Last month in Chile we worked with a house church that lives out the first church in Acts, it’s amazing!
They meet in a house for prayer, they use their resources, gifts, and talents to build God’s kingdom.
One way they really showed us love is making sure we had everything we needed, pulling together everything they had as if it belonged to all of us just like the Bible encourages us to do.
Being on the race we all have a limited wardrobe because of the simple fact that wherever we go we have to carry whatever we have in our big packs. We have also been to diverse places so that means a few weeks ago (now a couple months) we were sweating in the hot African sun. Many of us only had t-shirts and shorts when we got to South America.
Not only that but that also means we know each others wardrobe quite intricately. We have seen our clothes day in and day out so when anything changes we notice right away.
As we worked in Chile, the church members seemed troubled by our lack of warm clothes, they not only felt troubled they wasted no time in doing something about it.
One night as we were giving out free hugs, we were given coats by one of the church members. They just came and donned us with coats, scarves, and then had coffee waiting.
Other days if we were split up for lunch at different members’ houses and came together later we would notice one of us had a new scarf, or different shoes, sweater, or hat.
This was a common theme, when we were in need of something, the Lord provided through them.
One day we were asked for our shoe sizes. Earlier we had been catching a lot of flack for wearing sandals or Chacos with socks because we could get a cold. So we had an idea of what was to come and we refused, we didn’t want anyone having to get us anything else. But after insistence and no other way around it we gave our sizes and days later were met with Christmas in June.
We were given brand new boots! They were stylish and just what we needed. They had also brought us souvenirs from a work trip one of our hosts went on from Patagonia! To top it off they brought us a huge chocolate bar as well.
The next day we were given brand new scarves and the day after we were given blankets.
These people loved us too well.
Another day after being lavished so many gifts, Skate meets up with us after lunch again and glances at Alex and is like, “Is that a new hat?” and of course it was.
My boots were a bit big so I was going to get them exchanged and on Sunday I was given another pair that I could use in the mean time while the others were getting returned in a few days. I was also given the green light to keep them if I wanted in addition to the other ones. I’m still mind blown.
This church loved us beyond comprehension. We don’t deserve it but we have been treated like their children, not even the children they don’t care that much for, as Alex chuckled, but like their favorite children, their prized possession.
When we were sick several people went out and got us cold medicine. We have now vowed not to mention any sickness because we have also been given spoonful’s of onions and cilantro (I really dislike both) as a home remedy.
Talking with my team about their generosity someone mentioned that they learned that the house where we are staying (that is brand new) was all furnished and set up just for us. The microwave was provided by someone, the stove was taken from someone’s house for us to use, the fridge was bought just in time for us. The curtains, the hand towels, everything was put in that house for us from people in the church.
The last days we were thrown a surprise party. Before we left we were given more gifts, souvenirs, picture frames with group pictures, more scarves, and socks for the cold.
Last month we have learned so much about generosity about loving people well. Of course material things are not important but sometimes that’s the way people show love and you have to embrace it.
These people became our family. I’m thankful for all the hugs, the kisses, the smiles, and laughs we have shared. Hoping to visit Chile again in the future.
