This is the church we checked out today, Iglesia Viña Las Condes (www.ivlc.cl). It is the one that initially caught my attention when I started researching churches before coming here because the feel the website seemed like it might be a contemporary church like we are accustomed to. It meets in a semi-enclosed covered amphitheater that is part of a very pretty and rustic hotel called Hotel Manquehue. It is a contemporary church, fairly casual, and full of believers openly worshiping the Lord. The first hour was full of 30-40 minutes of worship, offering, and prayer, then the children were dismissed to another area of the hotel for their activities while the adults stay for the sermon. The kids did pretty well for the first part in with us, and were excited to go to the children's area, but about thirty minutes later they were starting to melt down and we ended up leaving early to get them home for naps.
Part of the adjustment here that we haven't yet done is changing the kids' schedules so that they better fit with the times when people do things here. For these first couple of weeks we have been doing everything on our own schedule, and not going out with friends or to restaurants, but today was the first time we realized how necessary it will be to at least get them shifted a little bit later so that a day of church stretching them a little bit past their normal nap time doesn't put them 2+ hours past their normal nap times with meltdowns inevitable. We would love for Sundays at church to be both a good experience for them and for us, and something we can look forward to.
Everyone at Viña seemed very welcoming and we are excited to trying it again next Sunday, hopefully with the kids' schedules slightly later than they were yesterday. :) Some other logistics to work out, too, if we continue to go there - its too far to walk with the kids, and a taxi round trip each time might add up quickly... We'll be looking into bus options, or who knows, maybe someone in our building or our immediate neighborhood goes to the same church and could give us a ride! Nothing's too big to pray for, right?
Love hearing this!! Definitely will pray for the kids sleeping schedules to begin to change, and for you guys to hook up with a ride from someone close by!
ReplyDeleteAll these things are big steps in changing cultures with small children!
You guys are doing amazing!! Praying for you to this end as well!!
Grateful that hopefully, you were blessed by the worship and some of what you heard encouraged your hearts!!
Much love,
Terri & Mark xoxo