Made it to houston

We are finally home. We should have pictures this week and info to the group and need to start getting commitments soon so we know how many we have for the trip. Thanks for all the prayers!!
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The cat's out of the bag

We arrived safely in atlanta. The "whole row" concept worked flawlessly. this is a good thing to remember for future flights! We both slept well for quite a bit of the flight. It was freezing again, so I wore my fleece jacket throughout and was fine.

After the tiny breakfast on the plane, we got off the plane. After a long wait at passport control, we breezed through customs (the joy of not having any checked luggage-clearly not an option for the mission trip however).

In Atlanta, you then have to go back through a security check to get to your next gate. A guard waved us to the last line which was short. We were standing there with our bags ready to go. through the machine when we heard a piercing scream. We looked through the screening area in our line and a man and a woman were struggling on the ground. Our immediate thought was that there was a huge incident with a damaged bag or that someone was just generally freaking out.

Well, it was none of those - it was WAY better. A couple had brought their cat with them on the trip to the US. For those that don't know, you have to take the cat out of the carrier and hand carry through the machine while the bag goes through the xray (apparently not a good idea for Fluffy to get exposed to xrays!). Well, apparently the cat (let's call him Diablo) had enough with being in a stuffy bag for who knows how many hours and wasn't having any part of going back in.

Dude and girl were struggling to put Diablo back in. The scream (multiple and repeated at great volume) was from dude because Diablo was clawing and scratching the mess out of him.

After much struggle and screaming (and probably cursing) and one time where I thought the cat was free and ready to continue its (short) reign of terror on the greater atlanta airport area, they got it back in.

Not a picture of the real Diablo, but a good approximation - equally as scary. We didn't think that either the TSA security nor the people would appreciate their picture being taken - besides, we were so shocked....

Dude was bleeded from multiple Diablo wounds and blood was on the floor. So, they shut the security line down and had us move to the next one over (which, to the TSAjs credit they opened immediately). This allowed us to observe the ongoing saga.

Dude (and girl-she had some collateral damage as well) were cleaning their wounds. The couple were speaking Hebrew according to Tito, so we didn't know what they were saying during the fight. However, after research, Tito and I have pieced the coversation together for your enjoyment:

Diablo: screw you guys, I'm not getting into that stinky bag again. Here, see how you like this (chomp)

Dude: Ow! Your stupid cat bit me! Control him, woman, and get the foul feline back in the bag where it belongs.

Girl: come on snookums-get in the bag for mommy.

Diablo: snookums, huh? My real mommy wouldn't make me get in the bag. I didn't want to come on the trip anyway. Here's a little bite and scratch for both of your this time (chomp and slash)

Dude: (screams like a little girl). If you don't help me get this cat in the bag, I will strangle it right here in front of all of these witnesses. I told you not to bring the cat in the first place!

Girl: let's argue later - just get the cat in the bag.

Dude: (screaming uncontrollably by this time) I have shoved your stupid cat into the bag. I should have zipped his tail in there like I wanted. It would have served him right. Once I get the blood off of me, you are on your own. (To the tsa agent). Do you have any bactine? Or some guaze? Maybe some morphine? (Stalks off angrily)

Well, there you have it. A first hand account (cut me some slack-we have been travelling for a long time and my mind is a little warped).

Dude did stalk off and leave the girl with the cat after he wiped himself free of blood. Tito and I think that the cat is toast as soon as they get to their destination.

We had no further incidents and are on the plane to houston.

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Planes, trains and automobiles........and subways

We are sitting on the plane in santiago waiting for takeoff. We made it safely yo santiago on the train, albeit with quite a bit of noise on the train-a lot of families.

Lots of mountains in Chile. This is the best shot of one I could get from the train.

We arrived at the train station and took the subway to a bus station. We didn't even know that Santiago had a subway! It was quick and clean and no problem. At the subway stop, we caught a bus to the airport with no problem.

The airport checkin was quick with no problems. Security was quick as well.

For those that won't get enough shopping during the trip, there we're plenty of shopping of options in the terminal after going through to the gates. For those that are missing home, they even had a starbucks (for Danielle) and a dunkin donuts!

Tito went to the counter right before we were to board and asked how full the flight was and it is abou 50 percent full. So, he asked if we could get each get one of the empty rows so we could stretch out. The agent did and said he blocked the other seats so no one could sit next to us. Here's hoping that he did!!

One last annoying item: after you give them your boarding card and head down the jetway, THEN they go through your carry on luggage and check for items. And, apparently depending on the person, take your water away!! I had just bought two bottles of (expensive) water and the guy confiscated them. However, the gal didn't take Titos. Very annoying.

Well, another 10 hours and we'll be in Atlanta if all goes well.

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The long and winding road

We have started our long journey back to Houston. We had a very productive morning and the University.

We had breakfast at the cafeteria in the university (bringing back memories of academy and college-not all pleasant....). We then met Elena in her office and discussed the transportation options. She had great ideas and put calls into a few providers. I emailed her (from an office there) exactly what we needed and what dates. She already sent to the provider before we left.

The beautiful University of Chile campus

We also discussed excursion options. We think we know what we will do, but we need to get pricing, which she is doing as we speak. We think everyone will be happy with the location.

We then got a tour of the campus and spent some time with the pastor.

We had to leave to catch the train in Chillan, so the pastor took us into town. We stoped by a supermarket to get food for the train and then stopped by the artisan market to look at that. Time permitting, we will stop there to do some shopping in March.

We now have 4.5 hours on the train and then a wait for the plane.

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Chilling in Chillan

We arrived in chillan and were greeted by Magdiel's parents, Juan and Elena. They were as nice as could be. They had just arrived from driving for 22 hours (!!) straight from Argentina!!! And they came to pick us up!

They took us to the university and showed us around. They then brought us toshere we are staying, a guest house. This place is awesome-better than a hotel. Unbeknown to us, they had been to the store before and proceeded to bring food into the house for us to eat tonight. We couldn't believe it.

Living room in the guest house

We talked about what we had accomplished and what we needed to do. They wanted to know what time we wanted to meet tonight to work on things and we suggested that we just met in the morning because they had to be tired from driving. So, they did and we meet at 7:30 am.

Tito and I saw some of the students playing basketball in their new gym, so Tito and I went and played for about 2.5 hours to get some exercise. And yes, I still have all my toenails left!

We had a great day and will be sad to leave Chile tomorrow. I am sure that God will lead tomorrow for the transportation and excursion as he has for everything else.

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Leaving cabrero

We had a very productive day in Cabrero and Salto del Laja. After we had another breakfast of bread, we walked around the hotel and saw what they had. Nice, but too expensive and doesn't have the restaurant facilities we need.

One good thing at the hotel we stayed at is that they had a nice, small house for Gino and Claudell to stay in

We met Juan Vera at 10 am and went to the next hotel option. We think that this is the one! It is a new facility and they will work with us to cook the food and we would have the entire facility to ourselves in March.

Outside of the three large cabins.

Sitting area in the large cabins

Upstairs bathroom in the large cabins

Downstairs bedroom in the large cabins

Outside view of the five small cabins

Bedroom in the small cabins

Sitting area in the small cabins

Kitchen area

Meeting room where we will eat our meals, worship and play games in the evening

And, yes, it even has a pool in the middle!

After we left, the owner of that place took us to another hotel he owns. It was nice, but doesn't have a way for us to eat.

We went to two other places that were nice but they didn't have everything the first one did. Once we return to the states, we will check again with the owner to confirm in writing and put a deposit down. We feel good about it.

Juan then took us to his home for lunch with his family. A great meal with his kids. We sat and talked for a bit while his son got ready to go. He is in medical school in Concepcion. We left to take him to the bus station.


Juan Vera and his family

We didn't have much left to do in cabrero tomorrow other than take pictures of one more option for the evangelism and medical. The pastor will do that in the morning and email to us.

The only outstanding items are the buses back and forth from the job site for the week. We have contact info and the pastor will continue to work.

We decided to head to Chillan to visit with Magdiel's mother, Elena, at the university. She has been so helpful thus far and she will have some thoughts on transportation and on excursions. We are sitting on a bus right now to Chillan to see her. She just got back from vacation and is still willing to met us at the bus terminal!!

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Feliz Sabado!!

We had a great Sabbath with the Cabrero congregation. After a cold night, we walked to the pastors house and had breakfast with him and his wife. We walked to church for Sabbath school.

Pastor Caesar Montecinos and his wife Danitza

They are meeting in a house and it was standing room only today. Tito found out on the way to church that he was preaching so he spent sabbath school getting prepared!

Church members at worship

After the church service we went to the local school and had lunch with the church members. The head deacon is the principal of the school so we had access. We thought we might be able to use it for the medical mission but school is in session so that isn't an option.

After we ate, the church members wanted to know more about how things will work so we spent a while talking about the construction, medical mission and evangelism. They seem eager to help and wanted to know what they could do to prepare.

Church members at lunch before our meeting

After we wrapped up, we went by a couple of town halls that we might be able to use for the evangelism and medical mission. One that we saw would be perfect for medical, but a little small for evangelism. We will see the other on monday.

The Centro Cultural, where we think we will have the meetings and medical mission. We couldn't get in while we are there, but should have pictures soon.

We then went to the pastors house to relax and talk before the evening service. After walking back to the church, we had the evening service. It was run by the youth and was great.

The only town that has hotels large enough for our group is Salto del Laja. That is where we are staying tonight. One of the church members drove us here and dropped us off.

It is very nice and will fit all of us and has a meeting room. It is also expensive and doesn't have (at least that we can see) kitchen facilities we can use.

Tito and walked to a store again to get dinner. On our way back we saw some cabins that looked promising so we stopped in. One place has some options that we are going to check into tomorrow after scoping a couple of other options out.

If we are supposed to mission in Chile next year, it will work itself out tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers.

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Arrival in cabrero

We arrived safely (finally) in Cabrero 24 hours after we left Houston. We were greeted by the head deacon at the bus terminal. We dropped our bags at the hotel and went to see one of the church members about transportation.

We saw the bus and discussed prices. They were a little high so we got the info and left to go see the plot of land for the church.




Pastor Montecinos discussing how the new church will affect Cabrero

The church is on a lot with three concrete walls surrounding it. We will be tight on the sides and will have about 6 feet maximum on either side, so prepare yourselves! The church members already built a shed for the tools. They are supposed to put a temporary bathroom there for us to use during construction.

Church property from the back looking towards the street. Our power will come from the power pole on the right hand side.

Church property from the road. The church built the shed in the back - we hope it isn't too close to the new church.

After that we went back to the bus terminal to check on more transportation options. We got a couple of names and should know more on Sunday but it was promising.

We went back to the hotel and said goodbye to the pastor and head deacon. Tito and I went to the supermarket to get something for dinner. Let me tell you, it was fine dining. We had sandwiches with jelly from a bag, mayonaise from a bag and other assorted treats. We have pictures of the food to share. Quite a treat.

Tito making his sandwiches.

Our gourmet spread of food. Notice the jelly in a bag on the lower right. Very classy....

The very disturbing yellow mayonnaise from a bag.

We will go to the pastors house in the morning for breakfast and go to church from there.

The room was so cold, Tito had to put his hat on and wrapped the towel around him

It has been a good, but very long day. The Lord has blessed and we have acomplished a lot.

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The hat of destiny

We have arrived in chillan on the train. It was a smooth trip and we arrived on time. The scenery was great and even got a little snooze on the train.

Once we got to chillan, we were hungry and stoped at a restaurant to eat. It was at the end of lunch and they didn't have much at the vegetarian buffet so we decided to stop at the market and get food.

It is a little cool here in Chile. It was 44 degrees when we got off the plane and 70 degrees now. Tito has been lamenting the fact that he didn't bring a warm hat for his head (for those that haven't meet Tito, he shaves his head, so it can get cold). As we entered the open part of the market, Tito saw a shop selling woolen hat and bought one for his cabeza de frio (cold head). It is quite fashionable and we will have to post a picture whe we get back.

Tito and his new hat

We got some bread and fruit. Tito got some cheese, even with the warning of the cheese that launched a 100 IVs last year. We are sitting on the bus now for our third leg of the journey to Cabrero. It is only an hour bus ride.

We have had no less than 10 different vendors come on the bus trying to sell things. Tito really wanted the little phone book with cool pens, but resisted.

When we get there, we will go to the hotel and then go around the town and see the site where we will construct the church.

More later.

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The long trip to santiago

Tito and arrived in Santiago. It is 7:15 am santiago time. We arrived early and are waiting for another plane to leave our gate.

The flight was uneventful, but FREEZING! Bring a jacket or sweatshirt for your flight!

We were able to sleep, but definitely needed earplugs. Some others were not able to sleep in front of me and decided to talk the entire night. I popped my earplugs in and went to sleep.

We will post later once we get on the train or in chillan.

I had forgot to mention that we were met by the Pastor and by Magdiel's daughter Susanna. Here is a picture of her if you are interested.

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On our way to Chile

We are on the plane in Atlanta getting ready to depart for Santiago. We have about a 9.5 hour flight ahead of us. I hope to sleep for most of it, we will see.

Pasto Tito Charneco from the West Houston church is with me as well. He is planning on conducting an evangelistic series and is going to lay the ground work.

We will have a 4 hour train ride on Friday when we arrive, so we hope to make it through customs quickly.

I will do my best to keep the group updated as we make our jouney and gather information for the trip. Continue to pray for us and that God will show his leading and howour trip should take place next year.

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