here's the back

Some new folks

Hi. We're inviting some people to join the blog. Maybe they will. One who already has is Rachael's friend A.C., who I've met once. I think she'll make the blog approximately 25% more awesome. If somebody else new joins, I think we'll be 50% more awesome, but I've never been good with fractions.

Also, here's a picture I took of myself, while riding a unicycle. It's a shame that you can't really tell that part about the picture from the picture itself, because that's definitely the best part of the picture. Picture.

Rachael's quilt for Steve and Mary

Now that it's no longer a surprise, I feel okay publishing this photo of Rachael's groovy quilt, which represents the way Steve and Mary have been with her through the seasons of her life. (It was a gift to them this Christmas.)

cuando el pobre lyrics

verso: Cuando el pobre nada tiene y aun reparte, cuando el hombre pasa sed y agua nos da, cuando el débil a su hermano fortalece,

verse: When the poor ones who have nothing share with strangers, when the thirsty water give unto us all, when the crippled in their weakness strengthen others,

refrain: then we know that God still goes that road with us, then we know that God still goes that road with us.

estribillo: va Dios mismo en nuestro mismo caminar, va Dios mismo en nuestro mismo caminar.

2: When at last all those who suffer find their comfort, when they hope though even hope seems hopelessness, when we love though hate at times seems all around us,
2: Cuando sufre un hombre y logra su consuelo, cuando espera y no se cansa de esperar, cuando amamos, aunque el odio nos rodee,
3. Cuando crece la alegría y nos inunda, cuando dicen nuestros labios la verdad, cuando amamos el sentir de los sensillos,
3. When our joy fills up our cup to overflowing, when our lips can speak no words other than true, when we know that love for simple things is better,
4. Cuando abunda el bien y llena los hogares, cuando un hombre donde hay guerra pone paz, cuando "hermano" le llamamos al extraño,
4. When our homes are filled with goodness in abundance, when we learn how to make peace instead of war, when each stranger that we meet is called a neighbor,



let me know if you want the chords too. Actually, here:
verso:
Dm A7 Bb D7 Gm C7 F F E7 A7 Dm
estribillo:
Bb A7 Dm D7 Gm A7 Dm Gm Dm




By the way, this hymn sings the message that makes me want to be a Christian!!! Yay Unspeakable Mystery!

ending classes

I meant to post this a couple weeks ago, and was reminded of it today.

At Oberlin, we ended most of our classes (on the final day of the course) by applauding for the professor. It was great.

We didn't clap at the end of my pastoral care class; we prayed instead. I liked that even better.

Guatemala #4: Map!

If you're interested...at the moment I'm living in Zone 6 of the city. Zone 11 isn't marked (where the MCC office and my language school are) but it's more or less to the left of Zone 7, I think. So, to get to language school, the bus goes through Zone 6, through Zone 2, across a bridge with a huge chasm underneath (the green spot on the map) through Zone 7 and into Zone 11.

tribute to Quakers

I would just like to tell the world that the Boise unprogrammed Quakers did well by me these six months. They learned my name and welcomed me, chatted with me after, invited me to breakfast and Christmas parties, and asked me how they could support me going to Nicaragua. Then on my last Sunday they dedicated the whole meeting to holding me in the light, and then they all signed a card and gave it to me. And before July they never knew me.

Thanks, Quakers, with love from me (Rachael).