Tis´ the season

It´s been pretty chilly and rainy here so as CHRISTmas approaches quicker than I realize it is feeling more like the holiday season...tis´the season! Then again I have discovered what a heavy emphasis (especially in the states) is put on all the commerical and festive things for Christmas. Of course I too love certain festive things, but the over-exaggeration is kind of sickening when we have so much more to invest our joy and time in! Through all the chaos and material things of Christmas, it is so easy to lose sight of the true and beautiful meaning of this celebration...the birth and life of JESUS!! It is such a beautiful and wonderful thing when you take the time to reflect on that rather then all the other hoop-la! Maybe it is just easier for me to do since I am in a 3rd world country where things seem to be a little bit different.

We continue to stay busy here. This past week I had the privelege of taking little Vivianna (the burn victim from the Zone Frutillar home) to the hospital in the mornings for her physical therapy. I had fun just hanging out with her and getting to do something like that! I got to see all of where she had been burned, and as joyful as that child is, it just breaks my heart to see that she had to go through that! She sure challenges me when I think I am having a bad day or things just aren´t going my way!

Lastnight the kids at the center had their Christmas presentation! It was the cutest darn thing. I took pictures and hope to add them some time soon. As one group was changing into their costumes and getting ready, a sweet little boy threw up everywhere. They were holding bottles with their candles inside them, and he just took care of business all inside his prop...which was good actually cause not as much went on the floor! I took it upon myself to clean him up, cater to his needs, and clean the ¨goop¨ up. I was totally fine with it because throw up does not bother me and someone had to do it! My prayer now is that I don´t get sick from whatever he had, but if I do it´s all in the service of the Lord! Alrighty well I am going to get myself back up to the hacienda and get some stuff done!! I pray that all my family and friends find the peace of God through this emaculate celebration!

So much for my delicious ice cream...

Yesterday Michelle and I stopped at this place called the Cine Center. We were coming back from Villa Israel and we had to get off the 35 Trufi and catch the ¨M¨ up to la hacienda. So, we went in to go to the restroom and then I decided to splurge and buy an ice cream. As I ate my ice cream we walked out to this sidewalk where we waited for the right Trufi to come by. All of a sudden this man came up asking us for stuff in Spanish and we simply tried to ignore him. As we did he grabbed on to my ice cream, I tried to pull it away, but instead he held on to it and I just let him have it. He just walked off enjoying my ice cream that I before was totally digging! By the way, the ice cream is super delicious here! Not that I like to pass judgement, but I believe that he was extremely poor and either on some kind of drug (which is very common here) or drunk. Instead of fighting him...I am truly convinced that the Holy Spirit allowed me to let go of it and give it to him! Because... if you know Jaclyn, you know that you don´t mess with her and her sweets! He obviously needed and/or wanted it more than I did, so I am fine with that. It just took me by complete surprise, that is for sure! Never a dull moment, nové?

Justin returned from Chapare, which took us by surprise because we thought he wasn´t suppose to come back until Thursday/Friday! Apparently, there is going to be another huge march/protest in town tomorrow for political reasons, so it was probably best he came back when he did since they can be some what dangerous! Tonight Michelle and I are headed to dinner with some of the students from the University that attend the church we go to. The ladies at the bible study invited us, so we figured it would be a great way to get to know people, work on Spanish, and fellowship! Plus, we are going to a very delicious restaurant. Instead of going all the way back up to la hacienda we are burning some time at the Internet cafe before we meet our soon to be friends for dinner! ¡Nos vemos!