Following my multicultural posts here (part two link at the bottom of part one), I just couldn't NOT post more about my home country. Most of these pictures came from our mission trip to Japan back in 2010. (Most pictures can be clicked and enlarged.) If you think about it, a lot of these differences have to do with the culture. In America, some people are concerned about their carpets getting dirty, but in Japan, outdoor shoes will ruin the floor. So you take your shoes off at the door and wear slippers in the house. And don't worry, most people have a bunch of slippers for guests to wear. Inside the house. Transportation.
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This week is our mission's conference at church. We do things differently from any other church I know of. Monday through Wednesday, each missionary goes into a Sunday School classroom and presents his work to anyone in the church who comes to his room. It works out really well, because if someone can only go two nights, they can listen to whichever two of the missionaries they want.
Changing gears: A couple days ago, I made these delicious pumpkin spice cookies with cream cheese frosting: On our missions trip to Panama in July of this year, I was enlisted to make curtains for the church auditorium. This all happened after I started this blog, but silly me I didn't even think about putting this project on my blog! I do have a lot a pictures, but I wasn't thinking "take pictures for my blog" while I was sewing, so it may seem like I have a ton of the same pose and nothing to show the process, but I do explain with words.:-)
They had curtains up, but the missionary's wife (Mrs. B) said they had been up for several years and they were ready for a change. This is one of the old curtains: Living with regret. Seriously, who wants to do that?? Regret is the worst roommate in the history of bad roommates. It makes it difficult to sleep and questions everything you think and do. I think the only thing regret is good for is to make sure you don't make the same mistake twice. For example, I bought this dress in Mexico 8 years ago on a mission's trip.
I bought this bag in Panama. Not a traditional Panamanian bag, it's probably even made in China or something. But it says Panama, and none of the "real" bags said Panama on them. Another in our group bought a bag just like mine (hers had the country of Panama instead of butterflies). When we got to our hostal that night, her straps had started coming out. By the time I got home with it to fix it for her, 3 of the 4 ends were frayed and had come out of the bag completely. Upon closer examination, I realized that whoever made the bag hadn't burned the edges of the straps to prevent fraying.
The need is great, no matter where you go. I wonder how many people in these houses know about Jesus? Everywhere you look in Panama City, there are houses and children like these.They need the gospel brought to them, and they are so eager to hear it!
Never again will I complain about security measures in America. As we were leaving Panama (and I know normally you would start a story at the beginning, but bear with me), we went through normal security like they have here. Put your luggage on the belt, take off your shoes, and walk through the x-ray machine. I thought, cool, that was easy. Not so fast.
When we got to our gate, the lady at the counter didn't call boarding by zones because, well for one, there was no counter. Instead, as we arrived at the gate, we got in line. And boarding was first come, first served. Except there were about 6 agents who called the next in line so actual people could open and inspect all carry-on luggage. I was scared while she tried to figure out how to remove my violin from the case. I could just see her shaking it to make sure I wasn't smuggling any drugs over the border and accidentally whack it on the side of the table. On an interesting side note, she didn't open the zippered pocket that was bulging on the outside of my violin case. So we passed electronic screening of ourselves and our bags, and physical inspection of our bags. That should have given me a heads up as to what was coming next. As we got to the door of the plane, two women stood there patting each passenger down. Of course! We basically just waltzed into the country, but we got the second degree leaving. Shouldn't it be the other way around? |
Who am I, you ask?
In 2006 I had a stroke, and every day my husband encourages me to use my remaining brain cells to the best of my ability. I love to organize, make crafts, and go on adventures (safe ones). I hope that through my blog posts, you will be encouraged to accept and make the best of challenges God throws at your life. Categories
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