Last Week in 2nd Project

Oh my goodness I am so sorry I haven´t done this for ages! I cannot believe that it is already the last week in Temuco, I really don´t want to leave! The work is going great, although we´re working really hard this week to get everything done in time. If we finish everything, we will have sanded and re-varnsihed the church benches, painted the walls and window frames in the church, painted the walls and furniture in the children´s room and re-painted the "salon" (general meeting room). Apart from the sanding, I have really enjoyed the work, I think my favourite job was repainting the underside of the arch in the church, cause it involved being up a really high rickety ladder only being held by Sarah :)

Other than work we have also been able to get really involved with other things, for example every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon we have been going to help out at an Anglican school for deaf children. To be completely honest, I found it really hard because for one thing it was really difficult to communicate with the children, as I had to fist think what I wanted to say in Spanish, then try put it into sign, which I haven´t really got the hang of! It´s been a really good experience though, and the children were always really excited to see us so hopefully we were a help to the teachers.

We´ve been having Cueca (Chilean national dance) classes every Tuesday evening, which has been more fun for some of the team than others, but I personally really enjoyed it. It looks really silly...it´s supposed to be based on a cockrel trying to conquer a hen, and it really does look like that, but its been a really good way to bond with the church youth, as after the classes we usually go out for coffee (or in my case raspberry juice :) ) with them.

The last 2 Sundays I have had the opportunity to play in the worship band at church, which has been really good. For one thing it meant that I could have a bit of much needed time away from the rest of the team whilst I was at practices, and I´ve also learnt lots more guitar chords, and Spanish vocab.

After we leave Temuco we´ll be going on a team holiday to Valparaiso, and then we are all splitting up to go travelling in different places in South America. I will be travelling up Chile, and into Peru, keeping mostly to the coast. This week I´ve got to try and lighten my luggage because I´ve got to carry it on my back everywhere...prayer for that may be needed :P Or I could just stay in Temuco forever maybe...

Hope you are all doing ok, and in all seriousness I will return home soon, and I can´t wait to see everyone again :)

Laura xx