Haiti: part quatre

Well, my fourth Haiti deployment in about 18 months has just been approved this morning (Maybe I should've been taking Creole lessons instead of Spanish?). I'll be heading back on January 2 January 3 (trip just got changed again) for about two weeks to work with the media around the one-year anniversary of the earthquake (January 12).  Prayers appreciated!

Courtesy: James Addis, January 2010

Courtesy: Laura Blank, January 2010

Courtesy: Laura Blank, January 2010

Thank you, Nick Kristof!

Just when I started to think I might never fully learn Español, Nick Kristof's column appears today. Thank you, Nick Kristof! It was the boost I needed to keep persevering.

"...the language that will be essential for Americans and has far more day-to-day applications is Spanish. Every child in the United States should learn Spanish, beginning in elementary school; Chinese makes a terrific addition to Spanish, but not a substitute.

Spanish may not be as prestigious as Mandarin, but it’s an everyday presence in the United States — and will become even more so. Hispanics made up 16 percent of America’s population in 2009, but that is forecast to surge to 29 percent by 2050, according to estimates by the Pew Research Center.

As the United States increasingly integrates economically with Latin America, Spanish will become more crucial in our lives. More Americans will take vacations in Latin America, do business in Spanish, and eventually move south to retire in countries where the cost of living is far cheaper..."

Video-rama

Two really fascinating and totally unrelated videos that I thought you might like to see too!


Sweet, sappy Christmas family video: 


Time lapse photo sequence of last weekend's blizzard on the East Coast. Brrr!

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

The best Christmas gift ever

"Comparison is the thief of joy."


Wow. What a powerful reminder for me. I often struggle comparing myself, my life, my job, my marriage, my looks, weight, height - you name it! And this quote is absolutely right; instead of encouraging me to grow in love and contentment with the blessings the Lord has given me, I find myself often looking around, wondering why I don't have what others have. What a way to rob myself and those I love of joy!


I read this quote in a blog post on Christianity Today's blog, Hermeneutics, and the author, Karen Swallow Prior, went on to reference a beautiful poem by Christina Rossetti, "In the Bleak Midwinter."  Here's what she says about the poem and this idea of "stealing joy:"


"Rossetti’s poem has much to teach us about the overflowing nature of a loving God and the honor of worshiping him with the gifts that are most essential to our very being, to the selves God created us to be.

Yet we have a tendency —especially as women, I think —to recognize the gifts of others more readily than we recognize our own gifts. Likewise, it is also easier sometimes to value the gifts others are blessed with more than our own." 


She continues by saying that the very best Christmas gift we can give is "the gift of ourselves, the gift of who we are in Christ, who God created us to be."  An interesting idea to think about as I head into the new year.

Annie Lenox performs "In the Bleak Midwinter"

¡Feliz Navidad!

Brian's idea of a perfect Christmas meal: eating a giant, caramel-filled doughnut from Doña Dona at the mall.

My idea of a perfect Christmas meal: eating blue cheese-topped steak with a port-wine reduction sauce and a glass of Malbec. (Yes! I'm drinking red wine now too).

Just a few of the things we've done to celebrate Christmas Tico-style here in Costa Rica:

• Did some last-minute Christmas shopping for B at the mall. 
• Ate doughnuts at Doña Dona. (B: caramel-filled with vanilla frosting; L: cinnamon-and-sugar cake doughnut).
• Went to the English-speaking candlelight Christmas Eve service at the International Baptist Church.
• Went to the Spanish-speaking Catholic mass at the cathedral near our house. Arrived just in time to hear Noche de Paz (Silent Night). Breathtaking.
• Took two, two-hour naps in the past 24 hours.
• B got a special video message directly from Santa. (Thanks for the tip, Breck!)
• Christmas Eve dinner: steak with blue cheese and a port wine reduction, roasted potatoes, green beans, rompope (eggnog) and peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
• Christmas day brunch: Swedish coffee cake (a family tradition), scrambled eggs, sausages, grapefruit, coffee.
• Watched "Elf" for the 458th time.
• Went for a walk around the town. It's practically empty! Kind of nice when the city gets quiet around the holidays.
• Called our family and friends on Skype. Thank goodness it's back up and running!

¡Feliz Navidad a todos!

Happy Noche Buena!

This video brought tears to my eyes as I reflected on the gift of Jesus this Christmas season.  I hope you enjoy it too! 


Lucas 2: 8 - 11
8 En la misma región había pastores que estaban en el campo, cuidando sus rebaños durante las vigilias de la noche. 9 Y un ángel del Señor se les presentó, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor, y tuvieron gran temor. 10 Mas el ángel les dijo: No temáis, porque he aquí, os traigo buenas nuevas de gran gozo que serán para todo el pueblo; 11 porque os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor. 


Lucas 2: 8 - 11
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Vision Mundial Coro Navideño (World Vision Christmas Choir)

The long-awaited video of my Christmas choir performance at the World Vision office Christmas party here in San Jose. (Mom, this gave me flashbacks to my third grade Christmas concert; remember the one where you made me wear that horrible dress? I still love you.)