verde

So, we went to Mendoza. :) I loved Argentina. I could have stayed a lot longer...I could live there.

Even though Chile and Argentina share a border, they are so completely different. The culture in Argentina is different. The people are different. The Argentinian spanish is different. They speak so much slower and clearer, which was such a nice break from the in-a-rush-Chilean Spanish (Which is ironic because Chileans don't ever do anything in a hurry. They only rush two things: their language and the way they drive...they drive like maniacs down here).

We had a great time. Here's a visual of our trip...

The drive there...

The second day that were there was the first day of primavera (spring). Can you see the blossoms?

We did a bike tour of the Bodega wineries and vineyards in the Mendoza Valley. A wine tour on bikes? I know, I know, we're such tourists.

Ok, I just gotta say, since being here, I've gotten used to weird looks from people. Being a gringa attracts a lot of attention, and my blonde hair and my pale skin don't help. Rosa calls me "muy blanca" (very white) and "super rubia" (super blonde). I just laugh. But, I just don't even care that people know I'm a foreigner. There just comes a point where you just want to say, "Yea, I'm a gringa. What's new?"

Anyway, being total tourists on our bikes through the vineyards was so worth it. And really hysterical. You just feel like a kid again when you ride bikes...especially when they have baskets on the front.

In this one, we went to a chocolatería, we tried gourmet chocolates, olive oils, liqueurs, and marmalades. mmmmm...

Ziplining over the Mendoza river. It was an absolutely amazing view of the mountains.

And, the weather was gorgeous...

I love the mountains.

Las termas Cacheuta (hotsprings)

It was an awesome trip. And, I came back with a little bit of a tan. So, I wasn't as white. But, that didn't last long.

On the way home, we had the seats in the front of the bus on the second floor, and it was so beautiful driving through the mountains.

................................

Well, Argentina was a few weeks ago, but this weekend, we went to Pablo Neruda's house in Isla Negra in the town of El Quisco. His house is situated right on the ocean. As usual, everything he owned is eccentrically cool, and I was so jealous of the view he had from his bedroom. 

Coffee in the little village by the ocean...

Enjoying the view...

..............

So, I loved Argentina, but I am glad to be back in this skinny country by the ocean, with its crazy drivers and slang spanish. I love my home here for so many reasons...

Here is the finished product of the newest mural down my hill...I love sunflowers.

Walking early the other morning, I wanted to buy all of these flowers...

Today, I studied in this little café down my hill called Café del Jardín...(Jardín--garden)...




Love from Chile in the spring where everything is blooming,
the blonde gringa.
(Ok, humor me and close you eyes and click here.)

remembering

It's cool see how God works things out sometimes. It never ceases to amaze me, and I'm left in awe of His prevenient grace...

Before I came to Chile, I contacted Campus Crusade and asked them if Crusade had a location in Valparaíso, Chile.  I was put in contact with a missionary named Lisa, and she put me in contact with a Chilean student here named, Felipe. Since I've been here, I have been helping Felipe with a small bible study group of new believers, and it has been so cool, so humbling and such a blessing to be a part of this ministry. The Crusade program here in Valparaìso is very small and informal. It´s not a large program. Felipe pretty much heads it up with a few more university students in Santiago. He comes once a week to Valparaìso for small group study of which I´ve been able to be a part of.

Felipe's passion for Christ is infectious, and it is awesome to hear his testimony of what God has done in his life. Before becoming a Christian, he was agnostic. He became a Christian when he heard the gospel from a group of Campus Crusade university students from the States came for a summer missions project in Chile. (<<When Felipe told me that was how he heard the gospel and was saved, it made me think of the Crusade mission team that I went with to Bolivia and all the awesome things God did there.) It´s really awesome to see how God has changed his life so much in only two years.

I went to Santiago last weekend to see the ministry of Felipe's church there. It was so amazing. We went to a church in the outskirts of Santiago for a baptism ceremony with which Felipe was helping the pastor of his church. The church is under construction, and the plan, in addition to being a sister church, is to also have a small private school.

I was humbled by the thankful praise and tears of joy of the 3 people that were baptized. I was reminded of how great God is. And, I was reminded of the sweetness of my own salvation and how often I take it for granted.

I stayed with some church members and close friends of Felipe. It is a mother, Isabel, her son, Christian and his wife, Pame. They are the warmest, loving and genuine people. I felt like I was staying with family. I sat with them in their living room and we talked about life and shared our testimonies. I felt such a peace in their home, and I felt like I could hug Isabel like she was my mom.

Sunday, we went to the church where Felipe, Isabel, Christian and Pame go. I was washed over with the scripture. And, I was thankful to be in a room full of believers praising God. It is a wonderful body of believers there and a Christ-centered and scripture-based church.

I also saw a lot of Santiago too...

Cerro Santa Lucia

At Cerro San Cristobal

Such an awesome weekend.  I am so thankful.
..............

On my way home from class yesterday, I just kept thinking...


I don't want to forget. I never want to forget. Sometimes, I see things, and they're just so sweet that it doesn't seem fair that I'm the only one that gets to see them. I wish I could hold them in my hand and roll them onto a canvas with all the original colors so that everyone could see. I try to make the pictures stick in my mind. But, when I blink the moment that I was watching is gone, and all I have left is the memory. So, I try to memorize it like I might be tested on it. But, when I'm walking or watching through the window of the bus, and I see hands holding, sun setting, smoke rings, carts full bursting with fruit, arms loaded with little round rolls from the panaderia, strings strumming, or when I feel the cold pacific air brushing my face, I don't want to forget.

Little bits of my day...

I get to walk by this new painting everyday now...

 

When I walk by a panaderia, I try to savor the warm bakery smell as long as I can. 

I bought a 1/2 kilo of strawberries for Rosa because I could smell the sweetness when I walked past. We ate them for dessert, and they were soo sweet. :)

..............

I'm in love with this Chilean folk lore artist named Pascuala Ilibaca. She is actually originally from Valparaíso. She came last week and performed at the Teatro Municipal in Valpo, and a bunch of us went to her concert. Here is one of my favorite songs by her, and this video was filmed in Valpo not far from where I live.

Pascuala Ilibaca: ¡Ay mamita mamita!

my songs that walk with me this week...

"Only a Man" by Jonny Lang 

"Little Lies" Dave Barnes

"Forgetting" David Gray

"We Could Fall In Love Again Tonight" David Gray

My eyelids are so heavy. un besito, buenas noches, mi amor.

love,

sophie

quiet moments

A couple of weeks ago, after a long ride in the car from La Serena, I went for a walk to get some fresh air. I was feeling lost, distracted and zoned out. Sometimes, I hate to admit it, but I felt like I didn't even have energy to praise God. As soon as I quit denying that that was truly how I felt, and I just laid it out there for Him. I felt this wave of peace and relief. I felt my senses come to me again, and although I still felt tired, I just kept walking without any direction. I just wandered up and down the streets in my cerro with my arms hugging my chest, not really thinking any definite thoughts. Just being in His peace. The words of this song 'your love is deeper than any ocean, higher than the heavens...' (Jesus Lord of Heaven by Phil Wickham) kept running through my head. I don't really know why that song, but when I hear it, it reminds me that when I'm too tired, sinful, lame, hypocritical, lazy, exhausted, faithless that God is my strength, my faith, He's already forgiven me, and He loves me.

By the way, it's spring. :) There's wisteria everywhere...

 And things growing over the walls...

The day before we left for Mendoza, I went for a run. Without really knowing how far I wanted to go, I just kept going. My steps just kept going, and my legs loved not stopping. So, I didn't. I ran by the ocean the whole way, and I loved that I never ran out of blue ocean. 10 miles later, I headed back up my hill to my little casa. Later that day, I walked back to the ocean and stood on the rocks. I stood there hugging my chest, and I listened to this song. I felt like He was holding me, and I was just so in love. "You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham

Chao for now. :) 

CHI-CHI-CHI-LE-LE-LE

Free moments have been few and far between lately. Finally, a chance to sit down and write. I have lots to catch up on...

The 18th of September was Chile's independence day, and it was really cool to be here for that. They go all out for their independence day, that's for sure. The holiday lasts for 4 days, and they're jam packed with celebrations.

Sara, Desiree and I went my family's family's house in Quilpue.(haha, is there a better way to say that? As my Spanish gets better, my English gets worse.) Quilpue is only about a 30 minute drive from Valparaíso. We spent the whole day eating empanadas, carne (meat), drinking wine, and I tried chicha for the first time. It is an alcohol made from apples. It tastes like apple cider. :)

Here's a pic of the empanadas. They made them outside in a brick oven. I can't describe how amazing they smelled. And tasted even better. Have you ever seen so many on one tray? Oh, and that is Cladio's sweet mom in the green shirt. I love here. She has one of those personalities that you're just drawn to. You can't help but like her.

Mmm, I will miss empanadas from Chile...

Claudio and Christian cooking the meat...

We played games all afternoon. It was so fun to see everyone having such a great time. And, it's pretty hilarious to watch grown men play musical chairs. Yea, you can imagine how that went. It resulted in 3 or 4 pretty spectacular falls and 2 broken chairs.

 Crazy Chilean men playing musical chairs...











Jump rope...

Tug of war...

And how it ended....

And, then we played this game where we had to stick our faces in bowls of water and flour. Don't ask me. It's hard to explain. There was balancing of lemons on spoons involved also.

Sara, Dez and I sticking our faces in bowls...













Afterward...

We won prizes too! I won a lemon squeezer, in case you were wondering.

For dieciocho (the 18th), there are also fondas (fairs) that you can go to. We went to 2 fondas with a group of intercambios (exchange students) where there are all the typical Chilean food and drinks like, chicha, pisco, terremotos, empanadas, churros (kind of like a beignet), choripan (like a hotdog, but real GOOD sausage). And, lots of dancing too!

Sara and I buying our chichas and terromotos...













Well, even though I have so much more to say, I will just have to stick with 'chao' for now. I guess I'll update about our trip to Argentina another time. ;)

Until then, CHI-CHI-CHI-LE-LE-LE!!!!

love,
Sophie

angelitos y pájaros

Geez, so much has been going on--I don't even know where to begin...

This week, I've been at the beach in La Serena, a few hours north of Valparaíso. I am with my buddies, Desiree and Sara and Desiree's padres Chileno, Eduardo and Delia. They graciously invited us to travel to La Serena with them. We are so grateful, and we love the sun, the ocean, the salty air, the history, the mountains, tasting pisco in Valle Elqui, and all the food we've been cooking in the little kitchen of our cabin. Sweet time...

La ciudad de La Serena.

Valle Elqui, where we toured the Mistral Pisco plant. (Pisco is an alcohol made from grapes that is fermented then fired. It's as much a part of Chilean culture as wine.)










On the way to Valle Elqui...

Restaurant in the Mistral pisco plant...

The cellar at Pisquera Mistral.

 Our piscos at the outside bar that faces the mountains. Spec-tac-u-lar.

 Who needs a roof, when the sun can kiss you through these?

















One of the beautiful iglesias (churches) in La Serena...

Desiree and I squished in the front of a micro on our way back to the cabin...

 So happy with my pepper at the supermarket. We've been cooking all week.









Café by the ocean this morning...

Great friends...

................................

I can only recap the past couple of weeks in little snapshots of moments...

One moment, while sitting in the living room en mi casa for Claudio's birthday, I was thankful for the laughter all around me.

One moment, while standing on the Roca Oceanica in Concón, I loved the ocean and how it reminded me of even how much bigger God is.

         

Roca Oceanica

 

One moment, I felt a rush when I tried my luck at sandboarding on the dunes in Concón. 

Some moments, I feel far away, some moments I miss home, and sometimes I am already missing my home here in Chile. But, from here in La Serena I'm loving this Serene city by the ocean and looking forward to my little home in Cerro Alegre where the walls are painted and the hills are steep. 

(Cerro Alegre)

Oh, little side note, I am in love with the Chilean artist/singer/talented-at-everthing/legend, Violeta Parra. When I walk through Cerro Alegre, I think of her, and her songs run through my head. This song has a sad meaning, but it captivates my listening ears. And, when my mind is whirling to keep up with Chilean Spanish, I listen to this song: Violeta Parra: Rin del Angelito. And, I remember that I love this language, and I sing along and dance my fingers on the painted walls when I pass by.