I am doing very well this week however I am unable to update everyone due to the House Of Hope internet being out of service. I hope to update everyone as soon as it is repaired. Allison (Via Rick)

Days are going by faster each day! Monday, Megan, the other intern left and it was hard I have to admit. That night God really showed me how often I rely on other people rather than Him. It is so easy for me to find comfort or satisfaction in someone’s words or presence; it is very dangerous. Of course God kept at it and in my quiet time I read all about finding satisfaction in God! It is really cool when God does those things, even if you don’t appreciate them at first! Isaiah 55:1-2 says “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”

Every morning I look forward going to the school and just being with the young children! I can’t describe in words how much excitement I get from teaching!! Even though the student’s behavior is often very bad, you have those moments where it all makes it worth it! Please pray for Tia Lucy, who I am teaching with. She gets so frustrated and worn out from the student’s disrespecting her and causing disruptions during class time. I admire her patience when a student just gets up and goes and hits another student for no reason. She is a blessing and a wonderful teacher! This morning I had a horrific sight on my way to school. Every morning I walk past a house that has little puppies in the front yard and for some reason they were out of their fence today. The puppies mom ran across the street and of course one puppy followed. I could see what was going to happen, but it happened to quickly for me to do anything. A driver ran over the puppy’s little leg and it cried helplessly limping back to its’ home. I just started crying because the driver never stopped to see if it was ok and I don’t understand why dogs here in Chile are treated like trash. It made me miss Lizzie even more!

Last night was my first time leading devotional time with the girls. We are going through the book Jesus Calling. It is a little difficult translating what I want to say into Spanish, but the girls are wonderful and patient! After devotional time I spent some time with one of the girls who speaks very good English, Stephanie. We were talking and I asked her what her story/testimony is. God truly blessed our conversation. We just sat together crying, laughing, and telling each other our pasts. Each and every girl here really has a unique story and I hope to get to know each one.

Thank you for praying for the other interns safe travels home! They both made it home safely!

What a weekend! Saturday was very busy at the House of Hope. In the morning we had an activity with young students from a really nice school. We taught them how to cook some Chilean food, make bracelets and earrings the girls sell, and played games with them. We made 3 leche (milk) cake, braided underwear, and sweet bread! It was a lot of fun and I met some amazing people! Kelley, a mom of some students was one of those people; she helps out with the House of Hope and the interns. I was able to be very vulnerable with her about my homesickness and worries. She was very encouraging and told me she has already been planning my weekend schedules, which was one of my worries. I get to spend this coming weekend with her and her family! I am super excited for that and she is planning some weekends in July for me to stay with families from her church. Thank you Lord! After that high schoolers came from the same school that we met last weekend! It was a blessing to see them all again and get to know them better! Once everything got cleaned up, we had a girl’s night with some of the girls, Megan, and me. We made cookies, chatted, and laughed together! One of the girls I have gotten very close to at the House of Hope shared some exciting news with me…she has been praying to go to Africa for a long time on an intern/missions trip and yesterday found out that someone has paid for her to go! Praise the Lord!

Today is Megan’s last day so we are spending it together and tonight are going out with some girls and having a fun time! Don’t know what God has planned for us yet, but excited to see! Praise the Lord my parents got to their cruise ship safely! They deserve a trip like this, just the two of them! I am teaching an English class tomorrow evening with older adults attending it. It is really out of my comfort zone level because I am very comfortable teaching little children, but not adults older than me. Please be in prayer about that and that God would be glorified through it.

 In my quiet time today I read this and really needed it…needed His Peace about a situation and wanted to share it. “Peace comes in situations that are completely surrendered to the sovereign authority of Christ. Sometimes when we finally give up trying to discover all the answers to the whys in our lives and decide to trust our sovereign God, unexpected peace washes over us like a summer rain.”

Everyone thank you so much for all your prayers! It means so much to have so many people care and encourage you through this journey. Yesterday I was having a hard time missing home and my family, so I prayed God would just comfort me and fill me with His Presence. He answered my prayer and comforted me tremendously. I really need to concentrate on just BEING instead of looking at how long two months is. Please pray the homesickness would go away a little bit. We had completos for “once” which is the Chilean hotdog! They put the hotdog inside homemade bread with avocado, tomatoes, mayo, ketchup, and mustard on it! It looked scary at first, but tasted pretty amazing!

Today it was raining again and my walk to the school was quite an adventure. Streets were nearly flooded again and on the sidewalks I had to jump, tiptoe, and get my feet drenched! Thankfully one of the girls let me borrow their umbrella and rain jacket, but tennis shoes are not the best here when raining! I got to the street I had to cross and man was I nervous. I could either walk in water up to my knees, try to find a shallow area quite a ways down, or ride the cart the man on the other side of the street had. Well, I had no money so the cart was out of the question and as far as I could see it only got deeper. So, I just kept jumping and praying no cars would come! I quickly got to the other side drenched, feet soaking wet, and the cart man laughing at me! Next time I am bringing money to get across the street in the cart!

Also, today is one of the interns last day and Monday the other one leaves. I have mixed feelings; I am nervous because they were the ones I could go to with any questions, but I am also excited because I think God is going to teach me more with them gone. Please pray for both of their safety as they travel home and please pray my worries won’t overcome me. I love you all so much!!

2 Thess. 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. “

“We have to show you something!!!” said two girls. I had no idea what it would be, but as I followed my eyes to where they were pointing, I stopped suddenly and my mouth dropped open. God is good! After two full days of drenching rain, there came a perfectly clear view of the most beautiful mountains I had ever seen. No picture can fully grasp the full beauty, but it surely shows what an amazing Creator we have!

Today I was blessed to be able to teach 4^th graders and it was wonderful might I add! That is the grade I hope to teach someday in my own classroom. Tia Lucy is stretching me for sure! She gives me the activities for the class and steps back and there I go. One thing I learned today is how flexible teachers need to be, especially when all electricity goes out! I absolutely love seeing light bulbs coming on in student’s minds and knowing they are learning and get it. The time with the 4^th graders went by so quick! Afterwards I went to one of the girls’ home for lunch and spent time with her family! I am loving these desserts here! Every time I see a yummy dessert I think of my mom, and know we are going to have so much fun when I get back cooking!!!

Please pray for my parents as they are traveling and enjoying their anniversary. Pray for their safety and blessing on their time together! Also, please keep in your prayers that I wouldn’t get discouraged when I have difficulty communicating. I am starting to get discouraged often and stop trying to converse. I know I am learning, but it is hard! Love you all and thank you for all your prayers and encouraging words!

¡Lluvia lluvia! Rain rain! It has been raining in Santiago nonstop for two days! All the schools in Santiago were closed today because of flooding, so no teaching for me.  I never knew schools would close because of rain! You can’t cross streets because the water is knee high so these men have carts to carry people across streets. I haven’t gotten the chance to ride in one yet, but I think that would be a fun and wet experience! The rain kept everyone inside today and we all had a relaxing time together just hanging out. We attempted to make sopapillas, but they turned out as donuts! My mom would be so proud!

I had a lot of quiet time today also which I needed. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 it says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” That verse was so comforting to me today and knowing that what God wants to do in all our lives, our minds have never conceived. His plan for me is far better than mine could ever be. So many times I think I know what is going on and what’s next, but then something unexpected happens. Those are the times when I try to keep pulling on the reigns, but rather I need to just let go, step out in faith and trust God and His plans. I get worn out if I try to keep everything going according to my plans. So why not let go of my plans and trust God’s, He knows what is best for me anyways.

First day at the school and first day of rain! Not what I expected at all. I first met with the principal and Tia Lucy, who I would be assisting. They were so nice and welcoming. Tia Lucy teaches English, but is still learning English herself so it was a challenge to communicate. We walked into her first class and saw students on the floor fighting and kicking each other, screaming students, things being thrown across the room, girls pulling each other’s hair; it was a mess. I couldn’t believe students were allowed to act this way. Though, Tia Lucy came in calmly and tried to get everyone settled down. It took a long time, but once books were passed out some order was made in the classroom. I pronounced their English vocabulary to the students and helped them with their worksheets for a while. Soon came break/play time and Tia Lucy and I were off to her next English class. This time they were older students and pretty well behaved. I did the same pronouncing their vocabulary and helping with worksheets and the students helped me with the vocabulary in Spanish! The time at the school went by quick, but I observed and learned a lot. Seeing how the children acted, I know in my classroom respect and discipline needs to be taught. This picture is of inside the school; the open outside area is the play area and the classrooms are all around in the shape of a square. The classrooms have very minimum in them and are dirty, cold, and are not inviting learning environments.

My Spanish is getting better and I am finding it is a lot easier to communicate with younger children than older. I had to use “sentarse” a lot today which means “sit down!” I will be working at the school Monday-Friday from 10:00-1:00 for the next two months! I am excited, but at the same time overwhelmed by the difference in education here compared to the United States. Please be in prayer for Tia Lucy and I; that we would get better at understanding and communicating with each other. Also, please pray God would give me patience when working with the children and their behavior. Miss everyone so much!!!