Chile was a good month.
I say that even though I was homesick and physically sick for half of it.
We were in a beautiful home with a few playful dogs, friendly girls, chickens, a garden, and a washing machine. We got to help out at a local at-risk elementary school and a special needs school. Then we got to interact with at-risk and abused girls at a home nearby. We gave music lessons, which are my JAM. Not to mention we were living in our house with our friends and sisters, professional girls finishing their degrees and diplomas.
These people gave us so much. They didn’t have to. But they chose to invest in us. I remember one of the last language classes that I had, all the kids came up and brought me envelopes with letters inside. I almost cried. They were so beautiful, wishing me well, some with drawings.
Was it easy? No. I struggled with feeling like I wasn’t adding enough to the ministries. Each day I came home dead tired. The kids would not behave and would not want to learn, not seeing the point of it all. (One of the kids apologized for behaving badly in a letter, which made my chest physically hurt with emotion.) It was not all roses and sunbeams. But it was good. And I miss those people dearly.
Now… don’t cry for me …
