I'm back...

You appreciate the craft of words
When today so many have simply forgotten the meaning in its entirety.
How do I craft a message of sweet thoughts to express how I feel?
I know for once I am dealing with thoughts that are precious, thoughts that are real.
You have been through the eye of the storm with one too many rough winds,
But then again, all of us have experienced valleys and low points of different levels.
I am trying to be patient in efforts to remain serene within my own mind,
But sometimes I wish I was not able to see your smiles in sadness in a world so blind.
I know you love God more than anything else in this world,
And perhaps that is what I admire of you and for you at best.
I pray with earnest pleadings that for once in my life God would grant this blessing with grace
So that in each passing moment I may see again and again the brilliance of your beautiful face.
Only then will the race of each day come to rest
Because it is then that I know you are here to stay.
There are no more escapes, no more contests to conquer, and no more pointless goals to pursue
Because I am able to sigh and stare in bewilderment of thankfulness that I am with you.

JLC iii

I am off the radar screen...

I just got off the phone with a girl that berated me for asking advice about her friend. The unique coincidence was she was calling me to ask me to do a favor for her. I do not think I will ever understand the opposite sex….maybe that is the point: I am not supposed to. Is that where God comes in to connect two opposite minds and perspectives because without God this would not even be possible?

I wish that if you liked someone you could just tell her and that would be the end of it. You date, and then if things progress beyond that, then great. Then, if not, no harm has been done. Things are so much more complicated than just being simple. Perhaps that is why I miss South America sometimes. Americans have sophisticated lives. Guys and girls alike have broken hearts, and with each broken heart comes a new complication for the person next in line.

I honestly do not consider myself a bad guy; in fact, humbly, in God’s created image, I think I am pretty unique in comparison to the masses. Regardless of intentions and inner qualities, sometimes the harder you try, the harder you fall and then the harder you fail. I guess that is where God’s role steps in. In order to succeed with any girl, I am beginning to think it is impossible without an all- knowing God to help you along the way.

Some more thoughts for Creative Corners in an attempt to conclude...

Monique has asked me to write something as a biographical entry for the Creative Corners website in terms of my experience in South America, and it is hard to sum up the awesomeness of the experience I had with this organization. First and foremost, this is a smaller organization that is alive with personality and personal attention as a result. Monique works with volunteers on a very personal level for you to get the most out of your experience and whatever you might be looking for. When I first explored about who I wanted to volunteer with in relevance to individuals and specific organizations, I was really interested in finding a project where I could have an immersion experience with a host family and work with children where creative expression was a large concentration in teaching the children. This is indeed one of the specialties of Creative Corners. I wanted to use my creative outlets to teach and impact children through possibly teaching artistic projects. While this was not my individualistic role entirely, I was given opportunities to express my own creativity. For example, at an orphanage in the Sacred Valley, I painted a mural of what I would consider the equivalent of a Colorado landscape with a cabin, a barn, some mountains in the background, and a fresh moonlit sky. The ladies in the business office often complimented the creation by commenting that it was much better than staring at a blank wall. I have always wanted to do such a project, and Creative Corners provided the opportunity to do such. You can literally design your own project. When I got to the orphanage, the facilitator of the orphanage literally asked me, “What would you like to do?” At that moment, I did not have an exact answer, but as I found inspiration from William P. Young’s novel, The Shack, my picture was complete in my head with a miraculous meeting the main character of the book has with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father in a dream the book so brilliantly depicts. My image slowly emerged as I began to draw the underlying outline of my painting to be, and it slowly formed into a creation I was blessed with the opportunity to create.

As you may deduce by such a mural, I am a very spiritual individual, and I was seeking to leave the States for a summer to spiritually revive and rediscover some things in my life that have been missing for quite some time. As you might say, I was looking for a renewal through a purpose in serving others, and even now upon my return into the States, it will take a few weeks to absorb all that has happened in Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. My trip and my journeys almost feel like a dream in of themselves. I am so thankful for what has occurred but at the same time still so shocked that it was so incredible! I experienced the beauty of nature’s creation firsthand in the projects I participated in, in the families I lived with, and in the surrounding landscapes of the beautiful places I was able to visit. Creative Corners and more specifically Cusco provided my escape to revive, reenergize, and reevaluate my current position in life between my first and second year of graduate school at Auburn University.

Another instance comes freshly to mind. I volunteered on three projects in three different sites…an orphanage in the Sacred Valley (as I previously mentioned), an at-risk program for street kids in the city of Cusco (often referred to as Inti), and a Deaf school in La Paz, Bolivia. At Inti, I would often work individually one on one or in a group with the teenagers with disabilities (adolescents, not small children). I have a background working with children with disabilities; so in some instances, I would almost prefer to work with disabled children more so than anyone else. I instantly noticed they took orders rather well, and while they did not always understand my Alabamian accent in my attempts to speak elementary Spanish, the gardening experience was so much fun! I have never worked with such an eclectic group of personalities with what I would consider very tedious work. Many of them formed blisters on their hands from working so hard, but the important thing is that when they were not goofing off just being boys playing with each other, they were working together and simultaneously having fun with a different approach to traditional education. Many unexpected surprises during my travels occurred when I was suddenly assigned a task that formed a new memory to take back home with me.
If you are looking for an adventure through creativity and new challenges, then you will not miss out by working with Monique, representing Creative Corners. You will change lives, and your life itself will be changed with exposure to new paradigms and new cultures. If your summer is anything like mine was, it may be one of the best times that life presents in your direction.

Go to South America and meet some of the most amazing people you will ever have a chance to encounter and work with. I did not regret my decision to go, and I had so much fun I may even be going back next year. Thanks for reading.

Mixed emotions on a voyage home…

I have had mixed emotions since my return to the States. I am happy to be home because I have anxiously missed my close friends and family (more specifically my brother-in-law, sister, papa, and mama). I cannot begin to accurately describe how excited I was to see my mother in the airport as I came home. It was like I was waiting in a candy store to grab that lollipop that every child jealously stares at through the window seal, hoping to have a delicious taste. Strangely enough, I miss Peru. The Peruvian family in Cusco of Waldo, Estella, and Marcello slowly became what felt like my family. Marcello had many difficulties in the pronunciation of my name. He could not say the typical “James” in its American, English form. He even had a little trouble pronunciating “James” with the “H,” spoken in Spanish instead of the “J” spoken in English. It would sound literally as if you were saying “Hi-May” in the English language. Marcello referred to me at “Chi-May.” I do not know why he called me Chi-May, but I knew what he meant. I miss his nickname for me as well as his little adventures looking to break everything in the house or seeking any sort of trouble his tiny hands could grab.

I also see how abundant my life is here in the States. This is by no means a bad thing. The culture shock does not come for me when I go to another country. The culture shock comes when I arrive back into my own country because I guess I have gotten use to life from wherever I am coming from to return home, even if where I am coming from is several different places involving many different cities in many different countries. I come home, and it is like everything here is so different. I do not mean different like it has changed so drastically since I left. What I mean is that perhaps my perspective has changed. I walk into a grocery store or a mall, and I am blown away by all the nice things we easily have at our disposal for purchase as Americans. Sometimes we have things so good we do not realize how good we have them.

As a continuation of this thought, a good example is one child (or really an adult in his late 20’s and possibly even in his early 30’s) that I met while working with street kids in Cusco. This child has forms of antisocialism, schizophrenia, temperaments that were and still are sometimes very aggressive, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and so on. Some of these behaviors are mild, but some are what psychiatrists may consider the extreme. I have bipolar disorder and only bipolar disorder. This illness has certainly presented its challenges in its manic manifestations, but I cannot imagine living thirty years with the struggles of more mental disabilities than I can count on one hand. I do not type this to point out as flaws in the characteristics of those who have disabilities but rather to show that my mental struggles and situations in life are very minor compared to what some people face every single day. My handful of responsibilities is minor, and I have been given more gifts in my personality that I even want to go through right now. The bottom line is to be thankful for what God has given you. I have learned to be appreciative because I have seen many lives of the disabled, and even though I may be classified with a legal disability by the Americans with Disabilities Act, I have it so good that my disabilities are very minor in comparison to many of those who I met on my journeys through South America.

Some of my sad thoughts come from the fact that many Americans just quite frankly seem ungrateful. We, including myself, often want more after we already have so much. This may be in the form of something as small as a new DVD or perhaps even bigger with a personal new car. In Copacabana, Bolivia (town near Lake Titicaca), I witnessed families, friends, and couples celebrating the fact that they had a new car. A personal car is so rare in La Paz and perhaps even Bolivia in general that people celebrate the blessing of having one. In our society, it is almost expected that you have a car, unless you live in a publicly mobile city like New York or San Francisco. People will say, “I am so thankful,” especially when Thanksgiving is around the corner, but do actions represent such a thought? In the same instance, we will complain because the turkey is not cooked well enough. We eat so much food at Thanksgiving that a South American family could probably live off such for three weeks or possibly more, and the bad thing is that half the food is usually thrown out because “it goes bad.”

Please realize all these realizations apply to my life just as much as they may other Americans; maybe that is the reason why I am struggling as such. How do I apply such actualized thankfulness in the form of an example? Less complaining is probably a start.

If you read this entry, just remember where you live, where you come from, and what you have to be thankful for. We, as Americans, live in one of the greatest nations on the planet, and yet if you watch the news, broadcasters have nothing positive to say, except all the things our politicians are doing wrong. Let’s think about what is going right. Many of us have food, shelter, and clothing. Even with just those simple things, you live better than most of the world’s population. We are blessed, and God certainly deserves recognition for all.

Temperamental natures of different cultures…

While meeting so many people on the road, train, or the airplane, I was exposed to a variety of different paradigms. While some differences are clearly reconcilable, some differences do not appear to be such. It makes me wonder how growing up in different environments, countries, and geographies affects people’s paradigms. I have grown up mostly in the suburban South of wonderful Tennessee and Alabama, and I cannot help but think that my paradigm has been shifted, molded, and gifted for such. There are obviously going to be differences with Peruvians, Bolivians, and Argentineans with what is normal for us in our lifestyles, thoughts, and ways of viewing different subjects. What we consider normal is clearly not going to be normal for someone else, and they may feel the same about our culture in a continuously reciprocal realization.

As I spoke more in detail with different individuals, these differences became all the more apparent to me. I would notice this, and the other person would notice that about Americans. Such observations provided some of the most interesting conversations but also illustrated the differences in paradigms. While these differences will not affect the trueness of relationship I have with some specific people, it might affect how we get along or what the end result of even future decisions are made in visiting specific places. A person is naturally proud of the place they are born, but that does not still change the existence of those places and the views that are shaped by such places.

I have always been amazed when people of two different cultures become romantically interested in each other, especially if something serious develops. You must realize that more than likely one person is going to leave their family behind to move to another country. Sacrifices are going to be made, sometimes even more so than you might like. People do strange things for love, but when involving two people from across the planet in different nations, those strange things might even be more so than originally anticipated or expected. The question is: how bad do you want to be with that person?

The separation of distance, opposing viewpoints, or differences in paradigms should not separate new friends. In fact, sometimes it can do the opposite, bringing you closer to that person. These differences are what make us who we are, doing what we do. It is in God’s eyes that we are truly unique in his Creation in the beauty of such. Those differences are what fascinate me, and that is why I enjoy hopping all over the world to see what entirely is out there for me to experience, to enjoy, to celebrate, and to love in the beautiful people of each new occurrence.

The girl from Buenos Aires…

I have not mentioned this particular individual more to respect her privacy, but I cannot help but now write about her after what she did for me in Buenos Aires. Of course, for privacy reasons, I will not disclose her name. We will just name her Katie for the sake of this blog entry.

When I arrived to Buenos Aires, Katie was there to receive my entrance to this magical city that pivots on the idea of tango-sexiness and wonders. The only problem was that she was at the wrong hostel or hotel when I arrived. I accidentally emailed her with the wrong web address for a hostel that had a very similar name to where I was staying. Nevertheless, the next day she was very gracious in forgiving me for my own stupid mistake.

I arrived on Thursday, and Katie had arranged a get-together, small party with her friends to introduce me to some of her closest friends. Her family opened their doors to my visit, but of course I did not stay with the family for “old-fashioned” reasons that I respect and consider a dying fashion in our accelerated society of liberalism where families are no longer concerned in the deciding factors of dating relationships. Perhaps fathers are meant to have an input to truly protect the hearts of loved daughters. I am very grateful that the family was so willing to have me in their house so that I could enjoy the company of polite, nice people.

Earlier that day I had gone to visit the Rigoletto Cemetery, which is approximately five city blocks in totality. It is huge in concerns for the bodies of those who should be held sacredly in their rest beds. The cemetery also contains the body of Eva Person, known more popularly as Evita. The cemetery was one of the most beautiful manmade creations I have ever seen, especially in respect to sculptures and casket enclosures. Some of the statues took my breath away as I walked around the cemetery in awe and inspiration.

On Saturday, Katie and I went to an exhibition for the Star Wars movies (with models of the space shuttles, costumes, art, and more items used in the movies…awesome for actual Star Wars fanatics like myself), an art museum, the Evita museum (I was interested in her livelihood and legend of which I am still learning more about as I have returned home, doing more research), some Botanical Gardens in Palermo, and did some shopping for crafts and gifts for friends back home. That night we went to a tango show, which I would compare it to the equivalent of a Broadway show in New York City, just with better dancing. The show was concentrated mostly on dancing, singing, movie epilogues, and small portions on dialogue. It was a show meant to concentrate on the background and celebration of this beautiful form of dancing.

On Sunday, Katie and I went to Tigre, a small town about fifty kilometers from Buenos Aires where there is one of the largest weekend markets in northern Argentina and a delta (Nature Preserve) that is one of the largest in the world. Katie and I also spent some time together Monday night before I left Tuesday afternoon eating dinner and just enjoying each other’s company.

Katie spent all her free time making me feel welcome in her home city, and I could not let that go unrecognized. She also planned that little arrangement of friends for me to meet once I got there. Much like the people in Peru and Bolivia, it was just incredible to be greeted by such kindness, politeness, and a willingness to make my stay in BsAs so enjoyable.

If you do in fact visit some of these beautiful places, I hope you also experience the friendliness of the people and culture wherever you are.

My first day on the job

Today I went to work at a Deaf school. I was surprised to find out that the teachers are only paid for three days a week. Therefore, they do not show up sometimes the other two days of the week. Of course, this might be because they need to earn a living by having another job. I also was shocked to find that there are only two Deaf schools in the entire country of Bolivia. There appears to be a negative sentiment among the Bolivian people towards the President. I do not really know enough about the matter, but he may be causing more problems than he is helping. For instance, today I saw many disabled people on strike stopping traffic on the main avenue of the city. They would literally sit down in the middle of the road so that cars could not utilize the road. From my perspective, I did not necessarily see this as the most productive way of protesting, but then again there may not be other productive ways to get the President’s attention if he does nothing.

I helped assist in teaching the Deaf students today only to find out I would be teaching them by myself tomorrow. If you feel like jumping in, I guess you could say that is exactly what I am doing. I am very pleased to find that American Sign Language is very similar to Bolivian sign language. Therefore the transition to speak with the students has been much less difficult than I anticipated. In addition to working in the Deaf school, I shadowed and/or attended a yoga session for people with disabilities this morning. I am going to join the yoga session once more on Wednesday. I have never really done yoga before, but I think it would be useful in improving one’s relationship with God. Perhaps that is something to think about if you are seeking some new physical activity to practice breathing and relax a little bit.

Listen in to find out more specifics about my journey thus far in Bolivia.

Click here to hear the beginning of my tour in Bolivia!

Wondering about relationships…

I constantly wonder about relationships here in South America as I meet incredible people, including girls on an almost daily basis. It seems so easy to find fun people when you are abroad in terms of taking a girl to dinner, but it becomes a little more challenging when I return to the seriousness of the Bible Belt in Auburn, Alabama. Although there is an annoyance about such seriousness, there is also something very respectable and beautiful about this seriousness, meaning that a girl who loves Jesus takes things a little more seriously because relationships are not so much of a game. It is not just a good time. It is something special that at some point requires specific and meticulous consideration. Perhaps it is annoying for those who are looking for one night stands, but for those of us who might want something a little more down-to-Earth, realistic, lasting, and maybe even in the long term permanent, this may not be such a bad thing. Girls are serious because perhaps they seek to protect what has in the past been broken by a jerk of a boyfriend. So things are not easily given away. You have to earn what you get. While it can be frustrating and difficult in the process, perhaps the reward is worth the cost. One person constantly comes to mind when perfecting this process. While this person can frustrate me more than any other person on this planet at times, she also asks the questions that matter most and that probe my consciousness for answers that are honorable. As my good friend Doug Brunson once said, “It is the person you cannot sometimes stand to be around, but it also the person you cannot stand to be without.” I do not say this in reference to the previously mentioned person. I long gave up on trying to even get a real date with this girl, but that does not mean anything in terms of her incredible probing qualities. I want a girl who will ask those relevant questions that make me wonder, that make me think, and perhaps that make me dream in ways I did not before think possible. You may think this entry is a bunch of crap, or perhaps it makes you think a bit. If you are a girl reading this, perhaps there is a brother in the house that needs a break. Give the brother a break, and you might be surprised what arises from the break given to an opportunity that once seemed uninteresting.

New podcast for your listening pleasure…

Frankly, I have not been able to post my podcasts because I have not had access to fast technology that would sufficiently download the sound files without taking three hours for one five megabyte file. South America, or Peru and Bolvia in general, are nice if you are looking to slow down, but sometimes there is not much convenience when trying to utilize technology here or perhaps when you are trying to find Ziplock bags. As I told a new amigo here recently, I miss my Wal-Mart, the center of convenience in modern day America.

The following podcast is a brief description of the Bolivian family I am staying with. Every member of the family has their special place in each unique role of the household. For instance, the mother just made me feel welcome by offering me some manta tea and informing me that I am welcome to come back anytime I would like with future trips. I must admit that while inconvenience in South America is very annoying I have met some very good people here. The families I have stayed with have almost made my stay worthwhile by itself. As you listen, you will hear that there are seven people within this household (both parents, three children-two sons and one daughter, and a niece and nephew). The kids just had a month of vacation time. As they start back to school this week, they procrastinated until the last minute to finish vacation break’s projects for various classes. Because they have done so, the night is becoming a very late one as I add to my BLOG entries. Some stress is added to the situation as family members grow tired with pressing deadlines similar to my thirty page papers in graduate school that I stay up all night writing.

I have discovered that there is so much to do in La Paz that one may even say it is ridiculous. I am having a hard time deciding what exactly to do because there is so much to see and do. In terms of climbing, this is an adventurers place and dream come true. I would guess this is a good problem to have. On Thursday, I am headed down the “World’s Most Dangerous Road.” In all seriousness, an Englishman died about two months ago on the trek, but I am not sure he was using the most cautionary maneuvers….in other words using brakes the entire way down the mountain. I am hoping my mother does not read this entry until I am finished because as every mother should she will be freaking out because she just loves me so much.

Click here to hear about my new wonderful family!

You must meet this Marco…

Last year when I traveled through Europe I met a unique individual by the name of Marco. Marco seems to be a very common name among Spanish-speaking countries. It reminds me of the game I use to play when I was a small child in the swimming pool, which I am still very fond of, Marco Polo. Marco took us out for a night on the La Rambla (main street) in Barcelona, Spain to have a few drinks. At about 2:00 am, I went back to the hostel to get some much needed sleep. My more adventurous friend, Elle, stayed out longer with Marco and of course to possibly indulge in more pleasures of a well-founded drinking consciousness. Marco gave her a distinguished invite into his apartment at about 5:00 am. Even though perhaps extremely happy from a buzz, Elle logically decided to go back to the hostel to catch a train at 7:00 am. She was happily awoken by the Southern accent of a Southern gentleman eager for an update on the early morning’s festivities.

Contrary to the character of this first Marco character I met, I met another Marco I was working with at the orphanage. He is approximately thirty years old and seems to command an authoritative respect with the kids at the orphanage, similar to a “Papa” in the Christian sense. I very much enjoyed my time with Marco. There was something about his character and his personality that just made him a joy to be around. While I would practice my Spanish, which still needs much more practice, he would practice his English. He also made this incredible drink called Abbas, which I believe was stirred and brewed from butterbeans. The kids drank it as if it were coffee in an American style. It had brown sugar and milk to add a more homogenous taste to the mixture. I left Marco a Spanish Bible, a pocket knife very similar to a Leatherman, and a small note of appreciation for my two weeks’ experience at the orphanage with him. I do not say this to brag of a kind gesture but rather than when God moves you to give something away, even if small or big, you will not regret acting on God’s call to do so.

An update on now and the next

So I have just wrapped up my second project at the orphanage in the Sacred Valley, which is just outside of Cusco. I have been had an incredible experience thus far, and God continually teaches me new lessons day in and day out, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse in terms of where I need to self-reflect and self-improve in terms of relationship.

I am turning the big twenty-seven this year, and this may be the first time I have never had a home spectacular celebration in acknowledgement of. I am not specifically sure why, but I really don’t care either. This summer has been so amazing I feel like I have celebrated five or six birthdays with the blessings, thoughts, and memories God has blessed me with in my time here in South America.

I made some new friends at the orphanage, and they are hanging out with me in Cusco before I fly to La Paz, Bolivia tomorrow. I was supposed to work one on one with the founder of Creative Corners, Monique Julian. She has practically organized every part of my trip except for my side trips to Argentina. Her father somehow contracted what I would believe to be the equivalent of a staph infection in the leg. Apparently, it was and continues to be a very serious medical condition, but the doctors were able to resolve the situation before anything worse may have happened. I have been praying for her, and if you read this message, perhaps throw one up for her. I will be in Bolivia for about ten days but without the blessing of Monique’s presence. So the project I will be working on will probably be a little bit different than what I originally planned and expected. Nevertheless, I expect God to continue doing great things in my life and the work I am gifted to do here.

If you are interested in knowing more about the orphanage I worked at, you can click on the following link to find volunteer opportunities or just how these incredible people work with this incredible organization.

Chandler Sky Organization and Casa de Milagros Orphanage

A quick thought through a quick poem

Unconnected yet still confused with new beginnings that have not yet begun.
I am who I am but yet I still fall short of where I would like to be.
I meet people daily and still remain confused on my or their part in my life.
Regardless of confusion, frustration, or other feelings that may arise,
One thing is true, and one thing remains.
That is a God who loves, who gives, and who becomes any role unconditionally.
So no matter what you do or where you are, that one fact remains true…
That God is always here for you.

In a valley so sacred, a miracle has been born.

For those who have missed my wonderful blog entries, I apologize for my long delay, but I am in the Sacred Valley working at Casa de Milagros (House of Miracles), which is an orphanage owned and operated by an American couple. My time has been nothing short of incredible. Sometimes God just calls his followers to be still. I have been able to do just that here. It is so beautiful and so calm here that it is almost hard not to sit still, take in the moment, and glorify God for His amazing creation and this amazing place. I would not doubt that miracles are indeed made here. Thirty lives have been touched by the adoption efforts of these wonderful people and the family that lives here. Marie and Allen Nelson as a family unit have four children of their own, whom all would probably claim to be 100% genuine, purebred Peruvian.

Surprisingly to me, the orphanage is very large. I feel like it is almost like a small college campus. Casa de Milagros use to be an old estate for some ritzy Peruvian that probably had two homes, one in the city of Cusco and perhaps one out in the country with a plantation sort of feel. When the family bought this place, it was apparently unlivable and in a state of shackled ruins. Today the place has been turned into a magical wonderland with a river that runs about two hundred yards in front of the main housing complex and then a mountain that follows along the background to provide the perfect backdrop to such a magical place. If you were here, you might think you were in Disneyland and that you could just see the magic in the place and the faces of the children as they live happily in extended love and freedom in the arms of those who take care. For instance, the other night I literally watched the moon rise over the mountain across the river. I did not intend to see such a beautiful sight, but it was miraculous to say the least. To think of it, I am not sure if I have ever seen the moon rise over the mountain like that. I always thought the sun was the only one that could do that.

Speaking of suns, there is a little girl here by the name of “Sol,” which means sun in Spanish. She is absolutely adorable. If you are in need of a good laugh, she is certain to provide it. My Spanish is constantly improving, but she repeatedly calls me, “Amigo,” which is a common thing here, especially when someone wants you to buy something. Her little accent is what makes it so precious. She typically has pigtails with a huge grin across her face. In my week here, I have only seen here cry once over something very silly, but then again what kids do not cry about something typically very silly? She is one of my favorites to sit at the dinner table with.

While enjoying my stay here at the orphanage, the staff is very keen on the idea of creative expression. When I arrived, Marie asked me, “What would you like to do?” I kind of just looked at her and shrugged. Usually, on mission trips, I am given a list of things to do before my time ends wherever I am. Here, they encourage volunteers to design and carry out their own projects, which can be just as simple as spending time with the kids. It does not have to be anything grandiose. I have never ever drawn and painted a mural on a wall, but that is exactly what I am doing here. I have painted a Colorado type landscape with a barn and shack of a cabin. There is a moonlit night sky with mountains in the background. I will be sure to post pictures some time later on the blog with my finished project. It has been awesome to do something I have always wanted to do in a dreamlike sort of sensation! This is certainly one of the best mission projects I have ever done.

I have just completed a book called The Shack. If you have not read it, you must put it first on your reading list to check out. It is a wonderful book with an intriguing conversation between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The book has given me a new image of what I would like my relationship with God to be. If you read it, you will understand the dimensions of the indescribable events that take place in the book. You may even have a new understanding for God’s love, beauty, and acts of forgiveness in this limited lifetime. Check it out!

Well, my access Internet time is limited here in the middle of nowhere in Peru. I promise to have more updates and blogs soon when I have access to Internet fast enough to upload it  But then again, that can be a joy in of itself. I have never before been able to say, “I am in the middle of nowhere, and I have no access to my email right now.”

An interesting metaphor I think…

I do not know why relationships are constantly on my mind…maybe because I am realizing how fortunate I am to have the relations that I currently have back in the States. While ten weeks does not seem like a long time to some, it has been somewhat daunting at times because I am not home, and I am constantly being awoken by the reality of third world existence in the lives of these amazing people. I am participating in environments very different in nature to my own. So while it has been a unique and interesting pleasure, it has been challenging being away at the same time from familiar places and people that I love. I see constant reminders of relationships, and while some of you might find it interesting in the metaphor that I describe in the following clip, some of you might wonder, “What planet is he living on?” Nevertheless, I think in some ways this is how a friendship and/or relationship should work.

A metaphor you will want to listen to!

Farewells from the first project

On Friday, I finished my first service project of the three that I will be assisting with this summer. I have been in Cusco for three weeks, and I am now going to Urubamba (little town) to work in an orphanage, located in the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley is possibly one of the most beautiful places in the country of Peru. If you haven’t already, it is a place you must visit.

It was kind of sad leaving Inti (a center for street kids who may literally have no one). One girl practically cried when I told her it was my last day. I do not say such to brag but rather to show that even in a short time as short as three weeks you can form an attachment to the kids of the center or project that you are working on. Before I left in the afternoon, they had this sort of farewell gathering to wish me “Goodbye” with light applauds and recognition from the children. They gave me a small leather pouch as a parting gift. I signed a volunteer book, saying my last thoughts and farewells perhaps for others to read at a later time. I was also able to talk with Luz Marina more in depth about her vision for why she started Inti, Inti is short for the full name of the center, which is in the indigenous language of Catchewa, Inti Runakunaq Wasin, meaning literally House of the People of the Sun in English. She informed me of the future direction she hopes to take with the organization.

I am somewhat sad to leave my family and this project in Cusco, but I am also looking forward to a change of scenery and building/making new relationships. I think there are advantages to working with different organizations, but I also think that it is good to stay in one location so that relationships are built and perhaps maintained. For me, I like to see different places, and working on different projects gives me an opportunity to do so.

Below I have a sound clip of interviewing Luz Marina Figueroa. She shares personally some relevant information about Inti and the mission they serve in what might be considered the inner city of Cusco. If you seek further information or would like to get involved in any way, please look up their website at the following address: http://www.streetkidscusco.org/home.html

Click here for the interview with an amazing woman of great vision!

The crazy men and crazy scam in Nazca, Peru

Okay, so we arrived to Nazca after a 16 hour bus ride. It was quite miserable being in a crammed space for that long, and I am going to do my best to avoid another bus ride in such a journey during my stay in South America. We (me and my new Canadian friend) got off the bus, and we were bombarded by people who wanted to drive us directly to the airport to take a ride in the airplane. I must admit that Peruvian people are the most determined salespeople on the planet. Just forewarning, if you are white, they almost always assume you are a Western tourist on vacation who wants to buy more souvenirs.

In addition to my Canadian friend, I met an Englishman. He decided to join us for the day. He had a background in being self-employed for private security. He obviously had a military background and was not your typical rent-a-cop. My Canadian friend is semi-fluent in Spanish, and so we let him negotiate with the mob of Peruvians seeking some sort of commission for getting us to the airport. We were greeted by one interesting individual named Heyzeus (probably spelled like Jesus in Spanish I would guess) in whom at this point I still believe is full of it, but anyway, all three of us rode in his Path Finder to the airport. It was a small airport with one building with your basic waiting area and two bathrooms. The airstrip was covered only by small planes (for 4 to 8 people), meant to fly with tourists in order to see the Nazca Lines. Heyzeus represented one of the several companies who would willingly take your money for a flight. He said we were free to investigate any of the companies, and if we did not want to fly with his company, we would just compensate him for the ride from the bus station. I still don’t know why, but we went along with his company because he “seemed so nice.”

Heyzeus said we could keep our luggage and backpacks at his friend’s hostel, which just happened to be named Amigo’s House (aka Friend’s House). He told us the hostel was mentioned in Lonely Planet, which I still don’t believe.

Anyway, he offered to take us to three tourist locations (a graveyard, a gold business, and a ceramics business). What he did not mention was that the gold and ceramics business were free to the public to watch the demonstrations. He wanted to charge us fifty sols, which is about seventeen U. S. dollars. If I had ever met a better con artist, he now had the new title as the best one I had ever met. Heyzeus also mentioned some pyramids in the desert; he acted like they were similar to the pyramids found in Egypt. We were fascinated and wanted to see these newly found Incan pyramids. What he failed to mention was that this 23 square kilometer ceremonial center was now covered by millions of pounds of sand. Therefore, you could not see much of the pyramids beyond what the archeologists had already uncovered. He wanted sixty sols (combining for a total of 180 sols with the three of us) to take us out there. After hearing his grand and over-exaggerated explanation, we were more than willing to take the adventure out there.

Heyzeus had a friend named Freddie (probably just a nickname because tourists could not correctly pronounce his real name) who was going to take us out to the pyramids in his grand and mighty Nissan truck. I can still hear him in my head saying, “This is cuatro by cuatro, my friend,” meaning four wheel drive. Again, what he and Heyzeus failed to mention was that the truck had a nearly flat tire and that Freddie was a slower driver than my Grandmother.

We eagerly jumped into the truck only to have Freddie stop three different times at three different gas stations to check the air pressure in the almost flat tire. I wondered if this wonderful machine would actually make it through the desert or leave us stranded under the blazing sun. We finally got to the road that you drive out to the pyramids on. A couple of cars passed us. Now keep in mind this is supposedly a grand, multi-terrain vehicle, and little Daewoo taxis are flying by us on the dirt, bumpy road. Freddie even mentioned, “That guy is so crazy. That guy is so crazy,” referring to the taxi cab driving who left us in the dust. I thought Freddie was crazy for only driving fifteen miles an hour. I know he was worried about the tire, being careful, but the trip took us about three and a half hours to complete the round trip to get back to the airport for our flight over the Nasca Lines. Being a desert, it was naturally extremely hot, and of course, the air conditioning in the truck was broken. Freddie had also mentioned that he would change the tire in three minutes if it needed to be changed. I was beginning to wonder if he was from another planet. He kept calling me “James Bond, 007.” While driving, the key fell into the floor out of the ignition several times, but the truck kept running. I was really hoping this truck with a vivid personality did not leave us walking back in the desert heat.

We thankfully did not get stuck in the desert, and the great pyramids were not really pyramids at all. They were more like big book shelves in the sand. When Freddie tried to give us some background information on them, he said four or five facts over and over and over again, as if he was a college professor in archeology. We were not even allowed to walk up close to the pyramids because much of the terrain was blocked off for the archeological process. Of course, I ran up closer anyway to take some much desired and now costly pictures. Then the equivalent of what you might consider to have the role of a U. S. forest ranger started running up the hills to where I had climbed, screaming and waving his hands. He was really just an old man with flip flop sandals, not exactly what you would think of for protection of sacred pyramids.

It was clear that we were ripped off with no chance of getting our money back. You might say it was worth it to have such a ridiculous story to tell, but I must say that I was a little angry and frustrated. I expressed such feelings to Heyzeus, but he naturally did not care much because I was a tourist and he had our money already.
We went to the airport, shuttled in by our Hummer-like wonder of a vehicle, to take our flight into the sky to see the Nazca Lines. Now I must admit that the Nazca Lines were incredible, but I was somewhat nauseous getting off the plane when we landed because the pilot was swinging from side to side so we could look out the side of the plane to actually see the lines. I felt like were in an air show with trick planes doing stunts through the blue skyline.

By that point, I had my fill of Nazca. In other words, I was ready to leave already. I was tired from an overnight bus ride and being scammed by tourist con artists. I was ready to take the next bus ride to Ica to move on and get a good night’s rest at our hotel, which was located in the middle of a natural oasis in the desert within close proximity to the city of Ica. Nevertheless, we went to the gold and ceramic stores to watch the demonstrations of how these crafts were handmade. It was interesting; I was just not too interested because of my exhausted state of mind. Afterwards, we got on the bus, and that was my crazy day with some crazy people from Ica.

Below you will find a recording of Freddie and my mates in the truck on the way out to the pyramids. After hearing Freddie speak and laugh, you may understand the observations I have written about concerning his unique behaviors, laugh, and way of speaking.

CLICK here for the pure definition of craziness!

Missing home a bit

Today I had this strong feeling of missing home…my crazy dog, my parents, my sissie, some aspects of Auburn, and so forth. I do not know what the reason for this strong feeling was, but I do know that was a very good feeling. It is good to miss something because that means you have something worth missing. So I am not sad because I am having a miraculous experience down here. I am happy to have so many blessings in my life where I actually miss them in my life back in the States.

Indulgence is not necessarily honorable…

This past weekend the city of Cusco was celebrating a festival known as Inca Ramie (spelling?). Therefore we had Monday and Tuesday off from work. I met a Canadian at the volunteer site where I am currently working, and his name is Steven. Steven has a vivid personality with a live-all-I-can attitude before he actually leaves this dusty Earth. While I respect the freedom in such a personality, I myself cannot live for the thrill of a moment. Please do not misunderstand me. I get excited about exciting things, but my happiness does not hinge on the second of that thrill. I seek adventure. I seek fun. But I also seek things that are more concrete and perhaps more permanent, such as relationships with people or spiritual goals and accomplishments. Perhaps I have learned the difficult way that “partying hard” has its thrills in the intoxication of a moment, but when you wake up in the morning sick and vomiting, the next day can be a nightmare. In other words, the party hard life is not worth the costs to me that it has on my body.

We traveled to Nazca (famous for the Nazca lines), Ica (where you can go sand surfing in the middle of the desert), and Paracas (beautiful islands in the ocean where a variety of wildlife live). God spoke to me this past weekend. He reminded me of the man I want to be. I want to live a life that honorably glorifies God. Indulging in sin is temporary, but it is also lucrative and attractive in the pleasures that sin can bring. I witnessed people, including my Canadian mate, drowning in alcohol among other things. I must admit that I was tempted and affected by the environment of indulgence in Wacachinero (a natural Oasis just outside of Ica) where we stayed. It was kind of like a mini Cancun. Being tempted or affected by sin does not excuse the behaviors of sin. Sometimes we, as imperfect humans, need reminders of how to live an honorable life for God. We sin, and God reminds us of His Love and Grace when we approach him for forgiveness.

The trip zapped my energy level. I learned that sitting in a bus for forty hours is not exactly the most invigorating thing. Even though I was just sitting in one place really not doing anything, the experience made me very tired. Even though I was exhausted and even a little sick when I returned from Ica to Cusco, I was content with the trip because God reminded me that being a Christian and perhaps more specifically said, a missionary, necessitates an example to be set. The role of a missionary necessitates discipline to improve the world in a Godly manner. Sometimes indulgence can distract us from our mission (meaning our purpose in life or in my case, the real reasons for my trip). One might say it was a wakeup call to live honorably, to work honorably, to lead honorably, and so forth. We are all missionaries in the general sense of the word. You do not need to travel across the world to play the role of a missionary. Sometimes all you have to do is walk through your city of residence. If your heart is in the right place and if you take a little time to look around, you may be surprised with what you find. A mission of a moment may present itself.

I needed a reminder of God’s Will in my life, and this trip through observing the actions of others made me realize what direction I must now pursue to honor God and to live honorably in the pursuit towards God.

Lessons learned and a touched heart…

As you may have read or not read, I am working at the Cusco Arts Haven. These kids come from all different backgrounds including special disabilities, at-risk homes, and families of low income. I have performed all kinds of tasks, including gardening, cooking, teaching and actively being involved in artwork and English exercises and homework. By the end of this next week, I will have been working here for three weeks. I feel that God is using me here, but sometimes I feel that God teaches me more than I may be teaching other people. My life will be changed after this summer is all well said and done. The Peruvian people and the children have elevated a level of gratefulness I have never attained before. Before this trip, I would often say that I would like to experience a livelihood abroad where things are “simple and less stressful.” What I have come to find out is that things are not so simple in Peru. While there may be less stress in the rush of a normal, routine day, individuals count their pennies here. As a graduate teaching assistant, I do not make a large sum of money, and I probably will not make a middle class income until I finish with my Masters degree at Auburn. But I do not have to worry about the necessities…clothes…food…shelter. From my limited perspective, I would say that some of the kids are probably more concerned with where and when their next meal comes from than doing homework. If this is the case, I could perhaps understand why homework is not the first priority if someone does not eat for several days or if someone has worn the same clothes for thirty days and they are beginning to stink a bit without taking a shower.

This may not be a complete accurate depiction of the children that I work with because I do not know their parents and family situations, but that is not my role as a volunteer who struggles with the basics of Spanish. I still think such situations and descriptions cause us to be thankful for the basics. As Americans, most of us have the basics when many and perhaps most of the world’s population do not.

Like I said before, I would like to believe I am helping these kids, but they may be teaching me by changing and molding my spiritual heart. While working on three different mission projects, some have asked, “Why are you changing projects so often? Why don’t you stay at one project for all six weeks?” When I first started this trip, my basic answer was that I like diversity in the changes of going to different places and working with different people. While this is still true, I have noticed that having exposure to these three mission fields has given me the privilege to experience many different environments. With different experiences, I will learn new lessons in my walk with God, and perhaps in the future, I will have a more solidified field of ministry because I have worked in so many different opportunities. In other words, to discover our passions in servant hood, I believe it is beneficial for people to try several different things. While some might argue in short missions that it is better to experience and stay in one place, I do not necessarily agree with this. Short term missions have the potential to aid individuals in discovering their permanent and perhaps long term location in life. Trying one ministry here and another ministry there gives opportunities for exploration so one may find his or her true passion to change people’s lives for a longer period of time. Staying with one project is not a bad thing, but for those of us who want to experience a few different places, doing so may be better for the individual involved. The amount of mission work you do and where you do rests on where God will have you.

I believe I was called to Cusco to work on these two projects. I remember studying facts briefly about the city of Cusco and my organization, Creative Corners. It just made sense that this is what I wanted to do for a summer in investigating culture and serving others. I could not possibly describe with justice how the confidence formed so quickly to travel here. It was spiritual. It was sure. I read the information, and something inside of me clicked ready to go. And so I am here living my dream and the God-given blessing to be in such a beautiful place.

The results of some bad something…

I think at some point in traveling through strange and unknown places there is a hidden rule that you must get sick because of something you ate or drink or whatever. That is the way I have been feeling for the last couple of days with instantaneous and sporadic phases of using the restroom more than I thought was humanly possible. Even though my stomach has been hurting for many days, I have heard stories of people with worse conditions. One volunteer’s husband had to have emergency surgery on his intestines. I am not sure why, but he is fine now. Apparently, the doctors in Cusco are pretty good. I know several people have spent twelve or even perhaps twenty-four hours vomiting. I guess the truth is that you do have to watch what you eat in a third world country or any place that perhaps looks questionable, which could of course be any restaurant in the world, including the U. S. When I am well again and eating delicious food of all sorts cooked with clean water, I know that I will not take that liberty and freedom for granted again.

New amazements...still being amazed daily....

While on the way back from Manchu Picchu, I was sitting in the coach of a train with a Frenchman and an Argentine. The Frenchman by the name of Timido was backpacking all over South America. He had previously lived in the Caribbean, Spain, London, and was soon moving to New Zealand with his longtime girlfriend. The Argentine was a successful business man from Buenos Aires, and his name was Patrick. It was an interesting conversation about languages and a mix of different cultures.

The Argentine told me he had not spoken English in about six or seven years, but he could still understand everything that I and the Frenchman were discussing. He told me an interesting story about his wife. At one point in their relationship, things were a little more rocky than usual. He did not mention the context of a specific argument, but he said that he had thrown his wedding ring at her only to have asked for it back the next day. I did not get the impression that he was seeking to really depart from the marriage as might be depicted by the symbolic action of actually throwing the ring at his wife. I got the impression it was just something he committed while acting out of emotion instead of logic. He was angry; therefore he did an angry thing. I think that is something we are all guilty of at some point in our lives. Sometime later that year he was in another fight with his wife. For perhaps some of the same reasoning, he threw the ring at her again, except this time she did not give the ring back to him the next day. Her explanation was that she never wanted to feel the same feeling again that she did in the moment of his perhaps inexcusable behavior. This occurred fifteen years ago, and he has yet to receive the ring back from her. This story came about in conversation because I had asked him why he was not wearing a wedding ring. I did so more out of curiosity than just being plain nosy. With some cultures, wearing a ring may not be as popular as the custom has become in our country. Anyway, my curiosity led the telling of this tale in what I would consider a very interesting story.

The story does not just have an ironic humor for me in the fact that the man never got his ring back from his wife. I think it often symbolizes how we react in our impressions of God. While some of us would not consider our rejection as bold as throwing a ring at a spouse, I think some of us probably do such symbolic gestures without even knowing it. That little familiar voice comes into our head asking for our attention or consciously reminding us to do the right thing, and sometimes (whether you choose to believe it or not) we ignore the call that God has for us. We ignore that gentle whisper of a wind only to have our own way and make our own decisions.

I was talking with my father tonight about some of the humbling circumstances since being in South America. I have noticed a lack of knowledge in some of the kids I am working with on a daily basis. Please do not misunderstand my phrasing. I do not think the kids I am working with are by any means unintelligent, but I would consider several of the kids to be behind in terms of academic advancement, especially when they are capable of great things. For reasons unknown to me and perhaps more complicated than I can understand, this has certainly been an observation obvious to me and other volunteers. For instance, one five year girl I have been working with for the past two days has trouble distinguishing from her right or her left and the difference between basic colors. In the small amount of time I have spent with her, she just wants to play and color with crayons instead of learning what I would consider basic childhood common sense. It was an instant gratefulness for the education I have received in the United States. When I was between five and ten years of age, I did not realize how fortunate I was in the foundation that was being set. Several people complain about the educational system in our country, but if those same people came to Peru or Bolivia, they might realize that the educational system in the States is one of the best in the world.

While traveling to Manchu Picchu this past weekend, I met a local who worked in one of the hotels seasonally. His name was Jose (which seems to be a very common name in South America). I was fortunate enough to have an evening conversation with Jose. He was working on his English, and I was surprised by how much Spanish I had learned and/or understood while with him. Of course, I was using my dictionary as much as a remote control when channel surfing when nothing good is on television. Anyway, as he shared his story with me, he informed me that four of his twelve brothers and sisters had died from the measles. I told him that this was a routine shot given to babies in the States. He could not believe that I had the vaccination so early in my childhood, and I could not believe that people were still dying from the measles when in my own ignorance I thought the vaccination was readily available to all persons of the world. Four people in the same family died of the measles! All I could do was express my condolences, but something within me cringed at the thought of how ungrateful I often am when I am living my routine graduate school of an existence in Auburn, Alabama. I felt knots within my intestinal inside parts because I suddenly realized how messed up things are in a messed up world of sin and tragedy. This summer will perhaps be the best of my life, and I guarantee that I will be changed for the betterment of my earthly existence when I return home in August.

Manchu Picchu was one of the most incredible places I have ever visited. I have described some of the trip in more detail in the following podcast. I have also included a clip about the place I am currently volunteering with. I specifically mention details about the wonders I have found in the handiwork of some Peruvians I have had the pleasure of encountering. If you would like, please listen in.

Click here to hear about the precision and amazement of handcrafted Peruvian work.

You have got to see this wonderful place of God's Hand in man's creation of mystery and wonder - Manchu Picchu!

My new home here in Cusco...

While I am in Cusco, I am finding that I love the people and the city here. My host family is absolutely awesome! They have a little boy who is one and half, and he is always getting into trouble. Of course, as a result, I laugh my head off because of his silly behaviors. Of course, the people have distinct personalities apart from Americans. I have noticed that people in South America tend to be thankful with just having a job and a paycheck. It is not necessarily about doing this job or that job. I have not yet heard one person complain about life’s circumstances. It makes me wonder if we, as Americans, should complain as much as we do sometimes. Please realize such a realization also very much applies to me.

Today is a holiday in Cusco. I have vividly described the festival in the attached podcast. It was truly a cultural experience I was thankful for. I was eating some meat that was just delicious. It tasted like salty chicken from Kroger’s. I was thinking, “This would be perfect for tailgating at an Auburn football game. Waldo told me that it was a type of rabbit. When I saw the animal, I noticed it was a rat, not a distinct species of rabbit. Honestly, it did not really affect. I just tried to remember the taste and that thousands of people eat this dish every year in Peru. If it does not hurt them, it will probably not hurt me either, but I must admit it was a huge shock to see that I had eaten a rat. That was my exotic dish of an experience. I just tried to remain cool about the ordeal.

When traveling through the hostels, I sometimes get lonely. Living with a host family has been wonderful because I do not miss my family and friends as much in Alabama. I am becoming immersed in the culture and in this home. Waldo told me today, “This is your home.” I found comfort in the statement because this family barely knows me, but they treat me as their own. They have opened their home, and I feel welcomed as a temporary family member. There was no initiation or enculturation process. I walked through the door, and I was treated like I had been here all along.

Please click below to hear about my first few days here in Cusco.

Enjoy a day in Cusco as if you were living with a host family!

Relationships, ehhhh?

As a communications major, I just have a habit of analyzing relationships in general. While I have met only two women abroad that I was ever romantically interested in, I cannot help but compare and contrast in my mind the behavior of these two women with women that I have dated or that I just know very well in the states. Please realize that as I write this, there are many perspectives on this issue, and the issue goes both ways in terms of sexes. Females may feel as I do towards men. Who knows?

I asked my host family if divorces were frequent in Peru; they told me that it was very rare for married couples to split. I think as a culture we have made it acceptable to just get a divorce if the mushy feelings evaporate over time that once existed in the relationship. Our culture focuses on the idea of choice. You have a choice to be with someone; you have a choice to break up with someone. Of course, I believe that if you are dating someone casually, you clearly have a choice on the matter, but if you get married or engaged to someone, that is a commitment that needs to be taken seriously. It is not something to quit when things get hard or when the “mushy” romantic feelings are gone after the honeymoon stage. Instead of discouraging such behaviors to quit on a relationship, our society encourages and promotes that getting married and then divorced is okay. In my limited perspective, it is not okay! In fact, if children are ever involved, this should be a very last option. Of course, I understand that spouses may be drug addicts, alcoholics, or abusive physically, and there are exceptions to every rule. It is not okay if your excuse is “just cause.”

When I date a girl, the first thing I evaluate is, “Will she stick by me through thick and then?” And “Is it okay to just be me?” If you find yourself changing consistently for another person, then I would say chances are you should not be with that person. In my last relationship, the girl I dated would often say, “If you were like this, that would be so good” or “if you do this, that would be great.” I found myself actually considering making dramatic life changes, but it was ironic that this particular individual wouldn’t change anything about herself. An example might be if someone has a pet. If your significant other is allergic to the pet, then if you love that person, the choice should be an easy one. Parting with a pet is not necessarily easy, but the choice of a spouse or a pet, at least for me that choice would be easy. This particular person I dated last year was as green as you can get in terms of saving the world and the environment through recycling, That rubbed off on me in a good way, and eventually I started recycling most things that are recyclable. On the other hand, she said that “I have trouble with the fact that you are a Jesus freak.” I could not even believe this was a problem. I thought most mothers of most daughters in the Bible Belt would like to hear such a thing, but for this girl, I was “too religious.” Of course, for these reasons and so much more, it did not work out between us. I do not think changes should be so dramatic that you change the foundations of your personality for the other person, but you must be willing to compromise on any change if a relationship is going to work.

Several girls I have taken out in college fit your American image of “Daddy’s Little Girl.” I sometimes am wary when a girl tells me this because it may signify that Daddy gives me whatever I want (or it could just mean the opposite that I and my Dad are tight). I was told by two Argentine girls that Argentine men are not always the “nicest guys.” Now while I do not know anything about love in Argentine culture, I can speak from my own experience with my love life. I took this particular girl out to dinner and bought her and her comrades some chocolates that maybe cost four American dollars per box. To me, I enjoy giving stuff to people, which seems to be an accepted part of the culture down here. In American culture, if you give something to a girl, it automatically means you are serious or something. It can no longer be for the simple thought of. This girl acted like it was Christmas Eve; she was truly appreciative of my simple gestures of kindness. That is just how I was raised. In the dating culture of the Southern United States, girls and guys alike seem to believe in this idea of choice. We disregard and regard dating relationships without serious deliberation. If a Christian guy pursues any girl, I would hope the consideration is taken seriously without a ridiculous thought, such as “I do not like his hair” or “he doesn’t use Herbal Essences.” For this Argentine female, being a good guy who is willing to pay for an occasional thing meant something. Today in my college experience, being a nice Christian guy who has the potential to lead and become financially successful is not necessarily enough to qualify for a dating package, and what I believe is that solid women and men of God are disappearing in what I consider an endangered species. As time progresses, perhaps more guys are having this realization of impossible dating. In fact, I had a close friend who meet a girl through Eharmony because he was so tired of traditional dating, but he took the filtering process of the site very seriously. People on this site are looking to meet other people (therefore you never get the excuse I do not want to date anyone right now), and if you have things in common, it might not be a bad idea to try Internet dating. My dear friend is getting married to this girl in a couple of weeks, and I wish with all my heart that I could be in the states for his wedding/ Of course, my worldly perspective is being changed by helping children in this Peruvian country; so I consider that a valid excuse to miss a few weddings.

I feel that it is not good enough anymore to be a good Christian person with a strong walk with the Lord to date a girl in American society whereas my experience with two other girls in two other cultures has been quite the opposite. Once both these girls got to know me, “it was almost too good to be true.” While you might find this realization to be a statement of pride, when you grow up with little, you appreciate when you have something, which may be the case for a second or third world country inhabitant. Perhaps as Americans we have it so good that we truly believe in this right to pick and choose mates like cattle in a meat market. A significant other must have twenty-five specific qualifications, and if one is missing, then forget it!

I know some of you may find this entry a bit offensive or perhaps even unnecessary for my experiences in terms of South America, but then again, the everyday acceptance of accepted behavior here is to not get divorced. So perhaps if there is not something to learn in my words, perhaps there is something to be learned by the people of this beautiful country in the examples of their relationships. People are not treated so much as disposable commodities. People in fact keep commitments they make in relationship (ie. marriage). If you commit to anything, commit yourself, or don’t commit yourself at all. If we take such seriously, I am confident our culture would not only change for the better, but as we radically represent the model of a relationship between a loving God and His People, lives would be changed. People could once again learn the enjoyment of simple things. Life is a gift we do not deserve. It is not a conscious choice. You exist because you were chosen to exist for the reason with which you live. You or I would not be who we are if it were not for the relationships of those who have supported us along the way.

Onto my next destination after living it up in the True Patagonia…

I have recorded some more digital entries with my recorder but decided not to include them in this entry. I spent my last night in Bariloche taking a very special girl out to dinner, and we have been in contact the last few days through Facebook. She is unlike most girls I know back in the states. Obviously, that is going to be true because she is Argentinean; she seems to very much enjoy simple things and appreciates when simple things are done for her. I sometimes think we get so caught up in the everyday routine of American life that we forget ourselves to enjoy simple things. So it has been a wonderful experience to be around someone who constantly reminds me to enjoy the habitual everyday things just by being herself.

I am sitting in the hostel I originally stayed in Buenos Aires when I first got to Argentina. The van picks me up in about an hour and half to take me to the airport. I am flying to Lima and then very early the next morning to Cusco where I will be doing my volunteer work. I am going to try and arrange some language lessons and a trip to Machu Picchu my first few days in Cusco. I have a few days until I start my volunteer work. I provided some wiggle room to get settled, rested, and somewhat acclimated before I start working on Thursday. I arrive early Tuesday morning and will be picked up from the airport by my host family.

Bariloche was a beautiful mountain town situated right on a clear blue lake in the middle of crisp, clear skies. The weather was a bit chilly but still ideal for outdoor activity. I went climbing one day with a girl who had traveled literally all over the world to excel in her sport. She seemed to be very humble about her abilities to scale the rock face, but it was obvious she knew what she was doing. Safety was her number one concern, which made me feel much more comfortable. She was semi-impressed that I remembered to tie my own knots (for instance the figure eight) from the class that I had taken in Chattanooga, TN. The excursion reminded me of some dear old times I had climbing in Tennessee with an old buddy of mine who actually helped assist me financially in this mission-oriented trip to South America.

The mountain climber’s name was the same as the girl I had taken out the previous night. I thought that was a strange coincidence, or was it not a coincidence at all? Perhaps that is a worthwhile question to ask the Good Lord Above. Anyway, she had a very unique sense of humor. She said that after a day of climbing my arms were going to be so weak that I would need someone to lift the spoon into my mouth because my arms and muscles would be so tight. She was a delight and pleasure to be around.

The next day I went hiking with three new amigos, two from Australia and an older guy from New Zealand. We hiked about twelve miles, scaling a mountain at about a 4,000 feet change in elevation. I thought that was pretty decent for someone who had not done some decent trekking in awhile. At the top of the mountain, there was a small lodge with about two or three other very small cabins for backpackers to stay in. Next to the small assortment of lodgment, there was a frozen lake that you could ice skate on. The lake was surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. The scenery was vast and some of the most beautiful my eyes have ever seen. I sat there in awe of God’s creation. I was able to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate next to a Benjamin-Franklin oven stove that reminded of some scene out of an old-western movie. I had a pleasurable conversation with an Argentinean couple from Bariloche. The man was a civil engineer, and he had just started dating his significant other whom he was clearly affectionate towards. It was a moment and experience that made me thankful I had made the climb up the mountain. I felt like I was in a dream like the Patagonia brand commercials on television, but perhaps better yet, it was the reality of such a commercial because I was in the Patagonia. I was climbing. I was trekking. And I am experiencing what Kodak moments are made of thanks to a God who loves and cares for me. If you ever want to get away to a beautiful place, then make sure Bariloche is on your list of destinations.

Incredible in Espanol means Increíble

I just got done speaking with three amazing people by the names of Veronica, Corra, and Jose. They are truly sincere in personality and a delight to be around. They remind me of a modern version of The Three Amigos or The Three Musketeers. I guess that would make me Dartanyan…the new musketeer who joins the team, saves the king, and so forth. Of course, you know that I like to play that guy. Anyway, I have spent the majority of the week with these three people and now new friends. I have had an incredible time with them. It is unbelievable how God works when introducing you to new people in other countries and cultures. Jose is always giving the girls a hard time in that brotherly love sort of manner. They all work together and seem to be very close. I am not close with people in the states in such a manner (meaning I do not have my regular group that I work, socialize, and/or go on vacation with), but I think this is the way relationships are meant to work. We are meant to experience life together. Perhaps this is the loner nature of my personality. For instance, I travel in most of these places in South America alone as a party of one. Maybe that is a realization I need to work on in Auburn…to find my three Amigos or Musketeers. Tonight I am going to grab dinner and hang out with them here in Bariloche because they are leaving tomorrow. This will be our last night to be together as a group of newfound amigos or musketeers. It is amazing how quickly they have come to feel like family.

On this trip I have felt a mixture of mixed feelings…happiness for being in South America (because I am so fortunate), sadness (for people I know that are starving here in South America), overwhelming thankfulness at the incredible hands of a God who loves me, bewilderment in the creation of this beautiful country (Argentina), comfort (from becoming familiar with traveling once again), discomfort (from confusion in new cultures and languages), etc. So from an emotional standpoint, it has been very up and down for me. This is not a bad thing; in fact, that is how I would prefer to experience such a trip in a real and genuine sort of way.

I am posting two clips on this entry. One of the entries is a general and random entry about my day yesterday here in Bariloche. The second is about a moment I had in a church here in town today. When traveling, you might think that you are going to have all this time to write, to read, to settle down, to sleep, or whatever the case may be. I have found that I need to take a day of rest like today (sleeping late, spending time with God, and leisurely walking around) about every fourth day to catch up on rest and just taking it all in. I think this blog is truly a good representation of my personality in its title. I often feel that I have short circuits due to the mental mountains I have climbed to overcome adversity in the past. The thoughts of these podcasts and blog entries are random, racing, and perhaps even ridiculous as its title suggests. Sometimes I feel that I think so much I wear my own mind out.

Today I had a personal moment with the Lord in a gigantic church that reminded me of a church I visited in Gerona, Spain. The stain glass windows were depictions comparable to that of Michelangelo’s David on the ceilings of the Vatican City within the borders of Rome, Italy in terms of the true take-my-breath-away feelings. The church was colossal with similar architecture of classic Catholic architecture of historical Europe. There were some moving pieces of art in the garden in front of the church, and it sat right next to the lake that Bariloche overlooks. Now when I say lake…I mean this is really like a large body of water. It is almost like a small ocean but in the middle of a beautiful mountain range. You have to climb about a hundred stairs to get to our hostel, but the climb is totally worth it once you see the view of this beautiful place. It just blows me away, and this trip blows me away with people I have met and the places I have visited. In this church, I took some time to read the Word and to just “be still.” Like my journal entries and podcasts, I am sometimes so random and racing with my prayers to God that I forget about what I was first praying for in the first place. Today I had a random thought to just be quiet, still, and silent. I needed to just chill, relax, and let God work (meaning to rest my soul and truly provide a moment of peace in a miraculous piece of architecture in the middle of miraculous Patagonia mountain ranges).

I have constantly had John Larson’s (head music minister of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL) song, “Have Your Way” in my head today while walking along the sidewalks of this small mountain town. I think it is an honorable presentation of how our lives should be in terms of God. If you are a believer, God WILL have you no matter where you are. I really think this is how our lives should be if you are a man or woman of God…to give God the chance He deserves to work in your life. As I may or may have not mentioned in a previous blog entry, I was speaking with my mom about coming to Argentina and South America about three years ago in a dream like sort of way. Here I am now keeping a blog and podcast of my adventures, thoughts, and dreams that has obviously come true thanks to the people who have supported me in donation, prayer, and good wishes. God will have His way! The question is: Are you willing to let Him?

You do not have to travel around the world to release from the pressures of society. Sometimes all you have to do is look up at the beautiful, blue sky on a day of nice weather or look at the stars on a clear night of glimmering Christmas lights (meaning a starlit sky on a dark clear night). I enjoy being unplugged and away….perhaps more than my family would like me to, but it is SO nice not to have something due the next day or some other responsibility pressing at your attention.

Again, I know these entries are random, but at the same time, I feel that an entry such as this is meaningful and worth a moment of time to perhaps note.

Please listen to the details of my wonderful visit in one of the most beautiful churches and cities I have ever been to thus far in my brief lifetime.

Click here to hear about one of my days in this incredible city of BARILOCHE!

Click here to hear about one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL churches I ever visited with a God size experience!

Newfound lessons in relationship

One thing in my life that I cherish is relationships. I have been reminded of relationships while in Argentina because I am meeting so many people that I do not know how I am going to keep in touch with all of them. I get their contact information in hopes that I will see them soon in South America, in the place I am visiting, or in the case they decide to visit sweet home Alabama. There are some unique occurrences. I thought that if I came halfway across the world I would meet people far different than Americans, and I am in fact meeting people far different than Americans. But I am also meeting many people who have the same mentality, beliefs, and even human behaviors. Maybe I was ignorant in such an expectation. I guess we are all human, and in some regards, that is something we all have in common that will never change no matter how much we encounter different things all over the world.

I was walking down what I would consider the equivalent of Broadway in New York City here in Buenos Aires; well, at least they have four or five huge theaters with play signs almost identical to that of Broadway. I think it would be incredible to go see such a play, but then again I can only do so much while I am here in South America. When I travel, I sleep well, but I also become easily exhausted because I do so much in terms of seeing sites and adjusting to different cultures. While it is so much fun, it is also very exhausting. I saw many plays that were advertised, including Phantom of the Opera, but I have also seen some drama I did not expect to witness and literally be a personal part of. Sometimes I feel that people are susceptible to becoming romantically involved when they are abroad. This includes myself since I am a hopeless and perhaps overly romantic person myself. I have often been compared to the likes of Benjamin Button (in his youthful backward days) and Austin Powers (when he had nice-looking teeth). While we are abroad, we are no longer in the role of the norm. We are no longer in the norm of our routine world. We are in a type of fantasy-world….a vacation of sorts that makes us forget about home, but as the movie quotes, “home is where the heart is.” Some of us are meant to work abroad. Some of us are meant to stay home. I am not claiming to be either because quite frankly do not know where God will have me when I finish at Auburn University. I am just saying it is so easy to get caught up in this international warp because you temporarily forget duties or things back home. Now the place you visit may become your new home. I don’t know. It is kind of like How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Stella got her groove back after she meant an international man of mystery from Jamaica. Things don’t automatically become magical and amazing because you are volunteering abroad. Life is still life, and reality is still reality.

Please do not misinterpret my ramblings, assuming I am not grateful for being able to travel. After this trip, I will have seen more of the world than many Americans back in the States, and so I am very fortunate. When I got back from Europe last year, I was almost disappointed by being back home because I was not country hopping, drinking excellent beer, and having new adventures. I returned to school to sit in a boring old classroom to “communicate” better. I am thankful to be at Auburn, but at the same time, I wanted to stay abroad. Who wouldn’t want to be abroad when you can hear incredible Jazz music in the old dive clubs of Rome or hang out with an old friend in a hostel he helped start and build from the ground up? I mean….go to school or hop around the world? That is an easy choice for me, but the option to do so should not be easily taken for granted or forgotten.

This trip has new meaning because God has been showing me new ways of life through new relationships, and I am here with a mission. I am on a mission to help other people in whatever ways possible. I have found that many people are doing the same in this city and legendary place known as Buenos Aires. If you listen to the clip below, you will know and begin to understand just what I mean in the words that I say.

NEW FRIENDS AND GOOD TIMES

Inspiration found in unexpected places....

I have come to realize that inspiration can be found in any corner of any place that you go. Sometimes a mallet must just be smacked on the forehead to truly realize how inspirational life truly is. We are all impacted by other people in different ways. It is just a matter of how and when. I have been rooming my first days in South America with a unique woman from Los Angeles, CA. This clip tells a little bit about a man from whom she has found a wonderful inspiration from. She never planned on seeing a blind American traveling the world in Buenos Aires, but then again inspiration can be found anywhere, even when you least expect it. Sometimes you just have to open your eyes and see it. This may have been the last person she expected to see down here, but she recognized his familiar face and made it a point to say, “Hello.” Listen in and be amazed that there are no coincidences but only amazing opportunities.

CLICK HERE FOR INSPIRATION!

The beginning of my incredible adventure....

I have officially arrived in Buenos Aires. I have been here now for four days, and I am keeping up with my Podcasts just as I promised. This is just a basic description of my journey to Buenos Aires. I was almost late catching my flight in Miami to Lima thanks to American Airlines. That would have significant repercussions on my trip because then I would have missed my flight to Buenos Aires from Lima with another airline carrier known as TACA Peru, which I may not have gotten a refund or rescheduled flight for missing. American Airlines claimed that was not “their problem” or “contractual obligation.” So there should be a word of caution if you are going to fly with them. Expect delays and possible complications.

Anyway, I met some lovely people from Peru on the flights from Atlanta to Miami and then Miami to Lima. I might have one of them show me the city in Lima or possibly go out to eat for some traditional Peruvian food. Listen in, and I think you might be amused with my rush in the airport with a new Peruvian friend, my butchering of the Spanish language, or my exhaustion from traveling for thirty hours.

CLICK HERE FOR PODCAST OF THE BEGINNING CHAPTERS

Want to know some Christ-centered Spanish? Let's save together...

Today I went to Church of the Highlands en Espanol service at the Riverchase Campus in Pelham, Alabama. I did not understand a lot of the Spanish language utilized in the sermon, but it was awesome to once again be immersed in a culture other than my own. Towards the end of my undergraduate career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I went to a Deaf church, and at that point in time, I was unfamiliar with sign language in any element of being close to fluency as I am now. By the time I graduated, I was much more familiar with the language than when I originally started. I could understand main points in the sermon conducted in American Sign Language.

Perhaps the same will occur if and when I get involved in a Spanish speaking service in Auburn. I enjoyed the fellowship because it was evident that this body of believers loved Christ. In recent days, I have had difficulty finding any type of salvation talk in Spanish for English-native speakers to utilize and learn on the Internet. I suppose you could translate word for word a hypothetical conversation you might have with someone, but I personally prefer just asking a native speaker myself. On this post you will find a conversation I had with a member of the church. He was generous enough to give me permission to post this MP3 on my BLOG and my Podcast. If you are seeking to introduce someone to Jesus in the Spanish language, perhaps you will find this sound clip as useful and as exciting as I do. While traveling, I will put the clip on my IPOD to practice such a conversation if it were to take place in real life during my travels in South America.

I leave on Tuesday, and I am so excited I can hardly stand it! While traveling can be tiresome, it can also be relieving when you are on your own time table without the pressures of a chaotic American schedule to follow. I will have the ready, everyday use of my cell phone, and I will update this BLOG regularly. Keeping a journal and/or BLOG is pleasurable for me. I like for people who wish to do so to keep up with me. A BLOG is an excellent way to communicate things that may occur while traveling across a continent.
If you are seeking a good group of people to learn a little Spanish from and go to church with, then please consider the Riverchase campus at Church of the Highlands. They may even invite you to share a picnic with chicken fingers, ice cream, and coke as they did with me today. I did not need to necessarily be accepted as an outsider because as a brother in Christ, I was accepted as is. It was an amazing afternoon and an amazing experience. I also now have a Spanish Bible to share the gospel with as well.

If you would like, click below to hear me butcher the Spanish language as I learn to speak about the salvation of an incredible Savior! You might get a few laughs out of my native English-speaking tongue when I try to roll R’s and obviously can’t (at least not just yet).

!CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

Alive finally....

I went on a mission trip to the Bahamas over spring break. I am currently trying to learn how to design, code, and maintain a website on the GoDaddy server. I must say that all this website jargon is a challenge for me. Something that would be easy for a Computer Science major suddenly becomes very difficult when in fact it probably isn’t so much.

This is a test sound file to see if I can get this up and running for my mission work this summer. I am trying to implement a Podcast and RSS Feed into this blog. Even though not too difficult, it has been difficult for me. This is a narration of a Bahamas clip that I did. It is serving as a test file just to get this thing working.

The first official feed sound file

A resolution that will not fail...

I often wonder why people make New Year’s resolutions. I think they do so only so they can break them. What many people don’t realize is that change comes from the inside out, not the outside in. You must change yourself on the inside before you can change things on the exterior. This may sound deep, but I think it comes to a matter of being spiritually at peace.

Someone recently told me the following quote: "Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or difficult work. It means to be in the midst of all these things yet be calm in your heart." Whoever said the quote is unknown to me, but I found the words to be awe-inspiring. How incredible would it be in the midst of a storm yet to be impenetrable at the same time? We all know of a few individuals that come to mind when I ask such a question. I think the solidity of peace in a storm comes in knowing where you seek to find such solidity. Typically, for the people I consider strong in this regard, they have amazing relationships with God. Do not easily assume that these individuals do not experience dissonance at some point. We all do because we are all human, but these exemplified followers of God choose God first. It sounds quite simple but at the same time can be quite complex. I do not typically think of God as the solution to all my problems all the time, and if you pray to God, I do not think he will resolve everything immediately. But I do think you will experience a peace in the form of a gentle whisper. “Be still and know that I am God.” We, as Christians, are not meant to play God, and when we do, what usually happens? We screw up, and things go awry.

For much of my twenty-six years on this planet, I have been chasing things of temporary satisfaction. Temporal feelings are often revolved around the chase of my latest crush. If you read the previous entry, you will notice the frustration that exists in my recent attempts to woo. My advice, although I often do not live it out myself, is to let God do the wooing. As a follower, just do the seeking of Him, and things will typically work out the way they are supposed to. If God does not exist in the relationship you hope to have with a significant other, then you are in for a long ride. I just got out of a relationship that was spiraling out of control in all aspects. I was attempting to find God, but I am not sure the efforts were in the form of a duo. In other words, both individuals must be chasing after God with all their might to find balance, peace, and solidity in the hard times, in the storms, and in the midst of adversity. In my case, the distance was “too much,” and in my limited perspective, attention was not given entirely to Things of Above. So, naturally, the relationship was doomed in the beginning with a rough starting line. And when the distance became “too much,” what was I left with? Both my hands up in the air and shrugged shoulders, wondering what happened, is what I was left with, but the reminder that He is Lord and that He is the Way to success was much needed. And in that aspect, perhaps a failed relationship was worth the reminder that this is what it is all about.

And so I have come to a resolution that is simple. I want to come to God when frustrated feelings come my way. I want to be solidified in the storm because I know the Spirit has given me Peace with what I am about to face. I want to look up more than I look down, and now that my head is above the water without clouded judgment of physicality, hurt feelings, and unfounded arguments, perhaps on bended knee, I will pray. My perspective is resolved because I am reminded that one source, that one power, that one person can remain calm in the eye of a storm. That is in the second where I breathe, sit still, and realize God has control over my life and the insignificant details that I waste time worrying about. My resolution is to come to God more often than times that I don’t. I will come to God instead of solving matters with my own efforts. I will seek peace in His Spirit so that like the individuals mentioned before, I will stand the test when the next storm comes. I will not fall into the traps of unproductive, unfruitful relationships. I will become more because with God I am more. So here it is…follow God, and everything else will fall by the waist side. That is my resolution: change on the inside and then as a result change will come on the outside as well.