Last Thursday we had our first girls meeting, we will have these once every two weeks I think. It was really nice, us girls, Karin, Lise, Piia and Corrine were all at Corrine's house and we had chocolate and cake, and tea and Corrine shared something. We then did some creative stuff and had to design a 'pearl' which represented us. It was actually a big polystierene ball, but they all looked beautiful by the end.
Then this weekend it was the Chilean Independance day celebrations! On Friday we all went as a team as well with a few of the leaders and OM Chile team to one of the parks. We had an Anticucho which is a big stick with loads of mean on it. It was soooo delicious! It was enormous, but I probably could have eaten another. My appitite seems to be growing here! We also walked around the park and there was dancing, parades, craft shops and food. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to just wander around and see the celebrations. We also went to watch the Rodeo, which was probably the kindest Rodeo. They do not harm the bulls, but the aim is for the horses to barge the bulls on to these soft edges of the arena. It was very interesting to watch, and amazing to see the skilled horsemen.
Then on Friday evening we went to La Vega (the place where we do the homeless ministry) and we handed out empanadas. It was something they apparently did last year on Independence day and wanted to make it a tradition. It was nice to see one group of people particulaly because they had taken bottles from the rubbish, and found some string and made some decorations for their "home" and they were singing and dancing, and really having fun. From where I was standing they didn't have alot to celebrate about, yet, they were possibly the most joyful people I had seen all day!
On Saturday, one of the girls on my team (Santtu) and I went to a friends (Natty's) house to help her family make empanadas because they had make 100 for their church the next day. I had such a great fun day, it was really nice to be in a family atmosphere and in a normal home. It made me miss home quite a bit after we left, but I really enjoyed being there. We really were there all day though, we were picked up at 2 and got back at half past 11. That's the Latin way, you don't make more than one plan a day because people just spend long amounts of time together and enjoy one anothers company.
Monday we went into different groups, and I was in a group going to the Hogar Sion. We performed a programme that we had previously planned and oragnised. It was alot of fun to prepare, but was quite difficult with the boys. It was a rainy day, so had probably been inside all day and did not want to listen to us. I guess I have to start to see the small positives though. This is not like teaching sunday school, or teaching my nice cell group, these boys have been in abusive families, probably been in contact with alcoholism, drug abuse, neglect and many other things. They really have some behavioural issues. However, they heard about Jona from the bible, they heard about God's love, and they sang some songs and had fun, so even if it didn't go exactly how we were planning it, it was a success.
*Please pray for tonight, we are going to La Vega again to see the homeless, pray that we are safe and that we can connect well with the people there. Last time we went there was a bit of violence, not towards us, but it made the atmosphere a bit uneasy.
*Please pray for Spanish classes that start tomorrow! (finally!) We are all really excited, and want to learn quickly, but pray that we (especially I) don't get frustrated when we don't see results instantly, or when it's difficult.
*Please continue to pray for the children at the Hogars, in perticular at Sion, which is where I will be working for the next 9 months, please pray that God will reach them, and that through us he can show them how much he does care even though they have met people in their lives who don't.
Love you all, Emma xxxx
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