Spanish with a Twist
Last week was YLM/LHMI's 2nd annual Conversations in Spanish course: an intensive week of language instruction with the goal of launching participants into Hispanic ministry back home. Spanish with a Lutheran twist. Once again, I was one of the 3 planners; I wouldn't be alone in saying that I did the largest share of the work. As you read in my last blog and will read more about in my next one, I had 2 friends in town, but I feel like I was able to successfully allocate my time between those 2 responsibilities. I was completely hands-on with CIS for the first half of the week since Marie and Philip didn't arrive until 1 am on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. After that my involvement was kind of spotty, but as you can see from the pictures below, I got to know each of the students and share lots of experiences, cultural and otherwise, with them!
On Sunday afternoon I toured Mission Trail with the JumpStarters (7 of the students who arrived a day early to jumpstart their learning). This is something I had not done during my entire stay in El Paso--explore the 3 historic (1500's) missions that line an 8 mi. stretch of Socorro Rd. The Ysleta Mission, pictured above, is the first on the trail. It is the oldest continually operating church on TX soil and literally sits around the corner from our campus. People always confuse the Ysleta Mission with Ysleta Lutheran Mission! The tour was informative, but not as enthralling as it could have been since none of the missions were open on Sundays!
The Socorro Mission.
The San Elizario Mission, site of the REAL first Thanksgiving in 1598. At least that's what El Pasoans say, and they celebrate it every April!
The San Elizario Mission was originally built as a chapel for soldiers stationed in El Paso, which helps explain this plaque. Eduardo M. Pedregon was a soldier from the area who disappeared in Korea. His mother, now deceased, always believed he would be found someday. As DNA technology grew more and more advanced, she sent the military a sample of his, and his body was located this year. They're going to have a public memorial service at the Mission on 10/1 and then fly the remains to Arlington Cemetery later that same day. Cool story--maybe I'll go!
Me in the Billy the Kid jail, around the block from the San Elizario Mission. Billy the Kid was once imprisoned here along with some of his compadres, and it is now memorialized as the site of a famous jailbreak in which, surprisingly, no one was killed.
The JumpStarters and I inside the jail.
Ann speaking to the group at lunch on Monday. We brought in locals everyday to talk to the students about their lives, families, upbringings, work, etc. in our largely Hispanic community.
Monday afternoon we went on a field trip to Chamizal National Memorial, which commemorates the treaty between the US and Mexico that created a fixed boundary, as opposed to the naturally shifting Rio Grande riverbed.
Students studying a map of the Rio Grande's ever-changing course.
One of the photos in the exhibit room shows what one of El Paso's international bridges used to look like!
The free bridge (background) was a part of the treaty--no tolls to exit or enter the US, just really long lines!
The entryway to the visitors' center featured a powerful art exhibit highlighting the period a few years back where many women were kidnapped, raped, and murdered across the border. This one was simply titled "Juarez."
An example of the markers that show where the political border now lies.
Wayne is a Junior Ranger!
Back to work...the Level II class in session.
Tuesday we went on a field trip to Ranch Market. I had been there lots of times before but Karla introduced me to a new delicacy--candied pumpkin! There are a bunch of other flavors too--pineapple, sweet potato, and a couple fruits I hadn't heard of.
Jess sampling the candied chilacayote (exhibit A of the fruits I had never heard of)!
Paul bought everyone tamales and aguas frescas!
Listening to a Mariachi San Pablo serenade. I have noticed that they are beginning to introduce some new songs, like the kids song "J-O-Y." O is for others!
Playing Spanish BINGO with Victor, one of the instructors from Language Plus.
Pastor Schindler won a copy of La Bella y La Bestia!
Group picture--11 students + YLM/LHMI staff.
Certificate time on Friday night!
Until next time, blessings!
On Sunday afternoon I toured Mission Trail with the JumpStarters (7 of the students who arrived a day early to jumpstart their learning). This is something I had not done during my entire stay in El Paso--explore the 3 historic (1500's) missions that line an 8 mi. stretch of Socorro Rd. The Ysleta Mission, pictured above, is the first on the trail. It is the oldest continually operating church on TX soil and literally sits around the corner from our campus. People always confuse the Ysleta Mission with Ysleta Lutheran Mission! The tour was informative, but not as enthralling as it could have been since none of the missions were open on Sundays!
The Socorro Mission.
The San Elizario Mission, site of the REAL first Thanksgiving in 1598. At least that's what El Pasoans say, and they celebrate it every April!
The San Elizario Mission was originally built as a chapel for soldiers stationed in El Paso, which helps explain this plaque. Eduardo M. Pedregon was a soldier from the area who disappeared in Korea. His mother, now deceased, always believed he would be found someday. As DNA technology grew more and more advanced, she sent the military a sample of his, and his body was located this year. They're going to have a public memorial service at the Mission on 10/1 and then fly the remains to Arlington Cemetery later that same day. Cool story--maybe I'll go!
Me in the Billy the Kid jail, around the block from the San Elizario Mission. Billy the Kid was once imprisoned here along with some of his compadres, and it is now memorialized as the site of a famous jailbreak in which, surprisingly, no one was killed.
The JumpStarters and I inside the jail.
Ann speaking to the group at lunch on Monday. We brought in locals everyday to talk to the students about their lives, families, upbringings, work, etc. in our largely Hispanic community.
Monday afternoon we went on a field trip to Chamizal National Memorial, which commemorates the treaty between the US and Mexico that created a fixed boundary, as opposed to the naturally shifting Rio Grande riverbed.
Students studying a map of the Rio Grande's ever-changing course.
One of the photos in the exhibit room shows what one of El Paso's international bridges used to look like!
The free bridge (background) was a part of the treaty--no tolls to exit or enter the US, just really long lines!
The entryway to the visitors' center featured a powerful art exhibit highlighting the period a few years back where many women were kidnapped, raped, and murdered across the border. This one was simply titled "Juarez."
An example of the markers that show where the political border now lies.
Wayne is a Junior Ranger!
Back to work...the Level II class in session.
Tuesday we went on a field trip to Ranch Market. I had been there lots of times before but Karla introduced me to a new delicacy--candied pumpkin! There are a bunch of other flavors too--pineapple, sweet potato, and a couple fruits I hadn't heard of.
Jess sampling the candied chilacayote (exhibit A of the fruits I had never heard of)!
Paul bought everyone tamales and aguas frescas!
Listening to a Mariachi San Pablo serenade. I have noticed that they are beginning to introduce some new songs, like the kids song "J-O-Y." O is for others!
Playing Spanish BINGO with Victor, one of the instructors from Language Plus.
Pastor Schindler won a copy of La Bella y La Bestia!
Group picture--11 students + YLM/LHMI staff.
Certificate time on Friday night!
Until next time, blessings!
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