On Saturday Lindsay Anne left in the early morning, and then Emily Gryder finally made the trek from the east coast of North Carolina out to the always sunny and perfect San Diego to join us. Below is a picture of her carrying the youngest Call daughter when we went on a hike in the trails behind the Call's home.
Sunday we ate lunch with Michael Crum, the Diaso's, their friend Isaid, and Emily at the Call's house. Monday we had a staff meeting with the former BEAMM team and Jim De Wit via Google Hangouts (highly recommended). Also on Monday we had our first VBS in the apartment complex of Bili. I helped lead crafts and songs, Ray taught the lesson, Emily led games, and Bili made the kids lunch. It went GREAT! we had about 12 children there and we had a really good time.
Just a side funny/serious story. I drove the Call's 12 passenger van around to pick up some of the children that came and I still don't know the streets very well. However, its not very cultural for Mexicans to buckle their seatbelts. I didn't know there was a stop sign, so we came to a screeching halt and the kids' heads hit the back of our seats. Thankfully we were going less than 25MPH so there was no damage and after everyone was okay we had a LONG time of laughing.
On Tuesday the Diaso's flew back to Colorado, and just the other day informed us that they have an offer on their house in Colorado which is a HUGE answer to prayer. If everything goes smoothly they should be out in the SD area by August! Also on Tuesday Ray had jury duty, so Emily and I went out and prayer walked in the city heights area, as well as passed out flyers for ESL on Friday.
On Wednesday Emily and I did much of the same thing in the morning, and in the evening drove to Escondido to help with their VBS. Consequently, I didn't have my Spanish Bible study that night either, this week will be the starting of it again so long as everyone is available.
On Thursday we did a lot of office work to prepare for another staff meeting we would have with "BEAMM" team over some of the books that we are studying this summer as interns/missionaries.
Friday we took as our day off and we went to the beach (silver strand) with the family that is housing Emily. They had boogie boards, and taught me to boogie...IT WAS INCREDIBLE! The man of the family took me out to where the waves are HUGE and would carry you all the way back into the shore. Although there were times that the waves were a little frightening, the experience was incredible...now to find some people to teach me to surf and I'll return to KS as a Cali surfer dude. :-P We also saw dolphins...which was kinda creepy actually...but they were jumping into the air a ways off of the beach and it was really cool to see (not in picture...just a picture of the beach we were at...click to see it larger).
Today Emily and I went bike riding with Vicente and his friend Mauricio. This is approximately our route:
It ended up being about a 9mi bike ride through the hills of SoCal, and also on highways (legal in Cali...who knew?). Overall it went pretty well and we took a trolly most of the way home.
At first we were riding...
But near the end we were walking...yes both of these photos were while riding with cars driving by us at around 65-70 MPH...scary.
Then we went to a fiesta for the cumpleanos of one of the girls in the church and Emily and I had many good conversations with people there.
This next week is the week of VBS...after VBS...after VBS. Working with kids is incredible...but it is also exhausting. I will also probably be having my spanish bible study this week in Escondido.
Also in other news I have been falling in love with this song
And we used one of Margarita's Aunt's old diamond ring in order to upgrade the diamond in her engagement ring (see picture below).
Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. Also, be sure to click on when interns/missionaries are first listed in order to see their blogs and know how to pray for them as well.
Zach Lutz
Dear Zach, your comments about the lack of "seat belt" education made me laugh. It's not that way now but on my first 3 or 4 mission trips to Russia, seat belts were thought of as bad luck. If you put on a seat belt you were insulting the driver. Your were telling the driver you didn't trust him or her. This was one time when common since won over common cultures.
ReplyDeleteThought you might get a big laugh and would want to share my thoughts of "Motoring In Moscow!"
This exert was from Day 15, page 147 of my book, "A Bridge Into Mission."
Here's my thoughts: But it will take two sendings:
ReplyDelete"Once again, Lydia and I battled the horrible traffic for an hour and a half back to the seminary.
I think that this will be an appropriate time to share some of my thoughts on Russian drivers and things to watch out for while “motoring in Moscow.”
Driving an automobile in Russia is almost sheer terror. Staying alive and keeping the car headed in the right direction while fighting this insanity like mob is a feat in itself. Let me make several observations about typical driving habits and several situations that I witnessed:
1. There are no “real” lanes on any of the highways or roads. Even on the super highways in Moscow, everyone just drives where they want. If your lane is full and the lane coming at you head on is not, just “live on the edge” and drive in that one! There is no law telling you that you cannot drive in the “wrong way” lane. The cliché, “Heads-Up!” does take on an entirely new meaning!
2. There are no speed limits unless they are posted. However, speed is not that big of a
problem. Between the huge pot holes one must constantly negotiate and the shape of the deteriorating cars themselves, to travel at an excessive rate of speed is almost impossible and if not completely suicidal.
3. A red stoplight only means, “stop!” if it is convenient for you. If you just want to slow down a bit, that is perfectly permissible, or if you want to live on the edge again, then go for it!
4. One can park anywhere; sidewalks, in the middle of a road or a major highway, it does not really matter. One can purchase almost anything imaginable from your friendly street side vendor. Anything from eggs to a truckload of cut lumber, it’s all right there!
Thoughts continued:
ReplyDelete5. Drivers will just stop, “abandon the ship,” purchase whatever and then they are off again. I saw one place where people were parking two deep in the middle of a super highway because there was no room along the shoulder to stop!
6. One can make a U-turn anywhere and at anytime.
7. One can stop anywhere and pick up a person walking or you can stop at anytime to let someone out.
8. Pedestrians can cross the streets or a busy highway anywhere they feel like it.
9. Seatbelts for safety? Boy there is a misunderstood term for the records! If you “buckle-up” then you have insulted the driver. I was also told that if you want to be stopped by the often times “bribe-hungry police,” then wearing your seat belt is a good way to get the local authorities attention. The reasoning is, if you wear your seatbelt then you are trying to hide something! Seem strange? I wish that I were kidding!
10. I have never in my life seen such small cars carry so much! There is no limit to the “stuff” one can pile in or pile on! Everything is either tied to the roof, sticking out of the trunk, through the windows or packed inside. One day in Moldova, Pavel and I saw a tiny car that actually had a large old beat up and stripped down shell of a car tied to the top! That was a sight to behold! This kind of reminded me of the old “Keystone Cop” movies that were made in the thirties. Who was carrying what and where?
11. If your car breaks down then you fix it where it comes to a stop. Do you remember when you were a kid and all of the fun we all had driving those crazy bumper cars?
Driving on the roads or highways and trying to avoid a broken down or an abandoned car, a pedestrian or an occasional cow or pig is not far from that nostalgic experience.
Maneuvering a car on the sidewalks has become a real art to the brave hearted driver in Russia. It was nothing to see people turn off of a busy road, just start driving on sidewalks and franticly honking their horns. Many things on their cars do not work, but a horn is a must for a successful “maneuvering-motorist” in Moscow. People are well aware that there is no such thing as “safe walking” or “pedestrian have the right-of-way” in Russia.
After two weeks of this madness, I am wondering if I will feel safe driving again? Just think, my wife thinks that I am a terrible driver! I guess on the mission trips before, we really did not notice the insanity of driving in Russia. We were either too busy visiting with others from our group or we took public transportation everywhere we went.
Remarkably, I only saw a dozen or so wrecks while I was in Moscow. Fortunately I did not see anyone seriously injured. While investigating an accident, I wonder how the police officer decides who is at fault? Probably whoever has the most money to “grease the palm” wins.