Snow Day on the Beach

Originally on the school calendar today and tomorrow were to be vacation days for the students; a mini spring break. We tell the students it is so they can have a couple of snow days. The truth is that the staff’s own families occasionally like to see us as well. Last year my family and the Stevens family took all our kids to Wallowa, Oregon so we could experience a few snow days of our own.

This year we spent our spring break in the summer on the Chilean coast. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. We went to an amazing beach and I am bringing home a little sun burn just to show off to all those white bodies in the Idaho winter. The beach we were on was over two miles long. It had beautiful sand, nice waves, horses, hang gliders, cliffs and caves. It was spectacular. The only thing missing was a little more clothing on some of the local beaches inhabitants. Matthew commented that he had seen more cotton in a bottle of aspirin.

We also got to have lunch together at this amazing seafood restaurant in Vina Del Mar: ocean view, fresh fish, very reasonable prices – I’d come back here in a heart beat. It would be very easy after today to hear a call from the Lord to minister on the Chilean coast!

We are all gathering at the Vineyard Las Condes church at 1pm tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon from our various host homes. We will have a few hours for a last meal in Chile and spending the end of our pesos on souvenirs. What we really will take home from this place is the love of the Chileans and the heart they have to see the Kingdom of God come in a more powerful way to their continent.

We will head to the airport Tuesday evening to start our flight home. We look forward to seeing many of you in Boise when we return. For those who don’t call Boise home, stay tuned- this group heads to the Philippines for another mission trip in two short months.

Again we have been grateful for your prayers.

Pastor Chad Estes