Down South

I've been following the news of Latin America as closely as possible (limited because of language barrier) over the past couple years. Earlier this week tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, Venezuela, and most recently Nicaragua have grown unstable. Colombia has long struggled against its own people (rebels). The guerrilla group that has given Colombia all this trouble is known as Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC). They have been responsible for many murders, kidnappings, bombings, drug trades, weapon trafficking, and other high crimes.

Recently Colombia has become increasingly frustrated with its neighbors, Ecuador and Venezuela, for their allowance of the FARC to take refuge just their side of the Colombian border. On Saturday, the Colombian military attacked a group of around 25 rebels that were encamped about a mile inside the borders of Ecuador, killing more than twenty on foreign soil.

Venezuela and Colombia's relationship has been strained in the past few months due to complications in a prisoner exchange between Colombia and the rebel group, FARC. Venezuela has played the mediator during the exchanges and crossed some line along the way in the eyes of Colombia.

They said some words, yanked diplomats back home, threatened trade, etc. Now this.

Venezuela stepped in quickly to make clear to Colombia that if the same thing happened inside of their borders, there would be war.

Colombia claims that hey have uncovered rebel laptops which yield evidence that Venezuala can be linked to supporting the rebels financially (300 million dollars worth).

With already uncomfortable relations in this region, things have thickened quickly following the attack.

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Chavez, Venezuela's president, has been itching for war or at least paranoid of a possible attack for months now. He has been buying Russian fighter planes, submarines, and machine guns left and right.

Correa, Ecuador's president, is recently elected but has been snuggling often with other socialist/dictators like Castro and Chavez.

Uribe, Colombia's president, has been getting cozy with the United States as they try to tighten down the screws on the drug trade that is rampant in this region. Colombia's army is U.S. backed. With this warm and fuzzy relationship between U.S. and Colombia, Colombias' neighbors have become nauseous to say the least.

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I pray that things cool down soon. Join me.

If you want to keep up with this story, yahoo news does a pretty good job of keeping me up to date.

Champions League

I love futbol. Futbol is the sport of my childhood. I
have some soccer loving friends but nothing compares to the soccer culture that exists almost everywhere else in our world. I think that is one of the bigger reasons I am in love with Latin America.

This week is the first leg in the round of 16 knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League. Each year, 32 of Europes finest clubs compete to decide who the top club in Europe is.

Today my team, Manchester United, will play against the French great, Lyon.

I must confess days like today make me want to call in sick.

Confession

I just became giddy thinking about my evening planned with my bride. I am a very blessed man.

Love is a wonderful gift. It should be celebrated.

Grumpy Old Woman

I (Ellen) am currently at a nursing home for a speech pathology internship. I had a memorable experience this week.

A lady was brought to me to begin speech therapy. Instantly, I could tell she was in a bad mood, and trust me, when an elderly woman is in a bad mood the last thing she wants to do is speech therapy. Upon arriving to my table she screams, "Take me back to bed! I'm about to DIE!" I am far from an expert in working with the elderly, but I know that many of the people are not too far from death. This lady in particular didn't look to good. I couldn't figure out if she was being serious or if she was just mad. As I sat there stunned and scared, she yells to me again, "Take me back to bed. I'm about to DIE!"

Thankfully, the physical therapist came over and bluntly responded, "Honey, you're gonna have to hang on for at least 30 more minutes 'cause that's how long Ellen needs to see you." She responded, "I'm about to DIE! Get me back to bed."

I distracted her with some apple juice (very strange, but it worked!). I was able to get in my 30 minutes, but it was tedious. About every 3 minutes she would drop her head on the table and scream, "I'm about to die. Take me back to bed!"

I was back at the nursing home today and she was alive, participating well in therapy. Morale of the story: if possible, stay away from old women in bad moods, they really exaggerate.

A Walk in the Dark

Last night I went for a walk with a friend around our neighborhood. We spent our time talking and praying about wanting to share the news of Jesus. We also spent our time confessing how unequipped, inexperienced, and inadequate we feel.

I think that is right where Satan wants us.

He wants us to forget that we have been greatly empowered by the Holy Spirit. Far more than any book on evangelism could ever empower, far more than any sermon could ever motivate, and far more than any formalized training experience could ever equip, the spirit of God wants to empower us.

If the evil one can keep us from ever opening our lips and confessing Jesus as lord of our lives and potential savior to all than we will never have the experience we long for. Even if the message we share isn’t polished, at least we would be sharing it.

I feel like that darn pot of clay, beat up and cracked, wondering if there is really anything special inside of me. Isn’t that what he would have us think? Questioning the truth of scripture and doubting that we would have such a high calling.

I’m ready to start sharing Jesus.

How about you? Can you identify with these barriers?

-Wes