Northern Chile

This month we are in the Atacama Desert in Calama, Chile. It’s the driest place on Earth and home to the largest copper mine in the world. We’re living in a church and teaching English and religion classes throughout the week at a nearby Montessori school.

 

English Class

Taylor and Abigail led a class on “Question Words”. They introduced “Wh” words along with the Spanish equivalent, then the students matched the meanings. The class divided into groups to form questions and then they asked one another their newly formed questions. Here are a few fun questions that came out of the activity:

Q: Why doesn’t she love me?

A: Because she loves me.

 

Q: Why are you so beautiful?

A: I was born this way.

 

Q: Who is your favorite Kardashian?

A: I like Brody Jenner.

 

Q: How do you do the daily challenge?

A: 

We’ve played fun games to build vocabulary like charades, hangman, and telephone. If you have English teaching suggestions, we’d love to receive them. The race often presents lots of opportunity to teach, and its always fun to get new ideas.

 

Religion Class

The first week we shared personal stories about God. I talked about trying to measure up to my siblings and the pain of failing. Which the turned into quiet lies that I am not enough. I carried those lies around for too long before realizing that my identity is not in my success or failure, it is in who my Father in heaven says I am, and He says that I am loved and accepted as I am. He says that God didn’t send Jesus for us to live our lives believing lies about ourselves. He loves and accepts me exactly as I am. He’s proud of me and I’m enough because He says I am.

“I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” -Is. 43:25

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” -Psalm 139: 17

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” -Galations 5:1

 

Our second week, we shared stories and kids wrote letters to God.

Afterwards, we typically visited in groups. Sometimes the conversation is fun, and we talk about what the USA is like and if we knew Ariana Grande. Other times, the questions are more serious. The mix is good, tough questions keep us on our toes, and in those moments when Spanish vocabulary just doesn’t measure up, I’m incredibly thankful for google translate and the students’ patience.

 

Saturdays

Each Saturday has been different. The first week we were able to be a part of a CIMA Day conference which is a Christian organization that exists to challenge young adults to total surrender to God in their lives. Most of us were in the background helping things run smoothly. However, Sarah and Taylor worked with the media team to photograph the day. They are both talented at capturing beauty and telling stories through photos; it was inspiring to watch. Tom courageously shared about his life, including struggles, pain, and the redemption story God has given him.

Last Saturday we prayed with church members and then went to the market to hand out information about  Jesus and the church. Today, we are cleaning the church and… who knows what else the day will hold?!

 

Sundays

We attend our pastor’s church and get to be apart of Sunday school afterwards. Last week, Taylor shared his testimony during the service. He spent an afternoon preparing. It included writing everything out in English then translating it to Spanish, having a native speaker review it, and then practicing the pronunciations. He did an incredible job sharing about his life and the way God has transformed it in Spanish. He demonstrated ownership to a new level and we all learned from his example that day.

That’s it for now,

Can you believe tomorrow marks our last week in Calama?

Time flies!

Thank you for thinking and praying for us!

Much Love,

Catherine