Assembly Required

We need to live lives that demand an explanation…

2009-10-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long pause! Our adventure during Chile’s independence celebration on the 18th of September was nothing less that interesting. We awoke to 5 dead goats hanging outside of our home a couple hours shy of when the festivities began. Surprisingly I wasn’t bothered by this at all. Only when we actually saw a goat being killed for dinner that night did I consider rethinking my carnivore ways. I won’t let you in on all the detail but it was traumatic enough for me to not be able to eat goat that night, or every night since then. I was also able to eat what they call a blood sausage. And yes it tastes like blood; I’m not sure why I expected it to taste like something else besides the obvious. haha. Dancing would go on until around 4 in the morning and could be heard from our rooms all weekend. It is a cultural experience I won’t forget! I also now know how to make empanadas and bread. I’m becoming quite domesticated over here. hahhaa. We also do our own laundry, which consists of a lot of scrubbing and wringing out. Let’s see what else has happened... we are going to learn how to kite surf sometime this week and hopefully kayak around the lake. Our English classes are going well and have met some great people who are closer to our age. The classes at our school in Gualliguaica are going great as well! We get an hour and a half to teach Bible, which still boggles my mind, knowing that it’s a public school. So we have been teaching kids bible stories and songs in Spanish and English. The San Carlos school is a little different. I would compare the boys at the school to the boys in the book ¨Lord of the Flies¨. I have no doubt if they were on an island they would kill each other (they almost do now). San Carlos school is a rougher town then Gualliguaica. The kid’s don’t really connect to us as they do there. We are warming up to them though through these couple of months. We have hitch hiked about ten times now. Don’t worry, it’s with people we don’t know. hahha. We only hitch hit the 51 minute walk between the town and the main road. Sorry mom! :) My favorite so far has been in the back of a truck carrying fruits, vegetables and supplies to the town. The grape vines have finally blossomed and we might be able to pick them with the rest of the harvesters! They think we are crazy for wanting to do this when we told them our plan. I also dream in Spanish now. Not all the time and it’s only the people talking in Spanish to me. Go figure. hahah. The teachers in Chile right now are on strike. Not our school but everyone else seems to be. Something about them not getting paid awhile back. Not sure but everyone is talking about it down here. Hope all is well back in the states! I miss everyone so much!

Pauls love for his brothers was so great. For the people who rejected God he had ¨unceasing anguish¨. Romans 9:2 ¨that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.¨ God has lead me to this verse and has convicted me about this. About the people of Gualliguaica. They are so close to the truth and yet so far from it. Tradition holds more than the Bible here. This makes it quite difficult when talking about God, Jesus and Mary. We had such a talk with our teacher, Don René, in Spanish of course which doesn’t help. Pray for him as we continue talking to him about the bible and God. Here are the names of our students we work with in his class. They are all great kids!

Don René

Diego

Manuel

Claudia

Jeremy (twin 1)

Jerody (twin 2)

Michael

Matias

Maria

Thiare

Daire

Alan

Kevin

Andrea

David

Remón

Karina

Atolina

José

Tiare

throughts of you, you warm my bones.

2009-09-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

So I survived my first week in Gualliguaica! I’m currently in Paihuano with Rebecca visiting one of the other girls serving here. It’s about 45 minutes away from Gualliguaica. It was a little warmer today and I didn’t have to wear my multiple layered jackets. Haha. There are mariposas everywhere here! I’m sitting outside on the deck and there’s a tree that is covered by them right next to me! The hills/mountains still have a little snow on them in the crevasses where the sun can’t reach. There is also a river that runs right next to our cabin. It was really nice to wake up to that sound this morning. There are vineyards everywhere here. They are just starting to turn green as we approach spring.

This past week seemed to fly by! We had classes at the school in Gualliguaica MWF from 8-3:30 and classes at the San Carlos school TTh 8-2. The classes went well! We taught head shoulders knees and toes to the class because we were teaching them body parts in English. They loved it and they are catching on quickly! We have also been able to teach them some Bible stories and songs. The students really like the songs. We were able to do “this little light of mine” and “rejoice in the Lord always” in Spanish. Next week we are going to practice the songs in English. The kids really like learning English and are so surprised that we are going to be here until December. The class is a 4-6 combination with about 20 students. There is also a 1-3 class with about the same amount of students and then there is a kindergarten class with about 7 students. We will mostly be working with the 4-6 grade students. At the San Carlos school there is only about 7 student’s total. It’s a very small school and on the poorer end of town. There are 4 boys and 3 girls. It was a little harder to teach them at first but they eventually warmed up to us. In the Gualliguaica school we helped the kids make kites…meaning we made 20 kites. Hahha. They were so excited and I believe are having a competition next week in school. We are also learning the Cueca in the school with the kids. The Cueca is Chile’s national dance. I’m sure ill be pro when I return. Haha.

We went on a hike on Sunday up one of the hill/mountain to the very top. It was gorgeous and such nice day! We went with Avilena and Dahvi, this little boy that she watches sometimes. He also goes to the school that we teach at. Our little town looks like a speck in the whole spectrum of things. The lake is gorgeous and we went down to its shores on Thursday afternoon. Can’t wait to lean how to wind surf!

We went to Vicuña on Tuesday and just sat in the park for about an hour reading and watching people. It was really nice and relaxing. That’s also were we get our groceries from and can access the internet. We played soccer in the street with some of the boys in our class. It was really fun and we got to meet their parents and some of them want us to have dinner over in their house sometime next week! They are all really nice and friendly, wanting to learn English as well. Our English classes went really well this week as it grows to ten people! Some of the students parents starting coming which I’m excited about. They are all doing really well! We have English class about twice a week (MW). We are also starting a bible study Tuesday so I hope some people show up for that as well. So far we know of two people that want to study the Bible with us so maybe they will bring more people with them this Tuesday. Please pray for that!

Last night we got to see the Cueca national championship right here in Paihuano! It was great! There were champions from major cities all across Chile varying from little kids to grandparents! The atmosphere was great! It was like a so you think you can dance South American style! Haha. Today we will explore the city and watch the national soccer game tonight Chile vs. Venezuela…on TV of course. Hah. Can’t wait! Hope all is well back in the states! Il put up more pics of my place later!! Love and miss you all! Thanks for all your prayers!!!!!

Joke:

What do fish do?

Nada.

Hope you got that! ;)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another in love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Gualliguaica

2009-08-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

So I made it to Gualliguaica and settling in to my rustic apartment! We have no reception here so the only time I will be able to use my phone/internet will be when I’m in Vicuna which will be once a week. On the way to Gualliguaica (Thursday) I got sick. I’m thinking it was something that I ate back in La Serena at this organic place. I only threw up once but the nausea lingered for about two days accompanied by dizzy spells. I was feeling better last night (Friday) when we had our first English class. There was a total of 7 people that showed up. It went very well! One of them knew some English from taking a class in La Serena. He is the first person here in Gualliguaica that we have found to know English. It was kind of nice taking a break form constant Spanish. There is a special education class that meets at the school every Monday and Wednesday so I will be helping the teacher during this time. And then regular classes the rest of the time. Can’t wait to start!!! The students seem eager to learn English and everything about us. I’m sure by now everyone in town knows who we are and where we live. We are living in an apartment in the backyard of a woman named Avelina. She is so sweet and very hospitable. We have our own kitchen with a refrigerator and stove. Me and Rebecca each have out own room and have a living room where they have set up cable TV (Spanish cable TV) hahha. I’m not sure if that room will get much use. I will have to put up pictures later after we get settled in. we played dominos with Avelina and her husband the first night. They are intense domino players. Haha. It was a lot of fun to laugh and play and try to communicate. It’s still very hard to understand the Gualliguaicans but I’m catching on and already starting to mixed my sentences with English and Spanish. They have goats (who just had cabaritas) where they make goat cheese. They also have gallinas which crows and the crack on dawn right outside my window…I’m getting use to it though. One of the town’s people is going to take us to the observatory sometime and teach us how to wind surf on the lake….not until it gets a bit warmer though. It is nice in the sun but there is a strong cool breeze that comes in the afternoon and the nights are cold. I love it!! it has been a nice couple of days here in Gualliguaica! 16 weeks to go! :) miss and love you guys! Thanks for all your prayers!!!!

James 1:3-4 “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and compete, lacking in nothing.”

Norte Chile.

2009-08-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

After a 7 hour bus ride we have made it to Norte Chile (north Chile for you gringos hahha). The bus ride was amazing! It was a double decker bus that was really nice! Our seats were located top front so we had a great view! There were mountains to our right and ocean to our left for majority of the trip.

We met up with jerry coy who is my supervisor during my stay in Gualliguaica (I’m still working on the pronunciation). Early this morning we went to the beach which is a block away. It was about in the mid 60s today which feels amazing compared to Santiago’s weather. Tomorrow we will finally reach our destination! Rebecca and I (who is the greatest teammate) will be living in an apartment in the back of one of the local’s house. It’s about 45 minutes away from la Serena (where I am now). It’s a very small town of about 30 families. We will be working with k-6 in the public schools helping out the English teachers. We will also be trying to set up bible studies throughout the week to try and connect with the locals. We will not go unnoticed that's for sure. There are no churches in Gualliguaica, with only 4 known believers in the town. Two days out of the week we will also be going to an even smaller town on the other side of the lake where we will be teaching English class as well. I'm so excited!

Please pray for: boldness as we go in sharing our faith, as well as the language. Establishing relationships, open hearts, health, safety, and hard goodbyes. Also for a woman named Martha who we met on the bus on the way to la Serena. She was so nice and open to what we had to say. She gave us her address and phone number and wants us to contact her for coffee or tea while we are here. Please pray for good conversations as we build a relationship with her. I miss and love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers!

During our meeting we read the passage Colossians 1:13-14. "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." The reason why I am here.

Oh and I found out today that there is an observatory near by! You don’t even know how excited I am about that! :D haha. and I think I’m finally getting use to throwing the toilet paper away instead of in the toilet.....adios!

It's Chilly in Chile....

2009-08-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

I made it!.....well about a couple of days ago. I'm currently sitting on my bed where i will be staying until tuesday morning. it rained so hard the day we came into santiago. I'm sad that i wasn't more prepared for this weather. its been sunny and in the 60s the last couple of days...which feels amazing! (shout out to garrett :)...... i have a top bunk in a room of 4 other girls. one of them being my teammate in la Serrena. i had about 2 hours of sleep on the plane because of turbulence. so everyone was exhausted the first day. We explored the city today which was amazing! Note: cappuccinos are amazing here, they can grow a mean beard and i learned a new word: vecina (neighbor). we had lunch today at a Chilean restaurant in the middle of town. i had cazeula o ave (chicken soup). it had a whole chicken (bones and all) a half a potato and vegetables. There are about 12 of us all here going through training: 7 in chile (all girls and one married couple), 3 in brazil (2 boys 1 girl), and 2 in mexico both girls. they are all really grand. They are ALL from the south....and i said "ya'll today"...pray for me. hahhha :) i miss everyone so much! sorry it's been a couple of days but i've been so busy! i need to upload some pictures as well. there are mountains covered in snow right outside the kitchen window. It is amazing!

Pray for:

health, heat, language barriers, and focus.

just paint...

2009-02-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

While in Argentina i had the privilege of meeting a fellow artist, Pablo. I remember it was only about a week into the trip a group of us were waiting in the van outside of a school. Pablo was with us since he became our unofficial translator. I think it was about only the second time talking to him when we were on the subject of, guess what, art; painting; est. He then pulls out a tube of Winsor and Newton and hands it to me. He said

"Use this to paint and glorify God; shine His light"

I must admit i haven't painted much since being back from the trip, not to mention forgetting my new cadmium yellow pale hue that was added to my collection. Good news is I need it for my new Illuminations: Africa project! I cant wait to see how this little tube of paint can help change so many lives!

work in progress

2009-02-23T17:24:00.001-08:00

graduate school

2009-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

so true.

thank-you toothpaste for dinner for making me waste more time.

View-Master

2009-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Found my View-Master today. These things are so rad. I think I'm as amused now as I was when I was younger. The Aladdin Adventure was definitely my favorite. Oh those were the days! Do they still make these?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monessential/

i need help!

2009-01-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

so I've recently been able to take some photographs with my new camera. i love it when the tree in the front of my house changes color, even through it missed fall by a couple of months i cant complain. i mean, it is California and any type of weather change is welcome!
I'm still learning and in great need of some help!

Willett Christmas

2008-12-24T09:24:00.000-08:00

Found some old sweaters. Brian's wearing my old one from 1995. They were extremely itchy. We had to move quick. Merry Christmas!

2008-12-16T12:58:00.000-08:00

Prince may have Purple Rain...but i have purple leafs.

Or at least they look somewhat purple in the Polaroid.

a horse of a different color...

2008-12-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

The Wizard of Oz…third time watching it this week.
Still trying to figure out how the horse changed color.
Spray paint? Digitally enhanced; did they have that technology back then?
Maybe ill cha-cha it.
I finally decided to dip my feet in the "bloging experience". Don’t see what the big fuss is. my dashboard seemed more like my live text account where upon opening it up I thought I had logged on to the wrong website. still trying to meander my way trough the tools and setting. I will assimilate. I will blog. I guess the main reason for starting a blog is so friends and family will be able to keep up with the happenings on the southern side of the equator. For some of you who may not know I’m planning on going to Brazil next fall (Aug.-Dec) to teach English. I just received a call form the IMB last week to confirm this. Wow. The wow is for the fact that it’s actually happening. I’m putting my life on hold for 5 months is what peoples initial reaction is. I wouldn’t say I would be putting it on hold, more of like a comma in a sentence where a person catches their breath and decides what will be said preceding it. I feel like that is Brazil for me. a time to reflect. A time to breath. A time where my life begins and i set a course of where God wants the rest of my life take place.
Overseas?