October 10: Alive & Well

It has been a while since I posted last. If you were wondering – yes, I’m still alive…and well! We sprang forward on Sunday, so we're now 2 hours ahead of EST and in November when EST falls back, we'll be 3 hours ahead. My new roommate Jonathan and I moved into the apartment behind Andrés’ house where the Chinese family was living (they were able to move into their new house). So, we now are buying and cooking our own food. I’m getting more comfortable with doing more things on my own, so it feels good to be more independent than I was.

We are only staying here until the apartment meant for us is finished and then a couple from Christ Church will move into where we are living now. As most if not all people experience when living somewhere else, people do things and think about things differently. Logic, humor and values are all totally different between cultures. God has been teaching me dependence on Him, patience, and humility. I’m thankful for the training both at Grace College in my Intercultural Studies classes and the training I had with SIM. These have allowed me to be way better prepared for the differences and what to expect. One huge benefit to spending time in different cultures is that, with an open mind, you can analyze the pros and cons of your own. It makes me appreciate things in my culture, but it also causes me to adopt some attributes from others. I think this makes a well-rounded person. It’s easy to think the Christianity expressed in our own culture, our own church, and our own family is the best or only true form! Different cultures are uniquely suited to demonstrate certain parts of what Christ intended His Church to be better than others.

God is working in His perfect timing in this country (even though it may seem slow to us). It has been great to be a part of it so far. Jonathan, who was here last year working with the Atrévete a Soñar kids program, told me how he sees a huge change in many of the kids from last year to this year. God through His people is changing their lives – behavior, grades, respect – so much that it is having an interesting impact on their parents. They no doubt notice the change in their kids. Pray that this observation turns to curiosity about Jesus and that whole families would know Him.

This summer, I was blessed to find Alba, who is from Uruguay and goes to my church (Grace Church in Wooster). I met with her a few times to help me with my language and learn some culture. She insisted I meet her parents in Paysandú (about 5 hours north of where I am in Montevideo). It just so happened that I went with Andrés to Paysandú for a missions seminar and got to meet her dad. He showed me around the city, his beautiful place, and the overflowing Uruguay River which marks the border with Argentina. I also met some great people. I will hopefully meet her mom when she returns from the States soon!

As always thanks for prayers. I don’t eat McDonald’s much at all in the States, but I have eaten more  in the last month and a half than I probably do in 6 months normally, just because everyone takes me there – but it really is one of the few fast quality options here. It’s just funny to me!

Chau

Nathan Harley

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24 (MSG)