This one goes out to all my health conscious, working out, running, physical training friends...and everyone else interested in my random thoughts :)
Being that I've been reading about holistic child development, I thought that I should consider my own development in a holistic way. I've always enjoyed physical exercise but just never been able to make it a consistent part of my life. Travis, my brother-in-law, does his best to run three times a week. I figured that I used to run, so maybe I need to join him and try to become a healthier person. He runs pretty much uphill for the first 20 minutes and then downhill for about ten and then finishes his run with a little uphill stretch and a three or four block cool down. Thinking I was up for the challenge, I changed into my running gear, plugged in my earbuds and followed close behind.
Running at 8500 ft. is a little bit different than running on Regina's prairie flatland roads where the biggest hill you encounter is a pothole! Oh did I mention that the last 6 or 7 minutes of the 20 minute up hill is a staircase? Ya, I counted 555 steps (give or take a few) as I was definitely not running up them. What I was doing was more like the slow climb of a crippled over elderly man combined with the winded wheezing of punctured tire! After the 5 km 'run' was finished (in 42 minutes) I felt quite a sense of accomplishment (after I caught my breath). I told Travis that I started the run in Chariots of Fire mode and finished in Eye of the Tiger victory! It felt good.
So why do I share this little victory? Because little victories can be built on. I have been running with him twice since that run a couple weeks ago. I even went for a run on my own a couple days ago. I elected for the much more picturesque run along the river though. I'm not so much a sucker for punishment when I don't have positive peer pressure (encouragement right?) to motivate me. The 35-minute run at this altitude was still enough to get the heart rate up and make me feel as though I'd run a marathon. And that sense of accomplishment makes me want to go again. Maybe later today?
If you struggle to be in the Word, to spend time in prayer, to eat healthy, to develop close relationships, to exercise, build on the little victories this week and ask God to continue to mold and shape you into the image of His Son.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Culture at Midnight
So over the past few weeks we have been adjusting pretty well to living in Cuenca. The one obstacle that we have yet to completely overcome is nighttime noise. Leah figured out in the first week that she could play music from the i-pod to get Lena to sleep at night, and for that I am grateful. When we moved into separate rooms in the apartment that we got to rent right next door to Travis and Alicia's, Lena took the music with her into her room. We managed to sleep at night by alternating between plugging into our i-pods via headphones and using ear plugs. The ears just didn't cut it.
The didn't cut the noise volume of the four dogs that surround our apartment. The random fireworks still broke the silence in the wee hours of the morning. The ear plugs didn't drown out the mini-school bus that parks across from our place or the 3/4 tonne truck that parks next door. And they had no effect on the confused rooster that lives somewhere in the neighborhood and feels it is his duty to warn everyone at 5 am that the sun will be coming up at 6! Last week, Travis and Alicia took us to the only store they knew of that could help us answer our noise issues. For $30 we purchased a sound machine that has a number of drown-out the noise, relaxing sounds. We replaced the i-pod docking station in Lena's room with sounds machine and tried out some of the sounds over the next few nights. The 'rainfall' track is the clear winner. Lena sleeps better at night and we get to play music that helps us catch a few more "z's."
However, last night there was nothing that could drown out what we heard at midnight. With no warning, loud Spanish music started blasting through the neighborhood and it sounded like it originated right outside our apartment. I went outside to have a look. As I was tracking down the origins of the Mariachi music I came to a spot just across from Travis and Alicia's apartment. A large, solid iron gate prevented me from seeing who playing, but a young lady who had stuck her head out of the second floor window clued me in to the fact that band was playing in front of her complex. Between songs the lead singing would have a little commentary and then they fire up some more tunes--trumpets, violins, backup singers and all! I returned to bed and tried to sleep. About the sixth song, I recognized the trumpet line, "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." What? Someone had hired a live mariachi band to play happy birthday songs for a friend or family member at midnight! And as best as I could tell, the neighborhood embraced it. I never heard any police sirens or loud yelling. Something tells me my neighborhood back home might not react the same.
What an interesting cultural experience. One I'll never forget because boy am I tired today :)
The didn't cut the noise volume of the four dogs that surround our apartment. The random fireworks still broke the silence in the wee hours of the morning. The ear plugs didn't drown out the mini-school bus that parks across from our place or the 3/4 tonne truck that parks next door. And they had no effect on the confused rooster that lives somewhere in the neighborhood and feels it is his duty to warn everyone at 5 am that the sun will be coming up at 6! Last week, Travis and Alicia took us to the only store they knew of that could help us answer our noise issues. For $30 we purchased a sound machine that has a number of drown-out the noise, relaxing sounds. We replaced the i-pod docking station in Lena's room with sounds machine and tried out some of the sounds over the next few nights. The 'rainfall' track is the clear winner. Lena sleeps better at night and we get to play music that helps us catch a few more "z's."
However, last night there was nothing that could drown out what we heard at midnight. With no warning, loud Spanish music started blasting through the neighborhood and it sounded like it originated right outside our apartment. I went outside to have a look. As I was tracking down the origins of the Mariachi music I came to a spot just across from Travis and Alicia's apartment. A large, solid iron gate prevented me from seeing who playing, but a young lady who had stuck her head out of the second floor window clued me in to the fact that band was playing in front of her complex. Between songs the lead singing would have a little commentary and then they fire up some more tunes--trumpets, violins, backup singers and all! I returned to bed and tried to sleep. About the sixth song, I recognized the trumpet line, "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." What? Someone had hired a live mariachi band to play happy birthday songs for a friend or family member at midnight! And as best as I could tell, the neighborhood embraced it. I never heard any police sirens or loud yelling. Something tells me my neighborhood back home might not react the same.
What an interesting cultural experience. One I'll never forget because boy am I tired today :)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday School Lesson Part Two: A Lesson in Life
This Sunday I participated in a Sunday school lesson I will never forget. The school: The Lifestyle of a Low Income Ecuadorian Family. The Lesson: God Provides.
After the Sunday morning service at the little rental place in the city concluded, we were invited to one of the families' homes for lunch. Knowing the family had little to offer us and would be super generous, Travis suggested that we bring two roasted chickens. The men went to pick up the chicken and see if they could find someone to look at Bolo's car that broke down just as we pulled up to the church building (Bolo is a national missionary that Travis works with who kindly drove us to Azogues--I'm sure there will be more written about him later).I accompanied the ladies on the journey to the house as I knew Lena couldn't make the journey on foot.
So up on my shoulders she went. Not knowing that we had to go twenty minutes up hill, the walk started out pleasantly. After about 8 minutes, things started looking steep. We were told that where there house is we couldn't take a taxi too. This was not a good sign. As we walked up the road we noticed that the houses started to get poorer and poorer. At about the half-way point, we walked past a donkey and some goats tethered on the side of the road. Lena said, "I ride donkey." We laughed. A couple steps later, we walked past a lady, in a reasonably large house doing her laundry by hand. It was such a juxtaposition. The house looked like it should have been equipped with a washer and dryer. Nearing the end of our trek, we came to a tight concrete walkway between two houses. At this point we were told we had 80-120 stairs to climb. What a unique experience. As the stairs switch-backed upward, there were entrances to several 'housing complexes.' I say housing complexes as I'm sure families and extended families continue to add rooms on to them as families grow. Finally we reached the top and entered a rusted, paint-chipped gate. We had arrived.
The site was a little shocking. The family presented themselves so well at the church. Don't get me wrong this family had what they needed. It was just that things were so old and seemed poorly kept. we stepped up three steep, rustic concrete stairs, ducked under a clothesline, and went into a bedroom. It was nice enough, furnished with an old wardrobe, a double bed, a couch and chair. They looked as though they were the original ones, bought used 15 years ago. There was a small concrete patio outside the entrance of the bedroom with lines and electrical wires strung across it. As you left the bedroom and walked the opposite direction past the stairs that you came up as you entered (the "hall" and stairs are all open air. We are not in an enclosed building) there was another bedroom on the left that was like the first. On your right, was a second small staircase made of wood that led to an 'upstairs' room that was smaller, but had old, dirty hardwood floor. If you passed the staircase instead of going up, you had about three paces before you got to the small kitchen on the left and the chicken 'yard' on the right. Straight ahead of you is the guinea pig pen and chicken coup combined, which as you can imagine had a scent all its own. The bathroom was as small room no bigger than your average closet, with a flush toilet and a shower right beside it. The walls were unfinished, old concrete.
The family is a family of eight with six children aged 14 through 25. Manuel is a shoemaker. He told us that he mainly does repairs because people won't pay the $20 for his handmade leather shoes. If I am correct, he said he makes about $290 a month! Yet this family doesn't appear to be lacking. They are close and love each other a lot. They work hard and have long days. These people are not focused on retirement and living 'comfortable' lives. They are focused on providing for their children as best as they can and taking care of each other. And God is their Strength. He is their Provider.
So up on my shoulders she went. Not knowing that we had to go twenty minutes up hill, the walk started out pleasantly. After about 8 minutes, things started looking steep. We were told that where there house is we couldn't take a taxi too. This was not a good sign. As we walked up the road we noticed that the houses started to get poorer and poorer. At about the half-way point, we walked past a donkey and some goats tethered on the side of the road. Lena said, "I ride donkey." We laughed. A couple steps later, we walked past a lady, in a reasonably large house doing her laundry by hand. It was such a juxtaposition. The house looked like it should have been equipped with a washer and dryer. Nearing the end of our trek, we came to a tight concrete walkway between two houses. At this point we were told we had 80-120 stairs to climb. What a unique experience. As the stairs switch-backed upward, there were entrances to several 'housing complexes.' I say housing complexes as I'm sure families and extended families continue to add rooms on to them as families grow. Finally we reached the top and entered a rusted, paint-chipped gate. We had arrived.
The site was a little shocking. The family presented themselves so well at the church. Don't get me wrong this family had what they needed. It was just that things were so old and seemed poorly kept. we stepped up three steep, rustic concrete stairs, ducked under a clothesline, and went into a bedroom. It was nice enough, furnished with an old wardrobe, a double bed, a couch and chair. They looked as though they were the original ones, bought used 15 years ago. There was a small concrete patio outside the entrance of the bedroom with lines and electrical wires strung across it. As you left the bedroom and walked the opposite direction past the stairs that you came up as you entered (the "hall" and stairs are all open air. We are not in an enclosed building) there was another bedroom on the left that was like the first. On your right, was a second small staircase made of wood that led to an 'upstairs' room that was smaller, but had old, dirty hardwood floor. If you passed the staircase instead of going up, you had about three paces before you got to the small kitchen on the left and the chicken 'yard' on the right. Straight ahead of you is the guinea pig pen and chicken coup combined, which as you can imagine had a scent all its own. The bathroom was as small room no bigger than your average closet, with a flush toilet and a shower right beside it. The walls were unfinished, old concrete.
The family is a family of eight with six children aged 14 through 25. Manuel is a shoemaker. He told us that he mainly does repairs because people won't pay the $20 for his handmade leather shoes. If I am correct, he said he makes about $290 a month! Yet this family doesn't appear to be lacking. They are close and love each other a lot. They work hard and have long days. These people are not focused on retirement and living 'comfortable' lives. They are focused on providing for their children as best as they can and taking care of each other. And God is their Strength. He is their Provider.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sunday School Lesson Part One: Preaching and Teaching in Azogues
Here is a little commentary on a lesson I learned this Sunday:
It all started shortly after nine when the two-family congregation in Azogues (half an hour drive from Cuenca) looked around at each other after singing three songs. They were looking to see who was going to teach the Sunday school lesson. Travis was slated to give the lesson. However, early on in the week he phoned one of the leaders and said that he wouldn't be able to do it as he had too much on his plate this week. To the best of our knowledge, they were going to find another teacher. The silence in the small two-room rental space was telling. Apparently there was a gap in the communication and they were waiting for Travis to teach. Having taught the youth and young adults in the Cuenca congregation last week, I volunteered to give an adult version of my lesson from 1 John 1. It felt kind of like doing improve acting: I had no script in front of me and was working of what I could remember, shaping it into a lesson that would work for adults. While Travis translated one thought, I was searching for the next. By the grace of God, the lesson went well and actually set the tone for the sermon I would deliver during the service.
The sermon went well too. Travis did an amazing job translating his second message of the morning. As the message neared completion, people in the congregation actually helped him with words he couldn’t quite find. I joked, “It is encouraging to see that you are following along.” Being that we celebrated worship with them two weeks earlier, I felt that I could encourage them to keep functioning as a community of Christ. I affirmed their efforts in serving each other and keeping close relationships. I challenged them to keep focus on building each other up. They are without a minister and have seen their little congregation shrink to where it is today. I wanted them to know that God was in their midst and has a plan. It may not look like what they think it will look like and that is why they need to focus on loving each other and seeking him together. When it was all said and done, I’m told it was well received. I was exhausted and couldn’t get my mind to try to understand what the leaders were communicating from the front at the close of the service. However, the handshakes, smiles, and looks in their eyes as they thanked me afterward spoke a language I didn’t need to translate…gratitude.
Though they were grateful for our presence with them on Sunday, I can’t help but wonder how much greater the blessing could have been for everyone if I only spoke the language. This experience is helping me see just how important language acquisition is for the cross-cultural missionary. It is frustrating to not be able to share stories and interact with other people on deeper levels. And I’m noticing that others can see that you care about them when they see that you are trying to learn something so intimately connected to them as their language. I can see the truth behind the teaching in my textbook about being flexible and humble when you are on the field.
Might there be a greater lesson to be learned about the importance of flexibility and humility in your life as you interact with those around you?
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Biggest Service I Can Offer
I knew coming to Cuenca that not speaking the language was going to frustrate me. While I notice my understanding of the language growing when I listen, getting the words to come out of my mouth to carry-on even the shortest conversation is almost always a battle. Like most things in my life, I want to be able to do it now. Having the patience to realize that language acquisition takes time and effort is frustrating.
On up side, I can speak English and I can be a blessing to the people I meet here by praying for them. This encourages me. The little things I say and do with other may bring a smile to their faces or brighten their day. The prayers I offer on their behalf have the potential to change their lives for eternity. Remember, prayer works when we take the time to pray and if you find yourself handcuffed and unsure of what you can do to make a difference in someone's life, try prayer. Better yet, pray first...then act! Don't worry about making a fool of yourself or not doing things perfectly. God smiles on steps taken in love.
There are lives here that are going to change--not because they met me--but because I'm praying for them!
On up side, I can speak English and I can be a blessing to the people I meet here by praying for them. This encourages me. The little things I say and do with other may bring a smile to their faces or brighten their day. The prayers I offer on their behalf have the potential to change their lives for eternity. Remember, prayer works when we take the time to pray and if you find yourself handcuffed and unsure of what you can do to make a difference in someone's life, try prayer. Better yet, pray first...then act! Don't worry about making a fool of yourself or not doing things perfectly. God smiles on steps taken in love.
There are lives here that are going to change--not because they met me--but because I'm praying for them!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Food for Thought
Two conversations happened yesterday that really made me think. The first was a phone call the my brother-in-law received from his English conversation instructor Hermel. I believe I mentioned him in an earlier post. Hermel called to tell Travis that neither he nor his wife has been able to find work over the past month and things are tight. Travis said after getting off the phone that he is going to have to purchase an emergency food hamper for the family to make it until the end of the month. Things must be bad.
The second conversation happened last night at a Bible study that he invited me to take part in. Travis meets once a week with a man he met at English conversation named Ivan. This man has a wife and three children (the oldest a 22 years old culinary student stayed and conversed with us for a time). Travis and Ivan spoke about economics, politics, and family while I tried to piece together what they were saying. Travis translated so that I would feel included and I got to ask a few questions. Ivan told us of his wife's sister and family who live in a small two-room structure in the back yard. It has no kitchen so the five of them cook outside over a fire. The husband works on the coast and is away three weeks at a time and home for one. He makes $290 a month. The wife doesn't work. With three children to provide for, the oldest in his mid-teens and the youngest around five, this family barely scrapes by month to month. It has caused some conflict between Ivan and his brother-in-law as some months this struggling family can't make rent.
We never looked at a single Bible passage last night. It was simply a needed conversation over some crackers and coke. Travis tells me that the majority of the people in the church that he works with relate well to the two stories I just shared. It really makes me think...and think...and pray. I think Hermel will be giving me Spanish lessons for $5 an hour and I pray that all three families described above will come to know the hope and provision that only Our Heavenly Father can provide!
The second conversation happened last night at a Bible study that he invited me to take part in. Travis meets once a week with a man he met at English conversation named Ivan. This man has a wife and three children (the oldest a 22 years old culinary student stayed and conversed with us for a time). Travis and Ivan spoke about economics, politics, and family while I tried to piece together what they were saying. Travis translated so that I would feel included and I got to ask a few questions. Ivan told us of his wife's sister and family who live in a small two-room structure in the back yard. It has no kitchen so the five of them cook outside over a fire. The husband works on the coast and is away three weeks at a time and home for one. He makes $290 a month. The wife doesn't work. With three children to provide for, the oldest in his mid-teens and the youngest around five, this family barely scrapes by month to month. It has caused some conflict between Ivan and his brother-in-law as some months this struggling family can't make rent.
We never looked at a single Bible passage last night. It was simply a needed conversation over some crackers and coke. Travis tells me that the majority of the people in the church that he works with relate well to the two stories I just shared. It really makes me think...and think...and pray. I think Hermel will be giving me Spanish lessons for $5 an hour and I pray that all three families described above will come to know the hope and provision that only Our Heavenly Father can provide!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Open Door Policy
While we were sitting outside just before dinner time, the kids (my daughter, niece and nephew) were playing in front of the condo. The condos are in a little alcove that is gated and quite safe. At one point Leah asked me, "Have you seen Calen and Lena?" "Ummm, they were right here a moment ago," I replied. So Leah went inside and to see if they had slipped past us. Nope. I check our place which shares a with our Travis and Alicia's. No sign of them. It was interesting the Travis and Alicia didn't seem too concerned that there son wasn't around.
It turns out that a little girl that they like to play with lives in the house at the end of the alcove. Apparently Calen and Lena decided to walk right in and head upstairs to play with their little friend. When I went to the open door and poked my head in, the parents and grandparents were seated at the table eating. They greeted me as if everything was perfectly okay. After a couple seconds Calen came down the stairs and Lena came following after him. I said good-bye to the family and the two children wandered back home.
I can't say that this kind of situation would go over very well in our neighborhood back home in Regina. We are so independent and the first thing on this dad's mind would be, "Call the cops! My daughter is missing." I'm learning. In Ecuador, community is simply the way things happen. It is nice to know that neighbors still talk to each other and in fact literally keep their doors open to each other! What a cool experience. Maybe we as Christians might learn something from this...hmmm...
It turns out that a little girl that they like to play with lives in the house at the end of the alcove. Apparently Calen and Lena decided to walk right in and head upstairs to play with their little friend. When I went to the open door and poked my head in, the parents and grandparents were seated at the table eating. They greeted me as if everything was perfectly okay. After a couple seconds Calen came down the stairs and Lena came following after him. I said good-bye to the family and the two children wandered back home.
I can't say that this kind of situation would go over very well in our neighborhood back home in Regina. We are so independent and the first thing on this dad's mind would be, "Call the cops! My daughter is missing." I'm learning. In Ecuador, community is simply the way things happen. It is nice to know that neighbors still talk to each other and in fact literally keep their doors open to each other! What a cool experience. Maybe we as Christians might learn something from this...hmmm...
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