After 52+ hours of traveling we finally made it to Antofagasta, Chile!!! We left the hotel in Atlanta at 1:30am to head to the airport. We took a few power naps in the airport before departing to Boston, MA. There we had an 8.5 hour layover. In that time a few squadmates and I toured Fenway Park. That afternoon we flew to Miami where we had an hour layover. Then our squad flew 8 hours in the night to arrive in Santiago, Chile. When we arrived, my team had to grab our bags and catch a 20 hour bus ride to Antofagasta, Chile.
At the time I am writing this, I have been in Chile for 12 days. I don’t even know where to begin. So much has happened and the Lord has worked in bigger and better ways than I could ever imagine. My team was welcomed with open arms by the Pastor and our host families. The people of Chile are very welcoming and loving with no sense of a personal bubble. (If you have a personal bubble, it will be popped real quick) When you meet someone here, you hug and give a kiss on the cheek. At first that was awkward and felt funny for me, but I have learned to embrace it. Our team is split up living in different hosts homes. My host mom is the best. She is always going above and beyond to make sure we are comfortable in her house. She always reminds me,“Mi casa es tu casa.” She is always giving us more food than our bodies can handle. She is so bubbly, I look forward to coming home to her everyday to get greeted with a big hug.
My team is working in the local school helping teach in the English and Religion classes. My spanish is not very good, but it has definitely improved since I have been here. The first day we went to each classroom and did introductions. Let me tell you, you would think we were celebrities. The kids come running up to us asking for our autograph and to take a picture. The children seem to just flock to us. It is so cool to see them wanting to be with us even though we may not speak the same language. We are also working in a poor area of town at a local church plant, spending time with the youth and attending Bible study. I always look forward to the next time I get to go there because I know they will be anxiously waiting to greet me with a giant hug.
The days here in Chile are long, but I also feel like they go by so fast. We wake up for school when it is dark outside and get back home when it is dark outside. (Right now, it is winter here in Chile). My team has bonded so much in pointing each other higher, embracing being uncomfortable, and eating ice cream almost everyday. When I think I am so tired and can’t wait to jump in bed, I am greeted by my Chilean mom and sister wanting to hear about my whole day.
The Lord has been teaching me a lot about patience and being content in any situation I am put in even when I do not have any control. My word that I am clinging to this year is PERSEVERE. I wear it on my wrist everyday. Perseverance means persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Most of the time nothing is in my control, and I have been learning to trust God with all that I have. Yes, I knew The World Race would not always be sunshine and rainbows; but I am very thankful for the hard times because that is when I see the Lord shine the most.
A verse that has really stuck with me these last few weeks is James 1:2-4.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
My challenge to you this week is to sit in the hard times and lean on God to help you persevere. God doesn’t want you to stay in your comfort zone. He will stretch you more than you can imagine, but that is when you will grow the most.
Love,
Catie Collins Smith
