I am now in my third week of my "internship" living separate from all the other students with a 59 year old woman named Hortencia near a small town called Grecia. My internship is working in a bakery. I drive there with the owner, Yadira, 5 days a week, and "work" 4 or 5 hours. It's fine, not spectacular. The bakery is called Musmanni, it is a franchise, and so they receive all of their stuff frozen from San Jose and they just have to throw it in the oven. To mix things up, i sometimes work at the "libreria" (kind of like a hallmark store/copy center) next door, where the manager thinks I am the best worker in the world. Tomorrow and friday I'm actually helping Yadira and her sister, who runs a catering company make food for like 20 events they have this weekend. I might actually get to cook something and that's exciting!
It was super hard adjusting to the new environment, and Hortencia had to adjust too I think. My first week here I think I felt the most homesick I have felt this whole semester. In San Jose, I had more freedom, my mom never asked when i would be home or worried about me. Also, I felt really good about my Spanish in San Jose because I have had more classes than most and my 2 months in Mexico helped immensely. Also, my host family there has had experience with 11 other students, so they know how to communicate well with me. Here, i realize how far I have yet to go with my language and it's also frustrating because even just an hour away there are differences in how people use words to express things. I've really had to get rid of some pride since being here.
Tomorrow is thanksgiving, I am pretty sad I am missing it, but God is helping me to be content here. Tomorrow is also the three week mark before I reutrn to Iowa. I am so ready to go home, and it is so tempting to just emotionally and mentally check out from this whole experience, but I know I shouldnt do that.
Some cultural aspects that have been magnified here:
- lack of planning ahead. Sometimes Yadira will call the night before and say that she's not going to work tomorrow, or last weekend Hortencia and I went to Paquerra (on the coast) to visit her new granddaughter. We left the house without really knowing exactly where all the bus stations where or what time they left, and we didnt really have a plan for how we were going to get back either.
- obsession with american brands: practically every store in Grecia sells hollister and aeropostale clothes. Most of them are fake. When I walk down the street I can see from a mile away that someone is wearing a fake hollister shirt, but it's SO IMPORTANT to them. They will pay like $30 for a fake aeropostale t-shirt. I just really dont get it because those brands are not even that cool
-compulsive spending. On payday at the the musmanni, immediately after getting off work 2 of the employees went shopping at "la tienda de los chunches" or "the junk store" i went with them and they just bought some of the most random, ridiculous things, like light up snowmen to hang in the window. I also have seen this working in the libreria and going shopping with hortencia.
i just realized that all those things sound negative. I think that is human tendency, when things are different we view them as more negative. The truth is that there are many beautiful things about this culture, apart from the gorgeous landscape. The people are so loving and everyone wants to give me gifts. God is using me to bless Hortencia, (I say this with confidence becasue she told me so) because she doesnt like being alone in her house, and it also gives her more reason to visit her family so they can meet me/entertain me.
Hortencia is beckoning me to watch tv with her now, so I think i will leave my blog at that. Keep praying for me! I appreciate it so much.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Nicaragua
On thursday we arrived home from our Nicaragua trip, then right away on friday a group of us headed out to Manuel Antonio foe fall break where we have been enjoying the national park and beaches and zip lining! We have free internet here at the hostel and Nicaragua was the most amazing experience of my time so far, so I guess I should blog about it, even though I dont even know where to start.
Nicaragua is a completely different world than Costa Rica. The people are far more poor (over 70 percent live on less than 2 dollars per day) there country's history is pretty violent, with military dictatorships, violent revolutions, earthquakes and hurracanes that destroyed the country and power hungry corrupt leaders. Nicaraguans are very passionate, especially about thier politics.
For 2 days our group studied some history in politics in the capital of Managua, then we headed out in groups of four to little villages outside of the city. My group traveled about an hour, further and further away from modern conveniences. I didnt know what to expect, but when we saw people legitimately travelling with horse and buggy instead of cars and when we got out of our taxi and began our trek up the dirt road, i knew i was in for a crazy different experience. I live in La Montanita. Our toilet was an outhouse, i showered with a bucket of water and a bowl, all my food was cooked over a fire and there were chickens and other animals everywhere.
I loved my experience so much. My family was so excited to have me. They hosted one other student 2 years ago and they still talk about her all the time like she is one of the family's nearest and dearest friend. They people were asking months in advance when we students would be coming, and i think it was the highlight of the year that we went. I really enjoyed the slow pace of life there. I just sat and was quiet at times, other times i played baseball and cards with the kids. My family always serevd me first and gave me the best food (the boughtfresh cow milk from their neighbor evey morning so that i could have milk in my coffee...woah) They poured traditional nicaraguan gifts on me like hairclips, earrings, a hammock and hand made sandals, even though they were poor and im sure these gifts required sacrafice. I just felt so loved by my family there and in those 6 short days I really fell in love with them too.
Since LASP teamed up with a church denomination called Brothers in Christ to find us our Christian host families, the villages we all visited just assumed we were missionaries, despite us saying we were really just students. They had us sing in front of church, teach kids' sunday school and my friend McCall actually preached in Spansh on Saturday night. We led a special youth group meeting and they had a special food sale and invited a neighboring church on sunday. Church is a very important part of their lives. They have 4 or 5 services a week. There were things i really liked and things I really didnt like about the church. One of the things I didnt like was the pastor's attitude that we could teach them so much and enlighten them with our spiritual ideas just because we were from the U.S. as much as we wanted to live on the same level as the Nicaraguans for the week, they always wanted to draw lines between us and them. We were the rich people they were poor. They thought we had so much to offer them, financially and spiritually, but they didnt realize what they were giving us.
There are a lot of difficult issues my experience in Nicaragua brought up. Many members of the community worked in sweatshops owned by American clothing companies. Often times foreign involvement in Nicaragua involves giving money, while ignoring the economic and political structural problems. Nicaraguans just expect other countries to give them stuff and they are never empowered to be self sufficient. These are things I will struggle to think about, along with many more.
Already I feel i am fogetting some aspects of my trip, as now my mind is filled with this gorgeous ocean view in Manuel Antonio. Tomorrow we go back to classes, I will be starting my literature classes and another round of spanish classes. I am forced to "move on" from nicaragua. But if any of you ask me about my trip when I return, please ask me about this awesome part of it.
prayer request: there are still boy drama issues with my host family here. My mom and sister are both moody and angry with each other. I feel really ackward and sometimes just wish I didnt have to be there so please pray for peace for my family and that I would feel loved and there.
Nicaragua is a completely different world than Costa Rica. The people are far more poor (over 70 percent live on less than 2 dollars per day) there country's history is pretty violent, with military dictatorships, violent revolutions, earthquakes and hurracanes that destroyed the country and power hungry corrupt leaders. Nicaraguans are very passionate, especially about thier politics.
For 2 days our group studied some history in politics in the capital of Managua, then we headed out in groups of four to little villages outside of the city. My group traveled about an hour, further and further away from modern conveniences. I didnt know what to expect, but when we saw people legitimately travelling with horse and buggy instead of cars and when we got out of our taxi and began our trek up the dirt road, i knew i was in for a crazy different experience. I live in La Montanita. Our toilet was an outhouse, i showered with a bucket of water and a bowl, all my food was cooked over a fire and there were chickens and other animals everywhere.
I loved my experience so much. My family was so excited to have me. They hosted one other student 2 years ago and they still talk about her all the time like she is one of the family's nearest and dearest friend. They people were asking months in advance when we students would be coming, and i think it was the highlight of the year that we went. I really enjoyed the slow pace of life there. I just sat and was quiet at times, other times i played baseball and cards with the kids. My family always serevd me first and gave me the best food (the boughtfresh cow milk from their neighbor evey morning so that i could have milk in my coffee...woah) They poured traditional nicaraguan gifts on me like hairclips, earrings, a hammock and hand made sandals, even though they were poor and im sure these gifts required sacrafice. I just felt so loved by my family there and in those 6 short days I really fell in love with them too.
Since LASP teamed up with a church denomination called Brothers in Christ to find us our Christian host families, the villages we all visited just assumed we were missionaries, despite us saying we were really just students. They had us sing in front of church, teach kids' sunday school and my friend McCall actually preached in Spansh on Saturday night. We led a special youth group meeting and they had a special food sale and invited a neighboring church on sunday. Church is a very important part of their lives. They have 4 or 5 services a week. There were things i really liked and things I really didnt like about the church. One of the things I didnt like was the pastor's attitude that we could teach them so much and enlighten them with our spiritual ideas just because we were from the U.S. as much as we wanted to live on the same level as the Nicaraguans for the week, they always wanted to draw lines between us and them. We were the rich people they were poor. They thought we had so much to offer them, financially and spiritually, but they didnt realize what they were giving us.
There are a lot of difficult issues my experience in Nicaragua brought up. Many members of the community worked in sweatshops owned by American clothing companies. Often times foreign involvement in Nicaragua involves giving money, while ignoring the economic and political structural problems. Nicaraguans just expect other countries to give them stuff and they are never empowered to be self sufficient. These are things I will struggle to think about, along with many more.
Already I feel i am fogetting some aspects of my trip, as now my mind is filled with this gorgeous ocean view in Manuel Antonio. Tomorrow we go back to classes, I will be starting my literature classes and another round of spanish classes. I am forced to "move on" from nicaragua. But if any of you ask me about my trip when I return, please ask me about this awesome part of it.
prayer request: there are still boy drama issues with my host family here. My mom and sister are both moody and angry with each other. I feel really ackward and sometimes just wish I didnt have to be there so please pray for peace for my family and that I would feel loved and there.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
So I have been avoiding blogging because there is just too much to say. I could go on and on about how lovely the beach was and how I saw monkeys and ate good food etc. that’s not really the heart of what is happening. I am changing. My perspectives are changing. One of my biggest fears is that when I return I will have so many ideas I want to share but I won’t know how to communicate them and I don’t know if I will find anyone who truly wants to listen. But I guess if I am worried about expressing myself, I might as well start now.
We went to a Del Monte banana plantation when we went to Limon last week. We had to come in unannounced and ask if we could look around because they have stopped giving tours because they have suffered some inconvenience over things tourists have seen in the past. We saw the bananas hanging from the trees in plastic bags covered in pesticides. We saw them spraying chemicals on the bananas so they wouldn’t mature until they reach the US, where they will spray more chemicals on them to make them ripen. They workers we were working really hard, and there was just a strange atmosphere, really kind of heavy. Our professors didn’t know exactly how much the workers were paid, but they knew it wasn’t much and that they were paid by the banana, not by the hour, which is not exactly ideal. The workers live on the plantation in little houses. When the airplanes pass over to spray the trees with chemicals, they spray the houses along with the plants. The chemicals cause some health problems for the workers, but who is going to complain? They could lose their job for complaining, and if they lose their job, they lose their house. They essentially lose everything because they are so dependent on their employer. Additionally, “monocropping” is not good for the land. Because the land is stripped bare except for banana plants, there is a lot of run-off. Dirt in the tropics is not like dirt in Iowa. So the earth washes away, together with a conglomeration of chemicals that have been sprayed on the plants, into a nearby river. It is quite likely that just downstream from this river live some indigenous people or another type of people without running water. This river has always been their food source but now they can’t use it because it is filled with chemicals because bananas are the #1 most consumed fruit in the U.S. Who knew that’s where our bananas came from?
As I believe I have mentioned before, Costa Ricans eat beans and rice every day, 2-3 times a day. In the past, they grew their beans and rice here in the country. Now, however, much of the farmland has been taken over by big fruit companies or coffee growers because these crops can be exported to the U.S. for much more money. The U.S. doesn’t want beans and rice, they want pineapple, bananas and coffee so that’s what Costa Rica grows. In the mean time, people in Costa Rica have to pay more money for their staple foods because they now have to import them from other countries. You may be saying, “but Laura, it’s ok that they have to pay more because they are making more money by exporting” (the economic term is “competitive advantage”) False. The people who own the land (US companies) are getting richer. The poor remain just as poor and can now afford even less food.
This is just one example of a perspective change that I have been undergoing here in Costa Rica. I hope people don’t think I’m a paranoid, over-the-top health nut when I get back and want to eat organic or locally-grown food, but I am aware that it is a possibility. ( I know this because I have thought it about other people) But I will leave you with this: Where does your food and clothing come from? Do you have any idea? How do you know that the workers who picked your food or sewed your clothes were not being exploited? Do you know what all those things we can’t pronounce on food labels actually do to your body? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I’m starting to think that I should.
We went to a Del Monte banana plantation when we went to Limon last week. We had to come in unannounced and ask if we could look around because they have stopped giving tours because they have suffered some inconvenience over things tourists have seen in the past. We saw the bananas hanging from the trees in plastic bags covered in pesticides. We saw them spraying chemicals on the bananas so they wouldn’t mature until they reach the US, where they will spray more chemicals on them to make them ripen. They workers we were working really hard, and there was just a strange atmosphere, really kind of heavy. Our professors didn’t know exactly how much the workers were paid, but they knew it wasn’t much and that they were paid by the banana, not by the hour, which is not exactly ideal. The workers live on the plantation in little houses. When the airplanes pass over to spray the trees with chemicals, they spray the houses along with the plants. The chemicals cause some health problems for the workers, but who is going to complain? They could lose their job for complaining, and if they lose their job, they lose their house. They essentially lose everything because they are so dependent on their employer. Additionally, “monocropping” is not good for the land. Because the land is stripped bare except for banana plants, there is a lot of run-off. Dirt in the tropics is not like dirt in Iowa. So the earth washes away, together with a conglomeration of chemicals that have been sprayed on the plants, into a nearby river. It is quite likely that just downstream from this river live some indigenous people or another type of people without running water. This river has always been their food source but now they can’t use it because it is filled with chemicals because bananas are the #1 most consumed fruit in the U.S. Who knew that’s where our bananas came from?
As I believe I have mentioned before, Costa Ricans eat beans and rice every day, 2-3 times a day. In the past, they grew their beans and rice here in the country. Now, however, much of the farmland has been taken over by big fruit companies or coffee growers because these crops can be exported to the U.S. for much more money. The U.S. doesn’t want beans and rice, they want pineapple, bananas and coffee so that’s what Costa Rica grows. In the mean time, people in Costa Rica have to pay more money for their staple foods because they now have to import them from other countries. You may be saying, “but Laura, it’s ok that they have to pay more because they are making more money by exporting” (the economic term is “competitive advantage”) False. The people who own the land (US companies) are getting richer. The poor remain just as poor and can now afford even less food.
This is just one example of a perspective change that I have been undergoing here in Costa Rica. I hope people don’t think I’m a paranoid, over-the-top health nut when I get back and want to eat organic or locally-grown food, but I am aware that it is a possibility. ( I know this because I have thought it about other people) But I will leave you with this: Where does your food and clothing come from? Do you have any idea? How do you know that the workers who picked your food or sewed your clothes were not being exploited? Do you know what all those things we can’t pronounce on food labels actually do to your body? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I’m starting to think that I should.
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Well, I have completed a month here and I am still alive. This week was kind of rough as far a being homesick goes. I was doing really good at focusing on one day at a time, but i realized that this week I had been saying the words "Jesus get me through this day, I need your strength" but I wasn't really believing that he is all I need. However, I feel like I have gotten back on track. Keep praying for me guys!
I have one more week of "core seminar" and then we all go to Nicaragua for a week. Nicaragua will be more rural and the families will be poorer. We will each be living with our own family just doing what they do for those 10 days. I'm nervous and excited. From what I hear, their life is a lot more simple so it may involve a lot of just sitting around, which will actually be really challenging for me. After Nicaragua we have fall break and then our schedules change up a bit. Its good to have changes in schedule so that I have little goals to look forward to.
For your viewing pleasure, I included this picture of about half our group when we went to visit the ruins of the first Spanish colony in Costa Rica
I have one more week of "core seminar" and then we all go to Nicaragua for a week. Nicaragua will be more rural and the families will be poorer. We will each be living with our own family just doing what they do for those 10 days. I'm nervous and excited. From what I hear, their life is a lot more simple so it may involve a lot of just sitting around, which will actually be really challenging for me. After Nicaragua we have fall break and then our schedules change up a bit. Its good to have changes in schedule so that I have little goals to look forward to.
For your viewing pleasure, I included this picture of about half our group when we went to visit the ruins of the first Spanish colony in Costa Rica
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Volcanoes, Parades, and Coffee
I am writing this blog from the comfort of my internet-free home so that I can save it to a flash drive and post it later. It is so hard to find time to get to an internet café, and then they aren’t always open when they say they will be open and then when I have a clock counting the minutes I use and how much I owe (even though it only costs like 60 cents/hour), I just don’t feel like I have the leisure to write a good blog, so I don’t know when I will actually post this but oh well.
I am 2 weeks into my time here and I have already had some adventures. Saturday I went with some friends to a VOLCANO. yep. It was sweet. We were right up there by the crater looking down into the steaming opening of the volcano, with the sulfur burning our eyes. On Sunday, a group of 15 of us went to Cartago where we saw the ruins of the first Spanish settlement in C.R. We also swam and had a cook-out . The bus ride back was an adventure, because the bus was definitely waaay over maximum capacity and we were driving up a super steep mountain with no guard rails in the rain. But we made it!
Today is independence day, so last night all the elementary schools in Costa Rica have parades of Faroles. A farol is a type of lantern, the kids parents make them in the shape of a national symbol or a school or house or some other shape and then they put candles inside of them and carry them in the parade. At Manfred’s school it was supposed to start at 6. We got there at 6:30 . It was dark by then, the school yard was like pure mud and everyone just seemed to be aimlessly standing around. I really didn’t understand what was happening. It turns out that they were waiting for the torch runners to arrive (because the news of Costa Rica’s independence was delivered to them by someone running with a letter and a torch) and so when the torch runners coming from another school arrived at Manfred’s school, a drum line started playing and everyone started marching down the street. It was quite festive. Then today I went with some friends to another parade. It was probably over 3 hours long, but we didn’t stay for the whole thing (especially since they don’t throw out candy in the parades here).
Classes here are interesting and challenging. We have lots of guest speakers from the community come and talk to our class about poverty, economic systems, music and culture etc. We also have a good deal of homework. It is so interesting to study culture, politics, economics and justice from a different point of view, in a land that has been hurt by American policies but at the same time loves American pop culture and fast food. This weekend we are taking a field trip to Limon, a province on the east coast. We will visit a banana plantation, and pineapple plantation and a coffee plantation (!) and no worries, we will also go to the beach!
I am still enjoying my family here, but I would like to bring up one thing, not because I want to air their dirty laundry but because I would really like you all to pray. There has been an issue because my 16 year old sister here has a “boyfriend” who is 23 who she met online. Her parents are in an uproar and really don’t know what to do. It is awkward for me to be on the outskirts of all this, and I think we all need God’s wisdom and direction, and I want to be able to help the situation as best I can.
As a side note, I have eaten so much beans and rice here! Especially rice. I also decided today that I miss Mexican food. Tacos, burritos, and enchiladas are NOT traditional Costa Rican (or “Tican”) food. But it doesn’t even matter what the food is like here because the coffee is SO GOOD. I have it in the morning and in the afternoon every day. When I travel outside of the city there are coffee fields everywhere. I would also like to mention that you can buy a pineapple here for less than a dollar, and one of those little baskets of strawberries for 50 cents.
Many of you have told me you read my blog. You don’t even know how encouraging that is. I don’t have time to respond to everyone but know that I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers. You can pray for me in the following ways:
1. My relationship with my family. Sometimes its hard to know how I fit in and what my role is.
2. Balance of time between school, cultural events and family
3. We are being faced with many challenging ideas, and I really want to process them in humility with a biblical perspective, not a perspective of human wisdom.
4. For the people I am missing and who are missing me (ie family, friends and Kipp)
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Chapter 2... Costa Rica
I made it to Costa Rica! Preparing for this trip has been so different from Mexico just because I know how much loneliness and homesickness to expect, and for that reason I think I was more nervous than excited. In the Miami airport I met up with the rest of my group. There are 34 of us in all, and we are a very lovely group if I do say so myself. I only slept 3 hours the night before I left and I think I am still trying to make up the difference. I have been SO EXHAUSTED all week! This week was orientation, on Thursday we split into group of 3 and explored downtown San Jose we had a list of things we had to find, and a map. Unfortunately almost none of the streets are labeled and nobody really knows which street is which, so it is very difficult getting from one place to the other. I was with McCall and Andrew and we laughed a lot at ourselves. After a morning of being quite disoriented and getting incorrect directions from the locals (they don’t want to disappoint you by saying they don’ know where something is) we ate lunch in a very pretty park. We just couldn’t get over the fact that 2 days prior we had been at home in the US and now we were on an adventure of cultural blunders in a completely foreign country, eating lunches packed for us my women we hardly even knew in a park that we couldn’t even find on the map! There was also a lovely object lesson at lunch. Andrew’s mom had packed him a huge orange, but she had peeled it with a potato peeler and cut a small part of the top off. We just really didn’t know how he was supposed to eat it. McCall decided it was a great representation of our situation because “it’s like we have things that are sort of familiar and we have our ways of doing them, and just the fact that people here do things differently makes the normal seem completely abnormal and makes us feel completely incompetent.” We just have different ideas of how to do things.
I have a great host family. Thank you Lord! Henry and Maritza are my parents, and my sister Alejandra is 16, and my brother Manfred is 8. They have had 11 students before me, so they are “pro” hosts. But speaking of doing things differently… tonight we had taquitos for dinner, meat rolled up in a taco shell and fried. I was excited when I got to the table and saw the taquitos piled with lettuce and sour cream and salsa, until I looked closer and realized the “sour cream” and “salsa” was actually ketchup and mayonaise. Yep. It was drenched in ketchup and mayonaise. But I ate it J
A few other observations:
It is colder here than I expected. It rains every day and right now I really wish I had some sweat pants and not just shorts.
People here a clean freaks. EVERYONE takes a shower EVERY day. For those of you who don’t know my showering habits… let’s just say it’s a stretch.
People dress up here. Most women wear high heels or fancy flats. I want to fit it, but I have to walk about 2 miles to school most days and then another 2 miles to language school in the afternoon, so I’m wearing my tennis shoes… go ahead, call the fashion police.
I’m doing this guys! Please keep praying for me. It is overwhelming to think about being here for over 3 months, but God is faithful to give me strength and joy for TODAY, and that is all I need.
I have a great host family. Thank you Lord! Henry and Maritza are my parents, and my sister Alejandra is 16, and my brother Manfred is 8. They have had 11 students before me, so they are “pro” hosts. But speaking of doing things differently… tonight we had taquitos for dinner, meat rolled up in a taco shell and fried. I was excited when I got to the table and saw the taquitos piled with lettuce and sour cream and salsa, until I looked closer and realized the “sour cream” and “salsa” was actually ketchup and mayonaise. Yep. It was drenched in ketchup and mayonaise. But I ate it J
A few other observations:
It is colder here than I expected. It rains every day and right now I really wish I had some sweat pants and not just shorts.
People here a clean freaks. EVERYONE takes a shower EVERY day. For those of you who don’t know my showering habits… let’s just say it’s a stretch.
People dress up here. Most women wear high heels or fancy flats. I want to fit it, but I have to walk about 2 miles to school most days and then another 2 miles to language school in the afternoon, so I’m wearing my tennis shoes… go ahead, call the fashion police.
I’m doing this guys! Please keep praying for me. It is overwhelming to think about being here for over 3 months, but God is faithful to give me strength and joy for TODAY, and that is all I need.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
I'm home
Well, I'm home now, safe and sound. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. I was starting to have my place and fit in down there, I was getting a pretty good handle on the language, and now I'm gone. I was happy to come home, but I love so many people in Queretaro and I already miss them a lot. I am surprised how easy it is to go through my day and not think about my experience and all I learned there, all those special people. I think I need to process a little bit more.
Praise God that I was healthy and safe my whole time this summer- it really is amazing how He protected me
Praise God for all I learned and how He revealed Himself to me this summer
Pray that my time in Queretaro will have a lasting impact on many aspects on my life in the US.
Pray that I can maintain my relationships with my Mexican friends through the internet
thank you all so much for praying for me. You are a blessing!
Praise God that I was healthy and safe my whole time this summer- it really is amazing how He protected me
Praise God for all I learned and how He revealed Himself to me this summer
Pray that my time in Queretaro will have a lasting impact on many aspects on my life in the US.
Pray that I can maintain my relationships with my Mexican friends through the internet
thank you all so much for praying for me. You are a blessing!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A picture is worth a thousand words...
And since I don't feel like writing thousands of words, feast your eyes on these!...
Left: a gordita! Saturday I ate a gordita (not the one in the picture) that was by far the best thing I've eaten here... it was pretty close to life-changing
Below: The Paredes family (minus Ramon, the dad, who is taking the picture) and myself in Bernal
Photos from the youthgroup "garage sale" of sorts. The purpose was to provide a poor neighborhood with cheap clothes, and then use the money to prepare food for people who sell things in the street near the church
Pijamada!!!!!!! (aka slumber party) we are making jewelry. Notice how well I fit in ;) Also, notice that Ariola is having no fun whatsoever at this moment haha!
Left: a gordita! Saturday I ate a gordita (not the one in the picture) that was by far the best thing I've eaten here... it was pretty close to life-changingBelow: The Paredes family (minus Ramon, the dad, who is taking the picture) and myself in Bernal
Photos from the youthgroup "garage sale" of sorts. The purpose was to provide a poor neighborhood with cheap clothes, and then use the money to prepare food for people who sell things in the street near the church
Pijamada!!!!!!! (aka slumber party) we are making jewelry. Notice how well I fit in ;) Also, notice that Ariola is having no fun whatsoever at this moment haha!
*I have just over 2 weeks left here. Pray that I can "aprovechar el tiempo" make good use of my time. I want to spend every single day with a purpose. And I don't just want to "hang out" with the girls, I want to point them toward the Savior, I want each conversation to be seasoned with the Holy Spirit. Honestly, I don't really know how to do that, so pray that God gives me wisdom!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Still kickin' it
Well it's been a while, and although I am not feeling incredibly inspired to write a blog, I figured I should let people know that I am still alive.
Sometimes I stop and wonder if I am really on a "mission's trip". Mexican hospitality is AMAZING. I get invited over to people's houses or out to eat all the time, and everywhere I go they tell me "this is your house, Laura". It has been really cool to get to know families within the church, to hear the stories of their faith and just share a piece of their lives with them. On Sunday a family from the church took me to Bernal and San Miguel de Allende, two beautiful towns about 45 minutes outside of Queretaro. Bernal has a "pena" (cool-looking rock formation) and San Miguel has a beautiful iglesia. It was a beautiful day of being a tourist, and I will upload photos later when the battery on My camera is not dead.
As far as ministry goes, here is what has been going on: Friday I had a "pijamada" (slumber party) with the high school girls. I was a little nervous about it, but I think everything went pretty well. 11 girls came. I know it seems strange that part of my work here is to have slumber parties, but have no fear, it was a strategic action. The high school girls for the most part lack a sense of unity. Some don't get along and some are new to the church. Since there are not a lot of Christians in Queretaro, the girls really need the encouragement and support of Christian friends, and this is part of what I am trying to build this summer. Also, a couple of girls invited thier non-christian friends. Hopefully it was a good introduction to the church for them. I briefly shared a few Bible verses with them, and my desire that they truly love and support each other and grow in their relationships with each other through Christ, but I was really nervous and I have no idea if I used the right words or what anybody thought, but I hope that God was using me.
Additionally, we are in the midst of planning the "campamento" (summer camp). I'll just be up front about this one, I don't like Mexican planning:) For example, today we discussed who should and shouldn't receive financial assistance to attend the camp. We have talked about this subject in the past, and today we talked about it for a good 30-45 minutes and in the end, we still didnt come to a conclusion and we're going to talk about it at the end of the week. ahh!!!! so much for efficiency!!!! I'm kind of the go-to girl for anything nobody else wants to do for the camp, making flyers, buying materials, planning games, finding devotional verses pertaining to the subject. A few of the missionaries/people who work in the church act like they are just so stressed out and don't have time to plan the camp, and even though I don't really understand why they are so stressed, I am glad I am here to help. And I am really excited because it is going to be fun!!!
I have hung out one on one with most of the high school girls and I find myself in kind of a strange position. The original "oh cool, a foreign person" phase has passed and I feel like now a few of the girls arent very interested in spending time with me. I pray that God will give me wisdom in knowing who to invite out again and how to pursue a relationship with the girls. I feel like my time is short, and I want to be able to invest in girls who want and need my support.
This post is really positive, but I don't want to be fake, I really miss my family and friends language and culture, and I am constantly telling myself not to wish the time away. Please pray that I can keep my thoughts in the present and make the most of ever day here.
Sometimes I stop and wonder if I am really on a "mission's trip". Mexican hospitality is AMAZING. I get invited over to people's houses or out to eat all the time, and everywhere I go they tell me "this is your house, Laura". It has been really cool to get to know families within the church, to hear the stories of their faith and just share a piece of their lives with them. On Sunday a family from the church took me to Bernal and San Miguel de Allende, two beautiful towns about 45 minutes outside of Queretaro. Bernal has a "pena" (cool-looking rock formation) and San Miguel has a beautiful iglesia. It was a beautiful day of being a tourist, and I will upload photos later when the battery on My camera is not dead.
As far as ministry goes, here is what has been going on: Friday I had a "pijamada" (slumber party) with the high school girls. I was a little nervous about it, but I think everything went pretty well. 11 girls came. I know it seems strange that part of my work here is to have slumber parties, but have no fear, it was a strategic action. The high school girls for the most part lack a sense of unity. Some don't get along and some are new to the church. Since there are not a lot of Christians in Queretaro, the girls really need the encouragement and support of Christian friends, and this is part of what I am trying to build this summer. Also, a couple of girls invited thier non-christian friends. Hopefully it was a good introduction to the church for them. I briefly shared a few Bible verses with them, and my desire that they truly love and support each other and grow in their relationships with each other through Christ, but I was really nervous and I have no idea if I used the right words or what anybody thought, but I hope that God was using me.
Additionally, we are in the midst of planning the "campamento" (summer camp). I'll just be up front about this one, I don't like Mexican planning:) For example, today we discussed who should and shouldn't receive financial assistance to attend the camp. We have talked about this subject in the past, and today we talked about it for a good 30-45 minutes and in the end, we still didnt come to a conclusion and we're going to talk about it at the end of the week. ahh!!!! so much for efficiency!!!! I'm kind of the go-to girl for anything nobody else wants to do for the camp, making flyers, buying materials, planning games, finding devotional verses pertaining to the subject. A few of the missionaries/people who work in the church act like they are just so stressed out and don't have time to plan the camp, and even though I don't really understand why they are so stressed, I am glad I am here to help. And I am really excited because it is going to be fun!!!
I have hung out one on one with most of the high school girls and I find myself in kind of a strange position. The original "oh cool, a foreign person" phase has passed and I feel like now a few of the girls arent very interested in spending time with me. I pray that God will give me wisdom in knowing who to invite out again and how to pursue a relationship with the girls. I feel like my time is short, and I want to be able to invest in girls who want and need my support.
This post is really positive, but I don't want to be fake, I really miss my family and friends language and culture, and I am constantly telling myself not to wish the time away. Please pray that I can keep my thoughts in the present and make the most of ever day here.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
hmm
I believe Queretaro is one of the nicer cities of Mexico, I haven't really witnessed a lot of extreme poverty but I did have a conversation today I want to share.
I was talking with Job, the worship leader about the show "extreme home makeover" (I show i happen to be a fan of and cry every time) and he was telling me that he finds that show so crazy, because when they start out with a family with a rundown house who can't afford to fix it. The American "poor" more or less. But Job remarked that these people usually start out with a house with 2 floors and a large yard, that's like a mansion here! He can hardly believe we consider them poor.
A few weeks ago a guest in our home and Evy were remarking that in the US, to be poor means that you don't have a car to drive to work in or you have to rent an apartment instead of own a house, but here that doesnt mean poor. Here, poor means you don't have a house nor do you have food on a daily basis.
The majority of people I have met here, I would not consider underpriviledged, they just realize what they can live without. I don't have AC and I'm still alive. We don't have a dishwasher and it takes like 2 seconds to wash the dishes by hand. They don't have a clothes dryer because they can line dry the clothes and dont need to pay for the energy to run the machine.
maybe simpler is better
I was talking with Job, the worship leader about the show "extreme home makeover" (I show i happen to be a fan of and cry every time) and he was telling me that he finds that show so crazy, because when they start out with a family with a rundown house who can't afford to fix it. The American "poor" more or less. But Job remarked that these people usually start out with a house with 2 floors and a large yard, that's like a mansion here! He can hardly believe we consider them poor.
A few weeks ago a guest in our home and Evy were remarking that in the US, to be poor means that you don't have a car to drive to work in or you have to rent an apartment instead of own a house, but here that doesnt mean poor. Here, poor means you don't have a house nor do you have food on a daily basis.
The majority of people I have met here, I would not consider underpriviledged, they just realize what they can live without. I don't have AC and I'm still alive. We don't have a dishwasher and it takes like 2 seconds to wash the dishes by hand. They don't have a clothes dryer because they can line dry the clothes and dont need to pay for the energy to run the machine.
maybe simpler is better
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Available
Well, I am in the midst of week 4 of my time here in Mexico (to be exact it is day 24 and there are 35 left, but who's counting?) and things are going really well. After completely reconstructing my mindset and the way I viewed my purpose of being here, I finally feel like God can use me here. Dejame explicar (allow me to explain):
First of all, I am not here to do "stuff," to complete tasks, to check off things on a list. For me, that is SO HARD. I am a planner, I like to be able to track my successes and failures, I want to know if I am doing a good job. But there is no one here to say "Laura, do this, this and this". There is no list. Therefore, I have come to realize that my number one priority this summer has to be my own personal relationship with God. I knew that in my head before I came, but now I know it in my heart. Here in Queretaro I don't have my family friends, house, car, culture, language, schedule, and my appearance that fits in with everyone else. I didn't realize how much I depend on these things, and now I have to depend on God to give me my identity and my peace becasue I don't have these things. I have come to realize that the one and only thing I have to offer the people of Queretaro is my heart, and when they see my heart I want them to see God. I want them to see the God of salvation, the Lord of love. Often I cannot express myself very well in words, but I trust that the Holy Spirit can still speak through me with or without words.
At first I was really frustrated that I wasn't always doing something. I felt like I had way too much free time, but now I have slightly less free time and I am learning to embrace the free time I do have. I have never taken so much time to spend with the Lord, free from the pressures of my schedule and responsibilities, and this opportunity has been an immense blessing to me.
I have been hanging out with many of the high school girls one-on-one and I am also planning group events. I see the Lord in these times in the fact that these girls like me! I honestly don't understand it. I know I sound like an idiot when I try to talk most of the time, I don't fit into the culture at all, so I don't really understand why they would want to hang out with me but they are genuinely excited to get to know me. Thank you Lord!
**Please pray for the girls because there is a lack of unity among them, and in this culture where the vast majority of people do not share their beliefs, they need each other more than they even realize.
** Also, there is at least one girl I know of who has not accepted the Lord as her Savior, but she has not come to youth group the last 2 weeks. Pray that I can connect with her and that we can have some good conversation
I want to also share a sweet story of how I have seen God working in the church. On Tuesday, a 27-year-old lady named Christina was walking past the church and she heard the worship team practicing for the Wednesday night praise service. She lives close to the church and she said she had wanted to come check it out for a while, but Tuesday she saw the gate was open and came on in. Pastor Martin saw her and started talking. She said she would come to church, but she didnt know anyone. So Martin introduced her to Jessica, Yetzi and myself. She came to the worship service last night and I sat next to her. She thought it was really cool but I don't know how comfortable she is with Christianity because when it was time to pray in groups she wanted me to pray (praying in Spanish is not exactly my strong point). But it was really cool that I had the opportunity to pray with her and for her. She said she is going to come to the young adults group tonight. Praise the Lord for working in Christina's heart and giving her the courage to walk into the church, and also praise the Lord for the love I saw poured out by everyone welcoming her.
Well this post is long enough, but the last thought of the day is this: The importance of being AVAILABLE. I think in the US we feel like we always have to fill up our schedule with stuff to do. But when we sit back, relax, and just enjoy the presence of the Lord, this is when he can fill us with is Holy Spirit. When our eyes and schedules are open to those around us, we can find such great ways to minister to others!
First of all, I am not here to do "stuff," to complete tasks, to check off things on a list. For me, that is SO HARD. I am a planner, I like to be able to track my successes and failures, I want to know if I am doing a good job. But there is no one here to say "Laura, do this, this and this". There is no list. Therefore, I have come to realize that my number one priority this summer has to be my own personal relationship with God. I knew that in my head before I came, but now I know it in my heart. Here in Queretaro I don't have my family friends, house, car, culture, language, schedule, and my appearance that fits in with everyone else. I didn't realize how much I depend on these things, and now I have to depend on God to give me my identity and my peace becasue I don't have these things. I have come to realize that the one and only thing I have to offer the people of Queretaro is my heart, and when they see my heart I want them to see God. I want them to see the God of salvation, the Lord of love. Often I cannot express myself very well in words, but I trust that the Holy Spirit can still speak through me with or without words.
At first I was really frustrated that I wasn't always doing something. I felt like I had way too much free time, but now I have slightly less free time and I am learning to embrace the free time I do have. I have never taken so much time to spend with the Lord, free from the pressures of my schedule and responsibilities, and this opportunity has been an immense blessing to me.
I have been hanging out with many of the high school girls one-on-one and I am also planning group events. I see the Lord in these times in the fact that these girls like me! I honestly don't understand it. I know I sound like an idiot when I try to talk most of the time, I don't fit into the culture at all, so I don't really understand why they would want to hang out with me but they are genuinely excited to get to know me. Thank you Lord!
**Please pray for the girls because there is a lack of unity among them, and in this culture where the vast majority of people do not share their beliefs, they need each other more than they even realize.
** Also, there is at least one girl I know of who has not accepted the Lord as her Savior, but she has not come to youth group the last 2 weeks. Pray that I can connect with her and that we can have some good conversation
I want to also share a sweet story of how I have seen God working in the church. On Tuesday, a 27-year-old lady named Christina was walking past the church and she heard the worship team practicing for the Wednesday night praise service. She lives close to the church and she said she had wanted to come check it out for a while, but Tuesday she saw the gate was open and came on in. Pastor Martin saw her and started talking. She said she would come to church, but she didnt know anyone. So Martin introduced her to Jessica, Yetzi and myself. She came to the worship service last night and I sat next to her. She thought it was really cool but I don't know how comfortable she is with Christianity because when it was time to pray in groups she wanted me to pray (praying in Spanish is not exactly my strong point). But it was really cool that I had the opportunity to pray with her and for her. She said she is going to come to the young adults group tonight. Praise the Lord for working in Christina's heart and giving her the courage to walk into the church, and also praise the Lord for the love I saw poured out by everyone welcoming her.
Well this post is long enough, but the last thought of the day is this: The importance of being AVAILABLE. I think in the US we feel like we always have to fill up our schedule with stuff to do. But when we sit back, relax, and just enjoy the presence of the Lord, this is when he can fill us with is Holy Spirit. When our eyes and schedules are open to those around us, we can find such great ways to minister to others!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
a few pics
Here are just a few pictures to give you an idea of my living arrangements this summer.
(Left) Me, Berta, Evy and America. I live with Evy and America and Berta is a really good friend who eats with us a lot and I went to her house to eat once too.
(Left) Me, Berta, Evy and America. I live with Evy and America and Berta is a really good friend who eats with us a lot and I went to her house to eat once too.
(below) the living room and dining room of my house, this makes up most of the main floor
My bedroom. Look mom, I make my bed every day!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A few things that I believe need to be addressed...
This blog has no purpose but there are just some things I have found interesting so I am going to share them....
Coffee: anyone who knows me knows that I am very passionate about my coffee, so of course this was one thing that I was very much looking forward to about coming to Mexico. For heaven's sake, the SSP team came back with real coffee beans and coffee fresh from the mountains of mexico and pictures of the whole coffe-making process. I was EPICly disappointed when i came to Queretaro and found that basically everyone drinks instant coffee. This suck! Even at restaurants and coffee shops you can't buy just a regular cup of brewed coffee. Boo! But clearly, I am surviving
I ate fried bananas Tuesday, topped with sour cream and sugar. It was weird. I liked it
It is governor election time here. They have interesting means of campaigning here. There are cars that drive through residential neighborhoods with big ol speakers announcing things about the candidate. One time, as I was walking for the bus there was a group of campaigners in the street at a busy intersection. When the light turned red, they would run out into the street waving flags, yelling, and asking people if they wanted stickers on their cars. The weirdest part was that they were blaring a song with these lyrics "I want to make love like na na na, I want to make love like na na na" over and over. It did not strike me as professional. Maybe they didnt know what the song said haha.
Yesterday I wanted to take bus #5 from el centro to my house. There are 2 route 5's. I took the wrong one. When I realized this, there was really nothing I could do but wait for the bus to complete it's route so I could get off on the street I got on a take a different bus. Low and behold, it took almost 2 hours. Good thing I didn't have to be anywhere...
Oh Mexico :)
Coffee: anyone who knows me knows that I am very passionate about my coffee, so of course this was one thing that I was very much looking forward to about coming to Mexico. For heaven's sake, the SSP team came back with real coffee beans and coffee fresh from the mountains of mexico and pictures of the whole coffe-making process. I was EPICly disappointed when i came to Queretaro and found that basically everyone drinks instant coffee. This suck! Even at restaurants and coffee shops you can't buy just a regular cup of brewed coffee. Boo! But clearly, I am surviving
I ate fried bananas Tuesday, topped with sour cream and sugar. It was weird. I liked it
It is governor election time here. They have interesting means of campaigning here. There are cars that drive through residential neighborhoods with big ol speakers announcing things about the candidate. One time, as I was walking for the bus there was a group of campaigners in the street at a busy intersection. When the light turned red, they would run out into the street waving flags, yelling, and asking people if they wanted stickers on their cars. The weirdest part was that they were blaring a song with these lyrics "I want to make love like na na na, I want to make love like na na na" over and over. It did not strike me as professional. Maybe they didnt know what the song said haha.
Yesterday I wanted to take bus #5 from el centro to my house. There are 2 route 5's. I took the wrong one. When I realized this, there was really nothing I could do but wait for the bus to complete it's route so I could get off on the street I got on a take a different bus. Low and behold, it took almost 2 hours. Good thing I didn't have to be anywhere...
Oh Mexico :)
Monday, June 8, 2009
The 2 week mark
I can't figure out how to place the photos in a different location, but I thought I would just give you a taste of the things I have seen so far in the beautiful city of Queretaro.
So I have kind of been avoiding blogging for a while because it's been a little rough adjusting to Queretaro. I have felt a little lonely and homesick and at times quite useless. Like I said before, my ministry here is mostly relational, which means that I don't always have a task to do, which is hard for me. I talked with the pastor's wife Saturday and she gave me a little insight that I came in kind of a hard time, and hopefully God can use me to do a "healing work" in the hearts of some people here who have been hurt. God has been teaching that my chief job here in Mexico is to love him and become a woman of righteousness and grace after his own heart.
I am starting this week with a good attitude, and not letting Satan invade my thoughts and discourage me. Yesterday church was great, we had a potluck and in the evening I went to an amazing traditional Mexican dance show with 2 of the high school girls. I feel like I am finally jumping into the relationship building, and I have a few other "hang out" times scheduled for later in the week.
please pray:
I won't be homesick
I can build awesome relationships with the high school girls and church staff
I will get along with my host family, they will enjoy having me here, and I can encourage them.
God will be glorified!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Digging In
Well it is now my fourth full day here in Queretaro and so far, it has been so good! The feeling of overwhelmed-ness has passed and I'm just enjoying being a Mexican. Yesterday was a really good day. I met with Pasotr Martin in the morning and talked about the mission and vision for discipleship and small groups here at Companerismo Cristiano Horizonte. My chief role this summer will be to disciple the girls of "prepa" (la escuela preparatoria is like middle school). So really it's going to be great, this morning I made up a schedule of different events we can do this summer like sleepovers and movie night and swimming and whatnot, and I will also be meeting with the 7 girls one-on-one. It is kind of weird planning everything, because I haven't met the girls yet! Tomorrow (saturday) night is the first meeting of "extreme" the middle school/ high school group. I am so excited! Please pray that I can build great relationships with them.
Yesterday I also met with the other leaders of Extreme, I didnt know what they were talking about a lot of the time, they were discussing last weeks meeting and things, but they are awesome people and I am really excited to work with them!
Lastly, last night I went to the young adults group. I was a little nervous to be in a big group of people, but it went really well. I made a new friend named Carmelita and I just really enjoyed singing praises to our God and talking about my faith with people my own age. (ok, i basically just listened, but oh well)
God just blessed my so much yesterday. First of all, the confidence that pastor Martin has placed in me to minister to these girls is incredible. Doubts try to creep in that I am not the one for this position, but he tells me not to worry about my Spanish, or what they think of me. Talking with him reminds me that God has brought me here for a reason and he WILL work through me if I let him.
Additionally, when I was walking to the church before my meeting I was just praying to God that He would take away my fears of speaking, that he would give me the ears to hear and understand the Spanish and that he would fill my mouth with words to speak, and he totally did, he just gave me this peace and comfort even though I am living in a completely different world!
Speaking of different world, here are just some side notes about Mexican culture that I have found interesting...
everyone greets everyone with a kiss on the cheek. Whenever someone arrives or before they leave, they go to every single person in the room and give them a kiss on the cheek. I think it's great, it makes me feel like part of the group!
Some foods that I have eaten so far:
coconut ice cream
Mole
a billion kinds of "aguas frescas". Drinks made from fresh fruit. I have had mango, papaya, strawberry and watermelon
no intestine or tongue or eyeball yet, but who knows what will happen :)
ok this is way too long, if you read it all, congratulations!
Yesterday I also met with the other leaders of Extreme, I didnt know what they were talking about a lot of the time, they were discussing last weeks meeting and things, but they are awesome people and I am really excited to work with them!
Lastly, last night I went to the young adults group. I was a little nervous to be in a big group of people, but it went really well. I made a new friend named Carmelita and I just really enjoyed singing praises to our God and talking about my faith with people my own age. (ok, i basically just listened, but oh well)
God just blessed my so much yesterday. First of all, the confidence that pastor Martin has placed in me to minister to these girls is incredible. Doubts try to creep in that I am not the one for this position, but he tells me not to worry about my Spanish, or what they think of me. Talking with him reminds me that God has brought me here for a reason and he WILL work through me if I let him.
Additionally, when I was walking to the church before my meeting I was just praying to God that He would take away my fears of speaking, that he would give me the ears to hear and understand the Spanish and that he would fill my mouth with words to speak, and he totally did, he just gave me this peace and comfort even though I am living in a completely different world!
Speaking of different world, here are just some side notes about Mexican culture that I have found interesting...
everyone greets everyone with a kiss on the cheek. Whenever someone arrives or before they leave, they go to every single person in the room and give them a kiss on the cheek. I think it's great, it makes me feel like part of the group!
Some foods that I have eaten so far:
coconut ice cream
Mole
a billion kinds of "aguas frescas". Drinks made from fresh fruit. I have had mango, papaya, strawberry and watermelon
no intestine or tongue or eyeball yet, but who knows what will happen :)
ok this is way too long, if you read it all, congratulations!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I am here!
Well, I am here. I arrived about 8:00 monday evening, cruised around the city with Jessica (one of the missionaries from the US) for a while, picked up her husband Jean Paul from school and then went to my home. Not going to lie, I am a little overwhelmed. I feel like my 6 years of studying spanish are completely worthless. But it was just the first night, so hopefully it will get better.
My house is great, I love it already. I live with Evy, who is about 40 and her mother America. They have a beautiful home. I have my own bedroom and bathroom and there is even a pretty fountain in the back of the house that she said I can sit and read by. Evy can speak English if she needs to but knows I need to practice Spanish. I think they are a little more direct than many Mexicans, for example, they just keep telling me that I have to tell them when I don't like any food because they want me to be comfortable and they want me to feel like family.
Even though I am asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" I know that God is in control. Evy and America say that I am an answer to prayer because they were praying that God would send them someone to live with them. Someone to whom they could be a blessing and someone who could bless them. Thank you Jesus that I have a house in which I can be comfortable! (despite the lack of AC)
Today I will go to Horizonte Church and meet the pastor and just be generally oriented, so I will let you know how that goes!
My house is great, I love it already. I live with Evy, who is about 40 and her mother America. They have a beautiful home. I have my own bedroom and bathroom and there is even a pretty fountain in the back of the house that she said I can sit and read by. Evy can speak English if she needs to but knows I need to practice Spanish. I think they are a little more direct than many Mexicans, for example, they just keep telling me that I have to tell them when I don't like any food because they want me to be comfortable and they want me to feel like family.
Even though I am asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" I know that God is in control. Evy and America say that I am an answer to prayer because they were praying that God would send them someone to live with them. Someone to whom they could be a blessing and someone who could bless them. Thank you Jesus that I have a house in which I can be comfortable! (despite the lack of AC)
Today I will go to Horizonte Church and meet the pastor and just be generally oriented, so I will let you know how that goes!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Why am I going?
Well I leave in about 6 days, and as my first real blog post, I think I should just share why I am going to Mexico to serve God and people this summer.
In John 10:10, Christ says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full". I have accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for my sins. Jesus is my Savior, and I have a personal relationship with him. He gives me joy, peace and purpose. I truly believe that there is life after death, life in heaven with Christ. I know that I cannot keep this salvation to myself, I want to share it with others.
In one of our SOS meetings, Tommy Moon stated that missions can be summed up in Christ's words in Luke 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It begins with me and Jesus, spending time with Him, getting to know Him and just resting in His love. When we are filled with Christ's love, it will naturally flow out into other areas of life and affect other people.
I know that I could spend my whole life sharing Christ with people right here in Iowa, but God has also given me a passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. I love the passion of the culture, the relaxed lifestyle, and the value of family. For me, it only makes sense that I combine my love for Christ and and my love for hispanic language and culture!
I think many times, we Christians here in the US forget that we really arent the only Christians in the world. We forget that God is moving outside of our neat little model of what a good church and good Christians look like. Plain and simple, I want to see what God is doing in other parts of the world! I want to learn more about Him and the way He works! I'm not expecting to go down to Mexico and change a bunch of stuff and show everyone how they can make their lives better by being more like me. No, I'm just excited to get involved in what God is already doing in Queretaro and Horizonte church!
Lastly, one of the main reasons I chose to go to Mexico this summer, rather than some other part of the world, is because there are so many Mexicans in NW Iowa and I want to become equipped to serve them better. There are so many disparities between the American culture and the Mexican-American culture, and I think a little understanding could go a long way in reaching out to each other, and drawing people to the love of Christ. I want to learn about Mexico, the way people think and the way they live. I want to learn about people's views on faith, missions, and immigration to the US. I want to use this understanding when I return in August to build relationships with Mexicans in the US. What I truly desire to see here in Sioux City, in Orange City and in all of the US is described by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
In John 10:10, Christ says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full". I have accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for my sins. Jesus is my Savior, and I have a personal relationship with him. He gives me joy, peace and purpose. I truly believe that there is life after death, life in heaven with Christ. I know that I cannot keep this salvation to myself, I want to share it with others.
In one of our SOS meetings, Tommy Moon stated that missions can be summed up in Christ's words in Luke 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It begins with me and Jesus, spending time with Him, getting to know Him and just resting in His love. When we are filled with Christ's love, it will naturally flow out into other areas of life and affect other people.
I know that I could spend my whole life sharing Christ with people right here in Iowa, but God has also given me a passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. I love the passion of the culture, the relaxed lifestyle, and the value of family. For me, it only makes sense that I combine my love for Christ and and my love for hispanic language and culture!
I think many times, we Christians here in the US forget that we really arent the only Christians in the world. We forget that God is moving outside of our neat little model of what a good church and good Christians look like. Plain and simple, I want to see what God is doing in other parts of the world! I want to learn more about Him and the way He works! I'm not expecting to go down to Mexico and change a bunch of stuff and show everyone how they can make their lives better by being more like me. No, I'm just excited to get involved in what God is already doing in Queretaro and Horizonte church!
Lastly, one of the main reasons I chose to go to Mexico this summer, rather than some other part of the world, is because there are so many Mexicans in NW Iowa and I want to become equipped to serve them better. There are so many disparities between the American culture and the Mexican-American culture, and I think a little understanding could go a long way in reaching out to each other, and drawing people to the love of Christ. I want to learn about Mexico, the way people think and the way they live. I want to learn about people's views on faith, missions, and immigration to the US. I want to use this understanding when I return in August to build relationships with Mexicans in the US. What I truly desire to see here in Sioux City, in Orange City and in all of the US is described by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ITeams Video
Check out this video from ITeams about Horizonte's mission and opportunities to serve in Queretaro!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fsw4qGlQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fsw4qGlQM
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