This weekend the RIC is welcoming just about everyone who wants to know more about the teams and what we've been up to for the past 5 weeks. Here's a run-down of Team Chile's presentation:
This is a picture of Team Chile on our Prayer Challenge a LONG time ago. We walked throughout the city looking for hidden staff members and answers to trivia questions, while meeting and praying for people along the way.
This is the 6th member of our team - reliable Ike. Though he has a few quirks, Ike gets us where we need to go on a regular basis, and has even been known to pull a prank or two on
Each REACH team spends at least 4 hours per week in "Team Prep." which, like it sounds, prepares us for our time abroad, and at least 10 hours per week in outreach.
For Team Chile, we have prepared in a variety of ways. One of our favorite ways to prepare is with our friend (and Program Facilitator) Austin. Austin went to Chile, and our region specifically, through the YES program (very similar to REACH) several years ago. He has been helping us with our Spanish skills, as well as sharing pictures and stories with us about his 6 months there.
We also spent an evening at Rebecca's Place here in Columbus. Rebecca's Place is short-term housing for homeless women looking to get back on their feet. I served at Rebecca's Place each week this summer and enjoyed it very much. While we were there, we got to know the residents, told some jokes, sang some songs, and painted fingernails. It was good practice in simply meeting people and learning their stories.
Our cook at the RIC, Susannah, has a background in nutrition and met with our team to discuss the possible foods we may be encountering regularly, and what we may need to do to balance out our diets in terms of nutrient intake. Did you know that, when combined, rice and beans make a complete protein? Just as good as a meat!
We will also have opportunities in the coming weeks to communicate with a family that lived in Chile as longer-term missionaries, as well as a staff member at International Friendships Incorporated (IFI) who is a Chilean native.
In terms of outreach, my team has just begun to help with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and child care at a local church, as well as attending a Hispanic church and Bible study in Hilliard, AND our favorite - homework help at the trailer park.
This is our tiny little trailer, owned by a local church.
And this is the inside. I wish we could somehow capture how crazy it gets in there some time. This picture was taken on a day that was nice enough to spread out to the picnic tables outside, but each day we serve approximately 20 students. In that teeny trailer.
Jean and I helping Carrie and Mariah.
Clay.
Jean and Maria.
Kirsten - "Yutzy" - "Miss Juicy"
Jeff - speaking of nicknames... this week at church 2 of our friends were trying to figure out the Spanish equivalent to "Jeff." They said, "hmm... now you are Luiz."
Right across from our trailer is an empty trailer plot that was purchased by the joint efforts of the church, some surrounding neighbors in the trailer park, and the owners of the trailer park itself. A cool story, actually. With all of their cooperation, they have managed to take a plot and a half, fence it off, pour in some gravel, and make a little park area for the children to play in. When the students are finished with their homework, they are eager to go play. Here are some pictures of what may be happening in the late afternoon when homework is complete.
1 comment:
That entry gave me warm fuzzies for the work you are all doing locally. I can only imagine what you'll do and who you'll serve in Chile,soon. Thanks so much for taking the time to write and to include photos! Both are great!
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