Internationalmatt's Blog

This blog is about my international friends and their inspiring stories

Fun in Cooper Park with Iglesía Berea

Last Saturday I joined my friends from iglesía berea for a fun afternoon in Cooper Park here in Lincoln. When I am with my friends from iglesía berea, I am always blessed to see many former students. There was fun for all ages, but especially for the children. There was face painting, an inflatable jumping gym, a fire truck for the children to get into and learn about fire safety, and Piñatas.

from left- pastor of iglesía berea, a firefighter and my friend Hugo the worship leader for iglesía berea

It was great to see the children having fun. It was even more meaningful to see many of my former students and hear about how they are doing and about their lives. While the worship group was singing, I noticed that 2 of the 4 women singing were former students of mine, and 2 of the four men playing instruments and singing were former students of mine, so half of the worship group were my former students.

The one surprise for me was the food. I expected to have some food from their culture such as papusas or tortas, but due to the event being more for children they had hot dogs and chips. There some salad topping we could have that was spicy :) I got a kick out of The decoration on top of the food tent which announced what the food would be.

It was a fun afternoon and I was blessed to see how my former students are giving back to the community. There were children from diverse groups enjoying the festival. I saw not only Hispanic children having fun at the festival. I also saw White, Black and Asian children having fun at the festival. Maybe if we adults have more fun together, we might get along better.

July 27, 2011 Posted by | children, Cross Cultural, Cultural Ambassdors, food, Hispanic friends | Leave a Comment

Piñata in the Park- Could it be an Olympic Sport?

This afternoon I joined my friends from iglesía berea for a festival in the park at Cooper Park in Lincoln. There was live music, hot dogs, face painting, an inflatable jumping gym, a info table for free medical help, and an ice cream truck.  At the end it was Piñata time and it was fun to watch.

The intensity and focus the children displayed reminded me of athletes who compete in a sport. They were all determined to obliterate the Piñata because of their mutual goal. I saw swings of the stick that would have made any Major League Baseball player proud and thought- “It could be dangerous to get between the Piñata and the child with the stick” lol

The look in the eyes of the children brought to mind the look in eyes of Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals, or Tommie Frazier when he played Florida for the 1995 Championship. It was the look of sheer determination. The Piñata was colorful and beautiful and was also made well out of paper machete, but no matter how well a Piñata is made, it is no match for determined children with an eye on the prize much like a star athlete focused on winning a championship.

The prize is the candy that is inside the Piñata and when it finally breaks it is a mad scramble for the candy which conjured up memories of football players scrambling after a fumbled football or perhaps of a Rugby Scrum. You definitely do not want to get caught in the middle of the mad dash for the candy.

There is some compassion for those who cannot get to the candy. There were women standing close by with candy  for unfortunate kids who did not get candy. It was a blast to watch the joy of the children as they battled the Piñata and especially as they gathered their bounty after it broke open. I wonder if Piñata time should be an Olympic Event lol :)

July 23, 2011 Posted by | Cutural Celebrations, Hispanic friends, international fashion and crafts | 2 Comments

Omaha Trip- Immigration and Farm House Cafe with Gregorio

Gregorio in my van from Jesus

On Thursday I drove to Omaha to take my friend Gregorio to the Immigration Office for his appointment for finger prints and photo for his green card renewal. When we got there, it looked very different than when I took my friends from Iran there last summer. That was due to the sandbags and temporary cement block barriers in case the Missouri River flooding comes that far. The appointment took all of about 15 minutes, so we had a one hour drive there and a one hour drive back for a brief appointment lol. During the drive I helped him practice his English and he helped me practice my español. My van from Jesus that I was given on September 2009 is getting a lot of good use. While we were at the Immigration office, we saw something that really caught our attention. We saw a man wearing an orange prison jump suit, handcuffed and being led out the back door. The women who served us were very friendly though and were very helpful.

Before we came back to Lincoln, we stopped at the Farmhouse Cafe for lunch courtesy of Gregorio’s caseworker. I had never been there before, but it was easy to find. It is next to Mangelsen’s on 84th street not too far from the exit off I-80. The food was good and the desserts were wonderful. I had a chocolate cake with ice cream. The lunch menu has sandwiches, salads, soups and more. If I ever get back that way, I will definitely stop by there again.

I look forward to driving Gregorio back to Omaha someday when he takes his citizenship test. Perhaps it will be in a few months. When I do, I think we will stop back at the Farm House Cafe for a celebratory lunch :)

July 15, 2011 Posted by | Hispanic friends, immigration, International Friendships, Internationals | Leave a Comment

Spontaneous Decision Led to New Friend from Denmark/Philippines

Last night I spontaneously decided to go see my friends at Ministerio Manatial de Vida. Normally I teach on Tuesday evenings, but I have been on break the past few weeks. The past few Tuesdays I have been meeting with people, but last night I planned to relax at home when I remembered that my friends at Ministerio Manatial de Vida have a Tuesday evening meeting. I brought a DVD with me to suggest for the youth group to watch someday and was asked to share it with them last night. I am very glad I went because it allowed me to meet my new friend Mary from Denmark.

from left- Mary, Maritza and Tania

We celebrated Mary’s birthday with some ice cream and cake that she brought with the help of her host family. Mary is an exchange student from Denmark who has been at Northstar High School here in Lincoln. She is a very interesting young lady to get to know. She speaks Danish, English and French. She has a bright smile and a gentle spirit. It was my privilege to meet her and to share in her birthday celebration.

getting things ready

You may have noticed that Mary does not look like she is from Denmark. That is part of her incredible story. She was born in the Philippines and was adopted as a little girl by a family from Denmark. I do not know her family, but judging by her vibrant personality and joyful spirit it is obvious she grew up in a loving family. As we talked I thought about some of the families from my church who have been adopting children from other countries and seeing the love poured out to their adopted children. I would tell them to think about Mary as a great example of the wonderful things that can happen when a child is adopted and loved. Think about this- Mary is fluent in 3 languages and did well enough in school to be able to be an exchange student.

Mary came to share her cake and ice cream with the youth group and little children at Manatial de Vida. I thought it was wonderful that she wanted to brighten the evening of the kids during her last week in Lincoln. She will return home to Denmark on Friday. I am glad I had the chance to meet her and look forward to hearing more from her since we have become facebook friends :)

Joyeux Anniversarie, Feliz Cumpleaños, Happy Birthday Mary :)

July 13, 2011 Posted by | children, Europe, Experiences of international friends, Hispanic friends, International Friendships, international students, Internationals, orphans | Leave a Comment

3 Languages + 2 Churches = 1 Meaningful Service at the Lake

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of joining my friends from Ministerio Manatial de Vida and Spring of Life Deaf Churches for a worship/baptism service at a lake outside of Lincoln. It was a simple yet profound service under a tree and at the beach of the lake. It was a wonderful contrast to the every detail planned and choreographed services on most Sunday mornings in American church services.

For part of the service Pastor Rogelio spoke in español while his daughter translated into sign language. Candice from Spring of Life Deaf church translated the sign language into spoken English. It was a service of 3 languages in a joint service for 2 churches. Later Pastor Rogelio spoke in español while his daughter translated into sign and my friend Fidel translated into English. We were there to join as one group in a simple yet profound worship service under the shade of a tree.

We were led in worship by Jezharela and Maritza while two young men played acoustic guitar. After worship we went down to the beach of the lake for three baptisms. It was a poignant time that was reminiscent of how Christians would have worshiped when the church first began two thousand years ago. Pastor Rogelio of Ministerio Manatial de Vida and Pastor David of Spring of Life churches performed the baptisms. Alex is a young man who was baptized that day. His grandfather was able to come and I found out his grandfather fought in the Philppines during World War II. It was awesome that his grandfather could be there to watch. I wondered how it must have felt for him to see his grandson at such a special moment.

There was a lot of fun and food as well. We enjoyed some grilled meat and tortillas, salads and fresh fruit. I still wonder how they cut the mangoes. I love mangoes but can’t cut them very well.  I walked around and took pictures while people were eating and mingling. One woman is expecting a baby this week and she joked about how someone suggested she swim in the lake to induce labor. Of course she didn’t follow that advice.

Before I left, the “soccer” ball made an appearance. The men played some futbol. Pastor Rogelio demonstrated his skills for me. There was a lot of laughter during our day at the lake. After I left, I thought about how often the most profound moments are ones that are simple. Perhaps simplicity itself gets rushed by too quickly in our desire to busily prepare every detail of life.

July 12, 2011 Posted by | Cutural Celebrations, Hispanic friends, International Friendships, summer | 2 Comments

My First Time at a Quinceanera

Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Quniceanera of a special young lady at the Hispanic church I go to on Sundays Ministerial Manatial de Vida. A Quinceanera is the 15th birthday party for a young woman in Mexican culture. It is an important moment in her life and a rite of passage.

The Quniceanera I went to was for a special young lady named Natasha. It was wonderful to see how the whole church came together to help her celebrate. It began with her friends walking together down the aisle. Then Natasha came in escorted by her older brother. She sat down under an arch that was decorated in blue and white. She stayed seated while her father spoke a blessing to her and while we sang some worship songs. The pastor shared with her about the significance of the gifts. One aunt placed a ring on her finger to symbolize purity. Another aunt gave her a bible for her to learn more about God. A cousin gave her an embroidered pillow. Another aunt placed a crown on her head to symbolize her position with God. The pastor’s wife placed a watch on her wrist. It was a beautiful ceremony.

What made it so meaningful was to see the outpouring of love by her family and also their friends at church. After the ceremony we enjoyed some delicious food. I had an opportunity to meet some new friends and also to spend time with those I know already. Of course we had cake and I won’t say how many pieces I wanted to eat. I actually had one the next day because I was busy walking around taking pictures for the family.

I do not know how other Quinceanera’s are celebrated, but based on the one I went to it is obvious how significant a Quinceanera is for the girl and for her family. It gave a little better understanding of Mexican culture and of my friends. I am definitely glad I went. Feliz Cumpleaños Natasha and Dios te Bendiga.

July 7, 2011 Posted by | Cutural Celebrations, Experiences of international friends, Hispanic friends, Internationals, Mexico | 2 Comments

Citizenship Process- Studying with Gregorio at Church

me friend Gregorio

Gregorio is a friend of mine from México who is studying for the U.S. Citizenship Test. I feel it is a privilege when I help people prepare for the Citizenship Test because in a small way it helps our country and in a big way it helps the person who becomes a U.S. Citizen.

To become a U.S. Citizen the person needs to have been a Permanent Resident for 5 years, they can send in the paper work after 4 years 8 months, and fill out an application, and take a test which draws from a pool of 100 questions that deal with questions about Our Government, Our Rights and Responsibilities, and Our History. There is also a fee involved. You can get more info on all of that at USCIS.gov

Gregorio is an example to me of someone who has persevered through hard times to provide for his family. He has been working hard and normally worked two jobs before he injured his hand at work which required surgery to remove a bone from his hand. He is now studying English to try to be able to have a job which does not require heavy work. He was so busy working two jobs that he did not have an opportunity to study English. The fruit of his labor is that he was able to buy a modest house here in Lincoln and also over the years paid for his stepsister and step-brother to go to a University in Mexico. His step-sister is now a dentist in México and his step-brother a Psychologist.

Gregorio with the Citizenship Test Prep Materials

Gregorio loves being a student and having the opportunity now that he did not have before his injury. We have studied 63 of the questions as of today and when we practice he usually only misses 1 or 2. When he takes the test they will ask him 10 of the possible 100 questions and he needs to get 6 correct. We have 37 more to study and practice. My hope for him is that we can fill out the forms and send them in another month. After we send them in he will be sent a letter telling him his appointment time and date for the test. The letter usually comes a few months after sending in the application and the test date is usually about a month or so after the letter is sent. He does not know it yet, but I am going to try to get him some help with the fee which is over $600. He has been on disability for over a year and the fee is a hardship or him.

I am confident Gregorio will pass when he takes the Citizenship Test. He is dedicated as a student. We are joined by his children on days his wife works. I taught his 4 year son Eberardo how to write his name and other words in English. His 11 year old daughter translates for the family, but we need her help less not that Gregorio has been improving his English. We enjoy meeting at church where it is quieter than the library. Sometimes some of the older women will be there and they love to see Eberardo.They are delightful family and the day Gregorio is sworn in as a U.S. Citizen will be a blessing for them and an honor for me to watch.

July 6, 2011 Posted by | Hispanic friends, immigration, Internationals, Mexico | 3 Comments

Weekend Fun with my Hispanic Friends- Father’s Day at Ministerio Manantial de vida

On Father’s Day I joined my friends at Ministerio Manantial de Vida for their worship service and a potluck dinner afterward. The worship service was full of poignant moments as the church celebrated Father’s Day or Día de Padres. Women in the church came up and read from the bible in español to the congregation. The children performed a drama that the church created. At the end of the service fathers came forward to the front and their children prayed for them. I got a kick out of the message by the Pastor’s wife. She shared about what it means to be a father and a man from the bible while using a tool box and tools as props. I listened with a smile while I wondered how often she used the tools.

the women reading

the children's drama

fathers being honored

After worship service we had a potluck dinner at the church. There was a lot of delicious food such as barbecue chicken, papusas, barbecue ribs and much more. During dinner I sat for a while with a family that has three girls who go to an elementary school where I teach Family Literacy. Then I walked around and took pictures for families. It was a wonderful way to cap off my weekend of fun with my Hispanic friends. I also had a chance to go for ice cream with Pastor Rogelio, his wife Chayo and daughter Jezharela in the afternoon.

The day reminded me of how important family is for our Hispanic friends. The weekend was full of fun, food and friends and also gave me many opportunities to practice my español, see how former students are doing, and appreciate the diversity of God’s creation especially when it comes to people. God loves all people of all cultures. I had a chance to observe that at different Hispanic churches this weekend.

June 20, 2011 Posted by | Cutural Celebrations, Hispanic friends, Holidays, international students, Internationals, Mexico, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Weekend Fun with my Hispanic Friends- Fiesta at Cristo Rey on Saturday

On Saturday my weekend adventure with my Hispanic Friends continued when I went to a Fiesta at Cristo Rey church. I actually went twice, one time around noon and the other in the early evening. I went around noon to watch the children dance some traditional Méxican dances which were fun and lively. I made a special point to go watch because a friend told me about it. A friend who helps teach the children how to do the dances, but she did not come due to her husband’s birthday. Nevertheless, I had fun watching.

Méxican culture has a lot of rich tradition, which I do not presume to know much about, but I certainly enjoy observing and sharing with my Hispanic Friends. The music, dance, and colorful costumes were an experience I enjoyed thoroughly. Watching children perform is always fun and it is cute when they make a few mistakes, but then I have to admit they certainly danced better than I could. The dance was just the beginning of my fun. I also had the opportunity to walk around and see some of my former students and my friends. It was great to catch up on how they are doing in their lives. I was also able to enjoy some delicious food for lunch.

my friend Roxana made Papusas

Torta table

My lunch began with a delicious Torta which was a sandwich with meat, avocado, tomato and some other toppings although I passed on the jalapenos. The Torta was very tasty and I thought about having a second one, but then I remembered the Papusa table, so I went there too. I had two Papusas which my friend Roxana was cooking. I asked her if she needed my help and she just gave that look  I get sometimes when I try to joke around. I was full after a Torta and two Papusas, so I went to a table where they were playing a form of bingo.

The game cards had pictures of different items with their names in español. I played mostly to practice my listening skills, but had fun as well. I was not concerned with winning and in fact was elated when some children I gave tickets to won in a few games. My friends Yolanda and Elizabeth helped me with some of the words when I missed them. My biggest thrill at the table was watching the children have fun.

I left to go sit in some air-conditioning and get some things done. I returned around 5pm to enjoy some more food and see if I could run into anyone I knew. I ran into several people I knew as I walked around. I had opportunities to practice my español and find out about my friends. I also had corn on the cob Hispanic style which is rolled in butter, then dipped in grated cheese and red pepper sprinkled on it. It was awesome!! I also had another torta. I then found my way to the flavored drinks and had a lime drink. I finished my indulgence of good eating with a ice cream bar of mango and creme.

It was a full day of fun, food and friends. It was especially a blessing for me to see my friends having fun and enjoying themselves. My Hispanic Friends tend to be maligned and face discrimination. Life is hard for them and they work hard. Seeing them have a day to have fun with their families was very meaningful to me. I also gained even more appreciation for the work that some of my friends such as Yolanda, Elizabeth, Olga and many others do to help my Hispanic Friends in their lives here in Lincoln. I look forward to next year’s Fiesta.

June 20, 2011 Posted by | Cutural Celebrations, El Salvador, Experiences of international friends, Hispanic friends, international fashion and crafts, Mexico | Leave a Comment

Weekend Fun with my Hispanic Friends- Concert at la iglésia berea Friday evening

I was invited by a friend and former student to go to a concert at la iglésia berea last night. Ernesto is one of my friends from El Salvador and was one of my students. It was a great experience to walk in and see that maybe half of the church members were former students of mine. They all made me feel right at home and welcomed me. It was awesome to catch up with how they are doing now. Their church started about two months ago, but it was easy to see how close they are with each other.

left to right- Hugo, me and Ernesto

The music group for the concert was a quartet from Rio Grande Bible Institute in Texas. They were four wonderful young women who sang beautifully in español. I loved the songs they sang. Worship songs always seem to sound more beautiful to me when they are sung in español. Each of them played a variety of instruments as well. They were very talented. They each also shared briefly about their lives and studies at Rio Grande Bible Institute.

I had a chance to talk with the women after the concert and learn more about their school and their lives. In fact one of them will get married in a few months and join her husband in ministry in Mexico. They all have gentle hearts and care a lot for others as well as being gifted musically. They were awesome representatives of Rio Grande Bible Institute.

The music while beautiful was also profound in its message. I felt inspired to live more for God as I listened to them sing in español. At times I just closed my eyes to listen more intently. The concert was very uplifting. Seeing my former students was also uplifting. Sometimes teachers can get so busy with the work that goes into teaching a class during a quarter or a semester and not have an opportunity to see how the class helps students improve their lives. I had an opportunity last night to see how my former students are doing now and I was impressed. I also had an opportunity to explain to some about how to start English classes.

Alejandro and Claudia

Margarita

I also had fun joking with some of the young people and children. I told them I color my hair to look older and wiser, but they did not believe me. My friends also helped me practice my español as we conversed in español. They were all kind to tell me I speak well, but I know I need a lot of improvement. It was a perfect evening to be able to stop and smell the roses.

June 18, 2011 Posted by | Education, El Salvador, Experiences of international friends, Hispanic friends, Mexico | Leave a Comment

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