Month NINE.. check. HOW?? Is it just me, or is this year FLYING?
Contrary to my thoughts of finding warmer weather upon leaving Argentina, Chile proved to be true to it’s name… chilly. (I read this line to my teammate, to which she responded “I don’t have anything to throw at you right now, but I wish I did.” Warranted? Maybe).
Anyways, although this month was pretty cold, being surrounded by snow-capped mountains and crisp air wasn’t so bad. And our host church and church family blew my previous thoughts on generosity and selflessness way out of the water, wow.
This month we worked with a church called Iglesia Bautista Eben-Ezer. We lived in a classroom above the church, where all five of us cozied up in a 15 ft x 15 ft room. Our mornings were spent doing “trabajo practical” (practical work), where we had daily chores to clean and maintain the church. We had a time of prayer with just our team, then started ministry with the church after lunch. We did a lot of home visitations for members of the church who were sick or elderly, visited a nursing home, helped with youth groups and women’s groups, spoke at church, helped with children’s ministry, evangelism in rougher neighborhoods, helped with weekly prayer meetings, and lots and lots of Spanish translation for me (since I somehow remember high school Spanish, thanks Jesus?). We met some of the most hospitable, kind, generous, and selfless people I have ever met in my life, and my standards of unconditionally loving others have definitely been challenged.
Our host pastor, David, along with his wife LuzMaria, and precious kiddos, Emanuel and Jose Antonio, were likely the most incredible family I have ever met. David and LuzMaria consistently sacrificed to make sure our team was comfortable, bringing more blankets for our team, an entire bed to replace a cot for a sick team member, eggs just to bless us, doing our laundry for us, cooking us meals, and gifting us with so many thoughtful and deeply kind things. David had meetings with us throughout the week to check in with all of us, and also to encourage each of us personally and spiritually. Watching David with his boys was literally the most touching thing I’ve witnessed. David’s 5 year old, Emanuel, was born deaf. Doctors said that he would never be able to hear or talk. After a cochlear implant, therapy, and operations, you literally could not tell that this precious little boy is actually a ginormous miracle. Emanuel talks a mile a minute about Spider-Man, prayers for us and others out loud, sings “Calma” all the way to the beach, and has the most precious, infectious laugh I’ve ever heard. David told us that the only tattoo he has considered in his life would have been a matching cochlear implant if Emanuel did not do well with having his new hardware. Being the spunky, valiant little boy that he is though, Emanuel did not have a problem with it, but David really would have gone through with a head tattoo for his son.
You can tell that the way that David lives his life is the way that he leads his church. Every single member was consistently and intentionally going out of their way to bless us. My teammate told one teenager in the church that she liked her jacket, and the girl straight took the jacket off and gave it to her, saying that it was hers now. I told one woman at a home visit that I liked her key hanger that had a really great quote on it, and she took off all the keys to give it to me. Everyone GIVES to the extreme here; then when they have given all they have, they go out and buy some chocolate to give to us next.
The things that I have learned this month about generosity and selflessness are things that I never want to forget. I want to be so intentional about the way I love others, that I actually look for ways to give what I have away, to live with open hands, and to always prefer others. Living in Chile this month blessed me in more ways than I could have ever imagined, and I am so grateful to have been able to see the unconditional love of God in and through these people. It was such an honor to serve alongside this church, and I know my whole team will really be missing these people.
Philippians 4:19 – My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches by Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.
Month 10, comin’ atcha! We will be living in Bolivia for a month, part of which will be in tents in the jungle! Please pray for health, safety, and effective ministry.
Thank you everyone for your support and prayers!!
