New (but few) pictures.
Thanks for emails.
Pray for humility for me.
Also, keep praying for Andres Felipe.
Leaving for the farm tomorrow, won't be back until next Friday (but that, like everything else here, is subject to change, haha...).
Will be sending postcards soon (found a way to get them to the US quickly...woot).
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Semi-farewell
"But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered by so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'"
~Luke 10:41-42
I'm assuming that most of you reading know the context of that verse. Well, I've felt like a Martha of late. I want to be more of a Mary. I've expressed this frustration in previous blogs, in different wording. Well, I'm going to do something about it...I'm going to cut down on what I feel are my "obligations," but really aren't, one of which is this blog. I no longer plan on writing a regular summary of the week's events. I probably won't stop writing altogether (probably), but it will be very sporadic and short when I do, and will mostly include things like major events, random thoughts/convictions, or prayer requests.
Speaking of prayer requests...one of the boys from the farm has gone missing. His name is Andres Felipe. From what I've understood, he went to the city last week for a doctor's appointment, then no one knew where he was, then he showed up at his house (although he and his mother have a poor relationship), and afterwards disappeared. There are many temptations on the street for him to return to his former lifestyle, so please, please pray for him. Pray for his protection, for resistance to temptation, and for reconciliation...with God, foremost, but also with his mother. And pray that he will return to the Foundation.
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Also, I have posted more pictures (see how ridiculous this all seems in light of the previous paragraph)...hopefully you will be able to find them from the link in a blog or two back. I don't know how often I will be posting pictures in the future either...probably also more sporadically (or maybe regularly, but without titles & descriptions, because they take up time)
I'm sorry for those who have enjoyed reading my "adventures" (not so sure why, haha), but I need to try to keep both feet in Christ and in Colombia.
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Oh, another quick thing. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I'm considering getting laser eye surgery while I'm down here. It only costs $500, for BOTH eyes. In the states it can range from $2-3000, I think. Brian told me about all of this, and that it's completely safe. I normally wouldn't spend my money on such things, but I after thinking about it, I realized I would be saving thousands of dollars over the course of my life, without having to buy glasses/contacts every few years or pay for eye doctor appointments. It seems like a reasonable investment to me...what do you guys think?
BTW, for those of you who may wonder, understandably, if I would be using the money you so generously gave to me for this trip for eye surgery, I wouldn't be...this money is from elsewhere.
~Luke 10:41-42
I'm assuming that most of you reading know the context of that verse. Well, I've felt like a Martha of late. I want to be more of a Mary. I've expressed this frustration in previous blogs, in different wording. Well, I'm going to do something about it...I'm going to cut down on what I feel are my "obligations," but really aren't, one of which is this blog. I no longer plan on writing a regular summary of the week's events. I probably won't stop writing altogether (probably), but it will be very sporadic and short when I do, and will mostly include things like major events, random thoughts/convictions, or prayer requests.
Speaking of prayer requests...one of the boys from the farm has gone missing. His name is Andres Felipe. From what I've understood, he went to the city last week for a doctor's appointment, then no one knew where he was, then he showed up at his house (although he and his mother have a poor relationship), and afterwards disappeared. There are many temptations on the street for him to return to his former lifestyle, so please, please pray for him. Pray for his protection, for resistance to temptation, and for reconciliation...with God, foremost, but also with his mother. And pray that he will return to the Foundation.
-------
Also, I have posted more pictures (see how ridiculous this all seems in light of the previous paragraph)...hopefully you will be able to find them from the link in a blog or two back. I don't know how often I will be posting pictures in the future either...probably also more sporadically (or maybe regularly, but without titles & descriptions, because they take up time)
I'm sorry for those who have enjoyed reading my "adventures" (not so sure why, haha), but I need to try to keep both feet in Christ and in Colombia.
-------
Oh, another quick thing. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I'm considering getting laser eye surgery while I'm down here. It only costs $500, for BOTH eyes. In the states it can range from $2-3000, I think. Brian told me about all of this, and that it's completely safe. I normally wouldn't spend my money on such things, but I after thinking about it, I realized I would be saving thousands of dollars over the course of my life, without having to buy glasses/contacts every few years or pay for eye doctor appointments. It seems like a reasonable investment to me...what do you guys think?
BTW, for those of you who may wonder, understandably, if I would be using the money you so generously gave to me for this trip for eye surgery, I wouldn't be...this money is from elsewhere.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Bloggity blog blog
To be honest, I'm not really in a blogging mood right now (I'm somewhat exhausted), but I decided it would be better to go ahead and do it now while I have the time rather than wait until I AM in a blogging mood. So, if I don't sound very enthusiatic about my awesome week, I do apologize.
It's hard to believe I've been here three weeks already! Time flies...etc, etc. This week, as I told you in the last blog, I was at the boys' farm this whole week. I am surprised at how well my relationships are developing despite the language barrier (which, btw, is being torn down rapidly...only two people at the farm speak English, so I have learned a LOT). I can already see that it's going to rip me apart when I have to leave in June. One kid has already asked for my mailing address, so I'm pretty pumped about keeping that up. It will be so much cooler than Facebook.
I've been doing a lot of English instruction this week. Two of the boys, Yilmar and Carlos, who have both been taking English lessons from others, are very eager to learn. They can speak a little bit in complete sentences, but not much...mostly a mix of words...but they've improved a lot even over this past week! I've told them that when I'm talking with them, I'll try to speak in English the whole time unless they absolutely can't understand, in which case I will speak in Spanish. I'm also becoming good friends with Veronica, who I mentioned in my last blog, and we're helping each other out a lot with English and Spanish (we call each other profesor/a). (Oh, and for those of you who will raise your eyebrows at me mentioning a girl...no, it's not going to happen.)
A lot of what I've been doing this week has been working with the construction/maintenance man at the farm, whose name is Fernando. The reason for this is because it's a good position for one who is still in the process of learning Spanish, but it gives me a chance to develop relationships with the boys as well. I did a lot of grunt work (where Fernando did the main stuff and I just helped here and there), plus a few things with the boys...painting, digging post holes, cleaning cement mess, mixing cement, installing a door, etc. etc. I'm not a big fan of manual labor, and I don't feel guilty saying that, but it has been a good experience for me (something I think everyone should do here and there). The cement messes were a humbling experience (there were probably about 10 of them).
I was asked the other day if I had experienced culture shock yet...I haven't. This person told me it would probably be soon...that it normally takes about a month. Supposedly a girl who stayed here for about six months (and just recently left), after about a month of being here, went through a phase where she pretty much didn't want anything to do with anybody and wanted to go home. I really don't think that's going to happen to me...I think I'm going to rebuke culture shock, haha. I've hardly had any frustrations down here thus far in terms of just being a different culture/context...I've gotten over the whole Spanish thing...other than that, unless you count ice-cold showers in 50-something degree weather (which has been humbling and a good experience regardless) and the lack of drinking water (a problem which has now been fixed, as there is a store within walking distance of the farm which sells gallons of water), I've been fine.
I plan on leaving the worship team at the foundation. There are a few reasons for this, the main one being that the weekend needs to be a time of rest and prayer for me, along with getting some things done that I can't do at the farm, and having that 2-3 hour practice on Saturdays (plus the 40 minutes-1 hour time span it takes to get both there and back on a bus/taxi) does not allow for it. I might still do a "special" song on occasion (which I'm supposed to be doing this coming Sunday), and I would love to help teach one of the boys there who's learning to play piano (so that he can start playing with the group)...so hopefully I can help out in those aspects. I have yet to break all of this to the leader, so pray that it won't be too much of a struggle when I do (I've already spoken of the persistence of the people here).
I want to take one of the boys at the farm home with me. His name is Marlon, he's 9 years old (though he looks more like 7), and is probably the cutest kid I have ever seen. It's funny, because I have a hard enough time understanding some of the kids as it is, but he also has a speech impediment to go on top of it (he pronounces his "R's" like "L's"). Hopefully I will get my new pictures posted online this weekend, which include some of him. I also got a video of him singing a song, but I doubt I'll have any way to post that. The boys here call me, along with all of the other adults, tutors, etc., "tío" and "tía," which mean uncle and aunt. For me, it's very endearing. Also, a lot of people have been calling me "Nico," their version of Nick, which is short for "Nicolas." I think I like it better than Nick (it's actually what I've wanted to call my first son, if I ever end up having kids).
With all that has been going on here, I had completely forgotten that next week is Holy Week. Supposedly, most of the kids won't be at the farm next week, but will be on vacation. Veronica asked me if I could pay some special attention to two of the kids who will be there, because if I understood her correctly, they don't have anyone to go home to. So I look forward to getting to know them and encouraging them.
There are many other details, but I'm actually going to spare them this time. I have other things I need to get done, plus two of the boys from the farm are staying here at B&K's this weekend.
So, ciao.
It's hard to believe I've been here three weeks already! Time flies...etc, etc. This week, as I told you in the last blog, I was at the boys' farm this whole week. I am surprised at how well my relationships are developing despite the language barrier (which, btw, is being torn down rapidly...only two people at the farm speak English, so I have learned a LOT). I can already see that it's going to rip me apart when I have to leave in June. One kid has already asked for my mailing address, so I'm pretty pumped about keeping that up. It will be so much cooler than Facebook.
I've been doing a lot of English instruction this week. Two of the boys, Yilmar and Carlos, who have both been taking English lessons from others, are very eager to learn. They can speak a little bit in complete sentences, but not much...mostly a mix of words...but they've improved a lot even over this past week! I've told them that when I'm talking with them, I'll try to speak in English the whole time unless they absolutely can't understand, in which case I will speak in Spanish. I'm also becoming good friends with Veronica, who I mentioned in my last blog, and we're helping each other out a lot with English and Spanish (we call each other profesor/a). (Oh, and for those of you who will raise your eyebrows at me mentioning a girl...no, it's not going to happen.)
A lot of what I've been doing this week has been working with the construction/maintenance man at the farm, whose name is Fernando. The reason for this is because it's a good position for one who is still in the process of learning Spanish, but it gives me a chance to develop relationships with the boys as well. I did a lot of grunt work (where Fernando did the main stuff and I just helped here and there), plus a few things with the boys...painting, digging post holes, cleaning cement mess, mixing cement, installing a door, etc. etc. I'm not a big fan of manual labor, and I don't feel guilty saying that, but it has been a good experience for me (something I think everyone should do here and there). The cement messes were a humbling experience (there were probably about 10 of them).
I was asked the other day if I had experienced culture shock yet...I haven't. This person told me it would probably be soon...that it normally takes about a month. Supposedly a girl who stayed here for about six months (and just recently left), after about a month of being here, went through a phase where she pretty much didn't want anything to do with anybody and wanted to go home. I really don't think that's going to happen to me...I think I'm going to rebuke culture shock, haha. I've hardly had any frustrations down here thus far in terms of just being a different culture/context...I've gotten over the whole Spanish thing...other than that, unless you count ice-cold showers in 50-something degree weather (which has been humbling and a good experience regardless) and the lack of drinking water (a problem which has now been fixed, as there is a store within walking distance of the farm which sells gallons of water), I've been fine.
I plan on leaving the worship team at the foundation. There are a few reasons for this, the main one being that the weekend needs to be a time of rest and prayer for me, along with getting some things done that I can't do at the farm, and having that 2-3 hour practice on Saturdays (plus the 40 minutes-1 hour time span it takes to get both there and back on a bus/taxi) does not allow for it. I might still do a "special" song on occasion (which I'm supposed to be doing this coming Sunday), and I would love to help teach one of the boys there who's learning to play piano (so that he can start playing with the group)...so hopefully I can help out in those aspects. I have yet to break all of this to the leader, so pray that it won't be too much of a struggle when I do (I've already spoken of the persistence of the people here).
I want to take one of the boys at the farm home with me. His name is Marlon, he's 9 years old (though he looks more like 7), and is probably the cutest kid I have ever seen. It's funny, because I have a hard enough time understanding some of the kids as it is, but he also has a speech impediment to go on top of it (he pronounces his "R's" like "L's"). Hopefully I will get my new pictures posted online this weekend, which include some of him. I also got a video of him singing a song, but I doubt I'll have any way to post that. The boys here call me, along with all of the other adults, tutors, etc., "tío" and "tía," which mean uncle and aunt. For me, it's very endearing. Also, a lot of people have been calling me "Nico," their version of Nick, which is short for "Nicolas." I think I like it better than Nick (it's actually what I've wanted to call my first son, if I ever end up having kids).
With all that has been going on here, I had completely forgotten that next week is Holy Week. Supposedly, most of the kids won't be at the farm next week, but will be on vacation. Veronica asked me if I could pay some special attention to two of the kids who will be there, because if I understood her correctly, they don't have anyone to go home to. So I look forward to getting to know them and encouraging them.
There are many other details, but I'm actually going to spare them this time. I have other things I need to get done, plus two of the boys from the farm are staying here at B&K's this weekend.
So, ciao.
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