To begin, know that i am going to try to avoid typing any words that use my left pinkie finger. So far that’s pretty hard. But yesterday I found an awesome swing set and the seats were made out of rubber and had cheerful designs in them, so of course I started pumping away before I realized the chain was almost rusted through, so then I fell and now I have a hurt finger. But that’s really not important. I have no huge escapades to report in the past two weeks, mainly we have been getting to know a lot of people better and been spending time with them. One of the lessons I have been learning over and over again is that even the best intentions, or grandest expectations, are not always kept. One day we tried to organize a Frisbee game for the children. (here they play Frisbee, but only as a hobby, not a sport). After we finally round everyone up and try to explain, and break into teams, I think it should be pretty fun, after all, pretty much the only rules are dont run with the Frisbee, if you drop the Frisbee, it goes to the other team. But man, did it turn into utter chaos immediately. We had several small fights, a few collisions, people randomly stopping to get water or because they had their feelings hurt. The girls were getting the hang of it, but the boys, just like back home, like to show off with long throws, which is bad news in a wind tunnel.
Later that week Jenny and I had a double date with some twins who live in our town. We were going to cook for them and they were supposed to show up at 5:30. Everything went according to plan, except for the part about them showing up. We weren’t surprised that they didn’t come right on time, but, after an hour of figuring out how to keep the food hot, I was nominated to go look for them. They were almost ready when I got to their house, were freshly showered and, as is normal around here, doused with cologne. On the way back we saw their friend alan, so he came along too. Afterd dinner they wanted to watch ¨Ironman´, but we had to go teach English class, and so went our first date in chile. Did I mention they were all 9 years old?
On a more serious note, the following day I had a conversation that pushed the limits of my Spanish with don rene, the teacher at our school in gualliguiaca, about mary and the catholic practice of praying to her and other saints. Overall, it was enlightening, because he has had such a different background than I have, and I cannot ask anyone to accept a practice just because it is what im used to, but I tried to encourage to him just read the Bible and see for himself what direction it gives regarding prayer and our relationship with God.
Hmm, what else. We had a pet baby bird for 24 hours that we tried to save. The boys at
Two Friday nights ago jenny and I had the 8 girsl from our class over to our house. I had ideas of a fun night of eating pizza and ice cream, watching a movie with all of us lumped on the couch, and sharing a short gospel presentation with the girls. However, that went out the chimney. The pizza took longer than it should have, and by the time I got back the girls had already devoured all the chips, soda, and eaten through our bowl of fruit. After the pizza and icecream and peanuts, one girl looked up at me and said, very genuinely ¨when are we going to eat dinner¨. So that was a test of my patience. It was like taking care of 8 very hungry caterpillars. Then the moving watching lasted all of 5 minutes. Instead, they wanted to have a dance party and fashion show, and invaded adelina´s house and it was all very crazy. Through its been 11 years since I was 9, I guess that might be normal.
I have several praises to report at the school in gualliguiaca. First being that two women who were at first fairly cold towards us, are now quite friendly. I don’t know exactly how or why it has changed, but it is encouraging to know that they seem to want to be friends now. Earlier on we sat in the classroom a lot, but now we have taken to, after we teach, spending time with other people in the school.
One day we helped weed the flower beds (which is the best chore around because the flowers are so pretty and the birds so chatty), and most every day we now help in the kitchen, washing trays (they don’t use any Styrofoam or plastic throw away stuff here, hooray!) and cups and cutting vegetables and sweeping and wiping. The woman who works in the kitchen is very fun and we chat while cutting or mixing. - the other day we cut so many onions and were crying so hard we couldn’t help but think how sad our lives must be. They don’t use cutting boards here, so I am learning to cut potatoes and carrots and onions all in my hands! All kinds of exciting adventures pop up there- on Friday I was rinsing a spoon when all of a sudden the faucet just fell right off and so begins my second shower of the day, this time in a fountain. Also on Friday, for teacher´s day, I tried to concoct an American lasagne, using my mom´s recipe, or what I could remember of it, main problem being that we couldn’t find cottage cheese, but it still turned out okay, and most of the teachers had seconds, so I count that as a success.
We are also beginning to build a friendship with the ´principal´ , as we have gone to her house for dessert and played with her daughter and also this big sort-of-like-a-bull-dog dog named Minnie.
We are no longer doing our own bible study on Tuesday nights, but now jerry (our supervisor), and a member of the church in la serena come and lead first a short bible study then a craft. Watching jerry teach this past week was so encouraging because he has so mastered the language that those listening really seemed to understand and were interested in learning. As this is already the normal overwhelming length, here are the quick point prayer requests:
1- continued development of friendships. Boldness and courage to speak out about the message of god´s love, without worrying over language problems or fear of rejection.
2- Willingness to bless others wherever we are. It is often temping to try and control our schedules, and get frustrated if we get stuck at some get together when we wanted to go somewhere else or go to the store or have a nap, but I try to remind myself that I do not know what the big plan is, and if I find myself in a given situation, is should use it joyfully instead o wishing I was somewhere else. This goes along with using even simple opportunities, like washing the dishes or sweeping, to do it all in joy, knowing that God does not always call us to do great awesome acts, but sometimes just to persevere in our desire and efforts to bless others and bring glory to Him. For we are not here helping just from a humanitarian viewpoint, but with the goal to soften people´s hearts towards Christ.
3- As we have reached, and now passed, the midway point, please pray that I would really focus my mind on His will, and make time to spend in His word and in prayer, seeking how best to spend the remaining time. About a week ago I was feeling pretty down, missing friends and family, sort of feeling like I wanted to come home, but now I feel rebooted, so to speak, and am excited about the remaining time. Pray that, each day, I would give over to His will, not my own mood or feelings, and that, at the end of the trip, that I will feel like I have given everything I was asked to give, that I did not hold anything back.
Please do write me if there is something I could pray for you. This is not a one way street.
Psalm 19:14- may the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, o lord, my rock and my redeemer.
I have been trying to remember this to guard both my actions and thoughts, and, earlier this week, when flustered, was encouraged that He is our rock.
With much thanks, rubia
(many people here have stopped using my name, they just call me rubia (blond))
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