Step by Step

I love tutoring. I learn so much more in it than I do in class, however, I missed class today because of it. Oops.

I like that I can photocopy a full chapter of a textbook from East Stroudsburg University for .50.

I felt accomplished today.

The ocean and Valpo looked non-existent tonight thanks to the fog and darkness.

:) It was a good day.

How are you living your life?

A friend yesterday told me that his biggest doubt currently is wondering whether or not his biggest dream is something plausible or a silly ambition. He said that he wanted to leave a mark on this world, in history. I don´t know what kind of mark he is aiming for but his life definitely is an example for all to follow.
It makes me wonder sometimes if we sell ourselves short in our dreams. If we only focus on the big large changes and miss out on the small but more important impacts we make on each other.
Jesus gave it all for us. He didn´t think of himself first. He led by pure example and by story. He carried his cross when he really didn´t have the strength to take another step. He took the time to converse with all especially the neglected ones.
Are we losing sight of that in this world? Our focus has become so narrow minded and the word of the day is always...ME. But what about them? A simple smile, a prayer, a kind word of encouragement is all it takes to make some sort of impact on anothe´s life.
So when you think about the word ME, think about Jesus carrying the cross. He died for you, now live for him.

Email Obsession in Cloudy Valpo.

Waiting for an email is like waiting for a pot to boil, the more you watch the longer it takes. Its alright though I guess, I definitely was able to share a piece of my mind and my thoughts to a land far away, Texas. It is my hope that through my words they see the impact they have had on my life with their decision making. Though, in whatever case, I feel much better for expressing how I feel and how upset I had been.

In other news, I led a group to pick up our Chilean ID cards today. :) It was fun to be the leader, even though for a few minutes I didn´t think I could remember how to get there :) But it all worked out and I got a stellar new ID card.

Today I´ve been just sitting around in the office, reading for class. I´m super sleepy, I stayed up way too late last night and shortly after I fell asleep the ground decided to wake me up. Oh dear ground, you like to move. But yeah, anyways, reading. It brought back some eh not so pleasant memories of Jterm (for the record, I did enjoy Moral Education during the second half..)

One observation I made today: It is completely possible to have a blue sky in Viña and a huge cloud cover Valpo. So strange.

Did I mention there were epic games of Dutch Blitz, Set, Telepizza eating, sunset watching, catching up with friends, enjoying life times yesterday??

Me gusta tu hablamiento :P

:) thats all.
I´m extremely blessed here and have found a tranquility in my heart that I haven´t experienced in awhile.

hay cosas que nada ni nadie pueden cambiar porque dependen solo de Dios... ♥

Dear Chile,
What an adventure you have given me so far. You have given me the opportunity to watch myself grow with each passing day. You have allowed me to really feel confident for once about the Spanish language and you have surrounded me by some of the most incredible human beings on the planet. You have tested my faith and strengthened it. You have made into quite the baker and given me a big heart to share. You have allowed me to lead but taught me to remember to follow. And you've started to teach me about the things that matter the most in life. Though, each passing day brings me closer to the end, I know that things are in the trusty, faithful, forever wonderous and strong hands of God, the one that holds the world.

Today is the 1 month anniversary of the quake. For everyone's info...no aftershock can be considered an earthquake unless it is over 8.8...:P

I will be forever grateful for fresh bread, ripe avocados, banana milk, crazy micros, old classrooms, graph paper, and all things that make you completely unique.

Since I last updated, many things have happened. I have begun the process of forgetting my own language, English. And started classes.

This semester I am taking:
Espanol Escrito (Written Spanish)
Poesia Contemporanea de America Latina (Contemporary Latin American Poetry)
Antropologia (Anthropology)
Procesos de Adqucision de Lengua Materna (Acquisition Processes of a Native Language)
Pensamientos Pedagogicos Contemporaneas (Contemporary Educational Thoughts)

Writing class, we seriously just spend time writing.
Poetry, we actually will learn something I think but we read a lot. Thankfully, I've already set up tutoring ;)
Anthropology, well its like philosophy and theology and all tied into one. I'm excited to see how it goes I think. And thankfully Nico (Andres's brother) had this class w/ this prof so he might be able to help and there is a kid from my church in my class too...score!
ProcesosI have a strange professor who corrects my English. Her nickname is Cherry Lips, she was old when Lizette had her.
Educational Thoughts I don't know what this class is about haha

What else is new in my life? Well...for the month of April I can attempt to get the student rate on the micros!!! Though, there was a stupid micro yesterday that saw my paper and completely blew me off, LOSER.

The other night we tried to teach the Chileans how to play Dutch Blitz in El Guaton because we were going to eat in a place called the Trolley Bar but it didn't have food therefore it was a fail.

Everyday I am convinced that I live in the prettiest place in the world. Today we went to Horcon and Zapallar. While the weather left something to be desired, the ocean still displayed all of its glorious colors for us. The flowers were goregous too. As my friend said, who else but God could have created such beauty. I have never seen so many gorgeous colors in flowers in my life :) And did I mention how beautiful the water was, it was a mixture of all sorts of blues from dark to crystal clear blue. I think I'm in love with this place. The ocean also gives us delicious empanadas :D well the ingredients...I ate a shrimp one and a razor clam one :D

I've noticed I have an obsession with avocado.

I love my little room and my crazy host family, though they eat all of my brownies as soon as I finish making them. We eat tasty food.

Everyone is making travel plans for the next 2 weeks (next week is Easter and the following week is some freshman week without classes) but I think I am just staying here. Too expensive to travel...though I'd love to.

I kill spiders in my room and get bit by fleas.

I like walking around Vina and Valpo and am in love with the sunsets here.

I'm not in agreement with some new rules. It takes a lot for me to anger. This has angered me. But luckily, I like to make waves. So tomorrow, I'm making waves.

Great song: I translated it for you all.

Cuando llames quiero responder
(When you call I want to respond)
cuando hables quiero escuchar
(When you talk I want to listen)
cuando escuches te quiero adorar
(when you listen I want to adore you)
mi riqueza eres Tu
(my treasure/riches are You)

En tus brazos quiero descanzar
(In your arms I want to rest)
tus palabras quiero yo beber
(I want to drink your words)
mi cuerpo tu habitacion sera
(Your room? is my body)
por siempre estar en ti

CORO
Jesus, quiero ver
(Jesus, I want to see)
tu gloria sobre mi caer
(Your glory over my falls)
Jesus, te deseo... JESUS
(Jesus, I want you....Jesus)

Mi alma anhela tu presencia
(My soul longs your presence)
Espiritu de Dios
(Spirit of God)
ven sobre mi.
(Come over me)


Yep, that's all I can think of right now.
Sending much love,
Shaina

Live everyday with childlike faith.

I will update soon with the musings of my life but for now I just want to say that we should live everyday with childlike faith and trust and hope. Never be afraid to try and never be afraid to love with all you have.

Fracaso.

Sometimes things fail and fall apart, but the thing to remember is there is a lesson to be learned.

Today was slightly rough. I've been going to bed relatively late and getting up relatively early. A mini tremor was my alarm clock this morning in fact. But anyways, today I was running extremely late like usual, there was no hot water, made lunch, and disappearing keys. It was a fracaso grande. However, I soon learned that everyone else (minus Karisa) was late too.

I've been running around, trying to keep everyone on the same page. Trying to help everyone to the best of my ability. I love it but it sometimes takes a toll on me. Like today. I felt like I started to lose my footing. I am thankful that things went well and I got to explore more of Valpo and talk to my favorite chicas of ISA but I just got to a point of exhaustion almost.

But I realized something. I began to lose myself because I was losing sight of my faith. I can't trust in myself.
I can only trust in God. For in Him and through Him all is possible. He gives me rest. <3

Vamos, vamos Chilenos....Esta dia, vamos a ganar!

It is incredible to watch how this country has so much pride. I remember going to the soccer game last October. The entire stadium dressed in support of its national team. They sang and sang and chanted and chanted. For those few moments during the game, the country united. The uniting force of the soccer game is ever more evident now during this difficult time for the country. "Vamos, vamos Chilenos." Just watching everyone come together is incredible especially the college students. I've been trying to spend time thinking if this is what it was like in the US after hurricane Katrina. And yes, I think the country pulled together too but just watching this country sing together and try to sing still is wonderful. I want to help too. This coming week I'm going to help with collection efforts at Catolica in Valpo.

Things are returning back to normal now. Temblores are less and less frequent (which is good because wow after they happen you feel like you have just got off a boat for a few hours :P).

The entire situation has given me a lot of time to think about the important things in life. Like where do I put my hope? Where am I headed?

Its incredible to think that within 2 weeks, I have grown that much more in my faith. I know where my trust is and where my hope is found. I know that wherever I am, I am surrounded (completely surrounded) by those who love me. This situation has made me appreciate relationships more and especially appreciate the Chilean culture- the closeness of the people. You never realize just how important a hug or a tap on the shoulder is. The people show their care for each other here. Being close and sharing everything is what it is all about.

I love my host family too. I think I love them so much more because this time we spend time together, eating, watching TV, reminding ourselves that tomorrow we are going to eat apples, and just sitting around in the living room. I feel so much closer.

My Chilean friends have done so much to make my US friends feel welcome too. I am so thankful for them. I am so thankful for my youthgroup. I'm thankful for the support, the love, the praises, the honesty, and a place to feel like I belong. And despite the little cracks in the walls of the church, Sunday we will have services there ;)

The funny thing is too, I have a lot of Chilean moms here. And they all support me. Of course, I love my real mom the most but it is nice to know that I have so many looking out for me here.

While the earthquake was scary and caused a lot of problems in the country (please donate money and PRAY!), it brought me that much closer to those around me. We really don't know when God is going to call us home, but the most important thing is that through it all the hands that are holding the world are holding our hearts. So when we leave this Earth, it may hurt those around us, but that means we were loved that much more. Leave a mark here. And remember that our highest goals cannot be achieved here on Earth. The greatest prize comes when we get to heaven. That's our goal, that's where our hope should be. The things of the Earth can be replaced.