Where do I begin? I have been in Chile for 10 days now. So much has happened since our plane landed. We stepped off the plane and into the very chilly airport. Although it was in the early morning hours we were all filled with excitement and anticipation of our first month. The month we had been waiting for so long to come. We made it through all the checks and random inspections, past the sniffing puppies (which fyi you are not suppose to pet, no matter how much you miss your dogs). My team had planned to sit in the air port where it was safe and warm then later take a bus to the bus station so that we could get tickets from Santiago (where we flew into) to where we are serving in Frutillar. As we settled into the uncomfortable benches with our packs stuck and stuffed all around us we tried to warm up and catch a little more sleep. We soon decided that we needed out of the small cold airport and decided to catch an earlier transport to the large bus station, which we later found out was an opening in the wall that we could buy tickets out of. We piled through the tight isles and cramped seats with both our packs still strapped around us. We soon piled back off the bus and onto the street where we realized that we had gone 4 blocks too far. We decided since we had the time and the weather was decent we would do some touring and find some food.
After we all had filled our bellies and gotten the few things we needed from the bigger city we strapped our packs on to shuffle into the near by Starbucks. They had an outdoor seating area where we felt we would be more out of the way. As we began to drop our bags a man and women began to help us move tables so that we could all sit together. It was shortly after that they left. Moments after arriving to the coffee shop our two leaders realized the man and when had taken their smaller day packs when they left. This was not only very unexpected but had all the important documents, money, and electronic that they needed most. Long story short everyone was ok. All of us made it on the bus to Fruitillar that night except for our team leader who had to wait for an appointment at the US Embassy for a new passport the following Monday. She later made it down to meet us and God provided and met our needs amidst the harsh start.
As we settled in to our host home and began to hear about the passions and vision that they had for the people here we began to come back to the realization that God had us here and put us through what he did for a very specific reason. Although our schedule is beyond crazy and we are working in multiple different areas while here it is so refreshing and encouraging to see all that God is planning and doing here in Frutillar, Chile.
God has Brought us here as one team, for one month, with one host and one missions. We hope to build relationships and look more and more like God to those we come in contact with. We want to look so much like Christ that people being to look at us differently, not only because of our pale skin and blonde hair, but because we are showing the love of Christ I such an apparent way.
