Dancing the Cueca and other Fiestas Firsts.

What a time of fun, these Fiestas Patrias! I've enjoyed these days immensely, and the wonderful Chilean culture as they bring out music of their past and dance the time away.

Here are some firsts for me...

I have never seen people dancing in the supermarket before! This was a show that was put on, but the singers were very good and the dancers invited the shoppers to dance.






Kite flying is tradition during these last days of winter. The wind has been perfect this year, although the kite we had yesterday got caught in a tree after just a short time in the air. Maybe today will be better.

I did have to work on Monday morning, for a presentation for our organization. It went extremely well, although I was so nervous. Here I am, sharing my heart out!

A walk to the river with the Lagos family after eating empanadas. Empanadas are meat and onions baked inside fresh dough, eaten with the hands like a burrito. A Chilean specialty.



We stopped to be silly and rest on the walk at a park. This family has been such a refuge for me. I am so grateful for their love, hospitality, and laughter!

They love me so much, they even let me do the dishes now! It's taken 4 months, but now I am treated like family!






Dressed up like a huasa. I purchased a dress this year, and danced in "style"! I have enjoyed dancing. Here I am with Lindsey, an intern who arrived in July. Amy, I know you would love these dresses, they twirl wonderfully!

Here I am dancing with my pastor, Sergio.

It is a law in Chile that you must put a flag out on these days, 18 and 19. The streets are filled with the colors of Chile.

Although the fiestas aren't over yet, this is how tired I was last night, getting ready to go home. I volunteered all day at the church's party (fonda) yesterday, and had the face of exhaustion to prove it!

Well, if I'm going to enjoy the last day of fiestas, I better get out of bed!

Fiestas Patrias!

Tuesday, September 18, is Independence Day in Chile. The 19th is also a national holiday. Because these days fall midweek this year, Monday is also a holiday and the festivities begin today, Saturday! A five day weekend!

The celebrations are filled with family, travel for some, empanadas, barbeque, cueca, the traditional Chilean "Guy flirts with girl" dance. I have hopefully learned it, and hope there will be some opportunities to dance it in the coming days. I started my empanada eating yesterday, with an office lunch! It's been a long time since I've had an empanada, having been gone so long.

For my first day of this weekend, I have chosen to stay in bed this morning, am drinking coffee, and catching up on emailing friends. I realized I hadn't written here in awhile, and don't know if any of you still read. I hope so.

Thursday marked one year since my arrival. I have reflected a bit on what has happened since that day, and am so grateful for what God has called me to be a part of. I continue to see how He is changing me, as well, and am still so glad this world is not our home.

Although I just recently arrived, and said I have no desire to travel soon, I do wish to visit Tacna, Peru, for the first time since I left. I hope to go before the end of the year, to see the ecological project, meet with the new church that has formed in that immediate area, and visit with the young people I worked with. If I do not receive the visa I'm waiting for, I will have to leave Chile before mid-November, so that will be all I need to make me go! There is also a possibility I could serve as a translator for a medical team in mid-November as well, visiting there in Tacna!

Enjoy the photos. They don't have anything to do with what I wrote, but some of you enjoy seeing where I live.