It was a crisp and FREEZING Friday morning (about 7am) when our double decker bus pulled along the side of a small street after roughly 12 hours of travel. We had finally made it. We were finally in the town we would be serving in. As they struggled to pull our large and heavy packs off the bottom of the bus and then pulled away we stood there in the cold on the side of the street ready to start our new journey. About ten minutes later a man in a small silver hatch back pulls up. We were home.
During our time in Frutillar, Chile, we have been placed with a beautiful little family. Daniel and Jessica and their three daughters Anais (11), Alicia (9), and Matte (5). They have moved to Frutillar from Santiago only 6 months ago after being called by God. They spent 11 years in Santiago building up a ministry they call House of Hope. This is a place for orphan children. There is also a house that is available for women who have aged out of the orphanage system. This gives them the chance to continue their education or to get a job allowing them to save money in order to being their own life. Feel free to check out more about their organization HERE. Daniel and his family moved to the southern part of Chile in order to expand this ministry in a new location. He and his family picked up and found a rental home where they are now working to build relationships and spread the word of the calling God has put on their lives.
In order to help Daniel and Jessica in their vision we have been working in different areas of the community. My World Race team has partnered with a local school, making connections and helping out however we can. We were each able to pick a grade to help with (I am working with the 8th grade students). We begin classes every day at 8:30 am.
While at the school we help out in classes (when we can) and run the break times with different games and activities for the game. I have been able to teach yoga to some of the kids which has been so awesome even with a language barrier.
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After school we go to our host’s home and spend time in community helping make lunch and then sharing that meal together. There we will often spend time reviewing the day and what we have yet to come. Also just rejoice in what good we have had in our lives here in Frutillar, any prayer requests we may have, and anything else we may need.
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From lunch we will often have some free time, typically an hour or two. Depending on the day we will meet back up and head out to our next area of service.
On Mondays and Fridays we spend time at a local church teaching English for free to all ages. That has been such a great way to build relationships and get to know more people in the community as well as some students that also come from our school. I have been able to teach the kids group that knows some English. Our group has regularly been 6-7 girls that average 10-13 years old. We are able to play games, sing songs and have some really great conversations. Again it is a really neat way to connect with others through fun and different ways even with the language barrier.
On Wednesday nights we go to a youth group type setting at the church we attend on Sundays. There we are able to play games, sing songs (in both English and Spanish) and do skits that go along with the Bible story or testimony we are sharing that night. We have had a good turn out for it being a new church and have really enjoyed getting to know a different group of people in a new more relaxed setting.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will often do some kind of manual labor or other smaller projects that our hosts may need done. That has been everything from cutting down trees, digging holes for fence posts, chopping wood, derusting and painting. These days have always left us tired and ready for bed when we get home!
In this part of Chile we have had to adjust to some cultural differences. One of the main ones that I think was hardest for my team specifically was the eating schedule. We will often have breakfast on our own before school, eating whatever food is available that we have picked up from the grocery store (cereal, fruit, bread). At the school we then have a planning/free period where we are served or expected to bring things for another “breakfast”. This often includes fruit and or bread. Like I mentioned earlier we then go home around 1:30 for lunch. This is the biggest meal of the day and the entire town shuts down during this lunch and siesta time. We finish this meal around 3-330 each day. After our final work is done for the day we have our “dinner” which they call once. This is very similar to a tea time. Here they serve a dessert or you guessed it.. bread. There is a always hot tea and instant coffee as well. If there is a special occasion they might be a kind of cake or possibly even kuchen if you are lucky! This is a very traditional custard cake with berries in it. There is also a form that is very similar to coffee cake.
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A few more insights into our daily life…. Our host has blessed us beyond measure and was able to rent his neighbors house for us to stay in while we are here. This has allowed us some good space as well as our own kitchen and living area.
On the weekends we are in charge of our own meals. This is the time that I really look forward to!! If you know me you know how much I LOVE to cook and create meals that allow people I love to come together and eat and share in community. With our weekends at home I am able to do just that!! It has been such a blessing and something I have really loved doing along with my team! We have quickly established a tradition of banana pancakes every Saturday morning.
Also as a perk of the house is a wood burning stove as our form of heat! Now I have had some experience with wood burning stoves but this has been a challenging and really fun experience. I often am the one who keeps the fire going and is able to serve my team in yet another way that includes my passions.
Overall it has been an incredible experience and a blessing of a first month. We have one week left and I know that God will continue to move in that time. I look forward to continuing to soak in all the Chilean love and culture. God is good and I continue to look around every day at this beautiful country full of beautiful people and I am still amazed that I have this opportunity. How could I have been so lucky?!
Before I know it I will be on a 37 hour bus ride up to Northern Chile to meet my fellow squad mates before heading to Peru!
