along with representatives from a variety of organizations across Central and Southern America.

In August ‘07 I went to Pisco, Peru with CDA's emergency relief medical team where we worked in coordination with Operation Blessing, local churches and volunteers from the United States as we brought much needed supplies and medical care to 1,500 people who had lost everything in the earthquake.

In September I had the chance to visit some of the most “exciting” parts of Colombia with a pair of Dutch Journalists. Upon returning to Holland, their pictures and articles were published in a Christian newspaper and helped raise $455,000 for CDA.

After a wonderful trip back to the US over Christmas, we returned to Colombia where I accepted the offer to leave my job as the International Communications Officer and become the new Director of Spiritual Wellbeing.

In this new position I have worked to begin a shift in organizational leadership and return the mantel of spiritual authority to the leaders of the organization instead of the chaplains. Additionally, I retooled our School of Practical Ministries into a Christian leadership development course to be implemented in five of our sites to build relationships with local churches and train christian leaders who can then work with us in a volunteer capacity to multiply our efforts. Additionally, I have launched a community relations plan, transformed how the organization leads devotionals and worked with the President and CEO of the organization to implement some changes in the leadership style to more closely model and reflect CDA's Christian values and heritage.

In April I helped plan and coordinate the logistics to distribute de-worming medication to 500,000 men, women and children from Cartagena in cooperation with the Mayor's Office, the Ministries of Health and Education and Office of the President. A key part of the success of the event was working with the local Pastor's Association, AMEB, to train volunteers to take part in the de-worming campaign, distribute evangelistic literature, and do a long term spiritual followup.

In May I took part in CDA's five-year strategic planning meetings in which we developed strategies and action plans to help guide the leadership in their decision making as CDA continues to grow and discover everything that God has waiting for them.

Once again, thank you so much for walking with us on this adventure. May God continue to bless you as he has blessed us through you.

Sincerely,
Jim, Jessie and Isabella Chynoweth