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.  ;-)