I am feeling incredibly blessed today! We arrived on our plane after a 9+ hours flight, got through immigration and customs, then took two buses to get to our host! I think we arrived around 2:00. Right away we knew this was going to be great! Lunch was prepared for us at a lovely table. The food was diverse and perfectly delicious! Our host family is a husband and wife, and two children! After lunch, the six of us crammed in the car with our host as he took us to the ATMs, to get sim cards for the team phones, and to the store to get some sharable toiletries. I have been absolutely thrilled all day!! Chile is BEAUTIFUL and literally SMELLS FANTASTIC. I kid you not, every second I was thinking, “I love how it smells.” Its difficult to even explain, but I love it so much already. We passed through the park and shopping areas which are in walking distance from our “home.” The people here are so so so welcoming and I love learning more Spanish! The language barrier is a very real thing but it’s not a problem!
After we got back, a couple super sweet ladies hung out with us drinking coffee and having another unbelievably great meal:some of the best homemade jam imaginable, dulce de leche, bread, “Christmas cake,” crushed boiled eggs, and cheese. They asked many questions and were very open and down to earth. It is awesome to be building great relationships like this! We sang some hymns in Spanish and laughed a lot. The five year old girl we are staying with had a special surprise for each of us, and I can’t say I’ve ever been better welcomed, probably in my whole life. My heart is so so full right now! Then at 7, we had a bible study of Luke 22 with a few church members. We had someone translating–a new friend who lived in Houston, TX for five years but is otherwise 100% Chilean.
Monday-Thursday we are all teaching English in schools!! Tomorrow morning we are babysitting the host children in the morning. Then from 7-8:30pm, I will be teaching English. Because Monday is a holiday here, theres no school but Tuesday I teach in a high school and then again in the evening. I am very excited!! We will have a schedule.
So one personal thing: in my quiet time with God, I have continually been feeling like the Holy Spirit is saying that I will be a worshipper. I’ve felt that I will be leading worship, which I have NEVER done before. So I brought a song book I made, a capo, and a pick!! I prayed intently for God to provide a guitar. And here we are first day, and the host asks us if we can play an instrument. I AM PLAYING/SINGING AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY. The pastor has an guitar! Looks like it hasn’t been played in a long time since there were trinkets inside and its got crayon on the strings, and it needed a wash! I already started practicing some. Wow, I love the sudden opportunity for growth and boldness. (Dear Lord, please give my team confidence to sing with me, Amen.)
Currently my five other teammates and I are sharing a small room, it’s actually quite cozy and we are happy to all be together! It’s also COLD here in Chile!! 45 degrees tonight and we are bundled up with lots of blankets!! I hope to buy pants this week since I didn’t prepare for the cold. Oh!! And there’s so many street dogs, they’re all pretty cute and don’t look hungry! I want to pet them but I am not allowed lol. You can hear them now at night. They roam around as frequent as squirrels back home. Big cute furry fat dogs just hanging out and sleeping wherever!
Also, we have wifi BUT I shall use it wisely! I want to live in the moment, honor the people of Chile well, and to experience the most I can! Until next time…
