Hello from Antofagasta, Chile!
The last week & a half has been a whirlwind. My first glance from the window of our plane by the firey-orange light of sunrise was of a snow-capped mountain range. I could just make out the perfect crescent moon against pure blue sky & it took my breath away. We spent our afternoon wandering around Estacion Central, the train station in the center of Santiago, buying bus tickets & making friends with the Chileans who helped us get local phone numbers.
Unfortunately, my daypack which held my fragile items (along with laptop, camera, hard drive, journal, bible, etc.) was stolen during a distracting situation with a couple of local pro’s. The team leader Abby’s bag was also taken before we realized what had happened. What a way to start our journey! It was quite shocking & obviously a disappointing loss for the both of us. However, we are all safe & none of us were put in any danger, & for that I am so grateful.
A friend of mine shared a bible verse with me before I left that I have been holding onto ever since. It is from Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi where he states basically this, “I have learned to be content in every situation, I know how to be brought low, & I know how to abound. In any & every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty & hunger, abundance & need. I CAN DO ALL THINGS through HIM who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you [the Philippians] to share my trouble… Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once & again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to YOUR CREDIT. I have received my full payment & more. I am well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts which you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable & pleasing to God. & my God will supply EVERY NEED OF YOURS, according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:11-19).
When my bag was stolen, I did not want to think about being content in that situation. I wanted to be angry & feel sorry for myself & all the things that I had lost & I was. I wanted to think about who I could blame, or what I could have done differently, & I did, but the words that Paul wrote have been following me around ever since. I have been tossing these statements around in my head, looking for meaning, trying to discover how one can succeed at this: I am content in all circumstances, I can do all things, I have received my full payment, I am well supplied, I trust in the Lord. I couldn’t stay disappointed, because I know that those words are true. I know I serve a God who supplies my needs richly. I know I love a Father who has blessed me abundantly. It turns out that life goes on without all of your comforts & amenities, & people who love you surround you & share what they have to fill your needs. It turns out that God is even better than you think he is without all the things we lug around that we think bring us joy & convenience! I can honestly say that I believe these truths now even more than I did before all of my things were stolen, & I think I am beginning to learn the secrets that Paul was talking about. I have felt so loved by everyone who was so encouraging to me last week, & I have felt so loved by God as I have watched Him bless me again & again ever since.
The following days were spent with a team in Frutillar. The team leader Abby had to stay in Santiago to get a new passport, so I jumped in with this lovely group of young ladies!
We worked with a ministry called Casa Esperanza, House of Hope. It is basically a home for girls that are too old to be in an orphanage. The goal is to create a safe place for them to go to college, work, & have a community. Our host Daniel has been doing ministry in Santiago for several years, & has recently moved south where he is now starting the same ministry in Frutillar. This is his first six months in the new city, so our main role is community development, connecting with the locals & finding ways to bless them! During the seven days that I was there, we taught english & held activities at a school called Colegio Verde, Green College. We had volleyball, basketball, soccer, yoga zumba, & crafts for elementary & middle school aged students. We also taught english to locals of all ages in the evenings! We even got to help build a fence at the future property of a new House of Hope. Chileans say goodbye just like Italians, “Ciao!”
More updates soon,
Emily
P.S. A praise! I am about $300 shy of being funded for my five months on the field! Thank you to everyone who has donated, & to all of you following along that are praying for us! It means the world.
