I went representing the organization I work for, to share with a youth group about the opportunities to serve in other parts of the world.
Here I am giving a brief intro to what we do in our org, in the shade of the newly constructed work project, a quincho, or a barbeque pit, with benches and little tables.
The reason my dad might be proud is because it was a dirty camp.
First, we rode all night on a bus, 8 hours, to get there. (I'm getting good at sleeping on buses since I moved to South America.)
Second, I pitched my own tent, and camped in it for four days.
Third, I was constantly dirty.
Fourth, to keep from being dirty, I bathed in the river, well ok, it was more a stream.
A beautiful stream. Each morning, I woke "early" to go down the river, find a rock and enjoy the time with my Loving God. I have said before, and mean it again, this is a beautiful country, Chile.
Fifth, I drank water from a spring. It was delicious.
Sixth, there was one toilet, an outhouse, with the cresent moon on it and everything. Used by 50 people each day.
Seventh, and most important, I ENJOYED it! It was a splendid time. I missed not waking up this morning to walk beside the stream, but I was thankful that when I awoke at 6 AM, we were arriving at the Santiago bus terminal and I could go home and take a shower!
I met a great group of people, and had conversations with a few individually to talk specifically about their future and their desire to serve the Lord. I've invited a few of them to come over when they return from camp (they stay for 2 weeks!) I pray now for how God will continue to work in these lives and show them what He has next for them.
I was vividly reminded of the year of summer camp when I was in high school, and I heard a young girl share her heart and desire to serve the Lord in other lands, among people she didn't know, and who didn't know the Savior. I remember hearing this after learning her story, "Anna, you will serve me like this one day. You will go" I remember ignoring the voice, being scared of it, rejecting it at that point. But I see how God has gone forming the steps that have brought me to where He has me, steps of obedience by faith, as Paul puts it in Romans 1:5. So that the nations may know.
I will say this, I enjoyed my shower this morning. I had to scrub hard to get the dirt off. I've done two loads of laundry that is hanging all over now. I was very excited to cook my own meal, but I am so grateful for the experience I had in Piñiquihue. I just wish I could have found out what Piñiquihue meant, to tell you who read. The camp was located in the 8th region of Chile, called Bio-Bio, outside of Quilaco.
So many stars, such an amazing Creator.
