Reflecting on 2014

While 2014 has not been my favorite year that I've had the pleasure of living through, there is something to be said for times of disappointment, trials, fear, and difficulties.  Although we typically do not seek out the valleys of life, nor do we particularly enjoy living through them, there is much to be learned in our journey through them. Here are some things I've learned throughout the whirlwind that has been 2014:

Even in the darkest moments of despair, always look for the light.  It is there, and though it may not always be burning brightly from all around you, it is there nonetheless.  My bright spots this year have been the never-ending love and support shown to me by my beautiful family and friends.  Who knows where I would be without them.  I'm glad that I don't even have to imagine what that would be like.

Even when the journey seems impossible, keep going.  2014 has been a long, dark, and winding road without an end.  But yet, December 31st has arrived.  The snow is glistening outside on the lawn and the sun is warmly shining (even if it is only a mere 22 degrees outside right now).  Each and every journey, no matter how big or small, begins and is completed one step at a time.  Each step, whether the first one, the one stuck in the mud, the one that drenches your foot in a puddle, the one that twists your ankle, or the one that crosses the finish line, is necessary to complete the journey.  When life seems too big or too dark or too hard, remember to put one foot in front of the other and "just keep swimming" (or walking).

Choose happiness.  Even when we set our sights on the bright spots in our lives or taking one day at a time, it can still be all too easy to focus on the pain and suffering.  The difficulties of life that bring us all down zap us of energy and drain our mental and emotional spirits with ease.  Choosing happiness requires us to refocus and concentrate on what is truly important.  It is a conscious decision that may need to happen more than once a day.  I'll be the first to admit that I've not been the best at doing.  In fact, I've flat out sucked at doing it many a day.  It's hard.  And choosing happiness doesn't mean that it's not okay to be sad or experience sorrow or pain or loss or anger.  It simply means choosing not to live every day consumed by those emotions.  As one of my favorite people constantly reminds me, "It's okay not to be okay.  It's not okay to stay that way." 

As we get ready to close out the remaining hours of 2014 and usher in 2015, I'm reminded of God's promise for redemption.  What greater sign of restitution and grace is there than the cross, where out of wounded hands, redemption was provided for the lonely, the broken, the depraved, and the hopeless.  The valleys of life are not comfortable.  But where one is comfortable, one does not grow.  In 2015, I'm looking forward to seeing more bright spots, taking each step in my journey with meaning and purpose, and choosing happiness in the face of trials. 

Paz y amor, 

JMF

God's Love in Our Time of Great Suffering

Sometimes in our seasons of despair and deepest need, we turn away from that which we need the most.  We ask ourselves: Why have we been abandoned?  Where is God in our time of suffering?  Why can we not see the light?  This has been my latest struggle in the reconciling of my faith with life’s seemingly unnecessary hardships.  

All too frequently in our culture, we are accustomed to treating our Christian faith in terms of cause and effect… in the sense of rewards and punishments.  We believe that bad things should not happen to good people and, likewise, that good things should not happen to bad people.  Where would be the fairness in that?  What would that mean for justice?  However, I’ve come to realize that God does not operate in such humanly-minded terms.

Similarly, many followers of the Christian faith presume that our failure to live up to what God calls of us should result in punishment, and, contrarily, that our success in being obedient to God should result in reward.  Thinking of our faith in such a way causes us to lose focus on what really matters.  If our faith is genuine and true, then we ought not to think about what rewards or punishments will come from our actions.

These ideas surrounding a rewards-based religion are especially apparent in our times of great trial. While suffering, we often question why God has abandoned us or why something so grave has happened. I cannot help but be reminded of the story of Job, perhaps one of the most beautiful and passionate books of the Bible.  Although he suffers, Job continues to believe.  As the book of Job points out, Job had not done anything particularly disobedient to God to reserve such relentless punishment.  In fact, he was regarded as a man of integrity and innocence, but still suffered immensely.  Why then?  It is this line of questioning that we must leave behind.  We must live disinterestedly (not seeking gains for our obedience) and talk about God in such a way that will allow us to accept His love in our time of great suffering.

But how are we to talk about a God who is revered as love in situations plagued by suffering?  How are we to proclaim a God of life to those in the darkest of valleys?  Like Job, we must come to the conclusion that justice is beyond a matter of simple retribution.  God revealed to Job that His love dwells in freedom and is not subject to this doctrine of retribution.  God asserts that he does have plans and that the world is not a chaos.  The plans do not control God, however, but are controlled by human beings.  God’s gratuitous love is the ground of all existence and provides justice.  But justice alone does not tell us how we are to speak about God.  It is only when we come to the realization that God’s love is freely and gratuitously given that we can enter into his presence and know how to talk about him. 

The silence of God is hardest to bear in time of trial.  This fact is true.  And I’ve come to know it as a hard truth, especially in these uncertain and difficult times.  However, without moving away from this idea of the doctrine of temporal retribution, we cannot completely accept the free and unmerited love of God.  Eliminating this method of thinking from our minds is a difficult (seemingly impossible) task.  And even after doing so, suffering will still remain.  But we have to remember that God will always turn the valley of misfortune into a gateway of hope (Hos. 2:15).   God is a presence that leads amid darkness and pain.  Luis Espinal, a priest murdered in Bolivia, wrote the following:

Train us, Lord, to fling ourselves upon the impossible, for behind the impossible is your grace and your presence; we cannot fall into emptiness.  The future is an enigma, our road is covered by mist, but we want to go on giving ourselves, because you continue hoping amid the night and weeping tears through a thousand human eyes.

This is exactly what Job did.  He flung himself into an unknown future, despite suffering and pain and hardship, relying fully on God’s love.  And in this way, he met the Lord.  

It seems that I have been asking the wrong questions throughout the past year and weeks.  So, I’ll stop asking “Why?” and starting asking, “Where can I find You?”

I leave you with the following poem by Juan Gonzalo Rose entitled “La Pregunta” (“The Question”).  I’ve included the translation for you non-Spanish speakers. Its profound message has certainly hit my heart like a wave.

Mi madre me decía:
si matas a pedradas los pajaritos blancos,
Dios te va a castigar;
si pegas a tu amigo,
el de carita de asno,
Dios te va a castigar.

Era el signo de Dios
de dos palitos,
y sus diez teologales mandamientos
cabían en mi mano,
como diez dedos más.

Hoy me dicen:
si no amas la guerra,
si no matas diariamente una paloma,
Dios te castigará;
si no pegas al negro,
si no odias al rojo,
Dios te castigará;
si al pobre das ideas
en vez de darle un beso,
si le hablas de justicia
en vez de caridad,
Dios te castigará.
Dios te castigará.

No es este nuestro Dios,
¿verdad mamá?

------------------------------

My mother told me:

If you stone the white fledglings,

God will punish you;

if you hit your friend,

the boy with the donkey face,

God will punish you.

It was God’s sign

of the two sticks;

and the commandments of God

fitted into my hands

like ten more fingers.

Today they tell me:

If you do not love war,

if you do not kill a dove a day,

God will punish you;

if you do not strike the black,

if you do not hate the Amerindian,

God will punish you;

if you give the poor ideas

instead of a kiss,

if you talk to them of justice

instead of charity,

God will punish you,

God will punish you.

Mamma, is that really

our God?


Paz y amor,

JMF

Self-Discovery

Discovering yourself and who you are never happens when you want it to. It's also never as easy or simple as you want it to be. Of course, you can intentionally try to walk the road of self-discovery, set out to determine right then and there who you are, but those paths are often filled with wrong-turns and almost always end in dead-ends. Think “No Outlet.” One does not simply decide to discover who he is and that which makes up his life. We cannot determine in an instant who we are, for it is our life that does so.

In looking back, we find that our memories and experiences are the very things that shape who we are. The struggles we face, the doubts we have, the love we share, and the roads we walk all form a part of our being. The sum of our experiences forms our identity. We are shaped by them, molded by them, influenced by them, and changed by them. In a sense, we are them... the good and the bad. Every decision, every choice, and every moment had a collective hand in leading us to this moment, to who we are today. And we are not alone in that.

We have all been afraid. We have all been lonely. We have all run away from the light. We have all forgotten to love when it counts. We have all failed to show grace in another’s time of need. We have all failed to do the right thing. These moments are not unique to our own identity, but what point is there in living if we cannot learn from each other? What is the point if we cannot support each other in our time of need? What is the point if we cannot recognize the shared human experiences of failure, disappointment, doubt, and disbelief? Each of us has a story, and that story is not meant to be locked away in secret, but rather, shared with others as a testament to who we are and from where we have come.

In learning from the past, it is then that we find who we are. And even if we do not like the picture we see or the path we’ve carved, we can all rise up from the ashes. We can always relight our candles, even those blown out from the winds of life. And, as Natalie Grant reminds us in her song “The Real Me,” we can all mend the tattered fabric of our lives into a beautiful tapestry.

Paz y amor,

JMF

The Tower of Babel as a Warning against Uniformity and Self Alienation

Wow. It certainly has been a while since my last blog, nearly a year to be more precise. It's hard to believe that during this time last year I was blogging to you all from over 5,000 miles away. As they say in English, "time flies." Or in Spanish, "el tiempo vuelva." Whatever your language, time never stands still. I could probably rant on and on about this topic, but I'll spare your retinas the time you'd spend staring at your computer screen reading nothing of great significance.

Anywho, to progress toward the real meat of the blog, I wanted to share some text that I wrote for my modern language seminar. We were to read Genesis 11:1-9, which I will provide for you in just a few moments so don't preocuparte [worry] too much, and were to write our own interpretation of the passage and what implications it held for us. I thought it was something worth sharing in hopes that you all could benefit from it, too. To refresh your memory, here is the passage that we were to contemplate:

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth. 

Now that you've read those nine verses, the following is my reaction to said verses:

Throughout the Bible different verses and passages mean different things to many different people. The story known as the Tower of Babel, found in Genesis 11:1-9, is one of those. There, we find God’s people in a world where all nations are one with a single language. They are unwaveringly determined to erect a giant tower in order to reach the heavens, so that “[they] may make a name for [them]selves.” It is quite obvious through the Lord’s destruction of the Tower of Babel and the scrambling of the people’s language that the construction of the tower was not meant to be a part of God’s greater plan. But what significance does this possess for our lives? Or, in the words of the overused question often asked throughout our elementary and middle school days, “What is the moral of the story?” The importance here is twofold: the passage is a warning against uniformity and against self alienation from God.

The Lord scrambled, mixed up, jumbled, and confused the language of the people because they were using it in a way that allowed them to go against God’s will and plan for them. They did not question themselves because the task was so easy, as is evidenced in the sixth verse when God says, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” The unity of language among the people allowed them to build this tower. They demonstrated no doubts about what they were doing and remained steadfast in their decision to construct it. By confusing their language, God sent a warning against uniformity. There is great beauty to be found in our distinctiveness. Diversity teaches us to be tolerant and better citizens of a global world. It brings out true human kindness and understanding. It provides us with multiple points of view. It presents another perspective, different than our own. The Tower of Babel is an encouragement of our distinctiveness and clear warning against the uniformity that so blinded God’s people.

The second counsel that this passage offers us is a warning against self alienation from God. As I mentioned earlier, the people thought they could do it all on their own. Their desire to make a name for themselves in the heavens was brought about by eliminating God and moving toward an idea of self reliance. They thought that they didn’t need God. After all, they shared the same language and because of it “nothing [was] impossible.” This idea of self superiority that plagued the people was completely contrary to what God wanted for them and what he wants for us. This passage warns us that there is no meaning in life apart from God and we must be cautious not to alienate ourselves from Him.

In conclusion, the implications found in the story of Tower of Babel are ones that warn against a desire for uniformity and for self sufficiency. God confused the language of the people to create differences among the people. These differences provide us with others who have different views and perspectives than our own. In the sharing of this diversity and distinctiveness, we invoke critical thinking and reasoning to work together to solve some of life’s greater problems. However, we must ensure ourselves to include God as the director of our collaborative work, as this passage also serves as a reminder that we cannot experience success when we eliminate God from our lives and try to do it all on our own.

Well, in the famous words of Porky Pig, "that's all folks." I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope it challenges you. I'd promise not make you wait so long for another blog entry, but with this semester already kicking my butt, I don't know if I'd be able to keep such a promise. Hasta pronto (or not so pronto)!

Paz y amor,
JMF

MI PRIMER VLOG [MY FIRST VLOG]

Hola amigos de blog, que tal?? Once again, it has been a while since I last blogged. (Shocker of all shockers, I know). But I decided to do something different this time, aka: video blogging or vlogging, whatever you prefer. I've been too tired to get all of my experiences down on paper virtual web-space. So follow this link on over to my YouTube Channel to get a look at life in CHILE!


Don't forget to "like" and comment, peeps!

NO ME HE OLVIDADO DE USTEDES [I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU PEEPS]

Amigos de blog,

These past few weeks have been filled to the max with things to do, pages to read, exams to take, and parents and g-ma to visit with. I promise I will keep you updated... Look for a new blog sometime this weekend.

No te preocupes (don't worry). Everything is going wonderfully and I can't wait to share the past few weeks' adventures and stories with you. Stay tuned for updatessss, porfa.

Paz y amor,

JMF

ARGENTINA Y BICENTINARIO [ARGENTINA AND BICENTENNIAL]

Amigos de blog, ¿cómo estai? Since it has been the trend to start off my recent blogs by apologizing for the lack of updates, I have decided not to break said trend. Entonces (the best Spanish transition word that exists.. I use it for practically everything), I'm sorry.. I apologize.. Lo siento.. permiso.. perdón.. disculpa... Take your pick of apologetic words and phrases. It has been a super, tremendously busy past week and half or so. I've spent my last two weekends in true Chilean style (más o menos | more or less).. and by that I mean by visiting Argentina (not so Chilean) and by celebrating Chile's Bicentennial (much more Chilean).

Two Fridays ago, some of my gringo friends and I trekked the eight hour bus ride through the gorgeous Andes Mountains to spend a week in Mendoza, Argentina. Although it's nearly impossible to share the entire experience with you (too many inside jokes and stories to be told), I'll give it my best attempt.

Getting into Argentina was súper rápido (really fast) and surprisingly easy. Getting back into Chile, however, was not that easy... and definitely not that fast. With Chile's strict border control policies and security procedures, it took us more than two hours to get back into the country. Although we enjoyed taking in the absolutely beautiful view of the snow covered Andes Mountains surrounding us, two hours was definitely longer than we had bargained for. But at last, we experienced success (with only a few minor mishaps, thanks Jamie... we owe it all to you.. kind of) and crossed the border back into Chile.

While in Mendoza, we took a bike tour through the countryside of Mendoza. Can you say wine country? Yes? How about in Spanish? Anywho, Mendoza is packed full of vineyards, farmers, olive oil producers, and chocolate manufacturers. We spent nearly six hours biking through and visiting many of these vineyards, while enjoying the breathtaking view. Mendoza is truly beautiful. During the bike tour, we stopped at a beer manufacturer to indulge in some delicious empanadas while sitting on bales of hay and being surrounded by the Andes Mountains.

After the tour, a few of us decided to head out to a nearby restaurant to indulge (yet again) in some famous Argentinian steak. Lemme tell you, there's a reason they are "famous." So good! We also decided to indulge (third & fourth times) in some ice cream. Throughout two nights a few of us consumed 1.5 kilograms of ice cream. For those of you in the States, that's approximately 3.306 pounds, yes pounds, of ice cream. It cost us a total of less than 9USD. Now that's a good bargain. You know I love my ice cream.

We also spent our time visiting many of the plazas that are located in Mendoza, reliving our childhoods by playing in the playgrounds of the aforementioned plazas, stepping foot into one of the most well known chocolate factories in Argentina , visiting the largest park I have seen in my life, eating pizza, jumping on hostel beds (well, that was only me...), and riding a double-decker bus back into Chile. All in all, it was an exciting, fun, and wonderful trip! Some notes: Argentina is surprisingly different from Chile, as Argentinians

1. modulate their words while speaking (hallelujah for understanding every single word!)
2. are more calm and laid back than Chileans (I never thought that was possible)
   
3. look and act more European (who knew?)
   

Those are my mere observations after less than four full days in Argentina. Take them as you will.

Entonces (favorite transition word!), back in Chile we just wrapped up celebrating their Bicentennial. Lemme tell you, it was one big deal. Stores and businesses closed for the entire weekend, beginning on Friday until now (Monday). There were fireworks on two separate occasions, ramadas (carnivals) complete with games, vendors, food, and rides (don't worry, I resisted the urge to try out a rickety and shady Chilean carnival ride), and enough asados (barbecues) and comida (food) to keep anyone happy for a long time. Oh, did I mention the cherry on top, creme of the crop? (look, I rhymed)... no classes!

In other thrilling news headlines.. James's ability to spell accurately in any language has taken a dramatic tumble. Learning a second language really screws with one's ability to spell... yikes! Once a pretty darn good speller (especially back in my elementary and middle school days), I've become more reliant on spell checkers... thank goodness for Firefox's auto-correction feature. I'm in love. (Sorry, Firefox, although your auto-correction idea is genius and a most wonderful invention, I'm taken). Seriously though, this spelling thing is driving me up a wall and across the ceiling! Ay!!

Classes start back up again tomorrow, and I am "supposed" to get back the results of my first exam. Take note of the quoted key word in the previous sentence. I have been "supposedly" getting my exam back for the previous two weeks. My professor has assured us (for the fourth time) that we will indeed get it back tomorrow. I'm not holding my breath, that's for sure. Although I am nervous and excited.. it's my hardest class. We shall see.

Thanks for sticking it out and waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for my posts. Until next time,

Paz y amor,
JMF

CAMINAR ES BUENO PARA LA VIDA ESPIRITUAL [WALKING IS GOOD FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE]

Buenas tardes, amigos de blog! It has been nearly two weeks since I last blogged, and I have a lot to share. A lot. A plenitude of homework has gotten me slightly behind in the blogging process and will more than likely restrict the length of this particular post. (Unless I end up too engrossed in my English blog post that I forget about my Spanish texts, which have been swept aside for the time being. The more that I think about the former sentence, the more probable it seems). As to prevent you from enduring more painful suspense and tension from eagerly anticipating the real meat of the blog, I'll begin.

Many of you may have heard about a recent adventure that I (unintentionally) undertook; others of you have been devoid of this exhilarating information.. that is, up until now. A few weeks ago, my gringo friends decided to have a little get-together at one of our Chilean homes. I was invited and gladly accepted the offer with great anticipation, minus one detail--how to get to said gringo's Chilean home. Because she lives relatively inaccessible by my preferred method of transportation, the metro, I was forced to take a method of transportation much more foreign to me. Wait for it... The. Micro. These public buses, packed with people like sardines and driven probably much faster than allowed by law, are a common form of transportation here in Valparaíso. And while I do enjoy a good micro ride every now and then, especially when the driver is blasting Michael Jackson's "Thriller," I am by no means a pro at determining their relaxed and go-wherever-the-heck-I-feel-like-taking-you routes. What I figured would be a fun, little adventure to attempt to take the micro to my friends house by myself for the second time with directions from a friend, ended up being not so fun and definitely not so little.

My other gringo friend, who will remain nameless for the time being (unless she fails to send some Bueno Bars my way), informed me to take one of the following Micros: #201, 202 or 205. That information was correct. She then told me to get off at La Iglesia del Pedro. That information, my fellow blog buddies, was not as correct. I dismounted the micro at said location and soon discovered, by calling my friends, that La Iglesia del Pedro was not my intended location of departure. Instead, La Iglesia de Piedra was the church that I had hoped to encounter. My friends, however, had no idea as to where the heck I was; and after nearly half an hour of discussion about my location, I decided to hop back on a daunting Micro that would take me home. (For those of you wondering, I later discovered that I was at the very, very top of Miraflores... not exactly the area I was aiming for).

What I thought would be an easy return back to my Chilean home turned into an adventure greater than I could have ever expected. I descended the cerro (hill) that is Miraflores, anxious to return home where I could fill my guatero with near-boiling water. This is the part in the story where the creepy music starts to play to provide the viewer with dramatic suspense. [Insert creepy music]. The bus started heading from Viña del Mar (where I live) towards Valparaíso (where I do not live). I figured that the micro would eventually swing back to Viña. Afterall, that is where I got on the stupid thing. My thoughts where incorrect. Once the conductor (driver) announced that this would be the last route for the night for that particular bus (apparently, not all micros run all night.. good to know), I hopped off the bus.

There is just one thing that you all should know.. I did not have sufficient funds to take another micro. 100 pesos short of another bus trip meant one thing for yours truly: walk. all. the. way. home. So, guess what I did. Walked. all. the. way. home. Yes, it was veryy long and tiring walk. Although the night life here in Chile goes until the wee hours of the morning and there are people walking the streets during all hours, it was still a little frightening to have to walk all the way home by myself. Needless to say, me and God got very close that night. There was a lot of hardcore praying going on. Who know that walking the streets of Viña and Valpo by yourself could be so beneficial for your spiritual life? I arrived at my house late that night, alive and in one pieces. Hallelujah. Gracias a Dios.

There you have it, the long awaited story of my first Chilean adventure. You should note, however, that I have since taken the micro multiple times with moderately more success than that night.

In other news, Classes are going well. I have my first major exam tomorrow.. yikes! It's hard to believe that I am already in my sixth week of classes here, while my fellow students at Messiah College have yet to begin theirs. I did officially drop my History of Culture class, mostly due to the fact that I have 17.5 credits without it. Speaking of classes, I should probably be get back to studying. I have written enough for today, anyway. Until next time...

Paz y amor,
JMF

PS: I did get bit by a spider, but that is another adventure story for another day. No, it was not a Chilean Recluse spider. Yes, I am still alive.

CASI UN MES! [ALMOST ONE MONTH!]

Again, I would like to begin by apologizing for the lack of tremendously exhilarating and on-the-edge-of-your-seat-ing posts. So, ¡lo siento muchisimo! I also feel that I should provide you with a proper disclaimer, because I really don't have any idea where this blog post is going or where it will end up. "Just sayin.'"

Life in Chile is still great! I'm heading into my fourth week here and I cannot believe it has been that long since I got on a plane to live 5198.20 miles away from home for five months. Wow, really? Although I miss a mountain of things from home (i.e, consistently hot showers, central heating, REAL Double Stuf Oreos, properly functioning wireless Internet, and, of course, my loving family & girlfriend), there are things that I love about Chile that the U.S. should take a hint from (i.e., empanadas, a lack of regard for punctuality, public transportation, and a population people who open their houses, pantries, and hearts for you even if you decline multiple times). Anywho, what I'm trying to say is that despite being without many of the things that bring me comfort and joy back home, I have really fallen in love with this country and its people.

I am already starting my third week of classes, which is hard to believe on its own. Add to that the fact that we haven't even passed the midway point of August and it starts to sound even crazier . As for classes, I am currently signed up for 20 credits, and will probably drop one of the classes. Here's the UNofficial list so far:

Spanish Communication and Chilean Culture
Advanced Grammar for Foreigners
Twentieth Century Chilean Poetry
History of Latin America During the Twentieth Century
History of Culture

My history of culture will probably be the one that gets the boot. Tuesday will be the first (and probably last) day that I have the class; last week was supposed to be the first week of history classes, but due to a "corte de agua," I thankfully regretfully did not have to sit through that class. We shall see how it goes tomorrow. As for the rest of my classes, I have no complaints. My Chilean Poetry professor could try to modulate her words, not give us 120 pages of poetry to read a week, and not talk to the blackboard the entire time. Like I said, no complaints here.

In regards to learning Spanish, a nearly mutually understood conversation at the metro station the other day with the man processing my student discount card has me feeling not too shabby. Although there are times (like at Jumbo a week ago), when I struggle to even remotely recognize a Spanish word in someone's sentences. When in doubt, say "no." I have 4 more months to work up to being able to understand almost everything. Bring. it. on.

Well, that's all I have for right now. I'm off to read (a lot) of Pablo Neruda. Un montón de gracias a mi profesora. (A mountain of thanks to my professor).

Paz y Amor,
JMF

A TRÁVES DE LOS OJOS DE UN GRINGO [through the eyes of a foreigner]

Lo siento, but it has been a while since the last time I got to writing. So much has happened since I left the States and blogged from the Detroit Metro Airport. In case you haven't already figured out from Facebook, friends and family, or myself that I am safe and sound 5,000 miles away from home, I am. After a rocky plane landing through dense fog and a visibility of nearly zero, we landed in Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago at approximately 7:39 a.m. We spent the morning going through customs, meeting the ISA staff, exchanging our US Dollars for Chilean Pesos, and getting to know each other.

We spent the remainder of the week in Santiago exploring, touring, and learning (oh, and freezing). Because it's winter here and because the majority of Chileans do not have central heating in their houses, hotels, or apartments, I along with many of my other gringo friends have been freezing our little American butts off. Every morning I dread the fresh, cold air that is waiting for me when I emerge from under my five blankets. I run to the shower, and wait for the calefont [water heater] to warm the water, while I stand there freezing. All I can think about is warmth. Although this has the potential to be something about the country that really upsets me, it doesn't. I'm amazed by the incredible amount of energy Chileans save; maybe the U.S. could learn a thing or two or three....

I met my host family last Sunday, the 25th, after a bus ride into Valparaíso, watching the sun set on this beautiful port city. The family is really wonderful and my Chilean mom is grrreat (just like Frosted Flakes). However, they typically do not draw out their syllables like Tony the Tiger. Which brings me to my next topic... the language. Since I arrived in Chile, the running joke here has been the great difference between the Spanish language and the Spanish that Chileans speak, which are two. completely. different. things. The ISA staff and even the International Director at my university are constantly saying things like, "Don't worry, it's not you. It's us," and "I'm sorry, I speak Chilean, but I'll try to speak Spanish for you during this presentation." Chilean Spanish has literally hundreds and hundreds of slang words and phrases that are completely unique to the area (Chilenismos). If you think that makes it hard enough, just wait. Chileans are notorious for being some of the fastest speakers in all of Latin & South America, are constantly drop the "s" of words ending as such, and often change the "tú" form of words. Example: ¿Cómo estás? = ¿Cómo estai? HUH!? Anywho, it's been fun (yet sometimes frustrating) to make an attempt to understand and communicate. It's like learning Spanish all over again, but I kind of like it.

That's all I have for now. More updates to come... Stay tuned!

Paz y Amor,
JMF

ME VOY A CHILE! [I LEAVE FOR CHILE!]

After a night filled with packing, baby gift shopping and creating, last minute trips to the peninsula and Sara’s, goodbye texts and phone calls, I’m sitting in the Detroit Metro Airport with a filled-to-the-max backpack and one gift still to be bought for my host family—I never procrastinate, by the way. [Insert sarcasm]. A long four-hour layover is what has me in the blogging mood (it could also be that I’m about to leave the States for five months, but who knows).

I’ve spent the past few hours eating some over salted and greasy food from a McChicken-less McDonald’s, winning (and losing) hearts & solitaire on my computer, texting & calling my wonderful girlfriend and family, crying, thinking, and anticipating my arrival in Santiago at 7:35 a.m. tomorrow morning. I should also be brushing up on my Spanish, I’m somewhat lacking in the vocabulary and verb conjugation departments (as noted by my concerned mother and my lack of confidence in expressing myself). YIKES.

These next five months are sure to be full of surprises, challenges, highs and lows, ups and downs, good times and bad ones, homesickness, and mucho, mucho más (a lot, lot more). I’ll try to keep this blog updated as much as possible, so feel free to yell, scream, shriek, cry, or otherwise reprimand me if I forget about it. Also, don’t be afraid to stalk me on Facebook for pictures and other updates. I’ll miss you all so much, so don’t be a stranger. Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in CHILE! (Please note both the excitement and nervousness in the previous sentence).

Paz y Amor,
JMF

Thoughts on Turning Twenty [20]

What's the importance of turning 20? Technically speaking, here in America we're considered "adults" at the tender age of 18. But for some reason, this twentieth birthday seems somewhat more monumental and less trivial than the aforementioned eighteenth birthday. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's the sheer fact that I've been alive for two whole freaking decades. (Pardon my almost-french). Or maybe it's the fact that I won't ever end my age in "teen" again. (Say goodbye teenage years). Maybe it's the fact that I just feel older. (Even though I was 19 just yesterday). Whatever the reason, turning 20 seems significant in it's own way. It marks the beginning of a new decade of life, a new decade of breathing and existing. Next time I say that, I'll be 30. Let's not go there.

Turning twenty has me feeling a bit reminiscent about the past, celebratory of the present, and hopeful of the future. It's the feeling I feel each new year when the ball in Times Square slowly lowers itself toward the ground. It's seeing every day of our lives is a journey. A journey towards something far better. And a journey meant to be lived to fullest potential. Thinking about the past 20 years of my journey also has me feeling thankful for all my family and friends who have helped shape the past and the man I've started to become. It also has me thankful for all the incredible memories we've shared and for all the laughter, tears, and smiles.

So what's the importance of turning 20? I've concluded that it's all about welcoming the next 20 years with a clear mind, renewed faith, and an open heart.


Paz y Amor,
JMF

Music Monday: There will be a day...

About this time of year, colleges across the nation are filled with the never-ceasing cries and complaints of their anxious, exhausted, and in-need-of-a-break students. The days leading up to fall-break are 1) greatly desired and 2) much needed, especially as every professor finds it increasingly necessary to give exams, papers, quizzes, readings, etc. etc. etc. I, for one, am quite ready to sleep until Jesus comes again. Not. Even. Kidding.

Especially during these stressful days, I've been struggling to find a time to just relax, to just experience God's peace. I've been waiting desperately for fall break to arrive, counting down each day with great anticipation, the kind of anticipation you experience right before you get to enjoy the most delicious, mouth-watering chocolate cake at a meal. However, as October 21st draws nearer and nearer, I am reminded constantly of everything I have yet to do this week.

As the days come and go, some are filled with great joy and hope.. others with pain and sorrow, even tears. But there's reassurance in Revelation 21:4, which says there will be a day when "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (NIV)

What a comforting scripture. There are many things in life which are difficult and cause pain and there are times when we want to give up (like right before fall-break). But even when it seems there is not hope and I'm wanting to give up, the promise that God gives us in this verse provides me with peace. There will be trials and tribulations, but God gives us the hope of eternity, where there will be no more suffering and pain.

The following is a song written and sung by Jeremy Camp, which outlines the message God provides to us in Revelation.



Anywho, fall break is less than 24 hours away. And even though it's no heaven, its coming is greatly appreciated by myself and my fellow undergrads. Can't wait to dig into that rich, velvety, chocolatey cake. Bring on the cake (and the extra pounds)!

One more thing to add to my busy schedule

I've had this idea floating around in my crazy mess of a brain for a while, but have been seemingly unmotivated to act on it. This is partly because of my second-guessing nature, but also partly because of my busy schedule.

Up until this point, I was relatively unsure if I could actually contribute something meaningful and worth-reading. I did not want to waste precious amounts of the "interweb" by filling it with my cyber-writings and rantings. By giving it some thought and time (and I mean a lot of time), I've reassured myself that this blog will be more of a sorting and sharing process for myself than a tremendously profound place to for you to gather insight. However, this is not to say that you, the reader, aren't an incredibly important piece of the puzzle. It is my hope that I am able to share something, give something, or say something that makes you think to yourself.. "ah-ha." That moment of discovery is what life's all about. Discovering and thinking about life in a way that necessitates action and love.

Now on to reader discretion, not so much as to the content of my posts, but as to their frequency. I'm going to make every effort to post regularly. Unfortunately, with working 30+ hours a week on top of being a full-time college student (Messiah plug!), I know there will be times when I'm unable to post and even times when I'll forget about this good 'ole blog of mine (insert reader gasps). I'm really going to try to use this as a place to write, express, sort through, rediscover, examine, dive deeper, and explore various aspects on my journey of life. I hope you will decide to join me on this journey. After all, I am just a fellow traveler. And traveling alone is neither fun nor exciting.