Izmirna (sept. 30)

this week we have been traveling to each of the job placement locations so everyone has am idea of each others jobs. Yesterday we visited Izmirna where I will be working through a program called IDI, International Institute of Development (IID), which a Korean Group that originated from Feed the Children that worked in Korea. Now the Koreans are returning the favor to another country. Starting next week on I will work afternoon's after my continued spanish lessons in the morning.

so just as a note sorry I don't have any pictures for you to look at. I am taking plenty but am unable to upload them due to the slow internet in my house (still thankful for connection at all). I will hopefully find a way to upload them in the coming weeks as I settle into my job and my new host family.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Roosters (sept. 20)

today I was not woken by the rooster crowing at dawn but it is actually heard around 10:30pm to who knows when. both last night and tonight I hear them every few minutes they are far enough away it isn't a problem, but it is amusing.

today we had Spanish lessons in the morning and history and job placement info in the afternoon. in the evening we decided to go to a exposition fair. it was a lot of fun to look around and become truly immersed in culture.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Bolivia finally here. (Sept. 19)

well today seemed very full we flew over night to arrive in Santa Cruz then got to Tito and Yolanda's house. there house works like a hotel almost. it is quite large and is often used to house MCC groups who visit or so service. we will be staying here for 2 weeks while we all study language and basic culture. I'm currently blogging off of my iPod but when I actually use a computer I will upload some pictures to give you all an idea of the area.

Spanish is hurts my head.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

BOLIVIA!!!! (Sept. 17th)

So this is the last blog before I'll be in Bolivia, it is currently 8:49pm here in Chicago and I leave JPUSA at 1:00pm tomorrow for the airport. I'll then fly to Miami, then Santa Cruz. I should arrive in Santa Cruz at 8:00am on Sunday. I believe that Santa Cruz is in the -4:00 time zone which is the same as Eastern time. So it looks like I'll be in the same time zone as at home.

Also, news!!! sorry I didn't update this sooner, but I found out I'm working with a program called IDI. I don't yet know what it stands for but I was told it works similarly to feed the children, but IDI is a Korean organization. So I'm working with a Korean organization in Bolivia. Also I was told that Karsten Hess and I will be living together in the same host family. Our hosts have two college age kids, a High schooler (who is living in Honduras under some exchange program this year), and a middle schooler(not as sure about that one I'm blanking). But there is also a male Korean student being hosted who is 16. BUT before I go and live with them I will be living with my group for two weeks (maybe/don't really know) of language study (and some cultural introductions).

Now that I've said all that remember that this is all very unstable information and could change within the next 24 hours. I think I got the most part of it all acurate, but I don't have lots of facts, I got these from a roughly translated email, I just wanted to get an update out before I left.

one last week (sept 13)

today is a free day to catch up on reading and to journal. this weekend was the visitors weekend so my parents came up and we spent some time around town. it was good to see them one last time before I left. im also eagerly waiting for my flight on Saturday.... I really can't wait. plus I just won monopoly so I'm excited

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Silence and Soccer (Sept 9)

This morning (thurs.) we met for a few minutes but then we were all released into silence to reflect, think, and pray. I went on a walk along a bike path near the lake. I was stopped in my tracks when I found a Peace Poll. Yes, I found a Peace Poll in Chicago along a bike path. It was actually placed at the entrance to a small "Peace Garden" which I'll try and get pictures of (I didn't bring my camera). But I just sat in the shade of large trees and listened to the artificial babble of the creek fountain they put in. The silence was ended at 2:00.

In the After-noon Karsten and I went over to Leland house to play soccer with some of the kids. After about 5 min of chaos inspired by no teams and kids joining in left and right we decided to play kick ball which was much easier to organize.

Also I think it was Wednesday that I helped a guy from JPUSA move is Darth Vader replica in (had just came in the mail). This replica is one of only 300 in the whole world. Each of the 300 were molded off the actual mask and suit. It was CRAZY!

Best Worst Hymn Sing Ever (Sept. 6/Labor Day)

So this morning our instructions from Krista were to go out and be hospitable today. She soon relased both RAD (My group) and DOOR (MCC's Program) into chicago to be hospitable to the people around us. At first I considered spending an intire day with a homeless person (or as long as they allowed), getting them lunch and just talking with them or simply sitting with them if they didn't want to talk. I really liked this idea, but before we got back to our stop on the redline I was convinced by Gloria, Leigh, and Karsten to come with them and sing hymns to people in a Hospital.

After getting back to the flat and practicing/teaching Leigh hyms we set out to find a place to sing. We first tried the hospital down the street but were rejected because the visitors coordinator wasn't there that day and we needed someone to show us around and such. They then directed us to a nursing home only a few blocks away. Once their we were warmly welcomed and preformed for a courtyard sized audience of Elderly folk as well as a few family members there to visit on Labor Day. Although we practiced some, it wasn't Berky Avenue in the least. We had to teach the songs to our Saprano who didn't know almost any because she came from a methodist church.  Besides that It was often hard for me to maintain singing tenor while playing Ukulele and I often dropped the tenor. With all these hinderances remember that were not very practiced together and the four of us just kinda worked our way through it. It sound great at times, but it wasn't my church I'm used to. I'm guessing that they had never heard live four part harmonies, and if they did it could have been 50 years ago.  After finishing our group of songs, our hosts demanded us to eat lunch. They said "here have some food" and proceeded to hand us four plates full of food without much of an option to refuse the food. So we all ate our 2nd lunch of the day because we had already eatin at JPUSA an hour before hand. After we ate came the best part of the singing. We went to the 4th floor and sang in each lobby coming down. it was the 4th floor the one we started on that was most striking, It was a group of very old residents who sat around in wheel chairs all day. Did apeared as if they had no intended schedule for the day but just sat mostly silent looking around. It was a little bit of a way to know I made a difference to someone. I recieve joy in being the event of the day for them.

Little Italy (Sept 4)

Yesterday we finally heard some new info about Bolivia. Linda Shelly, the Latin American Coordinator for Mennonite Mission Network, gave us an introduction to Bolivia, a few ideas about what we could possibly do, and spoke with us about a few of the cultural differences. Today, Saturday, we didn't have anything scheduled so most of us slept in and relaxed for a change. In the afternoon Marie, Leigh, Bethany, Nate (S.), and I went to little Italy. It was surprisingly quiet there. The streets were calm and is was a very residential area. We ate at Ignotz's which was a small italian restaurant. The owner was very hospitable and greeted us at the door, though part of the reason for meeting at the door is because the door was locked. The entrance was also down the ally (at left) and was a little bit confusing to find. but we found it, and all turned out well.

J. Krabes (Sept. 2)

jacob Putnam (Right) some times makes names for people like he called Justin Weaver, J Weaves. Now he calls James Krabill, J Krabes. Any way James Krabill is here today and tomorrow morning and spoke with us about differences and similarities between Peace and Evangelism, and taught us about Shalom.  Today hasn't been too exciting, but I'm feeling like we've established a steady schedule. Yesterday I missed the blog because I don't have my own computer.
So this picture is from yesterday when we got the chance to deliver the bags we packed for the kids of the Leland House. (as said in earlier Leland House is for families moving off the streets and getting on their feet) So this picture is loading them up to carry them to their rooms.

James Krabill Mid-Discussion