Why? Because it's better.

One of the hardest things for me to understand about this culture is why they do things the way they do. I am sure that everyone who has ever lived abroad has asked the same question. I struggled with this for a while because I thought I was being too hard on them and maybe I had a bit too much pride about being an American. I never want to be the American that always thinks that whatever we have in the states is superior to everything else in the world. It's simply not true. I have, however, discovered that for the most part the answer for all of my "why's?" is the same no matter who I ask-" Well, because it's better." I am not exaggerating. They really truly believe, with all that is in them, that their way of living, their food, their health system, their education system, their everything is better. I was talking with my nanny last week about this very thing. When it has been decided that something is "better" that's it. The end.  Nothing is left up to the individual to decide. Take salad dressing. My nanny has eaten only one salad dressing her ENTIRE 26 years. Olive oil and vinegar. There are simply no choices. I have searched. Every now and again I can find a little variety, but nothing to get excited about. It has been decided that oil and vinegar is the only acceptable and healthy choice so that it, end of discussion. 

I know that sometimes people think that we are here trying to make everyone like us- because we think WE are better, but that is really not true. Many of the people here have never experienced anything outside of their own culture- I mean why should they? The best is here - Right? and who am I to disturb their precious apple cart. I think it is important to me that other points of view be considered because otherwise what we are doing is futile. If it is "better" to live a life void of spirituality, living only for yourselves and your immediate family and if they are not open to a new way of thinking then how will they ever be open to hearing the message that we bring. If they won't even consider that MAYBE, just maybe my way of cooking is just as good as theirs will they ever be able to consider the life I am offering. Not a life to be lived just like me or even my way, but God's way. I want it to be understood that we are not trying to make them into versions of "us" only better versions of themselves.

Español Solo (3)

We did it! Last weekend we spent the entire weekend communicating in Spanish. We attended a weekend retreat with the church we have been attending here. We Katie and I did take the liberty to communicate with one another and to the girls in English, but since we were surrounded by so many Spanish speakers, we figured it was okay.

It was a fantastic weekend. We spent each meal with our new friends, and got a chance to eat a bunch of traditional Spanish foods. One of my favorites is morcilla, a type of blood sausage. For our Louisiana friends, it is not all that unlike boudin, except of course for the blood.

Everyone was very gracious, and they exhibited a great deal of patience as we fumbled through sentences and absolutely butchered their language. We attended four teaching sessions throughout the weekend as the pastor who led the retreat took us through the book of Ephesians. We did okay following along, as long as he stuck to the passage. As soon as he would follow a tangent, we would be completely lost. It is amazing how much more one can understand when he/she is aware of the context, in this case the biblical passage. Their were a couple of young teenage girls there who took to our girls. They kept an eye on our girls and let us participate in sessions and talk with people. We greatly appreciated their help in that.

Thanks for all of your prayers for us as we were gearing up for and participating in this weekend. It was a great learning experience, and our we were able to take alot (and not all of it language) away from the weekend).