Hello to all of you back in the States! . I am finally having a bit of time to send an update of my time here in Pichilemu, Chile in the discipleship Training school. This is kind of a long blog but haven't had the time to let you all know what has been going on.When I last wrote, I was just leaving for almost a week in Santiago for an event called Cono Sur, and was a time of worship, learning and fellowship. The photo above is the sad little tent I shared with 2 others...it served its purpose. The other pics are from a costume party we had last Sat. for one of the girls 19th birthday. There are 22 of is in my school, ages range from 18 to a couple in their later 50's. mid 50's. It certainly is a school of discipleship training, in many areas. Our schedule is very full with classes, intercession, outreach, homework, church, and many other things. One aspect of the school is that you have to learn to live in Community. I live with 15 other women in 3 rooms but our school is co-ed....You have to learn to deal with conflict, develop more patience, confront in love, etc...It really does form you, so to speak. It was hard for me at first to be on such a disciplined schedule but its easier now. I know this time is to grow in my personal character and in knowing God.
On Saturdays, 1/2 of our school works with children in an event called,"Super Saturday" Its just a time to share the love of Jesus with them, and they all rotate to 4 different activities. There were about 50 of them last Saturday!!! The other 1/2 of the school works preparing and cleaning up all the meals for the base for the day. There are about 80 of us right now.
I have class every day and we have been learning sooo much. I've been here just 1 month now and there are some of the topics we've been studying:
Intercession
Biblical examples & importance of Discipleship
Spiritual warfare
Evangelism
Brokenness
Fear of God
How to study the Bible
Repentance
Obedience
Holiness
Moral Purity
Praise and Worship
WOW eh? The KEY thing is that its not just to gain knowledge about these things, but asking God to reveal things in our character where we know He wants to transform us...This is the main goal of this time.
Through the classes, we are also being challenged on things we have believed, why we place value on certain things such as education, status etc....
We are also learning different dramas & dances for our outreaches, and although as most of you all know I'm an athlete, but have found that I'm quite challenged in learning and remembering these dances...ugh! Its quite the challenge for me actually......and I have to say that if I had the choice, I would "pass".
Days are warm here but the wind is almost always blowing so it doesn't get very hot. Our classroom is cold so we wear our jeans and jackets for school. Accomodations are comfortable...For example: I don't feel the wood slats through my mattress, we just got the hot water fixed, we have toilet seats.....and we get served a variety of food! We have a view of the ocean from a few places, and tall pine trees too!
I know so many of you are praying for me....please continue to do so. Pray that God would open the eyes of my heart to really KNOW Him, and His amazing love for me..for us.... not as knowledge in my head but in my being, open to Him and His ways. Also pray for my continued learning of Spanish.
I miss so many of you....thanks!
Holly
