Last Saturday was a day full of games, songs and laughter.
We had the opportunity to visit a low-income area of Tocopilla and spend the day with some incredible kids. This part of town consists of a string of apartment complexes with laundry hanging off the balconies and kids running around playing in broken down cars.
Our hosts, Pastor David and his wife Gracia, have noticed that children saturate this area but spend much of their weekends wandering around alone. Their hearts broke for these kids and one reason they requested our World Race team was to cater to these forgotten children. As many of the kids in this area have minimal adult supervision and difficult lives back in their apartments, they have been labeled as “high-risk”. My team is here to show these kids the deep love of the Father and instill in them hope, and the knowledge that they are never alone.
We showed up on Saturday with a soccer ball, a few songs and anticipation about how the kids would receive us. This wasn’t a structured event where we consulted parents, signed wavers to play with the children and assured anyone with concerns that we were experienced professionals. We simply walked around the apartment complex looking for kids who were alone or playing in a group and asked them if they wanted to hang out with us. Many children rushed to the windows of their apartments and peered out the curtains wondering who we were and why we were there. Most of the children in Tocopilla have never seen an American and the sight of our group together is daunting. We began kicking around the soccer ball with a few brave kids who initially said yes to our invitation and it wasn’t long before our numbers multiplied. As the day progressed, more and more children came out, hand in hand, to play with us and listen to the stories our host Gracia told them about a man named Jesus. It was so incredible. For hours we played and sang with these kids and their smiles were contagious. I am so appreciative for these incredible opportunities to love and care for children of different cultures because it’s no different than caring for children in America. They just want to give love, and to be loved. I’m thankful to share Saturdays with the children of Tocopilla and although at the end of the day I was sunburnt, my voice was gone and I had spend the entire day sweating – my heart was bursting.
Duck, duck, goose; aka “pato, pato, ganso”
Follow the leader then FREEZE.
Learning about the American Missionaries ” Misioneros Americanos” and why we’re in Tocopilla.
To some, these are “high-risk” children. To us, they are God’s children.
Thank you Jesus for the innocent love of a child and the chance to pour into the little ones that live in Tocopilla, Chile!
This week, I am working in the schools here and teaching English! I can’t wait to update everyone on what unfolds –
Dios Bendiga <3
“Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, I tell you truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4
