Grottons in Chile Newsletter - February 2020

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Grottons in ChileServing with Mission to the World

PARTNER WITH US

Dear <<First Name>>

January flew past as we jumped back into our routine of intensive Spanish classes for David, homeschool for the boys and general cultural adjustments as we prepare for ministry in Viña del Mar.

Thanks for reading and supporting us in prayer and financially!

18th of October

Praise God with us that the protests and rioting that began in October have mostly ended. It has been very calm lately. Traditionally, February is the month most Chileans take vacation and for city-dwellers, that means heading to the coast or down South for refreshment. This year, it was unclear if people would take the time away because of the unrest. We are happy to say that Santiago seems a bit empty! Smaller shops and restaurants are closed, friends are away, and we aren’t feeling like sardines on the subway. We’re praying it’s an overall indicator of more peaceful times to come.

New Constitution?

Would you pencil April 26 on your calendar? That’s when Chile will hold the first vote on whether to create a new National Constitution or not. This likely will cause at least some protesting. Pray that this process will go smoothly, that all people’s ideas will be heard and of course that the process will be peaceful. As things move along, we will give updates.

Transitions

We just had our annual review with our country leadership and they are very pleased with our progress. We also began discussing our transition to Viña and it looks like we will be moving there in June or July. So, please pray for the correct location for us and decisions about the boys’ schooling. We would like to be located on a bus route near CEMIPRE, whatever school the boys are in, and the church we will be a part of.

Language Learning (David)

I am continuing in language school and I am doing fairly well. The advanced class in January was a bit confusing, so this month, I am reading a lot of short texts and news articles, after which I write out my opinion and also give an oral report. I am very blessed to have teachers who are not only great at what they do but who also care deeply about whether you are understanding or not. I am speaking much more fluidly now than even a few months ago! I have also learned much about Chilean social issues from them. Keep praying for my language learning. I will likely continue with some lighter classes once in Viña del Mar.

Speaking Spanish with... Chileans

Listening and understanding Chilean Spanish has been a big challenge for me. Chileans are known throughout all of Latin America for the speed at which they speak and the fact that they drop many sounds. I am learning to speak “properly” (ie using appropriate grammar and verb tenses) and sometimes what I’ve learned in class doesn’t match the more “informal” conversations outside class. So some days after Spanish lessons are done for the day, I like to go into new neighborhoods to learn more about the culture and to create opportunities to speak Spanish. This helps me to listen carefully because everyone speaks differently.

Speaking Spanish with... Thai?!

A few days ago after class I went exploring and found a Thai restaurant. The food was good and the service was too. But God had some interesting plans for me that afternoon. This place was completely run by Thai people and when it was time to pay, I learned they only take cash. I don’t carry much cash for safety reasons and hadn’t come across this in Santiago yet. I only had about half of what I owed. I was very embarrassed, but the woman at the register was so patient and polite. She was apologizing for not taking debit cards. So, I made my way through this very awkward conversation (in Spanish remember!) and they trusted me to go to an ATM, take out money and return to pay my bill. I could not believe it! She did not even ask for the cash I did have. Amazing!! So, I walked as fast as I could to an ATM in the 93ºF heat a mile away and back to pay. When I entered to pay, they had huge smiles. Maybe they were not expecting me to return. So, I paid, said thank you many times and we proceeded to talk for a while about where I am from, what I do, why they were in Chile, etc. It really ended up being a lovely moment of trust and honesty. It is neat how God can reveal himself in different ways. I was not expecting to have that conversation but it turned out great and I pray they saw a bit of Jesus.

Homeschool Blessings & Challenges

Danielle continues with homeschooling the boys. They are both doing well and are reading above their grade levels. Elijah will read out loud any chance he gets. It is a really lovely thing to experience. Jacob is loving math and continues to devour books. He will read a whole book in a day! He recently read Little Pilgrim’s Progress and loves Roald Dahl books. There are moments when they struggle: Jacob is not a fan of writing and it is often a struggle to get Elijah to focus on his work. This has been a test for Danielle and she is often very tired after dealing with the struggles the boys have. Please pray for her patience and that she would have joy and when it is difficult she will give herself and the boys grace. Both Jacob and Elijah have been taking Spanish classes three days a week for about an hour, with a teacher who lives in our building. Very convenient and they are picking it up quickly - faster than Daddy, they like to tease.

When’s Dinner?!

After 9 months, we have mostly adjusted to our new home. One thing that keeps throwing us off a bit is how late the sun sets in Summer! (Or that it is Summer in February?!) This completely messes with our dinner time and we often don’t eat until 8:00PM or later. (This is actually “normal” here in Chile and we often hear young children walking with parents past our apartment later than 11:00PM) But aside from that we are well. We know this is only true because we have so many faithful prayer partners praying for us. We thank you!

You made it to the end! Thanks for reading! We appreciate you and are praying for you also. Reach out anytime with specific prayer needs.

In Christ Alone,
The Grottons
grottonsinchile@gmail.com
Skype # 860-748-4912

Copyright © 2020 David & Danielle Grotton, #17072, All rights reserved.

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