My own little Christmas letter

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

 

I hope everyone is doing well!  Since it's Thanksgiving (or at least it was when I wrote the first draft), I figured I should go ahead and write a Christmas letter.  I'm delivering it via email because it's a lot easier for me.  (250 family/friend contacts x 41 cents = more than $100!!! :-)

 

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Honduras

In case you haven't heard, I'm back from Honduras.  I really enjoyed my time down there and would just love to go back some day.  Before I left, I had the chance to spend time up on the north coast with some good friends.  It was so beautiful and I just had a great time.  I miss my friends from Honduras and I truly think about my time there almost every day.  I believe that God will allow me to go back to Latin America someday.

 

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Masters

When I decided to return, I thought the best option for me would be to go ahead and get my masters.  So, as luck (meaning God) would have it, here I am back at Lee University pursuing a Masters of Music in Music Education.  I have no doubt that it's the place God wants me to be.  I've had a tough first semester of graduate school, but my professors have all assured me that this is perfectly normal.  :-)  I just hope I get better at this next semester!

 

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Assistantship

The most exciting part of being back at Lee is the opportunity that I have to study with Dr. Green through an assistantship with the Lee University Chorale.  I really couldn't imagine a better place for me to be or a better opportunity to learn with.  Just a couple of weeks ago I had my first opportunity to conduct the Chorale on our fall concert.  What a thrill!  It was so exciting!  And for it being my first time, they followed my jumbled motions pretty well!

 

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New Job!

After talking with one of my professors, he encouraged me to look for a music minister position where I could be in front of a choir on a more regular basis.  After looking around for a job, I found one where I seemed to fit, and I have already started there as of December 5th.  Exciting!  The job is at McKendree United Methodist Church in Jasper, TN.  Jasper is a bit of a drive from Cleveland, TN, but over-all, it will be well worth the experience I'm sure.

 

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That's all from my little corner of the world.  I would love to hear back from each of you; if you have a chance please send me a quick note and tell me what's up.  Add me as a friend on Facebook or find me on Plaxo, and lets keep in touch!

 

 

Your friend and/or family member,

Jason Scott Vawter

Can you say, "High Bb"?!?!

If you want to see Celin Dion and Andrea Bocelli hit a high Bb for the first time in my entire career... please click HERE!

Iguana!!!!

Ok, so today I walk in the door to our house and since it's so hot inside the first thing I do is open all the windows and such. But today was a little different because as I walk towards the sliding glass door, I am stopped by the sight of a huge iguana/lizard thing. And when I say huge, I mean, "How in the world did this thing get in my house?!"

So here for your veiwing pleasure is a picture of this huge lizard (on a leaf of our bird-of-paradise plant). But the best part is the VIDEO!!! so check it out by clicking HERE!

Semana Santa! (and Catholism)

Easter was great! I enjoyed being in Antigua and I got to see a bunch of great things. We actually planned on (and did) come back on Saturday so that we would miss the "returning home" crowd. (Antigua is the place to be for holy week.) But we apparently didn't miss the crowd of people. In fact a couple of our buses were overbooked. But we sure had fun while we were there.

One of the most famous things they do in Antigua for Semana Santa (Holy Week) are the afombras (carpets). They have processions every day where statues of Christ, Mary, and some of the appostles are carried through the street. It's supposed to be a mental picture of Christ going through Jerusalem during his last week. It's interesting because they carry Him on these huge platforms (almost like floats) but they sway from side to side to make it look like He's walking. Well, back to the afombras... They make carpets out of sawdust or other natural things and the procession then walks on them. The biggest day we saw was Thursday-night/Friday morning. Christ's arrest is depicted and there are tons of afombras almost everywhere. But the interesting part was that they spend all Thursday night and Friday morning (staying up all night) making them, but then the procession walks on them by very early the next day.

I'm not sure where this tradition comes from. If I had to guess, I would say that maybe they started making more "special" carpets for Palm Sunday when Jesus is supposed to come in on His triumphantly peaceful Donkey. Then maybe they just decided that Jesus was so special that He needed carpets then entire week. But I don't know, so don't take my word for it.

On Friday afternoon they had some other things as well. At the church, they crucified Jesus. It was pretty interesting, but I don't think they would have gotten very far with this in the States. They were dressed a little funny... to say the least. Actually, remember Chris Betz from COTW? Me and him were very good friends, and we had a lot of talks about Catholic things since he is Catholic. Out of all the things we talked about, there wasn't one single thing that I was uncomfortable with or one doctrine that I couldn't agree with at the least being a possibility. Actually, I really admired many of the things that Catholics have in their doctrines or catechisms.

All that said... there in Antigua I began to feel very uncomfortable. Maybe it was just the things that I didn't understand, or maybe it wasn't the Catholic Church at all, but rather the people in it. But either way, I truly felt like there were things that were pretty far off and it made me uncomfortable seeing it. I can see why the evangelical churches down here have really pulled away from the Catholics. It's hard for me to put together all that Chris said with what I see down here. It's incongruent to say the least. The only think I can guess is that maybe the Vatican is just looking the other way. I really believe there are people down here that worship Mary or that worship some of the icons that the churches keep. I mean... they are very beautiful and they definitely could be bringing glory to God, but not if people are worshiping them instead of Him.

And all that goes very far against what Chris and I talked about a couple of summers ago. Apparently in Vatican II, all that type of stuff was frowned upon and more or less outlawed within the faith. Which makes me wonder exactly what it is that's going on here and how the Vatican is getting around having to deal with it head on.

But either way, the afombras make for very beautiful (if temporary) carpets and pieces of artwork.

The YPG-525

Guess what? I also just made my first large puchase with the music money! I bought (of all things) a keyboard. I was looking around and trying to research them yesterday online and I found a couple of good ones. You know, I like the Yamaha brand. They have something besides the Clavinova series, called Portable Grand. It has fully weighted keys and it's piano-focused (their word, not mine) so it has a really good piano sound. It also has real stereo (not just two speakers), so the high notes sound like they're coming from the right side and the low notes from the left side. Anyway, I was looking around and found that almost always the price was $599. That seemed to be a good price for it. There were a few places that sold it for $549, plus shipping, but I found one that didn't charge for shipping and cost $599. Then, while I was there I noticed they were selling a special packaged deal: they were selling the keyboard with it's Yamaha issued "Survival Kit". The kit usually costs between $30-60 when you buy it by itself. But the store must have made a mistake in their pricing because instead of listing the package as $ 630 (which would have been a very reasonable price), it was listed at $530! And this is the same store that doesn't charge for shipping! So needless to say, I bought it! I was only planning on looking yesterday, but when I came across that seeming mistake, I couldn't help but buy it. It worked out well though, even after I put it in my cart and everything it still said $530. Actually, I got an email this morning telling me I had been charged $530, so it looks like that really was the price. But I'm not worried because I'm buying it new, so even if it's the $630 price, I won't mind since it's the exact one I wanted the school to have. If you want to check it out online or something it's called the YPG-525 (Yamaha Portable Grand).

I'm excited!

April 1st

These are the wonderful sites my roomates got to see when they woke up this morning. During the night, every peice of furniture in the house (minus only four major pieces and the bed I was on) was moved into their room. I wonder who did that? Notice the Stove in the back ground. Whoever moved all of that stuff so stelthaly must have been a very strong man.

The funniest thing is looking at the rest of the house and seeing how empty it is. HA!

Mi Español

Querido Amber,

 

Que bien para oírte!  Como esta mi español?  No esta muy bien, unfortunamente, pero tengo muchas suenas que voy a estar mejor un día.  Esta Verano, voy a tener clases de español para ayudarme hablar mejor.  No se.  Posiblemente.  Yo quiero regresar al Camp-of-the-Woods, pero yo necesito esta tiempo mas para ayudar con mi español.  Aventurero, yo voy a regresar... aventurero.

 

Y usted?  Como estas?  Mucho tiempo no ver!  Estas in una universidad o in su colegio?  Donde vas?  Yo recuerdo mucho acerca la Llama de muerte y las otras llamas.

 

Obviamente, mi español no esta bien, pero en una conversación, yo puedo entender mucho y explicar un pocito.  De verdad, cuando estoy in un culto, no es más difícil para entender los puentes mayores.  A veces, dependiendo en quien es hablando, puedo entender todo.  Cuando un gringo es hablando, no es difícil.  Cuando un atracan, pocito mas difícil.  Cuando un catrachan del campo, dificilísimo!

 

Entonces...  Tenga una buen noche, y yo espero para verte otra vez un día!

 

Tu amigo,

Jason Scott Vawter

 

Espero que usted le guste esto correo

On a happier note...

I didn't get much sleep last night, but that was because we had a concert with the National Choir.  It was at a new place for me.  It was downtown in an old, but beautiful theatre.  I just wanted to eat it up.  It was a fairly small theatre as far as theatres go, but it was so beautiful.  The concert was in honor of the European Union's 50 anniversary.  It was by invitation only (Europeans, but mostly Germans) and was joint paid for by the European Union and Germany.  And for those of you who don't know: the "international" anthem of the EU is the chorus from Beethoven's 9th, Ode to Joy.  I found that very interesting on so many levels.  There was yet another immaculate reception that followed where the expensive orderves lined endless platters and the Coke, Sprite, and red and white wine flowed freely.  I told Milton (my student who was there) that they must have paid at least $20 a head for all that food.  He kept wanting to have a glass of wine just to try it.  I told him that I wanted to as well since I'd never had any, but that we had both signed saying we wouldn't.  I think he ended up taking a sip from someone else's glass, but I didn't actually see it...

 

Where else can a regular old guy go and hang out with dignitaries and diplomats and ambassadors of all kinds?  It was amazing!  It's really a lot of fun being a part of the high life every once in a while.  But it was sort of odd thinking that even though this theatre has been in Tegus for more than 90 years, probably VERY few Hondurans or even Tegucians have ever even seen it on the inside.  Music really is something for the "upperclass" here.  I wish that were different.  I would really like to change that, but it won't happen overnight and it definitely won't happen unless Hondurans want it too.

The Dearly Departed

Well... as I write to all of you tonight, my heart is filled with a great sadness. One of my dear friends of this past week has gone on to better places. I didn't have much time to get to know him, but in the short week that we had together, I tried my best to be a good friend.

Actually, at first, he really didn't seem to like me, but he soon got over his initial prejudices and we developed a deep, though short lived fellowship. I knew earlier today that he wasn't feeling well, and I worried about him all night. When I was finally able to come back to see how he was, he had already passed on. In truth, ants had already found their way down the meter and a half of fishing line from the ceiling to his cage.

Yes, although I'm sure this will come as a shock to many, my dearly beloved pet parrot, Francisco, is dead. For those of you who got to know him, I know this is a saddening time. But if there is anyone to blame in this situation, surely it is me, his caretaker. I noticed when I came home from school that he wasn't doing well at all. He was silent and plastered to the side of his cage like he was thrown there by Sylvester himself. I tried to talk to him, but he didn't do much more than blink at me or coo when I talked to him. I thought he was just being dramatic (parrots are known to do those types of things), but later as I left this afternoon to go to my concert... I realized in the car that it had been a little more than 24 hours since I watered him. I immediately called my roommates and asked them to stick some water in his cage as soon as they got a chance. I thought that there would be enough time, but apparently it was too late. They are asleep right now, and I'm left to wonder if they even know what has transpired. If not, they'll surely find out in the morning. I wonder how Brian will ever get over this.

If you want my expert veterinary opinion, I believe Francisco was cruelly and tragically murdered by none other than myself. He was a good friend and a stalwart companion while he lasted. Probably the saddest $12.50 that I've ever spent in my life. Such pain and agony, none other has ever known. Forgive me, world; I am not fit to be a pet owner.

In grief and despair,

Jason Scott Vawter

PS- I will leave you all with this one final picture so as to remember only the happy times we had together.

My new pet Parrot!!!

So Check out my new pet parrot!!!

This dude is so sweet. Based on advice from Cleo, the cleaning lady, it's going to be called Fransisco, (or Fco short, except that the "co" is supposed to be written in superscript like the "st" in 1st cause that's how they do that name down here).

He's quite the little bird. I still have no clue whether it's a male or a female and I keep getting weird advice to that end. Apparently the girls are the only ones that talk. (No comment)

He hasn't said anything yet, but he's still pretty young. If you are able to take a closer look at him or look at him in the sunlight, you can see that he's got some red and blue on his forhead as well as some deep blue on his wings when he unfurls them.

If anyone knows much about parrots, I'd be glad for the advice. At the moment I've found that his favorite food is chips. I have yet to get him turned on to hot sauce, but mark my words... he'll like it. I've heard that birds aren't affected by capsican (the stuff that make hot food hot). We'll see.

I believe he is less than a year old (maybe less than a few months), and thereby still not fully grown. I'm almost completely sure that he's an Amazon Parrot (more of a family than a species). And as far as I can tell beyond that (from pictures on Wikipedia) I think he might be a Puerto Rican Parrot. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about this kind of Parrot:

"The species is the only remaining native parrot in United States territory and one of the 10 most endangered bird species in the world. Conservation efforts were started in 1968 to save this species from likely extinction. As of 2006 the total wild population is estimated at 44 individuals."

Now obviously if my is Puerto Rican, he wouldn't be one of those 44... but Brian (who's really quite a scaredy-cat when it comes to Fco) believes that the only logical choice right now is to offer it to a zoo or aviary somewhere. It's a good thing there aren't any real close, or I think Brian might just go ahead and take the initiative himself. Ha.

One of his wings is already clipped, but it really takes all the beautiful colors out when you do that. I hope he molts soon after he desides that my fingers aren't the boogy man.

Oh by the way... I only paid $12.50 for the bird and his cage. ;-) I'm sure my mom will be proud since parrots in the states are much closer to the $200-400 price range. :-D

I'm happy.

Trusting God

As for the valley/dessert I was/am in, Pastor Strickland read my mail in the service Sunday morning.  He preached on valleys, and it was right after (and I mean minutes) I wrote that blog post.  It was really what I needed to hear.  He talked about three different valleys mentioned in the Old Testament.  One of them was from Psalm 84 when it was talking about the Valley of Baca (this means tears).  It says that as they pass through the Vally of Baca, they will make it full of springs and pools of water.  It reminded me of something Ms. Peggy said... She said that sometimes God has us in dry places so that we will learn how to dig a well that will serve us for many years to come.  Like when Jacob came back to the wells of his dad and grandfather and re-dug them... it was a little troublesome at the beginning, but once they dug the wells they had all the water they ever needed, even when it was really dry.  (It didn't hurt that Ps 84 had a ton of other great stuff in it from really relavant and recent songs)

 

And I think that's what God has been trying to get me to do.  I use to try to tank up every morning (usually) by reading or praying and then it wouldn't take more than a few seconds for me to get distracted.  But now, instead of just coasting through, I've been having to stop and stay almost constantly aware of God's presence and guidance.  It's so much more step by step.  I can't really get guidance for the next mile, I have to take it for the next moment.

 

And today was pretty good.

 

Actually, a few moments ago, I found out about one of my students.  GET THIS:

 

One of my 7th grade students, Ninoska Flores (younger sister of Diana), has had severe scoliosis for a good while.  She always wears a brace that's very visible, and although that would be good reason for many 7th graders to become constantly self-conscious and gloomy, she's always got a smile on her face.  She's always happy.

 

I had 7A last period for music (that's her class), and I gave them a test which was a hard, and, admittedly a little hastily put together.  Well, when I got home and started to grade the tests, hers was on top and the very first thing I see written on it (like some banner on the top of a web page that usually stays ignored) was, "Today I was healed; my back is great!"

 

What?  Exactly what does that mean?  I decide to ask Daniel and he says, yeah, it was a big deal.  She's been asking Carolyn for prayer for the past week and today Carolyn felt the desire to pray for her during one of her free periods.  So Carolyn asked to have a few students come out of class and go to the sanctuary.  I was aware of this, but I didn't know why.  I thought she might have been practicing for a chapel or something.  Well, she and the other students pray and, no joke, Ninoska's back straightens out, her shoulder blade grows out, and so does one of her legs.  Huh?  She says she immediately felt better, except of course for one foot which was now too big for the special shoes she's been wearing.  She wanted to stop wearing her brace, but Carolyn said she should ok it with her parents and a doctor first.

 

Now, I've been working through the first few chapters of Acts with my students and one of the things I'm big on is making sure we read it as if it's happening right now.  I mean, every time we come to something remotely miraculous, I ask them, "Would you believe it if it happened now?"  I'm not talking about the ever present today, I'm asking, if it happened in the real today, would you believe it?  And of course the answer is usually no; maybe if it was someone we know.  Maybe.  But even in that case, we're more likely to think that the person is just over reacting.  Maybe they're just confused.  Maybe... maybe it's just a coincidence.

 

Talk about amazing.  I'm floored just thinking about all this.  I can't believe that the girl didn't scream it to me as soon as I walked through the door.  Apparently she went through PE without shoes because they were uncomfortable.  Ha!  What a wonderful problem!  And one of the students that was asked to pray for her sat weeping on the sancutary floor for the greater part of an hour just overwhelmed that God had moved so mightily and had chosen to use him.  I'm told this was a visual thing and that no one who was there doubted it.  It wasn't, "I think I saw that"; it was certain and for sure.

 

This is where I want to be.  I don't mind the step by step guidance, so long as I know God's with me.  Sure, I think I'd rather see the road ahead, but you know... I think it's more exciting when it's step by step.  It's like a game, where you've got a blindfold on, but instead of being lead around by a friend... it's Someone a little better.  :-D

Prayer

Spiritually I have been going through a tough time these past few
weeks. Things have been rough and I have felt empty and week. The
hardest part has been the lack of specific guidance. I obviously know
that I'm supposed to be here in Honduras, but I'm confused as to where
and how. There are many options open to me, many honor-filled things
that I can do. And this should make me happy and joyfilled, but I'm
just left confused. I'm not sure where to put effort first. And, I'm
also confused about other areas of my life.

If any of you have the time, I would greatly appreciate prayer for
this area. I know this seems like a rather vague request, but it's a
very serious on. Spiritually, this is a very difficult and hard time
for me. I would probably consider it the second hardest time in my
life, spiritually that is. It's a dry place and a desert. I know
that we are supposed to endure these types of places sometimes, but
this one is different. It's affecting my ability to serve and to
minister, not just my personal happiness or enjoyment.

So, if you have the time and endurance, I would greatly appreciate
your prayers. I've been praying and fasting about this myself for a
good while now, but still haven't broken through. That's why I'm
asking for your prayers. Maybe sometimes we're not meant to "press
through" without help.

Gratefully yours.

PC

To whom it may concern:

Just keeping you posted so you will not embarrass yourself.  Due to the climate of political correctness now "pervading" America,  those of us in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky will no longer be referred to as "HILLBILLIES."  You must now refer to us as: APPALACHIAN-AMERICANS.

Thank you!

Now if you'll excuse me, I got possums to fry.

more for you!

for those of you who are too lazy to click on the link below....

;-)

Roatan Pictures

Here are just a few select pictures from my trip to Roatan.

Long overdue, I know.

But a least you have them now.

If you want to see them all (many have explainitive captions) just go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/afishymusicmachine


















( I had to eat three huge burritos)

Re: Email from er at ESL Jobs, TEFL Jobs, TESOL Jobs

Mirjana,

 

Unfortunately, the God of Christianity isn't as open and "universal" as it is often portrayed.  Allow me to explain.

 

Many people consider the Jesus of the Bible to be a good man with good character and exemplary morals, but in Mark 10 when Jesus is called "good teacher" in front of many people, he says the following: ""Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone."

 

Christianity is one of those tricky religions; it's very obviously a religion, but it claims to be different from the rest.  It refuses to be marginalized.  A Christian can't truly believe in the 4 gospels without believing that Christianity is the only way.  Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  That's pretty specific.

 

And it's also very exclusive.  Jesus invites anyone who will come, to come.  But according to the Bible, He only accepts those who accept Him.

 

Sure, there are those who believe that Jesus was just a good man and that his followers chose to elevate him more than he desired.  But if that's true, and if the only record that we have of this good man comes to us through tainted, power hungry, confused, or lying hands... then why bother calling him a good man?  If this is the case, we don't even know who he really is.  Besides, there are plenty of other good and even great men and women of faith and character whose historical record isn't as tainted as this one must be.

 

Like Lewis says, either the guy was crazed, he was lying, or maybe... maybe he was telling the truth all along.

 

Yours servant in Christ,

 

Jason Scott Vawter

Teacher, Office Assistant

CEAD Christian School

 

On 3/8/07, Mirjana Rink <mirjanarink@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear Mr. Jason,


Religion is an universal sentiment which is inside everybody and has been
been inside every person since the beginning of the world. But it seems that
religion and faith act as a 'Forgotten Citizens.

I strongly believe that if we lack religion we lack something fundamental
for the development of man. And from that point only a good education might
bring humanity back to the harmony in peace. Religion is believing and not
giving up, it is expression of the human tendency towards elevation.

I see the child as the one who can bring back forgotten spirit, and us
adults to help them and create religion to develop his spirituality., thus
establish ties with god.

Myself I found the kingdom of heaven in a child. And this is what keeps me
in faith and believe that this is the vision of a new world, the world of
spirit.

If we give language to us why not give us a religion?
We need to give religion more revelation and nourish the child with this
greatness.

I see myself as an aid in my mission to protect and develop those natural
energies implanted in child by the guiding hand of god.

May god be with you and  guide your conclusions and decisions.


love and peace
mirjana andre rink

long time no post

I haven't heard anything about that special award from Lee, except that Mrs. Holden keeps asking me clarification questions (what does this acronym mean? how do you pronounce Tegucigalpa... and such).  I don't know much of anything about it.  Which is really just fine; my head's quite large enough as it is.  :-D

 

Our vacation two weeks ago was good, but not near long enough.  I wish I could have some more time off.  The good thing is this week went very quickly.  The bad thing is that so did my weekend.  Ha.  It was really nice having a visitor here from the states (or France rather).  Phil was just one sweet dude and I hope we get to stay in touch some over the next few years.  This next week, Daniel's twin brother is coming down, so will get to have another visitor, which makes me excited.  I like having people over for us to entertain, even if I don't really know them before they come.  (I really hope you get to come down Mom!!!)

 

Don't tell anybody, but Brian is getting to visit the states this coming weekend because he's going to someone's wedding.  He's really excited about it, but I'm going to miss him.  It's just not the same without all three of us here.  We've actually spent almost every waking hour together since last August.  Both Daniel and Brian are just stellar guys, and I'm so glad to know them.  I've never really had great guy friends like them (besides Greg of course!).

 

I'll see if I can finish making my pictures ready for uploading.  If so, I'll have them today.  Maybe.  ;-)

teaching the teachers

Things are going quite well here.  I'm becoming more and more equipped to help out and God is affording me many more opportunities than I could have imagined.  Just yesterday I was asked to give a sort of "master class" to music teachers here.  The class would be in English and obviously these teachers would already know both English and a whole lot about music (and probably be a lot more experienced in it than me)... but the point of the class would be to give them English terminology for all the music jargon that they already know in Spanish.  If it's done right, it could really change the face of music at bilingual schools here in Honduras.  Right now, I'm told that there are many music teachers at the bilingual schools who know English but are forced to teach their subject in Spanish because of the lack of jargon.  At the moment, I'm still not exactly sure how this would work... how many classes would be needed or whether it would be a static thing or what.  I'm not sure.  I still have a lot of jargon to learn myself.  Although... I think this would greatly help me.  We'll see.

 

Talk about the blind leading the blind though.

 

You guys will have to lift me up in prayer because I can see very quickly one of my week points will be believing that I really am an expert or what not.  I am often treated like something special or like an expert, but the truth is that I'm one of the least qualified people for this job.  The only reason I'm here is because God wants me here... not because I'm something extra special.  So, if you would, pray that I don't succumb to pride or arrogance.  Sometimes it's not easy; there's just too much for me to like about myself.  j:-I  (sarcasm)

Cell phone!!!

I got a cell phone!  I guess I forgot to tell my blogging base.  If you want to call me and waste even more money than you would usually, then you can just call this handy-dandy number, 011-504-855-4331, and I'll answer as soon as possible.  Ha.  Actually, I might be recieving a call from the states today on my cellphone, from the company that makes the software that runs our school.  The software is called School Minder and it's made by Hunter Systems.  I've actually been talking to one or two of their employees through email and they seem to be just stellar people.  One even invited me to stay at his house if I were to come back this summer and take some lessons in the program (don't worry, chances are it wouldn't ever happen).  He wants me to see his little baby.  Que Linda!

 

Oh, as for the number thing, I would be very careful.  Actually, I wouldn't bother calling me because it's so expensive (besides... who really wants to talk with themselves?).  You don't just have to pay for the call to Honduras (which believe me is expensive enough), but you also have to pay for the fact that you're calling a cellphone.  I don't know how expensive it is, but I could imagine that it's out the wazzoo.

 

Well, you Hunstvillians enjoy you're slush and stuff.  I wonder if Cleveland got anything good?  Probably not.  ;-)

Answers

Here are just a few answers for the many questions you may have.  :-)

 

I have been going to the prayer meetings recently (more than at first), and I really get a lot out of them.  I think it could be one of the best services at the church, even if it does start at 6am.  The services here are good, although they manly deal with prosperity type messages.  Me and some the other guys sort of wonder if it's theologically shaky ground, but we think things will get better now that our fearless leader is returning.  Bill Strickland, the head missionary here, is coming back which makes me very happy.  He's just a stellar man of God, and I can't wait to get to know him more.

 

They have four services on the weekends; one on Saturday night and three Sunday morning.  Then they have two midweek services which are usually a little more lively and charismatic than the weekend ones.  They have a youth service on Thursday night and of course the prayer service Friday morning.  I've actually just been going to one of the weekend services and leaving it at that.  Sometimes we have a translator and sometimes we don't.  I can't understand the general gist of the service without one, but I pay attention a lot better if it's translated.

 

That picture of me on Facebook with the Uncle Sam hat was just spontaneous.  I was at the cultural night, but I didn't have a specific job.  Actually, none of us gringos had our own country.  I was actually singing Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever".  You'd be surprised at how much of that you actually know just from what you've heard.  I was supposed to take pictures, but once again, I forgot.  :-(

 

Well, talk to ya later!

Have a great day...

Well, it's a little too late late for that one; the kids are already giving me trouble.  Bleh.  I was supposed to have two parent/teacher conferences this morning.  The first one went fairly well, but the second one didn't happen.  The parent didn't come, and the kid's normal teacher thinks that the boy was just saying that his mom was comming so that he could get out of his detention.  We'll see.  My 10th grade Bible class didn't go as well as it should have either.  They just kept talking... but that's ok, they'll just have the test tomorrow without the helpful review.  Heh heh.

 

The concert went well this weekend.  I was kicking myself for not bringing my camera and taking pictures.  It was so cool.  I went up to Cristo del Picacho (Christ of the Peak) and we sang for the mass that was given in thanks (and honor) of the President's first year in office.  It was a wonderful experience.  I didn't sing my solo (they ended up cutting out that section on the last night of rehearsal since there was no way to practice it with all the people absent).  But I did sing the "Halleluja Chorus" from Handel's Messiah from memory in Spanish (or at least I looked like I did ;-).

 

For those of you who want to know... the house isn't air-conditioned, but it's really not needed.  Usually a fan will do just fine, but actually... most of the time we don't even need that.  The climate is so comfortably moderate here.  All the walls are concrete and there isn't really insulation anywhere in the house; but once again... it's not really needed.

New Pictures available!!!

To all those who love pictures:

 

New pictures are available at www.picasaweb.google.com/afishymusicmachine.  There are plenty to go around, so please... wait your turn.

 

I'm using Picasa for a number of reasons... one, it's free, and two I'm able to include captions with each of my photos.  Please enjoy the two new albums.

 

If you would like the full size (6MP) of any of the photos, just email me.  I'll be happy to email them you.

 

Bloggingly and pictorally yours,
-Jason

closer to an All-city (or something)

Dearly beloved!

Guess what I just got nominated for?  Of course nomination's not the same as reception, but it's cool in an of itself.  I called Ms. Holden yesterday, as per her request.  It was my first out-of-country call since I've been here in Honduras.  But from what I understand, I have two weeks to find the best way to "sell" myself to the committee that makes the final decisions.  As I understand it... this is one of the highest honors at Lee.  Go me...  ;-)

Although I am highly honored, I always find it funny when one has to write humbly about themselves in the third person.  I.E. "Jason is one of the smartest, most talented, and completely gifted people I know."  Ha.  (Try not to fall out of your seats on that one. ;-)  It's an odd opportunity that occurs more than once in the life of your everyday musicians.  Musicians are often called upon to write their own biographys for musicals and operas as well.  Same sort of deal: "Jason has sung the lead role in 5 musicals and 10 operas during his brief time here on earth.  His proffessors have called upon him to give speaches advocating music at national conferences as well as one to the Lee University freshman class during chaple.  Jason is highly qualified for whatever you might need him to do; he can play the piano with brilliance, and sightread anything at the drop of a hat, and he has the most lyrical tenor voice one could possibly imagine ever hearing.  Many a woman have had their hope cruely dashed to the floor after hearing it and falling immeadiately in love only to find out later that he was never interested in them to begin with."

Oh what farse!  :-)

Anyway, I also have good news on other fronts as well.  Last night I got a chance to talk with the director for the AFCH, which is the society that supports and guides the philharmonic chorus and orchestra (as well as other things).  He shared with me his vision and I share with him mine.  He has actually hoped for some time to do the things that I am hoping for.  He has worked hard toward this effort but it is not easy holding up an entire organization almost single handedly.  However, the good news is that since he has tried similar things before, I am hoping to work with him and learn from what has been done in the past as well as get musical and administrative guidance from him from a more Honduran viewpoint.

The best part is knowing that his desires in this area are the same as mine.  He has been working towards the advocacy of music in Honduras (on all levels) for the past 20 years or so, and he actually started AFCH through political grants and other very similar things.  It is so nice to know that I have someone who knows more about this than me!  I mean, how depressing would it be to be trying to do this all on my own and only have guidance from back in the states?  Even if I was in the states I would hope to have someone in the same town I was in from who I could draw wisdom and learning.  Right?  Well... that's some good reasons to be excited!

Oh... he's also hoping to do Fiddler on the Roof in English with a couple of the schools here!!!  I'm so pumped about all this.  Jorge Mejia, Lic. is just a sweet guy!

Mozart's Requiem

Well, I won't be "dying of unbearable bliss" anytime soon because we aren't going to sing in that amazing cathedral.  Instead, we're going to be singing in an amphitheatre type atmosphere on a mountain-side/top.  It still should be pretty cool.

Tomorrow, we (the Honduran Nation Choir) are going to be singing at a funeral mass.  We're actually going to be singing parts of Mozart's Requiem as a requiem.  Literally, we will be singing it at a funeral--what it was originally intended for.  Now, that's something that you don't even hear about very often, much less participate in.  I'm amazed.  The person that died was one of the grandparents of a choir member.

SUYAPA!!!!!

Cable internet

Good news all around!  I'm going to be getting cable internet at the house soon.  I've also ordered some cheap (but good brand) wireless routers for guys to use at the house (since we each have laptops).  That will mean that I'll be much more accessable to all of you.  In fact, if I'm at home, I'll try to leave Skype always on so that you will be able to "call" me using it.

 

(My Skype ID is "afishymusicmachine", but you can always find my with just my name.)

 

Singing at Suyapa

More good news!  (I hope my overexcitement doesn't offend any of you).  At the moment, it looks like I'm going to be singing with the Honduran national choir at Suyapa!!!!  I'm so excited I can bearly stand it.  You should hear the sound there!!! I think if we sing there next Saturday (the 27th), I'll just die of unbearable bliss.

 

I'm also getting a few of my students to join me at the rehearsal tonight!  Hip, hip! (...Horay!)  That's really cool because we'll be about the only school who can claim that honor.  Hopefully... just hopefully, we're getting better step by step.

 

Reading Music

The other day we had a milestone in my music classes... my students actually read music on their own!!  I was more excited than I thought would be possible!  It was one of the most amazing experiences that I've ever had.  I never would have thought I would be able to get them from not reading anything to reading something.  Actually, in my after-school choir, they actually sang two part stuff.  It was so wonderful.

 

Ha.  I wonder what they would think if they ever found this page?  Ha.

 

Well, talk to you later, Chicos!

Greetings from Honduras!!!

Greeting from Honduras!!!

 

(The three exclamation points let you know it's the third time I've sent one of these informative masterpieces; which makes you wonder what's going to happen when I've sent out 10 or so…)

 

For the usual junk mail disclaimer, please see the bottom.

 

Well here I am back in Honduras; yet another couple of months and Christmas season has passed like a rug right out from under my feet.   Ha.  Anyway, I figured it's about time I reminded all of you that I'm still alive and doing well.  At least some of you will be happy to hear this, I'm sure.  So many great things have happened since I last talked with you, and there are so many blessings for me to tell you all about.

 

First semester at a close

Last semester went off without too much of a hitch.  Towards the end, all the Lee University deadlines started to catch up with me and I almost missed one or two of them.   But I finished strong, and I can now tell my students (with a clear conscience) that I'm fully graduated.

 

Teaching wise, I had made more than a few mistakes last semester, but I'm sure my students will eventually forgive me and forget about that 24 page paper they had to turn in right at the end for their Bible classes.   It's tough completing a paper that long when you're only in the class for 2 hours a week.

 

Graduation

To start off with I had a great graduation ceremony.  For those of you who don't know already; I finally have my official degree and am "all grown up" (if you care to believe such nonsense).   I think what I have is a Bachelors in Music Education (Vocal) Teacher licensure K-12.  I think.  Hey, what does it matter?   The way I see it; I've already got a job, right?   ;-)

 

As a side note, I was honored and blessed with the opportunity to sing at my own commencement ceremony, which apparently isn't something that happens very often at Lee.   It was a very special occasion to say the least.  I sang "O Little Town of Bethlehem," except I sang it in Spanish so the actual title was "O Pueblecito de Belen."  Either way, it was a lot of fun and everybody clapped.  I was glad they did because it would have been really awkward if they hadn't.

 

Family time

After graduation I got to spend time with my family including Grandpa, who sacrificed a lot to make my college education possible.  Speaking of which, I should mention that had it not been for my parents and grandparents on both sides, I would not be able to be here in Honduras because of the college debt that I would have accrued at this point in my life.  Thank you ever so much.

 

On the way back

On my way back here, I was blessed with a $97, one-way ticket here.  Which is a miracle on two accounts: 1) $97 tickets don't exist, and 2) one-way tickets to Honduras don't exist.   Once I arrived it was back to business.  So many things to do and yet… so much time.  It's so nice to be home.  I'm currently writing you from the second story of a Café Mania coffee shop that overlooks the nightlights of the city.   It's so beautiful here; the temperature is a cool 70F, and the night is alive with the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

Please remember me as I continue to suffer for Jesus.

 

Plans and Dreams

Even as I write to you Ms. Godoy, the school's general principal, is in a meeting with the church board giving them an update.  If you're one of the first to read this tonight, pray that while she's there he board will seriously consider (and approve) the proposal for a bell/intercom system for the school.  Thanks to my brother, Greg, for the time and energy that he spent helping us find a system that would work with what we have here and yet be as inexpensive as possible.

 

Another plan that is growing deep roots in my heart is my desire to start an all-city among the bilingual schools here in Tegucigalpa.  Many doors have been opened and are continuing to open right in front of me, but there are many left yet to walk through.  I greatly desire to serve God and this city through introducing its students to a love of choral music and I believe that this could be one of the best possible ways for it to happen.  Pray that God would bless these efforts for His own glory.

 

The semester of Technology

God has richly blessed me this semester with all kinds of technology.  Last semester I didn't so much as have my own computer, but this semester I have so much more at my disposal to use.  God has provided me with a computer and programs and even a wonderful camera.  In fact you can see some of the fruits of this technology if you visit http://picasaweb.google.com/afishymusicmachine.  (I think.)

 

Administration

Out of all the things you could have told me a year ago that I would be involved in… administration would probably be at the top of the list.  God has opened up doors for me to help out here at CEAD Christian School with administrative type things.   So many doors are opening!  (have I already said that?)

 

 

Anyway, I'm excited about all these new venues and such.  If any of you actually made it all the way through this arduously long email… please write back.  I would love to hear from you, and I promise that if you write, I'll write you a much more personal letter in return.  Oh… and for that disclaimer I was talking about: if you'd rather I didn't email you, just let me know.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,
--
Jason Scott Vawter

First Day Back

So I'm back in Honduras!

On my way back, I got to enjoy first class for the first time in my life. It was amazing. Not worth an extra hundred dollars, but if it's free... more than amazing!

The bus trip was much longer than I expected it to be. The bus ride from San Pedro Sula to Tegus took forever, it seemed like. I really wish it had gone faster, and towards the end I was feeling a little woosy. But that was probably just from lack of sleep.

Today, however, is a new day! It's so wonderful down here; I've already thanked God for the weather. It could have been a few degrees colder when I arived, but instead it was perfect! I'm wearing shorts and short-sleaves right now and all the windows are open. I was planning on getting up and going to church this morning, but my alarm didn't go off. Oh well... ;-)

I hope to get a lot done over the next few weeks, and there are a lot of things "in the works" so to speak. One of the first is of course getting my sometimes-monthly newsletter out to my adoring fans. ;-)

Well, it's off to work for me. I think I'm going to have a chance to pick up Daniel (and maybe Brian) at the airport in an hour or so... so I need to be ready. Adios!