Among missionaries there is often a distinction drawn bettween languages a person knows and there "heart language". Heart language is the language your born into and therefore the one that most deeply touches who you are. This is the reason why good people like the Wycliffe Bible translators work so hard to translate the Bilble so that people can read God's word in that language which most profoundly touches there lives.
Last Sunday I was rather disinterested in the worship service though it was my first in a year in English. Then, I began to sing the songs by translating them into Spanish. suddenly my heart swelled and tears came to my eyes and I felt the Spirit washing over my heart. I asked the Lord to help me to feel His Spirit in my "heart language" too. (thinking English) The responce which came to my spirit was "I did! You've given your heart to Spanish and the Hispanic people I've called you to serve." It is, now, the "language of my heart" though it is not my "heart language" from a tecnical standpoint.
Shay "Santiago"
Friday, August 29, 2008
What a beautiful dream!
Last week I woke up in a house in Peachland, North Carolina from the most beautiful dream. I've heard how people sell tapes that you play while you sleep and when you awake your smarter, nicer, or better in some way or another. Well, I awoke from my dream with the ability to speak in pretty good Spanish. Believe it or not it's true.
My dream was beautiful, horrible, exciting, boring, difficult and yet easy. I dreamed at first I was in a strange country surrounded by strange people with unusual customs and langauge. Then suddenly they transformed before me into a beautiful and generous people with a language no longer mysterious, but powerful and lovely. I gave my heart and my frenship to many of them and today I am sad that I am not still in the land of my dream, though I am so very thankful for the journey and that little stretch of road that I like to call "language school". If ever the faculty or staff of ILE read this blog know that you have my deepest heart felt thanks for you love, patience and skillfull labors. with tears of joy and rememberance, Shay "Santiago" Griffin
My dream was beautiful, horrible, exciting, boring, difficult and yet easy. I dreamed at first I was in a strange country surrounded by strange people with unusual customs and langauge. Then suddenly they transformed before me into a beautiful and generous people with a language no longer mysterious, but powerful and lovely. I gave my heart and my frenship to many of them and today I am sad that I am not still in the land of my dream, though I am so very thankful for the journey and that little stretch of road that I like to call "language school". If ever the faculty or staff of ILE read this blog know that you have my deepest heart felt thanks for you love, patience and skillfull labors. with tears of joy and rememberance, Shay "Santiago" Griffin
Thursday, August 28, 2008
We are here
We are in Peachland, NC, staying in a beautiful home provided by Peachland First Bapt. Church, we are also in Boiling Springs, SC staying in a home provided by Boiling Springs 1st Bapt. Church. We are going through our worldly goods and getting ready to pack our container. Our computer is in the shop for about 3 weeks. We will be able to check our email every few days and you can reach us at our Vonage phone number. We are all doing well and enjoying time with family and friends. More later!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Jesse - 5 years old
I can't believe my baby boy is 5 years old! There's this little store close to us that has the best cinnamon rolls - so this was his birthday cake! He loves them! We will have another party in the states very soon! Wasn't it just yesterday we got the call that we were going to have a 2 day old new born. We brought him home, all 5lbs of him and couldn't believe what a miracle he was! He was the perfect baby, slept well, ate well and always wanted his Mama(which I loved!) He has grown up so much this past year and I guess I need to accept the fact I no longer have a baby. I have a nickname for him that I am keeping even if he is growing up, Bundle. Every morning when he wakes up he comes to me with his blanket wrapped around him and I scoop him up and I started telling him he looked like a bundle and it stuck. When he is being diciplined and he isn't happy with me he'll say "I am not going to be your bundle anymore!" but moments later he is curled up in my lap. He has a smile that is contagious. Here in Costa Rica you don't see blonde hair much, so everyone that passes him has to touch his head! He also has a very tender heart! Usually 2 or 3 times a week the kids color me and Shay and anyone else they know pictures, so one day I colored some and gave Jesse one and he was so touched he got a tear in his eye and hugged me and said Thank you so much! I have my guesses, but I can't wait to see what God has in store for this little miracle! We are very blessed to have 3 miracles!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Costa Rica - what have I learned
As the time quickly approaches for us to leave the wonderful country I have been thinking about what I have learned during my year here. Carla our empleada has taught me how to get out any stain - hot milk! I am serious - heat a little bit of milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds and soak the stain. I have seen it take out ink, blood, grass and spaghetti sauce. The only stain it or anything else won't take out is the sap from the banana tree in our back yard, anything it touches it turns black and stays black! She also cuts a hole in a hand towel and fits it over the broom and she mops with that, it is so smart because you just wash it each day - I have always hated dirty mops.
I learned to quilt this was definitely a GOD thing. I lit
erally woke up one morning and had this desire to quilt. I thought I haven't sewn since Jr. High and I don't have a machine!?! I searched the internet for quilt and found a shop and the nice ladies taught me how and I am in love with the process and the results. I plan on getting a machine and taking some classes while we are home. I want to sew clothes for us and make more quilts!
Another thing I have learned is Ants are our friends, we tried and tried to rid our house of them, but have learned to live with them and even enjoy their strength and resourcefulness.
(that is a string from a banana they were carrying it up the wall!) We just count it as a little more protein in our diet!
I have learned there are lots of things you can do without and life goes on and you adjust. A/C - most of the time you don't need it here, but on those days you do, you just open more windows or turn on more fans.
Dishwasher - we do have Carla, and I feel very blessed to have her - the school ask all of the students to employ an empleada (maid) they use it as a outreach and have a bible study each week for them and it is great Spanish practice - she doesn't speak English! It is very inexpensive and she is here 3 days a week. But we still have 4 days and Damie has become a very good dishwasher and it has been good for him.
A Car! - This is a big one, but also a blessing! People drive crazy around here and there is no where to park. I have come to love riding the bus and it is nice to use a taxi on occasion. It is also nice not to have to worry about the crazy gas prices - over $5.00 here.
Wal-mart & Target & grocery stores - Oh this one hurt!! I didn't realize how much I was spoiled to hop in the car and go get whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. We have only purchased 5 or 6 pieces of clothing since we have been here and we are OK, we are all sick of the same 6 or 7 outfits we have worn for a year, but no worse for the wear - although the clothes are worse for the wear because of the other thing we lived without - A DRYER!! I love clothes hung out in the sun, they smell wonderful! But when the towels can stand up by themselves - free exfoliation!! The dilemma comes when it is rainy season - which is a lot of the time here - so you get used to having clothes hanging all over your house!
Toys - this kids have had the same toys and we only brought a few things. They have gotten things with grandparents came and 3 things each at Christmas, but they have learned to be happy with what they have or make some new things out of trash or empty boxes.
Now that it is time to go home we have to decide what to bring home only to pack and take to the DR and what to send to the DR. What do we need, what things are important? We have always been surrounded by STUFF (shay is a self confessed pack rat) and this year we have very few things and it is very freeing!
I hope none of this has sounded like complaining, I have loved my year here and wouldn't trade it for anything. Everything that seems like it would be hard has turned out to be better or a blessing. I have always like simple things, I like to experience things as they were meant to be, I don't like imitations, short cuts, fast food - yes they make life easier but you miss something, I feel cheated. This may sound silly, but this wraps up what I have learned in Costa Rica - Take the time to do something thoroughly, completely and you are rewarded by the process and the outcome. I think the more we can live like our grandparents did the happier, healthier and more content we will be.
I learned to quilt this was definitely a GOD thing. I lit
erally woke up one morning and had this desire to quilt. I thought I haven't sewn since Jr. High and I don't have a machine!?! I searched the internet for quilt and found a shop and the nice ladies taught me how and I am in love with the process and the results. I plan on getting a machine and taking some classes while we are home. I want to sew clothes for us and make more quilts!Another thing I have learned is Ants are our friends, we tried and tried to rid our house of them, but have learned to live with them and even enjoy their strength and resourcefulness.
(that is a string from a banana they were carrying it up the wall!) We just count it as a little more protein in our diet!I have learned there are lots of things you can do without and life goes on and you adjust. A/C - most of the time you don't need it here, but on those days you do, you just open more windows or turn on more fans.
Dishwasher - we do have Carla, and I feel very blessed to have her - the school ask all of the students to employ an empleada (maid) they use it as a outreach and have a bible study each week for them and it is great Spanish practice - she doesn't speak English! It is very inexpensive and she is here 3 days a week. But we still have 4 days and Damie has become a very good dishwasher and it has been good for him.
A Car! - This is a big one, but also a blessing! People drive crazy around here and there is no where to park. I have come to love riding the bus and it is nice to use a taxi on occasion. It is also nice not to have to worry about the crazy gas prices - over $5.00 here.
Wal-mart & Target & grocery stores - Oh this one hurt!! I didn't realize how much I was spoiled to hop in the car and go get whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. We have only purchased 5 or 6 pieces of clothing since we have been here and we are OK, we are all sick of the same 6 or 7 outfits we have worn for a year, but no worse for the wear - although the clothes are worse for the wear because of the other thing we lived without - A DRYER!! I love clothes hung out in the sun, they smell wonderful! But when the towels can stand up by themselves - free exfoliation!! The dilemma comes when it is rainy season - which is a lot of the time here - so you get used to having clothes hanging all over your house!
Toys - this kids have had the same toys and we only brought a few things. They have gotten things with grandparents came and 3 things each at Christmas, but they have learned to be happy with what they have or make some new things out of trash or empty boxes.
Now that it is time to go home we have to decide what to bring home only to pack and take to the DR and what to send to the DR. What do we need, what things are important? We have always been surrounded by STUFF (shay is a self confessed pack rat) and this year we have very few things and it is very freeing!
I hope none of this has sounded like complaining, I have loved my year here and wouldn't trade it for anything. Everything that seems like it would be hard has turned out to be better or a blessing. I have always like simple things, I like to experience things as they were meant to be, I don't like imitations, short cuts, fast food - yes they make life easier but you miss something, I feel cheated. This may sound silly, but this wraps up what I have learned in Costa Rica - Take the time to do something thoroughly, completely and you are rewarded by the process and the outcome. I think the more we can live like our grandparents did the happier, healthier and more content we will be.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Packing
OK, I need some help! If anyone has any suggestions, advice anything, I'll take it. I have about 2 weeks to pack an entire house. We have 16 suitcases. How do I pack and weigh while we still have to live? What is worth taking or what should I leave, what should I sale? I have friends that have had nervous breakdowns over clothes hangers, I handled that one yesterday - they are all staying here! One breakdown down and hopefully no more to go! My goal is to pack one suitcase a day and I did one yesterday, but it was everything I could think of we didn't need, today is going to be a struggle!?!
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