Baby Steps...

I've Switched!

2010-04-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

No More Template Glitches, A cleaner look, and now you can leave comments!

Follow me @ wordpress at the following URL:

http://ChintoGrande.wordpress.com

God Bless,

Sam

Happy Easter! - Ants In my pants???

2010-04-04T21:49:00.001-07:00

So, this will be interesting. The “y” key on my keyboard doesn’t work, which means that every time I need to type the letter “y” I will need to copy and paste it from another document. Not sure why its not working, but maybe its perhaps caused by the crazy amount of ants present in South America. One crawled into my keyboard last night and never came out. Its funny all the adjustments I’ve noticed people make in their lives because of the ants. Rubber sealed containers for sugar and other various sweets. In fact today I was in my room on my computer to hear Parker (the 2 year old son of the missionary couple of whom I’m temporarily living with until I find a place) scream and start to cry. Sure enough the poor kid actually had ants in his pants! There was a ton of them that got in and made his little back side pretty raw. They made their way into his diapers, roamed around and left their bite marks all over his little bum. He was quite the sport after the fact as he excitedly retold his experiences with his wide eyes at dinner. Just imagine a cute kid describing, “There were ants in m pants and oww!!! It was not fun.”

(Little Parker)

Well I’m going to keep this blog short and see if I can figure out how to fix this keyboard issue. On another note, it’s been great getting to meet new friends and learn as much as I can about this beautiful culture. It’s funny how in reality, the guerilla and danger in Colombia is actually quite a small representation of the country as a whole; yet around the world we never get to hear about the beautiful side of the country. I’m slowly learning more about this side and so far the modesty, simplicity of life and relational culture and so far, I love it.

As of right now, please keep in your prayers:

- My continued growth in learning the language and culture
- Building deep and authentic relationships with locals
- An apartment or place to live that will be a welcoming place of fellowship
- My keyboard to work properly =P

Made it!

2010-03-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

1 month flew past, over 60 hours of classes, seemingly endless kilometers walked, bussed & biked but we all made it to the end our intensive Spanish training course! Final presentations done, certificates received, we all graduated!

The greatest thing about my experience in Costa Rica has been the people. Whether it be the locals, my classmates or other missionaries from the Institute; it has been the relationships built that have left the biggest impact on me.

There’s something about moving to a new place and trying to learn how to live that really speeds up the getting to know one another process. It’s something that I have really enjoyed about my time in Costa Rica.

The struggling to communicate with locals at the nearby gym; turned into new workout and late night eating buddies that may or may not have taught me words that definitely weren’t taught at the Institute. Trying to find out where things were and how to get around; provided amazing encounters with other individuals on their missionary journey that really showed me how big, global and amazing the God I serve really is. The pursuit of a foundation in a foreign language; translated into adventures with new found friends that I’m sure I’ll never forget. From the laughing at ourselves in class, to our the epic failure experienced in trying to visit a volcano; I really feel blessed to have had the privilege to get to know and spend time with many amazing people that were part of the intensive program.

Who knows the journey that lays ahead for each one of us, then again that’s the exciting part. On one hand it can be kind of scary: In three days I will be moving to Colombia and I have no idea where I’ll be sleeping and what I will be calling home for the next 2 years. On the other hand the Lord has taken care every detail in my journey thus far in a manner so much more beautiful than I could have crafted. He reminded me time and time again through the stories and experiences of every person that I met at the Spanish Institute this past month in Costa Rica and for that I am so thankful.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

(The Best Teacher Ever - Thank You Lisette!)

For more photos click here!

P.S - Sorry for the formatting - There's a bug in my template - I'll fix asap

First Haircut en Espanol...

2010-03-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

So, today in classed we practiced how to do day to day activities within the city such as ordering food, going to the gym and getting a haircut.

Since, I might as well get one while I'm here...I think I'm about to venture out and find a place to get my haircut. What better way to practice. Ha, if I don't accomplish this "self appointed" homework exercise properly, I will definitely have a good reminder to keep working hard and practicing!

Here's a picture of Nathan...yes he decided to get his nails done too during the in class exercise
(1 of my classmates practicing ~ you can follow their blog @...

(http://mrskristencrew.blogspot.com/)

I'll post some pictures of the post-homework exercise!

UPDATE:

This one is pre-haircut....ready to practice some Spanish (During our in class exercise we pretended the hairdresser was super flamboyant...sure enough it wasn't far off from my experience!)

Post-1st haircut experience - all in all it was a good experience to practice my Spanglish =)

Alas, my first blog entry from South America!

2010-03-12T22:33:00.000-08:00

Con Mucho Gusto!

I've never been one who was gifted at the art of expressing my self through writing. Regardless, I hope that I will learn to share my experiences in a way that is entertaining yet meaningful. Via words, pictures and video, I pray that this blog will serve it's purpose. whether it makes you laugh, cry or even fall asleep, I hope that you are blessed in some way.

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

First impressions - (lack of photos warning! I've been told so many different tips and things about safety and thefts, so as for now til I learn the ropes, photos will be at a minimum since my camera isn't brought everywhere.)

How i view things so far - its kind of a cross between a Jake Sully from Avatar experience and the notion of stepping into a time machine & going back to a time similar to my parents' childhood which took place in Indonesia.

What do I mean? Well in regards to the Avatar reference. I feel just like Jake did as he clumsily navigated his way through the forest like an untrained child. Personally, I view this as exciting and a challenge. Yes, I've been called out of a place, where for the most part I could do and know how to accomplish anything I wanted with relative ease and now have been placed thousands of miles away with minimal means of communication and very limited understanding on how to operate effectively and well from a social, cultural to an every day to day basis. I may be currently functioning like a child in these respects; and the reality is for some this would be depressing. The best part is this new reality is my calling, thus the challenge excites me...the frustrations, little victories and all!
Stepping into a time machine...

It's kind of wild, growing up and hearing all these stories of my parents childhood in socially volatile Indonesia. From playing with marbles during family time, the humid climate, abundance of dirt, street vendors, lack of hot water, it feels like I'm getting the privilege to not just witness but to take part in what my parents experienced and so many around the world know as real life.

Why a privilege? I don't think a person can go through something like this without learning a few things about themselves or more so the way they perceive the world around them. Without a doubt, in just a week in Colombia and almost two in Costa Rica I'm beginning to learn more about exactly things that I really need opposed to what i thought I needed. Combining the stories I've heard, my eyes being opened to a level of poverty unknown to me at the age of 8 when we traveled as a family away from the luxuries of north America to the cultures and life of south east Asia, I leave you with a few things I have a new found appreciation for!

Things I love so far:

1. The people - The Latin culture is so warm and relational

2. The Food - Really fresh & completely different variety of fruits, vegetables and drinks

3. The community - the interdependence and importance on spending time together

Interesting things I have a new found appreciation for:

5. Being able to drive myself anywhere I desired

4. Wearing shorts to school when it's 30 degrees Celsius outside

3. Easy access to meat, everyone knows I love my meat. Its expensive here = Beans @ every meal.

2. Not having to go through a millions security gates and locks to get inside home.

1. Being able to flush toilet paper down the toilet =)

My Tica Parents - Carolina & Gerrado (My homestay parents in Costa Rica as I study english)

Praise God - After a few trips to the Embassy - My Colombian Work Visa was approved!

Stay Tuned...

2010-03-06T01:16:00.000-08:00

First Blog will be arriving shortly...once I figure all this out! For now click here and you can view some pictures from my first experiences in South America. For those of you who would like a little more than just pictures click here for my first prayer/newsletter & here for the latest edition!

Update: Links for newsletters have been fixed, they should be up and running for your viewing now, Thanks for your patience!