“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
What I Watched:
1) Green Book. I had so hoped to see this in Honduras as it was an Academy Award winner and as my brother had recommended it, but that just never happened. So, I was elated when it was an option to watch during one of my plane rides. I thought both Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen were great, and as always, the development of the characters was what drew me in. The story follows Tony Lip, a hot-headed Italian American, as he gets a job to drive a highly educated African American man, Dr. Donald Shirley, around the South of the US in an era where racial tensions were high and there were still separate bathrooms. The movie is based on a true story though there was some controversy surrounding the depiction. It’s a heart-warming story of unlikely friendship and how we can find family in the strangest of places.
2) New Girl. I have long been a New Girl fan. My brother practically is Nick Miller. It’s one of those shows that I tend to catch up on when I’m back in the States because I’m snobby and hate watching television in Spanish. Sadly, it ended last year. But I enjoyed watching their final season and felt like the time jump forward was refreshing. The show started with Jessica Day moving into a loft apartment with three guys, but the show soon evolved into stories of the antics of quirky people who became life-long friends. And, its style of humor reminds me so much of my brother, who is the funniest person I know.
3) Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. I am usually not a comics book fan nor am I one to watch a lot of animated movies. But, once again, my brother urged me to see this, and he’s kind of my go-to on what’s good. This movie was cool, and as a tie-in, adult Spiderman was voiced by the incredibly appropriate Jake Johnson (aka Nick Miller from New Girl). It follows teenage Miles Morales as he develops super powers from a radioactive spider bite and as he encounters worlds colliding as a portal to multiple universes opens. As a result, he finds that he is part of a community of people with similar powers that span various realities. The animation is unique. It has good humor and while kind of bizarre in premise, it can connect to audiences of all ages. It also rightly won an Academy Award.
4) A Quiet Place. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are some of my favorite actors and one of my favorite couples to watch in interviews. When they teamed up to make this movie, they talked a lot about how it is mainly a love story to their kids and what they’d do for love of them. I am usually not a fan of horror movies. But, this movie is jumpy, not demonic, and it also incorporates sci-fi elements. The story revolves around a family in a kind of post-apocalyptic world where aliens have invaded and ravaged the masses. The aliens can be avoided, but they are drawn to sound. Cue Emily Blunt silently giving birth to a baby while in a bathtub, and you have a premise that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was worth the watch.
5) Coco. I am late to the game in watching this movie, but after so many people told Raúl and I that we needed to watch it, we finally found the time to do so. One of the coolest things about it, to me, was how truly representative it was of many elements of Central American/Mexican culture. When you aren’t the minority, it can be easy to forget how exciting it is for a child to see someone in media who looks like them or who portrays aspects of their culture. While I can’t speak necessarily for all Latino cultures, I can say that it was fun for me to see so many common place Honduran things come to life on the screen. It’s also a tale of how one young man finds the balance of personal identity within such a family-centric culture. And, it also examines how misunderstandings and grudges can shape the generations. Overall, it was sweet to watch though it doesn’t line up with my own personal theology.
What I Read:
From amazon.com
1) Mantled with Authority: God’s Apostolic Mandate to Women by various authors, edited by Barbara J. Yoder. This book was a random one that I salvaged from my grandfather’s library after he passed away. I have no way of knowing if he read it or not. It did have some passages highlighted but didn’t have any of his signature margin notes. But, regardless, it was both a good read and an interesting perspective as it was written two years after 9/11. The way that life and culture shifted marks some of the essays that were included, and now, 18 years after 9/11, it was interesting to see how that tragic event affected the authors of the book’s chapters. The book centers around the importance of women to God’s Kingdom and to ministry around the globe. Some of the chapters did feel a little trite or dated, but there were some definite nuggets of thought-provoking wisdom that make it worth recommending. They talk about the unique offerings women have within ministry despite the discrimination they can often face, and they also include some personal testimonies of walking out God’s callings. This book had at least one perspective that was really an encouragement or a revelation for my own life. Here are some excerpts that made their way into my journal:
“Women, many times, do not see the level of provision that is already inside of them. They’ve been trained to depend on others, so they do not creatively move into all God has within them. Once you see what God is saying about you in heaven, your provision s unlocked. There is a power of provision within women that needs to be tapped into like an oil well.” (Chuck Pierce)
“Deborah rebuilt the nation by first empowering people, and then by identifying and dispelling the nation to break through to its inheritance by building it up.” (Barbara J. Yoder)
From barnesandnoble.com
2) Believing Jesus: A Journey through the Book of Acts by Lisa Harper and Annie F. Downs. This was the book that my Ladies’ Bible study covered during this last season. It came accompanied by really enjoyable teaching videos where Lisa Harper is sharing. Because I had to leave in the middle of the study, I didn’t get to watch all of the videos, but the ones I did watch I really enjoyed. Lisa Harper is funny and down-to-earth. I love her anecdotes and am touched by her story of adoption. I wish I could’ve seen all of the videos. She also has an accompanying book for this study apart from the workbook. I didn’t read that book, but I think it’d be worth reading. The workbook included a short introduction, a series of notes that follow along with the teaching videos, and a series of questions for small group discussion. It also included a personal study for five days of every week following a small group session. While the book says it’s a journey through the book of Acts, it actually isn’t confined just to Acts and actually includes a lot of Bible reading throughout the New Testament. The themes of the workbook cover a lot of who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, how God can use our pasts for His glory, the early church, boldness, and living a life of faith. The workbook had some personal reflection questions, but a lot of the questions were more so about picking out specific information from an assigned reading. For that aspect of rote learning, I feel like I connected less with the workbook than with the videos. But, I did enjoy the Bible study.
From amazon.com
3) Compassionate Capitalism: A Judeo-Christian Value by Harold R. Eberle. I honestly picked this book for this month because it was short and because Eberle’s writing style is to-the-point. But, in the midst of constant Facebook fodder over differing political views and younger generations and older generations clashing over economic mindsets, this felt like a book worth reading. Inevitably, economics will affect missions and ministry. And, our beliefs about economics will often decide how we manage our resources and our ministries. I am a firm believer that everyone should seek God for himself or herself. And, in that vein, I was interested to read this author’s perspective of what the Bible says in relation to capitalism. Harold R. Eberle is a Christian teacher who has many books that delve deeply into Christian history or theology, and he has collaborated in doing missions work in developing nations. He is up front about not being an economist, but while he is open about his opinions throughout the book, he is also diligent in giving Biblical references and examples to support his view points. As someone who doesn’t like a party line to determine my belief system (and as someone who read the Communist Manifesto as required reading in college), I enjoyed having a resource for explaining some of the Biblical standpoints in terms of economy and making spiritual connections to better equip me to discern what my own convictions are in relation to economical politics. He isn’t a zealot for one particular side or preachy in his tone, and he identifies the reasonings of those who may disagree with his opinions. Overall, I think it’s a book worth reading especially if you feel like you’re wrestling with constantly hearing so many hostile, conflicting voices. And, I found that my firsthand experience in Honduras often echoed many of his findings. Here are some excerpts:
“Free people work for themselves and their loved ones. They benefit from their own labors. Only when they are free will they be motivated to be creative, work longer, and produce more.”
“After three or four generations of everyone living under a value system of ‘equality’ no one dares to stand up and be recognized. It is difficult to find a leader, because few people are capable of initiating new ideas or even speaking out their thoughts in front of a group. . . . Without realizing it they allow themselves to act and live at a standard less than God intended.”
“However, Paul told Timothy not to allow people to take advantage of the Church’s generosity. He wrote that widows should not be provided for if they are able to provide for themselves or if they have family members who can care for them. . . . The lesson I clear: the Church should be involved in caring for the needy, but only if the individual or family are not able to provide the necessary provisions.”
What I Ate:
I have to say that I made almost none of the things on this list which is the beauty of being in the States. My husband came with the idea that he was somehow going to slim down and get buff while being in the States. I, naturally, laughed in his face because I know what a constant battle it is to not pack on the pounds whenever I’m Stateside. People are so gracious and so eager to love on us, and they do so in the form of food and hospitality. As the sole cook in our household, it is a true blessing to be able to partake in food that I didn’t have to make. For all of you who have made us a meal or taken us out to eat, your hearty welcomes don’t go unnoticed and are enjoyed.
1) Burrito Patron at Los Mariachis in Morgantown, West Virginia. This was my meal following my little brother’s graduation from Occupational Therapy school. I think Raúl has enjoyed how often we’ve eaten at Mexican restaurants since we’ve been Stateside because he can not only order in his native tongue, but he is also dealing with ingredients that he can recognize even though Honduran food and Mexican food are different. I ordered this burrito at my brother’s urging. He’s not a foodie like I am, but he didn’t steer me wrong. This huge burrito (enough for two separate meals) was full of chorizo, beans, chicken, and beef with pineapple, and it was smothered in cheese and green sauce and topped with avocados. The pineapple may sound weird, but it gave it a unique, enjoyable flavor. So, if you ever find yourself in Morgantown, West Virginia, it’s worth stopping in.
Photo by Conger Design
2) Mama Nancy’s Spinach Strawberry Salad. Raúl and I visited the area where I went to college—a place I love dearly but that I hadn’t visited in at least four years. During our trip, we were blessed by a lunch hosted by one of the teachers who supervised my student teaching and graciously lent me her classroom and students. Beyond that connection, she’s just been like another mom and a blessing to Raúl and me. It was special to get to see some of my former students as well as the other teacher who supervised me during student teaching. Mama Nancy is always a host who pays such close attention to detail, and this salad was no exception. It was made of baby spinach leaves, strawberries, almonds, feta cheese, and a tasty vinaigrette. I had seconds.
3) Mama Nancy’s Broccoli Salad. This salad is included because it was Raúl’s favorite. I am usually not partial to these kinds of broccoli salads because I don’t like sweet dressings on broccoli. But, this dressing had just the right amount of tart and sweet and covered chopped broccoli, bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds. Raúl has already asked me to make it in the future.
4) Raita. On that same side excursion, our dear friend, Robert, invited us to an Indian restaurant. I love Indian food, and Raúl had never had Indian food. One of the things I most enjoyed about this meal was raita—a yogurt-based sauce. I love to eat it on rice. While I don’t know the restaurant’s specific recipe, typical raita includes yogurt, chopped cucumbers, chopped onion, salt, and spices like coriander and cumin. But, a quick peek online reveals that there are lots of variations! As we head into the summer months, this is something easy and refreshing to make.
5) Creamy vegetable soup. When I am at US home, I usually either take over cooking responsibilities or help a lot as both my parents work. This is one dish that I made just based on whatever I had on hand. We had a lot of vegetables that needed used up. So, I combined homemade chicken stock, shredded chicken, cubed potatoes and sweet potatoes, chopped broccoli, carrot and celery slices, and frozen corn to make this soup. To give it the creamy element, my sister and I made a roux to add to the stock and added shredded cheddar cheese. I don’t remember what all we used for seasoning, but we added some lemon juice and lemon pepper for acidity and tossed in some dill and Italian seasoning along with ample salt. This is the website that served as inspiration though we did doctor it up somewhat: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/creamy-vegetable-soup-healthy-delicious/
Photo by Patrick Kalkman
6) Nannie’s Reuben Sandwich. One of my favorite, “feels like home” foods is a Reuben sandwich as my grandmother has been making it for me for such a long time. This past weekend, my family and I were in her neck of the woods for a family reunion. True to tradition, I had two of her Reuben sandwiches over the course of the weekend. She makes them with pumpernickel bread, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and of course, corned beef. Since I can’t find corned beef in Honduras (unless I make it myself), it’s a true treat.
Favorites:
1) Samuel’s Engagement. Just a couple days after Raúl and I flew to the US, my brother proposed to his girlfriend. He had planned out every last detail. Because they like the outdoors and hiking, he took her on a hike to a beautiful view. Earlier, he had asked all of her friends and family (though he is an introvert and this was a stretch for him) to send him a video telling Ally how amazing she is. He also recruited his best friend to take pictures of the proposal unbeknownst to her. When they reached their destination, he showed her the video he had edited of the many videos he had received, and he asked her to marry him. She said yes! Later on, he had planned an evening at a local café where live music was being played and had invited my family, her family, and their friends. He spoke with The Brother Brothers Band beforehand to ask them to play them a specific one of their songs to dance to. And the final surprise of the evening was when two of her best friends flew in from long distances to see her and celebrate. I was blessed to get to spend some limited but quality time with Ally during the times when I’ve been in the States, and as my brother is one of my best friends in the world, it gives me security that I know and love the woman he has chosen to spend his life with. She’s felt like family since very early on. It was priceless to get to be part of such a special day and to see firsthand my brother’s deep happiness.
2) Samuel’s Graduation. About a year ago, my brother, who almost never asks me for anything, asked if I’d be at his graduation from Occupational Therapy school. I knew that I needed to make that happen. God’s timing was so perfect in orchestrating Raúl’s visa process so that we could be here for Samuel’s graduation and have it coincide with so many other precious family things going on. My brother, who—opposite of me—wasn’t a huge fan of school, graduated with two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s in a field that he genuinely likes and is able to use his particular giftings. That brings me great joy, and I am so proud of him. It was fitting, then, to be present at his graduation and to tear up as the graduates and supporting friends and family joined in unison to sing “Country Roads” all across WVU’s coliseum. I am so excited to see all of the many amazing things that God has for Samuel and Ally in the future.
3) My trip to my old college town. It’s hard to encapsulate all of the many special moments and conversations I had in such a short span of a few days, but suffice it to say that I left Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia with such an overwhelming feeling of being loved. I was able to show Raúl where I went to college and the quaint town that still feels like home in many ways. And, I was able to catch up with college friends and former students and beloved teachers. We were hosted by a precious lady, Anna Marie, who I had only met in person one time before but who treated us like family from even before we set foot in her house. It was a joy to spend time with her precious family, and we felt so welcomed. She also arranged things to be able to share a bit with her church which was a blessing. (Raúl keeps asking when we’re going back to see them all.) Overall, I felt like God just continuously encouraged me of the impact that one little life can have, and it was a reminder that I’m still carrying close to my heart.
4) Time with family. This is pretty self-explanatory but a blessing I don’t take for granted.
Other fun highlights of the last month for Raúl included:
*Using a push mower for the first time (he declared mowing his new hobby).
*Target practice with my uncle
*Fixing a wagon and putting up a fence for my grandmother (let it be known—no one ever really asks or expects him to do anything. He insists and seeks it out, and if I’m honest, if he doesn’t have something to do, he drives me nuts.)
*Having his first experience with Amazon’s Alexa—that was a trip.
*Adopting West Virginia as his home—no joke, he’s already bought all kinds of WV gear to take back to Honduras.
*Bottle feeding a lamb at the farm our sweet friends, Mike and Cheryl, have.
*A trip to Washington, DC where he loved the transportation exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History and marveled at all of the monuments. He took pictures of all. of. the. things.
*Celebrating his 31st birthday
*Playing pool with my cousin
*Exploring Lewisburg’s downtown shops
As Raúl has been learning so much new English that his head hurts and is constantly observing how life is different in the US from the way it is in Honduras, I also wanted to mention a few things that I learned this summer, starting in March and going to May.
Things I Learned This Spring:
1) Most Middle Eastern or Asian style dishes just don’t turn out for me. There are some exceptions, but the sooner I accept this and move on, the fewer culinary disappointments I will have. I love Asian food, but there is a certain kind of nuance I just can’t seem to capture. But, sometimes, foods are special because I can’t make them well myself.
2) Australia has Daylight Savings Time too.
3) Jesus breathed on His disciples, and they received the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. This may not be news to any of you all, but it was a subtle difference that I had never picked up on before reading You Shall Receive Glory by Harold R. Eberle. It’s a unique distinction knowing that the disciples had access to the Holy Spirit before Pentecost, but that they also had to wait to receive power from the Holy Spirit and a specific manifestation that they didn’t receive when Jesus breathed on them.
4) There isn’t just a scientific flight or fight response. There is also a stress response of freezing or submission. This one is something I had always suspected but had never heard voiced by anyone else. I learned this one courtesy of Dax Shephard’s podcast episode with Dr. Michael Gervais, a psychologist who has worked with sports teams and Fortune 500 companies. Hearing this was actually a bit of a relief to me because, as a child and young adult, my stress response was to freeze or to automatically submit rather than to run away or to fight back. As an adult, I think this has shifted and improved somewhat, but it as comforting to at least know that I’m not alone in that instinct.
5) People everywhere are so in need of real community. I know that this isn’t really a grand epiphany. But living in a foreign country, it can be easy to fall into the trap of idealizing other places or convincing yourself that things are easier or better somewhere else. Being in the States has just re-affirmed that people are people everywhere. Needs and emotions are present regardless of socioeconomic station. And, that’s why one little life can have so much impact because we all need to be fully known, to feel understood, and to be accepted with all of our flaws.
Our time in the US is already passing by way too quickly, but I look forward to the months we have remaining and all of the precious time to spend with my loved ones. And, for all of you who read, thanks so much for keeping up with us!
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