New plans...

Change of plans….

Last night was a really interesting experience interpreting for the Friday night church service…. It was one of those nights where everything was going wrong with worship and lots of technical difficulties and everyone up front knew it, but we faked it and smiled and stalled so no one in the audience knew. Gotta love those moments. Everything went well with interpreting, it’s all calm and quiet and everyone is listening and the speaker pauses to let me interpret… but then come the announcements which is always chaos. Whoever has an announcement to make for their school or ministry stands up and yells it out, and I have to interpret them from up front… which makes it a little difficult when everyone is laughing and clapping at what they said in Spanish, and when I interpret no one can hear and all the English speakers and straining their necks to read my lips. It’s chaos, and I can barely hear sometimes. Which makes for some interesting interpreting. Like when one girl stands up and announces she cuts hair (“corte de cabello”) and cracks a joke so everyone who understands Spanish is laughing, but I can’t hear her finish and I interpret that she is going horseback riding (“andar de caballo”) and the bilingual people who hear me start cracking up and it’s even more chaos. Or like when everyone is tired of standing up and sitting down, and someone starts praying for the offering, and they say something like “I know you’ve gotten your exercise for the night, but let’s stand up again to pray” (exercise = “ejercicio”), but I am trying to fix my broken microphone and think she’s praying and getting all spiritual and passionate, and I say all passionately “Ohhh yes Jesus we exalt your name” (the words for exercise and exalt sound similar) and Lindsey starts cracking up in the front row and so I lose my concentration even more… good times. My vote is that we make a newsletter or something for the announcements. Please.

Ok so two weeks left of this school, which is CRAZY. I have loved living here during this school way more than during the DTS, I think because I am used to how things work here, the things that were weird and hard for me before (like their lame washing machines that don’t really wash your clothes, or eating the same thing every week over and over, or the strict schedule), and my Spanish is better, and I love my leaders this school (didn’t really connect with my DTS leaders as much). This time has been so much revelation, so much healing, so many promises from the Lord… He has really revealed Himself to me in new ways and I feel closer to Him than ever. Having His Word as the guide and the foundation to everything in my life and the final say on all my decisions, big and small, has really changed the way I think and my priorities.

Something else new is… I’m going to Bolivia! After a LOT of prayer and even fasting, I decided to finally listen to what I knew God was telling me a while ago, and I am going on the outreach with my school from January to mid-March to Bolivia. I LOVE my team, I am really excited to go to Bolivia and work in the home for abused children there, and with the YWAM base in Santa Cruz, I’m excited to see the next step of this process and I know it’s not over yet. Yes, I am coming home for Christmas for 2-3 weeks (Dec. 15^th-end of Jan.)… but no, it’s not over yet. It’s been the most amazing time of my life here, in friendships, in learning Spanish, in investing in the base and the kids here, in discovering so much more of who I really am, who my God really is, what He’s done for me and who I am in Him. The last thing I was to do is cut this process short because it wasn’t in MY plans to go on the outreach. Isaiah 42:6-7 were the verses that really sealed the deal for me… “I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” This verse is not just for the outreach but for my life! When we have the truth and light of who God is and the freedom we have in Him, when we are healed and whole, we can bring this freedom, light and healing to others and restore relationships, families, cultures and nations. I believe that, and I want to fulfill my part in that calling.

Please pray for me to finish strong, to keep focused and not be homesick (I CANNOT listen to Christmas music here yet or I wont make it!), to soak in everything God has to teach me now (it’s not over yet!), for finances, health and travel in preparing for the outreach (for every team and every student and leader). Also pray for all the couples here who are getting married in the next two months (there’s 4 in my school, and my friend Maia is marrying her Brazilian love Beto in two weeks – crazy).

Thanks for your support and prayers!

Anyone feeling generous?

My friend Daniela Vargas wants to go on the outreach to Bolivia with our school, but she cant afford to go. God used her in huge ways, she has a powerful worship ministry and a servant's heart, but she needs help to go. If anyone prays about this and feels led to give some to help her go on a two month outreach to Bolivia, which will minister to street kids, work in orphanages, help raise up a new YWAM base, and evangelism, let me know ASAP. She needs to start paying this week for the outreach, and she is praying and fasting to rely completely on the Lord to provide for her if He wants her to go, the cost is $500. Let me know TODAY by emailing me at jharper0921@gmail.com, thank you for praying about investing in extending God's kingdom!

Hailing?

So it's hailing today, which is really weird since it's been really sunny... but thats okay it's kind of an interesting change. What's up, Pichilemu? I don't get you and your weather pattern bipolarity. Get it together.

Anyways, after a long weekend of writing a 10 page research paper on purity in the Bible (which I wrote 100% in Spanish, I must proudly add!), we have begun a new week studying spiritual gifts and ministries. I love learning about these because you really get to know yourself better, your strengths and weaknesses, how God can use you, what to avoid in using your gifts, and you can also explore and understand other people much better when you study their gifts and how they are different from yours. I am finding I have gifts in the areas of teaching, encouragement, mercy, leadership and creativity... my weaknesses would be in areas of service, perseverance, follow-through and plain old hard work. I always thought I was a hard worker when I apply myself, but seeing how some of the people here have worked so hard and dedicated so many years of their lives to difficult and time-consuming projects and ministries puts me to shame. I've loved working with the kids here and doing Sunday School, which has been interesting teaching it in Spanish with few resources, but God meets us where we're at and its been a great time. I love learning all the old Sunday School songs from my childhood in Spanish, even some old Barney songs thrown in there... good to know! Gotta love it.

Last week studying what the Bible says about money was also very eye-opening! The Bible mentions money over 2,800 times (salvation: 300; prayer: 500), so it's obviously something that matters to God. It's a necessity in our world, so we can't ignore it and treat it like something "secular." How can we truly glorify God with our finances, not only by tithing and giving to missions and the church, but also by trusting His provision for EVERYTHING?? Our American culture of individualism, self-made-man, I-earned-it-so-it's-mine mentality really does undermine our ability to recognize that EVERYTHING, even just the ability and health to work, and the opportunity of a job, comes from the hand of God. He provides everything. We do nothing on our own and we achieve nothing on our own. Tithing is one way of demonstrating this in obedience to God, but also being wise stewards and seeing our money as God's money is a way to glorify Him with every penny. It's a touchy subject; money is viewed as something very personal in our culture, and its especially a touchy subject here because sometimes it feels like you can divide the rich from the poor on the base by the color of their hair and eyes. But its something very applicable and practical we can learn in glorifying God, and He sees the heart, not the color of our hair or the amount in our bank account, and thats what really matters. Learning that there is healing God wants to do in the financial area of our lives is freeing - our imprudence and selfishness, cultural view of money, sin, ties to debts, love of money, greed, poverty and needs have left us wounded in this area, but the truths of His word bring healing when we put them into practice: by tithing, trusting in God for everything, being generous, recognizing His sovereignty, and being obedient in every little detail. It's definitely something I am still learning but it's been a good couple of weeks studying this subject!

The difference between living in grace and in the law is also something that God has been bringing to my heart lately - the extremes between living legalistically and following every rule but not knowing God Himself or His grace, and the extreme of living in grace and using your liberty as a cover for sin ("I can sin now, God will forgive me anyways"). Truly understanding this grace and walking in it, with wise limits set by His truth and Word, is life-changing.

Hmm what else is going on here... I am having issues with my neighbor's puppy, whose name is Dominico, because one of my leaders is named Dionicio... imagine the mayhem when Dominico tries to follow me to church and gets his head stuck in the fence and starts freaking out right when I go to say hi to Dionicio... am I to blame if I sometimes say "Dionicio, stop being so stupid and get your head out of the fence you idiot!"... or "Thanks for the great sermon Dominico" ?? I really dont think I should be held responsible, but the confusion has been considerable. Really this puppy follows me everywhere, he's like my little shadow. It is kind of funny cause I will talk to him in Spanish and he will listen to me and obey me, but when I speak English he pretends like he doesn't hear me... I swear! He knows where he's from. Or maybe he's an egocentric racist English-hating puppy. Still not quite sure.

Alright off to do some more work, there's always something...

Prayer requests/praise:

-Guidance for the future - I am praying if I am going to come back to do the outreach from January - March with the school. I feel led to do it (Isaiah 42:6-7) - keep praying for guidance and clarity for me!

-For the counseling of the high schoolers here, it's been a challenge to get it up and running...

-For finances of the school - many students cant pay for the outreach, for God to send the finances they need to go bless the nations we will be sent to...

-The base might start building an elementary school soon for the kids and neighbors of the base, which is really necessary since the schools here are pretty shabby. We prayed over the land as a school and now the owner might donate it to us instead of selling it to us! Right on.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Prov. 4:23

March for Jesus

In the high school with some of the girls...

After an honest talk about eating disorders and sexuality.... with a Biblical perspective! We could NEVER get away with this in public schools in America!

The entire counseling school.. my family for these 3 months

With Daniela

Juliette, the base director, and her daughter Katrina.

Mitch, the base director, praying in front of the government building to bless Pichilemu

The flamethrowing was actually pretty cool, and no one burned their face off!!

Emily holding her cute little sign. Doesnt she look excited? Contain yourself girl!

Teresa and Javier

A few of the Brazilians

Flower Power

This weekend we had a big march with the entire base to "reclaim Pichilemu for Jesus", which was super entertaining and fun and a little big ridiculous. We all dressed up in bright colors, painted our faces with our country's colors, wrapped ourselves in our flags and marched around singing, dancing, chanting, flame-throwing, drum-beating and did dramas all around Pichilemu. Ahhh good times. Babies, grandpas, leaders, students, dogs... EVERYONE in the base marched around the whole little city and it was so entertaining to see the looks on the peoples' faces as we went by. Classic.

GOOD NEWS!

The school program was amazing, the kids were super receptive and involved, we got to give each class of freshmen and seniors a teaching on drug prevention, eating disorders and sexuality (from a very Christian perspective!) and we even got to give a gospel message at the end which was unexpected but amazing. Over 30 kids requested personal counseling from us, which we will start this week, and the school principal invited us to come give the sophomores and juniors the teachings also! We might even start a Christian club on campus, which would be so cool. God opened up doors beyond what we even imagined! Keep praying they will be open to receive Christ as well as counseling, that's the end goal.

Pray:

-for friendships and communication in leadership (we are all being tested in this area since that's what we are working on in the school - communication and leadership skills - and of course so many little conflicts and problems are breaking out in these areas!)

-health (I am getting better but always a little sick - my body just doesnt like all the changes in climate here)

-guidance - for the future, for clarity, for purpose, for making future plans!!

Thank you!!! Love you all!!