First, before I get off on a ramble, updates on the most recent prayer requests:

Friendships with teachers-we continue to help in the kitchen and spend time with the teachers. Please pray that they would be interested enough to ask us specifics, and for courage- the spirit power, love, and self discipline, instead of timidity, that is mentioned in 1 timothy?. I am continually reminded that so many struggles in our life are not just a one time battle, but must be, over and over again, (often several times a day for me regarding my attitude and outlook) revamped according to the Lord’s power and commands and promises. The same goes for seeking God’s will; often times I may be searching for a long term plan, but all He may let me see is the day to day, which keeps me always coming back to Him, rather than striving out on my own, which I do seem prone to do.

Just last week I had the eyes of an explorer, while looking northward, uphill from the lake-“oh, I bet I can find my way up that mountain and across the ridge and back down through the valley back home”, so off I go. Too bad I am not a goat though, because those prickly hills are sure hard to climb. Even when I came across a shoelace of a dirt path winding up and around, I wasn’t quite sure where it was going. In the end, I realized I had slightly outdone myself- not only was I not even going to cross the ridge, I wouldn’t even make it to the summit, at least on this trip. And so begins the descent. Now if it were only dirt and gravel, of course the sit-and-slide would rock, but, considering the terrain, here it would result in hands and a backside full of cactus needles. While I was never really lost, since you can tell where is home-ish by the ever eastward winds, I was sort of flustered, and ended up doing some introspective thinking on the way back and realized that in general, I don’t like not knowing where I’m headed, or how I’ll get there, and so, in life, I tend to come up with plans, ETAs, and expectations. But then I remembered that I don’t need to know what I will be doing next summer, or two years from now. All that is necessary is that I trust God and seek to do His will. Not sure who said this or if it’s a mix of lots of things I’ve heard, but “I don’t need to know the future in order to obey His word today”.

Two weekends ago, the five of us girls took a trip a few hours up north to Vallenar, near the Atacama Desert, to stay with a missionary family there. Considering they have 5 kids, the youngest just 2 years old, I think most of us were expecting a fairly stationary time, but oh no, were we wrong. Saturday morning, filled with French toast, we set off in a two car caravan, warming up by visiting an olive tree grove and oil producer, and then the adventure began. Having heard that it had rained (a rare event), and so there might be some flowers in the desert, and armed with a tip from a tour agent on their whereabouts, we turned off of the highway onto a dirt road and strove ahead. Seeing nothing but cacti, a few old men with even older looking horses, and a biker- we had to idea where he thought he was pedaling his way to- we continued on. Without being deterred by car sick children or goat manure smell or the reaching of the supposed town, which turned out to be one house with a few chickens and goats, we persevered and, at last, came upon some flowers. I certainly wouldn’t have described them as a field, bed, or carpet- but beautiful flowers none the less. Hoping to find a shortcut out, we delve deeper into the dunes, but are cut off by a small detour- the pacific ocean. So back we go, re entering civilization, slightly dusty and with a few souvenir flowers, another hour later.

The past week has been all but normal, but an answer to prayer all the less. Several weeks ago, after having asked around, I finally located the department of rural public health, and, after putting on my most professional face and hoping I would remember to use the polite ‘usted’ form of speaking, I waltzed myself into the office of the head of administration, and explained to him that I, a gringa with only two years a pre-med university degree, having no medical training, and less than fluent spanish, would like to shadow some of his doctors, if that would be possible. To my surprise, after showing proof of enrollment and my driver’s license (those of you who have seen it can imagine how mortified I was to pull it out- I though he might not notice it as he made a copy of it, but no such luck- I told him it was a joke and I don’t really dress like that normally) and wading through a few more formalities, we made the rounds through the offices, meeting pharmacists and secretaries, and lots of empty desks, since almost everyone was out working. I asked when I could start, and, to my surprise, (since here in Chile not a whole lot happens as fast as you think it should) he said to go on to El Tambo right then. It was a bit of a problem that I had never been to the town, much less the rural clinic there, but the bus driver and a woman on the street and a shopkeeper took turns pointing me in the right direction, until I finally got there. That first day I spend several hours with a dentist. The main problem with that is that he wore a mask, so communicating in spanish, without the help of lips, was a challenge, but I still learned all kinds of things. One cheerful old man came in to get a set of lower dentures, because his niece was getting hitched next month and he wanted to beaming smile. Several other patients came in with toothaches, which the doctor was happy to ‘remove’ for them, with pliers. The next week I spent several mornings and afternoons with a doctor, obstetrician, or nurse. The language problem is slowly lessening, but I could surely use a medical dictionary, since I can catch many medical words, because they are almost identical in spanish and English, but still have no idea what they mean- so the doctor draws lots of pictures for me. I am learning a lot about long term diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, and one morning I even got to watch some pregnancy ultrasounds! I am planning on spending some more time later this week with them, but really the whole experience has been such a blessing. I had been praying that God would provide some kind of medical opportunity for me, and here it is- something so different from US medical care (chile is under a socialized healthcare plan) and the doctors are so open and willing to teach me, and I rejoice in His omnipotence and knowledge and plans for me in the future.

Jenny and I have recently been spending some time a kite surfing instructor. While they are bit older than us, they are the closest thing we have to peers here, and their friendship is a great blessing. Pray that jenny and i would have courage to share openly with them, and that we would not shirk from opportunities or conversations about spiritual things.

Overall, pray that we would have endurance, as we cannot help but count down just a little bit as we look foreward to seeing our friends and family again. Ask that we would not grow weary in doing good, galatians 6:9, but would be an encouragment to one another and continue to love all those we come in contact with.