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Personal Space

Week of July 26
Finding community in Chile
By Chansin Bird MysTeRy

was one big family for me. In a random
city in a random country—to be connect-
ed in that way was really touching.”
They not only welcomed Caidon in
their group, but the small church of
about 100 people had its own special
relationship.
“In that one church, everyone took
care of everyone. I would walk with
Carlos, the 17-year-old translator, and
we would go to someone’s home from
the church. He didn’t know the person
well, but they opened their homes to
each other because they had a bond
between church members.”
Caidon liked the Chilean’s focus on
family time. At 4 p.m., no matter what
the person was doing, everyone would
go home for once time. They drink tea
or coffee, have a snack, and visit with
their family.
“I’d be at a different house every day
during that time. It was neat to be a part
of each family. We’d stop and relax and
ask how their day was.”
The Chileans were also open to
© istockPhoto / jan rihak sonal testimony translated on them. ovie thrillers, murder mystery novels, and crime shows have
accepting tracts.
“We all had tracts that had our per-
Throughout the day we’d pass them
out. Here in America if you pass out
tracts, people ignore you or grab it and
To us, a mystery is simply something to be figured out—unraveled, taken
throw it away. In Chile, I was afraid I’d be Mmade the word mystery commonplace.
aiDoN geoRge kNew tHe From house visits to conducting a mini- rejected a lot.” apart, and wholly understood. But the word means so much more than that. At
people in her church loved her. Vacation Bible School to visiting a pris- But she wasn’t. The passersby would its very essence, the word mystery describes something that isn’t just difficult
C At 18 years old, she’d grown on, Caidon’s job was to socialize and get come up to her and ask what she was to figure out, but may be entirely impossible for us to wrap our brains around.
up surrounded with the support of the involved with the youth and children’s passing out. They often immediately sat A true mystery is difficult to explain, puzzling, and sometimes beyond human
members of Lakeside Baptist Church activities. The missionaries’ goal was to on a bench and read the tract. understanding.
in Texas. Even without her asking, they encourage the small group of Christians “Even if they weren’t interested or There’s a quality of mystery when it comes to God. You can absolutely know
helped her find the money to go on a there and share Jesus with the church’s if they were from a different religion, Him and live in relationship with Him because of Jesus. You can take on His
mission trip to South America. What neighborhood. they’d still stop and listen to whatever characteristics and become more like Him. You can walk in daily counsel with
Caidon didn’t know was that she’d find Though she was scared on the plane you had to say.” the Holy Spirit and seek guidance from Scripture. You can know God, but
a community of love and acceptance in ride and didn’t know what to expect, At the end of the week, the church knowing Him doesn’t mean you understand every last thing about Him or
Chile as well. it didn’t take long for her to fit right in threw a farewell party for the mission- His ways.
“It was such an open and loving with the Chileans. aries. After the barbecue, Caidon’s new Photos this section: © istockPhoto / shelly Perry, jason stitt, ron hohenhaus. Some of that mystery has to do with the concept of the Trinity, God in three
culture. I’d like to go back.” “The pastor of the [local] church was friends stayed up until 5 a.m. dancing, Persons. No explanation or comparison we come up with actually does the
She was the youngest of 150 mis- intimidating to me at first,” Caidon said. goofing off, and enjoying each other’s Trinity justice or encompasses the concept in its entirety. God isn’t entirely
sionaries from all over the world who “He seemed strict. But by the fourth company. Even the pastor came over comprehensible. We can’t understand Him completely or explain all His ways
met in Chile to serve for two weeks. The day we were already joking around. He late in the night. through human reasoning. But we can live in relationship with Him—God
only person she knew on the trip was had a daughter my age, and they would “Coming back, I was in tears. It was the Father who loves us without measure, Jesus the Son who has first-hand
her pastor. All the missionaries were invite me to hang out. They called me the hardest good-bye I ever had to do, knowledge of our sorrows and joys and gave Himself up for us, and the Holy
divided amongst 30 local churches. their hija—that’s ‘daughter’ in Spanish. It and I was just there two weeks.” ec Spirit who guides and counsels. He is God in three Persons.
And that’s a true mystery of mercy and grace in every sense of the word.
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