Global Talk

Well, here we are in Merida!

Christian Vivas made sure we were safely on the 11 PM bus for the 8-hour ride to Merida. And then we were on our own in a foreign country. For about 5 minutes.

Before we were out of the station, the young college student in the seat in front of us looked back and said something to me, which I didn’t catch. (I think she was asking if it would be okay if she reclined her seat.) When she saw my confusion with the language, she smiled and quickly turned to her seat-mate and said, in Spanish, “Gringos! You can practice your English!” Immediately they were turned and leaning over the backs of their seats, talking with us in a mixture of English and Spanish. Soon their friends were joining in, and within a few more minutes we were all taking pictures of each other. Such is the warmth and enthusiasm we seem to encounter every time we visit this friendly country. We planned to have them visit us in Merida, but they got off the bus way too early.

We met the Vida Estudiantil (Campus Crusade) students and staff at the weekly meeting on the campus of the University of the Andes. Again, we were warmly welcomed by many friends from the past. It was touching to see some who were “beginners” just a year or two ago engaged in leadership now, as 45 or 50 students played games, sang worship songs, and listened to JJ speak (for 30 minutes or so) of the importance of humility in their lives.

Our personal friends, the Montoya family, with 4 daughters, who are like our Venezuelan family, were just hit with a robbery that cost them thousands of dollars. It happened on our first day here, and it is a big blow to their small cyber-café business. It may impact whether the girls can come to the annual National Conference in March. Please be praying for all of them. (All six of the Montoyas have become Christians since Vida Estudiantil first came to Merida.)

We are taking Spanish classes 4 hours a day, and I forgot how difficult it is to think so hard! We each hope to improve in our ability to speak the language, but there is no doubt that people will continue to quickly perceive that we are “gringos” as soon as we begin talking! Oh, well, God has His ways of opening doors for us – please pray that we’ll "aprovechar" (take advantage of) the opportunities He gives us.

In Christ,

Tom and Betty B.