halfway there (oo-ooh)

Can´t belive I only have four weeks left! Can´t believe I have four weeks left.

God has blessed me this past week in so many ways. I have been able to really get involved in the church in Concepsion. Although I am still just observing and not doing anything exactly, I have built some strong relationships there and have been blessed by what I have seen there. I also had the opportunity to spend some time with some American friends who are here working with Young Life. It was so good to speak English, share stories, compare experiences, etc. Lastly, I spent some time talking with a (sort of) missionary couple from Capilla. Carlos has grown up in Tirrases and Capilla, but his wife Anita is a Peruvian missionary who has been working here at Capilla for the past five years. It was really encouraging to talk to someone with a half-in/half-out perspective on life in Tirrases as well as what it means to be a missionary.

As I´ve built stronger relationships and gotten more deeply involved in the church, I have seen more needs that I can´t meet. It is hard to be here and not really be able to do anything for all of my friends who are struggling to put food on the table. God has opened up a few small opportunities for me to help by simply providing a meal here and there, but the need still seems overwhelming and pushes me to trust in God´s provision not only for me but also for my friends here.

In light of that, I am asking for prayers for all of the members of the church without work. At the Thursday night service, all the men without work were called up and prayed over, and it pains me to see the fathers of so many of the kids who have befriended me without means of putting food on the table. Specifically, pray for Cynthia and Pedro, the first family I stayed with, who have been without work for about 4 months now. Also pray for Daniel, a teenager involved in the church in Concepsion, who had to drop out of school last week to look for work, and who now feels on the verge of insanity due to the pressure to provide for his family. Finally, pray for Denis, a man who, along with his family, took me in from the beginning and really made me feel welcome. Less than a week after losing his car (as a taxi driver, this means he also lost his job), his wife kicked him out of the house.

I am moving houses tomorrow morning, and I have every reason to assume it´s back to cold water and no cable TV, but I am really excited to get to know another family and neighborhood. I am also not going to miss Doña Julia´s insistance that I iron my t-shirt before I leave the house.

Hope all is well... miss you all!

P.S. I am debating whether I should risk ruining Harry Potter 6 by going to see it in spanish or hold out for when I get back (this would be the first time I have ever NOT seen the newest Harry Potter movie on its opening day.) Opinions appreciated.