Venezuela is an amazing place. The people are INCREDIBLY friendly. It is the easiest thing to get into conversations and easy to talk to people about Jesus and easy to practice Spanish. However, there is one hard thing: getting somewhere on time. "on time" is relative. We have all learned, as a team, to be incredibly flexible. Some things happen. Many things don't. Other opportunities always come up.
We'll start out our day in 2 teams. Normally headed to 2 different locations. Normally 2 different schools. We're all supposed to leave at 9 on the same bus. Normally the bus pulls out at 9:30 or 10. We are trying to go to the high schools but my team has been to several elementary schools. We want to go in the schools but sometimes we don't get permission and we ended up gather students onto a local basketball court. But that's all fine, because God still works. We have seen so many people trust Jesus with their lives. Young, old, Spanish speaking, some Engilsh speaking. Our students have done amazing jobs of sharing their faith and starting conversations. There are 2 boys in particular who talk to ANYONE. It's a great team to be a part of.
In the afternoons we gather in a room we rented from a restaurant and have people we've met during the day meet us there. We dance and sing and then normaly do a skit and have some of our students share their stories. Share about Jesus. and then break up into small groups and go deep. Real deep. One night we had the group of girls all crying as two girls were very vunerable. Last night it was a group of guys. God is changing lives right before our eyes.
July 3, 2010
June 30, 2010
abbie and wilson
So i'd like to write more but i'm on a timer. Abbie is my timer. there's a shortage of computers and my two roommates eagerly await their turns. lol. I LOVE MY ROOMMATES!
Abbies mom: abbie really wants to talk to you.
Oh my other roomates name is wilson. Best name EVER!
We have so much fun in our room and laugh till it cries or till ABbie chokes. The maids leave us towels in the shape of animals. We think it's because they think ABbie looks like a Barbie. We're not totally sure. We also have the worlds largest stock of snacks. Need something? Our room has it.
MOre to come later!
beep beep beep. times up
Abbies mom: abbie really wants to talk to you.
Oh my other roomates name is wilson. Best name EVER!
We have so much fun in our room and laugh till it cries or till ABbie chokes. The maids leave us towels in the shape of animals. We think it's because they think ABbie looks like a Barbie. We're not totally sure. We also have the worlds largest stock of snacks. Need something? Our room has it.
MOre to come later!
beep beep beep. times up
June 27, 2010
Church
Today we went to church. It reminded me a lot of church in Barbados. There were 2 woman who did interpretive dance for the duration of praise and worship time. The "message" before the offering was as long as one of our normal sermans. It was all in Spanish and so I switched back and forth from trying to listen and discern meaning to working on writing my life style talk and organizing my testimony.
At one point they had our whole team come up from and introduce ourselves. That was really neat. Everyone was glad to see us and happy to hear that we would be talking about life and Jesus in the local schools.
After church we went to another church where we met others that are partnering with us. We had lunch and talked about how the church, volunteers, and ministries can work together to reach high school students.
Tomorrow we go into the schools. I'm excited to see how the language barrier works. I'm excited to get to meet more students.
My Spanish is definitely coming back a little. High school work is paying off!
p.s. Plantains here are awesome!!!
At one point they had our whole team come up from and introduce ourselves. That was really neat. Everyone was glad to see us and happy to hear that we would be talking about life and Jesus in the local schools.
After church we went to another church where we met others that are partnering with us. We had lunch and talked about how the church, volunteers, and ministries can work together to reach high school students.
Tomorrow we go into the schools. I'm excited to see how the language barrier works. I'm excited to get to meet more students.
My Spanish is definitely coming back a little. High school work is paying off!
p.s. Plantains here are awesome!!!
welcome to: Maracaibo
Friday afternoon we all got on the shuttles and left for the airport.
After walking ALL the way down the terminal to our gate we realized they had switched gates on us. Our new gate was right across from security. We were tired before we even began! Good thing high school students are resilliant.
The flight over was non eventful for me. I was on a full row but the row across only had one guy at the window so the man next to me motioned and mumbled that I should move over there. I don't think he spoke English. So I did. I like an empty seat next to me too. The guy by the window randomly got up and moved 3 rows up so I scooted over to the window and watched the Toothfairy. WEIRD movie. Oh well. It kept me entertained. The flight was only 2.75 hours. Not very long. They even served us dinner!
We landed and were greeted by a whole group of Venezuelan students and staff. It was wonderful. Spanish was put into practice immediately. Eventually we were all loaded onto a bus (with AC) and taken to our hotel. OH but wait. Ken Venzel, our fearless leader, also loves ice cream. We made a detour to a mall to get everyone ice cream. Adventures!
The hotel we're at is wonderful. 3 people to a room. AC. wifi some places. Warm water. Bathrooms that flush. But the tp still goes in the trash. We eat breakfast at the hotel each morning. Eggs, plantains, cheese and meat, and other native dishes. Always fresh yummy fruit juice. It's wonderful. We are blessed to sleep at a comfortable, safe place.
After walking ALL the way down the terminal to our gate we realized they had switched gates on us. Our new gate was right across from security. We were tired before we even began! Good thing high school students are resilliant.
The flight over was non eventful for me. I was on a full row but the row across only had one guy at the window so the man next to me motioned and mumbled that I should move over there. I don't think he spoke English. So I did. I like an empty seat next to me too. The guy by the window randomly got up and moved 3 rows up so I scooted over to the window and watched the Toothfairy. WEIRD movie. Oh well. It kept me entertained. The flight was only 2.75 hours. Not very long. They even served us dinner!
We landed and were greeted by a whole group of Venezuelan students and staff. It was wonderful. Spanish was put into practice immediately. Eventually we were all loaded onto a bus (with AC) and taken to our hotel. OH but wait. Ken Venzel, our fearless leader, also loves ice cream. We made a detour to a mall to get everyone ice cream. Adventures!
The hotel we're at is wonderful. 3 people to a room. AC. wifi some places. Warm water. Bathrooms that flush. But the tp still goes in the trash. We eat breakfast at the hotel each morning. Eggs, plantains, cheese and meat, and other native dishes. Always fresh yummy fruit juice. It's wonderful. We are blessed to sleep at a comfortable, safe place.
Venezuela via Miami
So I'm in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Who would have known.
I found out I was going a week before we were supposed to show up in MIami for briefing. Exciting adventure!
Miami was fun. I drove down with Lauren Nowiak Thursday morning. We didn't have anything official until 8pm so Amanda Robinson drove over and we had a grand time catching up. Then Alex Bryant came and found me and we did our usual Publix subs and sweet tea. Amazing! Haven't seen her in a year so that was super awesome to finally see her face again.
The team began to arrive at 6 or something and I began to meet people at 8. Our last girl, Abbie came in at midnight. Her flight got delayed like 4 times from Denver. But she finally made it!
Our team comes from a many places. We have kids from Jacksonville, San Diego (me and 2 other college volunteers), Denver, Chattanooga, Raleigh and one guy from New York. Each person had a pretty awesome story about how God got them to Miami, by providing financially, emotionally and giving the guidance to take this big step and go on an overseas mission trip.
I'm excited to see how we will bond as a team.
I found out I was going a week before we were supposed to show up in MIami for briefing. Exciting adventure!
Miami was fun. I drove down with Lauren Nowiak Thursday morning. We didn't have anything official until 8pm so Amanda Robinson drove over and we had a grand time catching up. Then Alex Bryant came and found me and we did our usual Publix subs and sweet tea. Amazing! Haven't seen her in a year so that was super awesome to finally see her face again.
The team began to arrive at 6 or something and I began to meet people at 8. Our last girl, Abbie came in at midnight. Her flight got delayed like 4 times from Denver. But she finally made it!
Our team comes from a many places. We have kids from Jacksonville, San Diego (me and 2 other college volunteers), Denver, Chattanooga, Raleigh and one guy from New York. Each person had a pretty awesome story about how God got them to Miami, by providing financially, emotionally and giving the guidance to take this big step and go on an overseas mission trip.
I'm excited to see how we will bond as a team.
June 7, 2010
heat waves
I feel like I should everyone know that is has warmed up again in San Diego/Escondido area. Now it's feeling like summer. You go outside and sit in the sun and walk away a few shades darker. Of course the beaches can still be touch and go w/ the Marine layer. Some days it never really burns off. But still, I love my sunshine! and thanks to no humidity, it still cools off refreshingly at night.
May 22, 2010
Baby, It's Cold Outside
The high in Orlando today was 89F. It was in the 90's the week I left. My poor brother also has the joy of our AC not working. I was kind of happy to peace out on that account.
Right now it's 50F in San Diego. During the day it was somewhere in the 60's.
In the sun I can survive until the clouds cover the warmth and the breeze picks up. At night...there's just no staying warm. It's very odd to think that on two sides of the country the weather can be sooo different. Most of it is due to living in the tropics vs. the desert. It's amazing what humidity can do.
Matt's in Orlando scorching with no AC, I'm in San Diego freezing with AC capacity. We should switch problems.
Right now it's 50F in San Diego. During the day it was somewhere in the 60's.
In the sun I can survive until the clouds cover the warmth and the breeze picks up. At night...there's just no staying warm. It's very odd to think that on two sides of the country the weather can be sooo different. Most of it is due to living in the tropics vs. the desert. It's amazing what humidity can do.
Matt's in Orlando scorching with no AC, I'm in San Diego freezing with AC capacity. We should switch problems.
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