So you may have heard that this morning (27th February) there was an earthquake here in Chile. The epicenter was about 200 miles away close to the city concepcion. It measured 8.8 on the rictor scale.
I woke up from my room mate Jona saying my name and speaking about the fact that we had to get up, my first reaction was just confusion, but then once my slow brain got into gear and I realised the house was shaking I could see what she was talking about! All of us girls stood in our doorways next to eachother for the duration of the shaking. I would love to say that I was all brave and collected, but once it didn't stop after around 30 seconds, I grabbed Jona, shut my eyes and just prayed with all my might untill it was over. It is such a surreal feeling when the house is moving so much. The noises were the most unnerving part, glass was smashing downstairs, pans were falling off the shelves, and the house was groaning alot as it moved. But other than having to clear up the mess, and not getting much sleep between aftershocks, helecopters going past and sirens all night, we are were all fine. God really protected us, and it was clear that he was there with us, even though it was scary!
It really stuck me how confusing it was for the house to be moving. We are so confident in the things we build, and that they are good, and sturdy, but then the earth moves, and the house feels about as strong as paper in the wind.
I would love it if you could join us in prayer.
There are still some people we know here who we have not been able to contact. Please pray that they are all well, and that they will be able to find some communication soon.
As the death toll rises I can't help but think about all the people whos lives will be completly changed from something that only lasted a few seconds, please pray for them and for the rebuilding of their lives which will continue for a long time after the story is no longer in the headlines.
Pray for two of our friends Roel and Natty, who were heading towards the south in a bus, and who are stuck somewhere as it is not safe for the bus to pass on some of the bridges, and they are without water, Pray that God will have his hand upon them, and will protect them.
Pray for the Tsunami that is due to hit Hawaii and New Zealand. Pray that the countries will be well prepared, and pray with faith that God might calm the seas, and more disaster will be prevented!
Pray for the groups of workers who have already left to help with relief work, pray that they will be effective and pray for Christians to act in this time. Pray that God opens doors for us to reach out to people effected by this devistation.
Pray for the aftershocks, which even as I write this are stil occuring. At the epicenter, the aftershocks are stil at about 5-6, which can cause more destruction to already weakened buildings.
Pray that in amongst this event God's name will be lifted up, and that people will turn to him and not away from him.
Many prayer points, but we really need your support here in Chile.
God bless you all,
Emma xx
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Goodevening amazing friends and family!
Sooo.. yeah I guess I can start with mentioning about a guest that we've had with us in Chile for the past week and a bit, Peter from Sweeden. He is the international co-ordinator for all teenstreets over the world. A guy with alot of experience with youth work! He gave us some teachings about mentoring and counselling with youth, and what the youth of today are asking for and needing. He was a very interesting man, and had alot of practical advice and really knew what he was talking about.
Last thursday was a really great day, we went to the hogar and were a little nervous because Lise was away with her church and so could not come with us. We decided just to have an afternoon of facepainting and playing games, to keep it simple. God blessed us enormously, we had such a good time with the boys, they were respectful and wanted to be around us. We all really enjoyed ourselves, I really loved doing the face paint because there was an oportunity for conversation, and also just the opportunity to give one boy so much attention at one time, which is really what they need.
On Tuesday we went to a bible study group at a local English speaking church. I was really looking forward to giong because we had a really good programme, and we would be able to speak in English, and it would just be nice and easy! But I was surprised how much being around these people really broke my heart. These lovely business men who seemed to have everything, but there was something when I spoke to them that just felt as if they really had nothing. Very few of them were really using their resources effectively, and it felt like such a waste of a blessing! I am praying against judging them, and really forcing myself not to, but my heart really breaks when I see how much potential they have, but they really are not tapping in to it. They seem to have a very warm welcome to the church, but a very cold exterior to the rest of the city. If they had concern for some of the people we work with, it came across more as a concern because they are dirtying the streets. It really reminded me of some of the attitudes of people in Europe, and actually really brought to my mind how much I want to help these people. I saw more poverty there than I did in the evening in the homeless ministry. There is one man whom we see each week on the streets called Hugo, he is such a legend. He used to be in prison, and became a believer when missionaries visited the prison, then when he was released he went back to prisons.. to speak about the gospel. He is stil living on the street, but he is living for God with everything he has. Each week he tells us of how God has provided food for him, and clothes, and last week he even spoke about how he found a newspaper and wanted to do the crossword because he loves doing them, but didn't have a pen, he prayed for one, and found this really really posh looking pen! Amazing! When we rely on God for everything, he will provide abundantly. This is the kind of blessing I want. I do not want blessings from this world that may make me feel like I am secure, or that I have everything I need. I want blessings from God! I would rather live like Hugo each day, and know my God as intimatly as he does, than to live in a big house like one of the men I met at that study and not be using my everything for the glory of God.
I have also been thinking alot recently about dreams.. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before on my blog, but God has really been speaking to me about my future alot. I am starting to see that God can really do much bigger things through me that I was expecting. And he will. Some of the thoughts that I have in my head seem so crazy, but so exciting, I would love to do something that there is no chance I can do on my own. That way it can show others how God is doing these things and not anybody else. I think God quite often does things in a way that this is the case. If there is an opportunity for God to do something and show his glory and power through it, he quite often will do that thing! For example when Gideon is called to defeat the Midianites God asks him to reduce his army down to an embarassing amount just to show that nothing can limit his power, and that he can make greatness out of seamingly impossible situations.
* Please pray for the team, that we can continue to grow closer together and that any other issues will be resolved in this period before it gets so close to the end of our time here
* Please pray for the work in the hogar, pray that we can have more times where we really connect with the boys.
* Pray for the bible study group that we went to visit. pray for one of our teachers called Hal who is working with them. He is also a part of OM. Pray that God gives him patience, wisdom and determination to reach these men.
*Pray for the continued work of Peter within OM preparing TeenStreets all over the world. Pray that God will continue to work through him and give him wisdom and insight as to how to keep these conferences running.
*Pray for God's direction through my life. Pray that God will reveal to me more of his plans for my future. Pray that he will open doors where he wants to, but also to close them where things are not of him.
Sooo.. yeah I guess I can start with mentioning about a guest that we've had with us in Chile for the past week and a bit, Peter from Sweeden. He is the international co-ordinator for all teenstreets over the world. A guy with alot of experience with youth work! He gave us some teachings about mentoring and counselling with youth, and what the youth of today are asking for and needing. He was a very interesting man, and had alot of practical advice and really knew what he was talking about.
Last thursday was a really great day, we went to the hogar and were a little nervous because Lise was away with her church and so could not come with us. We decided just to have an afternoon of facepainting and playing games, to keep it simple. God blessed us enormously, we had such a good time with the boys, they were respectful and wanted to be around us. We all really enjoyed ourselves, I really loved doing the face paint because there was an oportunity for conversation, and also just the opportunity to give one boy so much attention at one time, which is really what they need.
Last thursday we also had a group time. Our leader set us a task which is designed to bring up group dynamics. We had to discuss the design of a new city, and we each had our different priorities about what had to be in the city etc. It was a pretty mundane task, but it causes quite a discussion. It brough up some issues within the group and was quite a painful time for some people to bring these things up. It was a difficult time for all of us, and I know I stuggled as confrontation is really really not my thing. But I really felt God was there in the conversation, things came up that really should have done, and although it may have hurt, now we are looking at how we can begin to mend the cracks that are appearing. I have to say, alot of the things were quite a surprise to me, we all have a very good ability to pretend everything is really great when actually things are not. I was happy, and I assumed everybody else was happy because I wasn't getting any other signals. I was glad we could discuss these things, but was upset that people were hurting like they were and could not have said anything before. I really love everybody on my team, we are all getting really close and have begun to really share the real things that are happening. I can see how after the discussion things have gotten even better though. God really knows what he is doing eh.
On Tuesday we went to a bible study group at a local English speaking church. I was really looking forward to giong because we had a really good programme, and we would be able to speak in English, and it would just be nice and easy! But I was surprised how much being around these people really broke my heart. These lovely business men who seemed to have everything, but there was something when I spoke to them that just felt as if they really had nothing. Very few of them were really using their resources effectively, and it felt like such a waste of a blessing! I am praying against judging them, and really forcing myself not to, but my heart really breaks when I see how much potential they have, but they really are not tapping in to it. They seem to have a very warm welcome to the church, but a very cold exterior to the rest of the city. If they had concern for some of the people we work with, it came across more as a concern because they are dirtying the streets. It really reminded me of some of the attitudes of people in Europe, and actually really brought to my mind how much I want to help these people. I saw more poverty there than I did in the evening in the homeless ministry. There is one man whom we see each week on the streets called Hugo, he is such a legend. He used to be in prison, and became a believer when missionaries visited the prison, then when he was released he went back to prisons.. to speak about the gospel. He is stil living on the street, but he is living for God with everything he has. Each week he tells us of how God has provided food for him, and clothes, and last week he even spoke about how he found a newspaper and wanted to do the crossword because he loves doing them, but didn't have a pen, he prayed for one, and found this really really posh looking pen! Amazing! When we rely on God for everything, he will provide abundantly. This is the kind of blessing I want. I do not want blessings from this world that may make me feel like I am secure, or that I have everything I need. I want blessings from God! I would rather live like Hugo each day, and know my God as intimatly as he does, than to live in a big house like one of the men I met at that study and not be using my everything for the glory of God.
I have also been thinking alot recently about dreams.. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before on my blog, but God has really been speaking to me about my future alot. I am starting to see that God can really do much bigger things through me that I was expecting. And he will. Some of the thoughts that I have in my head seem so crazy, but so exciting, I would love to do something that there is no chance I can do on my own. That way it can show others how God is doing these things and not anybody else. I think God quite often does things in a way that this is the case. If there is an opportunity for God to do something and show his glory and power through it, he quite often will do that thing! For example when Gideon is called to defeat the Midianites God asks him to reduce his army down to an embarassing amount just to show that nothing can limit his power, and that he can make greatness out of seamingly impossible situations.
* Please pray for the team, that we can continue to grow closer together and that any other issues will be resolved in this period before it gets so close to the end of our time here
* Please pray for the work in the hogar, pray that we can have more times where we really connect with the boys.
* Pray for the bible study group that we went to visit. pray for one of our teachers called Hal who is working with them. He is also a part of OM. Pray that God gives him patience, wisdom and determination to reach these men.
*Pray for the continued work of Peter within OM preparing TeenStreets all over the world. Pray that God will continue to work through him and give him wisdom and insight as to how to keep these conferences running.
*Pray for God's direction through my life. Pray that God will reveal to me more of his plans for my future. Pray that he will open doors where he wants to, but also to close them where things are not of him.
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