We’re finally here! After months of anticipation and training, it has become a reality. I’m actually on the Race now. I’m in Antofogasta, Chile learning what it means to do ministry in their culture and how we can best love and help them.
I’ve had to remind myself a few times already how amazing it is that I’m here. Comfort has already started to set in, but I don’t want to be comfortable. I want to be changed; to learn how to love better, how to live this life to it’s full potential, and to see amazing things. And that will never happen inside of my comfort zone. So I’ve been asking, praying, and seeking opportunities to be pulled away from comfort. And fortunately, for someone who remembers very little Spanish from highschool, those opportunities are frequent.
They began once we launched out from Atlanta, GA. We had 50+ hours of travel including a 20 hour bus ride to one of our host sites. It was uncomfortably long. However, when it was over, we meet our host families. As we have sought to understand their culture, they have been incredibly generous in giving us grace as well as providing for our needs! Brandon and I are staying with the Andres’: Mario, Dorca, and Mario Jr. And they have treated us like family!
The people of Chile are very welcoming, loving, and don’t have a personal bubble (if you have one, it will be broken)! One of the ministries that has welcomed us is a children’s ministry at Bonilla Church. Through this ministry, we met around 30 kids and started to form relationships with them.
Another ministry we have the opportunity to be a part of is to help teach English and Religion classes at Ingesia, the school that is partnered with the Church. This will be our main ministry the rest of the month (Tuesday-Friday 8am-6pm). My team and I are humbled, honored, and excited for this opportunity and we cannot wait to see what the future holds.
We would greatly appreciate prayers for wisdom, patience, and grace as we learn to navigate this new culture and ministry. But most importantly, we want to grow closer to God. Please pray that we would find time to spend alone with Him. Thank you for your support!
