July 22, 2015 Linda Merrick

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We’ve been in Chile for a week and half now. I feel we are accomplishing our goals we have set for project. This Youth Corps project’s main focus was to connect the youth in different countries.  And we have done just that! There are many young people here in Chile, four from the U.S. and one from Australia. So far this experience here has been enlightening and exciting.  I’ve met so many new people and have had the opportunity to spend time with them and get to know them better. 

Right after we have arrived we went right to the church hall and each person we met greeted us with a kiss. We spent some time together while one of the young people painted the Good Works symbol on the wall of the parking garage. 

 

In the next few days we were able to explore a little bit of the city and carry-out our activities we planned for the youth in the church. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the activities and it allowed us all to get to know each other some.

One of the goals I personally had was to spend time with the brethren; to spend time with my spiritual family in another country.  It seems the people here want to incorporate this idea in their everyday life. Meals are big and spent around the table talking and laughing. Lunch is also the most important meal of the day and dinner is eaten later in the evening around 9 P.M. and sometimes 10. These are the times I’ve been able to really connect with people.

Part of this adventure has been trying to understand and communicate with a major language barrier. Many of the youth knows at least a little bit of English. Those who know enough to communicate some have tried to accommodate for those of us who speak English. It has been great for those who speak English because they can practice.  And for me it has been great in those moments I’m surrounded by everyone only speaking Spanish. I’ve been so immersed and have learned new words, especially the words of the Chilean dialect.

On the Sabbath right before we left for Chile, those of us in Cincinnati heard a very important message from Mr. McCrady about our faithfulness to God, His faithfulness to us, and that we cannot have faith without works. I think we were meant to hear this sermon right before going to Chile. We are all doing a good work here. Not just those of us from another country but those here as well.

James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.