I Love...

I love my friends...
I love Venezuela...
I love where I am...
I love where I have been...


And in all things, that's just enough :)

"Every day you're not in love 

is a day you never live..." 

-cml-

Todo Politica

October 7th - Venezuelan Election Day - 2 weeks from Sunday

Rest assured... I will not be around for it.

That Friday I will be hopping a flight down to the Chilean Patagonia to trek the W Trail in Terros del Paine...

SO stoked.... A picture of potencial scenary:

Yesterday we had security officers from the embassy come to talk to our school. The information was nothing that we hadn't already heard.

The one concern that they express with the election is that it is possible (and they predict) outside communication may be cut off (ie: tv, internet, radio, etc). Although they really can't be sure.

They do expect crime could increase and the city's normal functioning could be cut off. Usually, this lasts 72 hours, and then things come back to normal. Luckily, we will be gone for all of that, so there's no need to worry! If there are any major problems, we have sister schools in other South American countries, but really... They're not expecting this, but it's better to be prepared than not :)

Propaganda is DEFINITELY very prevalent... Walking home from church, we walked through a parade... There are always marches - signs - music - etc. In our neighborhood, however, it's VERY minimal. We live in a great part of town, so if we stay around home, I don't imagine much will be going on. It's in the city center where most of the political action takes places, and it's easily avoidable.

Here's my roomies' hombre de la casa.... whom we bought from a street vendor... He yells at us.

....Propaganda, Propaganda, Everywhere, Everywhere....

Learning to be Light

As I sit on my back patio watching the storm hover over the mountains, I think, "Ah.....Lovely."

Friday we had Fusion with the high school kids, which started with a mini soccer tournament. HOW FUN!

On Saturday I went back to the Avila with some friends. This time we found the waterfall. Casey and I used the roots to climb up to the top where we found a cave... and a private photo shoot of dudes laying on the rocks with the waterfall crashing on top of them in their tighty whiteys.... It was full of aw... AWESOME....AWKWARD.

My mind is thinking in Spanish these days. I'm learning much and am excited to see how I will progress within the year. I accidently started talking only Spanish to my roommate who doesn't know a lot of Spanish yet, thinking entirely that I was speaking the correct language. This doesn't happen on a normal basis, as we live and teach in English, but on weekends when I'm around Venezuelans more, Spanish it is :)

My class has been lovely. Every other Friday, we have chapel with the entire elementary school, so on Fridays that we do not, our class will do some sort of service project. This week, we spent time thinking about and praying for every teacher and worker in our school. The kids then found Bible verses that they wanted to give to each person, and we collected candy as well to pass out to everyone. At the end of the day, I found this on my desk.

Mira...

Pictures from the week-ish...

La Concha Acustica.... where everyone goes to run laterals across this rarely used amphitheater... kinda weird at first, but I guess you get used to it.

An unwanted visitor....

Mexican Night with some neighbors... All of the roommates put on a feast, and we're pretty talented, if I may say so myself....

Our maintenance worker from school came to our house on Saturday to share a Colombian meal...  He brought the whole family along with the dog....


Colombian Feast....


Quesillo....


Cute Kid Art....


You can pick your friends, but you can't pick the awesome faces your friends will make in photos....


Homemade spaghetti sauce I helped my gluten-free, dairy-free roomie make...


It's been a busy, good time.

Altogether Lovely...

...altogether worthy.
Altogether wonderful.

I am eagerly looking forward to these busy times.


For a Friday evening, I get to be a part of our secondary youth ministry in a group called Fusion. Afterward, I am going to some co-workers'/students' house for dinner, and then babysitting their kids (one of my students) so that they can have a date night.

On Saturday, I will be watching some other co-workers' kids and then our maintenance worker is cooking a Colombian feast for all of us with his wife.

On Sunday, my director's family is having a football party. No, not soccer. American football. Now that I live in Venezuela, I am a part of my first Fantasy Football League. Que silly... :)

I love these people.

I can't say enough how blessed I feel to be able to see so many marriages and families in our community. It fills me with much joy, but more than anything, hope...

EVERY DAY I get to start school with our staff in devotion, prayer, and worship... what JOY fills my soul.

I know what it's like to not understand this sentiment...
I have been the person who criticized, made fun of, and mocked faith/religion/whatever you want to call it...
I did this, because I did not understand.
I did not get it.
I did not have it.

Always, I desired to feel that joy without the commitment.

As much fear as I have had regarding my own future in marriage or family, the truth remains.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  
    and he will establish your plans.      
           - Proverbs 16:3                              

What I know now is this... the joy is in the hope... the joy is in the tribulation... the joy is through prayer.

One day, I asked.
I have received.

I will never be the same.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. -ROMANS 12:12

Morning Blessings...

...must be shared.

I am so blessed that my classroom gets to look like this...

Today, one of my students came to school excited that he got his first Bible.

Living This Life...

What a lovely weekend...

I went hiking with two friends on Saturday. My feet finally touched the view from my window...

La Avila...

Friends with flowers in their hair...

On the ride home on the Metro and bus, Kelsey and I both had the realization: This is our city. We live here. This isn't just a vacation anymore. This is the city we live in.

This morning we attended a Korean church that several of our students attend. They were celebrating their 30 year anniversary and shared a feast with us after the service. Korean food - YUM YUM!!!!!!

 Sweet, sweet girls/neighbors/friends/students/family

 Anniversary Lunch Banquet