Responding to Questions #3

Ashley, my former language school classmate asks...

a.) What is each person's favorite thing about Chile?

b.) I think you touched on this a little a while ago with the post on the hole in wall restaurant, but I'm curious as to if you have a favorite Chilean food. (and maybe it's different with each person)

c.) Are there any foods that you can't get as easily or miss from the States?

d.) I've heard different things from different missionaries over the years so am curious what your experience is... does being "different" i.e. blond hair, blue eyes, seem to have any affect on your ministry? Does it make it harder, easier, or does it seem to matter?

Answers:

a.) What is your favorite thing about Chile?

Jordan - our new house
Ben - The Andes mountains
Kaylee - My bedroom
Kristi - The Chilean people
David - The diverse geography (desert, mountains, ocean, volcanoes, islands, valleys, and glaciers)

b.) What is your favorite Chilean foods? Click on links for photos and recipes

Jordan - Palta (fresh avocado mashed up)
Ben - Completos (Chilean style hot dogs)
Kaylee - Grapes and anything Chocolate
Kristi - Empanadas and humitas
David - Typical Chilean Tomato and Onion Salad (Ensalada Chileana)

c.) What foods do you miss from the States?

Jordan - Marshmallows
Ben - Eggnog & Taquitos
Kaylee - Grandma's snacks
Kristi - Burrito bowl from Chipotle and anything from Olive Garden
David - Anything Mexican, licorice, cheddar and pepper jack cheese, and cream soda

Sneak Peek: I am currently working on a future post that deals with Cooking in Chile. How is it different and why? This will deal more with food and more specifically ingredients that you can't find here in Chile.

d.) Does being different (blond hair, blue eyes) seem to have any affect on your ministry?

YES

Does it make it harder or easier?
Both

Easier because:
-We have increased opportunities to converse with people. People are drawn to us.
-Govt. officials are softened when little blond kids are at our side.
-In some sense, being a foreigner gives you clout (whether it's merited or not, that's a different story).

Harder because:
-People tend to be friends with you or friendly with you only for selfish reasons. (For money, to learn more English, for the hope of a job, or for increased status "I'm friends with missionary so-and-so!")
-People tend to make spiritual decisions to please you instead of God.
-People tend to think that the missionary is always more qualified for ministry positions/responsibilities in the church.
-Being "different" and having "different" children (esp. teenagers) bring the ever present and unwanted attention from the opposite gender (heckling, cat calling, and whistles).

To those still dying to ask a question, there's still time. As the questions come in, I will attempt to write a post with the question and hopefully, an answer.