Textbooks, Pancakes, and Shoes

I have had three recent financial dilemmas.

One was resolved the other night. Well, actually it was resolved a long time ago. Way back when I decided that education was important and worth investing money and time into. That would be about 4 years ago. It’s hard to believe that it’s been that long since I was looking at colleges, and making that “big step”. So the other night, when I had to purchase textbooks for the spring semester of my senior year, I could lay out the "plata". I don’t like the tune of $192, but it’s really quite low as far as textbook prices go. I’m sharing books with friends, and one class doesn’t even require a text. Ceramics. I can’t wait for that class- to feel the silky, sometimes obstinate clay beneath my fingers. I know that my obsession with the stuff will require long hours of my day- hours that I don’t really have. But I’m taking the class with one of my dearest friends, who happens to also be my roommate. So, when I typed in my credit card information to somehow magically transfer funds to the people who have the books, I had faith that they would arrive, and that the knowledge I will gain from these texts will be worth my investment. Dilemma number one: solved.

The next dilemma was on a much smaller scale. My recipe for pancakes called for 4 cups of rolled oats (I was doubling the recipe for a group of friends), and 4 cups of yogurt or buttermilk to soak them in. My yogurt is too precious to put 4 cups of it INSIDE pancakes. On top, perhaps. But not hidden inside all that gooey doughey-ness of delightful cakes. So, I cheated. I only put 1 cup of yogurt, then I put 2 cups of milk (of less value than yogurt, because I spent time on making the yogurt), and thinned it out with 1 cup of water. I don’t think anyone could even tell the difference! These pancakes are delicious, and hearty- so, I don’t think my frugality was too much of an issue.

My upcoming dilemma is yet unresolved. So, you see, I don’t like having lots of pairs of shoes. I feel that my society puts a lot of pressure on me to have the right footwear, though, so I recently caved in and bought a pair of $30 pumps that I plan to wear to a graduate school interview (if I ever get one…). I was okay with purchasing those, because, like the textbooks, they are an investment in my future education. But there’s another pair of shoes that I feel like I “need” to buy. You see, I have a pair of flats that I bought for $3 a few years ago, and I wore them a lot. They are tan, and I wore them with just about every outfit.

I took them to Africa with me. Constant contact with the soil was a bit much for them, and so the cobbler at the corner of Kabalagala and Zzimwe streets stitched them up for me- almost as good as new.
So I brought them home again (nearly 2 years ago), and I’ve been wearing them ever since. Or rather, I was wearing them. Until my roommate threw them in the trash, telling me that they are not healthy for my feet. I pulled them out of the trash. But then it became too cold to wear shoes that have dime-sized holes in the bottom, so they are simply languishing in a drawer.

I have one other pair of flats- but they are basically moccasins (fake moccasins, not to be confused with the real moccasins that I made out of deer hide). The cost of these flimsy shoes was $20. And they weren’t worth it. They wore thin very quickly. Nothing like those $3 flats. And I have 2 other pairs of shoes that I wear during the winter- one is a pair of pink boots from a friend who now lives in TX and doesn’t need them any more. The other pair is a pair of brown clogs. And I shuffle when I wear them. A man at work asked me to stop shuffling. And then, guess who, my roommate also asked me to stop shuffling. She reminded me that my feet are important, and I should take care of them. Yes, I should, but I spent money on these clogs. I feel guilty not wearing them. So now, I think that I want to invest in Toms. It sounds like a good idea- if I buy a pair for myself, a pair will also be sent to a child in need. They can be worn with many different outfits, and they’re pretty trendy right now. But I don’t know if I want to give in to the trend. This will take a few more days of consideration…

Thoughts on a Snowy Day

My heart is thankful. Overwhelmed. Comfortable. Confused. I weep for those that I have met that live in poverty, those who don't know where there next meal is coming from. It is difficult to not be overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation. In order to not be overwhelmed, I focus on living graciously.

I am excited to be leading a trip back to Bolivia this summer, excited to return to the small community in the Andes Mountains. But I'm nervous too- nervous that I won't truly be making a difference in their lives, nervous that some logistical issue won't work out.

My words are stunted. I don't really know why I'm blogging today, because I don't really have thoughts on my heart that words can express. These are more just feelings, and thoughts of those who don't have a warm home they can curl up in when it snows outside.

journey home...

Often, I forget that "the ordinary" is also incredible. Since I posted last, I've come home from Bolivia, spent the summer working at an urban farm in Harrisburg while living at my parent's farm, and moved back to Messiah College for my final year. I joined a new ResLife staff, completed 2 half marathons, deepened friendships, and enjoyed cooking for myself, my roommate, and many other friends. In general, I've really been enjoying my senior year. Although classes require work, I really do love learning, and I find the topics interesting.
The semester came to a close, and now I have had a few days to reflect. My most recent journey has been a short one physically, as I came home for Christmas break. Home is a mile away from where it used to be, but still within the same incredibly tight-knit community and family. I have spent at least 2 hours each of the past 4 days out on the pond, ice skating with various friends and family. These moments of life are precious. My nearly 5 year old niece is absolutely enchanting, and slips across the ice in her double-bladed skates. I love being with her, and observing her constant curiosity about the world.
To be honest, sometimes it feels strange to be home. I'm not the same as the young girl who grew up here. I have changed since I've been at college. I believe a lot of that change is positive, but I have to figure out how the "new me" interfaces with this place I call home and these people that form my community.

Love... what about it?

So tonight our team devotional was about love. How does that play out in a cross cultural situation? How do I demonstrate love to people around me when I don´t know them or much about where they come from? One way, a very significant one, is to listen to their stories. And to remember, as I am listening, that God has created their story in a very specific and creative way, and he has great designs for their life. I love to hear how He is working in so many lives...
How is he working in mine? In so many ways, although I haven´t yet found specific words or stories to demonstrate the depth of what he is teaching me. I feel like a lot of it is subconscious this time. I feel very comfortable here, in this beautiful country of Bolivia. Other than missing people, especially my family, I really could go on living here indefinitely.
Being here in Cochabamba has been a marvelous experience. Praise Jesus that Josiah, the eldest Lindquist son, is rapidly improving after his surgery a week ago. Continue to pray for rapid recovery.
John, Emily, and I have been getting to know each other really well this past week, and have especially enjoyed our British team member: Ed. We have great fun laughing at one another´s idioms, and learning about Bolivian culture through his eyes. He is a wonderful man of God who was willing to leave his beloved wife and daughter for a week to fill in here as our supervisor due to the extra "excitement" within the Lindquist family. Other members of our research team include Chris Putnam, a Messiah alum, and Jose (or Pepe), our jefe (boss). He is wonderful- keeps us on track, does a great job of representing FH well within the community, and keeps us laughing at lunch. A random fact about him is that he likes to top his favorite bolivian dish of potatoes, meat, etc. with his special salsa- a concoction of ketchup, mayonaise, oil, salt, mustard, and... COCA COLA!!! That´s right... he didn´t ask Emily and I for a nutritional analysis of that one!
Every day this week we have collected between 42 and 62 boxes of 5 vials of water each from various sources in the periurban community of Uspha Uspha. These sources include 50 gallon drums outside of homes, from drinking water, and directly from the filter that we are studying. Each of these vials must be placed on a shelf where we wait anxiously to see if it changes color, indicating the presence of fecal bacteria. Let´s just say that when we empty these vials in preparation for the following day, we have a fan running and all possible windows and doors are open! We have been learning about doing chemistry outside the lab, in the real world.
Pray that we will continue to show love to those around us...
Thanks to every one of you who has taken time to read this. I'm heading off to bed now!

A Fantastic Week

A few simple sentences can never explain a cross cultural experience. There are too many moments of learning, too many wonderful people that I have met.
To share a quick highlight: meeting my sponsored child, Ayde. She is 11 years old, and SUCH a sweetheart. I sat in her courtyard, watched her show off her wool spinning skills on a drop spindle, looked through her school notebooks, showed her pictures of my family, and was invited into the house for a great conversation with her mother and the rest of the family. The following day I was able to join her family out in the field to harvest potatoes for a part of the afternoon.
My Spanish skills were put to a lot of use, and my vocabulary has definitely expanded. The landscape around Rodeo is GORGEOUS. We got some mountain climbing in!
I am here in Sucre for a few days, and will be in La Paz for Saturday and Sunday, until I leave for Cochabamba. Please pray for the Lindquist family, as they just found out that their son has a brain tumor. Surgery is happening here in Bolivia tonight at 8:00. All of your prayers are very much coveted. To reduce the strain on the family John, Emily, and I will be staying at a guest house rather than with the Lindquists, but will still be interacting with them. Pray that we can be a blessing to them in this time of great sorrow.
I will write more as I get the chance. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Here I Am!

I am currently in Sucre, leaving for Rodeo early tomorrow morning.
We had a great orientation at the FH Sucre office today, and I am very excited to fall in love with the children of Rodeo...
Travel was fairly uneventful, and although the high altitude was definitely felt, it hasn´t caused any serious problems thus far.
Thanks, my friends.

Me Voy!

In just a few minutes, I will be leaving my home and traveling south. I didn't budget enough time to write... so this is just to let you know that I will be gone for the next four weeks. I hope to blog some while I am there, and I will definitely post pictures and such when I return. Pray for a heart that is open, and hands that are constantly willing to serve. Thank you for your support!