Getting Thrown Into the Water

    Believe it or not, tomorrow marks one month of being in Chile. It's quite weird. Earlier, after only being here for a week, it felt as if I had been here for a month. Now, after being here a month, it feels like I've only been here for a week. Strange. That being said, I do feel much more comfortable doing things and going places now. At times during the first month I certainly felt my fair share of culture shock. You know, I guess I'm just a defiant, stubborn person at times. Throughout all of my "pre-departure orientations" and "handbooks on how to survive," each and every one of them mentioned that I was going to experience culture shock. Me, being the skeptic, assumed that this thing they called culture shock was only something that applied to those 'other' individuals, but certainly not to myself.
    So, why is this post entitled, "Getting Thrown Into the Water."? Well, assuming you know how to swim, then perhaps you've heard that sometimes people learn how to swim best when you just throw them into the water. The concept (I'm not explicitly advocating this) is that you really cannot truly experience the water or gain a true understanding of what it's like to swim until you just take that plunge. Sure, people can describe it to you, show you videos of people swimming, or squirt you with a water gun. But, to get that full experience, the real thing, I'm not sure there's a method that can exactly replicate that sensation. This doesn't just apply to swimming. Riding a bike, driving a car, letting go of the sippy-cup, a baby's first steps, going off to college, starting a first job, having kids, losing a loved one. All are experiential things. Sure, other people might have experienced them. And, Yes! they might be able to offer remarkable advice and knowledge. But, none of these experiences truly seem real or make sense or are fully understood until we ourselves go through them.
    How does this all apply to where I'm at now? People have been telling me for 8 months what my trip to Chile was going to be like. Or maybe, how much I'm going to enjoy it. Or maybe, everything I'll learn or experience. My hopes, expectations, and dreams were thought of in my mind, and I had a picture of what everything was going to be like. Can I just be honest for a second and say that my experience in Chile is not really anything like I thought it might be? That's not to say it's been bad or a let-down. All I'm saying is, things are certainly best described by enduring them yourself. Life's situations really aren't understood or grasped until we are in them. Don't quite believe me? Tell me what's more effective in communicating the understanding of an apple: Drawing a picture, Writing a journal article, or Handing someone an apple to eat and enjoy themselves?
    Now, here's the cool thing about all of this when it comes to Jesus. It's pretty much the same concept. Who would you consider to be the nicest person you know? Think about that. Maybe a family member, loved one, friend, teacher, co-worker. Or for some of us, maybe we're struggling to think of someone who sticks out to us as being really nice. Now, if you've got that person in your mind, here's the follow up question: Why do you consider them to be the nicest person you know? Or in other words, how did you find out that they're the nicest person you know? Did you read about them in the news? Did you see them on TV? Did somebody else tell you about them? Or, perhaps someone introduced that person to you. And, if they're incredibly awesome, then you've probably had some key experiences or memories with that person. Maybe some great conversations and laughs. Perhaps moments of great grief together and heartfelt connections between each other.
    Pause. Let's say you want me to know how nice this person is. How are you going to convey that idea or concept to me best? Are you going to read me their tweets or show me their profile picture on Facebook? Perhaps you'll tell me about all of the good times you've had together. Or maybe you'll even go as far as telling me all of the deep, intimate times you've had with that person in an effort to reveal their stunning character. If you're thinking about this, perhaps you're already at the point of saying, "No, I'd just introduce you to that person, so that you can see and experience for yourself how nice that person is."
    I think this area is the number one reason why people are turned off by even hearing the name Jesus. They don't know him. They haven't met him. They haven't encountered him. They haven't been introduced to him. They haven't experienced his character. They haven't felt loved by him. Instead, they're been handed information about him, or seen him on billboards, or in fancy paintings, or on television, or they've heard about him in sermons weekly, and that's been they're extent of encountering the character of Jesus. Now, I'm not saying that giving information about Jesus in order for people to meet him is necessarily wrong. However, the problem occurs when we replace experiencing one-on-one intimacy with Jesus for a simple picture, idea, or description of what intimacy with or knowing Jesus is really like. When you truly and really encounter Jesus, you'll find that those experiences really don't get described fully by words or really by any means of expression.
    Let me give you a practical example. Have you ever had a really funny moment with friends? I mean one of those just hilarious moments that you can laugh about even years after it has happened. If you're like me, then there has come a time where you remember this funny moment and just start busting out laughing with your friends again. However, this time, some unfortunate person is in the group who has no idea what everyone else is finding so funny. Then, someone proceeds to try to explain that previously hilarious situation from weeks or years past to that individual. What typically happens is the individuals sort of gets the idea, but honestly, they don't really think it's quite funny at all. At that point, that poor guy lets out a forced, pitiful, little chuckle so as not to belittle what everyone else finds so hilarious. The conclusion usually ends with this phrase, "Well, you just really had to be there, I guess."
    Whether you consider yourself a believer or not, my challenge to you this week (I'm challenging myself in this as well) is to experience Jesus. What does that mean? How do you encounter or experience Jesus? How do you get to know him? How do you "be there" with Jesus? Well, I believe that an encounter with Jesus is gonna start with Jesus. I know this might sound over simplified, but consider just telling Jesus that you want to experience him. Nothing that earth-shattering. However simple it might sound, asking Jesus to let us be with him may be something we've never done before. But, maybe you don't want to experience him for a whole score of different justifiable reasons. Possibly you're angry at him. Or you just flat out don't trust him or don't believe he's real. Tell him that. I think if you and I just begin to have conversations with him, regardless of where we're at, we'll begin to experience him. And once we experience him, well, it might be like getting thrown into the water, but that just might change everything.

Some Photos!

Outside "La Moneda" the President's Palace in Santiago, Chile

Dramatic Band Photo Shoot

View of Santiago, Chile

Winter Sunset in Valparaíso, Chile

El Guatón (the fatty) eaten in Viña del Mar, Chile

Nighttime view of Viña and Valparaíso from atop a cerro (hill)

The Importance of Community

    It's hard to believe, but I've now been in Chile for 18 days. Wow. I haven't updated in a while, so I apologize. But, there's essentially one main theme that I wanted to share with everyone that God's been teaching me over the past 2 weeks, and that is the importance of community.

    As I mentioned in previous posts, the culture, daily routine, food, climate, and much more is very different here in Chile. There are certainly the similarities as well. For instance, hearing Celine Dion's "I Will Always Love You" being played on the radio in a café (American pop music is extremely common and holds great influence in Chile). But, despite all of the similar things and reminders of home, Chile, just isn't quite home. So, it can be quite hard at times to adapt and get accustomed with things. However, God has been teaching me recently something that sounds easy or simple, but is really quite deep and cuts to the heart. Circumstances don't provide comfort, Christ provides comfort. So, in regards to my situation, I've seen this through a few things: being involved with the local church, fellowship with a brother in Christ, and a recent "retiro de hombres" (men's retreat). 

    The coolest thing about coming to Chile and being a Christian has been being able to immediately be loved and cared for by the local Church. No matter the cultural differences or slightly different style or brand or flavor of the worship setting or gathering, if the local Church is following Jesus, I immediately feel at home, loved, a part of the family. Even when I don't understand everything going on or being said simply due to the language barrier, I'm able to recognize the fruit of the Spirit in the people of the Church. It's such a cool thing. Immediately and still constantly I'm being welcomed, loved, invited to different things, and cared for in a special way. Because there's frequent study abroad students in the area, this local church has assembled a group of young people at the church to specifically outreach and welcome us. My first visit I can remember being such a breath of fresh air. After being in Santiago living in a hotel for 4 days, then touring around Valparaíso and registering for classes all week long, getting rest in Christ by being connected with the body of Christ was and still is phenomenal. 

    Additionally, it can be very hard to make new friends sometimes. If you've ever moved or been in a place where you literally don't know anyone, that can sometimes be overwhelming or at the very least, a little bit intimidating. First, I was thrown into a group of 50 gringos (Americans). Then, thrown into a town of about 1.5 million Chileans. But fortunately, I was able to meet a fellow brother in Christ within the first few moments after arriving into the Santiago airport. Since then, we've shared our stories with each other, prayed for one another, and continued to meet up together to talk about weeks, our struggles, and our lives.

    Finally, just yesterday I went on an all day long men's retreat with the local church. There was about 100 men there I would say, plus 2 gringos, me and my fellow brother that I just mentioned. It was awesome. Just a full day of worship, word, quite time, group time, prayer, food, and a brief soccer game. I really feel like a part of the church and that I know people that care about me. 

    So, why do I mention all of these things? Well, at times, being in Chile has been certainly harder than I had anticipated. Maybe I made the mistake of thinking that simply being in a different place would all of a sudden magically boost my spirituality and I would become this awesome "super christian," if that even exists. There's certainly been awesome moments as well. But, all of these things: the church, a brother in Christ, the retreat are all wonderful. Community is definitely important. However, the thing God is showing me though is not to just simply adapt and find a new comfort zone. Because that would be the easy thing to do. Go from the US and my way of doing things there, then get thrown into a new, unfamiliar place. Sniff around for the familiar things that I know I can trust, then settle in, and get comfortable. Even as I write, I know I might be sounding a bit confusing. I'm not saying that these things are inherently bad, they're not. They're actually wonderful. But, the core of these things is Jesus. I think I'd be making a big mistake if I found my comfort and sense of peace in the people of the local church, or the personality of my new close friend, or in the hype of a retreat or event. These are all good. But, the question is, why are these things good? Jesus, yes the typical Sunday School answer. The most important community that I could ever have is with Jesus.

    To sum things up, I'm praying that Jesus would be what I find my hope, my peace, my life in. And in Him alone. The church, brothers and sisters in Christ, and retreats are all great. But, that's only because they're hopefully directing me more towards Jesus. One thing God spoke to me last night was this: "Jesus is all I'll ever truly have, and Jesus is all I'll ever truly need." When we think about things that are permanent and last forever, what do we truly have that doesn't pass away? If we're human, then the only permanent thing we have that doesn't fade is our sin. If we've trusted in Jesus, then the only permanent thing we have is Jesus. And He is enough. That's hard to see or to understand or to truly believe and feel in our hearts. If I were to pose a challenge to anyone reading, it'd be just that: Is Jesus enough for you? If everything you trusted in, loved, found comfort and security in were gone, would Jesus still be good enough? Would He still completely satisfy you?