Thursday, July 26, 2007

Brrr!

Well, I'm in Chile now. And it's cold!! Although so far no worse than a usual winter since the Rogers have a nice heater. And I was able to go outside today without a jacket.....But first let me back up a little.
The Missions Conference at ABWE was incredible, and I know I talked a little about it, but it's impossible to tell you all the wonderful things that went on. I just know that I'm glad I stayed for it, and it was incredibly encouraging. I felt so much more prepared for the field after that week.
I got home Saturday and unpacked, did laundry, and ran some errands. Sunday was full of church activities and then a going away party for me. Surprisingly, I did not cry at all the entire day! I had to say goodbye to so many people, and it didn't phase me! I think it's because it did not feel real to me. It felt as though I would see them again soon. It still feels that way, actually. Monday I spent the day shopping for last minute things, and then had family time in the evening. This was a great time with my family and I spilled an entire glass of soda on my brother. It was highly entertaining. :o)
I didn't start packing until Tuesday, the day of my flight. This is typical of me: I procrastinate. But with the help of two friends and both of my parents, I got everything done in time, and I didn't forget anything! (That I've noticed, anyway!)
We went to the airport, 7 of us and my 4 suitcases and 2 carryons crammed into our van. It was cozy! I said my goodbyes, and only teared up a little! Then as I waited for my flight (which had been delayed already) I read a note from Brenda (a wonderful friend of mine who had grown up in Chile. I'm actually living with her family). This made me cry. And I was doing so well!!
My first flight was uneventful. As was my layover in Atlanta (mostly because it was only 20 minutes!) Then I got on the plane for a 9 hour flight to Santiago.
The man I was sitting next to was Chilean, and his English was worse than my Spanish. So we conversed for the most part in Spanish and he threw in a stray English word here or there to help me understand. I did pretty well. He's a pastor at a pentacostal church and also the president of an organization that helps women on drugs rehabilitate. He gave me his card on which he also wrote his email and home phone number!!
At the end of the flight, if I craned my head and looked across the plane out of the little strip of window that wasn't blocked, I could see the sun rise over the Andes mountains. SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I still can't get over seeing them all the time. Apparently the school takes a skiing trip at the beginning of every year, so I'll get to see them up close soon!
I landed, got through customs really quickly, and then had to wait with Melissa (one of the Rogers's daughters) for an hour or two for another person we were picking up.
I spent yesterday unpacking, playing with Andrea (their other daughter, 5 years old), and taking a nap. We had a very Chilean dinner of pizza from Dominos and played Dutch Blitz with some of Melissa's friends. So I now know 3 of my students. :o) They warned me of several others though! :o)
I let myself sleep in today to help get over jet lag, set up a few last minute things, and have spent the rest of the day spending time with the family. Melissa and I are going out later to do some shopping....things I didn't pack because I knew I could get them here.
Oh! I almost forgot. They pushed school back a day. I was supposed to have teacher orientation today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday) with classes starting on Monday. But several other teachers were coming in as late as I did. So orientation is Friday and Monday, and classes start Tuesday. Praise God! He knew I needed another day!
Wow, this is a long post! Congratulations if you made it all the way through it! I'll try to be more succinct in the future! Until next time....

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

ABWE Missions Conference

07-17-07
We have a day of PreAmp week under out belt and it didn't take long before I knew that I'm very glad I stayed in the States long enough to come to this. Even just one day has been informative, spiritually uplifting, convicting and fun.
There are 20 of us AMPers, including 3 couples (2 of which are middle-aged). The rest of us are primarily girls (only one guy) between the ages of 19 and 29. I haven't figured out everyone yet but I'm pretty sure we all fall in this decade. And already we've clicked. There are still some girls I need to get to know but I've probably spent a good amount of time with 3/4 of them. It's amazing how fast you can become comfortable with someone when you share a common bond. And besides the huge one of a love for Christ, we all have the same calling and are facing the facts of those callings. Here's a quick list of the countries represented: Peru (2 girls), Cambodia, Togo (2 couples), India (2 girls), Portugal (2 girls), Egypt, Jordan, Bangladesh, China, South Africa and Thailand. We are all hoping to be able to keep in contact as we serve around the world and encourage each other, since we'll be going through similar things.

07-18-07
I'll be honest, I've been an absolute cry baby this week. I'm leaving so soon and all of my emotions are heightened and jumbled and overwhelming. Yesterday I cried about three times, I teared up several more and my eyes stung about once every half hour! The first time my eyes stung with the start of tears today I looked at the clock. 9:30 a.m. I started early! Every little thing is setting me off. In our Pre-AMP sessions, I learn things and we discuss things- things I will be using and experiencing in only 1 week! And I'm excited and nervous, so I cry! And in our services, I sing and worship God and am struck by the power of the words and I cry. I hear native Christians from around the world speak and see the awesome works God is doing in every corner of the planet (so far Hong Kong, the Philippines, South Africa, Liberia, Ukraine and Moldova) and I cry. I see the hundreds of missionaries around me and hear their stories and how they represent hundreds more on the field right now. It truly is such a great cloud of witnesses and I feel incredibly privileged and sobered to be a part of it and I cry. I'm getting tired of crying, to be honest. Outside of the sessions and services I haven't cried at all. I've been having lots of fun, making new friends and networking with the other Chilean missionaries (and there are a lot!).
I've talked with all of them, at least a little. I even had a very short conversation with a Chilean with the help of a translator when I didn't understand everything. It makes me feel very excited and I feel such a bond with them. One lady told me she is praying that perhaps God will lead me to career missions! I'm sure she's not the only one!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Grains of Sand

I only have 9 days left before I leave. 9 days. That's all. I feel like time is rushing by me at an ever increasing pace, and I'm trying desperately to hold on to some of it, and it's like sand between my fingers--impossible to hold on to. I'm so excited to do what God has asked me to do, and I can't actually believe that this is the turn my life has taken. But my last few days here are busy and bittersweet as I try to wrap things up and say goodbye.
Pastor Jason spoke a message this morning on Romans 12:1-2. There were a lot of things that struck me in his message, but I'm only going to talk about one of them right now. Towards the beginning he talked about consecrating yourself to God in the steps toward transformation. Give yourself wholly and completely to Him.
I realized that I'm not doing that.
You may say, "But Kelly, you're going on the mission field. You're giving yourself to fulltime service overseas. That sounds pretty much like you're giving your life to God." Well, true in many senses. But I realized that I'm trying to hold on to a few things. I want to keep the feeling of having "control" over my life. I want to hold on to the familiarity of my little world. And there are a few other unrelated things I'm trying to keep for myself as well. And these are the things that will keep my transition to Chile from being relatively easy.
Let's face it, we don't really have control over our life anyway. So although I feel like I'm losing control of mine, I'm really not. God has it, as He did yesterday, and as He will tomorrow. So what's the difference? Just in the way I view things, in the way they appear to me. Guess I need to brush off my personal spectacles and see things the way God does. I'm simply moving to a new country, with a new language, doing a new job. What's so scary about that? God's directing it, and I'm just making matters worse trying to hold on to my supposed control. As far as familiarity goes.... Gosh, I just need to give myself a couple months and I'll feel the same thing in Santiago. And in the interim, God will still be there. I mean, He's my true home anyway, so I should feel comfortable wherever I go, right?
So, I say all this now. And I'm going to do my best to remember this wonderful revelation. But, since I'm human, I'm sure I'll have relapses. Perhaps on Wednesday morning, July 25th, as I walk off the airplane, for instance.
That's where I am today--9 days away from take off. It will still be sad to leave people, and my days are still going to be incredibly hectic for the next 2 or 3 weeks. But that too will pass, and I'll be left with an amazing journey that God is taking me on, that I will share with anyone I can. Including you! Stay tuned! :o)

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Yikes!

Well, yesterday I talked with Duane Cross, the administrator of the school in Chile. I got some more details on my assignment at the school. I will be teaching English for 7th to 12th graders, as I expected (which is good, since they received some wrong information saying I was a history major!! Praise God I'm not teaching history!). I'll also be teaching 7th and 8th grade girls Bible. They are starting a Fine Arts Language and Speech program, that I will be setting up the first semester and then actually starting the second semester. This is a good thing, that I have time to set it up, since I actually have no idea what they're talking about! :o) And they've also asked me to be in charge of the yearbook this year. I did yearbook a few years in high school, but I really don't remember much. So that should be interesting!
So it's good to know what's going on, since I'm leaving in under 3 weeks!
Also, pray for me for the very beginning of my time. I originally wanted to leave in the beginning of July to have several weeks to settle before school starts. Then ABWE told me they want me to stay stateside for a missions conference and training week that starts July 15th. I don't finish until July 21st. So I bought my plane ticket for July 24th, to give myself a few days to pack and tie things up here. I will land in Chile the morning of July 25th. I just found out that teacher orientation is July 26th and 27th!! And classes start the following Monday, July 30th!! Talk about a rush! I'll have one day to unpack, get over jet lag, and settle! Yikes!! But, there's obviously a reason God wanted me to have those extra days in the states. Honestly, I'd rather be rushed when I get down there than be rushed leaving here. Emotionally speaking, I think it's better that I have plenty of time to wrap things up in NJ. If I felt rushed saying my goodbyes, it would be more difficult for me to settle down there. So God knows what He's doing. :o)
Ok, well, I'm going to wrap this up now. Just wanted to let everyone know what I've found out recently. More to come, I'm sure!