I wanted to write one last post before this journey comes to an end. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and can’t believe it has gone by so fast. It seems just like yesterday I was in a coffee shop with Rachael and Julianna, talking about our dreams for 2013. Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Never did I think a few months later I would be in Chile serving God. God does crazy, amazing things! Thank you everyone for all your prayers and encouraging words. Thank you dearly for all the letters I received these past two months! Thank you for supporting me in this journey and walking with me in it. You all mean so much to me and I can’t wait to give you all a big Chilean hug soon!

God has taught me so much and I’m grateful my spiritual journey won’t come to an end, but will keep growing as I leave Chile. The time spent at the school, with the girls at the House of Hope, and most importantly with God has truly changed my life. There have been so many wonderful memories made and friendships built that will last a lifetime. As I look back at all the many things God has taught me, one thing stands out….I have fallen deeper in love with God. 1 John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” God’s love for us is far beyond anything we can imagine. He is our only satisfaction that can truly fulfill us.

Oh how I pray that you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He has an amazing plan for you and you just need to open your heart and trust Him! He loves you more than anyone ever could. Never forget that! Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.” I love you all so much and can’t wait to see you soon! I should be heading out of Chile around 8:30 tomorrow night and get back to Iowa around 10:30 a.m. Thank you so much for walking with Jesus and me on this Chilean journey. ¡Chow!

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Went up to the top of the Andes Mountains today with the girls! CRAZY BLESSING!!! It was the first time for most of the girls to see and touch snow, let alone be on the mountains. Their eyes got so big and their mouths just dropped open at the first sight. It was so much fun to experience it with them. First we went to the top and watched the skiers while drinking some coffee. I have to admit it didn’t compare to Mt. Crescent in Iowa. I was a little relieved we weren’t actually skiing down the steep mountains! Then came time to play in some snow! The girls just lit up making snow men, snow angels, and throwing snowballs for the first time! It was a blast even with my toes frozen in tennis shoes and layers of socks. Following many pictures and moments of laughter we decided to jump back in the warm bus and eat. Then the snowfall came! It was perfect…a light snow fall on the Andes Mountains.  The drive home, back down the mountains was unbelievable. With the sun slowly going down, Christmas snow falling in July, and being with girls that has forever changed my life. Unforgettable!

Tomorrow is my last time at the church and goodbyes are coming around the corner. I am so excited for Monday, when I start back at the school again, but it is bittersweet because leaving those children is going to be one of the hardest things I ever have to do. God’s strength is the only thing that will get me through these goodbyes. I am so thankful He never leaves me! He is ALWAYS with us through everything!

 

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!” Deuteronomy 32:3

You know those little prayers you don’t think God listens to or cares about? Well, He does listen to and cares about every one of those little prayers! I had been praying that I would be able to go to Vina del Mar somehow and what an answer to prayer! God totally blessed my prayer and I just got back from 4 days in Vina with the Palacios family! What a blast! I can’t wait to tell you all about it and show you pictures, but for now I will keep it to a minimum!

Can I start by saying what an amazing Creator we have?!? It was absolutely gorgeous seeing the ocean and mountains in one area. So many pictures!!! The first day we spent it at the beach shopping, walking, and eating! It was different walking along the beach in a turtleneck and scarf! One place we ate at was an empanada restaurant and got filled up on those; (crab & cheese, corn & tomato, and manjar) have to say the manjar empanada was my favorite. On Sunday we attended church and spent some more time at the beach including eating manjar ice cream. I also learned that it is very common for people to pump your gas for you while you just relax in your car at the gas stations. Hearing about that made me giggle! Then on Monday we went sight-seeing and walked around Valparaiso, another older part of Chile next to Vina del Mar. There I got to see all the many colored homes and wonderful artwork. We ate a chorrillana (French fries with onions, eggs, and different meats) at a little restaurant in Valparaiso! Lastly on Tuesday we spent the morning just hanging out together and in the afternoon went to a typical Chilean birthday party. Lots of food and lots of fun! One of many blessings there was getting to speak English with a blind pastor at the party and hearing his story. There is so much more I can’t wait to share with you all, but for now I better go help prepare lunch. Please keep in your prayers that this last week would be a good closing week and God would show me His will for each day. Thank you so much for your prayers and love. Miss you all so much!

Can’t believe this week is nearly over! Crazy! Thank you for all your prayers, God has really blessed this week! Every morning this week I have been able to have quiet time in God’s Word and enjoy His Presence. God has been showing me a lot during that time and I have been falling more and more in love with my Lord. Also in the mornings I have English Class with Tia Cecilia. It has truly brought us closer together and we are teaching each other a lot. God just tears down the communication barrier and whenever we have trouble understanding each other, we are both very patient. I am so thankful for the time with her. In the afternoons I have been working around the House of Hope and using my cleaning and organizing skills. I’m glad I can use my skills to help out the House of Hope in different ways.

Today I got to go to the street market with Tia Cecilia and it was a fun experience seeing all the different things people sell. I only was able to take one picture; when everyone started looking weirdly at me and my camera, I got nervous and didn’t want to risk anything! Once we got back from the market Lilo and I made lunch…sloppy joes! What an adventure! We had to improvise using steak-like meat, but it was fun learning together! I learned a lesson of my own…when cooking in Chile, make sure you have plenty of food. A typical American sloppy joe, chips, and jello meal is not enough for a Chilean lunch! My plans keep changing for this weekend so we will see what God has planned! I have learned to just let go and ask God to show me His ways. I can’t wait to tell you all about it and show you pictures soon! Miss and love you all!

Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” One of my devotionals recently from Jesus Calling I wanted to share with you. “You will never be in control of your life circumstances, but you can relax and trust in My control. Instead of striving for a predictable, safe lifestyle, seek to know Me in greater depth and breadth. I long to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must stop clinging to old ways. I am always doing something new within My beloved ones. Be on the lookout for all that I have prepared for you.” Reading that devotional, I felt challenged to ask myself if I’m living my life unpredictably. If we live predictable lives how are we following God’s will and trusting Him? I love how it says God is always doing something new within us. Change is good! Not knowing what is next is good! Trusting God’s control and following His will is how I want to live my life.

Last week on the last day before school break, the 8^th graders and I planned a surprise party for Tia Lucy to thank her for all that she does. It was a lot of fun and I was able to interact with the students on a more personal level. Stephanie, a 15 year old 8^th grader, told me what she has been going through. (Above picture, far left girl is Stephanie). Her mom is in prison for drug dealing and she doesn’t know who her dad is. She lives on her own and provides for herself. Stephanie thinks drug dealing is good because it provides money in an easy way. As she said those words my heart just sank deeper and deeper. Here was this young girl barely getting through 8^th grade, with no parents there for her, and being taught drug dealing is a good paying job. As I looked around the classroom I thought about how each student has a unique story and each one God loves and cares about. Please pray for Stephanie and all the students in La Pintana, Chile; that they would feel God’s love and accept His gift.  Thank you again for all your prayers and encouraging words!

Happy 4th of July!

 

HAPPY 4^TH OF JULY!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day today! It was a day full of blessings and memories. I took Paulina, who is leaving Saturday for winter break, out for the day. I got to see her college and experience the hour long public transportation ride to get there. Could not do that every day! Then we went to the largest mall in Chile to eat lunch...5 levels! Paulina picked Pizza Hut, so we shared an Italian pizza which was very similar in taste to the United States. We got to sit outside while eating and chatting away with a beautiful view of the city of Santiago. After some pizza we had a craving for something sweet so Paulina tried her first Berry Smoothie and I tried my first Chilean Churro. The churro was by far better than Taco Johns’…manjar (the Chilean “caramel” sauce) in the middle and dipped in chocolate! Then we were off to another hour long ride home.

Today it was one of the girls’ birthday at the House of Hope so we were planning a surprise birthday party for her tonight. Along with that everyone surprised me with celebrating the 4^th of July! Everything was in red, white, and blue with American flags and a common American cookout meal…hamburgers, chips, fried onion rings, and cake! On top of that someone sang the Star Spangled Banner for me! It was one 4^th of July that I will always remember!