The retreat was a really good experience. God has been teaching me alot recently, and I've been discovering alot about who he is and what he asks of me, and so it was really good to have some time away from Santiago and away from the ministries and other people to have some time to refect on what I've been learning and let it sink it. I was thinking alot about freedom from the past, and thinking about how far God has taken me through things, how strong yet how gentle he is at the same time. How he comforts us, and how much he adores us. There was one time when we had time specifically for being alone in prayer, we could wonder anywhere and just have some 'shh time', I ended up going back to the room because nobody else was there. I was praying and just worshipping God, and ended up dancing my heart out. I had such a good time! God is a God who ENJOYS us, which blows me away. He romances us, and sends things purely for our enjoyment.
We also had a really great time as a team, and got to spend more time together, and enjoy the swimming pool and the great weather. A weekend of relaxation and luxury, before the last push before Christmas.
Since being back, I have really had a feeling of joy. I was kind of worried before I left that my Christmas was going to be really difficult, that I wouldn't be that close with my team by now and that I would just be missing home so much. but actually I feel completly different. Our team are so close that they feel like my family, it's not going to be the same as usual, but it's going to be different, but that's not always bad. We will have a hot Christmas and have a barbeque and spend the day in the sun, then go to the beach the next day. I will miss everyone back home, but I don't feel depressed about that, I feel blessed that I have such great friends and family, and I will be praying that you will all have a merry Christmas and a happy new year! It is good to have people to miss, because it means that you have people you love alot, and people who love you.
Last night we spent some time making Christmas decorations as the girls :) we had pancakes and played some amazing cheesy christmas music. I am getting very creative whilst being here! it saves alot of money. Our house looks like a santas grotto, it's hideous, but I love it. I think that if ones house is not very nice in the first place, there is little point in spending money on making it look really pretty for Christmas. I'm sorry mum, i think you would hate it, there is tinsel and ribbon everywhere.
Anyway, before I talk too much about all the nice things I've done and you all think I'm not working! Let me tell you how the ministries are going..
The Hogar is stil going good, the garden really has helped alot. It is alot easier to connect with them, and I think I enjoy it more anyway, and so I am always more enthusiastic. I am getting to know a few of them a little more personally and that helps alot. Also with praying more for them, God has really changed my heart for them. I am alot more patient, and I love them to pieces. Last week we had a prayer time after working in the garden and one of the boys prayed. It was a very simple prayer, as he was not really sure what he could say to God, but he was praying that God would look after the garden, and look after each of us, and that he would help us look after eachother. it really touched me. I know God can change these boys.
The prostitute ministry is also going well. Although last week it was a national holiday and there was no men out at all, but the people who went just prayed for the streets and for the men. I am finding this ministry quite difficult recently, because there has been not very many men out, and so we tend to just stand in one circle and talk with them. But the Spanish is far to fast and with far too much slag for me to understand. I am left feeling quite useless, and I feel they may think we just come to watch them or something. I dunno.. I know that praying whilst we're there is really useful, and powerful, but it's difficult sometimes to remember that I am being useful.
The art ministry is alot of fun. We are making a drama at the moment involving a huge 10 foot wall made of big cardboard boxes to the mission impossible theme, you will have to wait and see it on youtube when it's ready :)
Thanks for all your prayers and support, I am praying for you also!
Loads of love, Emma xx
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Thursday, 3 December 2009
This past month has yet again been a crazy busy one! We have not had a saturday off in a long time! It's quite tiring, but so many good things to do.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been having more teaching by Steve, and he's been speaking about Evangelism, and about scripture memorisation and wisdom, and lots of really interesting topics, that are made alot more interesting by his amazing life stories! He has such an incredible testimony and it is inspiring to me how he's come through that.
Things have been really great recently as a group, I think that since Mendoza we have bonded alot more. The group are becoming alot closer and spending more time together, which is really great (it does mean I am a little behind on my work.. just like at home), but it's really good building up the relationships and having alot of fun together. not that we didn't before, but we seem alot more relaxed with one another now, and alot more open which is great.
The Hogar has been pretty good this month, we are slowly seeing progress. The boys know us well now, and so it's not such a battle with them. They enjoy it when we turn up and we never have to try to persuade them to join in. We went one Saturday and made these Lizards made of beads, I was a little sceptical but Santtu told me that she had done it before and boys love it. So we went for it, and she was completly right, they LOVED IT. It was not easy, but once they got the hang of it, they really enjoyed. Even the oldest ones made things (I'm talking.. 17 and 18 year tolds doing crafts with us! Miracle!). We have started a theme in the programmes now of being a soldier in God's army. We have gone to Roman soldier style, and I made a fancy dress outfit for Fito, one of the leaders who comes with us to the Hogar. Last week we did a drama about the fall of Jericho. I was Rahab (luckily they don't know the story too well so that they know what that meant..!) but I just hid in a big cardboard Jericho and then was carried off at the end once the walls fell down! It was a nice easy role. Clearly I was the star though.
The garden is going well also, we now have a patio area, I will try to get pictures up soon, or put some on my facebook. Last time we went it was a bit difficult because half way through our time with them, the boys were called in for a meeting, and they were told that a few members of staff were leaving. The boys took it really badly, some of the younger ones were crying, and the older ones were teasing the others, I feel it was also a way of dealing with it. I can imagine it is difficult for them if staff changes, it is kind of like family leaving them again. They do not deal well with any kind of change well. We just had to carry on working even though they were not behaving well.
This weekend we are going on a retreat, as the whole team with a load of the leaders too. We are going about 2 hours out of Santiago which will be really nice, we can see some countrysiiiiideeeee. They say the temperature today will be around 39 and mid 30s for the rest of the weekend. There is a pool there so we will be having a really nice relaxing time hopefully. Sounds a little different to the weather in England maybe? Just to rub it in :) The retreat is lead by Steven who is going to be doing teaching about dammaged emotions.. think it could be quite an emotional weekend!
Please pray
+For the Hogar, pray for the work we are doing, and pray for the Tia's working there all day every day. Pray for the Children who have to go through some of the leaders leaving. Pray that we can support the whole situation and bring God's love in to it.
+Pray for the weekend away, pray that we will have a really good time as a group, and that we will learn alot and that we will be open to what God wants to do.
+Pray for safety when we're travelling today and also back on Sunday.
Thanks everyone for reading :) Love to you all, xxxxx
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been having more teaching by Steve, and he's been speaking about Evangelism, and about scripture memorisation and wisdom, and lots of really interesting topics, that are made alot more interesting by his amazing life stories! He has such an incredible testimony and it is inspiring to me how he's come through that.
Things have been really great recently as a group, I think that since Mendoza we have bonded alot more. The group are becoming alot closer and spending more time together, which is really great (it does mean I am a little behind on my work.. just like at home), but it's really good building up the relationships and having alot of fun together. not that we didn't before, but we seem alot more relaxed with one another now, and alot more open which is great.
The Hogar has been pretty good this month, we are slowly seeing progress. The boys know us well now, and so it's not such a battle with them. They enjoy it when we turn up and we never have to try to persuade them to join in. We went one Saturday and made these Lizards made of beads, I was a little sceptical but Santtu told me that she had done it before and boys love it. So we went for it, and she was completly right, they LOVED IT. It was not easy, but once they got the hang of it, they really enjoyed. Even the oldest ones made things (I'm talking.. 17 and 18 year tolds doing crafts with us! Miracle!). We have started a theme in the programmes now of being a soldier in God's army. We have gone to Roman soldier style, and I made a fancy dress outfit for Fito, one of the leaders who comes with us to the Hogar. Last week we did a drama about the fall of Jericho. I was Rahab (luckily they don't know the story too well so that they know what that meant..!) but I just hid in a big cardboard Jericho and then was carried off at the end once the walls fell down! It was a nice easy role. Clearly I was the star though.
The garden is going well also, we now have a patio area, I will try to get pictures up soon, or put some on my facebook. Last time we went it was a bit difficult because half way through our time with them, the boys were called in for a meeting, and they were told that a few members of staff were leaving. The boys took it really badly, some of the younger ones were crying, and the older ones were teasing the others, I feel it was also a way of dealing with it. I can imagine it is difficult for them if staff changes, it is kind of like family leaving them again. They do not deal well with any kind of change well. We just had to carry on working even though they were not behaving well.
This weekend we are going on a retreat, as the whole team with a load of the leaders too. We are going about 2 hours out of Santiago which will be really nice, we can see some countrysiiiiideeeee. They say the temperature today will be around 39 and mid 30s for the rest of the weekend. There is a pool there so we will be having a really nice relaxing time hopefully. Sounds a little different to the weather in England maybe? Just to rub it in :) The retreat is lead by Steven who is going to be doing teaching about dammaged emotions.. think it could be quite an emotional weekend!
Please pray
+For the Hogar, pray for the work we are doing, and pray for the Tia's working there all day every day. Pray for the Children who have to go through some of the leaders leaving. Pray that we can support the whole situation and bring God's love in to it.
+Pray for the weekend away, pray that we will have a really good time as a group, and that we will learn alot and that we will be open to what God wants to do.
+Pray for safety when we're travelling today and also back on Sunday.
Thanks everyone for reading :) Love to you all, xxxxx
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