It's all about Relationship
We arrived in San Jose a week ago after getting travel approval the afternoon before our departure. Do you ever feel like God waits until the very last minute to "act"? Personally, I think it's an exercise to strengthen our faith.
There are 11 of us studying Latin American culture and learning Spanish--4 couples and three singles. What an awesome and diverse group of people! It didn't take long for them to become our extended family. (Many of them share names of Mike's family even--we have: Jonathan, Zach, Denise, Emma, Chad and Leah! Not named in any order of importance--just went from furthest apartment to closest!) We spent the first few days in orientation--getting to know the area, shopping for food and other essentials, finding the nearest Taco Bell... All the important stuff. (Just kidding about the Taco Bell. But there is a KFC and Pizza Hut within walking distance!)
This week started with our multi-culture classroom work--learning about cross cultural communication and understanding some of our own cultural issues. Even though I've been on several short term missions trips and believed I understood cultural differences, it's great to have a refresher! Being in a place for 10 days at a time is a lot different than living it day-to-day. We're learning how to be effective when we get to our assigned countries.
One thought has occupied my mind over the past few months--RELATIONSHIP. I wrote a little about it in my last post. There is no question that people around me have impacted my life and shaped the decisions I've made. They've molded me into the person I am. Were I am is not something I have achieved on my own. To the contrary, I needed someone else to act in order to be where I am today. More importantly, they were willing to give of themselves to me.
God, at the core, created us for and desires relationship. In order to demonstrate His love to others, we must first know it and trust it ourselves.
There are 11 of us studying Latin American culture and learning Spanish--4 couples and three singles. What an awesome and diverse group of people! It didn't take long for them to become our extended family. (Many of them share names of Mike's family even--we have: Jonathan, Zach, Denise, Emma, Chad and Leah! Not named in any order of importance--just went from furthest apartment to closest!) We spent the first few days in orientation--getting to know the area, shopping for food and other essentials, finding the nearest Taco Bell... All the important stuff. (Just kidding about the Taco Bell. But there is a KFC and Pizza Hut within walking distance!)
This week started with our multi-culture classroom work--learning about cross cultural communication and understanding some of our own cultural issues. Even though I've been on several short term missions trips and believed I understood cultural differences, it's great to have a refresher! Being in a place for 10 days at a time is a lot different than living it day-to-day. We're learning how to be effective when we get to our assigned countries.
One thought has occupied my mind over the past few months--RELATIONSHIP. I wrote a little about it in my last post. There is no question that people around me have impacted my life and shaped the decisions I've made. They've molded me into the person I am. Were I am is not something I have achieved on my own. To the contrary, I needed someone else to act in order to be where I am today. More importantly, they were willing to give of themselves to me.
God, at the core, created us for and desires relationship. In order to demonstrate His love to others, we must first know it and trust it ourselves.
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