¿Gracie Bluesie?

Beauty in imperfection.

2008-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

The seeming obsession with perfection that I see in Bend is nonexistant here. Let me explain. In Bend, most people have a perfect house, with square corners, a tidy floorplan, pier one pillows on the relatively new and plush couch, spanking clean tilework and perfect edging on thier paint jobs. There´s a neat and orderly yard, with trimmed grass, a smooth walkway, flowerbeds, and if you venture up to the butte and take a gander at some of the million-dollar houses you will see incredible.... oh i seriously can not think of the word right now! But im talking about yards and water features that belong outside a five star hotel. Oh yes, landscape design. I have not used that word in a long time!
In Quito, and most of Ecuador for that matter, the cement block buildings are dirty, well used, painted in a variety of bright colors, highly utilitarian, and, above all, imperfect. The bathrooms are replete with hanging wires, and exposed plumbing, and the standard in paint jobs is that if the paint didnt ´splash too much on the floor or ceiling, then its passable. Aside from the apartment buildings, high rises, and some houses, I sometimes wonder if levels exist here. I also am stunned at the rapid pace with which the ladies trot along the crumbling, uneven sidewalks in heels. Stilettos sometimes...
Have you ever heard someone describe a place as "sterile"? (not to be confused with germs....) Meaning that its so new and perfect that it has no character? This is how I feel about many of the places in Bend. A feeling that nothing really interesting has happened there, that its so perfect that it makes the people themselves look sloppy.
I have yet to encounter a so-called "sterile" place in Quito. However, the beauty of a family with lovely children walking down a street past a pile of garbage and a stained wall topped with shards of broken glass to keep out robbers, is startling. Here, the people stand out. The arquitecture is of negligible importance. A woman would rather be neat as a pin, looking sharp and smelling good, than have a perfect yard... if she was fortunate enough to live in a house with a yard, that is. If there´s food cooking in the kitchen, and the family is content, that is more important than having all the latest appliences, and marble counters, with dishes that complement the paint in the dining room, and a state of the art stove.
I am not saying that there is no materialism here. It is just a different kind. However, I like the feeling that the people here are not as pressured, in general, to keep up the appearance of their houses to an extent that causes neglect of the more important things in life, and also, that they are not afraid to use things that are old. Things have a long life, and I think that many times, we dispose of perfectly good items well before their expiration date.

Ahem... futbol ect

2008-09-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

I went to an amazing partido de futbol yesterday, and it was an experience to remember! I am doing great, getting a lot more adjusted to life here, and i wish i could upload some more pictures, but for some reason, my computer is not letting me upload! Arrgh. Ecuador won the game, and everyone was happy. However, i heard enough bad language in Spanish to last me a while.... I have a Kichwa test tomorrow... if you read this post, pray that i will be able to remember all my stuff! Ñukaka Gracemi kani.... kikinka? ñukaka Bendmantami kani. Mana unkushkachu kani. Kampa yuyaypika, Mollyka alliallimi kan? He heeeee. betcha nobody knew what that meant. Ari. Nadie. Peace out, i will try to post pics later.

Quito Ecuador

2008-08-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

This is a very small part of a very large city.

If you go over to the right of the mountain and down into the houses, that is approximately where I live! Until December 20, that is. I have been trying to get used to the pollution, noise, and traffic, and so far I have not come too close to getting run over... well, lets just say that I'm glad my mom is not here to see me cross streets! I am studying at PUCE also known as La Catolica, and the first couple weeks of classes have been crazy!! I think that my final schedule is Quichua, Spanish, the Ecuadorian Amazon, and Ceramics. I woke up this morning thinking about what a pain it is to have to juggle things around and not know my schedule, and how hard it is to be so different from the Ecuadorian girls, and how I really don´t know what on earth I am even doing here! My Spanish seems worse than ever, but I think that is only because more is being required of it, and I have un poquito del gripe. A runny nose and sore throat. But that is all a part of culture shock, I think, which comes in waves. It's possible for me to be on top of the world, confident with Spanish, talkative and happy, in the morning, and then lonely and confused at lunchtime, and this can happen a few more times in the course of one day! It's interesting, to be sure. I have a student ID card now, which made me very happy for a while, and I'm in the process of registering my visa and getting my Cedula, or Ecuadorian ID card. After that, the paperwork will be at an all time low! Yay for no màs papers to fill out! Today we went to a museum with my Spanish class, and it was great. A very powerful depiction of the revolucion of Quito, and the fight against the Spanish colonization. However, I was reeeeaaallly tired afterward, and felt like I could just not absorb any more information, and no more Spanish please! I talked with the director of the choir today, and he said I could sing with them! Yay. I really feel like i need an outlet. It doesn't seem like there is anywhere in this city to be alone that is not dangerous, and sometimes I just want to yell really loud, or sing at the top of my lungs, or run in circles, or something, but I don´t want the attention that such behaviour would draw.... hehe. If you have a chance to look up Mindo on the web, do!! It is an amazing town in the middle of a cloud forest, and i went there last weekend with some other oregon students. Here is the cloud forest, and i think that the little white stuff is the town. I didn´take the photo, so Im not sure. Peace out for now, and i will update more later!

Last day of Class!!!

2008-06-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am feeling really uninspired and uncreative right now, with an 8 page paper, a test, and a Spanish project ahead of me. However, I should be done by Monday or Tuesday of next week, and that makes me very glad! I have nothing else to say. Someone give me an idea for my next post.....

The Weather Man is Confused...

2008-04-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is the next to the last day in April, and it was sunny at 8, snowing at 10. I had no idea what to expect this afternoon when I'm supposed to go play tennis outside.... so what did I bring with me? Shorts! Brrr. I hope that it warms up about 20 degrees in the next two hours. Hmm, not likely. Oh well, a little freezaroo will toughen me up for whatever adventure life throws my way, right? Right. Besides, I like snow.... at least I did at the beginning of the season. Tell me again why I turned in my ski instructor uniform so early???

It's Time for a New Post!

2008-04-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

There, I made a new post! Ha.

Life is good, and God is even better!

2008-01-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I experience those moments where I actually realize how good life is, because of the overwhelming goodness of God! The closeness and unity with other people I've felt this last week brings joy to my heart, and I'm realizing more and more that my relationships with others are so much more important than anything I can "get done", or any accomplishments that I may deem somewhat praiseworthy, in a moment of pride. If I can share this goodness with other people; living, breathing, possibly world-changing beings who matter infinately more than things; I count that an accomplishment.

P.S. I know that Molly is going to do an amazing post about I Heart LaPine, so I won't even go there! =)

Snow Day! + Fondue Night!

2008-01-08T14:43:00.001-08:00

My illustrious sister (see above) and I decided to frolic in the snow

when classes were canceled today...

So, frolic we did.

With Sadie the dog.

Molly doesn't call me a tree hugger for nothing...

Fondue at small group! Chocolate fondue no less.

Fondueistas. =)

Thanksgiving and stuff!

2007-11-27T22:19:00.001-08:00

Me and my cuzzie Nikki on Thanksgiving. Every time we get together we say we need to get together more often, because years go by in between visits! It was good to see the fam.

Molly and I at the most recent weddin'. I actually wore a dress! It was an evening at the Tower, though; how could I not wear a dress, i ask?

Molly had some fun with my camera. If she wasn't around, I probably would have very few interesting pictures. =) Thanks Molly.

I've been thinking a lot about culture lately, and how hard it is sometimes to relate to the cultures of the world, and keep yourself focused on Jesus at the same time. There are times when I want more than anything to fit in and be accepted, to know how to talk the talk, and be in on the culture. But I'm not. No matter how much I want to at times, my spirit will not jive with the things of this world. I still see a chasm between me and the people that I want to reach out to, that I want to love and relate to, and share the peace that I have in Jesus. I think the bridge is love. If I can grasp God's love and how to show that to people, really know it in my heart, then I think that I will find the divide less daunting. Sometimes the distance is an illusion anyway; set up to keep me from sharing Christ with others. How I need God to illuminate the lie for what it is! He is, and will be, faithful to do it.

2007-10-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Story: I was home by myself, and I decided to see if my climbing shoes that stick so nicely to rocks would work on the walls.... yes, they work, but I obviously didn't stop to think about the effect that soft rubber might have on a freshly painted wall. Uh huh. I painted it over, and now you can't even tell! So proud...

Fall

2007-10-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

I was in the park the other day,

and the beauty of the trees just about took my breath away.

God is so good!

What has man ever come up with that compares to His masterpieces?

Nothing.

It's nostril shot and a little fuzzy, but I had to get myself in here somehow... =)

End of Term...coming soon

2007-05-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Well, many classes and many many laps later, I am sick and have a hurt knee. =( It's a trifle frustrating with such incredible weather, and only two weeks!!!!! Of school left. Anthropology research topics are on my mind right now... how about differences in child raising across cultures?? Hmmm. We shall see. Ignite the Night is tomorrow at McKay park! Kids are gonna get saved, so watch out!

Springy springy springy

2007-04-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

I think that this spring term is going to be the term of friendly people! This makes me happy because there's not much that is worse than going to class and having to pull teeth to get a conversation started, at least not in my book. One of my classes is called "total fitness", but they should have named it "total death mixed in with some total silliness". The first workout was today, and we ran victories - down the field and back, sprinting. I found out too late that pacing yourself is a good thing. I think that we did five of them..... everyone is so supportive, though, and gets into the silly games that we play to warm up, so I think that it'll be an awesome experience. We get to play rugby!!! Without tackles. Which is good since I am 5'2 1/2". Maybe 5' 3".... Spring term is always cool because it's the last term of the school year, and the weather's nice, and you can study outside, and this one's extra cool because Molly and i are taking a class together, drumrollllllll: cultural anthropology! Ta da! Who knows what all we will have to endure in that class, but we have each other for support.
I'm doing this post for the sake of posting, because it's been awhile. I would love to get some cool pictures on here soon.
Life is good, but God is better!
Peace.

Some coolness

2007-02-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

That's me standing on the snow.....

Playa del Carmen!!

2007-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

On The beach at Playa del Carmen, Mexico!

This is an attempt to encapsulate a missions trip that I got to go on with seven other people from Westside (whose pictures I do not have), and it was amazing! We went to see Ron and Donna Griggs, former westsiders who have been living in Playa for about 4 years pastoring a church there.

El mar Caribe

una mariposa, there are so many pretty ones there.

At pastor Alfonso's church, helping build, paint, mix cement ect.

The jovenes. Beware of highschool guys! Run for your life, actually.

Mama Donna with "her boys"
Pastors from around the Yucatan at a meeting

Riding in the trusty blue van with the gangstas. These guys came from the island of Cozumel with their pastor and a group of other missionaries. They are crazy for Jesus!

Too cool.

Where we stayed for two nights in the town of Libre Union

The girl in the red shirt was one of the people who got prayer for various ailments, she had pain in her stomach, and it was healed!

Making food with the Mayan ladies. They told me that if I marry a Mexican (ha), my mother in law wiill teach me how to make tortillas, since I couldn't perform to their standards. Hmmm.

A pink bug in Valladolid, where we hung out for five hours waiting for the not-so-trusty blue van to get fixed. It was okay, because the place was beautiful, and we were able to hang out with the Mexicans on our team. The cool thing about missions trips, especially when you join up with a local team, is that you leave with friends in the country! And this was only after one week. Wow. There's a lot that I didn't even scratch the surface of in this short post, but I think that you get the idea. Wanna come with me next time? =)

::Snow Day::

2007-01-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

Molly pushing the car. No further explanation needed. Don't worry, I helped too.

Nolan and I catching some air on the snow boogie. Well, I guess this was taken just before we lifted off.

Molly and Sam, before the bruised tailbone and two hurt backs. Just ask Molly...

Nolan and I, who managed to walk away from the hill unscathed. Except for the back of my head, but that was minor.

The weather was amazing!! I think I'll try and find a nice soft innertube to ride on for next time, though. =P

Rom. 15:5-6

2006-12-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

I love these verses because they make me imagine all the Christ followers everywhere praising him at the same time, lifting thier hands, and raising a deafening shout! All with the same heart of worship to God.

Romans 15:5-6

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes! Let it be as it is written.

In all the countries of the world....

Some brothers and sisters in Christ, who live in Venezuela

Thanksgiving!!!!

2006-11-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving eve and Day in a nutshell

Here we are, making cranberry sauce in the kitchen. Well, I shouldn't say we because this is Sam, Molly and Nolan... catching cranberries in your mouth is really fun by the way.

My brother Nolan got in the hot tub today, and I should have, because its' been forever!

This is Molly making pumpkin pie King style (with squash in stead of pumpkin, yes we are wierd, and she's an amazing chef, we even have nicknames for foods cooked by Molly).

Mom and the boys

Me and Sarah Bratton over at the Bratton"s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Yay for friends!

Praise God, too because He is good.

Figure this one out!

2006-11-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

So, I came downstairs this morning and this is what I saw on the windowsill behind the kitchen sink. Now, I know that my sister has been taking a class called 3-D design, but this? This is really unusual. I think that it was left there for my express benefit by one of my brothers. I think he's going to be the eccentric artist type....

Emerge Winterfest!

2006-11-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

Nicolette and Beth at big muddy!
Pretty sweet view.
Natalie really likes road trips
Dinner!!! Ladies first of course.
Me and Natalie.

I realize that this really only represents the female aspect of this retreat, but actually there were some men of God in attendance as well...

stuff and things

2006-10-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

A close up of my neighbor's butterfly bush.

My sister Molly! (we were supposed to be doing homework) Love you sis. =)

Hopefully, now that I have some free space on my memory card, I will be able to take some amazing fall pictures of God's creation. If only I had more time.....

This is me climbing at Smith. =D

Malachi 3:14 and 17

2006-10-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

The people of Isreal said " we didn't get anything out of following God, and our enemies still seem to be prospering, so why should we follow him?" Then later, God says "They (his followers) will be mine... my treasured possesion!!!" (I added the exclamation marks). My motivation to follow God needs to be this: so I can be in the care of a God who calls me his treasured possesion. to be treasured. Not just to gain stuff or status. To belong exclusively to the most powerful being in the universe. To have his smile, his approval, and his everlasting love.
Es muy chevere, no? Que bueno.

Venezuela Pictures!

2006-10-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

I traveled to Venezuela this summer (June 19th to August 5th, 2006) with Campus Crusade for Christ. We got to have an amazing experience, and see some Venezuelan college students experience God's freedom in Merida. Praise to Jesus!
A traditional Venezuelan meal: rice, beans, fried platanos, an egg, and meat. (Yikes, no fresh veggies???)

The one and only street in Los Nevados. All the kids there can ride really well.

Our team of Americans just before leaving our debriefing time on....

Margarita Island!

Hello and Welcome!

2006-10-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to my blog! Right now I am nannying for some friends who have high-speed internet, and the kids are in bed... wheee! I have homework to do, but that will have to wait. Most definately.

Wait.. one of them just popped out of bed. Hmm.
I have been seeing the hand of God in little boys today. I mean, getting to know the kids I'm watching has been cool. I get to find out how God wired them, what they like and don't like, what they struggle with. It's also fun to be able to be the "nice guy", and just do fun stuff with them.
I hope that I am able to encourage and minister to them this week.

This is from the Sisters Wilderness in August '06. I need to find out what kind of fungus this is... =)