Posted by sincerelykristin under
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Ministry Partner [11] Comments
Here are some things we experienced as we traveled and spent a few days in the southern part of the country, just a bit southeast from the city of Valdivia (see map):
We traveled on the same road for 9 straight hours. (Chile only has one highway that runs north and south.)
We had to pay $60 in tolls and $190 in gas to make the trip there and back.
We drove during the daylight hours so we could enjoy the sights of the magnificant volcanoes, the snow-capped Andes mountains, and the endless rich green pastures filled with livestock.
We needed to slow down more than once to allow the cows and sheep to cross the road
Our evening barbeque at the campground didn’t even start until 9:00pm. (And we were the first ones to leave…at midnight!)
After asking the horse rancher if we could ride again the next day at 10:30am, he wondered if that would still be too early in the morning for us to get up and get ready to ride. (As you can tell, their daily time clocks run a little different from those of North America. Everything runs a little bit later in the day than what we were used to in the US. Our family motto still runs true: It’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different!)
We traveled the farthest south in the world than we have ever traveled before! (And as you can see from the map, there is still a lot more of the south to explore!!)
The children were able to witness the vaccination of some of the cows on the farm.
We hiked down a beaten trail to find a beautiful waterfall and stream.
We quickly remembered we were no longer in Santiago when we began to feel all heads turn and eyes stare at us wherever we went. (The people of Santiago, like say New York City, are used to foreigners and different languages; however, outside of Santiago…well, a foreigner becomes a true novelty.)
Felicia: “Why are all those cows allowed to just walk around out there in that field?” (Okay, with those kinds of questions, we realized that our children are growing up in a much different environment than we did. Seeing cows in a pasture was normal for Max and me as we grew up, but for our children…well, skyscrapers, the subway system, postage-stamp size plots of land, an endless amount of neighbors, and lots of traffic are what they are becoming very accustomed to! Grandma McGinnis, I think we will have to go and visit a few farms when we come back for a visit to get these grandchildren reacquainted with country life!)
Each evening, we had the opportunity to just sit around the fire, listen to music, read, and converse with others that were staying at the campground. I love that about the Chilean culture. No one is uncomfortable with silence, yet the atmosphere is always welcome for conversation.
Chile is such a beautiful country of vast climate, topographical, and cultural diversity. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to explore more of your amazing creation!
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Psalm 100:3 (NIV) Know that hte LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Your turn to share: Did you grow up on a farm or have any relatives that lived on one? If so, please describe the experience.
September 24, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Thank you for the pictures and the map! I have to really smile at Felicia’s remarks about the cows in the pastures. I am just as amazed at the culture of city life as she is with country life! I grew up always in the country and actually next to a horse farm. We, as kids, would often walk over to the barns to pet the horses, or play on the bales of hay in the fields or talk a walk in the woods to “laughing brook and smiling pond”. Nice memories. This whole topic reminds me of a letter I recently read from a missionary mom who grew up in Montana under Big Sky and finds herself in a crowded city where God has sent her. She spoke of always loving where she grew up, and wanting her future kids to have the same wonderful experiences that she had. But God had different plans and she finds herself and her family in just the opposite environment. “Not better, not worse, just different”. God’s plans sure aren’t always the same as ours, are they:-). I felt sort of sad for that mom, but I know that the best place to be is where God wants you!
September 24, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I grew up in the city but had an aunt and uncle who lived on a farm in Arcade, NY. We went there every July 4th for a picnic. It is a nice memory to have! Once there we could walk down the stone/dirt road to the barn and throw rocks in the creek along the way. Once at the barn, visit the cows, comment on that cow barn odor and head to the hayloft to jump and climb. My childhood memories were that the sky was bluer, sun brighter, grass greener, food fresher and life much simpler on the farm. Thanks for making me think about such nice family memories and thanks for sharing yours!
September 24, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Que divertido!
September 24, 2007 at 8:31 pm
what a long highway
what a wonderful experience especially for the children
I live in a farm kinda country New Zealand
the thought of living amongst skyscrapers would be as different to me as your trip was to them
September 24, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I was brought up in a small town but my gram and gramp lived on a farm in Lockport and from a very young age I would spend weeks in the summer with them. What wonderful memories! Playing in the hay mow…..swinging on ropes in the barn……fishing in the creek….REAL butter….REAL fresh milk!…..cleaning up after the cows
. Those were the best memories of my childhood. Thanks for helping me remember them, Kristen! Does it still feel like everyday is an adventure to you, or do you feel “at home” now?
September 25, 2007 at 12:28 am
My grandparents lived on a farm in SC. Grandpa boarded race horses and raised dairy cattle. We were allowed to ride horses after lunch (and Grandpa’s nap). The dairy barn, however, was forbidden by my grandmother as not a place for young ladies (my brothers were out there having a blast, and I was hanging sheets on the clothesline! I would wait for Grandma to go in the house and as soon as the porch door slammed my cousin and were running to the dairy barn as fast as we could! On the occasions that we made it the entire way Grandpa would meet us with a grin and wink then look away (so HE wouldn’t get in trouble either!) Uncle Larry would let us do whatever we wanted. It is still my most favorite spot on the farm! Even after the day the cow plopped and we had it in our hair and were covered! Sneaking into the house for that shower was no easy task, and if my cousin’s hair hadn’t been soooo curly we might have gotten away with the whole thing!
September 25, 2007 at 11:32 am
What a wonderful experience. I love that you traveled during the day to see all the sights. The pictures are wonderful. I’m thankful you had a wonderful time. I loved the kids on the horses? Was it their first time riding?
I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I have a horse story. My grandparents best friends owned a big farm in Cuba, NY. We visited often as kids. We enjoyed it.
My Uncle and Aunt received one of their horses. Horses are only suppose to live 15 years or so. Well God had other plans. This horse lived 25 plus years. She escaped from the fencing; got fed apples and such; greeted you with a winny and provided many stories. Sometimes I think she forgot she was a horse. Sadly a couple years ago we said “good-bye”. I’m sure she is in a pasture up above.
September 25, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I didn’t grow up on a dairy farm but lived near many of them and disliked the smell!
After college I moved to New York City and let me tell you the first thing I did on my 1st visit home was to take a nice deep breath. After living in the city I truly enjoyed the smell of farms.
All the pictures you have shown us have really changed my image of Chile. Both the city and country side there seem to very beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your life experiences.
September 25, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for sharing all your stories & pictures of Chile, I love reading about it! One day, hopefully, we’ll get to experience some of it with you guys!
I just had to comment that Chilean time sounds so great- it actually sounds a lot like Pierce time!! Late nights and even later mornings!
September 29, 2007 at 4:47 pm
From ages 5 to 12, we lived on my great uncle’s farm. One day my brother, sister and I scared the cows, which in turn spoiled the milk. I got a spanking I will never forget. My dad never did spank us much, but that was one time when he thought it was nesessary. Besides that I loved being on the farm(except when I got shocked by the electric fence.) I got the privledge of petting a baby cow that was just born. What fun!!
October 6, 2007 at 12:05 am
I’m so glad that you are seeing some of the awesome Chile country side. Not quite like the trip to Bob’s farm, but still cool! I’ve heard that the dairy farms in Chile are quite something. We often meet people in my industry that spent time there learning the language to bring back to the U.S. to be a translator! The horseback riding looked fun! It looks like you guys are enjoying some of the wonders of farm life (like I did growing up -minus the horses).