Wow- just wow. Words cannot explain the provision, kindness and utter gentleness I have been met with since arriving in Chile. Getting here, included a 5 hour layover in Boston and then a 9 hour flight from Houston to Santiago. Those longs hours filled me up with anxiety, nerves and sleepiness…
After my team made our way through the Chilean immigration and customs at Santiago International Airport, we made our way to Los Andes via bus. Los Andes is a little city about an hour and a half away from the capital. There we met our wonderful, awesome, loving [insert all positive, uplifting words here] hosts, Pastors Juan and Elvera Galleguillos of Comunidad Bautista Los Andes. When I met them, all the previous emotions I was feeling on my way to Chile were washed away and replaced with a heart of genuine love and thankfulness for the people.
Just before coming on this trip we were given a little insight in what it is like to host a group like my team and what a toll it can be, unless you do all you can to pour into them the same kindness and love they give so freely. I pray and hope that my team and I can be a blessing to Juan and Elvera as they are constantly pouring their time and energy into us, by cooking us the most delicious Chilean meals (for example, Cazulea de pollo and Porotos con rienda), or by simply being present and wanting to get to know us over a cup of coffee or two. Side note, I have been spoiled rotten with coffee, as we partake in it after every meal so I have been happily caffeinated.
As for what I have been up to:
-Some of my teammates and I help out at an English institute class in the evenings, to help students hone their English language skills. In other words, we get to just sit and talk with some awesome Chileans. The people here are a m a z i n g. The genuine gentleness I am met with when I meet new people is just so awe striking and humbling.
-We also went out and evangelized, by simply praying with people we saw on the streets. I’m still learning how to do this, being such an introvert but my teammates are teaching me how.
-While at our home with our hosts, we try to help out by watching/playing with the kids, setting up the table, and doing dishes. We have also held a bible study with the help of selfless translators who befriended us so quickly and lovingly.
-Witnessed the most amazing sunrise after walking up a hill (see below).
In all, I feel as though I have never left home… the mountains, the hipster culture, and the Chilean’s love for coffee are all like Seattle. God who created all things, different and alike is so awesome! I’m also in complete awe of how our God who loves all people of all cultures is great enough to love us ALL and is able to understand all the different languages in this world. Speaking of languages, I’m so thankful to my high school Spanish teachers for helping me be able to converse with the locals, though it may not be much. I cannot wait for my Spanish to get better and to see what God has in store for me. God is so good!
Thanks for reading and God bless!
