Today was one of the best days ever! For awhile now I have been wanting to go on a dental missions trip. Today I got a little taste of what that would be like. We went back to the first town we we were at, Santa Clara, and saw the people we helped. We got to see the houses we painted and eat some of the amazing fried bread one lady made for us. While we were visiting we went to the local school to see some of the kids we grew relationships with. When we got there, there were a ton of people at the school and other volunteers that looked American! (Later we found out they were German and Ukrainian) they were there hosting a free medics fair. Doctors, and dentists were there giving free medical care to the people of Santa Clara! I immediately asked if I could help assist the dentist if he needed help! They said yes, he definitely needed help! I was SO excited! I was taken to the classroom that was for dental and met 2 dentists working, and their male assistant who is a musician and had no idea what he was doing. He was so happy to see me. I was so excited to be helping and to be a total blessing to the dentists and the patients! I immediately jumped in and the language barrier was a bit difficult but we could understand a few things. Once we got the flow of things and I understood what procedure he was doing we got along very well. One of our amazing translators Paulina, is in school to be a dentist so she came in and joined me also! It was so fun because the whole trip we have been joking about us working together someday! Who knew we would kinda be "working" together on this trip! Haha it was so awesome! After she came in she got to translate and it was a lot easier haha! We helped the dentists for a few hours then had to leave for the day. I was so bummed I had to go! I had such a great day! I saw some interesting teeth for sure, but the smiles the people had after they left were priceless!! Such an awesome day! It really made me excited to go back home and work again. It reminded me how much I love my job! The smile and the thank you, you get from the patient, here in Chile, or America makes it worth every minute! It was such a good day. As weird as it sounds, it was like a dream come true! I have always wanted to help less fortunate people, overseas with their smiles. Today I got to:)
Tomorrow we leave Talchuano and head back to Santiago which is 6 hours north. Goodbyes are going to be difficult tomorrow for the amazing family we have been staying with, and saying bye to our 2 amazing translators Paulina, and Carolina. Were excited to be moving back to Santiago though for our last week in Chile! Can't believe we have one week left! We are going to be at the YWAM base and helping them with labor work. Were not sure if we have will have wifi but we have been so blessed to of have had it this far, I'm sure we will survive a week without it haha!
Less than a month till I will be back home in AZ! I can't wait to see what God has in store for me! It will be weird to come home to just Rachel and my mom though. My dad will be in DC working. He moves out there on Wednesday the 16th so be praying for him and his safe travels as he drives across the country. Also be praying for our team. Safe travels to Santiago and a last amazing week in Chile!
Love and miss you all!
Jeremiah 29:11
Jessica
Today was yet another day of being reminded how blessed I am. We went to a home where Cancer patients stay while having treatment done. It's by the hospital and they come to the house while having treatment done. Today some of the ladies were outside sewing and making crafts. They were all different ages. We got to perform some dramas and sing a few songs for them. Then afterwards we got to talk to them and get to know them a bit and pray for them. We prayed for total healing and just restored health and for the cancer to be gone now and not carried into future generations. I couldn't help but step aside afterwards with my room mate and one of my best friends, Olivia, and we prayed over our current families now, and our future kids to be healthy and no sickness ever to come upon either of our families! (Hey nothing wrong with praying for our future kids, and families!) :)Then just thanking God for blessing us so incredibly much! it was definitely a memorable day. Then on the way walking back to the bus we passed a dental store!! One of our translators, Paulina is in school to be a dentist. So we always joke around that when she finishes school she is going to move to America and I'm going to be her assistant ;) haha So we went into the store, and it's crazy that they just have dental stores to buy instruments, impression trays and implant parts just on the side of the road! Apparently it's for students to go in and buy stuff who are in dental school. Crazy! It was cool though and yes pictures were taken! Haha! After that we came home and cooked an
"American" meal of hamburgers and planned our Superbowl party meal! We get to order pizza! I haven't had pizza in I don't know how long! One of our leaders, Owen, is a crazy Packer fan and is from Wisconsin. So we are all cheering for the packers! Were excited to gather around the computer and watch it online, were hoping they play the commercials on the computer because for half of us, that's the only reason we want to watch it. Lol While cleaning up dinner I was washing some dishes and apparently there was a little earthquake/aftershock and somehow I didn't even feel it but everyone else was freaking out. I guess I was too into making sure those dishes were clean and I totally missed it! :( I know I'm crazy, but I want to feel an earthquake! Haha not a big one, but just a little rumble! Yet at the same time i really dont...Hahaha! After dinner a few of us went and took a 3 mile run down the main street were staying on. It felt so good to get out and run!! I have missed working out SO much! When we returned to the house the other half of our team was having a worship time so we joined them and had a wonderful night of worship! Now it is time for bed. Tomorrow is Friday and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us! Finishing these last 2 weeks in Chile with a bang!
What an amazing God we serve! Things have been so awesome here in Chile! God has been moving in incredible ways! This past week we worked with a local church going out around the churches neighborhood and evangelizing with the youth of the church. The youth group only consisted of about 10 kids because the church is so small. It was hard to connect with the kids at first because of the language barrier but by the 2nd and 3rd day we all were learning each others languages, laughing, and having tons of fun! They were such cool kids. Of course were all friends on facebook now! Haha! The first day we learned a bunch of dramas, short skits, and how to play the drums. The rest of the week, everyday we started it out praying with the whole team, worship, and intercession. Then after lunch we would get out the drums and go play around the neighborhood to get peoples attention to come watch us. Then what they called their "plaza" which was a playground/ park area we would do our dramas for the people and tell our testimonies and short sermons. Then afterwards pray with them and invite them to the church service we would put on at the church that night. Then we would go back to the church, eat dinner and have church! We had 4 services counting all week. That was our schedule pretty much everyday. We would be at the church from 9 in the morning till 10 at night most days. It was long and tiring yet so fun at the same time! A lot of the people we ministered to during the day showed up at night and it was always exciting to see them show up. One night one of the sweet ladies at the church had some beautiful jewelry on and I complimented her on it. In their culture apparently, if you comment on something, they take it off and give it to you! So she took off her ring and gave it to me!! I kept telling her no and shoving it away, I couldn't take it! She kept speaking in Spanish so I had no idea what she was saying but she wouldn't let me not accept it!! It is such a pretty ring and she said it was nothing to her and she wanted me to have it. I was so blessed! Ive never said gracias so much! Haha such a sweet lady! Sure enough the next night she showed up with more beautiful jewelry on and I made sure I didn't compliment her, but felt better that I hadn't taken her only piece of nice jewelry! Haha! One of the days during our worship time some people snuck into the back of the church very quietly and then we looked back and who did we see?! Fellow Americans! Some pastors from the US had come over to help plant a church in Chile and stopped by! It was nice to communicate with them, and in English! Haha I got to talk to one of the Pastors, Pastor Randy Hunt, and found out he lived in Arizona for 2 years! He also was the youth pastor at Grace Community!! I was like Ahhh! That was my grade school!! He recognized my moms name and we couldn't believe what a small world it is! It was a crazy cool moment when that happened! By the end of the week we were very tan, and worn out but it was an amazing week and God moved in the people we ministered to! 4 church services in 7 days! Whew! Our last service lasted 4 hours! It was intense! Yet awesome! We have 2 weeks left here in Chile then back to America! We did our laundry today and we had to hang them on a clothesline to dry! Def made us appreciate our dryers!! It's the little things in life we've got to appreciate! Hope all is well back at home! Shout out to the Valley Cheerleaders this weekend! Good luck at state! Go Trojans! Wish I could be there! Love and miss you all!
Jeremiah 29:11
Jessica
