El Camino...: April 2005

El Camino...

Es largo y profundo, pero voy a caminar el camino...

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Monsserati - Mi Primera Vez

Okay - hottest thing ever. Today I went to Monsserati - I will now be able to answer the question I get asked everyday in the positive. That is, when people find out I am not from here, and ask - "Have you been to Monsserati?" I can finally say ¡Si! I wish I could say Paula, Alicia y yo were daring enough to take the 2-3 hour trek up the mountain to the Catholic Church that overlooks Bogota, but I gotta be honest and admit that we wimped out and took the funucular (I might have this name wrong... basically it's this train type thing that takes you straight up the mountain... muy chevere!) I want to go to Monsserati two more times: one to do be brave and try hiking it! And the other to take the teliferico (gondola type thing... wasn't open yet when we went today or we'd have taken that... I think I would pee myself with fear if we did take it... but I am trying to live a little - parental units: I am sure it is perfectly safe?). Basically today I got to look out over Bogota. I knew the city was huge (approaching 8 million...) but I never imagined seeing city as far as the eye could see in every direction - INSANE! Uhhh... Hepburn anyone? Also today we had to take the trans-millenia bus to get here, and I felt so bad, but I made us wait for like 3 buses before we finally took one. People LITERALLY have their bodies pressed in by the closing doors - I once saw this dude at the door with his face smeared into the glass doors because the bus was so full... I am finally adjusting and becoming comfortable here... but the trans-millenia KILLS me. Over 3 million people take them in the morning between 6 and 10 am. Think about that one. Unbelievable. Anyway, Monsserati was DANG incredible - it's this huge Catholic church, with an absolutely beautiful view of the mountains on the back side... off in the distance of the mountains we could see a casa, and I gotta say all I wanted was to be on that farm, away from the noise and deep in the bush of the mountains. I thought I could come and poignantly write about the intensity of the beauty, or that I would paint the picture for you of what I was able to se today, but I am finding it is impossible to put into words. Needless to say, today I am left with the feeling I had much of my time in Huaraz, Peru - that of stunned amazement of the beauty our God has created... I always feel so insignificant and small in light of His obvious monuments He has placed on this earth. Guess y'all will have to wait for the fotos... pero - Dios es muy chevere!

posted by Erica @ 5:03 p.m. 4 comments

Friday, April 29, 2005

Subbing!

Who would ever have thought I would be trusted with the moldable minds of ECA's youth. Well, apparently the 5th grade teacher! These last two days I have been subbing in 5th grade, and I have to tell you - it has been quite fun. The first day walking into the class I was sure the kids could see right through me - I felt more like I should be sitting in a desk, instead of answering questions about kinetic vs. potential energy, interrogative sentences, and vocabulary words! Alas... the students have discovered that I am not, indeed, Mrs. Rozo and that they are not allowed to kick a soccer ball in the classroom with Miss. Erica (Scammell proved too difficult for many of them...) and that yes, only one person at a time can ask me a question because I just do not have 20 pairs of ears! I am tired but I have a definite sense that I have enjoyed subbing for Mrs. Rozo!

posted by Erica @ 10:00 a.m. 1 comments

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Dentyne Fire

If anyone out there loves me at all - send me Dentyne Fire! I have one lonely piece left in it's package... and I am saving it for a bad day. I realize this could be potentially asking a lot - I mean, there's the dollar at Wal-Mart for the gum... then you know, possibly the trauma of writing out a brief, encouraging note from home, then the postage... I really do realize that I am risking losing friendship over gum, but I simply must have it. It has been quite humourous sharing it with friends actually. Many a time, I have seen a face go red over the "spicyness!" I also recognize that I will not in fact, die without it - but it has become a bit of a "Canadian" treat you see. And maybe this is my way of suckering some mail out of my friends - I can admit I have no shame.

Erica Scammell
Cra. 90 #71a. 81
Bloque 4 Aparto 215
Bogota, Colombia

You know you want to prove your love :)

posted by Erica @ 9:32 a.m. 0 comments

Monday, April 25, 2005

One of those Solid Weeks

This last week has gone by really fast... and really phenomenally! Teaching at ECA just three days a week truly, truly, truly is the best decision I think I have made in a long time. Getting up at 5 am and enduring a 12 hour schedule per day is just not the way to live - especially since I was trying to learn Spanish after a grueling 12 hours of trying to cram English into kids heads...! Now, I am free on Mondays and Wednesdays to help Paula y Tomas with MIJUCO, do errands, and I am teaching a 2 hour class in the evenings to adults at English World. I really enjoy my time at English World because I am teaching English to a lot of people who are in ministry, or who want to learn English so they can go to other countries for ministry, or to people who are just very interesting and wonderful! I have made a LOT of connections with various people that I hope I can help or team up with in the fall when Paula goes to Canada. Paula's upcoming trip is one that causes me both envy and excitement - today I had to go to the Canadian embassy and register (bout time I did that eh? After two months... aiy Erica... what to do with myself...!) and even breathing in there, I felt like somehow it was Canadian air. There is nothing like being away from one's home to bring out the patriotism. The youth and I at Dios es Amor iglesia have decided that Colombia is the reigning country in South America, and Canada wins the prize for North America - I figure it's an ok compromise. Being with Paula of late has been so wonderful! The last couple nights we have sat around talking, and I gotta say - she is a very wise woman that I am excited to learn from. We have talked about MIJUCO a lot and about the people we hope will apply and those we need to pray will apply - I am so so very excited! I would ask you all to pray because we are currently looking for a place to hold the 2 week training period - there is one option available: it is a farm outside of the city that we would LOVE to be able to use. The problem with this is that we do not have enough money to rent both the farm and pay for speakers to come out - but we are waiting in faithful anticipation of what God is going to do.

All in all - everything is well. I am learning to listen to God about what HE wants for me, vs what I would do on my own strength and ability.

This morning I went to DAS (visa stuff) and got a one month extension on my visa - I am good to June 8, but at the end of May (25th ish...) will be going to Peru for a week to visit my friends Dennis and Betty. I am looking forward to not only seeing two of my best friends, but to helping them and hopefully taking in some warm Peruvian weather. Today in Bogota I have a cold, and am wearing a SCARF! Ridiculous.

- PRAY PRAY PRAY that there is a weird source of generosity and providence. Paula and I believe that this is the place for us, and we are waiting on God to do His thing!
- PRAY that those God is speaking to about the program would be obedient in signing up!
- PRAY for a prepared way in Peru - I NEED to get a different visa while I am there, as the route I am going now will only allow me 6 months maximum stay in Colombia - this would make me have to leave September 8 - I need a visa through to November 16. PRAY PRAY PRAY!

posted by Erica @ 1:21 p.m. 0 comments

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Normal - normal - normal

Welp, I usually write with some really cool thing that I have been up to, but this last week has been quite normal. I like it - don't get me wrong - but I still wish I had something cool to write. The other night, I taught at "English World" for the first time... and I really, really enjoyed it. I had to have an initial worry b/c I was told I was teaching an advanced class (just because I speak English does not mean I know grammar!) but was pumped to realize that advanced really isn't all that advanced... and what is more, from the textbook I am learning a LOT about English! Someday I will explain to you all the actual difference between must, can't, might, and should - there is an actual definition for when to use each! Who knew!?? Took the bus alone for the first time on Monday as well - that was an exhilirating experience! I was sitting on the bus freaking out that I was on the wrong one, or that someone would try to talk to me, or that I would miss my stop... but as I got off the bus and everything was fine I definitely felt this dorky independant satisfied feeling - tonight I am doing it again, and I am actually excited. Who, pray tell, gets excited about riding a bus alone? My word. OH YEAH! I just have to say that on Saturday I also played soccer after youth group - and made the most unbelievable FLUKE goal of my life. At first, the guys were like, oh yeah... you like soccer, sure you can play... but after that goal I think I won them over - I can not believe I made this goal : it was from half, I kind of pivoted the ball to the outside, and nailed it into the left top corner. Unbelievably lucky... ohhhh how I love thee futbol.

posted by Erica @ 10:02 a.m. 4 comments

Thursday, April 14, 2005

La Candelaria - Part II... The Return of Paula

Yes yes... it is true - Paula has returned from Ecuador! The leadership training that Tomas, Monica (Tomas´wife) and Paula had was phenomenal from all accounts, and they are all happy to be home. Having her leave the day after I arrived was not something I had looked forward to, but I now know was necessary - my Spanish has been forced to come along, I have had to develop a sense of independence, and I have had the opportunity to really connect with some other friends here. However, now that she is home, I thoroughly enjoy talking with her about life, Colombia and her coming departure to Canada in August. I am very excited for her - she is doing the MCC exchange program - but I am also envious of her... my beloved Canada!

Now... last night, we went (Paula, Tomas, Monica and I) with some Brazilian pastors that are visiting with Paula and Tomas to La Candelaria... for my second time. I was really really debating not going because I was dead tired from work at ECA, but in the end, I decided to go. And man... am I ever glad I did. I got to see the most beautiful part of the city at night - walking through streets made as wide as for one horse, seeing Montserati and Guadalupe (two Catholic churches) up on the mountains all lit up, hearing music coming from strange little restaurants, bitterly observing couples strolling, vendors selling their assortments of goods from wheel-able carts... it started to rain just a tiny bit - which made it the perfect temperature for walking up the steep streets and dodging crazy taxis and buses. On the way home on the bus, a man was playing music with his flute, and the breeze from an open window kept us cool - and I had a realization. I really loved my night... the eccentricity of this city is starting to work its magic, because last night for the first time, I really loved Colombia.

PRAYER: For Paula and Tomas' rest and re-energization (is that even a word?) For my rest - my schedule here at ECA is wiping me out, and I think I am getting sick. PRAISE because next week I go back to 3 days a week here at the school, and 2 with Paula y Tomas.

posted by Erica @ 8:05 a.m. 2 comments

Monday, April 11, 2005

Maria Llena de Gracia

This weekend I watched a movie called Maria Llena de Gracia (Maria full of Grace). Watching this movie while in Colombia was (I think) a lot more impacting than if I had watched it in Canada, where I first heard about it. The storyline is basically about this girl, Maria, who becomes a drug mule - it is set in Colombia (although with exception to one scene, is filmed in Ecuador) - and brought with it the crashing reality of the situation that some people here in Colombia find themselves in. The reigning emotion I feel right now is this deep sadness and a weird sense of shock. I have been really sheltered to that reality of Colombia - and I am left wondering who is there to help, or who is even ABLE to help in that situation... This is the second 'event' while I have been here that has had a deeper effect/meaning to me than if I had been in Canada when they happened. The second event was the death of the Pope. On the Saturday that we learned he had died, I was with Angelica in el barrio la Candelaria - the Catholic churches all sounded their bells, there was a choir singing in one of them, and we went in to one of the churches and just stood listening to the priest. Observing the people in this time was interesting - I think in Canada, to me, sure I would see on the news that he had died and perhaps give it some thought, but here as Colombia is a Catholic country, the effect was much felt and the story much much muchly covered on the news.

All in all, I continue to learn about this country called Colombia. Some days are "better" than others... some days I love what I learn, and others I wish what I am learning wasn't true and feel this weird sense of loss as to what to do or say. What I do know is that this is a very diverse country - full of extremes and similarities, much like any other - and that I will continue to put myself out there: allowing myself (pushing myself is perhaps a better term) to keep an open mind and experience this life that is before me.

posted by Erica @ 8:18 a.m. 3 comments

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Hmmm...

Rain, rain... go away... 4 days of drizzle, drizzle, drizzle - I am definitely ready for this weather front to leave. This week in general has been a drizzle... here at school the grade 3 and 5 students are writing these massive tests - so my schedule everyday has had to be shifted a bit. For TWO HOURS in the morning I have two grade 5 girls who can't write the tests because of English competency - one of whom very, very, very rarely talks... the other of whom will not stop talking gibberish (I can not for the life of me understand what she is trying to say... sometimes, I ask her to speak in Spanish so I can understand her!) ever. Coming up with activities for the combo is very difficult, and so I have relented and today we watched "Tuck Everlasting" which we will conclude and "discuss" (that's the idea anyway...!) tomorrow.

On Monday I tried out my first joke in Spanish - I think it was funny, cuz everyone laughed. Although, I am not sure if they were laughing at the joke, or at me for attempting to tell a joke: I dunno - but it was funny regardless. I also ate some churros on Monday: Dang intensely phenomenal. The ones we had looked like onion rings but with sugar - they are actually this dough deep fried and coated with sugar... totally healthy!

I am learning a lot about worship right now. In the song (? I think it is called?) Heart of Worship... one of the lines is "When the music fades... all is stripped away..." well... if I could revise that instead making it say - "when the words fade... " that would be what I would do. This last Sunday in church the "worship" was really quite phenomenal: "musically" it was the best sounding since I have been here... and in the congregation people were definitely being impacted. To me, as I clapped (it is the one part of "worship" that I can really do...), I really began to think about how am I worshipping? Sure, I go to church, I stand there, I clap, I listen to the sermon - and generally understand about 1/3 of it... it is an experience that I DO, but that doesn't necessarily involve a lot of "worship" on my part. The action is quite easy - but what I am beginning to look at is how do I worship when the "worship" I usually rely on in church truly fades... and I am looking inward as the pomp & flare become stripped away - I really have no conclusive thoughts on any of this, but it is an interesting time in my head right now - I think we were meant to live lives of worship, not simply rely on 20 minutes once a week (or 45 minutes... depending what country you live in...) in church: it is interesting how even when I thought I was worshipping God through my life, how maybe I am getting a glimpse at how truly un-worshipful or reliant on others I am... a challenge to myself. Something I need to continue thinking on, but something thought I would share.

posted by Erica @ 10:42 a.m. 3 comments

Monday, April 04, 2005

Candeleria...

So - definitely found the area of Bogota that I was meant to live in. Un barrio called Candeleria - absolutely beautiful. Romantic is actually the term one could use, but alas - I was with Angelica (a WONDERFUL girl from Casa de Oracion) and so I will not use that term right now. However - man was Saturday a GREAT day! Following Friday when I was so exhausted that I fell asleep at 9 pm with the light on... a day with someone my age, my personality type - so so so wonderful! We toured this area of the city and went to this museum: two actually - one was the Casa de Moneda (which has historical pieces of money making stuff... I think because I look like a gringa, they gave us these coin things - Angelica was surprised, cuz she is there all the time, and has never gotten nada!) Afterwards, we went to these other rooms where a famous Colombian artist - Boltero - has his pieces. They are interesting to say the least - all he paints are gorditos (fat) things... horses, naked women, presidents, fruit... es muy interesante. We received no token to remember the occasion by. Afterwards, we walked to El Plaza de Bolivar - reminded me a LOT of Peru actually, it was this intense open plaza where the edificio de justicia (justice building) and presidents house, etc... is - TONS of birds - you can buy bird seed and throw it to the birds, and pay this dude to take a picture. I didn't - but you can. Someday... someday... for now, I will simply appreciate the beauty. I am also thankful for this day, because our tour of the area we went to the youth meeting at Casa de Or - and I got to meet some really, really fun people! One of them, Alicia - actually was in Piura, Peru (she is from there) last year when we were there... because I wasn't on that team she doesn't remember me... but she DOES remember someone else I know =) It was fun to get to talk about... This is getting way way too long... but man - what a great day!

PRAISE: (1) My Spanish is definitely coming along - I am growing in confidence to start conversations and mi familia assures me I have learned some! (They would know best... our games of charades are getting less and less frequent) (2) For an encouraging, uplifting weekend - Angelica was most definitely a HUGE blessing, along with the others I met at Casa de Oracion!
PRAYER: It is back to school on Monday - the schedule is crazy busy, and I am often quite tired (although I LOVE it)... and for a student - John, who is definitely the most "in need" student I teach - he is in grade 6 and speaks very, very little English.

posted by Erica @ 6:04 p.m. 3 comments

About Me

Name: Erica
Home: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
About Me:
See my complete profile