In Which Isa Gains a Son

      I returned from an outing one day to unexpected news from Isa that she had a new "son". My confusion was soon cleared after she and Mama Isabel lead me to a cardboard box which held....an adorable little puppy! The cutie had been rescued by Mama Isabel just before a construction vehicle ran it over as it was running down the street.

                   So tired!

       We guessed that the pup was about six weeks old. After going through a few names including Mancha (from Barbara due to his black spots), and Tony (also Barbara), Isa named him Bodoque. The name comes from a show in which a baby monkey is rescued. Appropriate for this one who was also saved.

     From the first, Bodoque has been very quiet and calm...except for when he needed to go outside or wanted to come back in. Though all he did was eat and sleep, he didn't eat much, and we all grew concerned about him because we could tell something was wrong. Sunday, Isa asked a veterinarian in the church to take a look at him and we found out two things: he was no older than a month, and two, the poor thing had somehow gotten worms in his stomach.

    Now that he's being treated for the worms and is on a better diet for such a baby as he is, he's doing much better and is starting to become more inquisitive and playful. All of us wonder how he came to be out on the street so young...and without his mother. There might be an owner but that remains to be seen. Already we're becoming fond of the little tyke. We're all guessing what breed/mixture he is. At a month old, he is already the size of most six-eight week old pups.  At first, I thought terrier, but now I'm wondering, St. Bernard? I guess time will tell.  

                         Isn't he cute?

Reflections

     On Father's Day, I remained in the church service and listened to the sermon instead of going to the children's service. Isa's mom spoke. The message was very thought provoking. Mama Isabel made a distinction between the attitude the Israelites had in Goshen during slavery and the attitude they had in Susa where they had so lately been slaves in Babylon and were now under the dominion of King Ahasuerus. I just wanted to share some of the message and some of my own musings about it.

     The Israelites who came out of Goshen lead by Moses retained the mindset of slaves, although they saw God's hand at work and He had brought them into freedom. They could not let go of the past. The Jews in Susa, however, were more prosperous. Mordechai, for example, was a leading official. Mordechai was a God-fearing Jew and knew God could deliver them from Haman's plan of anhilation. Though he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth, he didn't despair of God's rescue. Because of the attitude of trust the Jews had, their prayers, and God's use of Esther, the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. Those who had been so recently slaves became warriors-all because God prompted the king to extend the sceptor of grace and favour to Esther.

     Perhaps this warrior attitude is another change brought about by grace. Before salvation and before being recipients of God's grace, we were slaves to sin and slaves to the law. When we put our trust in Christ and accept God's grace, he changes our nature to that of heirs of the promise and we are justified by faith. Our mindset is no longer that of a victim, but a victor.

     I sat in service wondering how much my own attitude had changed and realized so many times, when confronted with a variety of circumstances, I forget the change that God has brought about in my life and respond out of the mentality of a slave. How easy it is to do this! To feel sorry for myself in a difficult situation and grumble about it or to feel that I don't have the ability, the strength, the wisdom, or even the "coolness" to overcome and succeed. The victim mentality is an easy one  to wear because it doesn't require exertion to strike out on a new path and to face the forces seeking to destroy you; the victim mentality just gives in and gives up. Grace-enabled warriors defiantly combats the world's mentality and ways because they know they are found in Christ and that though they were once dead they are now alive and God has given them power and authority. Grace takes away helplessness and hopelessness and brings victory and sure promises. It's all about who's in control. Outside of grace, people try to maintain control and fail miserably. In grace, Christ has control and this brings such freedom and life.

     God has been encouraging me lately to check my attitude. Am I responding out of grace and thankfulness or out of a victim mentality and bitterness? I pray that my attitudes and mentalities will continually be changed and freed by grace as I have been called to champion the Gospel.

New Quarters

     Isa's family has been constructing a new room that is to be our bedroom upon its completion. A week or so ago it was ready for us to make the move. I watched its progress and one day came back from the seminary to be told it was finished. Isa's father offered me his arm in the old-fashioned style and escorted me to see it. Last Sunday, despite a sprained ankle on Isa's part, we moved most of our things over.

      This was our first room. It was very colorful and fun.

         

   

What a mess!

    The new room gives us more room and is decorated beautifiully. We were also hoping that it would keep us a little warmer as it is pretty cold here. The bedroom is the loveliest place. What you might not glean from the pictures is that it has a floating wood floor. The walls are a light periwinkle.

Mama Isabel, Isa's mom, who worked energetically to help us move in.

    

     Mama Isabel, like my family, has taken many people under her wing in her house. God has told her she would be a mother to multitudes. She has been a gracious and thoughtful hostess, but more than that, she truly has a mother's heart and has taken me under her wing. So has Isa's father, although I don't see him as much since he is in and out with church matters more.

Look at the gorgeous exposed beams

Long windows and a sliding glass door are set and off shielded by curtains gathered by a clip in the shape of a hat.

    So now we are mostly moved into this beautiful space. Pastor prayed a blessing over it that it would be a place of where we could rest and grow and have good conversation. So sweet, so precious.

The Family

     So I have finally found some time to tell the story of my first week in Chile. Here I sit, comfortably stretched out and bundled up on my bed in our newly completed room.

    I enjoyed both of my times at church,  Iglesia de Dios Templo Anteoquia. Worship was beautiful, full of passion and joy. Afterwards, I have walked back to Isa's home, for children's church. I am called "tia Katy" (Aunt Katy) by all the children. Isa explained that Chile is a very polite country. Children and youths often address their elders as "Tia". If you don't know someone's name, you call them "hermano/a"  (brother/sister). In addition, the intimate form of address, tu, is typically used only with friends or family. Usted, the more formal address, is used with others.

     Isa's family is very close and sisters, brothers, nephews, and nieces pop in every day. Two of the youngest nieces, Barbara and Cristina, come to the house almost every afternoon. Here are a couple pictures of them. 

 

 

Barbara, Cristy's older sister

     Isa's parents make bread and sell it. It's "pan amasado" or kneaded bread. It's fragrance fills the house every afternoon and graces the table breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mmmm, delicious! Here in Chile, breakfast and lunch are the big meals of the day, while dinner is replaced by something called once (meaning 11)- an old tradition that has its roots in a secret code by soldiers when they wanted an alcholic drink that had 11 letters in its name. Here are pictures of Isa's father and I kneading the dough.

Alejandro Diaz

Pastor and I molding the dough into balls

Look how much we did!

      It's been a full, but beautiful week. Until next time, bendiciones!

 

    

La Vida en Chile

Dear Friends and Readers,

     For the next three months I will be writing about a new chapter in my life. God has blessed me with an amazing and unexpected experience. I am even now staying with a friend, Isabel Diaz, and her family in Santiago, Chile.

     Let me tell you how this came about.

     Many people have told me the best way to a learn a language is to live in country for a while. As I feel God is leading me to learn Spanish and work with Latinas, a month or two before I graduated from Lee I contacted Isa, who lives in Chile, asking if she knew of any work  opportunities there. She responded THE NEXT DAY saying she had talked with her parents and they would be glad for me to come and live with them and I could work in their church.      After this, I did a lot of praying. Finally, Friday, two and a half weeks ago, I felt the peace and assurance that I should go. The amazing thing is that God has just worked everything out so smoothly since then. I messaged Isa that Friday that I had decided to come and she responded the following Sunday. Within the next couple of days I had informed the director and professors for a group going to Chile from Lee that I would be living there the next three months, perhaps taking the the same flight down in order to have some familiar faces and recieved a positive response saying that there would always be room for me on the bus. (Practically, for job purposes, leaving sooner would be better. Also, it was a good time to take this kind of trip for other various reasons.) We purchased the ticket a little over a week and a half ago (an AMAZING graduation gift from my parents) and I spent the last week and a half getting things in order. Thankfully, my passport is all I needed to live in Chile for three months.

     So I have now been here for half a week. Throughout my trip to arrive in Santiago and my daily life, I have felt an incredible contentment and peace. I had a few small adventures at the airport like falling head over heels on top of my luggage while bumping down the up escalator, and almost getting lost in the airport trying to find the correct terminal, but even then, I had a knowledge that I was in God's hands and things were good.
      In my next post, I'll begin recounting my adventures and sharing what God is doing, giving snapshots into my life, as it were. Please excuse me if there are times I simply *must* say something in Spanish. It sometimes captures the essence of an idea or experience here better than English can and is an integral part of each day.
     Until next time, blessings!