9 Predictions For My Time in Venezuela (Part 2)
This is the 2nd part of my series on predictions for my time in VZ
The first part: http://venezuelastint.blogspot.com/2013/09/9-predictions-for-my-time-in-vz-part-1.html
6. I will never be able to completely roll my R's
Some people are born without the abilities that are inherently and graciously imparted to others. Abilities such as athleticism, artistic and musical abilities, and of course, the ability to cook delicious food items. Of course, with the right amount of time put into these activities, most anybody can become a skilled artisan. I myself had become an artisan, if you will, in various musical activities and - at one point in time - Sudoku puzzles. But you cannot deny that some people have the genetics that give them advantages over others. Even if that genetic ability is being able to learn something at a faster pace than others. I don't know if rolling R's is genetically influenced (I bet it is), but I do know one thing... There are people who have been trying to do it for a much shorter time than I and have gotten it down.
The worst part about not being able to roll your R's is knowing that it hasn't gotten any better from the first time you tried. It's not the same as when you don't know other things in the language. When I don't know what something means or I don't know how to say something, I can ask or look it up. And I will be able to use it eventually without any help. Nobody can teach my mouth to produce sounds it doesn't desire to sound out. Believe me, I know my mouth well. But as the Lord can change the heart of a murderer into the heart of a saint, I have to admit that I believe the Lord has the ability to perform what would be nothing short of a miracle on my R-rolling impediment
The worst part about not being able to roll your R's is knowing that it hasn't gotten any better from the first time you tried. It's not the same as when you don't know other things in the language. When I don't know what something means or I don't know how to say something, I can ask or look it up. And I will be able to use it eventually without any help. Nobody can teach my mouth to produce sounds it doesn't desire to sound out. Believe me, I know my mouth well. But as the Lord can change the heart of a murderer into the heart of a saint, I have to admit that I believe the Lord has the ability to perform what would be nothing short of a miracle on my R-rolling impediment
5. Kingdom Vision - My view of ministry and my own personal walk are going to change greatly (in good ways)
Every week that I'm here I come across things that throw me off guard and challenge how I view how I do ministry, not just here but anywhere. I'm also challenged in my own personal walk with Christ in new ways. It's funny, when I'm back in the States, I always hear other Christians talking about their views on what the Christian life should look like, what evangelism should look like, how we should go about worship etc... I can tell you, that that hasn't changed in the least bit here. The only difference is that many of the same issues have different amounts of focus.
Something that burdens my heart here the most is broken families. I don't know the comparative statistics of % of broken homes between the US and Venezuela in order to say that it's worse in Venezuela, but I do know this: Venezuela's standard of living is much lower than that of the US. And the opportunities for single women raising children in the US to support their kids is much greater than those in Venezuela.
Sadly, when I talk to students, I'm used to hearing about broken families. A lot of the guys I talk to just need people in their life who love them and won't leave or abandon them. Ministry, in general, can sometimes be too focused on numbers, and I believe this to be true for ministries and people who have goals and objectives that aren't even quantitatively based. You start a Bible Study on a campus and only 2 people come faithfully the whole semester. It's hard not to think about whether you're doing something wrong or if you're even supposed to be on that campus to begin with. But I've noticed more and more the need that students have - even if they've been involved in the ministry a long time and have many friends within it - to just have somebody there who is constant. Someone who cares about them and someone who loves them. That's when I realize that there are occasionally days, when I need to just drop my material, cancel my original plans, and just sit and listen to a student who is in deep emotional pain.
What good is a ministry with hundreds of students, when, with all the company around them, nobody hears their cries.
Something that burdens my heart here the most is broken families. I don't know the comparative statistics of % of broken homes between the US and Venezuela in order to say that it's worse in Venezuela, but I do know this: Venezuela's standard of living is much lower than that of the US. And the opportunities for single women raising children in the US to support their kids is much greater than those in Venezuela.
Sadly, when I talk to students, I'm used to hearing about broken families. A lot of the guys I talk to just need people in their life who love them and won't leave or abandon them. Ministry, in general, can sometimes be too focused on numbers, and I believe this to be true for ministries and people who have goals and objectives that aren't even quantitatively based. You start a Bible Study on a campus and only 2 people come faithfully the whole semester. It's hard not to think about whether you're doing something wrong or if you're even supposed to be on that campus to begin with. But I've noticed more and more the need that students have - even if they've been involved in the ministry a long time and have many friends within it - to just have somebody there who is constant. Someone who cares about them and someone who loves them. That's when I realize that there are occasionally days, when I need to just drop my material, cancel my original plans, and just sit and listen to a student who is in deep emotional pain.
What good is a ministry with hundreds of students, when, with all the company around them, nobody hears their cries.
4. Venezuelan Guise - The longer I stay here the more I will become unrecognizable as a Gringo.
Chelsea, the long-term US staff here and friend, constantly refers to me as the Venezuelan within our small group of Gringo staff. At first it was just a joke, but now it's becoming more and more of a reality...
Normally, Gringos stick out in Venezuela, because of a few main reasons:
1. They just visually stand out. Lighter hair and skin. Eye color that isn't dark brown. Not wearing their blue jeans in 100 degree weather. Picture with me, a safari, and in this safari are only flamingos. Rarely do you ever see non-flamingo creatures in this safari. NOW, imagine that some buffalo up and walk in on the safari. It's hard for the flamingo not to sit there and wonder "What's up with these buffalo?" That's what it's like. (In no way am I saying Venezuelans are like flamingos, and Gringos like buffalo, that's just the image that popped into my head to help convey my point).
2. They walk in herds together wherever they go. Ok, now imagine the buffalo in this safari travelling together wherever they go. The least buffalo-looking buffalo lead the pack with each new buffalo looking more buffalo than the last. Now there are safety reasons for sticking in packs, even for the flamingos, but with great precaution comes great standing out.
3. Verbal communication is different. This is just an obvious given. When a flamingo hears a buffalo's vocal sounds it doesn't think to itself, "What an odd sounding flamingo". It instantly recognizes the buffalo without even needing to see it.
So as for myself, I arrived in Maracaibo with the last two being as true as they'd ever be. Couldn't speak much Spanish and when I could, my accent was more than obvious. And for the first month or two my team was not allowed to go anywhere by ourselves [for safety reasons].
BUT, there is a wild card in play, my friends. Not only did I come down to Venezuela, looking similar to the people, but as I continue to darker in the sun and get used to the heat, my number 1 is looking good. My eyes have a little color in them, but it's too hard to see from afar and my hair only needs gelled and it'll be as dark as night.
AND, the longer I'm here, the more independent we're able to be with shopping, leisure activities, and the sorts. Not to mention that my Spanish can only get better from this point on, so long as I put the effort in.
Normally, Gringos stick out in Venezuela, because of a few main reasons:
1. They just visually stand out. Lighter hair and skin. Eye color that isn't dark brown. Not wearing their blue jeans in 100 degree weather. Picture with me, a safari, and in this safari are only flamingos. Rarely do you ever see non-flamingo creatures in this safari. NOW, imagine that some buffalo up and walk in on the safari. It's hard for the flamingo not to sit there and wonder "What's up with these buffalo?" That's what it's like. (In no way am I saying Venezuelans are like flamingos, and Gringos like buffalo, that's just the image that popped into my head to help convey my point).
2. They walk in herds together wherever they go. Ok, now imagine the buffalo in this safari travelling together wherever they go. The least buffalo-looking buffalo lead the pack with each new buffalo looking more buffalo than the last. Now there are safety reasons for sticking in packs, even for the flamingos, but with great precaution comes great standing out.
3. Verbal communication is different. This is just an obvious given. When a flamingo hears a buffalo's vocal sounds it doesn't think to itself, "What an odd sounding flamingo". It instantly recognizes the buffalo without even needing to see it.
Heeeyyy Everybody!
So as for myself, I arrived in Maracaibo with the last two being as true as they'd ever be. Couldn't speak much Spanish and when I could, my accent was more than obvious. And for the first month or two my team was not allowed to go anywhere by ourselves [for safety reasons].
BUT, there is a wild card in play, my friends. Not only did I come down to Venezuela, looking similar to the people, but as I continue to darker in the sun and get used to the heat, my number 1 is looking good. My eyes have a little color in them, but it's too hard to see from afar and my hair only needs gelled and it'll be as dark as night.
AND, the longer I'm here, the more independent we're able to be with shopping, leisure activities, and the sorts. Not to mention that my Spanish can only get better from this point on, so long as I put the effort in.
