Where has the time gone? I am in my last weeks in Uruguay and feel like I just got here. It has been a struggle for me to put into words what I have learned here about myself, about the church and about the World. I have not had an easy time and worried a lot about not being able to relate my experiences to my friends and family in the church congregations back home. I have come to accept this and pray that instead of explaining in words what I have learned, I can live it out in my actions.
The congregation Nuestro Salvador has sent five representatives to Minnesota and they are there right now with their sister congregation Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. I lead a Bible Study this week and prepared the sermon for Sunday with another member of the congregation. I have never prepared a sermon, much less in Spanish. It was an interesting experience. Unfortunately, I will be out of town and will not be able to give the sermon. I am not going to lie, I still feel shy about getting in front of a group of people in a formal setting and speaking in Spanish.
Last night I made a cheesecake for some friends in the student housing part of the church. I am really enjoying being able to spend time with young adults and fellowship with them. And my cheesecake was delicious! The Italian volunteer, Cecile, made crepes. The young adult group that I am a part of knows how to eat!
I am now trying to figure out what I want to do when I get home. I applied to graduate school at University of Georgia, but have not yet made a concrete decision. I ask for prayers that God guides me where I need to be.
Thank you all for your support!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
History of the Congregation: Nuestro Salvador
1940 – 1950
In September 1944, Reverend Andrés Mazak, a Slovakian missionary from the
The family of Eduardo Costa and Mrs. Adelo Noguera de Costa, long-time members of the
The Reverend Hugo Kummer, Lutheran pastor of the Evangelical German Church, felt bad that he was not able to pastorally serve the many Lutherans with whom he had a good relationship and who relied on him for special services.
Moreover, there was a woman named Vilma de Grach, married to Mr. Miguel Grach, a Roman Catholic, who wanted to have
The Reverend Kummer wrote an official letter from his congregation to the United Evangelical Lutheran Churchs in Argentina (IELU), offering both the use of its sanctuary and the willing collaboration of its members. The letter was received by IELU Vice President Rev. H. D. Hammer, who presided over the Commission of Church and Evangelism, the organization responsible for opening new projects. The Commission approved the opening of a center in
After a period of preparation, the Reverend Jonás Villaverde, President of the IELU in
The IELU was not able to send a permanent pastor to
1950 – 1960
A Catechism class, formed by Teresita and Juan Grach and Gisela Hari, began in 1950. In May 1952 Reform Sunday was chosen as the date for the first Confirmation service.
At the beginning of September 1952, the Reverend Paul Benson and his wife, Mrs. Elba, sent by the National Lutheran Council that August, began to work under the direction of Pastor Hammer. But the President of Argentina, J.D. Perón, closed the border between
The Reverend Benson decided to move Church services from the
In 1953, at the recommendation of Pastor Benson and Mr. Eduardo Costa, the National Lutheran Council bought a piece of property on the corner of Av. 8 de Octubre 3449 and Carlos Crocker 2561.
In August 1955, Pastor Hammer, backed by Mr. Adolfo Wolf, published the first issue of the monthly bulletin—an eight-page document called “The Lutheran Beacon.” Mr. Wolf was an enthusiastic collaborator.
On July 3, 1955, Pastor Hammer and his wife donated a beautiful communion set in memory of the Pastor’s mother, Mrs. Bertha A. Hammer. The community dedicated the gift to the glory of Christ.
In May 1955, the community consecrated and dedicated a bronze tray for receiving offerings. The tray was a donation from Pastor Hammer in memory of his father.
In December 1955, the community consecrated four cedar pews, donated by Mr. Eduardo Costa.
In 1958, Mrs. Margarita de Frey donated lace to Mrs. Herminia de Peri, who donated it to the Congregation. Mrs. Lidia de Ludzcanoff donated the material, and these two women together made a beautiful mantel for the altar. Mrs. De Frey was Roman Catholic, and Mrs. De Ludzcanoff Orthodox.
1960 – 1970
In October 1962, Mrs. Vilma de Polis donated a beautiful mantel to cover the Communion service. It was consecrated in the Service of Holy Communion on Sunday the 11th.
Beginning at this time, North American missionaries began to arrive from the
In 1966 the Congregation founded the Evangelical Institute, later named the Ecumenical Lutheran Center (CLE), which moved into its own building in 1968.
1970 – 1990
At the beginning of 1975, the
As recently as 1988, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the IELU came to an agreement in which the Congregation of “Nuestro Salvador” was brought into the IELU, with the vision of integrating the CLE into the IELU, as well.
The Congregation was formally created within the IELU in 1989, and the CLE put under the administration of the IELU on March 15, 1991.
In that same year, 1989, Pastor Augusto Fernandez Arlt was installed as incumbent pastor of the Congregation. He served until the end of 1991.
The situation in the Congregation at that time was the following: around 25 families had become affiliated with the Congregation; the Congregation had a Counsel of Directors; and a bi-monthly bulletin, “Vinculos,” meaning “Bonds,” was published to share the Congregation’s activities. The Congregation was by then a part of the IELU, based in
1990 – present
On July 12, 1992, Pastor Raúl Estéban Denuncio was installed as incumbent pastor of “Nuestro Salvador” and Director of the CLE. During this period the Congregation strengthened its ecumenical bonds and founded The Counsel of Christian Churches in
In August 1994, the Congregation founded the Mission San Juan in
In 2001, the congregation of “Nuestro Salvador” moved its activities into its current building on Avenue 8 de Octubre 3324.
In December 2004, Pastor Denuncio retired from “Nuestro Salvador” and Pastor Wilma Rommel received a call from the Congregation to serve as pastor.
In October 2005, Pastor Rommel was installed as incumbent pastor of “Nuestro Salvador.”
In April 2006, the Congregation formed a Bible Study group of twelve people in Jaureguiberry. In that same month, the Congregation also created a program for Christian education for youth and re-opened the Mission San Juan at the request of residents in El Cerro,
In May 2006, the Congregation came into contact with
In September 2006, the Congregation received Meredith Johnson as a volunteer to collaborate in various Church projects.
In December 2006, the Congregation celebrated Christmas with children’s pageants, both in the Mission San Juan and in “Nuestro Salvador.”
In February 2007, the first meeting of sister Churches “Nuestro Salvador” and Good Shepherd took place in
At this time, there are about 80 people who participate in the life of the Church, including worship services, activities in Jaureguiberry, and activities in Mission San Juan.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
In the sixth chapter of Matthew, he talks about not worrying ourselves with posesions nor our physical needs, but seeking first the Kingdom of God and he will provide us with the rest.
Nine months ago, if someone had told me that my Christian family extended beyond the United States, I would have believed them, but I would not have comprehended. In August, I began my journey into what was unknown to me and to meet Brothers and Sisters in Christ that I always believed were praising our Lord in other parts of the World, but had never had the opportunity to witness for myself. I was going to a country where I knew absolutely no one. As a human, and a sinner, I worried about how I would be welcomed, if I would fit in and how I would communicate. I worried about everything. Although, I knew this Bible passage, it did not keep me from worrying.
I never would have expected that I would receive such a warm welcome from a country of strangers, but the instant I stepped off the boat, I was greeted with a wide smile and a warm hug from two people that would continue to accompany me throughout the year in ways I hadn’t imagined. At that moment, I knew that God had not followed me from the United States to Uruguay, but he had been here and there and in every part of the World this whole time. For me, the term “Kingdom of God” became much more immense and would continue to expand and be evident in the months to come.
Many of my worries faded with the warm welcomes I received. As my worries faded and I grew more comfortable with the language, my worries changed to comfort and then to love for my new Brothers and Sisters. The country where I knew nobody is now a country that I will now consider my second home and always remember the Love that was shown to me. Through the months here, I found a new meaning to the 33rd verse of the 6th chapter of Matthew.
I will always be a human -- making mistakes, finding things to worry about and trying to do things myself. But it brings me great comfort that God knows me better than I know myself and loves me the same. He loves every being the same, even though we sometimes forget to seek first the Kingdom of God.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Parents' Visit and Uruguay
Holy Communion on Palm Sunday (above)
Dad presenting Wilma with a shawl that the congregation in South Carolina (Lutheran Church by the Lake) prayed over the Sunday before. (Every stitch is a prayer, every hole is a hug.)----------------------------------------------------------
My parents came and went in what seemed like no time at all. The visit was great, but it went by just way too fast with too much to do. My Dad talked a lot about their visit in the post below.
One of the best moments for me was the worship service that my dad did with Pastor Wilma. It was so moving to see the two pastors who did not speak the other's language serving Holy Communion to each other. At the Lord's Table, language and cultural barriers are broken and we commune as one Body.
I continue to be amazed at the kindness shown by everyone in Uruguay. I am constantly asking myself what God wants me to be learning from this experience and how I will take this experience and use it in my return to the United States. It sometimes gets frustrating that I do not have a clear answer, but I cannot think of an aspect of my life that this experience will not change.
I have noticed a growth in my patience in communication. I spent the first few months asking people to repeat or slow down or just flat out saying I do not understand something. The patience people had with me and the language barrier was just another way that I could see God at work in my temporary home.
One thing that I never get tired of is the way people greet each other here. I personally think we could learn some lessons from this. When someone walks into a room, they normally give a kiss on the cheek to everyone in the room and introduce themselves if they don't know each other. I love how it acknowledges everyone's presence and existence. Every time I do this, I think of the many times I have felt invisible in a room because my presence was not acknowledged. Walking into la Obra never will get old, and I cannot help but smile when the kids get on their tip toes to give me a kiss and a hug. I sure will miss that when I go home.
I have been blessed with some wonderful families in Uruguay that treat me like a member of their family without hesitations. Wilma's family and Milton's family have welcomed me from the beginning, and I can honestly say they made the transition to Uruguay very easy for me. With both of them having similar experiences, they know what to expect and can relate first-hand to what I was going through at the beginning. I have also been welcomed into the family of my friend, Analia. I have met her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmother and they all treated me like one of their own. It makes me miss my own family, but knowing that I have my family in the United States to rely on for whatever I need or want is the best gift I have ever been given. Seeing my parents' faces in the airport when they arrived was something I will never forget. Eight months without a hug from my mom or dad was a long time to wait, but well worth it. It will make the last two months seem like a blink.
I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter Sunday and could spend it with the people they love celebrating the Resurrection and the Promise of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Blessings to all.
Dad, Mom and me in the Plaza de la Armada in Montevideo
One of the best moments for me was the worship service that my dad did with Pastor Wilma. It was so moving to see the two pastors who did not speak the other's language serving Holy Communion to each other. At the Lord's Table, language and cultural barriers are broken and we commune as one Body.
I continue to be amazed at the kindness shown by everyone in Uruguay. I am constantly asking myself what God wants me to be learning from this experience and how I will take this experience and use it in my return to the United States. It sometimes gets frustrating that I do not have a clear answer, but I cannot think of an aspect of my life that this experience will not change.
I have noticed a growth in my patience in communication. I spent the first few months asking people to repeat or slow down or just flat out saying I do not understand something. The patience people had with me and the language barrier was just another way that I could see God at work in my temporary home.
One thing that I never get tired of is the way people greet each other here. I personally think we could learn some lessons from this. When someone walks into a room, they normally give a kiss on the cheek to everyone in the room and introduce themselves if they don't know each other. I love how it acknowledges everyone's presence and existence. Every time I do this, I think of the many times I have felt invisible in a room because my presence was not acknowledged. Walking into la Obra never will get old, and I cannot help but smile when the kids get on their tip toes to give me a kiss and a hug. I sure will miss that when I go home.
I have been blessed with some wonderful families in Uruguay that treat me like a member of their family without hesitations. Wilma's family and Milton's family have welcomed me from the beginning, and I can honestly say they made the transition to Uruguay very easy for me. With both of them having similar experiences, they know what to expect and can relate first-hand to what I was going through at the beginning. I have also been welcomed into the family of my friend, Analia. I have met her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmother and they all treated me like one of their own. It makes me miss my own family, but knowing that I have my family in the United States to rely on for whatever I need or want is the best gift I have ever been given. Seeing my parents' faces in the airport when they arrived was something I will never forget. Eight months without a hug from my mom or dad was a long time to wait, but well worth it. It will make the last two months seem like a blink.
I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter Sunday and could spend it with the people they love celebrating the Resurrection and the Promise of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Blessings to all.
Dad, Mom and me in the Plaza de la Armada in Montevideo
Post from Daddy
I can’t tell you what a wonderful time Martha and I had on our visit to Argentina and Uruguay. The picture that will stay in my mind from now on is seeing Mary for the first time in the airport on Thursday morning in Bois Aires. She was like a lighthouse standing out in the sea of people. It was so good to see her vibrant smile in person. I did not realize how much I missed it until I saw her. I know we only got a small idea of her experience over the last eight months, but the visit really helped me put faces to her experience.
On our taxi ride from the airport we learned of two great tragedies in Argentina. The death of Alfonzine, the first freely elected president after the dictatorship of Peron, was a great emotional loss for many in the country. There was a national day of mourning with a large state funeral. The other tragedy was the lost of the Argentine soccer team to Bolivia, 6-1.
The best part of the visit was the people we got to meet. The folks we met first were Javier, a seminary student and Kate, the ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Coordinator (who also attends the seminary in Bois Aires). I was thrilled to see the largest protestant seminary in Latin America. As I would learn through out our visit, the people and the Lord do so much more with so much less than we do in the States.
Our next stop was in Colonia, Uruguay. We took the Buquebus (Ferry boat) across the Rio del la Plata. (An estuary that is about fifty miles wide between Buenos Aires and Colonia) It took about an hour. In Colonia we got a personal tour from Analia’s Mom (Mary’s adopted Uruguayan Mom) of the historic city. It was exciting to see the family that has become such an important part of our daughter’s life. They live in a small, simple, but very orderly house. Colonia was a major point of contention in the struggle between Spain and Portugal to control colonial South America in the 1600’s. It is now a tourist destination. We got to eat lunch with Ricardo, Analia’s Dad and Graciela, Analia’s Mom. Mary did a great job of translating. It was amazing how Martha and Analia’s Mom would say the same thing, one in English and the other in Spanish. I guess that mothers are mothers in all cultures.
We then took a three hour bus ride to Montevideo. The country side of Uruguay is open rolling grass land with a lot of cattle. The ranch houses are small but the land is fertile. Agriculture, and ranching in particular, is one of the economic mainstays of Uruguay.
When we arrived in Montevideo we were met at the bus station by Analia, Mary’s good friend. After a short taxi ride we got settled in at the guest house at the Waldesian Church (sort of an Italian Presbyterian denomination). It was like a dorm room. It had two single beds, a bunk bed and a table. There was an adjoining bathroom. Our room was along a busy main street that did not stop at night and we learned that we have gotten spoiled by the quiet of Savannah Lakes.
We then went about six blocks down the street to Nuestro Salvador Evangelical Lutheran Church where Mary lives and works and got the grand tour. The church building was built in the 1950’s by Lutherans from the United States. (They then withdrew their support and left the congregation with a challenge to maintain an overwhelming facility.) It is large and sprawling, but is being used in innovative ways to best use the resources. A dentist clinic is housed there as well as some student housing and various outreach opportunities.
We then met Pastor Wilma, Mary’s supervisor at the Lutheran Church. She is very gracious. We got on a bus to go to an “asado” or the equivalent of a barbeque or cookout in the USA. It was at the home of Milton & Carla. Milton is the coordinator of “La Obra” the school Mary works at three days a week. The hospitality and welcome we received spoke to me of God’s love. It helped me feel better as a parent, knowing that God had provided a supportive loving environment for Mary. The only difficult thing for me was that it was Saturday night and late and I was very tired and had to preach in the morning.
Sunday morning, I was nervous. Even though the congregation is small I was going to try to share the Good News with a culture that is foreign to me. I felt much better when the first lady I met was Beatriz. She had lived in the US as an exchange student and spoke English very well. Her host family in the US was Dr. Jerry Smallenburger, a Lutheran pastor and professor, whom I was familiar with his writings. It really helped me to see that God had it all under control even if I didn’t.
The worship service was one of the most moving I have been involved with in a long time. It was not because of the large attendance, there were only about 20 there. It was not because of the grand setting, it was very simple. It was not because of the outstanding music, it was ordinary. It was because God was present. The liturgy spoke to me even though it was in a different language, I knew what was taking place. It helped me to see the extent of the Kingdom of God.
I presented the prayers shawl from the Lutheran Church by the Lake to Pastor Wilma and told her that “every stitch was a prayer and every hole a hug.” She put it on an wore it for the rest of the service. She had a true sense of gratitude in her eyes.
When it came time to preach I tried to keep the message simple and I pray that God used it to speak to the hearts of the people gathered. The sharing of Holy Communion was a truly moving experience for me. I came to realize that in this simple meal God speaks the universal language.
After worship we had a Uruguayan “covered dish” with the congregation. Once again I realized people are more similar than different. That afternoon we went for a walk along the beach and Sunday evening had dinner with Pastor Wilma and her husband Pastor Alvaro of the Waldesnen church. Alvaro showed Martha and I around the church and I thought once again, “What we have in common is far greater than what separates us.”
I could see myself showing people around the churches I have served as Alvaro told of the ministry there in Montevideo.
Monday morning we took a tour of Montevideo with Beatrice, the lady from the church. She is a registered tour guide and is working toward starting her own guide business. I enjoyed seeing the sights, but was more interested in talking to her about her experiences of life under a dictatorship and now a social democracy. This is an election year in Uruguay and the president can’t be reelected. They elect a new president every five years. The current president has done a good job and people seem concerned what the future will hold.
After our tour we ate lunch in the tourist section of Montevideo, or the Old Town. I was struck by the contrast between the tourist experience and that of a person seeing the city on a day to day level. That feeling was to become even more pronounced as we went to “La Obra” in the barrio. “La Obra” means “the work,” as in “the work of Christ.”
La Obra is an ecumenical school for children and young people in one of the poorest sections of the city. Families were given plots of 1000 meters by 1000 meters on which to build homes. This was to get them out of the poverty of the inner city. What happened is there were no guidelines and soon two or three shacks sprung up on the original lot, as children built houses next to parents. The houses were built out of available material. While some are simple yet nice, many are very basic shacks with no water, sewer hook ups, or electricity. The purpose of “La Obra” is not only to provide an education, but also to provide hope. It is demanding, yet necessary way of sharing the love and dignity that every individuals needs as a child of God.
“La Obra” reminded me once again that God is doing so much with so little. The positive attitude of those who work there and the smiles and joy of the children touched my heart. I know Martha and I only got a limited look at what goes on at “La Obra”, but in what we saw the finger prints of Jesus were very present. It is so exciting to see God at work in ways I could not have imagined and in places I have never heard of before.
On our taxi ride from the airport we learned of two great tragedies in Argentina. The death of Alfonzine, the first freely elected president after the dictatorship of Peron, was a great emotional loss for many in the country. There was a national day of mourning with a large state funeral. The other tragedy was the lost of the Argentine soccer team to Bolivia, 6-1.
The best part of the visit was the people we got to meet. The folks we met first were Javier, a seminary student and Kate, the ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Coordinator (who also attends the seminary in Bois Aires). I was thrilled to see the largest protestant seminary in Latin America. As I would learn through out our visit, the people and the Lord do so much more with so much less than we do in the States.
Our next stop was in Colonia, Uruguay. We took the Buquebus (Ferry boat) across the Rio del la Plata. (An estuary that is about fifty miles wide between Buenos Aires and Colonia) It took about an hour. In Colonia we got a personal tour from Analia’s Mom (Mary’s adopted Uruguayan Mom) of the historic city. It was exciting to see the family that has become such an important part of our daughter’s life. They live in a small, simple, but very orderly house. Colonia was a major point of contention in the struggle between Spain and Portugal to control colonial South America in the 1600’s. It is now a tourist destination. We got to eat lunch with Ricardo, Analia’s Dad and Graciela, Analia’s Mom. Mary did a great job of translating. It was amazing how Martha and Analia’s Mom would say the same thing, one in English and the other in Spanish. I guess that mothers are mothers in all cultures.
We then took a three hour bus ride to Montevideo. The country side of Uruguay is open rolling grass land with a lot of cattle. The ranch houses are small but the land is fertile. Agriculture, and ranching in particular, is one of the economic mainstays of Uruguay.
When we arrived in Montevideo we were met at the bus station by Analia, Mary’s good friend. After a short taxi ride we got settled in at the guest house at the Waldesian Church (sort of an Italian Presbyterian denomination). It was like a dorm room. It had two single beds, a bunk bed and a table. There was an adjoining bathroom. Our room was along a busy main street that did not stop at night and we learned that we have gotten spoiled by the quiet of Savannah Lakes.
We then went about six blocks down the street to Nuestro Salvador Evangelical Lutheran Church where Mary lives and works and got the grand tour. The church building was built in the 1950’s by Lutherans from the United States. (They then withdrew their support and left the congregation with a challenge to maintain an overwhelming facility.) It is large and sprawling, but is being used in innovative ways to best use the resources. A dentist clinic is housed there as well as some student housing and various outreach opportunities.
We then met Pastor Wilma, Mary’s supervisor at the Lutheran Church. She is very gracious. We got on a bus to go to an “asado” or the equivalent of a barbeque or cookout in the USA. It was at the home of Milton & Carla. Milton is the coordinator of “La Obra” the school Mary works at three days a week. The hospitality and welcome we received spoke to me of God’s love. It helped me feel better as a parent, knowing that God had provided a supportive loving environment for Mary. The only difficult thing for me was that it was Saturday night and late and I was very tired and had to preach in the morning.
Sunday morning, I was nervous. Even though the congregation is small I was going to try to share the Good News with a culture that is foreign to me. I felt much better when the first lady I met was Beatriz. She had lived in the US as an exchange student and spoke English very well. Her host family in the US was Dr. Jerry Smallenburger, a Lutheran pastor and professor, whom I was familiar with his writings. It really helped me to see that God had it all under control even if I didn’t.
The worship service was one of the most moving I have been involved with in a long time. It was not because of the large attendance, there were only about 20 there. It was not because of the grand setting, it was very simple. It was not because of the outstanding music, it was ordinary. It was because God was present. The liturgy spoke to me even though it was in a different language, I knew what was taking place. It helped me to see the extent of the Kingdom of God.
I presented the prayers shawl from the Lutheran Church by the Lake to Pastor Wilma and told her that “every stitch was a prayer and every hole a hug.” She put it on an wore it for the rest of the service. She had a true sense of gratitude in her eyes.
When it came time to preach I tried to keep the message simple and I pray that God used it to speak to the hearts of the people gathered. The sharing of Holy Communion was a truly moving experience for me. I came to realize that in this simple meal God speaks the universal language.
After worship we had a Uruguayan “covered dish” with the congregation. Once again I realized people are more similar than different. That afternoon we went for a walk along the beach and Sunday evening had dinner with Pastor Wilma and her husband Pastor Alvaro of the Waldesnen church. Alvaro showed Martha and I around the church and I thought once again, “What we have in common is far greater than what separates us.”
I could see myself showing people around the churches I have served as Alvaro told of the ministry there in Montevideo.
Monday morning we took a tour of Montevideo with Beatrice, the lady from the church. She is a registered tour guide and is working toward starting her own guide business. I enjoyed seeing the sights, but was more interested in talking to her about her experiences of life under a dictatorship and now a social democracy. This is an election year in Uruguay and the president can’t be reelected. They elect a new president every five years. The current president has done a good job and people seem concerned what the future will hold.
After our tour we ate lunch in the tourist section of Montevideo, or the Old Town. I was struck by the contrast between the tourist experience and that of a person seeing the city on a day to day level. That feeling was to become even more pronounced as we went to “La Obra” in the barrio. “La Obra” means “the work,” as in “the work of Christ.”
La Obra is an ecumenical school for children and young people in one of the poorest sections of the city. Families were given plots of 1000 meters by 1000 meters on which to build homes. This was to get them out of the poverty of the inner city. What happened is there were no guidelines and soon two or three shacks sprung up on the original lot, as children built houses next to parents. The houses were built out of available material. While some are simple yet nice, many are very basic shacks with no water, sewer hook ups, or electricity. The purpose of “La Obra” is not only to provide an education, but also to provide hope. It is demanding, yet necessary way of sharing the love and dignity that every individuals needs as a child of God.
“La Obra” reminded me once again that God is doing so much with so little. The positive attitude of those who work there and the smiles and joy of the children touched my heart. I know Martha and I only got a limited look at what goes on at “La Obra”, but in what we saw the finger prints of Jesus were very present. It is so exciting to see God at work in ways I could not have imagined and in places I have never heard of before.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A quick hello.
The fall weather is beautiful here... and hopefully this weekend will still be beach weather! I cannot believe my parents board the plane in a WEEK to come see me. I also cannot believe that I (along with my twin sister) will be turning 25 so soon. Unfortunately, Laura cannot make the trip down here, nor I up there, to celebrate our quarter of a century mark together, but I get the parents! My friends here said I have to throw a party, but they also told me no one is here during Holy Week, so I have to choose another date for the party. So, I will be celebrating my birthday for a while... starting with yesterday when I received a birthday card from Sarah, a volunteer in Mexico! Not only did she remember my birthday, but she got it out with the slow mail system in mind! THANKS, Sarah!
In the church, a student housing facility has started up. There are now seven students living here, and I feel much more comfortable with the growing activity throughout the evening in the large church building. A few times we have cooked together or just hung out.
I feel like this week, I haven't had any free time, but I dont think that will change until I get home.
What has been tough is missing out on babies being born and weddings happening while I have been here. It never gets easier thinking about the things that I am missing out on while I am here. I love sharing in moments like those with my friends and family. I know I have missed 8 months full of activities that I regret not being able to be a part of. However, I have had and continue to have an experience that is shaping me in ways that I could never have imagined.
In the church, a student housing facility has started up. There are now seven students living here, and I feel much more comfortable with the growing activity throughout the evening in the large church building. A few times we have cooked together or just hung out.
I feel like this week, I haven't had any free time, but I dont think that will change until I get home.
What has been tough is missing out on babies being born and weddings happening while I have been here. It never gets easier thinking about the things that I am missing out on while I am here. I love sharing in moments like those with my friends and family. I know I have missed 8 months full of activities that I regret not being able to be a part of. However, I have had and continue to have an experience that is shaping me in ways that I could never have imagined.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Many apologies
I can come up with a bajillion excuses as to why I haven't updated this blog the entire month of March. I will start by apologizing.
The biggest news right now is that my parents are coming to visit in a week and a half! I am very excited for them to come see me and for them to get a taste of Uruguay. It is one thing to write blogs and tell people about my experience, but I feel like words do not do justice to everything that I am learning and seeing. For them to come will be a great experience for all of us... and I kind of miss them.
After 7 months out of the United States, I find myself with mixed emotions as the last 2 1/2 months fly by. It seems like everyday goes by faster than the day before.
The beginning of the school year marks the beginning of a new year in La Obra Ecumenica and a lot of excitement! There are many new faces in La Obra and new activities starting there. I am still working in the Study Center and the Children's Club. I enjoy recognizing faces from last year and seeing how La Obra functions in the begininning of the year with all of the planning. It was hard to understand how everything was run when I arrived in September, because they were in the last months of the schoolyear. Now, I can participate in the beginning of the year and have a better idea of all of the work and decisions made to prepare for the new year. One thing that I have really enjoyed is the field trips they take the kids on. They get the opportunity to see lots of Montevideo through La Obra and really see parts of the city they otherwise would not get to see. This March is dedicated to taking the kids to different parts of Montevideo. In April, activities like English, music, crafts, cooking, Italian (new this year with an Italian volunteer) will start.
I am amazed at how much I understand in the Spanish language now. I can finally feel a difference in my willingness to participate in conversations without fear of using incorrect grammar or being misunderstood. I recently went to the birthday party of my Spanish teacher whom I had not seen since mid-December and she and her husband were surprised at the difference in my Spanish.
The church Nuestro Salvador continues to prepare for its trip to Minnesota along with starting up all the regular activities for the new year. We have had a good group show up for Wednesday Bible studies on Ruth the past few weeks.
In other news, I started tango lessons last week. I go once a week for an hour and a half. Last week I proved to have two left feet. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
The biggest news right now is that my parents are coming to visit in a week and a half! I am very excited for them to come see me and for them to get a taste of Uruguay. It is one thing to write blogs and tell people about my experience, but I feel like words do not do justice to everything that I am learning and seeing. For them to come will be a great experience for all of us... and I kind of miss them.
After 7 months out of the United States, I find myself with mixed emotions as the last 2 1/2 months fly by. It seems like everyday goes by faster than the day before.
The beginning of the school year marks the beginning of a new year in La Obra Ecumenica and a lot of excitement! There are many new faces in La Obra and new activities starting there. I am still working in the Study Center and the Children's Club. I enjoy recognizing faces from last year and seeing how La Obra functions in the begininning of the year with all of the planning. It was hard to understand how everything was run when I arrived in September, because they were in the last months of the schoolyear. Now, I can participate in the beginning of the year and have a better idea of all of the work and decisions made to prepare for the new year. One thing that I have really enjoyed is the field trips they take the kids on. They get the opportunity to see lots of Montevideo through La Obra and really see parts of the city they otherwise would not get to see. This March is dedicated to taking the kids to different parts of Montevideo. In April, activities like English, music, crafts, cooking, Italian (new this year with an Italian volunteer) will start.
I am amazed at how much I understand in the Spanish language now. I can finally feel a difference in my willingness to participate in conversations without fear of using incorrect grammar or being misunderstood. I recently went to the birthday party of my Spanish teacher whom I had not seen since mid-December and she and her husband were surprised at the difference in my Spanish.
The church Nuestro Salvador continues to prepare for its trip to Minnesota along with starting up all the regular activities for the new year. We have had a good group show up for Wednesday Bible studies on Ruth the past few weeks.
In other news, I started tango lessons last week. I go once a week for an hour and a half. Last week I proved to have two left feet. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
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