I loved our time spent in Chile back in September! Here are a few reasons why:
Our Host
Our host, Daniela, was wonderful. She showed how much she cared for us even in the short weeks we were there by asking us our stories and telling us hers in return. It was great to hear about the vision that she had for the community center where we stayed for the month.
The Work Your Way Team
A group of guys from South Africa, part of Work Your Way (a trip similar to the World Race but wayyyy more intense), stayed with us for the first week and a half. From worship nights to talking about any and everything under the sun to countless games of Murder in the Dark, we had a lot of fun. Suffice it to say we loved having them with us.
Creative Projects and Painting
I love drawing and painting and so I was glad to hear we would have a few opportunities for that this month. The community center was having an anniversary so we made this welcome sign.
Welcome
We also made a sign with this verse from Isaiah 43:19, which has kind of been the motto for the center.
The doors in the center were being replaced and so we painted them and added designs or verses.
We went to a nearby preschool and painted pallets for them to use in their garden.
Staying at the Community Center
We stayed at the community center, and whenever it wasn’t being used for workshops (like hairdressing or baking) or Bible studies, we had the whole place to ourselves, which was great.
Slumber Party
When my teammates heard that I had never had a slumber party as a kid, they decided to surprise me with one. Tents, food, games, face masks, and gifts from Daniela. We had a great time!
Reading Zora and Nicky
Each teammate has a turn to have “team time”, where you can basically choose anything to do and your team will participate. I decided to read a few chapters of this book out loud for my team time because I love this book and I love reading out loud. And, as I had hoped, they were hooked, and so for the next week and a half we read at least for an hour each night.
The Geography
I absolutely love mountains! Chile had such variety. Snowy mountains, deserts (it didn’t rain in Antofagasta but maybe twice a year), the ocean, volcanoes. It’s beautiful!
Food Tour in San Pedro
We were in Antofagasta for most of the month, but we went to San Pedro for a couple of days before heading to Bolivia. One of the things we did there was go on a food tour. Pictured above are llama empanadas. Not bad!
Stargazing Tour
We also did a stargazing tour, which was so cool! I saw more stars in the sky then I have ever seen before. And we got to look at Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope. Then we took a picture in front of the Milky Way.
Well, I am currently in Ecuador (so I still have blogs pending on Bolivia and Peru). And in twenty days, I’ll be home!
Jessica
