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Happy New Year an’ a’ that!

We’ve got a further 2 hours to wait and looking forward to a BBQ with friends followed by a public firework display!

Love to you all from Doug and Rachel

That was the name we gave to a little dog we seemed to pick up on a mountain today. Very cute. We were just lying down for a rest and it appeared, a 9 month old puppy who appeared to have been abandoned but, having brains, cottoned on to the idea that you could pester tourists and visiting climbers to get fed and watered, around 3km from the nearest irrigation channel and 8km from the nearest house (measured laterally and vertically!).

We had a great day climbing today, from 3000ft to 6000ft. Being mad and almost being englishmen, we started at 1pm in the peak heat… along with another few Chileans who were going up for New Year. We disappointed them by turning round at 1880 metres and going home again, to peel (with sunburn) and to the jacuzzi (a cold one!).

So, we also took our little four-legged friend with us, under the false pretenses that we’d give him our remaining turkey sandwich. Which we did. We finally sussed his motives when, rather than be happily accompanied down the hill to the safety of families living down in the valley, he just buggered off in search of another sandwich from yet another stranger on the way up the hill! I suppose naiveity works both ways then!

p.s. Oscar- hope you’re not offended by us calling the dog after you. It was just the first name that came into my head. Honest!

Thats the plan…. and thats about it really.

I’m raring to go and started today by team building (getting Rachel out of bed), improving my fitness levels (hiking up a hill), learning and practicing communication skills (on Rachel, climbing same hill, i mean mountain obviously) and enhancing my levels of endurance (”Are we there yet?!!” YES!!).

So Happy New Year everyone and here’s to getting a job in 2006! My first appointment is after the 15th January. So no rush then….

I’ve finally found a contact for a Regional Trade consultancy here in Santiago, run by a Scotsman. Looks interesting.

We’re in the process of moving house…. so we’re online infrequently. Indeed, we won’t be online at all after tonight, until wednesday or thursday.

We’re moving house with the help of three things: muscles, a credit card and a Toyota Yaris. Oh, and of course our national identity card, called a RUT, which you need to do anything here!

“God promised that someone from David’s family would come to save the people of Israel, and that one is Jesus” Acts 13:23

Its been great to celebrate the coming of Christ here in Santiago Chile. They do it in style here, attending church in their masses (sorry…no quasi-religious pun intended) and then having family parties. There was a real buzz of excitement and anticipation of the birth of Christ, particularly in the streets. Walking past, the sound of laughter and joy was very encouraging and uplifting!

But it has been a difficult time for us and our families. We have missed the traditions, the games and the laughter of our own family get-togethers. Although we enjoyed a fantastic christmas meal with an “adopted” chilean family on the 25th, i think we’ve both had our grumpy times and our down times! Their coincidence yesterday led to some disharmony and upset, but, later, to forgiveness and reconciliation, following the example set by God himself.

Anyway, some short prayer requests: