Ok well I last updated you all on Thursday so I figured it was time to do another one. There has been no major events to really talk about other than celebrating the birthday of the Stucky's youngest daughter Anabel on Friday She turned ten, a major milestone for her as she reached double digits.
There continues to be construction going on at the school as the keep expanding to accommodate the growing school population and make plans for a library and expanding into high school. Currently the school only goes through 9th grade which here is part of junior high. Come to think of it I should take some pictures of the construction and post them so you can see the difference in the type and style of construction that goes on here. Because the temperature does not very to the same degree as it does in places like, well Omaha they do not use insulation of any kind in the walls, glass, if they have any at all, in the windows is pretty thin, and they use the slate tile roofs. Most of the walls are built with many holes in the to allow for ventilation because their biggest concern is the breeze to keep the heat at bay. So, at the school they are getting ready to put the ceiling beams in place so they can pour the new roof over the library and a new classroom.
In other news I have officially been here for three weeks. It is not the longest I have been anywhere or anything like that, but it seems strange still for some reason. In all the places I have been and traveled to, in some cases for months, for the first time I really feel out of place here. I am here to see, and experience what it is to be a missionary over a longer period than my 2 weeks experience back in 2005 allowed. And well I guess I have met that mark a little. Because the language and cultural barriers have just now started to hit me. No, I didn't speak Portuguese before or anything, but now it is starting to really feel like a handicap by not speaking the language. I can't explain why up until now it didn't feel like so much of a barrier, but I am really starting to feel how little I can do with out the help of someone else along, and the feeling of being a drain on the resources and time of the missionaries I am staying with might actually be hindering their ministry. While they would never say that even if I asked I have to wonder what else they could be doing or accomplish if they didn't have to translate for me or walk me through the process of simple things like buying groceries because I can not read the packaging, or answering all the questions I have about the culture and reasons for why things are done a certain way. While this is normal and expected of new comers to the field, where generally they take a year of language school before hitting the field, I still wonder if this experience for me is causing a soul that could have been saved to be lost because they are spending that time with me. I don't know just the ramblings of my mind as I sat yesterday morning and pondered on my experience here over a three week period.
I pray that each of you is doing well, and the warmer temperature in the States spelling the begining of Spring is bringing joy to you.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.JPG)
2 comments:
Just thought I'd let you know that the "warmer weather" you referred to is, here in CO, non existent. We are in the middle of a winter storm warning, & have several inches of snow. : ) Praying for you as you serve, grow, & learn.
Don't worry about it, but also try to lean on them less. It is the only way you learn. In fact, having you there not speaking the language is probably getting them more attention, because people that may not have originally came will come just to meet you as they are so excited that you care enough to be there and learn!! :)
Post a Comment