The Amazing Aventura of Grac(ie) en Los Estados: 30 horas en los zapatos

The World Vision event organized ICLAM's youth group GX was similar to 30 hour famine except we didn't fast.. nor was the event for children in Africa but rather for Chilean kids in poverty.We were supposed to experience being in poor people's shoes, while at the same time raising money for un hogar por niños con menos recursos. Although Chile is one of the most "developed" Latin American countries, the rate of poverty is still pretty high. Outside of Santiago there are still millions living in conditions that are cosidered "inadequete for a dignified life". Many can be fooled by the seemingly affluent urban landscape of Santiago, but the hard truth is that many are still making barely enough to suficiently provide the basics to their families.

A colegio en Peñalolen, a comuna on the outskirts of Santiago with a mix of rich and poor, acted as our homebase. From there we debriefed about the purpose of the event, had jammin worship, and prayed for the event, the churches in Chile, Chilean kids, and a bunch of other things. Although things apparently didn't go as planned (as they planned), God had His plan, and ultimately people were blessed.

We raised a total of 81,000 CLP doing all sorts of things such as playing/singing on the micros, selling used things, doing acrobatic tricks and juggling on street corners, taking blood pressure, selling a species of popsciles, washing windshields, etc. etc. Praise God!

Later, we went to another school to put on an event for the kids in the neighborhood. Although they expected more kids to come, the 40 some kids that did come had a blast playing games, pegging Emily with a waterballoon, watching the GX kids do "hi-ho" (hip-hop), eating a mountain of sweets, and watching our little skit ("you are special" by max lucado). The whole day was non-stop moving around so when we regrouped in homebase, everyone was already exhausted. We were supposed to bring friends, but unfortunately not a lot of friends were able to make it.. but the night was nevertheless sweet and beautiful. After a nice dinner of pasta and viensa-tomato sauce, we had more worship... Leah rockin' out on the drum set, Fernando on the keys, Felipe on the electric, David on the bass, and Gabby singing, and all of GX (for the most part) jumping up in down, moshing to the melodies of "El es el Rey" and "One Way" spanish version. My legs were already super sore running around catching micros and afirmaring myself on the micros while playing guitar, but somehow God energized me enough to participate for a little while in the moshing smoshing. We had more typical G-X games.. and after a night of rememberance of God's role in this world, in social injustice. The night ended at around 2 am.. and the boys and girls were separated in their little rooms. Of course the night was still young for them Chileans--the girls were chatting up until who knows when, and the boys were being boys. We slept on the hard ground as to try to experience sleeping like many poor people sleep, but la verdad es que I slept super well.. sleeping on a hard surface was quite nice (although I can't imagine sleeping on the ground everyday like so many people do). Perhaps it had to with the combination of fatigue and the indifference held to being dirty since I was already dirty. We all gradually fell asleep.

We woke up and packed our things together, cleaned the rooms we used and headed to church to finish off the 30 hours. Pastor Toñio spoke about el amor. A really touching and good message. I seriously love Pastor Toñio's messages. Not only is he gifted in preaching, he is a Chilean crazy for God. He has really been an encouragement and figure of influence here in Chile.

Apuntes (Pa ti, Grace M. Wu):
(Gal. 5:22)
1) ¿Qué es el Amor? (What is love?)
-Lo que no es es: Afición, Sexo, Enamoramiento, ni Romanticismo
(Love is NOT Affection, Sex, "falling in love", or romanticism)
a) el amor es dinámico:
- el amor busca cambiar a otro por lo mejor
- la natrualeza : es bella, pero también funciona, tiene un propósito.
- la creación muestra el amor de Dios.
- no está sentando esperando, sino está adelantando, fluyendo.
b) el amor es concreto:
- el amor actua; no es una idea, concepto, una palabra; sino tiene ojos, brazos, orejas, etc.
- amor sin frutos no sirve para nada.
- Juan 3:16
- cumplimiento de una promesa- eso es el amor de Dios, a pesar de lo que hemos hecho, Él todavía cumple su promesa a nosotros.
- ser capaz de tolerar; muchas veces una persona dice "no puedo amar a ella o él",pero eso significa que ella no entiende lo que es el amor. El amor es esforzar, es ser generoso, es ser un sacrificio, es lo que vemos en Jesus.
c) El Amor es constante
- Ex. 34
-Salmo 33
- todo las historia de Israel en el antiguo testamento lleva el mismo tema: que Dios es
constante a pesar de lo que había hecho Israel, a pesar de su desobedencía, su pecados, su rechazo de la palabra de Dios, su ignorancía, etc.
-El amor verdadero prevalece por todo, en cualquier situación
- The lack of forgiveness asphyxiates love.

-the parable of the prodigal son-