I feel more alive in this moment than I have for quite some time. You see, i came to La Serena and have done the normal thing of exploring the city, taking a tour or two of the surrounding countryside, going shopping at the commercial center, BUT today was the first time here in Chile when i really lived. After writing the last two blogs, I decided that I needed to do something. I went to the grocery store and bought enough food to make substantial lunches for 8 people. I also printed out pieces of paper that explain my purpose. I quoted Matt 15 where Jesus has compassion on the hungry and John 8 where Jesus says that if we continue in His Word we will find the truth and the Truth will set up free. I wrote to each persn who would receive the lunch that when I love them it is only with food, but when Christ loved them it was with His life. I went home and put together these bag lunches and headed out to the street. Two of the people I got to give lunches to were blind (a challenge I had not expected) So I explained what my note said to them before kissing them on the cheek and heading off. As much as I think i can live the life that the world tells us is right, I can´t. I can´t walk by these people on the streets begging for money after I have just read abouthte compassion Jesus had for the poor. For now, I am not planning to be a "missionary" anytime soon and in general, i don´t like that term. But I have realized that no matter what Job I have here in La Serena, I will continue to show love to those people Jesus loves.
I live near a long thin park called Parque Forestal. It's really quite a nice park and it has a long stretch of a lane for riding bikes or jogging. And since I have a fear of riding bikes in this city, I jog. It's really pleasent. I usually listen to radioDisney on my mp3 player and jog along to Jonas Brothers, Beyonce, or Julieta Venegas. Great stuff. Yesterday on my jog I noticed that the trees were beginning to change. Fall has finally arrived and I am glad for the change. But as I was jogging through the falling leaves, I began to think about how much I like fall. And I had this special moment when I realized that I want to be here in Santiago, jogging through this park for many falls to come. After the past few weeks of cultural adjustment being a little more painful than normal, this was a nice thought to have.
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