"Are YOU my host mom!?"

"Are YOU my host mom!?" I remember when I was younger, I would always play board games on the floor of my Grandma Nussbaum's living room with my cousins. One of my favorite games was one that was called "Are YOU my mother?" where the game pieces were little chicks that had magnets, and you had to find your "mother" to whom you connected to (North-South poles).

Now that you've heard my life story :) what connection is there to Paraguay!? Well... some of you know already that for some time, I've really wanted to live with a Paraguayan family. Being surrounded in this German-subculture, where I live, I don't feel like I'm really experiencing Paraguay. Or at least what the average person's life is like.So I talked to some people, and prayed about it (whether or not it would be best for me) and I'm supposed to move next Sunday! The catch: I don't know who I'm going to live with. If you know anything about me, you know that I'm organized and I like to KNOW what's going on (although I'm starting to relax about that a bit). But I have options: Opt 1: A young family, around the age of 25, with an 8 month old daughter. Opt2: (who hasn't confirmed for sure if they can host me yet) A family that is a little older and... that's all I know about them. Both of the families are rreally nice, and I don't think I can go wrong. I'm supposed to find out whether the older family can host me, this sunday, so I'll make the decision then. I'll keep you posted!

P.S. Today I had a new experience on my bus ride to work. Have you ever had a man with a two-foot machete sit behind you? Actually there were two of them. One behind me, and one across the isle, in front. Surely they were just going to work, cutting grass or bushes, etc. and no one else on the bus seemed to give it a second thought. But it was another reminder that I'm not in the US (as if the cachaca music and chipa venders hadn't already done so!)

Election Responses-world wide...

Well this week was interesting, following the election results and seeing the different reactions- both in Paraguay and hearing about the overwhelming support for Obama in the US. (Personally, I'm so thankful that Obama was elected, and for the first time in my life, I don't have to be embarrassed for our president. Granted, he's not in office yet, but I think he represents a lot of hope for change and he's intelligent, level headed, and humble... all aspects of a good president.

Hearing from Krista and Craig, it's interesting hearing the different responses people have. They've told me that some were moved to tears when they heard Obama was elected; they were filled with so much hope. While my experience was a bit different. For the Paraguayans that are following my blog (I always have to wonder WHO it is... haha) correct me if I'm wrong, but those who I work with are predominately Mennonites from the colonies, of whom many are supporters of the Colorado party (which would be the equivalent of our Republican party). Because of this, it seemed like there was some skepticism about Obama's election, because he's young, inexperienced, etc (or maybe they're just skeptical about politic in general, there's reason to be). Anyway, it's interesting to see how different the responses were here in Paraguay. And although it maybe my ignorant young self, I was so surprised to see how closely others follow American politics around the world. Wow- I need to step it up. :)

On thursday I went to a school program with a couple girls from the CD (Lorena and Claudia). There were traditional dances (unfortunately not the bottle dances, where they balance bottles on their heads), and a crowning of king and queen of the high school. Here are a few pictures from that...

And this is just a picture on my way to work.
Have a good week! Til next sunday! :)

Well, these pictures aren't quite in the order that I had wanted. But I'm not that much of a perfectionist (although, working with registration this year, I'm sure that that is one of the things that I will be forced to learn) it doesn't bother me. So I'll just explain as I go along.

This picture was actually just taken tonight. From left, is Mony from Germany, Marcos from Argentina, and me. It's pretty neat that we're all from different counties, and we met in PY. We were going to walk to the Paraguayan River after supper, but it got dark too quick, so we ended up just walking around the block, taking pictures with our umbrellas (because it was raining a little bit).

This weekend was so much fun! I went with the youth from a church called Emaus. A friend of my roommate, Renate, invited both of us to come to their youth outing, but in the end, Renate wasn't able to go. So I went anyway, and lo and behold Craig (or Juan Pablo, as he goes by here... haha) and Krista where there too! (I had kind of though they might be there, since they had been doing things with their youth group). Below is a picture of me and a girl named, Cynthia from the youth group. She's about the sweetest girl ever! She really knows how to make people feel welcomed and at home.
And here is a picture to prove that Craig and Krista and I really are together here in Paraguay. This is a picture of us drinking tereré in front of my room at the CD. Speaking of the CD... I'm only going to be here for a month more. In my spare time I've been doing some thinking(you know- when I'm sitting in a circle of people speaking German, in PY) , and I've decided that a living with a family is probably the best way for me, personally, to experience the Paraguayan culture and better my spanish.
Here's a picture of a prayer card I made, so that everyone can remember to pray for Mennonite World Conference. It'll be here before you know it! :) Just so you know who is who, in the office I work at, I'll make a quick run down:

(Back row L-R) Renate, Graciela, Magali, Cynthia, me, Carmen
Fronth row L-R) Friedbert, Arnold, Ryan, and Don Ernesto

The people that I work with are so much fun. I'm not just saying that either, I mean, they are quality people! And I think it's pretty neat that everyone, except the National Coordinator- Don Ernesto, is in their 30s or below (in age). Six of 10 are in their 20s. Who ever said that the youth of today are tomorrow's leaders? I'd beg to differ on that one. ;)
Anyway, it's time for me to get to bed. Good night/Buenas noches/Guten nacht!

Here's some questions that have been on my mind recently. If you have any insight, I'd appreciate it. :)

1.What does it mean to live simply? Especially in a context where 1st and 3rd worlds are side by side. And why is this hitting me now, and never so much as in the states?
2. To have people from other cultures getting along, what's that really supposed to look like? Does it mean to live side by side, without fighting? Or to be polite to each other? Or does it mean to really integrate others´ideas and customs? Ideally, I think the last suggestion is best, but it's one step at a time right?
3. Have you ever really stopped to think how much language is a part of a culture? I think that's one thing that I'm really learning this year. Each culture, has it's beauty, and part of that is it's language. But also, it's important to remember how exclusive a language can be, even when you're talking directly to someone who speaks your language, while someone is present who doesn't speak your language.
4. Experiencing a culture(s).... and with that I think I'll stop posting to the world. :)

Totally tranquillo in Bolivia...

Well I arrived safely in Santa Cruz, Bolivia last tuesday, and despite everything the media says about the violence in Bolvia, it's calm in Santa Cruz right now, and I didn't have any trouble entering the country or in the country so far. :)

What am I doing in Bolivia, you might be wondering- I'm supposed to be in Paraguay this year right? Well, since MCC doesn't have an office in Paraguay, I'm apart of the Bolivian MCC team. So this Wednesday-Friday we had a 3 day retreat right outside of Santa Cruz. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to pay attention during the seminars, because if you are, or ever have learned another language, you know that it takes some extra energy to pay attention! :) But here's a story that I thought was worth telling again, and it kind of expresses some of my struggles in Paraguay as well.

Once there was a village in the countryside inhabited by wells. All of these wells filled themselves with different things: one filled itself with technology, another with books and knowledge, and yet another with paintings and sculptures. Whenever the wells would add to their collections, they would grow outwardly, instead of in depth. So they continued filling themselves unti one day one of the wells realized that he was thirsty and wanted a drink. But in order to get to the water, the well had to empty itself first. So the well emptied itself of everything that was inside of it; everything that was keeping itself from the water. And the well kept emptying and emptying, and digging and digging unti he finally found
water.

But I think what hit me the most is when afterwards is that the person who told the story added that yes, it's important that we dig for spiritual water, but also that we shouldn've just be digging for ourselves, but be a spiritual fountain to those around us. If you're reading this blog, and you've had the experience of learning another language abroad, you know that it's incredibly hard at times, and sometimes, you know, it's hard to dig for your own spiritual water, let alone be a fountain! But it's also during times like these, that we rely on God more, and see God in the small things. It's incredible how often you can see God when you make the concious effort. So that's my profound thought of the day, take from it what you will.

I'll be in Bolvia until thursday, visiting the different places where MCC Bolvia sucunds workers. Today I visited the PRONATS program, where low income children, who have jobs on the side, are able to come and get help with their school homework. PRONATS also has bible studies and "charlas" or little talks with the kids, educating them on sex, drugs, etc. All around, it seemed like a good, safe place for the kids of that neighborhood, who really have a need for a place like that.

I also visited a libray in Santa Cruz. The past two years at Hesston, I've worked in the library, so it was particularly interesting (in a librarian sort of way! haha) to see the differences. For example, did you know that (contrary to libraries in North America), most libraries in South America don't allow you to take books home? They have no way of making sure that they will get the books back, so why let them be taken out of the library? Also, some libraries have such few books, that if 20 would be checked out of the library, it would take away a pretty good percentage of the books in the library.

One of the things that I noticed, almost as soon as I walked into MCC Bolvia, was the close community here. That is defintely one of the things I miss the most- besides family and friends- a community and a place to belong. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot to be thankful. And it's been absolutly wonderful in Bolvia, but I think, come thursday, I'll be ready to get back to Paraguay. I'm even missing the lack of tereré. :)

What a week! I have about a million things that I could write about this week, but we'll see how much I get to. :)

One of the things that could really use some prayer right now is the unity within the group of volunteers at the CD/Servicio Voluntario where I live. Within this organization, there's three distinct cultures represented: German, Latino, and Ethnic Mennonite (those who have a German/Russian/Canadian background and live in Paraguay). And of course, we're human and sometimes we don't see eye to eye. And recently, there's been a lot of conflict. I'm not going explain all of it for the world to read, but believe me, it could use some prayer.

Another thing to pray about: I'm leaving for Bolivia on Tuesday for a little over a week. I'll be having MCC team meetings and finally my MCC Bolvia orientation. :) I'm excited to go and see how the other MCCers are doing, and meet my coutry representatives, and be in the environment where some of my friends were 2 years ago. (Wow, 2 years ago? Time flies.) Anyway, pray for my safety. If you've been following the news at all, you might know that there's some fighting that's going on in Bolivia. But all of that is along the bus route to Boliva (and I'm flying), so I should be fine! :)

Well... I need to get going. Blessings!

Oh yeah, I leave on Tuesday for Bolivia, and Krista and Craig, are coming with Radical Journey for a year, arriving on WEDNESDAY! I'm so excited, I can't wait! But I'll have to, until I get back from Bolivia on the 16th. :)

Today is "feriado" in Paraguay, which means... HOLIDAY! and a LONG weekend! :) A small group of us from the CD went camping with Concordia's youth group. It was so much fun! The campsite was along the bank of a rive, and the scenery reminded me a little bit of when I went camping along the East coast for miniterm in high school. (Except there were no BOnanzas anywhere, haha.) If you're wondering, the only difference in camping in the US and Paraguay is that they drink tereré, but that's not specific to camping, that's Paraguay for ya! :) The picture below shows us drinking tereré at the campsite and some more picture of camping).

Drinking tereré.

The group of campers from Concordia. There were about 40 of us in all.

Sofí, a volunteer at the CD and I, on this really neat bridge. Once upon a time, there used to be water there I think... :)

If you're not familiar with what tereré is, it's dried yerba leaves that are cut up in small bits and pieces, and put into a guampa (a cup, which in Paraguay, is traditionally shaped like a cow horn), and then there's a specific way to prepare it (which I'm still working on). After that, ice cold water is poured into the guampa, and you drink through the bombilla (which is something like a metal straw with a sieve at the bottom. You can see it in some of the pictures. The thing that I like most about tereré is that it's a communal thing. You sit around in a circle, and drink. Someone serves everyone in the circle; they drink, and pass it back to the server, and so it goes around the circle...

I think I've mentioned before, my frustration with the German language. Concordia is the only German speaking church in Asunción, and this is the youth group that I went with. But of course they all grow up speaking Spanish as well (and lot speak English too), so that was really helpful. There were so many times where people would translate what people said, or even just responding in Spanish, as opposed to German, to steer the conversation in a way that included me. For all of you German-speaking Paraguayans out there that are reading this blog, no tenés ni idea como lo aprecio tanto!

Oh, and to let you all know, I am officially DONE with the "leben nachzufolgen!!" We'll be starting on registration soon; putting the forms in the computer. But we can't do that for a couple days yet, so I'll just be helping out in the office where ever they need me. But that's nothing too new! :)

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your monday at work or school, where ever you are! Renate, my roommate and I are planning on going to Aregua for the day, because it's a HOLIDAY and we don't have to work! :)

Take care, you are all in my prayers!