Aahh, the joined pleasures of getting to sleep in and go to church! 11:00 AM services are so very nice! I told myself that I was going to pay the utmost attention in church today and not zone out. My Spanish is pretty much limited to "hola", "gracias", "muchas gracias", and "mui bien"...and that's all I can get out verbally so I'm sorry if I spelled any of those incorrectly! Since I've been here I've picked up on a few other words, but comprehension definitely isn't happening too often these days. I do love it when words sound similar in English and Spanish. That's helpful. It took me a while to figure out that a lot of words are incredibly alike, they're just pronounced a bit differently. Today's sermon, for instance, was from the book of Esther. It took me a good 15 minutes to figure out that I really was hearing the names Esther, Haman, and Mordichai, just with a unique emphatic twist! It was so much fun to follow along during Scripture readings just because a word here or there sounded the same or because it was a word from my limited vocabulary that I recognized. Now, the singing. I've never found overheads to be more beneficial! I had no idea what I was saying but I figured that if I was participating with a church group I could count on the words being ok sing. There were a couple of tunes that I couldn't pick up on so I just looked around at the people on all sides of me. I guess you could say I got a glimpse of eternity. The speaking pastor this morning is from England, many of the missionaries are from all over the states, and then the Peruvian families, all joining together in song to "Senior Jesus". It was a pretty amazing sight.
It's awesome to see the gospel at work outside of what we often make to be the confines of our own experiences, our own families, our own churches. While it's true that God interacts on a personal level with us, we often forget the larger picture. God's plan across time has always been to bring the nations to Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. Merging worlds and reforming confined notions is a part of the gospel's transforming work. That I'm beginning to understand even with a limited Spanish vocabulary.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Random Midnight Thoughts
Education is a transfer of a way of life. There's something to be said for how Joanna's gone about this missionary endeavor.
I've always shirked away from the missions trips to far off places that last for a week to 10 days where youth or church groups do little more than play tourist. I remember one of the last youth trips I took as a teenager to the Bahamas. To the Bahamas. That I hate to admit in the first place. But I was told on that trip that it was cheaper to take a cruise ship from Florida than to fly, so we cruised to the Bahamas. That was "sufferin' for Jesus" if ever there were such a thing.
While there is a great deal of good that can come from such short term missions endeavors--to places like the Bahamas or to Peru--it's just refreshing to see someone break the mold of text-book missionary. I mean, who says everyone has to have in class training or pre-foreign language experience to make an incredible missionary. I'm amazed at the courage Joanna has shown in picking up her life in the states and moving to Cusco, Peru to dedicate at least a year of her life to a group of people whose language, until quite recently, she couldn't understand. That fascinates me. What motivates that kind of selfless guttsiness?
If the gospel is true, I suppose it best manifests itself as a genuine transfer of a way of life just as Christ demonstrated in His short time on earth. It takes hold when you share your life with some one by living with them rather than living around them. When you eat their food--no matter how many talons are found in the chicken foot soup. When you hold their hands--no matter how many warts you may get. When you listen to their stories--no matter how long and even if you can only understand half or less. To be submerged in the lives of the people she's trying to get to know, I'm sure, is among the chief and most lasting impressions Joanna will leave in the lives of these people. It's so fun to be a fly one the wall for this brief time. But I'm taking notes, because this is stuff you can't learn in missions 101!
I've always shirked away from the missions trips to far off places that last for a week to 10 days where youth or church groups do little more than play tourist. I remember one of the last youth trips I took as a teenager to the Bahamas. To the Bahamas. That I hate to admit in the first place. But I was told on that trip that it was cheaper to take a cruise ship from Florida than to fly, so we cruised to the Bahamas. That was "sufferin' for Jesus" if ever there were such a thing.
While there is a great deal of good that can come from such short term missions endeavors--to places like the Bahamas or to Peru--it's just refreshing to see someone break the mold of text-book missionary. I mean, who says everyone has to have in class training or pre-foreign language experience to make an incredible missionary. I'm amazed at the courage Joanna has shown in picking up her life in the states and moving to Cusco, Peru to dedicate at least a year of her life to a group of people whose language, until quite recently, she couldn't understand. That fascinates me. What motivates that kind of selfless guttsiness?
If the gospel is true, I suppose it best manifests itself as a genuine transfer of a way of life just as Christ demonstrated in His short time on earth. It takes hold when you share your life with some one by living with them rather than living around them. When you eat their food--no matter how many talons are found in the chicken foot soup. When you hold their hands--no matter how many warts you may get. When you listen to their stories--no matter how long and even if you can only understand half or less. To be submerged in the lives of the people she's trying to get to know, I'm sure, is among the chief and most lasting impressions Joanna will leave in the lives of these people. It's so fun to be a fly one the wall for this brief time. But I'm taking notes, because this is stuff you can't learn in missions 101!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Peru: Day 4
Yeah. So pretty much I've been pretty non specific when I write so I've decided to just tell everything we did today and then go back and fill in the description if I have any left over time. The morning started out by going to San Jeronimo (where Joanna's church is and where she lived last summer) to play with the kids at the park. Saturday's been park day for Joanna ever since I can remember so it was neat to see what all they did. I will give one detail just because it's so humorous. So the little kids here call Winnie the Pooh just "Winnie Pooh". Joanna's friend, Nolan, has called it Winnie Poof a few times. But today at park time, a little girl got all excited when we pulled out Pooh Bear coloring pages and she called it "Winnie Poot"! Joanna and I laughed so incredibly hard!
After the park we went to pick up our Machu Pichhu tickets for Monday. Then we came back to the house and ate some of Marcia's left over yummy Recoto Rellenos (peppers and rice) for lunch chased down with some of Peru's own Inca Kola. Then Joanna took me to all the good Saturday markets. The interestingness started when we came across what I thought to be cooked guinea pig. When I pointed it out to Joanna, she informed me that it was pig fetus. Yeah. So I promised myself I wouldn't get caught up in the touristy trap of buying trinkets for all the friends and family back home, but yeah, sure enough I got caught a little. I keep justifying my purchases by saying...at least I didn't buy any of those little Smurff hats like Jesse loves, or those lama skin Indiana Jones hats like all the visiting missionary groups inevitably get! Any way. Needless to say, we were both shopped out by the time it was all said and done.
Then we came back home so that we could finish up our "Shasta" card game and so the pain of me beating Joanna's butt for a change could be quick and as painless for her as possible. Then we talked to her family on iChat for a while. It was really really strange being on this side of the camera. The Grants were sitting in the very place that Caleb, Rebecca, and I were sitting just weeks ago to talk to Joanna. It was more than a bit strange!
So for dinner we went to eat Alpaca in down town Cusco. It was delish. Smothered in a mushroom sauce with a kind of mash potatoes that were heavenly. Ahhh. Yum. I love experiencing a culture by eating their food! And then we came back and I kicked her butt some more in a couple of rounds of Rummy! I think being away from the states has dulled her card playing abilities!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is about the most detailed and yet not that I've been since I've been here so there we have it!
After the park we went to pick up our Machu Pichhu tickets for Monday. Then we came back to the house and ate some of Marcia's left over yummy Recoto Rellenos (peppers and rice) for lunch chased down with some of Peru's own Inca Kola. Then Joanna took me to all the good Saturday markets. The interestingness started when we came across what I thought to be cooked guinea pig. When I pointed it out to Joanna, she informed me that it was pig fetus. Yeah. So I promised myself I wouldn't get caught up in the touristy trap of buying trinkets for all the friends and family back home, but yeah, sure enough I got caught a little. I keep justifying my purchases by saying...at least I didn't buy any of those little Smurff hats like Jesse loves, or those lama skin Indiana Jones hats like all the visiting missionary groups inevitably get! Any way. Needless to say, we were both shopped out by the time it was all said and done.
Then we came back home so that we could finish up our "Shasta" card game and so the pain of me beating Joanna's butt for a change could be quick and as painless for her as possible. Then we talked to her family on iChat for a while. It was really really strange being on this side of the camera. The Grants were sitting in the very place that Caleb, Rebecca, and I were sitting just weeks ago to talk to Joanna. It was more than a bit strange!
So for dinner we went to eat Alpaca in down town Cusco. It was delish. Smothered in a mushroom sauce with a kind of mash potatoes that were heavenly. Ahhh. Yum. I love experiencing a culture by eating their food! And then we came back and I kicked her butt some more in a couple of rounds of Rummy! I think being away from the states has dulled her card playing abilities!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is about the most detailed and yet not that I've been since I've been here so there we have it!
Friday, June 10, 2005
Peru: Day 3
I've been told this is day 3, but I'm too tired to remember so I'm just going to agree with Joanna and the title of yesterday's first blog. Today was a lot of fun. We were going to go on a three hour horse back riding trip through some of the ruins around Cusco with Sara and her friends but a flight delay for one of them sent Joanna and I off to explore on our own. She was telling me before we went that the tour guides like to hike the price for "gringos" (a.k.a. white tourists) because they pay not knowing the difference. She had some idea of what was reasonable for a guided riding trip like this but I think we were still taken advantage of a bit. Oh well! 35 soles divided roughly by 3 (it's about 3 soles to 1 dollar) is $11.50ish for the both of us. I couldn't complain, but Joanna's been here long enough to think that's a little high...especially if they'd charge less for Peruvians!
This afternoon we went to the small village of Paiipanccay where Joanna, Sara, Nolan, and Melissa help kids with their homework. The kids stared at me for a long while, being a new gringo and all, but we broke the ice with some "Holas" and some eyebrow-crazy faces. I basically sat back and watched the whole time in amazement. Joanna says her Spanish is really bad but she sure has me fooled. Plus she's pretty much mastered the art of picking up what she doesn't know by asking. Towards the end the kids started teaching her words in Quechua.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Jonanna's Entry
I wish I wasn't so wordy. Yeah. I've just rediscovered that I can't be concise. I've just spent one blog talking about avacado on burgers for heaven's sakes! So I've asked Joanna to write a piece so that you can know what happened AFTER 11:30 yesterday morning:
So yesterday was Christmas. No really it was. Not only did Santa bring me one of my best friends in the whole world, but he also brought me Dr. Pepper, Blue Moon, goldfish, and the list goes on and on. Amy brought two 70 lb bags filled with goodies for all the missionaries here, then she brought a carry on for all of her clothes. Now that is a real friend.
Amy hasn’t even been here 48 hours and we have already gone to a Cenciano futbol game, eaten chicken foot soup, and gone river rafting. The soccer game was fun, but our team won 6-0, so we kinda felt bad for the other team. The chicken foot soup is actually good and I think she was surprised. Now the rafting…have I ever mentioned that I am below the equator so it is winter here while summer in the states? Also have I ever said anything about being 12,500 feet up? Lets just say it was cold. We had a blast once we couldn’t feel our skin anymore. I was really scared, but it ended up not being that bad. I could do it again now that I know what is ahead, but at the time I was scared. I think I annoyed everyone in my boat, but hey that’s me…you either love me or hate me. I think the best part of the whole experience was the wet suits. Oh yes I said wet suits, it was that cold. I can’t wait to get those pictures developed! The only good thing about the wet suits was that everyone was wearing them, otherwise it would have been way to embarrassing! When we were first getting in our suits in the changing room, some girl from England said “well I wonder how many times these have been peed in.” I hadn’t even thought about that, but then the rest of the time I was in the suit (about 2 hours) that’s all I could think about. Good times!!!
Tomorrow is horseback riding and later “homework time”. I’m sure Amy will have plenty of stories to tell when she gets home. We will just have to see if she is still my friend after all the stuff I drag her through. Not only has she never been to South America, but she has never left North America…so we will see if she still loves me when she goes home!!
So yesterday was Christmas. No really it was. Not only did Santa bring me one of my best friends in the whole world, but he also brought me Dr. Pepper, Blue Moon, goldfish, and the list goes on and on. Amy brought two 70 lb bags filled with goodies for all the missionaries here, then she brought a carry on for all of her clothes. Now that is a real friend.
Amy hasn’t even been here 48 hours and we have already gone to a Cenciano futbol game, eaten chicken foot soup, and gone river rafting. The soccer game was fun, but our team won 6-0, so we kinda felt bad for the other team. The chicken foot soup is actually good and I think she was surprised. Now the rafting…have I ever mentioned that I am below the equator so it is winter here while summer in the states? Also have I ever said anything about being 12,500 feet up? Lets just say it was cold. We had a blast once we couldn’t feel our skin anymore. I was really scared, but it ended up not being that bad. I could do it again now that I know what is ahead, but at the time I was scared. I think I annoyed everyone in my boat, but hey that’s me…you either love me or hate me. I think the best part of the whole experience was the wet suits. Oh yes I said wet suits, it was that cold. I can’t wait to get those pictures developed! The only good thing about the wet suits was that everyone was wearing them, otherwise it would have been way to embarrassing! When we were first getting in our suits in the changing room, some girl from England said “well I wonder how many times these have been peed in.” I hadn’t even thought about that, but then the rest of the time I was in the suit (about 2 hours) that’s all I could think about. Good times!!!
Tomorrow is horseback riding and later “homework time”. I’m sure Amy will have plenty of stories to tell when she gets home. We will just have to see if she is still my friend after all the stuff I drag her through. Not only has she never been to South America, but she has never left North America…so we will see if she still loves me when she goes home!!
Peru: Day 2
The altitiude still hasn't gotten to me. I was accusing Joanna even before I got here that she was trying to kill me...taking me rafting THE DAY after I get here. I remembered her stories of how the missionaries wouldn't let her carry her own bags when she first got here last summer because you're really supposed to do nothing until you get a little more acclimated. And then I remembered how her group went on some big hiking expidition a couple of days after she had arrived and she was really feeling it...shortness of breathe, light headedness, throw in may be a little nausia. Yeah. That type thing. So that's why I thought she was trying to kill me. But I was fine. I think I'm so used to running on little sleep and not really being in shape that if I did have any side effects from altitude acclimation in all blended together so I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
So yesterday, Joanna, Sara, Sara's friends and I went downtown Cusco for lunch. We went to Joanna's favorite burger place...the burger was heavenly and I'm pretty sure when I get back I'm going to be trying to put avacado and ham on my burger when we grill out Sunday lunches! And the bread was wonderful! I need to put in a little side bar...Joanna ahs made sure to tell me that they rarely go out to eat so I was specifically told not to think otherwise when she takes me to the places tht they've been to and liked. The two places we've been to so far are great...ok...enough about food. I'll write more later. I need to play cards now!
So yesterday, Joanna, Sara, Sara's friends and I went downtown Cusco for lunch. We went to Joanna's favorite burger place...the burger was heavenly and I'm pretty sure when I get back I'm going to be trying to put avacado and ham on my burger when we grill out Sunday lunches! And the bread was wonderful! I need to put in a little side bar...Joanna ahs made sure to tell me that they rarely go out to eat so I was specifically told not to think otherwise when she takes me to the places tht they've been to and liked. The two places we've been to so far are great...ok...enough about food. I'll write more later. I need to play cards now!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Da Bunnie, et al
I'm here! And Joanna's baby bunnie Pichi is helping me blog. It's been Christmas here with all the stuff I brought in my 170ish pound of luggage. It's been fun...and I'll write more later when I can think and have slept!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Globe Trotter (Vicarious & the Like)
It's been said that travel is an integral part of a truly classical education. It broadens perspective, encourages imagination, and more firmly strengthens foundations. So I've been told. But I've never really traveled abroad. Well, other than the cross country trek in a Buick Lesaber with three grown persons, two car seats and a 5 year old. But I feel especially privaledged this year. I've traveled vicariously to London with Der and the FCS seniors. I say vicariously because they've all been keeping me up to date on where they're going and what they're experiencing. It's rather exciting to get a call from a phone booth Trafalgar Square from one person while another person sitting by a fountain in the same square sends me a text message. Or to have just picked up and e-mail from someone while in Cambridge talking about the anticipated Evensong service, and then get a call giving the Cambridge book and tobacco shopping side of the adventure. It's been a lot of fun traveling "with" these guys. I kind of wish I could be there.
But I'm not because I get to travel non-vicariously in T-3 days.
Peru. The land of perfect picture taking, Inca Cola, alpacas, and best friends. On Tuesday I'll be embarking on the greatest solo adventure to date...traveling by my self to Cusco, Peru with a rather long layover in Lima where they don't speak my language. And I say, bring it on! My dear friend Joanna has my time there all planned out. From rafting the day after I get there --forget whether or not I'll be acclimated to the heightened altitude, I'll be busy tackling rapids--to trekking through ruins, to horse back riding through the hills and mountains. Sounds like fun! I've just gotten done packing my large roller bag with all the things she had me get while we went shopping in Wal-mart via phone.
I'm eager for rest. I'm eager for change. I'm eager to see my friend. But more than that I'm excited to see how stretching this could be...body, mind, and spirit.
But I'm not because I get to travel non-vicariously in T-3 days.
Peru. The land of perfect picture taking, Inca Cola, alpacas, and best friends. On Tuesday I'll be embarking on the greatest solo adventure to date...traveling by my self to Cusco, Peru with a rather long layover in Lima where they don't speak my language. And I say, bring it on! My dear friend Joanna has my time there all planned out. From rafting the day after I get there --forget whether or not I'll be acclimated to the heightened altitude, I'll be busy tackling rapids--to trekking through ruins, to horse back riding through the hills and mountains. Sounds like fun! I've just gotten done packing my large roller bag with all the things she had me get while we went shopping in Wal-mart via phone.
I'm eager for rest. I'm eager for change. I'm eager to see my friend. But more than that I'm excited to see how stretching this could be...body, mind, and spirit.
Friday, May 27, 2005
And then, there were more...
'Tis the season! Some are giving their time to writing graduation speeches. Some are packing for long awaited trips abroad. Some are just floating hither and yon, back and forth to all the end-of-year events that swamp our calendars this time of year. Me, I'm content just to grade another midterm...or two. Ok, more like 30 or so at this point.
Last night I did some number crunching, which is quite a feat for me. Especially when I volunteer to do it. So, there's about an average of 70 minutes per exam times 90 exams is 6,300 divided by 60 minutes (1 hour) equals 105 hours. Even if we had gotten started Tuesday directly after the exam--say by 3:00 pm--and worked all through the night up until yesterday evening, that would leave us with about 76 hours left to go. Even if you divide that number by 2 (for the number of people consistently working on the grading) that's still leave us with about another 38 hours. But of course we did not get started at 3 pm Tuesday. So we most assuredly have at least 38 left ahead of us--at LEAST!
By now I'm sure that number has diminished slightly--though it seems that our piles of exams have diminished even more slowly. And yet we persevere, past the 3 am hour and on to the wee morning light I'm sure. I really am beginning to understand what Churchill was meaning when he talked about all that is left for him to offer is blood, tears, toil, and sweat.
Onward!
Last night I did some number crunching, which is quite a feat for me. Especially when I volunteer to do it. So, there's about an average of 70 minutes per exam times 90 exams is 6,300 divided by 60 minutes (1 hour) equals 105 hours. Even if we had gotten started Tuesday directly after the exam--say by 3:00 pm--and worked all through the night up until yesterday evening, that would leave us with about 76 hours left to go. Even if you divide that number by 2 (for the number of people consistently working on the grading) that's still leave us with about another 38 hours. But of course we did not get started at 3 pm Tuesday. So we most assuredly have at least 38 left ahead of us--at LEAST!
By now I'm sure that number has diminished slightly--though it seems that our piles of exams have diminished even more slowly. And yet we persevere, past the 3 am hour and on to the wee morning light I'm sure. I really am beginning to understand what Churchill was meaning when he talked about all that is left for him to offer is blood, tears, toil, and sweat.
Onward!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Up From the Ashes
It's been quite some time, and to be quite honest I had forgotten about this blog site. Designed to make my journal entries readily available to my dear teacher, Pensive Discernment has obviously been left unkempt. Let's see what we can do about that...