Breathtaking Beauty

There and Back Again

Friday August 31, 2012

New Zealand is seriously the most beautiful place in the entire world. We arrived at the airport and as soon as I stepped outside I was met by the crisp, clean air. It smelled like fall everywhere which was awesome because fall always makes me feel at home. We were driven to One Tree Hill by our guide Lyndsey. One Tree Hill is a very large mount in Auckland that makes one feel as if they stepped off the bus and onto the shire! Rolling green hills surrounded me as did beautiful mama sheep and their baby lambs. I took deep breaths constantly—like I was trying to get the crisp morning air to fill me up completely. At the top of One Tree Hill there is now a monument where a very tall tree once stood. There is some controversy surrounding the tree. The Maori people didn’t want the tree on top of their paa. It was cut down during a protest and replaced by a monument. The monument looked cold to me and was nothing compared to the surrounding beauty. You could see all of Auckland and just so much beauty! I felt like I might bubble over with pure excitement. I love New Zealand and this wonderful group of people I am with.

-Bonnie Rae Fisher

The Dead Marshes

Saturday September 1, 2012

Well, I thought I was a size 4 but the morning before going to Karekare beach I found out otherwise while trying on wetsuits, which I found out only keep you dry when water is below your armpits. Our day was to be spent river hiking through sprawling canyons laid out in the perfect serpentine shape. The view ahead consisted of layers of green mountains and blue skies. As we tramped over rocks and grasses, inevitably taking some accidental dips, the group was able to have some good bonding time meeting each obstacle that came along. As we left the canyons, we came across marshes I’m pretty sure were straight from Lord of the Rings. Maybe it’s because we’re in New Zealand, but every sight we come across seems to have been a scene that was filmed somewhere in the trilogy. I digress. The black sand dunes were the last lap. As the sun set while we walked the dark shores, the melodies of nature surrounding us were louder than it had been the entire day. And just as the marshes were, the group was dead tired from a long day in the mountains.

-Cutter Chisnell

“Rea Sechaba” – We are a Tribe

As we pulled into the airport, a buzz of excitement began to make its way through our group. The waiting was over, the anticipation gone, and we were finally on our way. Gradually the other passengers on the plane began to learn of our trip, and many expressed concern at our staying in Soweto Township. During apartheid, this area was set aside for blacks to live. White South Africans avoid the area out of fear, and it is uncommon for a white person (let alone a large group) to undertake an extended stay. But, great risks reap great rewards.

Throughout the plane ride (a total of 18 hours), there was much visiting between the EMU students and our excitement refused to be quelled. At our layover in Bakar the general consensus was, “we’re in Africa!” With another eight hours of flight, we forced ourselves to sleep, attempting to adjust the time difference, a feat helped along by the captain and flight crew. Though the flight was long, we remained comfortable and I am told that the accommodations and service on the plane were well above par (something I would not know as a first time flyer).

Our plane landed in Johannesburg around five Thursday evening, constituting 24 hours lost to travel and time zones. After we gathered our luggage and exchanged our dollars to South African rand, we crammed ourselves (and our bags) into two vans, marking the beginning of our tribal bonding.

At St. Benedicts, we took little time to unpack, deciding to sing worship songs late into the night. We followed this with a variety of card games, starting a favored Cross-cultural tradition. Our days here at St. Benedicts have given a sense of surrealism, yet the time has brought us closer to each other than ever before. We are grateful for these days and approach our first homestay with the conviction to rely on the strength and support of God and each other.

It is hard to fully explain to others the experience this semester has been and will become. I feel so blessed to be a part of this group and am excited to continue this journey alongside them. Rea Sechaba. We are a tribe. And together, nothing is going to stop us.

-Katarina Napfel

Host families create a circle of warmth

Smiles. Laughter. Love through eye contact. Looking around the circle today showed me more about the group and bo mes (our mothers) than I could have asked for. Trevor’s Me looking so affectionately at him. With the same look of a newborn and his mother. Me Nora holding Kevin’s hand. Clearly there is more going on there than just a three week friendship. These women and their families have committed to loving us and are un-intimidated by our differences. They know how to truly love like Jesus loved. Me Pinky’s smile sneaking out from her tough and removed expression. She is learning with us about trusting each other. Close physical contact means sharing more than just warm facial exchanges. Me Tshidi’s arm against mine, not an accidental graze (like i would expect) but a comfortable placement close to mine. Patience with our minimal understanding of their language or pronunciation. Conversations, and comparisons of how Americans and South Africans behave in banks and public. The people feel closer. The sun feels closer. God feels closer.

-Hannah Schrock

Resting in the questions

June 7

I cannot believe that we are flying back to the U.S. in just three days – It is surreal! I have learned, and experienced so much during my time here in Bulgaria. I feel like I have a lot more to learn here, and I am not ready to leave. Processing these past three weeks will take time, and prayer, because I believe that there are buried meanings to every experience I had.

I found faith-driven connections everywhere in Bulgaria, and that is truly remarkable. A country with as much history and culture as Bulgaria has an incredibly strong foundation upon which religion, churches/mosques, and core faith emerge.

I have seen this in the openness and hospitality of those around me, including my generous and overly patient host families. I have also heard this through the courageous stories of resilience, re-birth, and seeking reconciliation.

All-in-all, Bulgaria has begun to teach me about resting in the question. I believe these lessons will be re-learned throughout my entire life.

-Molly Boese

Icons of nature, history and the church

May 25

When in Bulgaria, you are sure to experience a few new things; including banistsa, stotinki, and even an earthquake! Around 3:00am on May 22nd, our cross-cultural group experienced the aftershocks of a 5.6 est. earthquake that damaged parts of Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. No one from our group was injured, but it sure made for interesting conversation in the morning.

Student #1: Did you feel the earthquake last night?
Student #2: That was an earthquake?? I thought someone was jumping on my
bed…huh.

After the earthquake, we made a trip into the Pirin Mountains. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with our planned mountain hike. As we reached higher elevations, the rain began to fall and the idea of trekking through the snow became less and less appealing. We grabbed a few pictures by Baikushevata mura, the oldest tree in Bulgaria dating back 1300 years. From there, we shared a picnic lunch by the river, and returned to Bansko to play card games and enjoy cappuccino.

On Wednesday, the 23th, we took a short trip to Dobarsko, where we visited the Church of Theodore Tyro and Theodore Stratelates. Here we saw the famous (prophetic) icon of Jesus’ ascension on what appears to be a rocket ship – Very cool!

In the evening, we went to a cultural center in Bansko, where Daria’s photo exhibit, Baba’s Wisdom, was displayed. While we were unable to understand most of the program, we could feel a lot of excitement and energy in the room. We were also able to share an authentic Bulgarian meal together, complete with endless meats, music, and even a solo from Daria’s father.

On the 24th, we left Bansko via train, and rode through the Rhodopi Mountains to the community of Asenovgrad. We enjoyed a meal at a government villa in Velingrad before continuing on to the Evangelical church in Asenovgrad, where we met our host families. Walking around Asenovgrad, we came upon a high school graduation. There were hundreds of people gathered outside, lots of yelling and car horns honking.

We will be spending the next 4 nights in Asenovgrad, traveling around this area and spending time with our host families. So much to see, hear, taste, and experience. Our time in Bulgaria is going too quickly.

-Molly Boese

Asenovgrad Host Families and the Rose Festival

We are about to spend our fourth and final night with our host families in Asenovgrad. Everyone seems to have enjoyed the stay, but for some it was more stretching than others due to a larger language barrier. My host brother George is fluent in English. On the other hand, Kendal and Brandon, among others, are getting pretty good at charades.

The days have been packed with museums, excellent Bulgarian food, Roman ruins, bus rides, TOALETTNA searches, a good number of Churches and a Mosque. We have had rain for significant chunks of each of the last four days. Andrew tells us that he can’t control the weather, but we suspect that he is lying and saving up all the good weather for Greece. At one point, we were caught in the street when a downpour broke out.
Fortunately we could take cover up against the walls of the houses because each consecutive level sticks out a few feet. (We learned that the houses were originally constructed this way to aid in the emptying of chamber pots. Rain cover is good, too, though). Hallelujah, during the majority of the renowned Karlovo Rose Festival it did not rain at all! Be excited for some rose related souvenirs and some ridiculous pictures of Nigel posing with the ‘Rose Queen.’ The rose festival was full of traditional clothing, dancing, bagpipes, good harmony, and a ridiculous background of jutting cloud-swathed mountains complimenting row upon row of the most fragrant roses on earth.

Our host families all came from the same church, so today all twenty-three of us contributed to packing out their small building. We sang some praise songs in Bulgarian. Many of us recognized the songs, and it was moving to sing in two languages at once. Later in the service, some of us shared some remarks with the congregation and Cory said that the singing made him feel like we are truly brothers and sisters in Christ.
For the afternoon we were able to relax as a group. First we had a debrief meeting, and then we went bowling and had pizza. It is noteworthy that during the past few days four or five Bulgarian youth from the church have been travelling with us and getting to know us. (They even went bowling).

Overall the trip is going well, and the challenges we are facing, from sore throats to rain to language infancy, will only serve to fortify our awesomeness.

-Lucas Schrock-Hurst

Greetings from Bansko

May 21 2012

Здравей from Bansko!

We have arrived in Bulgaria after a very long day of travel. We left Harrisonburg at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon and arrived in Bansko at 4:30 in the afternoon Sunday, local time With a seven hour time difference from the East coast, that is a travel time of 21 hours. We were exhausted once we finally arrived here in Bansko but we tried our best to stay awake and finish out the day to get on a regular sleep schedule. Once we arrived in Bansko, Andrew and Daria led us on a tour of the city. We walked through the downtown center, with stone streets and sidewalks. I’m amazed at the beauty of the buildings and the wonderful backdrop of the Pirin Mountains. The city is friendly, with countless villagers coming up to Daria and greeting her with a homecoming welcome.

On Monday we went on another tour of the city, including a stop at the Orthodox church in the center of town. The church was filled with beautiful, colorful artwork on the walls, ceiling, and pillars. The front was filled with traditional paintings of icons. Later in the day we stopped at a museum that had a gallery filled with traditional icon paintings.

We passed many stray street dogs in the city center, Nigel even befriended a few of them. We have had many delicious, home cooked, Bulgarian meals. The food and city has been great to us. I look forward to the many exciting travels to come on the trip.

-John Barry

Introduction to the desert…and pruning

John 5:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

On Sunday May 6 we attended South Side Church and were challenged by this verse in relation to our lives. Many of us found this verse to be applicable to our current journey of crossing borders and building connections. The sermon challenged us to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open to the pruning necessary for further growth and change in our lives. LET THE PRUNING BEGIN!

Day 1

Our trip began with building connections among our group thanks to 12 hours of travel! We arrived in Tucson around 12:15 pm although our bodies felt like it was 3:00. The remainder of the day consisted of getting acclimated to our new climate of 93 degrees, which required bonding, sleeping, sleeping, sleeping, and more bonding.

Dia Dos

We visited the Florence detention center and also spoke with a human rights lawyer who works specifically with detained, undocumented immigrants. We were challenged with the two different viewpoints and began our inquiry of what really needed to be changed along the border and also in our justice system.

Day 3

Today the group went to Saguaro National park; in reality the park was a desert, which helped us understand the journey of a migrant somewhat. The group hiked about 2-3 miles, only a fraction of what they would walk after crossing the border. Next, we went to San Xavier Mission, which is a Tohono O’odham Indian reservation just outside of Tucson. The mission consisted of a church, market for food, and small shops filled with handmade jewelry, pottery, moccasins, and the list could go on. We ended the day by dining downtown reflecting on our adventurous day and celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Day 4

We attended South Side church and felt very welcomed by the congregation. The service was rich with sounds of the south side choir and driven by a thought provoking message. That afternoon we participated in Samaritan training, which specializes in the aid of migrants traveling through the Sonoran desert.

Day 5

This, today, has been the most intense, heart wrenching, and emotional day so far. We began at the border, viewing the wall. We then entered Nogales, Mexico and proceeded to tour a factory specializing in the making of dental implants, crowns, and dentures. Following the tour we had the opportunity to speak with immigrants recently deported as well as those preparing to cross [the border]. This was the most difficult part of the day, due to their stories that hit close to home. Next we were welcomed at the HEPAC community center with a hearty, flavorful lunch. During our time there, we played with the local children, were greeted by numerous four legged friends (cats and dogs) and participated in two lectures. Our final stop of the day, ended at the house of Señora Cruz, where she force fed us (lovingly) the most wonderful meal, and shared her life story in Mexico.

As we reflect over these past couple of days, we continue to grow more excited for our time in Mexico! We ask for prayers of safe travel and learning to cross borders and make connections.

Day 6

Today we headed out of Tucson around 12:00 p.m. and made a pit stop in Tombstone, AZ. The group was treated to a wild west experience including cowboy apparel, souvenirs, shops, jewelery, and saloon style dining. Our one hour stop soon turned into two hours. We then rushed to Douglas, AZ and were oriented to the Migration Resource Center. The group participated in a vigil remembering immigrants whose lives were lost traveling through the desert. We proceeded into Aqua Prieta, Mexico where we will be spending the next week.

Day 7

Breakfast was served at the Community Center at the early hour of 7 a.m. Following breakfast we attended in a bible reflection at Just Coffee. After this we went to C.R.E.E.D.A. which is a rehab center for community locals who have addictions to drugs and alcohol. Individuals from CREEDA led us in a walk through the desert on paths used by immigrants to the border, helping us understand a portion of their journey.

-Rebecca Dutcher, Conrad Yutzy, Diane Nicosia

Vayan con Dios

April 16th-April 22nd

Monday was our last full day with our host families. This time, some of the goodbyes seemed to be a bit easier than they were in Guatemala City. We have had our share of practicing. As Abdu’l-Baha said goodbye to a group of friends on this date 100 years ago he stated, “The breath of the Holy Spirit is your comforter, and the angels of heaven surround you” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 20).

The Mexican people and many other Latin cultures have a similar message of hope while saying goodbye; ‘Vaya con Dios’ (May you go with God) which I like just a tad bit more than ‘Dios te acompañe’ (May God accompany or go with you) because it is an indication of our responsibility. As we traveled in the last week of our journey, these two statements became real to us.

One statement implies that we have a choice as to how close we are to God, and the other implies that He has a choice as to how close He is to us. Is it possible that both of these statements are true at the same time? I am not suggesting that God abandons us, although I do believe that He has the power to choose for us just how far we ‘feel’ from Him. This doesn’t indicate that He is gone by any means. On the contrary, He is ever more close than before, yet we feel pain because He is ‘far’ or joy because He is ‘close.’ In addition, we, as humans, have a will in this too. Should we say our prayers in the morning when we wake up or will we push them back until we have time for them around lunch, or should we read the scriptures now or whenever we find time at the end of the day?

The rest of the week for our group was filled with both feelings of nearness and feelings of distance. The ending of one journey always indicates the beginning of another. Many emotions surface such as…’it’s an adventure to see what is around the corner’ or ‘I’m unsure of what to expect and I am frightened of what the future holds.’ If we took these emotions and equated them with the two positions above…of nearness or distance; I know which one I prefer to work
toward, what about you?

Abundant blessings,

-Julie Huffer

Mexico

March 29

This week, our excursion was to the city of Tlaxcala. First, we tried the pulque we have been learning about. Pulque is an alcoholic drink made from the liquid honey-like substance in the maguey cactus. It is kind of thick and sour tasting. We decided that it tasted similar to sourdough bread. Many from the group liked it, which surprised our guide, but I couldn’t take more than a couple sips because of the awful texture. I guess it’s a good thing I was not around back then, because it was the favorite drink.

After that, we visited the oldest church in Meso-america. It was smaller than some of the churches we have visited, but had beautiful architecture, paintings and writings from Spanish leaders on the walls. Our next stop was a museum with beautiful, brilliant, brightly-colored murals containing history of Tlaxcala and all of Meso-america. It was really cool to see images of some of the history we have been learning come to life. Our last stop was a museum about the cultural of the area. It included traditional costumes for special occasions, pottery, tools and the famous masks that they use for dances. The masks and costumes were all each unique, hand-made and cost a fortune. I was intrigued by the giant pots about 3 feet deep and 3 feet wide to make beans for the whole community when there was a fiesta. They would need several pots that size and huge plates to hold about a million tortillas. One person would be chosen to cook for everyone and it was quite an honor. I don’t know if I could even imagine that much beans, let alone being in charge of cooking for the whole city!

In addition to our group excursions, we have been on many walks around the city with our conversation guides from the university. It’s a good thing they know where to go, because without them I would be lost for sure! One of my favorite places we visited was a house (now converted to be a museum) where four families that were heroes of the revolution lived and died. The bullet holes were still in the walls, and much of their clothing and furniture was preserved as if no time had passed.

Our group is starting to realize that we only have a few more weeks left here in Mexico, and are determined to make the most of the time we have here. We have gone dancing, out to movies, tried new foods and enjoyed laughing at each other’s mistakes in Spanish, because no matter how much we learn we still seem to say something wrong. It is an amazing blessing to be on a trip with such a special group. Each person has very unique talents and personalities that have helped to form such incredible friendships and memories that I’m sure will last a lifetime. Thank you all for your constant prayers and support as we continue to learn and experience all this culture has to offer.

-Jessica Goertzen

April 9

Hi there family and friends! I am sure you are counting down the days until we grace you with our presence in the United States J or maybe that is just me. But just in case you forgot, let me remind you that that day is in less than two weeks!

This past week we experienced a little bit of life in Mexico City, and also got to be involved in La Semana Santa (Holy Week). There are so many things I could say about it all, but you will have to ask me more when we arrive home. However, I do want to share a few of our memories with you.

Last Monday in downtown Mexico City, we walked to a building known as La Torre (The Tower) and waited in line to take the elevator to the very top of this skyscraper. Because Mexico City is so high in altitude, and La Torre is extremely tall, we were about to be standing on one of the highest points in the world. While waiting in line, one of our brightest and best group members (Stephanie Rheinheimer) commented to us, “How crazy would it be if there was an earthquake while we were up there?!!” Little did she know how much weight her words would carry. We got onto the elevator shortly thereafter, and a couple of us were feeling quite dizzy as we got off on the 37^th floor. As we stepped out to look down on the magnificent city, something felt strange. I had to sit down, thinking I was nauseous, when we realized that the entire building was swaying!! Someone else in our group (another wise one) tried to tell us it was probably just a strong gust of wind… YEAH RIGHT! What we soon realized was that we were stuck at the top of this skyscraper, experiencing earthquake tremors! Steph’s words had turned into reality. Some of us, I will not mention names, thought we were going to die. And yet here I am writing to you all, so obviously we made it! What an experience it was J and needless to say, we do not let Steph make any more ominous statements, just in case they would come true again.

On a more somber note, Friday we had the opportunity to experience the reenactment of the trial and crucifixion of Christ in the streets nearby where we stayed. This was one of the most powerful things for me during Holy Week, and I want to relay to you what I witnessed, but I know that I cannot give it full justice. This is what I wrote about it in my personal journal that Friday night…

“Today we witnessed the 4 hour reenactment of the trial and crucifixion of Christ. It was very powerful because it was not just any old play; it carried incredible weight and meaning. They actually placed a real crown of thorns on Jesus and REAL blood flowed from his brow. We watched as the soldiers whipped Christ and the other prisoners as they carried 80-pound crosses over two miles through the streets. It was gruesome to watch as they arrived at the top of the final hill and you could see the horrible bruises and lash marks on their backs. (Apparently the actors, who carried the crosses along with Christ through the streets, did this as an act of penance for sin.) Then Christ and the other two prisoners were tied to the cross and placed upright in the ground for all to see. It was so realistic! It was an incredible reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us by laying down his life. As I walked through the streets beside the man carrying the tremendous weight of the cross, I kept thinking of Jesus’ words, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” How can we ever begin to thank Christ for the cross or even try to fathom his love?”

What an incredible week it was for our group. Every day was filled with blessings, and I know we will never forget what we experienced. Enjoy the rest of your week back home, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

-Rachel Kennel

EMU Intercultural Learning