In hopes of lightening the mood of my blog world (it's been kinda....serious, lately), I've decided to give you some insight into a few funny and random (and here's hoping entertaining) cultural differences between Peru and the United States.
My source of inspiration has come from my current "roomie" Marta. She is Peruvian (though she has had a lot of experience with silly gringos), and she has been staying with me this month while she is taking a summer course at her university in Arequipa. It's been a lot of fun and very enlightening, to say the least. I've thoroughly enjoyed the company, and as the days go on, there are always little things that continue to surprise me concerning cultural differences.
So here you go, story number one. I'm going to try to narrate it as best as possible. Be on the lookout for future posts about the goings-on of the locas (crazy girls) in the bi-cultural apartment in southern Peru.
The scene: Jesus (our Peruvian friend, not the Christ), Marta, and I are watching some random movie called "All About Steve," with Sandra Bullock. Side note: I do not recommend this movie. I think there were MAYBE two funny parts. Sandy, not your best work.
Anyway, a character in the movie is walking down the sidewalk and puts a quarter into those antique-looking things you then open and take a newspaper out of. You know, very 1993. I can't even remember what they're called....but you know what I mean, I hope.
Marta sees this, sits up, and asks me what this contraption is. I explain that you pay for a newspaper, open the little door-thingy and take it out. She has this look on her face of absolute astonishment. I'm laughing already because I know what's coming next: "Pero solo sacas uno?" "But you only take one?"
"Yes, yes," I reply..."solo uno." She continues in this mode of disbelief and I'm forced to pause the movie. At this point I'm prepared to explain our random North American custom, while also realizing that I've never thought about the point she is about to make.
Marta: "But do people actually take just ONE newspaper????
Me: "Yes...I mean, normal people do. You pay for one, you take one.
Marta: "Yeah, but do people really JUST take one????
Me: "Si pues, chica....why would you want to take more than one?
The million dollar question: "Why would you want to take more than one?" Marta and Jesus are laughing hysterically at this idea of being able to open a box after inserting a coin and taking just ONE newspaper. I'm in awe over their awe. And the explanations ensue.
Reason #1 as to WHY Peruvians would want to take more than one newspaper: Peruvians would insert the coin and take all of the newspapers and go house to house and distribute them to their friends.
Reason #2: Peruvians would take all the newspapers and sell them on the street.
Reason #3: Peruvians would take all the newspapers and use them for "useful things," ie covering the sidewalks when you're painting a building.
Reason #4: Peruvians would take all the newspapers "solo por gusto" ("just because"). “Segun nosotros mas es mejor," says Marta ("according to us, more is better").
There you have it. The top four things Peruvians would do with all the newspapers they can get. Needless to say, this was a very entertaining conversation. More to come, I'm writing things down as they occur due to my faltering memory.
31.1.10
29.1.10
Forgotten love.
"She's forgotten her first love.....He's forgotten that she ever went away and broke His heart."
Just a quick thought as these lyrics of a Third Day song called "Gomer's Theme" echo in my room at this late hour: How many times in this life have I walked away and sought after something that isn't of Christ Jesus? More than I can remember, actually.
I just finished reading Hosea. I love this book--the imagery, the metaphor, the stories woven into it. I can see Hosea walking up, perhaps defiantly, perhaps exuding sadness--nevertheless, he has to pay to retrieve his wife after she has left him.
Christ died on the cross for our sin. Period. It is finished, it is completely paid up.
And yet over the last 15 months I've been brought to my knees in repentance more times than I can count, and that is still not enough. I'm Gomer. I'm Israel...I have a tendency to wander sometimes. I come back home because He has allured me and spoken tenderly to me (chapter2). He reminds me of His grace, of His ever-lasting, never-failing love. And I go home.
One of the things God has taught me a lot about recently is that I'm not perfect. It's one of those truths you always hear, but you have some moments in life where it is hammered into you a bit more; this is one of those moments. I'm not saying I want to wander from God. I'm saying that in my time of questioning, of doubting, of wondering what it is I really believe in, God is faithful to always come after me and remind me of His grandeur. Who He is and who we are to Him. Gomer, Israel...wandering prostitutes and unfaithful lands...But by His promise, a child of the King, a sheep with a shepherd who will always, always come after us.
Hosea 6:3; 14:4-5..............................Redemption. Rain. Grace. Healing.
Just a quick thought as these lyrics of a Third Day song called "Gomer's Theme" echo in my room at this late hour: How many times in this life have I walked away and sought after something that isn't of Christ Jesus? More than I can remember, actually.
I just finished reading Hosea. I love this book--the imagery, the metaphor, the stories woven into it. I can see Hosea walking up, perhaps defiantly, perhaps exuding sadness--nevertheless, he has to pay to retrieve his wife after she has left him.
Christ died on the cross for our sin. Period. It is finished, it is completely paid up.
And yet over the last 15 months I've been brought to my knees in repentance more times than I can count, and that is still not enough. I'm Gomer. I'm Israel...I have a tendency to wander sometimes. I come back home because He has allured me and spoken tenderly to me (chapter2). He reminds me of His grace, of His ever-lasting, never-failing love. And I go home.
One of the things God has taught me a lot about recently is that I'm not perfect. It's one of those truths you always hear, but you have some moments in life where it is hammered into you a bit more; this is one of those moments. I'm not saying I want to wander from God. I'm saying that in my time of questioning, of doubting, of wondering what it is I really believe in, God is faithful to always come after me and remind me of His grandeur. Who He is and who we are to Him. Gomer, Israel...wandering prostitutes and unfaithful lands...But by His promise, a child of the King, a sheep with a shepherd who will always, always come after us.
Hosea 6:3; 14:4-5..............................Redemption. Rain. Grace. Healing.
14.1.10
What goes around
comes around.
Last night I read Psalm 27. It's one of my favorites. I read through it and then looked at what date I had marked next to it: January 2009. Funny how God allows us to come back to something that we read a long time ago; it just goes to show how living and active the Word is.
The last part of the Psalm is what stood out to me on my most recent reading:
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
God has blessed me in such wonderful ways over the past 12 months. When I talk about blessings, keep in mind that at the time, I didn't necessarily recognize them as good things. But in January of 2009 God gave me the promise found in Psalm 27. And in January of 2010, He is reassuring me of the same truth: He is good, all the time, He is good. I know that no matter what comes my way, I'm not alone. His Spirit is here, and He leads me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy.
2010 is going to be exciting. Life in Peru is wrapping up in about seven months, when I will return to the States. The million dollar question that everyone is starting to ask: "What's next??" Answer: I have no idea. Absolutely no idea. Stop asking. :) All I know is that I'll go wherever Christ tells me to go. (For those of you who want a more concrete answer, here is what is floating around in my head: Enrolling in a program for teachers of english as a second language [fairly desirable], grad school of some kind [not that desirable], working in the States at a low end job because I have no other option [this is my least favorite, by the way], coming back to South America for work/ministry purposes [this is my favorite, but who knows].)
Pray with me that my time here is fruitful. That I bear fruit. That God gets the glory in everything. That the life that I've planted here is left with roots founded in Christ, so that others see Him in me.
I do hope your new year has started out beautifully, and that whatever comes your way, you rejoice that God is in control, and that He is good.
Random: I have recently discovered some new music (new to me, at least). Check out Lindsey Kane and Ryan Delmore. Both are incredible musicians.
Last night I read Psalm 27. It's one of my favorites. I read through it and then looked at what date I had marked next to it: January 2009. Funny how God allows us to come back to something that we read a long time ago; it just goes to show how living and active the Word is.
The last part of the Psalm is what stood out to me on my most recent reading:
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
God has blessed me in such wonderful ways over the past 12 months. When I talk about blessings, keep in mind that at the time, I didn't necessarily recognize them as good things. But in January of 2009 God gave me the promise found in Psalm 27. And in January of 2010, He is reassuring me of the same truth: He is good, all the time, He is good. I know that no matter what comes my way, I'm not alone. His Spirit is here, and He leads me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy.
2010 is going to be exciting. Life in Peru is wrapping up in about seven months, when I will return to the States. The million dollar question that everyone is starting to ask: "What's next??" Answer: I have no idea. Absolutely no idea. Stop asking. :) All I know is that I'll go wherever Christ tells me to go. (For those of you who want a more concrete answer, here is what is floating around in my head: Enrolling in a program for teachers of english as a second language [fairly desirable], grad school of some kind [not that desirable], working in the States at a low end job because I have no other option [this is my least favorite, by the way], coming back to South America for work/ministry purposes [this is my favorite, but who knows].)
Pray with me that my time here is fruitful. That I bear fruit. That God gets the glory in everything. That the life that I've planted here is left with roots founded in Christ, so that others see Him in me.
I do hope your new year has started out beautifully, and that whatever comes your way, you rejoice that God is in control, and that He is good.
Random: I have recently discovered some new music (new to me, at least). Check out Lindsey Kane and Ryan Delmore. Both are incredible musicians.
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