Plans for 2011...

Happy Holidays to everyone!

My dog Ellie and I are hanging out in the living room of my parent’s house in York Beach, Maine. “The Blizzard of 2010” just hit us and I as usual it was disappointing. Instead of the expected 20-24 inches we were supposed to receive, I am guessing we got about half that! But the killer is the 30-40 mph gusts that are ridiculous at the moment! They make freezing temps feel like dying temps and are a good deterrent to grabbing the sleds and trying to find a hill. So I think I will enjoy this hot chocolate, warm dog, and update my blog with some big news.

I am returning to Colombia for 2011 and beyond!

The Lord opened up a door for me to return to Santa Ana and I feel amazingly blessed for it! Here are the Top 3 reasons I am going back.

#3- Bilingual Program in Santa Ana

While I had my days where I wished a donkey would just knock me out, I really came to love teaching English at the public school! We made some decent improvements to the program and were fortunate to see some measurable outcomes in the end. However saying “adios” to my students was hard not because of the impending physical departure, but because I know there is so much more work to be done. As the new Colombian English teacher at the private school, I believe we can make this program one of the best in Cartagena! There are 8 handpicked American teachers coming to assist in this initiative and I am so excited to meet them! I know that together we are going to do some special things and I look forward to sharing the impact these people will have on these students and beyond!

#2- Community of Santa Ana

I miss my little Dayana! Can’t wait to see those precious little faces again!

While seeing this family will be a highlight to my return, I know God is going to do some things that are going to have a far wider impact. I met some great Colombian Christians’ who have a heart for the poor and underprivileged. I believe there are opportunities to work together with the local church to create some programs that can meet the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the many in Santa Ana. Also a few weeks ago I met a group of girls from Nashville, who came to New Hampshire to do a workshop which encourages young girls to look to God for true answers to the world. We talked and there was a lot of smiling! We are praying that God opens up a way for them to possibly come to Cartagena to share this good news. This would be incredible! Lastly, while doing this particular study with my parents, I just keep getting this picture of them with me in Santa Ana. After praying about it, one of my goals this year is to create a “Seguin and friends Mission Trip” to the land of dirt and donkeys! Talking with a few of my Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins, I am asking Him to make a way for this to happen! Never mind the amazing things a group of Type A perfectionists would be able to accomplish in a developing village, I cannot wait for the looks these super tall behemoths will invoke from the vertically challenged Colombians.

#1- Colombia Grace Foundation

When I met the visiting Josh and Mike at a pastor’s conference in Cartagena, I knew it was one of those really cool moments where you just felt had greater implications. The Lord has called them and their beautiful families to move to Cartagena and start an orphanage together! As promised, I will write a blog about their testimony and journey up to this point, because it is simply amazing and inspirational. So now that they have purchased land outside of Cartagena they might be starting this journey as soon as April 2011. The time we have spent together has given me the conviction that I need to support them in whatever way He leads. As someone who feels the Lord leading me down a similar road one day, I feel absolutely blessed that they have this similar idea as well. I am really excited to see where He takes this, but I also stoked He is about to bring a bunch of people to Cartagena whom I have come to really admire and respect. In the Christian faith, you need people to look up to. While in the end we need to recognize that people are fragile and that Jesus is not, I know that in all their weaknesses, these 2 men are demonstrating Christ in a way that has been really awesome for me!

So the plan is that I’ll first be back in Nashville from January 10-14, 2011. I will be heading to Atlanta toward the end of the week to see a friend and then fly to Cartagena from there on the 16th. Would love to see many of you before I go. Let me know how we can meet up and I will be there!

Thanks for reading! To another year in the land of dirt and donkeys- Cheers!

Adios!

E

Interesting question...

I want to give a huge “gracias a Dios” for all the people who inquired further about the precious family I wrote about in my last blog entry “I am changed.” It was so cool to see God use their story to encourage you like He did in me. People have pledged to routinely pray for them. A few have asked how they could use their own blessings to support those little girls financially. One beautiful family has committed to dial down their Christmas so they can focus on giving to others less fortunate! All I can say is que bonita! I pray that you continue to move how the Lord leads you. That you have the courage to ask the tough questions when it comes to “how much we really need” and what the answer of that question could possibly mean to little ones like my precious Dayana. You all are amazing and I am so thankful for you and the support you have given!

I’m back in the United Stated of America! Woohoo!

There will surely be a blog entry detailing the Reese Peanut Butter Cup overload in the Fort Lauderdale Airport, that first cheeseburger in downtown Portsmouth, NH (thanks Lexi), and even about the 60 minute hot shower I took! Living in the developing world that is the village of Santa Ana, my level of appreciate for mundane things shot through the roof! Anyways, I'll try to rock a blog about this as well as the lovely culture shock that met me when I got off the plane.

This entry will be the answer to a question a relative asked me shortly after I returned. The question was: “So are you ready to return back to the real world?”

Before I respond, I just want to say that there was nothing malicious about this question. It wasn’t said in a manner that was mocking. I sincerely believe he knows how important my experience was in Colombia and just merely was inquiring about my future plans, in the United States.

However, as soon as he asked the question, my mind went a million places. Don’t you love how quickly our brains process thoughts!

What is the real world?

Mark Twain said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on those accounts. Brood, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in our little corner of the Earth all one’s lifetime.”

The Kikuyu people of Kenya had an old saying that translated: “The man who has never traveled thinks his mother is the best cook.”

Relax, I don’t think everyone is called to hand in your notice at work, uproot the kids from school, and move to Africa. However, I think we need to allow ourselves to travel the world in our mind! By that I mean when you read my blog about the family in Santa Ana, did you allow yourself to see this story through the eyes of Dayana? When you hear about the an international crisis’ like we have seen in Sudan, Nigeria, Croatia, Rwanda, Darfur, Afghanistan, Haiti and about a hundred more around the world, do we stop to think about the people beyond the headlines. The millions of innocent people whose lives, whose children’s lives, were changed forever when the first bomb dropped, the first president was overthrown, the first case of AIDS was found, or the last drop of water was seen.

Ralph Winter once said: “God cannot lead on the basis of facts you do not have.” I will say that in our high speed reality, we do have these facts. Sometimes we just chose not to allow ourselves to accept them. This blog is simply encouragement to see, hear, and read things in a different light. Travel the world in your mind and allow yourself to be impacted in a meaningful way.

As I have sat praying over and over about this, I have come to believe my real world includes a country like Colombia. I think it has to. My experience was life changing and as I said from the beginning, it felt more like home each and every day. While I know for a fact that I was never a top draft pick, I believe that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So in that I live and breathe and open my reality to allow God to do whatever He desires through me in this struggling country. While I will have more details about where he is leading me, I invite you all be a part of the true real world in whatever way that takes you!

Gracias a todos!

Eric

I am changed

I challenge you wherever you are to take a moment to quiet your surroundings. Close the door to your office, tell the little ones to take their game upstairs, put the Blackberry on silent. I would like to take you out of your world and into the life of someone very special to me. This is a story that has changed me forever.

You hear your Father get up before much is moving in your village. Cautious not to wake your sisters whom you share a bed with, you simply watch him search around for those same pair of shorts he always wears when he goes to work. The years he has spent fishing in the unrelenting sun has left his skin so dark that it’s difficult to see him in your windowless room. You see his thin body slide through the sheet that is the door, the sound of him picking up his bucket of sardines, and his light footsteps that have about 4 kilometers of walking until he reaches his favorite fishing spot. You love your Father and hope he has a good day.

Life was easier for your Father just 8 months ago. Instead of taking his bucket of sardines, which also possesses his spool of line and a hook, your father would grab his fishing net. You learned very quickly that a fishing net meant your Father can earn money and provide fish for supper. Today, you just hope it’s one of the two. But you’ll be ready to try and sell what he brings back though not too many people are buying from you these days. Does everyone’s Father only earn $1.00- $2.00 a day?

Your Mom gets up a few minutes after her husband leaves. You hear her cracking kindling to make a small fire on the pit behind the house. She mixes a few coffee grounds into some water and waits for it to boil. She takes a few bites of some left over rice and black beans before walking back inside to wake up your sisters. It’s time for school. There was a time when your Mom sat in a school desk with a pencil in hand, but it was short-lived and sudden. Your desires to be read to are lost in the fact that you have no books and a mother who cannot read or write. While your neighbors believe she makes poor decisions for your family, you love her regardless because she is the one who brought you into this world and also the one who can take you out of it.

The curtain rises up again and the fragile presence of your Mother enters the room. Though weak in so many ways, the strength of her hands and arms surprises you as she shakes the mattress your sharing with your Sisters. It’s time for them to go to school and for you to help Mom by fetching some water. You look up to your 14 and 13 year old Sisters but also secretly envy them as they put on their nice blue and white uniforms and march off to school. There they receive breakfast and lunch, but more importantly an opportunity to learn. While there grades are not great, they read, write, sing new songs they heard at school in English, and want to tell you about some place with cute animals called Australia. They are the only educated people in your family. When they return you feel normal again. Seeing it’s too hot to play, you all pile back onto the mattress and try and steal a nap before Mom comes calling with an errand.

The nap was a short one due to incoming storm and its cracking lightning and thunder. As you all sit up, you and your sisters notice your quietly funny 16 year old Brother packing a few things into a bag. It’s time for him to leave for your Aunts house 5 kilometers away. You wonder about the long and wet walk he has infront of him as the drops begin to hit the tin roof that covers this cement shelter. Like your Sisters, your Brother studied at the school last year. However, after finishing a year where he was literally a man among children in his 1st grade class, your Mom pulled him out of school to help family attend a farm that is owned by a rich family in Cartagena. For his hard work he is fed and housed but not paid. Your Dad explains that when we was in school “he couldn’t learn” which sounds more like a verdict than a problem. So equipped with his machete, small bag of clothes, beautiful heart, and a grim reality that he will have little opportunity to control his destiny, he fittingly sets off out into the pouring rain

Your very timid Father calls out to you from behind the house. He has returned with eight catfish looking minnows that are no longer than 8 inches. It’s been a rough day and while small and of low quality, they can be deep fried or used in soups. So you take the bucket and slightly grudgingly set off to visit the neighbors. Less than 20 minutes you are back with all eight and a small list of why people didn’t want them today. Mom and your 16 year old sister take the fish and begin making preparations to fry it. You don’t mind because though you have this meal close to 5 times a week, rice and fried fish is one of your favorites.

Slightly later in the evening your 20 year sister comes back from working in the corner store. She slept in that morning and snuck away while you were running an errand for your Mom. Tired after finishing up a 12 hour day in a very busy store, she eats the portion your sisters set aside for her. Soft spoken and quietly beautiful, your sister changes clothes and soon begins to share an interesting story from the day. If you only understood the story that changed everything for her. When she was younger, a pastor in your village told your Mom she should pull your older sister and your brother out of school, because it was run by Catholic Nuns. Though possessing religious undertones like almost every school in Colombia, the pastor feared they were force feeding these children Catholism. However, though he never removed his own children from this institution, he insisted to the other church members to do so themselves. Your Mom, already unable to see the value of education, willingly agreed thus ending your oldest sister’s educational opportunity. Though the Nun’s pleaded with your Mom, the decision was made and in that moment your Sister began to walk the path of the woman who made you both. So now she works long hours everyday and for her hard work that translates into an 80 hour weeks, she is paid $50 per month. Some money goes to help buy food, some clothes, and some to herself because even though the path has been laid out for her, there is still a passion in her heart to become something more.

You my dearest little girl are 10 years old and possess a smile that lights up a room and an energy that is stronger than a coffee bean. You love to play hopscotch in the dirt outside your home and possess a passion for paper, rock, scissors that at times make someone in particular regret teaching it to you. Your favorite food was rice until you were introduced to the beauty of Froot Loops! The laugh you made when you discovered the toy inside the box would be a moment no one would forget. Though like many people here in Colombia, you are not the kindest to animals, this is washed clean in someone’s eyes by the beautiful heart you possess. You are a ray of sunshine in an often dark and gloomy room. You will break this cycle because there is something about you that I don’t think even your Mother can keep hidden away. You will break this cycle because you must for yourself and everyone else. Every good story must have a happy ending…promise me this!

I am changed.

This is not about making your feel guilty but making you aware. I am not sharing an experience that someone else has had in West Africa. No, I am sharing an experience that your friend, colleague, student, nephew, cousin, brother, or son has just had in Colombia. If you read this blog you probably know me very personally so please hear my cry for help. Look at your beautiful children and think about the precious little girl that has rocked my world! The same sweet smiles but very different worlds! We are a blessed nation and its time we stand up and believe we can make a difference.

I wrote this blog in a secular manner because the billions of people who live in desperate poverty is a huge problem. While I have my beliefs about why each human’s heart cries when we think about struggling children, in this moment I will not make that case but instead just ask you to do what you feel you should do. And know that you can do so much with an caring heart. What is it saying this minute?

To the many Christians who read my blog, I have lovingly just made you responsible. Let those who have ears to hear, let them hear. The God we worship loves this precious little family greater than I could ever have in all my lifetime. But He uses us as His hands and feet. The glory goes to Him, as this family will have a new fishing net in November. We learned a few things about financial management and finding Mom a temporary job helped as well. The Father is learning how to read and it’s actually going very well. We practice with a book that shares the Bible in a simple manner. He has taken it upon himself to share these stories with his children after each lesson and I am hopeful he can teach his illiterate family to read as well! The struggling fisherman has come to love the Lord with all His heart, soul, and mind. While I know the storms will certainly continue, it gives me such amazing peace to know this house has been built on the rock that is the Lord! I ask you to start in prayer. Pray for the lost, poor, orphaned, widowed and voiceless. Ask how you can help? And then listen…faithfully! What does He whisper in your ear?

To Elfrien, Margalisa, Carmen, Luis, Linei, Inoria, and precious little Dayana…I give you my love, prayers, and thoughts! You will be missed!

Eric

Ten Reasons I know I am in Santa Ana, Colombia

10. The moment I woke up from a nap to find a white frog, which was apparently injured, dripping blue blood down my wall.

9. Every time I have startled a herd of cattle and a gang of donkeys while running. There is nothing like running behind thousands of pounds of beef and burro except seeing the face of people who happen to be coming the other way!

8. When I can no longer count on 2 hands and 2 feet how many servings of rice I have eaten this week.

7. The fact that I am once again writing another blog while in my underwear, fan full blast, and ear plugs to help my mind think about something other than Daddy Yankee.

6. After walking to the public school 2 times a day, 5 days a week, for almost 8 months, I still get a few motorcycle taxis asking me if I am going to Playa Blanca. Maybe the latest beach fashion for touristy gringos is dress pants, button-up shirt, and school supplies!

5. As I am sitting listening patiently and respectfully during a mind numbing meeting in Spanish, a gecko decides the top of my head would be a great landing pad for his suicide jump off his perch 10 feet up.

4. I forgot what my principle looks like.

3. Following yet another debilitating rain shower, seeing 2 eyes staring at you in a puddle, only to remind yourself there are no crocodiles on the coast but there are a million pigs who like to escape this heat!

2. I just bought 7 pounds of Mojarra (Red Snapper’s Brother) for 7 dollars yet while delicious; the amount of oil that was consumed during this meal took another 12 days off my life. ETA to Heaven…about 58 years old and dropping.

1. No hay school today, no hay school tomorrow.

Half-time in Colombia- Part Dos

As I sit down to write this blog entry, there seems to be a lot on my heart.

Reflecting on “Life in Colombia” over the last 6 months takes my mind many places. Yet, the truth is: I just spent the better part of this beautiful morning writing about the first thing that seems to always come to mind in a moment like this. Something that I was scared to write about but as I did it was like felt more peace with each letter. While I talk in a manner that sometimes appears like I have no real train of thought, my writing is more methodical. One day in the moment I feel my heart is adequately represented with consideration to others involved, I will post it. Until than…you get the locker-room halftime report!

Half-Time Key Points

1. Keep the Weight On!
If I never see another plate of beans or lentils, white rice, and fried plantains, I will not be crying. Colombian cuisine is kind of a like a Plymouth Voyager Minivan. Its big in size, not too flashy or colorful, leaves plenty to be desired, but gets the job done! So while I’m not whining like a baby about it, I will state that Bobby Flay does not have to worry about anyone from this country trying to dethrone his Iron Chef status.

The Plan: Continue to be creative with my fellow American teachers. Take Colombian food like the empanada and make it American (thicken the dough, add a hotdog, you have Pigs in a Blanket!). Beg friends and family to send seasonings! Eat Crepes and Waffles Ice-cream every chance I get in Cartagena! Dream of BBQ and countdown the days I can stick a big fatty piece of meat in my smoker for 7 hours! And above all else…amazing breakfast foods like the pancake and delicious Western omelet will always do the trick and help me remember good old America!

2. Learn Spanish!
While many at home probably think it’s very easy to do so when you live where I do, I would have to agree! But I will add that I live with 5 other English speakers and there are days that I don’t speak a lick of Espanol! If I were in another situation, I am sure I would be far more fluent by now, but it’s just how my cookie crumbled. The reality is that we have plenty of opportunity to learn, we just need to make them happen, and continue to push ourselves to learn (I should be a motivational speaker...Chris Farley style though).

The Plan: Get back in my books! Remember I have a few friends in the pueblo to whom know zero English! This is nice because often my Colombian friends who know some English want to practice their Ingles, which doesn’t help me much! And lastly, quit being lazy! I am Colombian, dang it Seguin, learn the language like you ought to!

3. Re-evaluate Ministry
I did an earlier study on legalism in the Bible starting with Abraham and into Galatians. It was something I desired very much to share with my Colombians friends here. That by His Grace we are saved, it is a free gift for all those who believe in Jesus, and when we get caught up in thinking we actually can do things ourselves, we are being set up to fail and fall on our face. We’ll while I was able to teach this to the church I am working with; I think God had me study it because I needed to learn it! I will not lie, when I say that I have struggled here in Colombia, it is an understatement. While I have come to know God in a way that would have been very difficult in the States, I have also faced amazing adversity and have not always walked away victorious. My faith has been under attack and in this storm I have reached out for other things than Him! The solution I have seen time and time again, is that when you’re stuck in quick sand and going down, you would rather hold on to a nearby rock than a blade of grass. But the problem is that sometimes the grass is all you see? So needless to say, it’s been a struggle. One that has discouraged me in some remarkable ways! Yet, I have friends praying for me and I know that He is near!

The Plan: To Know God deeper and deeper in the face of this adversity. To bring all of me, the good and the bad, to the Cross and humbly ask Him to change me, a sinner! To ask my friends, to keep me accountable, and to be honest about these struggles! I know He is leading me, preparing me, for things I will not be able to do on my own, and I want that! I want that kind of dependence! It’s a huge reason I am here, so I pray I quit reaching for grass and finally learn there is a huge rock that never moves and was designed for me to stand tall upon it. And in each and every victory may He be glorified.

4. Understand Life in the slums of Santa Ana
Don’t get me wrong, we are blessed as we live in the nicest place in Santa Ana. We are housed within the private school here and truly have little to complain about. We have water, food, shelter, electricity, and even internet! Yet, all of us will admit, living among this very poor pueblo has been both hard and challenging. The poverty is immense and while the kids and their families appear happy, you have to wonder what it’s like for some of them who live in a small hut, with a leaky roof, and dirt floors. However, being among this community has given us all an amazing insight to how the majority of the world lives like. Did you know that more than 3 billion people live on less than 2 dollars a day in this world? 1 Billion of them live in desperate poverty! And as I have stated before, 30,000 children will die today from lack of food or preventable disease. We are a blessed nation! So while I have seen a bit about what it’s like for the poor and oppressed, I want to learn more. I want to gain more insight on how we help such a community like this. While no one is dying here of hunger, all are well fed, but this poor community is still running a course to remain poor, under-resourced, and possibly displaced by more educated Colombians!

The Plan: To make every effort to see the whole story. It’s easy to take an educated approach and cite X, Y and Z for these problems. But it’s another thing to use your improved Spanish and enter people’s worlds! To hear from them about what it is like? How things in this community have improved and where they believe it hasn’t. I am not trying to take my ideals of the American Dream and impose it on them, but meeting them on their level and seeing what is the next step that could mean better water, education, less disease, job opportunity, and transportation! I am not sure there is much I can do, but this type of knowledge will go a long way into possibly helping someone else in the future or possibly coming back with a real game plan and resources to aid in these problems.

We’ll this is the half-time report on “Life in Colombia.” These are 4 things that I will be focusing on in the months ahead. 4 things I will address at the end of my journey here as well. Looking at the calendar, I really don’t have that much time left, so it’s truly time to take advantage of the amazing opportunity and not waste a day.

Thanks for tuning in! You are a missed so much!

Eric Seguin

Its Half-time in Colombia- Part Uno

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Soccer. Yet, there was always something about the orange wedges we would get at halftime that just made the sport so much better. How could it not! After chasing a black and white blur around a humungous field for what seemed like eternity, these vitamin C packed slices of heaven were demolished about as quickly as that eating freak Takeru Kobayashi enjoys Nathans hotdogs! I remember feeling so sticky I seriously considered playing goalie for the second half.

When I got a bit older and a tad more competitive in another sport whose playing field is much smaller, we didn’t get treated with oranges at halftime. Instead we would sit in a circle, share some Gatorade, and hear our coach reflect, berate, and then instruct our team for the next half of play? I was in shock “Coach, this is halftime, its vitamin C time baby! I know you got some questions about my play last half, but I have a major question too: whose mama brought the wonderful wedges?” Needless to say, there was a good chance those words never made it out of my head but let me say proudly that I was thinking them! Instead I learned the true meaning of halftime, and while I could seriously write an entire blog about the very interesting halftime experiences I have witnessed during my days of playing organized sports, I’ll refrain, and instead shed light to this current adventure. Its halftime in Colombia: time to reflect, berate, and plan!

Life at the Public School

Tomorrow is exam day at our school. All the kids have paid their 2500 pesos to have the school print out the 4-6 page booklets that are all our tests. I made a “muy facil” exam this semester, because frankly, I believe my students have learned as much as I did when the very blessed Sydney (now) Clayton sat next me in Kinesiology (Dave: you are a lucky man!). My kids, co-teacher, and I have had some tough times getting on the same page and as a result I am coming into halftime knowing none of them will be gracing the cover of any ESL newsletter and I am in no way going to be paraded around this pueblo, on the shoulders of their thankful parents, as we all sing Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus (I hate that song)! Who said teaching English would be easy! There are days that kids seriously look at me with such joy you would think I am telling them to march to a death camp! But I wake up each morning, make my coffee, and walk to school. I my own dry and sarcastic humor, I have berated myself enough, and have decided to now move onward to the planning part.

There are things from the first half that worked! The kids love when I make a fool of myself in class. So they can expect more of that in the form of some great singing and even a dance or two (this will not end up on YouTube). We even just learned these cheesy raps which seeing I can barely write about because I’m laughing so hard, not sure how I’d get through that one live in action! The kids also like when I am “cool Eric” and not “tough Gringo-because his co-teachers refuse to stay in class to help discipline). So I will do my best to prepare and empower these teachers to be a part of every experience and will crank up the “cool Eric” (which is not hard when your “cool”…is that what kids still say these days?). I have also seen what doesn’t work and that’s Spanish in the classroom. Many of you in that instant sighed “duh,” and while your right…this is going to be the hardest thing I have ever committed to. One class in particular, there will be nothing like managing thirty-two 8th grade gremlins as you mettle on in a foreign language which appears to have the same effect as sunlight to vampires! As it’s been in class, a bit of Spanish was like a vile or two of blood, a nice way to tame the beasts! But I am going to change, and while it might be the death of me, it’s for the best! I love you Mom.

All joking aside: These kids are worth it! This project is worth it! So this second half will be one where we move forward having after careful and meticulous evaluation, greatly improved the game plan! And if by some miracle this small poor village comes to adore Uncle Sam’s language, how cool would it be to be toted around this pueblo on one of my donkey friends while people throw palm branches at my feet singing “Blessed is the Gringo who comes in the name of English.” That was kind of dumb and maybe a bit too sacrilegious but it beats anything having to do with Miley Cyrus…

Seeing my body is fighting something weird, I think I am going to end this segment here, and go crawl into my bed with the flies that have recently invaded our island! Hope to get the halftime report about “life in Colombia” up here very soon.

Real quick final note: During a rough spell of homesickness, I was watching the movie Julia and Julia. In a particular scene, Julia (Child) and her husband Paul got notice they needed to move out of Paris, which prompted her to sullenly ask “where is home?” Her husband very calmly responded “wherever we are.” While not the line of the century, it was something that hit me in the face. I have stated on this blog that this place feels like home more and more. Than all of sudden, I hit a rough patch of straight up loneliness. This line was so potent because it caused me to reflect on why I stated this and eventually how I got here. God opened up door after door for me to come here. He has taken my life and turned it upside down since I’ve arrived. I have come to see Him in a way I sometimes believe would have been impossible in my old life. What an amazing blessing this experience has been because I have got to Know God. This place has felt like home because I have come to crave and depend on Him. And in this very admittedly “new” outlook on life, He gives us a peace that can even surpass those amazing feelings we have when we’re in the presence of our amazing families. Mom, please don’t read into that more than you should, as I can’t wait to curl up on the couch with you, Dad, and Ellie! But if you are down, sad, lost, empty, angry, hopeless, or you fill in the blank, look to the God who never abandons His sheep. He is holding out His hand for you with promises of peace, joy, hope, and unconditional love. Take hold and I promise that despite this world’s darkness, you will be granted a spirit of family and security that unlike all this place has to offer, will never fade away. Props to God for using Julia Child…! Ha!

“O Lord, you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalms 138: 1-7.

Miss you all very much!

E

Ciudad Perdida- Final Post (Kind of)

It’s been like 2 months and to be perfectly honest, I don’t want to write about Ciudad Perdida anymore. So I am going to give you my summary in a nutshell and move on! It was the most amazing hike I have ever taken. It beat the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Rockies of Colorado. You have it all, amazing plant life that makes you feel as if you in the movie “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” gorgeous mountain springs and waterfalls (which we swam in every one), opportunities to pick mangos, avocados, bananas, and coca leaves (yup- the same stuff that makes the white stuff) directly from the source along the route. In addition to that, you have an opportunity to see and meet several members of the indigenous Kogi tribe that live in this mountain range. They are a fascinating people with a rich history in this area. The Lost City itself was cool and I encourage you to Google it sometime if you interested. There is so much about this “find” that it would take me 2 posts to explain it all. As I sit here and think back about the trip, it was the journey that made it a blast. I went with some great people whom I had the opportunity to get to know more. We got some decent exercise hiking 4-8K up and down the sharp peaks of Colombia, but then spent the rest of the day eating amazing food, laughing, playing games, and talking about everything you can imagine. So for all those that read my blog- thanks! Colombia is a beautiful country and I hope a fraction of it is captured in some of the pictures I will post.

Miss you all!

E

Adventures to Ciudad Perdida- Part 2

I told you I was going to post another blog entry sooner than later…

So the quick responses I got from the millions of people that read my blog (???) were that I needed more details and of course pictures. In response to that… I am a whooping 29 years old now! Next February I will be turning the dreaded…we’ll you can count and I don’t want to say it. But one thing I have noticed is that my eye sight has gotten worse, someone found a grey hair on me the other day (still don’t believe them), and that my memory is about as sharp as the spoon I used to stir my coffee this morning. And so recalling a 6 day adventure in full detail seems a bit daunting to me but I am going to try!

Where did I leave off…another example of how sharp my mind is (I had to read my own blog to remember- yikes)! So after I woke up from my diabetic coma in the beautiful Caribbean city of Santa Marta, Colombia, I ventured out to find some “fried goodness” for breakfast! Knowing I was about to risk being kidnapped in the Colombian jungle, I wanted to make sure I took in a few amazing empanadas and papas relleno (stuffed potato) before this happened! We all know that food in captivity is not all that great!

An old SUV type truck/van pulls up in front of our hostel around 8 am. The excitement in the air is high as we meet our guide and his wife. With the help of a few others, we get our gear packed among the amazing amount of food they packed for us. Hope you didn’t think we were going to carry that…we got a mule to do that (hello- its Colombia)! Just before we’re about to pack in like sardines, I run to my new friend selling the fried goodness and purchase my 4th papas relleno of the morning which turns out to be a horrible decision. We pack into this 4 wheeled beast and I wonder, for almost 1.5 hrs, why I decided to eat about 3000 calories of pure fat before such a ride!

The truck stops along this road to get gas (someone with a bucket of fuel siphons it into your tank) and some of us run to a great fruit stand. Not sure why I was interested but I went and purchased 2 amazing sugar mangos (sorry everyone…they don’t sell them in the US). Maybe I felt bad about eating so horribly earlier that I wanted to balance it out with a fruit, but this also turned out to be a bad idea. As we take off again, within 2 minutes we take a hard right onto a road that does not look like a road but more like a gnarly mountain bike trail! This road traverses up, around, and over 3-4 mountains! You know when you’re driving and you run over those “rumble tracks” on the highway…it’s like that except multiply is by a 1000! Let me also remind you there are possibly 10 people in a 6 passenger vehicle. Needless to say my sugar mango was not that enjoyable. I’ll bet I may have got about 40% of it in my mouth, 20% on my friends, and the rest on my favorite Vanderbilt shirt (go Dores).

After what seemed like a year on that road, we come to a remote town! So weird that all of a sudden, in the middle of nowhere, you has paved roads, houses, and little stores! This quaint little town is where we will begin our trek to Cuidad Perdida, but not before we absolutely stuff ourselves with sub sandwiches and Coke! They know how to take care of Gringos! After eating enough food to make my Ironman Triathlon preparation seem sheepish, packing and repacking gear, lathering up in mosquito repellant, and double checking the Oreos are easily accessible, we officially begin the hike. I am feeling a bit like Indiana Jones and Clark Griswold!

I know the title says “Adventures of Ciudad Perdida” and I have not written about the actual hike yet…but let me remind you: THIS IS MY BLOG! Plus I am writing this in only my underwear, sweating profusely, in my non air-conditioned room, feeling the heat of which Weather.com said it “feels like 114 degrees” today! How about them apples?

Miss everyone! And a special shout out to my Uncle Dan who is seriously considering sending me frozen cheeseburgers via this new shippable box his company invented that keeps things frozen for a few weeks! He’s a genius engineer and I am a hungry boy! Gotta love family!

Adventure to Cuidad Perdida- Part I

For those who sent me emails because I have not posted a blog in almost a month and you may have thought I had been kidnapped by the FARC during my trek in the Colombian jungle, I appreciate the concern and am glad you care. For those who have not checked up on me, we’ll just see if you get informed I completed the coconut rice post for my blog…

Colombians love holidays and I love days off from work! The week before Easter is called “Semana Santa” which means “Holy Week” which means vacation (as well as the remembrance of the most glorious moment in Christianity)! Before I could really think about what to do, I got an email from some friends in Barranquilla who were interested in doing this awesome hike we had read about during orientation. After considering my other option of spending a week with my little piggy friends here in Santa Ana, I happily agreed to go!

Because the school I work at is a bit different (not always in a good way), I got a chance to leave the Dirt, Dogs, and Donkeys of my pueblo a bit early (okay almost a week early) to hop on a sweet air conditioned bus heading for Barranquilla. I have to admit I was looking uber “Gringo” with my full pack back but I made it there safely without anyone trying to steal the Oreo’s I stashed away for my trip!

In Barranquilla I got the opportunity to hang out with my friends who all teach at Shakira’s (my future wife) amazing school Piez Descalzos! During our orientation they described this school as a “very wealthy institution for poor children.” I think a few other countries need to adopt that idea! Another cool thing at their school was the fact they were celebrating “Dia de Dulces” which means Day of Sweets! Having worked in the realm of childhood obesity I would normally be appalled by such a celebration. But seeing like 5% of kids are overweight (compared to 60+% in the good old US), what’s wrong with a little azucar (sugar). Add in the fact that my new best friend is called Arequipe (Yum!) and they were selling him for all of 500 pesos (25 cents), it was a great day!

After I awoke from my diabetic coma the next morning it was time for us to pack up and begin this adventure. The next 24 hrs would include a trip to beautiful Santa Marta (3 hr bus ride), a meeting with our guide Jose and his wife, a nice dinner complete with hilarious stories from friends I haven’t seen since orientation, the purchase of additional Oreos (of course!), a pleasant stroll along the ocean, and a sketchy nights stay in a local Hostel. As we all settled down for the night, I had a nice feeling that this trip was going to be a lot of fun and that I was also going to smell really bad when it was done.

While I fall more in love with this country every day I am here, know that I miss everyone so much! There is not that goes by where I do not think about many of you and all the great memories we have made. Thanks for all your support and prayers! There has been a lot going on in terms of ministry and adventure so I hope to finish up the second half of this blog soon and dive into some of this stuff! Don’t worry though, I know where my only reader’s (I love you Mom!)heart lies and thus I will finish the Coconut Rice entry real soon!

I'll leave you with a cool verse to think about doing your day- Love you all!

"But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we may might recieve the full rights of sons (adopted by God). Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:4-7

A Hearts Cry

It was over 2 months ago when I boarded a plane for Colombia. As the plane headed down the Houston, Texas runway and the wheels lifted off the ground, there was a deep feeling I had just left a huge part of me there that I would never have again.

I have lived a blessed life! Having been adopted from Bogota, Colombia is certainly one of the most amazing gifts I have received. My selfless parents have given me as much as the world as they could. My father worked long and hard hours so our family could be comfortable. My mom only took jobs that would grant her the flexibility to always be there for us when we needed her. They were and are the most important people in my life.

After high school I attended a Christian University in Nashville. I made friends that I will have all my life. I had experiences both trying and glorious that have impacted who I am this moment. I graduated with an education that enabled me to work in health care. I worked for some amazing people and one of the most prominent hospitals in the US. I was given opportunity to be creative, inventive, and original. I was always compensated well above what I needed.

My life was simple but fun! I worked hard but made sure I always had time to play. I loved escaping to Colorado to ski! I competed in a bunch of triathlons throughout Tennessee and all around the country. My triathlon bike cost more than my truck! I love to cook and learning a new recipe is one of my favorite things to do. I spent several months trying to distinguish why a wine from one region in France is so much better than one from another. I went on Caribbean cruises where my goal was to always gain at least 5 lbs. My beloved dog Ellie and I enjoyed eating Blue Bell ice cream after early morning training runs. There was always something amazing about watching every Rocky movie in succession on a lazy Saturday. As I sat along the rocky coast of Maine and watched the tide come in, I would always consider how blessed I was.

Today, over a billion people live (and die) in desperate poverty which is less than a dollar a day. Close to two billion others live on less than two dollars a day. 30,000 children will breathe their last breath due to either starvation or a preventable disease today. We are not inconvenienced by this extreme poverty because those stricken by it are not only poor, they are powerless. Literally millions of them are quietly dying in relative obscurity and we can comfortably ignore them in our affluence, pretending like they don’t even exist. Meanwhile, they do exist, and God measures the integrity of our faith by our concern for the poor.

I walk to my school every day and see families living in houses that barely have walls. I have lunch with kids whom this could be their only complete meal that day. People wash, cook, and bathe with water that is delivered to the end of each street because the idea of plumbing and running water is impossible here. I see homeless in Cartagena whom are so ravished by the weather they are too tired to beg. I have walked through neighborhoods where they plead to more affluent people to take their children because they can’t provide for them.

Please don’t listen to me but what is written in God’s Word. In Luke 6:20-22 we read “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Blessed are you for who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” In verses 24-25 Jesus warns “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who will laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.” In Mark 10:21-22 an eager affluent young man approaches Jesus and asks how He may “inherit eternal life.” After he explains to Jesus that he has been keeping the commandments since he was a little boy, Jesus looked at him and “loved him” and said “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” The story continues “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” In 1 John 3:17-18 it reads “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Back in Luke 12:32-34 Jesus words are piercing as He commands “Do you not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The Word of God is clear about how much He cherishes the poor, oppressed, and orphaned. The Word of God is clear about how much He despises though who neglect them. I have come to see that I am the “Rich Young Man.” When the Bible speaks of the “Rich” I know that I fall into this category. In America, I was certainly not the most affluent, but in the perspective of this World, believe me when I say that I am exactly who Jesus is warning. Salvation is never a matter of external reformation, but is always a matter of internal transformation. James says in Chapter 2:15-17 says that if we see someone in need, hope for them a better future, and do nothing, that this is an example of a faith that is “dead.” If we have Him in our hearts- everything changes.

While the words of Jesus are tough- they are necessary. The reality is that hundreds of children will die by the time you finish this blog. 30, 000 will breathe their last by the time the sun sets. When I left the US, I left behind a diseased view of materialism. I have repented to God about my disobedience and as a result His spirit is changing me. I know my life will never look the same as it was last year. It can’t be. The words of Jesus have radical implications for our lives. Read Matthew 25:31-46 and ask what side you are on. Plead with Him to change your heart, the perspective, and the priorities. Draw close to Him, believe in His promises, and then listen to His voice. It will never be a matter of guilt, but responsibility. Give Him your heart and see where this takes you. The lives of millions depend on us. Please believe it. Join me in prayer, petition, and action.

Sometimes, God just puts a word on your heart that is tough but demands to be shared. In my flesh, I would rather share how to make Coconut Rice or how I saw the most amazing tarantula the other night (that will come!) But I know this needed to be my next blog entry. I hope you are encouraged and whatever your religious position, you come to see how this experience is shaping my perspective of life as I know it. I love and miss you all so much! Thanks for your support! I feel it! Pictures are courtesy from a few amazing ministries I adore here, Uganda, and India.

Infamous Public Schools in Colombia

Me and technology have not gotten along very well in Colombia. About 4 weeks ago my beloved Ipod to which I listened to many podcasts as well as American music (!) passed away. While this little 4 GB box of heaven got me through countless hours of training this past year, I belief its death was premature! So therefore I will be writing a letter to either Steve (CEO of Apple) or Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple)...that's right I googled the head haunchos!

Than a week later I went swimming with my cell phone! There will be no letters sent on this one because I am simply an idiot!

To top it off, I was working on a new blog update when I leaned on my computer. PS: Never lean on anything that costs a lot. When the "Black Screen of Death" appeared...I knew I was about to pay alot. Somehow in my insane muscular strength and body mass, I broke the hard drive. Apparently, they just don't make them like they used to (I used to have a 1970's Commodore desktop that weighed 240 lbs!). But thanks to a failing economy and good friends, I paid about $120 bucks for a new drive, Windows 7 (Team Bill Gates...take that Apple...like you need it), and labor (you da man Ivan!). Which leads me all to say that i'm still alive and kicking and ready to share some of the experiences I have been having here in Colombia via this blog!

So how about I finally talk about my teaching placement here in Santa Ana!

When I was asked to switch from my University teaching placement in beautiful Cartagena to dirt, dust, and donkees of Santa Ana, I was given the opportunity to chose which of the 2 teaching placements I would prefer here on the Island. In Santa Ana I knew there were 2 schools (a private and public) to choose from. The only differences I was given, in that moment, were that the public school co-teachers tend to be less engaged and therefore you have more autonomy. So being a glutton for a good challenge, I excitedly choose the Santa Ana Public School!

I am an english teacher in a community where learning this language translates into money. If you know english- you can get a job. In fact, this beautiful island has attracted potentional real estate giants as Donald Trump. In the past year, there has been as all-inclusive resort that opened near Playa Blanca with plans for several more within the next 5 years. You ask any kid "why learn english" and they will draw you dollar signs! Tourism around Playa Blanca is what their parents often do and is a career many will fall into as well (not very many options). The difference is that if these children learn english, instead of spending 10 hrs days in the hot sun trying to sell food, beverages, necklaces, or massages, they could work in an air conditioned resort or restaurant. According to some reports they can make upwards to 30% more in such positions- that's some serious "plata!" The tough reality though, is that if they done learn english, they could be displaced by more competetive individuals who would tend to know this highly valued language (English speaking tourists).

I have come to learn the hype around public schooling in Colombia is true (can't tell you how many presentations we had in Bogota about the problems in education here).

While the kids in both schools (private and public) present teachers with the same problems each day, I have come to learn that the institutions themselves are to blame. The culture of learning in the private school here (Barbocoas) is impressive. The teachers, who live here during the week, are prepared and eager to teach. There seems to be appropriate accountability from executive leadership to all faculty and staff. While every institution has its problems, I feel they work very diligently to keep the kids first!

At the public school (Santa Ana Public School), while I believe there are good intentions, the culture of learning is flawed. In Colombia they have one of the most powerful teacher unions every assembled. For many this means serious job security. The reality is that there is almost nothing you could do to be fired from your position. So it's obvious how this can matriculate down to the education of these beautiful children. What hurts the most, is that these kids here in Santa Ana don't have any other resource to learn from. What they get here will often be all they get!

But this is the reason WorldTeach and Volunteers Colombia has us here- so bring it on!

So while there are 6 of us "gringo's" here in Santa Ana, only 2 of us teach at the public school. The other teacher is an awesome girl named Kim Handel. She is from California and has the perfect balance of humor, reality, and sarcasm for such a placement as ours! Most mornings we make the 10 minute walk to our school together often laughing at the impending insanity that is our world!

I am teaching multiple classes in 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grade! I average about 23-25 hrs each week in the classroom. Most of my classes have anywhere from 20-30 kids in each classroom. Hopefully, you can get a perspective of what the classrooms look like in the pictures I will post. If this is your first time reading my blog: Its hot here! By hot, I mean I take 3-4 showers a day. So these classrooms are somewhat open and are all equipped with 1-2 ceiling fans that occasionally work. Needless to say, I am soaked by the time I am done! Its awesome!

The kids are the reason I am here! So while there have been many instances I wanted to toss them in the ceiling fan- they are beautifully tolerated and loved. Its a tough job teaching english here but Kim and I are learning new strategies and methods to get the information across. Let me not sugar coat things and say that a day doesn't go by where I did not ask a student to leave or hand out a zero for cheating, but its getting better. They are learning that while the "gringo" means business, he really cares for them! I thought it best to fight these battles early on so we can make some real progress down the road. Respect is everything here.

All my teacher friends are probably wondering how much time I spend lesson planning each week with so many grades...well a lot less than I anticipated because they are all almost at the same level (which happens to be a 6th grade or less ability). If Donald Trump rolled in tomorrow, these kids are screwed. But if Kim and I can make some real progress this year helping change the learning environment of our school, encourage and educate our Colombia co-teachers, and if WorldTeach commits to this project for 5 years, I can see real change coming to this community!

Classes are an adventure but I have to say I have really been enjoying it! I have seen a little progress just in the fact that I don't have to use my ghetto spanish to teach the whole class anymore! This week was full or ups and downs but I saw a lot out of them the past few days! My 11th graders were awesome while my 4th graders were on crack. I also had some tough conversations with the principle about some of my concerns regarding the disorganization of the school. I am hopeful He can make a few changes that will greatly impact the learning environment here.

Its South America and we have all quickly learned to adapt and overcome. This is a different world and sometimes I feel I barely display that in this blog. Yet, I pray this experience gives you a different outlook on life and a blessed perspective of life where you are this moment. I am sure i'll talk more about teaching and these kids- its a huge part of my life here. So until the next time, hug your children and get involved in their education! Maybe someday they can use what they have learned to come and attempt to make an impact where kids simply are not as fortunate.

Talk soon- have a blessed day!

Yo No Se Manana

I dont know about tomorrow.

The title of the blog is actually a really cool song here in South America. Its by a guy named Luis Enrique who from a few web searches seems to be "the man." To put it in a way that everyone at home could relate, I think he is the Latin American version of Sting. He certainly went through some narly haricuts (the Kid and Play hightop to the spanish Fabio mess) and some weird outfits (gotta love the sweater vest with no shirt underneath), but after just watching his music video for this song, the man is a pimp (Mom- not in the way where someone takes money from hookers for providing care and protection- but its actually an endearing term)!

While I may not understand all the words to this song, and i'll kind of ignore the line where I think he says something like "from the cafe to the couch," I certainly have been digging the killer salsa beat and rhythm of this kind of music. Do I love it so much to get out of my bed at 11pm and show my Santa Ana neighbors my true Colombian rhythm and footwork...not so much. Yet, I appreciate their consideration to serenade us "gringos" with the all the hit records of South America at times where I believe that even my donkey friends are sleeping!

I don't know about tomorrow! So every day here I have tried to make it memorable. In the mornings when I head off to school I know that I wont have to do anything personally to make it an adventure. Something is bound to happen that will give me an awesome story to share with my fellow American teachers at lunch. I know I have said this before, but more details to come.
For all my teacher friends, I think i'm heading to the Bronx to teach after i'm done here. Woah.

Both during and after school, I have become a regular at the panaderia (bread shop),which is actually out of this families home, (helped him move a new dresser into it the other day) across the street from the school. The first time I met them they said laughing "usted no entiende nada" which lovingly means "you don't understand anything." While they are correct, they love me because I bust out my 50 mil (25 cents) and routinely buy 1 pastry and 2 cookies from them like 2-3 times a day! Gotta support the local economy!

The midday is me, sweating that pastry and 2 cookies away, laying on my bed with a fan full blast aimed at my grill! Hoping no one busts in my door without knocking because I may or may not have many clothes on. This is when I get the opportunity to have some quality God and me time. I like to think that me being almost neked may enhance these moments. He certainly had Adam and Eve walk around without shame, so im sure He won't mind if reenact this during our time together (i mean its like 98 degrees here...everyday!).

During the early evenings I try and do some form of exercise. Funny story: so the other day i'm running down 1 of the 2 dirt roads I often frequent here. Its about 4:30 pm which still means its smoking hot but not as bad as earlier in the day. Its swear I am in Africa on these runs. There is nothing but fields of cattle, donkeys, and weird looking trees. But I have to admit its really relaxing minus when a truck comes and im covered in dust. So anyways, I turn this corner and there are like 4 huge cows. This is nothing new, but for some reason I forgot to walk past them and my running startles the little one. So they start running down the road infront of me. No problem but there are fences the line the road for miles! So for about 5 minutes I feel like I am in Pamplona, Spain running with the bulls (yet they are kind of infront of me). Funny gets hilarious when as 1 unit we turn the corner and we meet my other friends, the donkeys! There is a small family of 4 who also gets wigged out at the 3 tons of beef and the 150 lb gringo that is running at them. So they decide to join us and we become quite the site for another 1/4 mile until a legit (not an uber mutt) guard dog comes out of nowhere and thankfully changes the direction of my herd. If the farmer who owns all these animals happens to learn how to use that fancy box gringos always seem to carry around and reads this blog...I am sorry!

The evenings have been about culture! From learning new ways to perfect patacones to making empanadas, I just upped my stock just in time for dating season (starts tomorrow until Halloween...another blog in itself). I am also doing a language exchange with a really cool young man named Luis. I truly feel that God had his hand in us meeting each other as I believe there will many cool ministry opportunities that may come from this. And of course, I regularly play with my South American Sandlot crew. The other teachers I work with have been coming with me more regulary (to play of just hang out) and its been a pretty fun time. The crew is growing and I am considering finding a new spot- which means a serious clean up project!

The night is about chilling out with the great group I am here with, getting ready for another day of classes, and spending some times talking about all of you to Him! At the end of the day, I double check the walls for man eating mosquitos that have rocked me in my sleep a few nights last week, and then pull the covers over my already 99.8 degree body.

For those who made it this far in todays blog always lovingly ask yourself this: While life is always full of adventure, can you say it always has purpose? What makes my day so awesome is that I know I am doing the things God wants me to do here. I have never felt His presence in such an amazing way and that makes me both excited and terrified in what He will present next! And so why I have do not about tomorrow, I will walk with Him and make the most of all He gives me today!

Waves

Life here in Santa Ana has been going awesome! I am truly in love with this country and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this community! Though the other night I could have traded my kidney for a good ol’ American Cheeseburger, every day I feel more at home here in Colombia!

Today was my first day teaching! I had an 11th grade class that began at 6:30 am and you can only imagine how excited they were to be up that early to learn English…some things are universal! This was followed by another 11th grade class, a two hour 9th grade class, and a 6th grade class from the underworld. Anyone remember the beast from Revelations 13? The one with 10 horns and 7 heads who wreaked havoc on all the earth’s inhabitants…that kid is in my class! Otherwise, it was a pretty cool day and I am excited to put some cool lesson plans together to help them learn English. It was very clear we have miles to go before they’ll be at any level of proficiency! More to come!

For this blog entry I want to share something I read the other day. Last Saturday I met the IMB Ministry team in the morning. I will be helping in these missions every weekend while I am here. I hope to share more on this very soon! I was suppose to meet them at 8:30 am but the motorcycle driver I took that morning must have just watched Fast and Furious because I was almost 30 minutes early! So I hung out on the beach (rough life) and read my daily devotion which at the time was in Ephesians. I was in chapter 4: 14 which says:

“Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunningness and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ.”

As I read this I looked out at the waves and made some observations. Waves come in all different shapes and sizes. Waves are relentless, yet incredibly unpredictable. Sometimes when everything is normal, you’ll have a huge wave come in and surprise you. I noticed how strong they were. When they crash you can see the sand turn underneath it. Sometimes they pull rocks back in as the wave recedes while other times it pushes them up on shore.

In all these observations, it was not hard to see why Paul used this example. Even the person who wrote the motto “Life is a Beach” may have been on to something. In a spiritual sense, Satan’s attacks are relentless. He will present them in creative and different ways. When everything appears calm, the god of this world throws something at us that can be overwhelming. We have moments where it feels as if the ground is being swept out from under us. Another day we feel as if we’re being thrown against the rocks. Satan wants nothing more than for us to lose our bearings and in a moment, feel scared. Can you relate to this? What are the waves in your life?

As I observed the ocean that morning, there was something else I could see. I noticed that the waves of any significance were only near the shoreline. The deeper you went out, the calmer the water was. I reminisced when I did Ironman Florida. I had worked on a few strategies to get through these “breaker” waves. I kept the mantra to “just stay focused and relax” because when I did successfully get through them, the rest of the swim would be easy as I knew the conditions were better the farther out you were! How important is it for us to “get off the shore and into the deep water” as it relates to our faith? The reality is that this can be a daunting proposition because of two reasons: it’s scary and people don’t know how to swim.

I listened to a sermon the other day and the pastor referenced The Chronicles of Narnia where someone asked “is the Lion safe (God)…No! But He is just!” When we rest our lives in His hands it doesnt always mean "calmer waters" as we would imagine. Yet, as we venture out in Faith, the waves that once crashed around us, causing us to become disorganized and at times fearful, disappear. Instead He replaces them with purpose and direction. A storm out in sea is not uncommon, but remember what Jesus said to the disciples in such a similar situation in John 6:20 "It is I; dont be afraid." The sea is always unpredicable, but unless we get out of the surf and into deeper water, we may never come to know Christ in the manner we are told to.

Doubt can also creep in when one does not know how to swim. How many times have you ever felt convicted you needed to act on His behalf and thoughts of inadequacy overwhelmed you? There were moments, a few years ago, when I joined a swim team to learn how to swim. After a few practices- I remember wanting to crawl into somewhere and die! It was hard and I thought I would never learn. But I trusted in my coaches teaching and saw in her ability that she knew what she was doing! Sound familiar?

God has given you and me everything we need to swim and to freestyle our way into calmer waters. He has given this entire world His words, teachings, team (church), instructions, and the Example!

There were moments this past year that seemed overwhelming. Times where I lost my focus and felt scared! Yet, as I write this I am excited for what He is doing in this life. I know there is an amazing, overwhelming amount of me that needs to go to Him. But I pray that each day the Holy Spirit convicts me of this and I am able to give them up. All of us have gone through some serious “breakers” in our days and maybe you are in that moment today. So I want you to know that as it is in Christ, as we grow up into Him, we are granted the peace, joy, and strength to swim to that place. A place that is dangerous but we feel safe. A place that is unchartered but we aren’t lost. A place that is foreign but we feel at home.

For me, my best friend Kendall has been that encouragement and example for me. She showed me that in His hands, there is no room for fear. She reminded me that God doesn’t look for the qualified, He makes them.

In moments of crashing waves and dangerous currents, are you clinging to something or possibly someone that is not Him and should be? Can you even see the calmer waters in front of you? Prayerfully let go of what you are holding onto this moment. Trust in the Creator God. Allow Him to guide you through these breakers and out in the deep waters. Sometimes we only see the waves and forgot there is another world to be discovered behind them. Find that place and I guarantee you that is where He has always wanted you to be!

The Usual in Baru

To my mom and the other 2 people that read my blog- “Que mas” from Isla Baru!

I got a few requests to write about my usual day here in Santa Ana, Baru. So here in my suprisingly slick and childish sense of humor...a day in Colombia.

Every morning I wake up fairly early because I’m an idiot. However, in reality it’s not a bad thing because starting next Monday, my school begins at 6:30 am! Despite my pretty ghetto bed and the sheets that somehow are nonexistent when my eyes open, I sleep pretty well! When I was a little guy, getting me out of bed was a nightmare process for my parents. Not just because I despised school, but because in New Hampshire its cold for almost 8 months of the year! My loving yet frugal parents always turned off the heat at night, which I enjoyed at night, yet cursed in the morning. There were many mornings where I could see my breathe and the last thing I wanted to do was leave my heaven that was 3 blankets and a huge comforter! I write that to tell you…I don’t have that problem here. Have I not mentioned this climate resembles the underworld?

So once my eyelids open and the ears turn on- I am graciously greeted by about 1000 roosters. Though they are often not in unison, I have come to appreciate their desire to sing to me every morning! Here I pray for a lot of you (the ones I like) and finish the prayer with “and please Lord may I not get stung by a scorpion this morning.” Pretty much on the second day here I found one of these tiny, rare, and deadly divine mistakes (ducking as I write this) chilling out on my bathroom floor. So needless to say- I now move around about as fast as my little Italian grandmother (shout out to Rita!). I check my shoes and throw on some running gear. Got to start the day right pounding the dirt roads before it turns into a blazing inferno!

I open my door and feel like Noah. “Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you…” Amidst the poverty and obscene amount of trash that is my morning view of Santa Ana, are usually pigs, dogs, cattle, goats, variety of birds, lizards, roosters, and my favorite animal the donkey! I see much more of this as I run but the fact that it hasn’t rained here for months deters me from getting out my blueprints of the ark.

A cold shower never felt so good than when I come back from these runs! I am cautious to make sure I don’t drink an ounce of water there, but honestly, I’m on a island with no running water (we’re the only ones who have it) and an garbage problem…I’m screwed. I fully expect to hug the porcelain many times before I leave here, but I am cautious nonetheless. My amazing breakfasts in Bogota are now an afterthought! It’s a bowl of good ol’ Kellogg’s and a banana. I do get some good coffee (special shout out to Edna)!

So the rest of the day is school stuff. I am at the public school here in Santa Ana which is going to be very rewarding but challenging. The last few days have been just lesson planning with our Colombian teachers (in the South we say "God bless them but..."). Should be interesting because during our first meeting, we came to learn that though they have spent the last 5 years teaching English, they have written nothing down in the form of lessons and or annual plans. So as you might imagine, my prayer life is being tested but I believe we are going to be alright. Tell you more about that soon. Class starts next Monday!

I want to share my favorite part of the day with everyone! We live right next to one of the “pueblos” of Santa Ana. If you just thought Cherokee Indians or somewhere along those lines...punch yourself in the gut. In South America this just means rows of small little homes which result in a quaint but poor neighborhood. I have made it a point to get out and just lift the people to him in prayer. In these moments God has opened up doors for me to meet a lot of great people of all ages. If you happen to forget, I live in South America and they speak Spanish here. Which means at this moment, there is a lot of smiling, proper salutations, and moments where I just listen and wish I understood. But in everything I do, I love them. I love them as He loves you and me! It would be hard to describe how much I wish I could really converse with them, but for the meantime I am content on loving them by giving them my time and appreciation. The best part is the 15-20 kids from the neighborhood whom I have introduced to ultimate Frisbee! These kids are athletes but it’s more laughs that competitive remarks. I walked out of my room yesterday evening to all of them yelling at me to come play (which took me a moment to translate)! Remember who Jesus said was the greatest- if you just though Ali- read Matthew 18. These kids rock and I ask that you pray over my South American Sandlot. May He open up doors to share His truths with them and their families despite my limited Spanish! These people are beautiful and I’m excited for those who might come to meet them!

After a light dinner because my eternal temperature is now 1000 degrees, I grab this here blessing of technology and touch down in America for a while. After my fix of “home” I walk back to my place for bed. On the way I politely ask a few donkeys if they wouldn’t mind keeping their debauchery down this evening. I threaten them by saying I wont let them enter the ark if they abide by my demands! I wonder how much I would jack up the ecosystem if I omitted a few animals? Lucky for them I am a fan of Eeyore and I would never do anything malicious despite how much there mating keeps me up. Too bad that Disney did not create a character who was a scorpion! Sucks to be them! Hope you enjoy the rain- suckahs!

(P.S...I know its not going to be rain but fire next time...save the email, it was a joke. Ha!)