The markets are different everywhere. They are as different as the countries themselves: vivid colors, distinct smells, and words that remind you that culture is beautiful.
I want to share the markets with you. The smell of fresh cilantro being sold. I want you to hear the voices of the men calling out to you, asking you to buy their produce, or their fish. A random hello, or a “how are you?” said with what sounds like a robot voice instead of a human. Often, it is one of a few phrases they know in English. I want to share the smells and the noise, not just visuals.
The market is the life of almost every culture that we have visited so far this year. It is a place where a “gringo” is an uncommon site. We laugh over being overpriced, and we bargain with them to make the price fair. They are usually not commercialized; they are not a place that most visitors venture. So many people would tell you that they are unsafe to visit. (I think I like it to stay that way.) It takes someone who is confident in their travel to venture to so many of these beautiful sites. Friends meet here; the reunion is beautiful to see, despite the fact that most of these people have seen each other about a week ago. The market is a social place to visit. You don’t rush in the market; you take your time, look at things, to price the food you need, and to speak with the shop owners.
It seems like God sends the most beautiful produce to different parts of the world. And the taste of a fruit that you bought from the market doesn’t even remotely compare to what the taste of a fruit that you can by in your grocery store near your house. If I could take you anywhere in the world, I think I would take you to a market in whatever country you decided we should visit.
There was something special about the market we visited today though. As we are walking through the market with one of our contacts here in Santiago she makes this comment: “Oh, this lady is blind and comes to the market every week by herself. That man is telling the people that are further down that she is coming and she is looking for some plastic goods. Everyone looks out for her here.” I didn’t have the words I needed to have anything intelligent to respond.
This incredible lady has people pick out her produce, count her money, and call out for her. They don’t give her the rotten fruit, but the best ones. They don’t take more money from her than she owes. They call out when she leaves one stand to tell the others in the market what she needs next. They look out for her.
We got home from the market and I clearly heard the Lord tell me that I just had a physical encounter of the woman I am on my spiritual walk.
I don’t know everything about the market because I can’t see that market. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t walk there. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t go by myself. It is a path I don’t know because I haven’t been here before. But, along the way, people are helping me. Some of them walk beside me and touch my hand. Some of them pick out my produce. Some help me understand how much I owe and what I have in my hands. Some of them call out what is coming in front of me. Some of them call out in me what my next step is. I don’t have to have someone to walk beside me because I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
I can journey into the unknown.
I can journey to a place that scares me because I walk in the freedom that I am surrounded by such incredible people.
I think that is the theme of our month here in Chile. Our brothers and sisters around the world are welcoming and inviting. We share dinner tables and sinks with incredible friends who are doing incredible work here in Chile.
We walked into a month with so many unknowns and walk away from it so incredibly blessed.
We have met people that we were supposed to meet; we walked along the road with people who feel like have been friends for a lifetime. We have shared meals and coffee with people who have devoted their lives to the advancement of the gospel here in Chile. We have shared car rides and meals. We have laughed over ice cream and tastes of America. We have experienced the market with people who are incredibly giving; They share their markets with us and their homes with us.
They let us experience the culture that we are falling in love with here in Santiago.
I am so thankful that I get to experience each place, and each culture. I get to see the sites, smell the cilantro, and meet the people. Thank you for supporting me, for constantly praying for us, and for reading these when I get lengthy. I am so thankful that we are on the same team and that Jesus is our captain.
Until He Comes,
Kristy
Financial update: I am at $10,401!!!! Thank you to Each one that has and will support me on this incredible journey. I’m so close to meeting my next goal by April 1st! I have only $599 to my next goal!
