Art in Chile

by Daniel Hutchison

During my trip a few weeks ago to Cajón del Maipo, I saw these women painting this scene. It made me smile to see how people take pride in what they have here. It's in moments like these that I exhale worries and inhale peace and joy. What a beautiful creation God made-- nature and humanity.

Changing of the Guard

by William Marquette

A few weeks ago we went to La Moneda, which is the Chilean capitol building. One of the neatest things that we saw was the changing of the guard. This picture shows the soldiers marching into La Moneda, while the ones who have just been relieved are in the background.

Summer in Santiago

by William Marquette

One of the great things about being in Chile during this time of year is the weather. The days are warm and rarely too hot, while the evenings are cool and usually have a nice breeze. One of the things that I first noticed when we arrived in Santiago was the lack of air conditioning. Most buildings in Chile (including our apartment) do not have it. The only place that I can think of that has a/c is the university where our classes are held. At first this caused a little bit of panic for me. I thought that South America in the summer without a/c was going to be awful. However, it didn't take long to realize why most buildings don’t have a/c: they don’t need it. The weather here is already amazing. I have come to realize, for the month and a half that I've been here, that there are certain things that we think we need but in reality can live happily without.

Close Quarters

by Daniel Hutchison

To quote my own mother, "Company is like fish. It stinks after three days." After extended visits from family members throughout my childhood, I understood the meaning behind it. People get tired of each other! Living with a group of three other guys has presented challenges too. "Someone do the dishes!" I think we have discussed dishes in the apartment more than we have anything else. Tension eventually rose and I can speak for myself by saying I was being kind of a jerk. A few days ago, it dawned on me the insignificance of the arguments in comparison to the experiences this trip has to offer me. I needed to let go of my frustration and move on. Without going in depth, we had a great conversation that has brought resolve to the apartment and made it a place of positive energy. I realized just how easy it can be to get caught up in a minor frustration in life that costs you the opportunity of experiencing blessings. I am so grateful to God for speaking to me through this. I've already grown so much and I know the journey has barely begun. Ciao!

Santa Teresa de los Andes

by Claire Pendergrass 

In our exploration of churches here in Santiago, we have seen many of these types altars dedicated to different patron saints. People come and pray to these saints about a certain matter in hopes that they will intercede for them to God. This particular altar is located in la Iglesia de Santo Domingo and is dedicated to Teresa de los Andes. She was born in Santiago, became a nun, and was named a saint, even though she died at the age of nineteen. This particular saint really resonated with me because she achieved sainthood at such a young age. She is an important figure for the people of Santiago not only because she was born here but also because she lived every day of her short life in pursuit of God.

To You, From Me

by Lauren Wilcher

Something that I was looking forward to sharing once it was my turn to blog here on the Sleepless In Santiago page was getting to tell everyone about the "moments."Have you ever had a moment when life was everything you wanted it to be, and you were lucky enough to have friends by your side? Well, that's currently my life. I have made SO many great relationships during my time here in Chile. I honestly do not know how I have come this far without them. I know I plan to keep each and every person a part of my life from this day forward. This particular picture was the day I guess you could say I had my "breaking moment" where I realized that life is definitely great, exciting, and everything in between. I am very thankful for this trip and feel it is shaping me into the young lady I have desired to be. I dedicate this particular blog to all my peers on this trip because without each other I do not know how I or any of us would, or could, get through the homesickness, the language barrier, and any of the tough times. So, thanks ya'll. :)

I Swear It's Art!

by Lauren Wilcher 

So, if you know me then you will know I am not what you would call an "artsy" kind of person-- but recently I have changed my perspective on the whole art world. Recently some of us traveled to Viña Del Mar and as we were walking to the beach, we stumbled past these graffitied stairs. To some, these stairs look like any other blank area "destroyed" by spray paint, but it said something different to me. I LOVED these stairs for two simple reasons. One reason is that they are original. You will never see the same graffiti twice. Second, It's free! It's very easy to purchase art on the streets here in Chile, but there is definitely some sort of magic to being able to view the arts for free. I can say this is one perk and something I definitely enjoy seeing while studying abroad.

VLOG: La Moneda

by Rachel Alexander, Rachel Craddock, Will Hedges, and Chris Netterville

Fantasilandia

by Spencer Richardson 

Before I came on this trip, I told myself that I would try new things. So far it has been easy to try new things like the food, riding the subway, backpacking, and attending mass. But on Tuesday I faced a big hurdle of mine: I rode a roller coaster. I am scared of roller coasters-- really, really scared of roller coasters. And flying. Anyway, I had bought Rachel tickets to the theme park in Santiago, Fantasilandia, so I knew I would probably have to ride one. We got to the park after class and immediately rode the sissiest ride in the park, right next to the entrance. It was literally in the Kids Zone. We progressively moved forward to bigger rides, such as the swinging pendulum of death. Finally, we were there: Boomerang, a slingshot ride with twists, turns, and topsy turvies. I had to keep telling myself that I had promised to try new things in Chile. Rachel ran right into line so I had no choice but to follow. Here is the result.

Los Hornitos de Altovalsol

by Spencer Richardson 

This picture was taken outside of the campsite that me, William, Spencer, and Daniel stayed at. It was surrounded by farmland and tiny summer homes. The view of the mountains was beautiful and left us in awe. The massiveness of the mountain ranges continues to surprise me.

They Call Our Currency Lettuce: Waking Up Globally

by Neely Baugh

"No, the United States is not socialist."

"But...the healthcare?"

"It’s a socialist idea, like an experiment. We have some systems that are based on socialism, but we’re still a capitalist nation."

"...how?"

"...that’s just the basis of the country. I would like it to change, but I don’t think that will ever happen."

"So the United States is not socialist?"

"........"

That is a roughly translated conversation that I had with two of my new friends in Santiago, Nelson and Edwin, the night guards at the front desk of our apart-hotel. Rachel C. and I met these two wonderful people our first week here, and have occasional conversations with them when we wander through the lobby while they are on duty. These conversations usually last upwards of an hour and a half and the topics of discussion range from the Beatles (VERY popular here in Chile), the history of “chilenismos” (Chilean slang), or swapping old family photos. That night, they brought up the U.S., asking questions about Obama: What things has he tried to improve? How did he get re-elected? And of course, Is the U.S. socialist now?

Regardless of whether the U.S. is or ever will be socialist, Chileans are often quite interested in U.S. politics and government. Granted, the United States does affect the global economy quite a bit and our culture is pervasive to some extent in most parts of the world. But Chileans (as I have been told is also the case in many other countries) can demonstrate a rather impressive interest and/or knowledge about U.S. politics. On the other hand, I had never heard of important Chilean figures such as Pedro de Valdivia, Salvador Allende, and Michelle Bachelet before preparing for this trip. I had no idea that Chile’s current democracy is only slightly older than I am, or that September 11th to Chileans means the day in 1973 that the socialist government was overthrown in a military coup (aided in part by the U.S. CIA), or that they underwent a dictatorship from ’73-‘89 that Chileans do not bring up in polite conversation to this day.  

My observation of the Chileans’ heightened sensitivity to goings-on in the U.S., contrasted with my stunning lack of knowledge about this country before living in it has made me realize the importance of being globally aware. Not every country is like the States; in fact, no country really is at all. And it doesn't matter how prominent our culture becomes or how many U.S. dollars (or “lechuga” [lettuce] as some Chileans call them) we print, we’re still part of a world made up of countries vastly different from our own, with something unique to offer the global community. Through many learning experiences I have had in Chile (still in progress and too numerous to discuss here), I hope to be a different person in many ways when I return to the States. I hope to be more conscious of other cultures, more aware of how spending money affects the global economy, and more interested in the kinds of lives people are experiencing all over the world. 

VLOG: Santiago Shake

by Lauren Wilcher, Seth Lykins, Neely Baugh, and William Marquette

Chile: A Table for All

by Marissa Valenzuela 

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this wall! A few of my friends and I ventured to Parque de Quinta Normal today (though Andrew Dorris had already been there) and saw this mural. I had to stop and just stare at it, because I loved it so much. The verse displayed on the Bible is John 1:14, which says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." I just think this mural is such a beautiful depiction of how we are all welcome at the table of God no matter who we are or what we look like; His love is truly big enough for all of us.

Horseback Riding at Elqui Valley

by Ibeth Nuñez

Our Humble Host

by Brandy Richardson

This is Juanita. Juanita works at the hostel that I stayed in during our group trip to La Serena. This precious woman cooked us breakfast, made our beds, and made sure we felt right at home at "El Arbol." I talked to her a little bit the night before we left La Serena and during breakfast, on our last day, she kept calling all of us "princesses" and "precious ones." The love that she freely gives to those that come in and out day by day at this hostel is so heart warming. When I asked her if she would take a picture with some of us, she immediately threw off her apron, fluffed her hair, and led us to the porch for a photo shoot. Even though I only spent a little time around Juanita, she showed us all what it means to be a humble and welcoming host.

The Reconquest and Spoken Word

by Matt Johnson

There was a moment that happened fairly early on this trip that will stick with me for the rest of the trip. As a group of four, a few of us had to present on the Reconquest of Chile. The Reconquest was what occurred between Spain and Chile when Chile was vying for their independence.

Basically, it was a fight similar to that of the British and those who were soon to become the new Americans. However, for this project, my group decided it would be a good idea to do a spoken word routine to complete the part of the assignment that says "make sure the rest of your classmates can remember why your part is relevant." If you haven't heard spoken word, go look it up on YouTube. At the same time, we did interpretive dancing. You probably do not need to look that up on YouTube. From this silly exercise I will never forget the names of Ferdinand VII, Captain Vicente San Bruno, or Manuel Rodríguez.

An Unexpected Encounter

by Hilary Lamb

For our Principles of Management class we were required to do a Spiritual Journey Project, where we spent five hours actively seeking God through service, reflection, meditation, etc. It was a very open ended assignment and could be approached pretty much however we chose. For my project, I decided to take 5 hours of personal time with God and reflect while at the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, the highest point in Santiago.

While I was up there, I was journaling about giving my worries over to God and letting Him be in control instead of trying to do everything for myself and working so hard to make things come out perfectly when I have no idea what I'm even doing. I had been thinking about relying on God in my times of need and meditating on this idea of letting Him take the reins when I am experiencing hardships and need help.

Right after I had this experience, God gave me a real life example of what I had just thought about. I met a couple from Nevada up on the hill and they were extremely confused about the Chilean dialect of Spanish and some aspects of the Chilean culture. We ended up spending three hours together just talking and they asked me so many questions about the language and all the things that confused them. After talking to them I realized that they saw me, knew I was knowledgeable about Chile, and came to me for help instead of trying to figure things out themselves and struggling. It's the same with us and God. His wisdom far exceeds ours and His ability to make things right are far greater than ours can ever be. Instead of doing things for ourselves, if we come to God for help we will have much greater success and we will have a deeper relationship with Him that is built on trust. That little lesson was just one of the many cool things I've learned while I've been here and I can't wait to see what else comes my way.

Take Time to Smell the Roses

by Rachel Lowry 

This is a picture from Parque Forestal, a park that spans about 4 blocks or more on Providencia, which is the street we live off of. It is in walking distance of our apart-hotel and every Sunday I have gotten ice cream with these lovely friends and sat in the park to enjoy the day, talk about our experiences, and watch the fountain. It has been a wonderful tradition and I hope that I can continue to make time for this to be able to relax and reflect on my time here.

Michael the Warrior

by Chris Netterville

Though there are many museums of beautiful contemporary art pieces and wonderful creations and masterpieces of Chile, Latin America, and even from some artists from all around the world, in this very largely Catholic culture, many large churches and cathedrals here also house their own powerful and magnificent artwork. In one such cathedral, we discovered a large statue of the archangel, Michael. Though it may be hard to tell from the low lighting, Michael is standing upon and also thrusting a spear into a demonic figure. I find it so fascinating that, although the church is full of symbols of God's love for us, of Jesus' sacrifice for us, in this particular church they also remember the power of God and the battle against evil that occurs on a daily basis.

Becoming a "History Person"

by Rachel Craddock

At the beginning of this month and the last day of our intensive Spanish classes, we had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Sergio Missana* lecture about Latin American literature. I’m going to summarize the lecture as concisely as I can because I know that while I think the information he shared is an interesting gateway into the Latin American history and culture, not everyone will find this interesting. If you do, read on! 

Dr. Missana covered several topics, but he began by telling us something that I wouldn't expect a literature scholar to tell a class (but I guess it was also something that only a literature scholar has the authority to say): literature is virtually impossible to generalize because literature is about the individual. He talked about how this individuality calls into question the process of choosing what belongs in a literary canon and what doesn't a heated controversy between many literary scholars and enthusiasts today.

He told us that Chile is called la tierra de poetas (the land of poets) and mentioned these five in particular, if you’re interested in reading some good Latin American poetry: Vicente Huidobro, Gabriela Mistral, Pablo Neruda, Nicanor Parra, and Jorge Tellier.

And then he surprised me again by saying it’s hard to explain poetry and what it does or doesn’t do. He told us Jorge Luis Borges said that people who analyze poetry are like astronomers who never look at the stars. “Life is too short for that,” Dr. Missana said. “Just enjoy it!” (So for all of you who hate analyzing poetry, there’s your out. Take it and run! But keep reading.)

Chilean literature tends to be very political and historical in nature. Dr. Missana walked us through the “waves” of Chile’s history through its literature: independence, liberalism, “cuestión social,” revolution, etc. He talked about the Latin American Boom of the 1960s and ‘70s, which was an instrumental part in the development of Latin American literature as we know it today. The hallmarks of Latin American literature, especially during the Boom period, are magical realism and historical fiction. Five authors came to be internationally recognized during the Boom: José Donoso, Julio Cortázar, Carlos Fuentes, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Gabriel García Márquez. Check ‘em out!

After 16 days of three-hour-long Spanish classes in which we read several poems and short stories, and then this lecture from Dr. Missana, I’m realizing that I’m learning more than lots of new Spanish vocabulary—I’m also learning so much about history and culture through reading Latin American literature. And I’m enjoying it! I never thought I was a “history person” until this trip; now I find myself becoming more interested in my own culture as I learn about the Latin American culture. One of the things I will come back to the United States with is a new perspective and a new interest in our history and culture, and that is a welcomed change.

*Here’s a quick bio: Dr. Missana is from Chile. He studied Journalism at the University of Chile, and then he studied at Stanford University, where he received his PhD in Spanish and Latin American Literature. Now Dr. Missana is professor of Latin American Literature for Stanford’s Overseas Study program in Santiago. He has authored five novels, several journalistic pieces, and has had his hand in scriptwriting, as well. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that he has coauthored two children’s books with his twelve-year-old daughter. Basically, he’s awesome.

Why We Should All Be Catholic

by Neely Baugh 

A lot of people wonder why Catholicism is so much more prevalent in Latin America compared to North America. The key reason behind this is that much of South America was colonized during the 16th century, in the early stages of the Reformation, by settlers who believed spreading Catholicism to other lands would help preserve their religious influence. By contrast, North American colonialism began with a desire to escape the already Protestant Church of England and form a new division of Protestantism. The unique influences of these two branches of Christianity permeate the cultures of both continents to this day.

For Catholicism, the Reformation represented what they had worked so long against—division. Even though many acknowledged that the Church was corrupt, they recognized the value of unity among followers of Christ and feared the consequences if the ranks of believers broke apart. Martin Luther himself (the one with all those Theses) did not want to form a new church, simply to reform the unhealthy practices of the Catholic Church at the time. In fact, the word catholic (with a little “c”) simply means universal. The Church was founded to unite all believers in Christ and foster community between them. To this day, Catholic Masses include prayers for the unity between Christians to be restored.

But as the Reformation progressed, we grew farther away from unity. Protestants and Catholics wanted nothing to do with each other, and eventually Protestants separated into even more specific sects. We thought we needed more divisions, more categories, more “don’t you dare confuse us with them.” Separation came to define us.

Now, we can see the deleterious effects of these divisions—people who believe in the same God and His son argue over petty doctrinal differences. What we need to realize now is that no one approaches the Bible thinking, “Okay, how can I distort this as much as possible and draw it away from its true meaning?” We are all just trying to understand God and Jesus and what it means to live in, yet transcend, this world. For Catholics, that involves placing a barrier between them and God, a wall of saints to intercede, because not just any old Joe cannot approach the holy, powerful, and awesome throne of God. For Protestants, it means running around trying to do more stuff that will make us feel holier, because not just any old Joe can approach the holy, powerful, and awesome throne of God. In both cases, we miss the mystery of Christ.  What we need now is what the Catholic faith stands for at its roots—unity. A collaboration of our different methods of understanding that highlights the helpful elements of our traditions and minimizes the shortcomings. We need each other to make sense of it all.

So may the churches of the world return to understanding, conversation, and unity. May I be an instrument of reconciliation between faith traditions, cultures, social classes, and any place where there is a break in our common humanity that needs to be healed. And may we all learn to be a little more catholic. 

A Full Day of Art

by Matt Johnson

Today, our entire group trekked around the city of Santiago and visited five different Catholic churches. Among those churches were Iglesia San Francisco, Basilica y Museo de la Merced, Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Catedral Metropolitana and Iglesia San Agustín. My group researched Iglesia San Agustín. With the building being finished in 1625, there were a ton of artwork and carvings throughout the church. My favorite part of the church was the ceiling. The ceiling was adorned with saints and many other aspects of the Catholic religion.

Stuck in Santiago

by Claire Pendergrass

Through my time here in Chile, I have realized just how important language can be. Even being a Spanish major, I am often confused by the Chilean way of speaking and get nervous trying to express what I want to say without messing up.  However, I have learned that relying on what skills I have is of the utmost importance. 

One of the outstanding examples to me happened a few weeks ago. Lauren had broken the door handle off of the inside of our bathroom door one night, so we hadn't been shutting the door all the way when we went to the bathroom. However, the next morning after Lauren went to school, I got up to go take a shower, and in my sleepy state, I shut the door right behind me. I immediately realized what I had done and started panicking. Lauren wouldn't be back to the apartment until 6:00, so I didn't know how in the world I could get out. After 40 minutes of trying in vain to get the door open with my tweezers, I heard the maids ring the doorbell. I was ecstatic because I thought they could get me out. They came in the room, and I yelled for help in Spanish, but I think it came out more like “I can’t come out of the bathroom.” I think my statement confused them, and they left the apartment. That is when the anxiety really set in, and I thought I would be stuck in the bathroom for 8 more hours. However, after about a minute of me banging on the door frantically, I heard them come back, and I yelled, “¿Puede ayudarme, por favor?” (“Can you help me, please?”). After this, one of the maids came to my rescue and opened the door. She saw how upset I was and simply said, “Pobrecita” (“poor little thing”). 

After I got over the trauma of this experience, I was so thankful that I knew how to get across what I wanted to say. If I hadn't known any Spanish, I probably would have gotten stuck in the bathroom all day and gone crazy. From now on, I’ll always remember communication is key.

Catholicism in Chile

by Bethany Hertrick

From the statue of the Virgin Mary on the top of San Cristóbal Hill to the elaborate cathedrals on nearly every street corner, the prominence of Catholicism in Chile is evident everywhere you turn. Today we had the unique opportunity to visit five historical Catholic churches for our cross-cultural class. We visited la Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, la Iglesia San Agustín, la Basilica y Museo de la Merced, la Iglesia de Santo Domingo, and la Catedral Metropolitana. While each of these churches has a different story, they all share certain similarities, especially in regard to their architecture.

Today we learned that the three natural laws of Catholic church architecture are permanence, verticality, and iconography. Permanence means that the church must be well-built physically in order to represent that the Church is an enduring and permanent entity. The law of permanence was evident in the massive size of the cathedrals, as well as in the thickness of the walls and columns. Several of the churches we visited have survived multiple earthquakes due to their durable construction. The law of verticality states that the structure of the church must point upward toward the heavenly and eternal. This was evident in that each church consisted of a series of tall arches and had an opening for natural light in the ceiling above the main altar. The law of iconography states that the church must stand out from its surroundings and stimulate meditation. This was perhaps the most obvious of the three laws, because the old church buildings look nothing like the modern skyscrapers that surround them. Iconography was also evident within the church buildings, as each church contained numerous statues and paintings of Biblical scenes that promote spiritual meditation.

One of the most fascinating parts of touring the churches was not the church buildings themselves, but the people within the churches. In every church we visited, we saw people kneeling beside the altars, praying in the pews, and meditating upon images of the crucifixion. For me, the praying people symbolize that the Catholic faith is not something of Chile's past (as the antiquity of the buildings may suggest), but that it is still very much alive and thriving in Chilean society today.

Pisco Elqui

by Bethany Hertrick

This past weekend, a group of us traveled to Pisco Elqui, a small Chilean village located in the Elqui Valley just outside of La Serena. The town consists of vast green vineyards and is surrounded by the Andes mountains on all sides. The center of Pisco Elqui features a beautiful church, a fountain, and several small artisan shops.

The Streets of Santiago

by Marissa Valenzuela

There’s just something about coming back from a relaxing weekend at Viña del Mar with great friends to waking up super early on a Sunday morning to feed the homeless on the streets of Santiago. Out of everything I have done so far and experienced, this beats all of it.

A group of us arrived at 7 am on February 10th to see people surrounding a table drinking coffee and eating sandwiches. Since feeding the homeless was technically a Biology lab, Dr. Hatcher was there to explain what the event would hold for us. Our first task? Walking around the streets to wake up the still sleeping people and say to them, “Hay desayuno en la posta” (“There’s breakfast at the Post (an emergency clinic”). Some were absolutely thrilled about it, others a little grumpy, and some a little confused – but that’s understandable considering we did just wake them up from their slumber.

Dr. Hatcher told us to take note on how they slept: some were lucky enough to have a blanket to sleep on, some had cut up cardboard boxes, and some just slept on concrete. Some also had bottles of alcohol next to them. Dr. Hatcher explained that they drink to keep them warm at night but also to block out the pain and humility of their situation.

After meeting three of the homeless there –Oswald, Alexander, and Enrique– I was left completely humbled. Oswald takes on an Uncle or Father figure in that he looks out for Alexander, Alexander finds joy in “playing” a Lays Stax potato chip tube in the subway stations (he also joked with me because apparently his ex-girlfriend’s name was Marissa), and Enrique, though he may have a lazy eye and a stutter, loves to smile. Though their situations are not the greatest and though they may not display the pain they feel on the inside, these are the people that need the love of God. All I know is, the Sunday after our group gets back from Patagonia, I will be there again to feed them sandwiches and to love on them. 

Luna

by Spencer Warren

This weekend in La Serena, we were able to go to travel to the Mamalluca Observatory, which is one of the most famous observatories in the world. This picture, along with the information about the many galaxies surrounding ours, reminded me just how small we are compared to the vastness of the universe, and how great God is that he created this magnificent and massive universe. Colossians 1:16 came to mind as I was looking at this picture: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.

Waterworks: Lessons Learned from a Stressful Day in Santiago

by Neely Baugh 

I cried. I’ll admit it. It was on a Saturday night just after we had a pipe in our bathroom burst and water begin to flood our apartment. Even after the issue was resolved (I ran down to the front desk hollering about “mucho agua!”), the stress of that event was the breaking point. That night, I came to the realization that I don’t fit entirely in to this Chilean culture. Sometimes it feels like the world we’re living in now has its own secret code—some of the streets aren't marked, maps are hard to come by, and few stores post their hours, not to mention that Chileans have their own brand of slang and manner of speaking Spanish, characterized by dropping s’s and mumbling. Everyone just knows things here, without being told. And I don’t. Even if I manage to fly under the gringa-radar with my dark hair and eyes (many Chileans also have light skin), within a minute of interacting with a local I will inevitably give myself away as someone who “ain’t from around these parts,” as we say in the south of my homeland.  

But I also learned something else that night: I don’t fit in seamlessly here, and that’s okay.  Even though there are many things about the U.S. that I’m not a fan of, growing up there will always be a part of my identity. Chileans are very rooted in pride for their nation, and it’s okay for me to be proud of my home as well. There are things I wish Chile would learn from the U.S., just as there are ideas and attitudes I hope to bring back with me from Chile.  I always say two cultures are better than one, but that includes my home culture as well. Learning to acknowledge my identity as a U.S. citizen as I remain open to learning from Chilean culture has brought me so much peace. It is one of the most important lessons I have learned so far this semester.

The next morning, Rachel C., Anna, and I visited a Catholic church for the first time that morning. Scattered on the pews were copies of the mass for that morning so we could follow along during prayers and Scripture readings. During one section of prayers, they prayed for people on vacation, people who couldn't go on vacation for some reason, and that workers with summer jobs (such as construction) will have their rights respected (they take vacation/summertime very seriously). I thought the prayers were a very thoughtful gesture. Then they prayed the final prayer of the section. A rough translation is:

“For the Christians from other places that come here during the summer. That they would find in us the joy of sharing a common faith, and an example of brotherhood that transcends any type of difference. Hear us, Father.”

The love of Christ crosses all boundaries. Culture, religious tradition, language, secret Chilean codes, all of it.

 

Yeah, I got choked up again. I’m just a crybaby, what can I say? 

Love BIG.

by Brandy Richardson

Today being Valentine's Day, I felt it would be an opportune time to talk about how studying abroad has opened my eyes to all of the people in my life that I love and am incredibly thankful for!

I am a very emotional person. I am emotional regarding my friends and family, right down to a stray animal walking down the street. Being emotional can be quite a double-edged sword! While in Chile, I have been thankful for my emotions. Today marks a month and a day being in Santiago. Since being here, my emotions have run wild! I attribute a lot of that to how many people here and back home I love so dearly. I have traveled a pretty good amount, but this trip marks the longest I have ever spent out of the country. Being out of the country makes being away from loved ones even more difficult; when in the States, even if you are hundreds of miles away from your friends and family, they still feel much more accessible than when a $1,500 plane ticket, a passport, a visa, and 5,000 miles stand between you.

Although this all may sound negative, I am quite thankful to feel this "lack of accessibility" with my friends and family. The past four weeks have shown me in such a big way how much God has blessed me. I have people to miss! How amazing is that? I miss my mom and dad and I miss Hannah and Brad at Lipscomb. I miss so many more than just those four, as well! God gives us emotions and I am thankful to feel those, even if they are kicked into overdrive here in Chile! I am thankful that I can miss people and yearn to see them. That yearning lets me know that when I am back in the States, seeing them and being around them will be that much sweeter! I will cherish the moments that I have with my closest friends and family more than ever before!

Being here in Chile is such a blessing and I feel myself growing more and more as my time here goes by.  God is growing my love for the people here in Santiago with me and my love for all of the people I can't wait to hug and share stories with when I get back and I am so thankful! Loving people is so much more than a day marked on a calender: it is realizing why you love them, what you love about them, and realizing that they love and miss you as much as you do them!

Don't take to ability to love and miss for granted! It is a huge blessing and I am so glad being here has taught me that!

Psalm 136:7

by Rachel Alexander 

This past weekend, a group of us went to Cajón del Maipo and camped under the stars. Well, camped is a stretch; more like hammocked. I took this picture before going to bed and this image doesn't do the real thing justice. However, I am so glad to have this picture as a reminder of Psalm 136:7,

"To him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever."

The night sky was a breathtaking reminder that we are not alone here in Santiago and we have an awesome God watching down on us. 

Little paws. Bigger hearts.

by Rachel Alexander 

As Anna described earlier, our group experienced a very uncomfortable, surreal, and sobering experience during our chapel in the park yesterday. After we prayed our last prayer, we saw not even a hundred feet from us, three police officers taping off the area where a homeless person had passed away. Immediately, my mind started racing with all sorts of questions:

“Did he pass away in the middle of our service?”

“How long had he been laying there with no one noticing him?”

“Could we have done anything?”

But my biggest question of all came in the form of a prayer:

“God, I know you find so much delight in us praising you in these weekly chapels we have every week. But, are we really pursuing you and loving your people, even the marginalized, outside of our gatherings each week? God, one of your sweet children could have passed away in OUR VERY MIDST. Did we miss a big opportunity to be your hands and feet? Even more, are we missing your calling, every day, even here in this foreign land of Santiago?”

As I wrestle with these questions and reflect on our chapel service, I cannot help but think about stray dogs. Odd, I know, but track with me for a second. If you have been keeping up with our blog, Rachel Craddock wrote a post about how many stray dogs wander the streets of Santiago. They are literally everywhere, even in chapel services in the park. During the middle of our chapel, two black, friendly Santiago mutts busted into our service and immediately came over to me and started whining for some loving. I began scratching the backs of their ears, patting their sides, and wishing that I could put them in my carry-on. (Don’t worry, Mom and Dad; I’m not bringing a dog home. But you know I would bring home all of them if I could.)

This is not the first encounter I have had with the dogs here in Santiago. In fact, I’ve had several, ranging from dogs approaching me for some love to one that followed Brandy, Spencer, Daniel, and I as we hiked through San Alfonso in Cajón del Maipo, herding us so we would not be separated and scaring off any other stray dogs.

With all of this being said, it is unbelievable to me how sweet, kind, gentle, and intentional the dogs are here. And with that, they are showing a love that mirrors Christ’s, which they don’t even know, better than a 20-year-old girl who has known Him her entire life.

I’m not sure if the man in the park passed away during our chapel service, but I kind of like to think God placed those dogs in my lap to give me a little joy, peace, and love before experiencing one of the most difficult moments I have had here in Santiago. God knew how much I was going to need that before I did. 

   

It’s a little bit ridiculous how much our God loves us and how creatively He shows that love. I believe in my heart of hearts that God is using Santiago’s stray dogs to constantly remind me of His loyal, unrestrictive love for me and that I need to be more proactive in sharing His love. I know I cannot stop deaths like we saw in the park yesterday, but it was a reminder that we need to constantly love on each other with big love with the time we have been given. A lot like our four-legged friends here in Santiago. 

So today, on this Valentine's Day of 2013, I challenge everyone to dig a little deeper and love a whole lot sweeter on everyone they encounter today. As Christians, we are not only God's hands and feet, but His heart as well. Let's give it some good exercise.

Sometimes, people say that study abroad programs expose people to a whole new way of living.

I think it’s to show us a whole new way to love. Thank you, sweet pups of Santiago. 

“Regresé de mis viajes. Navegué construyendo la alegría.”

by Ibeth Nuñez

I was unsure of what to write for this post until I saw this quote carved into a beam supporting Neruda's house in one of my pictures:“Regresé de mis viajes. Navegué construyendo la alegría,” which translates to: “I came back from my travels. I navigated creating happiness.” I like this quote, perhaps because I am traveling, perhaps because it added to the magic of Neruda’s house; maybe it is simply because I want to go back home and say, "Navegué construyendo la alegría."

It has been a month since we arrived in Chile and it is crazy how time has gone by so quickly. We have experienced some discomfort, we have been presented with situations which reflected the sadness of our surroundings-- but we have also witnessed the beauty of the simple things in life.

In only one month we have been able to grow from our experiences in this beautiful country. We have formed friendships and memories which we will cherish forever. The memories of those late night conversations, the laughter, the excitement of being in this amazing country, and those awkward situations will make great stories that will always be remembered.