Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes (by Jimmy Buffett)

Well, I don’t know exactly what to expect in the days and weeks to come, but the next several weeks promise to be very busy. All I know for sure is that I’m going to be spending most of my time out in the islands experiencing and preparing to lead ethno-tours. I’ll be living in the homes of local villagers, eating their food, speaking their language, and generally living their life. This summer will be back to back to back short-term tourists coming out to experience ethno-tours for several weeks at a time. My goal and responsibility: to lead some of these groups. This first group I get to be just another tourist to get a first-hand understanding of what, exactly, I’ll be leading. Since I haven’t experienced this yet, I really don’t have too much more to say about it.
I can’t say whether or not I’m going to get to experience anything like this story first-hand, but I’ve already gotten to see God doing some amazing work through some of my co-workers. Apparently, a few years back there was an ethno-tour group that came out and decided that the night before they were to leave the islands and return to the city, they should do a drama to show the story of Christ. Well, this didn’t go over too well with the locals or the village leaders. As a result, out of concern for safety, the team had to leave the island in the middle of the night … this organization hasn’t returned since. The most frustrating part of the situation is that there were a few individuals who came to the Lord during that visit, yet because of this incident there was no one who could follow up with or disciple them … they were left alone, I’m sure with a lot of questions. Well, the other day two of my co-workers returned to the island to gauge the situation and, most importantly, to check on these newly saved individuals. The result of this visit: Those few people continued in their faith and were still hungry to learn more, the island leaders were no longer around and the village has been anxiously anticipating this groups return for some time now, and through prayer there was an individual who walked for the first time in over six months!!! God is doing some amazing work here … and thanks to many of my family and friends back home I’m able to be a part of His work – THANK YOU!!!!
In the next week I’ll be focusing on continuing my learning of the language here, becoming more comfortable with the locals and interacting with them, meeting and networking with more and more locals to establish new relationships, and preparing myself for these groups coming out and my time away for weeks at a time. Lord only knows when I’m going to get any rest again (I’m getting a peek into the life of my dad)!
I’ve been getting questions from some of you about what life is like here, what are some crazy foods I’ve been eating, who are some unique individuals I’ve met, and how I’m adjusting to life in another country. Well, I don’t really know how to explain it, but I really don’t feel like I have too much to tell. It’s not that I’m trying to hide anything from anyone, it’s just that it all feels so normal and comfortable. The food has been fantastic (so much for losing weight while I’m here … at this rate I’m going to be GAINING weight instead!), the people are great, and nothing really seems too unique or novel. There’s a certain peace about being here … I think it’s just that my time away was way overdue! Life here is just life, the way I like it. Maybe it’s just that I’ve done enough traveling in my life that countries like this are just all too familiar to me now. Most of the things that catch newcomers off-guard and lead them into culture shock are tried and true for me and I know what to expect and how to deal with them. The things that probably should be scary or exciting are just kinda routine. But don’t let me make it sound like it’s boring or unexciting. It’s a different kind of excitement. It’s like visiting an old home. It’s a type of “different” that’s familiar and comfortable. I guess the best way to describe it is that, for the first time in a long time, I have peace and joy in my heart. It feels good!!!!
For those of you who have been committed to reading my blog and especially to those of you who have sent me comments, I want to let you know how much I appreciate it. It’s nice to know that all my typing isn’t a waste of time. I’m sorry that I haven’t had any good way to respond to any of your comments and let you know that I’m actually reading them and appreciating them, but please know that each one has been an encouragement, given me perspective, made me think, made me laugh, or made me feel a little more connected to things back in the states … so thank you, very much!!!
Stay tuned … there’s more to come (and I’m still working on more pictures … it’s just hard with dialup).