N°9, May 2007

Easter

We have spent our first Easter in Iquique (we were in the UK last year). As well as familiar church activities, there were some new experiences. Chris went to the Vía Crucis (“the way of the cross”) at the Catholic Cathedral – a similar event is held in most Catholic churches – with an impressive candlelit procession of 600-800 people around the centre of Iquique (see photo below), regularly stopping at points where local people had set up small altars, where reflections were delivered.

Another novelty here – one that the children have so far stopped us from experiencing first-hand – is the Easter weekend pilgrimage up the 800m escarpment behind the city. One for another year!

A highlight for Ali was her Maundy Thursday Service in which members of the congregation washed each others hands – children washing the hands of adults, and young people those of children.

Struggles

Things have been hard going since our last newsletter – over and above the ever-present struggles of language and culture!

Work for both of us has been tough and at times frustrating – though Chris’s new team in his project is now at long last just about complete and functioning, and Ali is beginning to demonstrate to her church the importance of shared leadership. We have found it difficult adjusting to the extra demands of both of us working (whilst not wanting to leave the children in nursery for more than half a day each day).

We may yet have to adjust things a bit so we can thrive and not just survive!  

Luke

I am going to be 4 in July, and am already talking about my party. I still really enjoy my nursery (especially sport and dancing) and my teacher says that my Spanish is better than some of my Chilean friends, although at home I am still mixing up my English and Spanish a bit. I like painting with mummy and cooking with daddy. I like going to church on a Sunday because there are drums and lots of music.

Bethan

...is now 9 months old, has two teeth, is pulling herself up on her feet (though not quite crawling), waving, and seems to have an almost permanent smile! She appears to enjoy nursery in the afternoons, and all the attention that Luke heaps on her (even when we think he might be overdoing it…). She has an enormous appetite, and we are blaming that for her failure to be sleeping through the night (yawn).

Other news

Since our last newsletter…

► Chris has celebrated his 40th birthday (the less said about that the better…)

► We have enjoyed a week’s visit from Emma (ex-Kopanang) and Dan.

► Chris is not managing to do much music at present – just a bit of bass guitar (of all things) at our church – but he is in the process of re-launching the group of singers he got together last year.

► We are in autumn, but everything seems colder than last year – min. 5°C, max. 21°C. Some experts are attributing this to a coming “La niña” weather phenomenon (the effects of a cooler Pacific Ocean, basically).

► We will be in the UK for 3 months, probably in early 2008, to report back to the Methodist Church as a whole and to various supporting churches, as well as having a holiday. It will no doubt be impossible to visit everyone we would like to, but we will certainly let you all know when our plans are clearer.

► STOP PRESS! Chris’s project has at long last just received the first part of its main funding for 2007 from the Chilean Government – due to have been received originally in December 2006. A definite cause for celebration and much relief.

Thoughts and prayers….

We hope there is plenty of information in this newsletter to help you focus on some of our concerns about Chile, its people, and our life and work here. Your continued support by prayer, email, and letter is much appreciated. A special thank you to all of you who sent greetings to us at Easter time.

Photos

We regularly post new photos on our flickr pages:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyes_chile