Philip Linkous' Blog

CNN- “A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, killing at least 122 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.

Numerous tsunami waves have been reported in the Pacific, with one reaching as high as 7.7 feet in the central Chile coastal town of Talcahuano, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.”

I have talked to the team leader of El Oasis, Mark Jackson, and he says that everyone, students, exchange students, staff,  are fine.  He said that they felt the earthquake shaking things in their apartment, but outside where they live in Santiago everything looks normal.  There were some power and water outages, but for the most part the city looks normal where they are other than some shingles missing on roofs.

This is a huge praise that the people we know are ok.  More to come soon.  Pray for those that aren’t as lucky near the coast and that no tsunami waves cause damage.

So this week is a week of preparation.  Andrew Michael and I have beenthe given chance to be the speakers at the Georgia Southern winter retreat in Helen, GA.  Usually this time of year would be the Gatlinburg Retreat in Tennessee, but this year marks a new era in Georgia Southern retreat history.  We are really honored at being able to speak at the retreat and can’t wait to be a part of Georgia Southern CCF again for the weekend.  Please pray with us during these final days of getting ready that God will equip us and speak to us and through us this weekend.  Thanks!

It is official!  We will be able to keep the campus house in Santiago for the rest of the year.   Thank you for your prayers at 4:19 pm.  The musician that was going to buy the house that El Oasis was renting has backed out and we no longer have to move out at the end of February.  The ministry will continue to meet in the current location, and now there is more time for us to look around and consider possibly moving to a better location in the future.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:19

Each day at 4:19 pm Chilean students, the staff of El Oasis, and others are praying with this scripture in mind. A once clothing store, turned campus ministry house in 2003, has now been bought out by a Chilean musician to be turned into a recording studio. We have been given until the end of February to find a new ministry house and move everything out. We can definitely see God at work in these circumstances.

While the heart and lifeblood of the ministry is the students, the campus house is the tool that God has allowed us to use to really serve the students in campus ministry. It is a safe place for students to come meet friends, fellowship, enjoy a meal, worship and grow together. The staff of El Oasis had been thinking that it would be nice to have a larger meeting space to accommodate the growing community of students. It would also be nice to have a place closer in to the city and universities which would be more accessible. With the recent news of the house being bought out, the decision has been made for us.

We are praying each day at 4:19 for God to provide a new meeting place for us.  I would love for you to join in this prayer with us.   We are trusting God to provide in a big way.  With a house that is closer in to the universities, there will be lots more opportunities for ministry during the day in between classes.   This will also make it easier for students to make it over to the campus house without having to make such a long commute.

current campus house

I had the chance a few weeks ago to visit the CCF at Georgia Southern that I worked at for the past 2 years as an intern.  I spent the weekend visiting with friends and I got to make it down in time for a Bible study on Thursday night.  It was so good to be back in Statesboro.  I knew that I had missed everyone down there, but it really hit just how much I did as I was driving down the ever exciting I 16.

There were new faces, the house had changed some (cleaner and smelled better), but still in some ways I felt like I had never left.  Sitting in Latte Da coffee shop and talking about life and God with 2 friends that I was in an accountability group with last year, brought me instantly back to my last two years as an intern.  I am so thankful for the CCF at Georgia Southern and the impact that it has had on my life.  I first visited Southern from Tech as an outsider almost three years ago and I was overwhelmed by how welcoming and loving all the students were.  Going back to visit was a reminder of how much I love college ministry.  Seeing all those people who God has gotten a hold of through college ministry increases my desire to go to Chile.

Georgia Southern CCF Spring Retreat April 2009

My old blog from my time as an intern: http://philipinternshipgsccf.blogspot.com/

Georgia Southern CCF: www.GSCCF.org

After a two-week long visit to Chile this past summer, I feel like God is leading me back for a much longer time.  I got to visit the Globalscope campus ministry of El Oasis (the Well).  It was an incredible experience where I saw a loving community of Chilean college students that love God, love each other, and are transforming Santiago, Chile!

Paula, Me, Renato, and Jennifer posing on top of San Cristobal

Before heading back to the states after my trip, some of the friends I met, Renato, Paula, Camila, Jennifer and others, took me to a convenient store and bought me some Chilean candy for the trip back.  Including a Super Ocho, which is a candy bar that’s sold everywhere in Chile, and it’s awesome!  I can’t wait to get back to Chile to see these friends and make deep relationships with new ones that I can share the love of Jesus with!

Currently I am working odd jobs part time to pay the bills and taking a Bible class at Atlanta Christian College.  But the main focus in my life right now is in sharing with individuals and Churches about El Oasis and how God is at work changing lives in Chile.  Raising support for the mission is my ministry now.

I’ll be posting several blogs a month with random stories, pictures, prayer requests, and progress on support raising.  I’d love to hear from you as well! Thanks for reading!

-Philip