Thursday

5/15/12 9:15 A.M. EST I’m getting ready to board my flight to SPS soon. The first flight was nice and smooth… and I talked almost the whole time with the guy next to me. He works with the hotel business, and I believe he is from Charleston, SC (at least he grew up there). He said his dad was Indian and became a Christian because of some missionaries there. He was going on about how there are more Christians there in India than here in the USA. And his mom is from Japan. I knew he was going to be friendly when I looked up and saw he was heading to the window seat next to me. (always a good feeling!) He was very polite too. He had a newspaper out, and I decided to get out my Bible to read. I read one chapter than closed it because they were getting ready to leave the gate, and I couldn’t concentrate. He noticed my Bible because he asked if I was heading out on a mission and asked if I was just reading or studying my Bible. I got to tell him about my internship, and we started talking about BJU and churches. He asked me several questions about different denominations and was very interested when I told him that my school was non-denominational because in Christ we can get along as long as we agree with the fundamental doctrines. We talked about what I believe, evolution, the beginning of denominations, my being Baptist, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Crusades, and so much more. Here’s where I say a special thanks to Dr. Cook for Apologetics class this last semester. That and many of my classes last semester and what I learned in them really gave me the foundation and knowledge to be able to talk to him. Why is all that significant? Because a man whose family wants to start going to church, who doesn’t read His Bible, and is unsaved was asking ME about what I believe, what to look for in a denomination, and what the Bible teaches. And I couldn’t just email one of my professors at school or call up my Dad – I had to know what I believed and why. And the Bible says be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you of a reason of the hope that is in you. It really made me think of the importance of every day having a good relationship with God and being ready whenever to share about my God. I’m thankful for that chance to talk to that man, and I pray that God will use my conversation to work in his life and that someday He will know Christ personally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5/16/12 11:47 A.M. Carlos was right. It is hot and humid here, but it is beautiful. I am going to love it here. The people are so nice, and I am so glad that I get to be here for 8 weeks for my internship. I am staying with Los Aguilera for the first two weeks. We had a great talk (half Spanish, half English) before they sent me to bed to rest up from my trip, and at breakfast this morning some more. Señora Aguilera asked if I preferred them speaking in English or Spanish; I said “los dos” (both) and that I want to learn Spanish. Doctor Felipe said they would help me learn Spanish. This morning started out with a trip to the bank for money exchanging and other errands. I got to see a protest on the streets of the city – we made it on the road right in front of them. And everywhere there are armed “vigilantes” or security guards. What I have learned so far culturally. Workers don’t have very good treatment. Mr. Conover was saying that they have a set time to go to work, but they can’t leave until their manager lets them go. So sometimes that means a 12-14 hour workday. Much different than in the USA!