VIVA CUBA!!! (pronounced COOba :)

Whatever opinion you may have politically or economically, Cuba is amazing. The culture is so rich. I loved the music, dancing, and art. In general, the Cubans also made us feel very welcome on their island. The educational and health systems are very impressive. People are encouraged to constructively criticize their government and have the right to vote. One comment that really impacted me was by our translator, Alberto who said, "I criticize my country not because I hate my country, but because I love my country and want to see it improve."

That is how I feel about America. I love my country, but there are things that my government and my military have done in "third world countries" that I am not proud of. There are things that I do such as my spending habits that contribute to the success of monopolized corporations that use sweat shops which I am also not proud of. These things need to change and I'm in the process of figuring out how I need to be a part of that change.

It's sad that my country is celebrating someone's death today. No matter how wicked someone may be, my faith in Christ tells me it shouldn't be that way. ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. -Ezekiel 33:11

I don't know what all to think right now but I do like very much this quote by Martin Luther King, Jr, a man I think we all respect.

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

I'm Better Off

Yesterday while walking home from LASP I was thinking that however challenging or frustrating this study abroad experience may have been, I'm better off for doing it. I've been faced with opposing political and theological views. My call to be a missionary has been challenged, or whether missions is more harmful than good. After my trip to Cuba (yes, that's right)this week I will have experienced the realities of 6 different Latin American countries. Though I can speak Spanish and have a cross-cultural awareness, I've only just scratched at the surface. There's no way anyone can fully understand a country or culture in a week, muchless 4 months, or even several years.

One of the speakers here said that learning a language is one of the best examples of "dying to self." When you learn a language you decide to put aside the way you were taught to think and try to put yourself in another's shoes. It's a humbling,challenging, frustrating process and often takes a lot of sacrifice. Language learning is not the end, rather it is a means to an end, which is to form relationships with those from a different reality. This is the process I'm in and have been in for the past several years. In less than a month I will be graduating from Northwestern College with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and minors in Religion and Christian Mission. I'm not really sure what that means yet. I know it doesn't mean that I'm fluent, nor does it mean that I've got this whole missions thing figured out. What I do know is that God has given me a gift, a passion, and a call.

A few days ago I got word that I was accepted as a graduate student to Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI.The plan is to do the Master of Divinty/Master of Social Work Dual Track Program. I am extremely excited for this opportunity. I've been through this process the last four years of deciding whether to go to seminary or not and whether going right after undergrad will be good for me. I don't want to go to seminary to prove anything or hold my higher education over anyone's head. I see this as a tool that God will use to prepare me and shape me into the servant that he has called me to be. I have received so much affirmation just in people's encouragement. Even after seminary I know I won't have it all figured out. In fact, I will probably have more questions than answers, but maybe that's a good thing. We are always to be seeking truth and the Truth of Christ. As humans we'll never fully understand who God is, the wants us to continue to get to know him and what he's all about.

The past three weeks in Grecia were wonderful. I lived with a younger couple, Monica & Manuel and their two kids Emanuel (11) and Nicole (6). Mis papas griega are very active in their church. Both of them are small group leaders and Manuel works as maintenance staff for the church. Mi hermanito, Emanuel is in 6th grade. He loves playing soccer, is girl crazy, and has a fascination with the United States. He sprained his ankle about a week after I had been there so he was pretty bummed he couldn't play soccer for a while. Nicole is such a girly-girl. She loves dressing up and wearing mami's makeup. She loved to play school with me and boss me around as well as interview me about my thoughts on Costa Rica as if she was a talk show host.

One of the most memorable nights was on April 1st, before papi got home, I told the rest of my family it was April Fool's Day in the US so we decided to play a joke on papi that I was leaving the next day. He believed us and decided to take us to a town nearby called Sarchi which is famous for having the biggest ox-cart inthe world. Well, it wasn't in the park so papi asked around. We ended up finding it at the workshop which was closed, but papi convinced a worker to open it up for us because this American girl was leaving the next day and hadn't seen the cart yet. So he gave us a tour of the antique workshop and it was super cool. When we went out for pizza, I broke the news to papi that it was all a joke. We all had a good laugh. It was probably the biggest joke I've ever played on anyone. Later that night, they tried tricking me into thinking there was an earthquake by stomping in the room above me. A few days later the pastor asked me to sing in front of the congregation without a warning, which was also a joke. It was a fun week. I really got to know my family well through that!

The internship was great too. I basically served as an assistant to the English teachers, helping with pronounciation and answer kids' questions. I got a chance to work with all ages - preschool - 6th grade. I learned a new phrase there too. Mucha bulla! Too much noise! :) The teachers and kids were great, but the experience didn't convince me to become a teacher. I do like one on one or small group tutoring. It didn't surpise me that my favorite class was a group of 4 second graders.

Tonight was my last night with my family in San Jose. I still have a little bit of time with them tomorrow as we're not leaving for Cuba until 3pm, well I guess technically today now. They invited the whole youth group over so that I could see them one last time. They asked me to give a message so I shared how God used my back injury to call me into ministry. Afterward we had a birthday cake for the April birthdays, which happened to be Cinthya, my sister and Cristian, my nephew,and asked me to come by but I was the only one they gave gifts to even though my birthday is in September. I was a little confused, but it was super nice. I will miss my family in SJ a lot. They have been such a blessing!

This trip to Cuba is the chance of a lifetime. Ever since I started learning Spanish seriously, I thought it would be super cool to go to Cuba someday. Because it's been so off limits until now it's just so intriguing to me. But I never thought it would come this soon. One of the things I told the youth today is that my ultimate hope for this trip is that somehow I can be a small part of the reconciliation that needs to take place between my country and Cuba. I hope that when I come back I can help tear down this barrier of fear and hatred that both sides have built and begin to reconstruct bridges of hope and understanding. I know this type of change doesn't take place overnight and that honestly I can't do much at all. It is the Holy Spirit that does the transforming. Some of you may be concerned for my safety, but please be reassured I will be careful. Also there is extra security for tourists and our professors have been there before and have told us it is very safe.

I probably won't have internet access until I'm back in the states on the 26th, so no news is good news until then. When we get back we'l be in Miami a couple days debriefing. We also have a talent show which I was surprisingly nominated to be an EmCee, should be fun.

This semester has gone by extremely fast. Endings tend to always be bittersweet. When it comes time to say goodbye it's really hard, but I look forward to seeing my family and friends again. I know I will miss everyone I became close to this semester and so much about the experience while I am home as well. To say the least, I know I am better off for coming to Costa Rica and I thank God for such a privilege as this.

Going to Greece!

To my devoted blog- followers:
I apologize for not updating my blog in well over a month and a half. My excuse is that I’ve been super busy with classes and living life in Central America. By the way, I returned safely from Nicaragua two weeks ago so I hope you weren’t worried or anything. I think most of you are on facebook too so you may have noticed my status change.
On Monday I’m leaving for GRECIA, (Greece) COSTA RICA. It’s about an hour north of San Jose. I’ve heard that Grecia got its name because the original settlers thought they were in Greece! Who knows it that’s actually true, but I guess I’ll find out. My papi says the route takes us through a town called Argentina, kinda funny, I think. I will be in Grecia for 3 weeks as an intern at a preschool where I’ll basically just help out with whatever needs they have and learn from the experience. I’ll be living with a family with 2 little kids, so I’m excited about that. I’ve heard great things about the church my family there goes to as their pastor used to be my current josefina (person from San Jose) family’s pastor.
After I get back from Grecia I’ll have a few days back with my josefina family to say goodbye before we head off to Cuba. Don’t worry, we got special permission  Our professors have told us it’s very safe and just full of culture. I’m looking forward to it and excited to learn especially as it’s always been this “untouchable” place for us from the United States.
Well, I’ll have to catch you all up on my trip to Nicaragua and the past two weeks in San Jose some other time because this chica has got to get to bed to leave at 7am tomorrow!
Bendiciones! Blessings!
Michelle

RICEandBEANS

Well friends, I am currently watching the Superbowl in Spanish.Vaya PACK Vaya! My brother has a big screen TV...PURA VIDA :)

After church today mi familia and I went over to my other sister and brother-in-law's house for lunch because I hadn't met them yet. It was a good time with a lot of good food!

Yesterday I went to youth group again with my sister Laura. It was a very powerful service and the leaders prayed individually for us. Yesterday, two people also asked me if I was a missionary within the first 30 seconds of meeting them. After that my mom basically preached to me saying that people can see when someone has a heart to serve the Lord when they are following God's will, it was pretty encouraging.

On Friday we had presentations on indigenous people in Costa Rica and made models of the first man and woman. I kind of made a fool of myself by dancing like an idiot for the presentation, but my group did win a prize for our model. I think it was because we "blew life" into them with some dust, just like God did in the beginning. I think our teachers liked our "Creativity" :) My group also had to give a presentation on Thursday about turism which made me want to travel around the country more. We'll see if I get the opportunity!

We went to the U.S Embassy on Wednesday to learn about their perspective and influence on economics in Costa Rica. It was a little disappointing. In class, we have been learning about the CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) and how it has increased the gap between the rich and the poor in Central American countries. We tried asking the economic representative questions about that but he had a hard time answering them and really could only speak to how CAFTA has been a good thing for the U.S. I'm very blessed to have been born in the States, but it's really hard hearing about how some small, poor countries have been taken advantage of by some large rich countries.

Last weekend we took an educational weekend trip to Limon on the Carribean coast. Before we left we had a guest speaker, Epsy Campbell,a potential future candidate for Presidenta of C.R. to tell us about Limon and issues like poverty that the province struggles with. We visited coffee, pineapple, and banana plantations where we learned about harsh conditions for workers. We also went to an indigenous reservation and learned how the government has ignored their needs but also taken advantage of their land. We did have the privilege of having dinner with live Calypso music.We ate the famous RICEandBEANS made with cocoa nut and danced to the song too :) It was a ton of fun dancing! While in Limon, we also interviewed several people for our paper on poverty. Many people think the problem of poverty is due to lack of education and government assistance. We also got to go to an English church service. There is a lot of Jamaican influence in Limon because many came to work on plantations when they first started.

I started walking with my classmates to and from classes which ends up being about 8 miles a day. It's been very good for my health overall and I'm getting to know people better, but it's doing a number on my feet. Blisters, blisters, blisters; however my ankle has pretty much healed except for a bruise that's still kind of tender.

In a couple weeks my brother, Grant, is going on a mission trip to Ecuador, my parents are coming here to Costa Rica, and I'm going to Nicaragua. I will only get to see my parents for one day, because that's just how it worked out. It is kind of cool to think that my family will be in 4 different countries in the same week! I'll try to write before then because I won't have internet in Nicaragua.

Your PRAYERS are VERY much appreciated! Please let me know if there is any way I can be praying for you!

Con Mucho Amor,
Michelle

Mangos Falling from the Sky

It’s a hot day in San Jose! I just woke up from a pretty long nap. My Tica mom, Flor (Flower), and spent the morning perusing a couple cities nerby famous for their public parks. The first city we went to, Alajuela, is nicknamed as the “Mango City” because every park has lots of mango trees and in the spring, when it’s harvest, mangos fall from the sky :) and anyone can eat the mangos. I’m hoping to get back there before I leave so I can get my share of mangos too! The airport is also in Alajuela. In Heredia we went to “El Parque de Piedras,” (Stone Park) which has some neat indigenous rock formations. There was also a man evangelizing in the park. He had a sound system set up and everything. In most of these parks there are a lot of old retired men that come to soak up the sun and chat about the latest in town. I would probably equate it to the regular grandpas early morning coffee at your local coffee-serving restaurant.
Take a look at the map above and you’ll see that Alajuela and Heredia are just north of San Jose, my home for the next several weeks, and Costa Rica’s capital. Actually I technically live in what I would call a suburb of San Jose but to me it feels like I’m still in the city, probably because I live on Guadalupe highway with non-stop traffic. It’s here I first learned the word “tapones” (earplugs) which are very helpful at night .:)

Monday through Friday I have Spanish class with 3 other students at my level. My professor’s name is Gustavo. Some things we’ve done for class is make up a fairy tale, play 20 questions, present our Tican family tree, make up stories by looking at pictures, discuss culture and review grammar. When I told my mom that I had to make a family tree she decided to take me to meet more of her family members. We went to at least three houses. I probably met about 30 people. She has 14 brothers and sisters and papa has 4.

Speaking of my Tica familia, they’re great! Mami & Papi (Oscar) have their 35th anniversary on Monday and they are elders in their church, which is Pentecostal. Last Sunday the service lasted 3 hours…This Sunday Papi’s preaching and he’s making sure it won’t be that long, haha. I also went to youth group with my two of my sisters, Laura & Cinthia. Laura is 30 and was born with spinabifada so she can’t walk but when she’s not using her wheelchair she can get around with the strength of her arms, her room is even upstairs! Her goal by May is to learn how to swim, which I think is awesome. Laura is how my parents became Christians. Mami was telling me this morning that is by the grace of God she is doing so well now, but it was especially hard for her because she was my age when Laura was born. Cinthia just got married in December to Richard and they also live upstairs as well as Oscar Jr. (“May”). May is engaged to Meylin but they’re not planning their wedding until after she’s done with college. On the weekends Cristian stays with us to, he’s my “nephew” I guess but I haven’t met his parents yet, who would be my siblings.

My Latin American Studies Program (LASP) classes are really interesting. So far we’ve talked about Colonialism, Economics, Politics and Poverty. Some of it is from a very different perspective than I’m used to so I’m trying to keep an open mind. I’m also reading a book about the struggles of Latin American women. It’s pretty graphic and unbelievable sometimes but I have to write a position paper on it in a few weeks. We have class Tuesdays and Thursdays every morning, so those days can be pretty long wit Spanish class, but it’s good. For now, my classes and homework are pretty intense, but I’m learning a lot and it’s all pretty interesting. Some of the issues we talk about are really hard to swallow so I’m praying that God will give me the grace to make sense of all these tough issues and what I need to do about them whether that may be change the way I live or help change injustices in this world…probably both.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

-I twisted my ankle last Monday, it’s getting better but please pray for a quick and complete recovery!
-Next weekend we’re taking a “field trip” to Limon. Take a look at the map, it’s right on the Carribean coast. We’re going to the beach but we’re also going to see a lot of poverty and racial issues there. We also have to write a paper on our experiences.

THANKS FOR READING! I KNOW IT WAS LONG! DIOS LES BENDIGA
Michelle

On the road again...

Some people ask me, “So, Michelle, when’s your next adventure?” Well, folks, it’s coming up. In four days (Tuesday Jan 11) I am leaving for Costa Rica for my semester abroad. Though my time in Costa Rica will probably be quite the adventure, I prefer to refer to these experiences as part of the journey the Lord is taking me on. Adventure sounds much more like thrill-seeking and carefree. Though the journey thus far has been very exciting, there have been many challenges along the way. To be honest, I have many more fears for this next step of the journey than any other before. Quite frankly, I much rather go back to Ecuador. I miss it so much. However, I know the Lord is bringing me to Costa Rica for a reason. I don’t want to have a bad attitude and offend or disrespect anyone. It’s really scary that this is my last semester. I am thankful that while my friends at Northwestern will be waist-deep in snow I’ll be soaking up the sun, but I will miss them dearly. Before I go on, I want to share a few highlights from this past semester.

After I got back from Ecuador, here’s some of what happened:

Summer Charge – I was a counselor at the Campus Life summer camp for a week in Northern Wisconsin

Kids Camp – For a weekend I was a counselor with kids from Chicago & Milwaukee at Gibbsville Church

Spanish House – I lived in a house where we are supposed to speak Spanish all the time. It was fun! “Nos amo!”

Amistad Cristiana – I had the privilege of doing an internship at the Spanish church in Sioux Center.

Black Hills Retreat – Every year NWC has a spiritual retreat. This is the second time I went.

Minneapolis Family Vacation –A couple years ago my closest friends and I formed a “family” so we could regularly spend quality time and we took a road trip to MN. “We do what we want.” VB for life!

Joshua Gross – He’s my boyfriend. He’s really great . We got to spend a lot of time together, which was wonderful. I wish he could come with me!

Thanksgiving & Christmas Break – good times with family and friends!

It was a good semester, but I was also stressed from figuring out things for Costa Rica, this summer and beyond (…which I’m still not sure what I’m doing after graduation). I’m working on applying for seminary, which is something I always wanted to do, but we’ll see.

When I am in Costa Rica, I really want to focus on being there and investing in the people I meet and really taking in all the amazing experiences that will be presented before me. I’ll be taking Spanish and Culture classes just like any other semester but I’ll be living with a family, take weekend trips, have a 3-week internship, take a trip to Nicaragua and another to either Cuba or Panama.

Please PRAY for save travels and that God would prepare my heart for what I am about to experience.

Pura Vida, (Costa Rican saying for “life’s good”)
Michelle Roethel