Chile Ministry

On our second day in Chile, brothers and sisters from two congregations hosted us for a morning in the ministry. 

We had a stocker—Tagalog Mark

An overwhelming welcome

We started with refreshments…

…association and…

…a little song and dance

Bienvenido a la congregación 

Welcome to the congregation 

Fraternal y Lo Valledor 

Fraternal and Lo Valledor 

…

Esperaba que llegaran 

I was waiting for you 

esperaba en primavera 

Waiting in spring 

pues sabía que traían a esta congregación, 

Because I knew you would bring to our congregations 

ese amor que siempre llega 

That love that we always get 

llega con la Asamblea 

When the convention starts 

y esperando su llegada 

And waiting for your arrival 

saludamos con amor 

We welcome you warmly 

…

Nuevo brote de esperanza 

A new bloom of hope 

que hace flor en primavera 

That same that makes the bloom spring 

anidando en nuestras almas, 

Nesting in our souls 

su nuevo y dulce amor 

That new and tender love 

ese amor que siempre llega 

That love that we always get 

llega con la Asamblea 

When the convention starts 

y esperando su llegada 

And waiting for your arrival 

saludamos con amor 

We welcome you warmly 

Heading out with my partner Andrea. She spoke little English. I speak no Spanish. We communicated with the help of Google Translate and lots of brotherly love.

Wisteria

(which always makes me think of my Grandma)

Alonso, third generation Chilean

His family emigrated from Syria.

Alonso's wife Andrea

We had so much in common. She was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses like me. They met when Alonso was at University. Aaron and I met at the same time in his life. At one point the two of them were so engrossed in their conversation, they forgot we were knocking on doors (gates really) and walked right on by. It was a most enjoyable morning.

Taking a photo break

Meanwhile, back at the Kingdom Hall…

They moved the chairs and brought in tables for a multi-course meal.

They made a makeshift kitchen outside the Kingdom Hall.

Kitchen staff

Table 7

This brother (right) was the MC and he was funny!

After the afternoon meal we enjoyed entertainment:

The Curanto

This song is about a man that lives in an island called Chiloé. The song describes a humorous conversation between a husband and wife—the wife encouraging the other to get up and go fishing while the husband prefers staying in bed after eating too much.

The curanto is a typical Chilean meal that is buried in the ground—seafood, meats and vegetables are cooked over hot stones covered in leaves.

Levántate, hombre flojo 

Get up, lazy man 

Sale a pescar, sale a pescar 

Go fishing, go fishing, 

Que la mar está linda 

The sea is beautiful 

Pa' navegar, pa' navegar

To sail, to sail

No puedo levantarme 

I can't get up 

Tengo mucha hambre 

I'm very hungry 

Y el pescar con fatiga 

And fishing with fatigue 

Va a malograrme, va a malograrme 

Is going to ruin me, Is going to ruin me 

Chorus: 

Quiero comer curanto 

I want to eat curanto 

Con chapalele Milcao, chicha 'e manzana 

With chapalele,Milcao, apple cider 

Y aunque me vuele y aunque me vuele 

And even if I get drunk

Los botes ya salieron 

The boats have already left 

De la ensenada, de la ensenada 

From the cove, from the cove 

Y vos 'tai en la cama 

And you're in bed 

Sin hacer nada, sin hacer nada 

Doing nothing, doing nothing

Es que he comido mucho 

It's because I've eaten a lot 

Por lo derecho 

Rightfully 

Y es malo hacer esfuerzo 

And it's bad to make an effort 

Tan satisfecho, tan satisfecho 

So satisfied, So satisfied 

They hired a chinchinero and an organillero—traditional street performers. The Chinchinero carries a drum on his back and has two long drumsticks to play it. Above the drum there are some cymbals that are connected to the feet of the Chinchinero with a rope.

While the artist danced, full of energy and doing some acrobatics, the sound of the cymbals, the drum and the organ accompanied his movements—mixture of steps, fast turns, waltz, folkloric dance and movements from the tango.

Generous, hospitable and beautiful!

As if the ministry, meal and entertainment were not MORE than enough—

they gifted us with a bottle of wine!

Everyone together—congregation volunteers and delegates

It was a beautiful day!