One week on.

On Sunday evening we turned to Google translator in order to thank Carlos and family more intelligently for their welcome and generosity toward us. They replied that their help and acceptance was a way of expressing their confidence in us. They also said that through their acceptance of us they hoped we would gain confidence to express what we were feeling. We were surprised by the insight of what they said, but it made so much sense. 

An earth quake damaged building in Concepcion.

On the first evening of our arrival Dad said he felt that we had come home. We've learnt over our travels that home isn't where you hang your hat, necessarily, but it's where we make relationships. It's where our family is and where our friends are. Instead of having to work through massive culture shock, we've felt fairly secure in Chile because God arranged it that the Chileans would go out of their way to build relationships with us. Of course, language is a daily barrier to fluid communication, and there's no saying how many cultural faux pas we've committed! It's embarrassing when you use the intimate word for 'you' when it should have been the respectful one, you don't understand simple sentences, or you pronounce a word so that it means something entirely different. However, language isn't everything, it's the people behind the barrier that matter more. There's no room for hanging back, better to make obvious mistakes than hang back and not learn anything.

The last week has been like one continuous, enjoyable but exhausting party. By night time our eyes feel like they're weighed by bricks and our brains are fried. We may not be working physically, but the mental workout has been making up for it.

On Monday evening about ten young people and two families turned up on the doorstep, instead of the one family we were expecting. Our reactions were varied; some of us revelled in the company and others spent most of the time wanting to run. You can probably guess who felt like what! Some of the girls asked us if we listen to Hill Song music, and when we said that we didn't much, they offered to sing for us. Some of the boys went and got a guitar for accompaniment, but I'm not sure it was totally necessary as they really get involved in their music! It was very refreshing and energising. As a nation they are industrious and hopeful, two aspects which these people translated over all the barriers. Before they left, one of the girls who spoke English translated a speech of welcome and thankfulness to God that we were here. 

On Wednesday we packed our back packs for an overnight camping trip with Carlos's family and Christian with his family. The last thing we expected when we arrived was that we would go camping within the first week! We had a very enjoyable time, and learnt a lot more about the geography, industry and way of life and thought of this area. We travelled about an hour through country that was worked by tree plantations, wheat, and gardens. There were smallholders everywhere and we saw evidence of artisan work also. The bus stops in the Mapuche areas looked like they were constructed out of mud brick, and were most attractive.

We stayed by a lake in surrounds which could have been Australian, complete with gum trees, blue skies, red dust and rolling mist. It was so relaxed that nothing seemed to be a chore to do, even the dishes were completed with laughter and contentment. Indeed, Chilenos seem to be very laid back about certain things. For instance, people put up with noise from their neighbours without complaining, dirt isn't the horror of parents and people are more important than time.

We've been travelling a big learning curve for a week now. In many ways each day feels like a week on it's own. God has smoothed our first few days of transition in ways that we could never have imagined beforehand. We give him glory for his great faithfulness and love.