I'll Soon See the Andes

Happy New Year Everyone! Before I tell you about my 2 weeks of local outreach, I'd like to finally introduce you to the beautiful people I call my teammates. I'm going to work on posting a picture or two tomorrow. We (The Chile Team) leave from Kingston to Santiago (via Panama)on the 12th...that's this Thursday!

Cheryl, 21, from Portland, Jamaica. She's co-leading this team with me and becoming a sister as we get to know each other more. Cheryl's a fun-loving dancer and budding sketch artist. She loves children, mischief, and the colour blue.

Paul, 27, Alberta. The gentle, soft spoken song-writer of the group. Most likely to be found strumming his six-string and belting out worship tunes. He also likes to snorkel.

Simon, 22, Stuttgart, Germany. Former fashion model and Mercedes Benz employee, with his 6'2" or something frame we refer to him as our giant. Simon came up with our team slogan, "Chile team:We don't miss a meal."

Anastasia, 24, Nova Scotia. This beautiful bride-to-be can make just about any song sound like a Maritime folk tune with her sweet rootsy voice. Her grandpa actually yodels at family gatherings. Stasia's getting married in July which gives us girls ample wedding details to discuss over and over again.

Steve, 21, Washington. He's kind, wise, witty and full of boyscout stories and useless trivia. Steve studied engineering so he pretty much knows something about everything and his passion for the outdoors is akin to mine. He even loves to go snowshoeing.

Idubin, 22, Pennsylvania. Proud owner of a 1986 jet black Firebird TransAm that he himself rebuilt, Dubi's oblivious to the hilarity he brings to the group with his off -the-wall comments and cartoon voices. Coolest Puerto Rican I've ever met.

I'm really looking forward to going to Chile and I feel so privileged to go with this team. The are fun and they are teaching me to lighten-up (a much needed lesson for me). We laugh a lot and Cheryl and I are one up on pranking the guys. =0)

Our first week of outreach was fabulous with our team of 7 in the little sea-side town of Hopewell! I so enjoy being out in the community and feeling like I really live in Jamaica.

We had a wild taxi ride up windy single lane roads with hairpin turns, assorted potholes, and random abandoned car chunks when we went to visit immobile elderly people in the hills. We were lucky when we only had to squeeze 2 people in the front seat! It was worth it to be able to meet and pray for incredible worshipful people who live tucked away in hillside shanties.

Pastor Brown and Hopewell's hoppin' Baptist church were super friendly and fun to work with. There is much more to tell but you but not enough time to elaborate...

Last Monday we joined the rest of the dts class for a week of outreach near the YWAM base in Mandeville (other side of the island). We worked with a church in a tiny town that was about a 10 minute walk through the bush and at a halfway house/correctional facility that was a 45 minute walk through more bush and small town roads. I'm amazed at how big God is; intimately acquainted with each person in tiny towns uknown to most of the world.

My favourite part of this week was doing dramas with the youth on Friday night at the church. It felt great to be all together again before we fly off to our various international locations.

Please pray for us! The prayer requests are on the right side of the screen.

Must sleep.
Em