I made it to Chile!

After a week of training in Colorado, I flew with my 6 other teammates to Santiago, Chile. It was a long flight, but we were thankful to make it safely, and with all our luggage too! Doug Holm, the national director of Campus Crusade in Chile, met us at the airport to take us to our new homes. Since all of my teammates are married, I’m living with 3 other girls that are also on STINT, but have been here since January. They are a all a blessing, and I’m looking forward to spending the year together. The photo to the left is of my team- Vince and Holly Hoppe, Clint and Maggie Coyan (the leaders), Jason and Kristi Atkinson, and me.

Last week we started taking Spanish classes at a language school, which we will continue for three weeks. One thing I’m learning is that language learning is ministry and ministry is language learning. Sometimes it feels like I’m not doing anything by only learning Spanish all day, but it is so essential that we can communicate with the Chileans in their heart language, and it means a lot to them that we’re trying. I’ve also been building relationships with some of the other students in language school who are from all over the world and looking for doors for spiritual conversations with them.

My team will be working to reach students on a street called Republica, where there are several private college campuses. We’ve gone there a few times this week to have prayer walks and to ‘decode’ the campus– figure out what the students are like, where they hang out, what some issues on campus are, etc. We’ll be starting an English club there this week.
I’ve been praying a lot that the Lord would break my heart for these students and help me to see and love them as He does. It’s incredible to think about that each one of them has a story and that they are precious to God. That completely changes how I see these students. I’m eager to begin building relationships with them and sharing the love of Christ with them.


Chile Facts
September 18 is Chile’s day of independence. Chilean’s are very patriotic and celebrate for about a week by eating traditional foods like empanadas and having BBQ’s (asados). They dance the national dance, the cueca, and drink chicha, the national drink, as well as dressing in traditional clothing. Viva Chile!

Legacy
This was the theme of our training time in Colorado. It was such an amazing week of being in the beauty of God’s creation in the mountains with 400 other people who are going to the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. For me, it was a time of really being able to connect with the Lord and having him prepare my heart to go serve Him for the year.
I also realized the importance of my team and how I need them. It’s amazing to me that God has called us to be co-laborers with him in the gospel. Whether we sow seeds or have the privilege of reaping a harvest, we are serving with him. We may not see any ‘results’ in Chile for 100 years, but we are being faithful to what God has called us to do now and leaving a legacy here. The results are in his hands, and we know He is doing a mighty work here in Chile.


Prayer Requests
· Unity among our team and with my roommates
· That we could learn Spanish quickly
· For the English clubs- that we could build relationships with the students that come and share
with them.
· Wisdom for how to share Christ with the students– that it would not just come across as
religion, but as something relevant and real
· For God to show us students who will be leaders in this movement– we truly want it to be a
Chilean, and not an American, ministry

My roommates: Carla, Esther, me, and Adriana

My Chilean address...
Carlos Antunez 1867
Edif. 18 Depto. 1007
Providencia
Santiago, Chile

Staff Account Number: 0585600 Phone: 011-562-236-2434 julieanne77@yahoo.com

Thank you all so much for partnering with me in reaching students for Christ in Chile- I appreciate you all so much!