Injuns n' Jesus

                                              -- Psalm 91: 1-10 --
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plagues that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord who is my refuge - then
no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
                     
                       
   The story of Jim Elliot (an American missionary to the Waodani tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon) has always struck me as an incredible story of the power of what God can accomplish in the light of what seem to be impossible situations, however today I learned a little more about the story that proves that God works deeper than we know.
   In the 1950's, Jim Elliot, his wife Elizabeth, and 5 other men and their wives made the choice to try to contact a tribe that had never been reached before (and was known to be hostile) and share the Gospel with them. Jim and the 5 other missionaries had been flying over the tribe's territory and dropping supplies and gifts for some time. After an initial successful contact, one Sunday afternoon they decided it was time to return to the territory. As they arrived on the banks of the Curaray River, the tribe men came running up with spears, and ended up spearing all 5 of the men to death. Their wives never got a radio signal back that day. Later though, Elizabeth Elliot and another one of the missionaries wives decided to continue trying to make friendly contact, and eventually led many of the tribe to the Lord. Mincaye, the Waodani who speared Jim Elliot to death, came to Christ by these woman, and is now a missionary himself. (If you haven't watched End of the Spear, look it up on Netflix because it tells the story way better than I do.) Apart from the incredulity of what these missionaries went through to share the love of Christ to these people, pastor Matt Heard of Woodmen Valley Chapel shared in his sermon today that he had gone to visit the Waodani a couple of years ago. After giving him the hilarious nickname of Giant Red Match (he's a redhead hahaha), Mincaye told him that although "our spears went through those missionaries that day, our evil ricocheted - it could not penetrate them. Jesus protected them from our evil."
   The pastor's point in telling us that story was that, according to Psalm 91, even though we may suffer physical harm, the covering of God's refuge and presence goes way deeper. Though those 5 missionaries were murdered, God was with them. It is tempting to believe sometimes that when we experience physical suffering or want on this earth that God has forgotten us; but God says our reward is in heaven. Seeing as everything, good and bad, in this world is passing, this makes a whole lot of sense eternally. Why would a good God reward us with things that are just going to rot away? Instead, he promises us that we are the heirs of his kingdom, which will never pass away. After all, 2 Corinthians 4;18 says "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
 The second point of his sermon was that to receive this covering of God's protection and blessing and find rest, we must choose to dwell in God's presence.
   God's promise to be with us when we accept his forgiveness and grace is irrevocable, undilutable, and unchangeable. I think a lot of times we don't exactly get this. At least I know I don't. When you think about it though, this promise is profoundly fundamental to our lives as Christians. Over the past few months I have been thinking a lot about the fact that "the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit who lives in us and is at work in us." Do we truly believe this? If we don't, then what is our hope even in? And if we do, are we truly living it? What the heck does it even mean to live this out on a daily basis? Hearing this story about Jim Elliot and the Waodani, I couldn't help but to be challenged on this question. It is so gosh dang easy to get tied up in measuring our lives by our resumes, accomplishments, acceptance from other people, and outward appearances, but ultimately when we look back on those things we have strived so hard for, we are never fully satisfied. And we never will be, because those things were never meant to satisfy us fully. I can't help but feel this aching need for something more. Something bigger, something deeper, something more adventurous, spontaneous. To escape the monotonous pursuit of routine and LIVE. Can you deny that you too have this feeling?
   The only answer I have come up with so far to the question of how to live this out daily, is: by the grace of God. The tough thing about this is knowing how to allow God to teach us how to live in his strength in pursuing More. I often find myself getting intermittent bursts of energy and motivation to "get out there and do epic things", but ultimately my willpower and strength peter out and I am back at square one. I think God has figured out by now that we are easily swayed and suck at being obedient all the time, and He gets it. He doesn't require that we don't fall, He just requires that we allow Him to pick us back up when we do. So my prayer this season is that I would experience more, but by his strength. That I would see him do phenomenal things in my life and the lives around me, but all to his glory. That I would comprehend how to surrender to Him and how to love deeper and experience more people in my daily life coming to Christ, being healed, experiencing joy, dreaming big, living big, adventuring big, going deeper, finding love; but so evidently by the grace of God that I can't help but look back when I reach the end of my life and see that the moments I was the weakest but looked to Him were the moments He accomplished the most incredible things.

The same God who raised Jesus from the dead and who worked through great Christians like Jim Elliot is the same God who came to live with us when we accepted Him as savior in our lives. And according to his irrevocable promise not to leave us, we have his spirit living in us until we enter heaven and into the fullness of his presence and are made new. So if God is already in us, are we choosing to dwell in his presence? And are we living life adventurously by His strength so He can do incredible things on this earth? Because, "greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

Chilly Chile

To answer your burning question... yes. Chile is chilly. It feels a lot colder than I had been thinking! Granted it's fall here and still in the 60's on a good day, however I think the cold air from the ocean really lowers the temperature. I will for sure be buying another jacket!

Anywho, let's start with some typical Chilean customs. I am allowed to generalize and stereotype because I just got here. :) So:
1. Dogs --- All over the streets. The first time in my life I have seen dogs wearing neck warmers and sweaters - I thought it was a joke the first time I saw it. There are also an abnormally large amount of stray dogs roaming the streets. None of them are neutered and I think the Chileans consider it cruel to put them out of their misery.
2. Food -- Bread, carbs, and a side of bread. Chile is the #2 consumer of bread in the world, after Germany. Served with manjar (dulce de leche) = delicious! And also dangerous. Chile is also the #1 consumer of ice cream in the world - that being said, I've only tried one ice cream place so far and it has been fantastic (try the mousse manjar in Bravissimos in Chile if you ever get the chance).
3. Once [ohn say] -- Meals are a bit different here than in the states. Breakfast is normally a light meal of tea or coffee (instant coffee, mind you, Chileans for sure aren't known for their coffee), bread, fruit, or some sort of cereal. Lunch is the main meal and typically served around 2 or 3 instead of noon. Once often takes the place of dinner at six or seven and normally consists of hot chocolate, tea, coffee, buttered bread or another light snack. La once was a word used by women in the 19th century to secretly refer to aguardiente (11 letters), an alcoholic drink,  since they were restricted from drinking alcohol at that time. Once serves as kind of an evening snack/tea time. Dinner is either replaced with once or served late, sometimes 10 to 1 am.
4. Time -- Nobody seems to be in a rush, even in Santiago. I know people talk about the Latin American sense of time being a lot slower than other cultures, but Chileans really know how to keep a chill atmosphere! Even busy street corners here seem peaceful and quiet. It is also socially normal to be 10 to 15 minutes late to gatherings (doesn't apply to the metro or bus though, sorry). If you know me, being in a country where its normal to be late feels like coming home haha.
5. European influence -- From the clothing styles to the architecture to the mannerisms, it is definitely evident that Chile has been impacted by the European way of life. Chile kind of strikes me as the Paris of Latin America (yes, I know that's been said of Argentina too). There is an artsy, fashion forward sort of feel to the places I have visited so far, the architecture is almost Swedish looking in some places, and the metro system definitely boosts the euro feel. It's clearly evident that the U.S. has had it's fair share of influence as well, but compared to Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, I was shocked by how different it is.
6. People -- Every single Chilean I have met so far has been extremely welcoming, warm, and genuine. Despite the fact that Chile stretches practically the entire length of South America, the people here seem to find a way to make it feel like a small world in the way they talk and relate to one another. Besides the inevitable piropos (cat calls) bestowed upon gringos, Chileans seem to be shier than most Latin Americans. Often we associate "shy" with introverted and withdrawn, however this shy is different. Chileans seem to be rather curious and willing to talk, just in a softer and less imposing way. I don't think I have seen one angry looking Chilean the whole time I've been here.

As I have only been here for little more than a week, I am sure my perspective is bound to take a spin. Overall, I am so happy to be here and having a great time, chillyness and all!

For the moments you feel faint

When you feel lowly, remember just who you are.
When you feel rejected, remember that it was Christ who was rejected first - for you.
Remember that He is for you.

When you feel lonely, remember that Christ took on this lonely world for the very purpose of redeeming you and calling you His best friend.
When you feel abandoned or broken, remember that the world left Jesus broken on the cross first.
When you feel like the world has broken you down, remember:

                                      He rose victorious from it all
                 He who felt every blow from this world thousands of years before you.
                            And never forget that He has called you
                                Daughter. Beloved. And Redeemed.

Wanderlust. Level: South America.

"To deserve a people's love, you must know them. You must learn to appreciate their history, their culture, their values, their aspirations for human advancement and freedom." - Jesus Colon

    I am not quite sure to what end God has put Hispanic culture, language, and people on my heart, but for now I know it is calling me to take myself to two seaside twin cities in Chile called Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. This summer I will be studying at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso for 10 weeks, living with a host family, and getting involved with missions through a study abroad program called Veritas (and ISA). I'm freakin' stoked! And also freaked out!

     I keep hearing that Chilean Spanish is really difficult to understand because they cut corners and use so much slang, and I'm wondering how I will fare with South American culture since I've only been well-acquainted with North and Central American Spanish. Maybe you are wondering how much of a difference I will really be able to make anyway - after all, I am about the whitest gringa there ever was, and my Spanish tongue is still undergoing construction. For some reason though, God is telling me to go. Obviously part of the reason I am going is to help solidify my Spanish skills and get credits for my major, but I really do feel like God wants to do something special in me and in Chile through this trip. I kept struggling with this before I made my decision, but I've come to a peace about it. Yes, I'm still freaked out that I will be traveling all by my lonesome there and still a bit apprehensive about how I will even be useful to God there, but I know He has a plan.

     I keep wondering why God would ask me to do this when it seems like I have none of the talents it takes to bless people in a different country. Why not ask someone else who has killer communication skills, is excellent at Spanish, and has more insight into that culture than I do? If you know me, you know I can hardly get my point across in English (haha). I have a tough time verbalizing what's in my head already, so how can I be helpful in a different language? Thankfully, sometimes all God requires of us is to just shut up and let Him do the work. God has been slowly reassuring me since October (when I started thinking about the trip), that He, as a matter of fact, cares more about my heart on the matter and my willingness to let Him move than about the talents I bring to the table. "In fact", He says, "your weakness best displays my glory." Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God has been continually reminding me that He has big things He wants to do and that He can, indeed, use a gringa like me; but I cannot forget that it if God is not behind it, it's not going to work. There are plenty of Chileans, study abroad students, random travelers, and host families that God wants to show His love and plan for redemption to in Chile, and I'm excited that He wants me to be a part of it, even if it is only for 10 weeks.

     I have a feeling that God wants to do some awesome things in Chile this summer, but I'm not quite sure what that might be yet. I know I may experience prejudice, homesickness, actual sickness, have to give up my warm Colorado summer for a rainy winter, deal with Latin America's seeming obsession with never stocking their bathrooms with toilet paper, endless plates of rice and beans, creepy toothless grins from old crotchety men, and gringo jokes (Puedo entenderles, amiguitos >:)).... but I am ready to see God do some powerful things. I know this is going to take some humility, prayer, dealing with frustrations, and faith, but what the heck, who isn't up for an adventure??

     If you are reading this, I encourage you to pray about what God may be wanting to do in and through you, whether you feel like you've got the talent for it or not. I believe that if we will begin asking God for big things and have faith that He can do it, He will lead us into adventure. God knows our hearts and wants us to play a significant role in His plans. Does He need us? No. But does He choose us? Does He want us? Yes. He knows its going to be a bumpy ride, but He is eager to show us what we were created for if we are willing to be led.

   Also, please pray that God's love and glory will be spread to Chile and the rest of South America this summer. Pray that God would fill me and the believers around me with his spirit to be a light to the Chileans we meet - not only in the things I do to serve with Veritas, but also that God would transcend language and culture barriers to reach my host family, the other students I study with, and the other people I meet along the way. Pray that God would give me faith (and humor for the next time I find myself in the bathroom with only notebook paper to wipe with) and keep me from fear and anxiety.

We'll see what the summer unfolds! Stay tuned for more adventures!

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." - Jim Elliot.

Ciao for now. :)

Jus' a wee bit of humor

Flipped through Reader's Digest and found this :) There should really be more humor in the world, everyday, all the time.

"Doctor Say What!"
Here are some comments doctor's wrote on their patient charts:

• "The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me."
• "Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch."
• "She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce."
• "The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stockbroker instead."
• "Patient has two teenage children but no other abnormalities."
• "She is numb from her toes down."

Note to future nursey self - watch what you document. Haha!