YAAAAY!!!

Im so excited about the Women's Conference this weekend!
Carla Borja Lowe is our guest speaker for the conference. The theme is going to be "Las Buenas Nuevas" or the Good News. The conference will take place this Saturday and Sunday. I ,like usual, am in charge of the food for Sundays lunch menu.

The reason I'm out of my head excited is because Carla is MEXICAN!!!!!! She was born in Campeche, Mexico. She lived and studied in Mexico City. She was a missionary in Mexico for a number of years and spent 4 1/2 years in Italy. Shes a lot of fun!
There is finally someone around that speaks my language, that is Mexican spanish. Although spanish is spanish is spanish, certain vocabulary, certain idioms, certain tonations of certain words make all the difference in the message and emotion you want to convey.
I have a certain emotional tie with words. For example "Mande", this world is strickly Mexican. This word is used in different ways in different situations but no matter what the circumstance it always means respect. The word itself comes from the verb "mandar" which is send or command. So when some one calls your name your (or my) initial response is to say "mande?" which translates to "command me" or "at your services." So since they dont say that here in Paraguay, its not natural and at times it confuses people. So I have stopped saying that and in turn makes me feel like Ive become just a little less respectful and a presented with hint of identity loss. Which comes with the territory of living abroad. Every now and then it slips out.
SO, yesterday when Carla got here I called her name and she didnt hear me she said "Mande?" I jumped for joy! I told her that I am so happy that I can say "mande"!! Words and expressions like "guapo" "Que Padre!" "platicar" "hablando al widdy widdy." Mexicans pretty much speak in idioms and expressions. It hilarious and I love it! And she said shes going to cook Méxican food! Using things from the states! Which is a lot closer to what I can get using paraguayan ingredients when I cook Mexican food!
I usually do translating from english to spanish and at times vice versa. Im glad I will get to be Carlas translater for Mexican to Paraguayan spanish and vice versa. I will still have to keep my day job since she won't really need me to survive or anything but it certainly brings a comfort from home.
I also get the priveledge of picking and choosing at times the Ethnicity I want to be. Sometimes I'm Mexican sometimes I'm American and at times im both....or im always both.....and never one or the other.....dont know but its fun!!

Update to come: Womens Seminar!!

Adios!

Snapshots

Here are a couple of things that have been happening recenlty.

Us girls usually get together to do something. This night we chose to go to the movies!! My FAVORITE passtime!! We watched "27 Dresses" I absolutely love the actor James Marsden! It was a real cute and funny chick click. A couple of the guys also got together and watched "Rambo." I have to say that sounds pretty typical, on both guys and girls side. Nevertheless, it was a blast!

Top row: Sarita, Romina, Helena, Alba, Moi, Vickie
Bottom Row: Gina, Brittnea, Ashley and Micah

May 1st is Labor Day in Paraguay. Everyone gets a day off. So we thought to take the youth group out to Ca'acupe, which is about an hour and half from Asuncion. BUT it rainned!!!! It rainned the entire day! So instead a few of us just spent time together. We played games, put a huge puzzle together and then I,like scheduled, cooked for everyone! I made Picadillo, which is just ground meat with potatoes, and mexican rice! So we all watched "Finding Nemo" had some good Mexican food and then had brownies for dessert. Yummo!

Heres Mauri, Ale and Kanchi putting together a pretty big RompeCabezas

VBS time! Micah put together a VBS for kids at an orphanage that is near the church building. The theme was "Jonah and the Big Fish." There were puppet skits, people skits, snack time, crafts, games and a memory verse! I was in charge of snack time. I find joy in preparing food for others! The kids were pretty well behaved.

Chris playing "Simon Dice' or Simon Says with the kids

Enjoying a word find and snacks!

Quince!! We were invited to a "15" birthday party. We got to help decorate some and it was great to spend time in a festive environment with some of our church family.

Moi and little Luana blowing up some balloons

Fun times! Thanks for reading! Its been fun writing!!
Chaucito ;)

Piano Time!!

The Yegros are such a great family and they have been kind enough to let Micah live with them and let me come over when ever I want. Which I do......often.

Helena and Mauri the youngest of 5 Yegro children and are the piano savy kids of the bunch. When I saw their digital paino placed along the wall in the living room, I instantly had to turn it on. I did play the piano when I was little, along with the trumpet and the viola, in elementry and middle school. Mauri and Helena have been nice and patient enough to begin teaching me how to play the piano.Im learning to read notes and can play only a couple of Coldplay songs. I promised myself that during my internship I would learn to do something. Whether a language, how to sew, read minds, learn an instrument and or anything thats an acquired skill. And so here it is. I am learning to play the piano! It brings an immense joy into into my life!

Luckily I can plug headphones into the piano so everyone doesn't have to hear me painfully hit the wrong keys as I learn to play it correctly. But VOILA! When the headphones are unplugged, I sound like a concert Pianist!!!!

I might be exaggerating but I wanted to share how I spend my moments when I'm not at the church building or at an event :)

Hasta Luego!

Lets Celebrate!

We had two Baptisms this month. Gustavo and Dustin have become out new brothers in Christ. The both were baptized in the same week. Gustavo and Enoch had been studying for some time. Dustin was new to our church but had congragated at others churches before hand. A few weeks later we had a "New Members" luncheon and we prayed over them and welcomed them into our church and the Body of Christ.

Gustavo is a friend of Enochs Fianceé

Dustin is an english student that studied with Perry.

This year, as interns, Micah and I had the privledge of being a part of the Team Banquet. It was a night full of laugter! It was a time to relfect on the past year. We shared stories and gave each other gag gifts. Micah and I got certificates. I got the "Plummed Out" award. I once had about 15 plums in the span of just a couple of days. And then I got terribly ill. The doctor said it was the water. Everyone else says its from the "30" plums I ate "in one day." So I currently only drink bottled water. My contribution to the night were funny things my english students said. We dressed up and had a very nice dinner.

Vickie , Me, Brittnea Laura (Enochs Fianceé) , Micah , Chris (Vickies Husband) Ashley, Alba (Perry's girlfriend), Perry

Not pictured Ethan* Ashleys husband. He was at home taking care of sick little Ella. Oh and Enoch must have been the one taking the pictures. ;)

Our English course has currently ended and so had a celebration to commemorate their work. These students attended every classes and did well in their english improvement. We called it a graduation. We handed out certificates, we called their names from the pulpit, they came up and we took pictures on stage. After all the certificates were handed out we ate some delicious fingers foods. It was great! Its the one time I get to stand at the pulpit and speak. ;)

Chris addressing and congratulating the students

Brittnea and Demetria Chris and his English student RosaEnjoying some "bocaditos" "Nice to meet you"

Claudia and I

Some of my students have decided to continue with their english classes in which case we will focus more on using the bible studies instead of bible stories.
Please pray that the Holy Spirit guide me in reaching my students.
Thanks for reading and all your support!

Nos vemos muy pronto!

Election Day = Don't Leave Your House

April 20th, this weekend, is Election Day here in Paraguay. Every one is pretty concerned for the possible riots. We all have been instructed not be out after dark on Saturday, Sunday (especially) and Monday. The Government is pretty corrupt here and everyone knows it.
There is no question if there will be some type of uproar, the questions are, "How bad will it get?" and "Do I live far enough away?"
I cant say I'm politically inclined so I dont really know all the details of all the Party members. What I do know is: Blanca is the candidate for the Colorado party. The Colorado party controls all the Military and Governmental votes. Lino is a Ex-President who was in exile after being accused of helping assassinate his own former Vice President. Theres Lugo, which i don't know much about. Lastly, Fadul, who would ACTUALLY rule justly, but he doesnt have enough money and he simply isnt high enough in power to win over the majority. He's really the only one who has a well sought out plan to better Paraguay. The Colorado Party has been in power the last 60 years so its pretty much a given she is going to win. She has and insane amount of money, her party already controls the government and its just fact really.
Its funny, I think I know more about whats going on with the elections here in Paraguay than I do in my own country. But in the United States I would never have to worry if the Super Market down the street will get looted because someone didnt agree with who won.
We have cancelled our Saturday night activities and plan to go home and stay hom after Church service. Many of the members have made prayer requests on behalf of their country. This is where they live, this is their future, this is the country they will be burried in. Christians have a hard enough time living amongst the world, try living under communism or a dictatorship. At least here we have freedom in religion. Yes we might have to cancel some events or get home early but were ARE here doing missionary work.
So I dont know what it is that I am supposed to do in situations like these. I have never been confronted with the reality of communal political danger.
Dont be too concerned. Its bark is worse than its bite. Im sure by tuesday everyone will go back to their daily lives and not experience til later the changes and effect of the change, or no change, in goverment direction.

Are you Paraguayan? Are you American? Do you speak English? Do you speak Spanish?

These are questions I am asked very frequently, in which I answer:
"No, yes/no, yes and yes. I am not Paraguayan. I am not strictly American nor am I strictly Mexican. I am Mexican-American. I was born and raised in the United States but my parents are from Mexico. I learned spanish at home growing up with parents who didnt speak english during my early childhood. Since I have lived my whole life in the United States, I speak 'perfect' english."
Most of the reactions are:
If they dont know I am from the States they simply speak to me in spanish and are pleasently surprised and a tad confused when they learn Im from the US.
When they learn im from the States only speak to me in english. When they learn I speak spanish, they are again surprised and begin speaking to me in spanish. Some stick to speaking to me in english.
If people hear me speak both languages without really knowing me they ask "Are you Paraguayan?", my explanation, then "AH yes I see." or in Spanish "Ha bien, ya veo." or "Do you have latin blood?" I answer "Yes, Mexican" then they say "Ah your Spanish is perfect! You speak very well.", in which I answer "Thanks, you too ;)"
There have been rare cases where people dont believe I can speak Spanish, even though they have heard me speak it, so they only speak to me in English and or "try" to speak to me in English.
There are Paraguayans that only speak to me in English. Even if I speak to them in Spanish. Those cases are usually people wanting to practice their English. A couple times when people meet me and learn im from the states, they will ask the missionary(that introduced me) in spanish questions about me. "What is her name?" "When did she get here?" Then I answer and they are very surprised. And vice versa. When people are told that I work for the church, those who can speak english, will ask about me in english while I'm standing right next to them. So I answer and we will all have a great laugh.
I get comments like "You dont look American." "Oh, I thought you were Paraguayan." "Im sorry Im confused. Where are you from?" "But you were born in the United States. THEREFORE you are American." "Oh cool! You're bicultural!"
Im often asked: "So how did you learn english/spanish?" "Can you cook Mexican food?" "Do you visit Mexico often?" "Do you have family in Mexico?" "Do your parents speak english?" "Youre Mexican but you've never lived there?" School/family. I spoke Spanish first and learned English in school. Yes I can cook Mexican food and I'm a GREAT cook." "Yes I visit Mexico once or twice each year." "Most of my family lives in Mexico." "My mother has no problems with english and my father does not speak english."
I really enjoy having that element of surprise! It makes meeting people exciting!

So theres an idea of "what its like" to be Latin American living in Latin America country yet learning and teaching different aspect of that classification.

Thank for reading!!

Interesting Facts

According to me from my experience so far.


1) Ive fallen in love with American mustard. Yes, I like it at home and I perfer it over mayonaise but here i have bought 4 bottles of it from the "Imported Product Stand." Im hoping it will last the whole time im here. And if it doesnt i think i can just go buy some because there is ike 10 bottles left and I think im the only one in Asuncion that is purchasing them.

2) The "r's" here are pronounced the "r's" like the "American" "r" at the end of words.

3) People here in Paraguay dont really go to the movies. A movie ticket is as much as a meal. 20.000 about almost $5. Which is rather unfortunate since I am a huge movie fan.


4) I learned I dont really like Ice Cream. Dont get me wrong the Ice Cream is amazing here and everyone loves it. A lot of the times people go out for ice cream, so I just enjoy the sight of everyone enjoying their beloved ice cream.


5) Everyone EVERYONE drinks Tereré. Its mate but cold.


6) When it rains, every street floods. There arent very many drainage ditches.

7) You can go to the sallon for people to "comb" your hair. Yes. People can walk in with their hair wet from the shower and you their hair combed. Meaning blow dried and or straightened.


8) The Dollar is going down. I got here and it was 4,600 to a dollar and now its 4,300. The currency is called 'Guarani' and add an 'es' to make it plural.

9) McDonalds Delivers.


10) If you buy American candy in the imported aisle, it costs 3 times as much! For example: a pack of Reese's peanut butter cups (2). It costs about $1.50! But we buy it anyways because we love it!

Thanks for reading!
;)