IT'S MID NOVEMBER HOW

Here's just like some things that have happened these past few weeks in chronological order:

I spent Halloween weekend with my YL family. On Friday they had a mega-club for all 4 of the clubs across Rancagua. At one point there was some misunderstanding because I don't speak Spanish and I accidentally ended up with 3 other leaders performing a zumba dance in front of everyone. Also my favorite part of the whole night was making friends with a gal at club and then leaving with her to walk around her barrio to pick up her friends to come to club. Gabriel, the area director, saw it happening and thought about stopping me (idk I guess maybe gringas shouldn't walk around the sketchiest barrio in Rancagua or something like that) BUT I'M SO GLAD HE DIDN'T because we walked arm in arm and sang "Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias and now every time I hear that song I am reminded of that special special memory. On Saturday they had a celebratory 8 years of YL ministry in Chile buffet dinner at Latin America's largest casino which also turned out to be a bowling alley an arcade a small amusement park a restaurant a mall a discoteca and a five star hotel. I ate so much I hurt myself and then all of a sudden I was on a ride that was launching me up and down over and over again. Not sure why that happened. Had another one of those big "how did I get here" moments when I was eating my third plate of dessert in the middle of a table with 18 Chileans that I didn't even know existed three months ago. Life is so weird. 

Just to give you a snapshot of my weekly routine: I usually wake up around 9 everyday (YUP CHILE HAS TURNED ME INTO A LATE SLEEPER @CAROLINEDOZIER), make a fried egg and pan @lillianbussel and nescafé (can't tell you how much I miss non-instant coffee), leave for class at 10:15 in order to get to class via bus and metro by 11ish, go to class (lol study abroad though), and then I usually meet up with a pal or go dancing or do something kewl after class. So that's pretty much what Mon-Thurs usually looks like. For all 2 of you that were wondering. This week especially I've had some really special one-on-one hangouts with some very special people and I am just so thankful that we don't do this thing called LA VIDA alone. 

On Thursday night my friends in Rancagua held the first YL interest meeting here in Santiago to try and get the ball rolling on YOUNG LIFE SANTIAGO. I have never felt so privileged to attend anything in my life. To be able to be apart of the very first step in starting YL in Santiago AND being able to invite 5 of my Chilean friends to the meeting and into the Young Life story (a story that has had an incredible impact on my relationship with Jesus) was just 2 kewl 4 words. The meeting was small but the leaders here have incredible faith and I have no doubts that God's going to provide the right people to make YL happen here. So like get ready Santiago.

On Friday I spent the day in the immigration office trying to renew my visa. It was incredibly overwhelming. I walked into the building and thought OH MY GOD I'M GONNA BE HERE FOR 14 HOURS I DIDNT BRING ENOUGH WATER. But don't worry I was only there for 3. There were people from all over the world there. Literally the entire world. I was reminded once again how 100% ignorant I am of how diverse our world is. 

Friday night I performed both Spice Girl's Wannabe and Luis Fonsi's Yo No Me Doy Por Vencido in a karaoke bar. After each performance my pals were in the back corner shouting "GRINGA LOCA GRINGA LOCA GRINGA LOCA". Getting closer and closer to Latina pop stardom. 

I went on a date on Saturday. THE ONLY THING SCARIER THAN YOUR FIRST DATE IN 3 YEARS IS YOUR FIRST DATE IN 3 YEARS IN SPANISH. I think I'd be ok with waiting another 3 years before going on another one. 

And last night we made friends with street break dancers. THEY WERE THE COOLEST GENTE EVER. And they're coming to the salsateca with us tonight. 

Also. When I'm speaking English I find myself using the Spanish "ehhmmm" instead of the English "uhmmm" and I say "y" instead of "and". But I use "like" when I'm speaking Spanish. THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP ANY OF IT. 

THAT'S ALL BYE

"Es muy fácil andar por el camino que lleva a la perdición, porque es un camino ancho. ¡Y mucha gente va por ese camino! Pero es muy difícil andar por el camino que lleva a la vida, porque es un camino muy angosto. Por eso, son muy pocos los que lo encuentran." 

Mateo 6:13