Day 12... really?? Wow.
Today we awoke to dreary skies again - affirming that yesterday's sunny day was indeed meant just for us. But today's gray skies are in keeping with the thought that this is our last day with Edu.
Due to meetings and preparations this afternoon for the event, we made small plans for our down time.
Edu and Dennis wanted a relaxing day at the house - they ended up doing a little Alpha work and took a walk. Karen had errands. The rest of us wanted to head to a nearby mall to check out contemporary Santiago. But this time we navigated the subway alone! (We discovered it was something we could manage without Edu!)
The mall looks no different than at home. There are many brand name stores and the fashions are like ours - except with lots of boots and winter clothes in the windows. We could have been shopping at the Cornwall Centre. Carole wanted to test out MacDonald's for lunch. Apparently, it may taste a little different! (Mike this was for your benefit.) What we did discover was that MacDonald's makes sundaes with manjar sauce! Woohoo!
By 3:30 we regrouped at the house again.
The equipment came for the simultaneous translation. Karen and the guys and some tech type fellows set up the equipment. A translator named Guillermo, "William" from Brazil showed up. And we began to shift into the next gear.
After setting up in the venue - which is on the grounds, half a block away - we had about 1/2 hour to have some time for prayer with Edu. Through many, many tears each of us prayed blessings on him.
Edu had to leave by about 8 tonight and the local team here was to come meet with us at 7pm. There was about an hour of transition or overlapping from our Arica connections to our Santiago connections. Good-bye. Hello!
We met about 10 people from the team here - musicians included. Dave had a practice with them here in the house about an hour ago and as I type, one of them is playing a gentle song in the main room amidst the visiting. Dave seems quite pleased with the team he will be working with. We will be sharing our living space tonight with Father Carlos, and the musicians.
We start with prayer at 8 am tomorrow. Please hold us in your prayers - that we can have a powerful impact here. Many people coming are "Alphagetties"! Some are from Santiago, some from Valparaiso, San Fillipe and 4 from Argentina!
We are getting excited again. Stay tuned!
love Ramona
