not believing

A number of students at BAICA don't believe in Christ. We exist mainly to change that. In reflecting on some of the reasons to not believe from their perspective, I think a lot of it has to do with the "intelligence" factor. Most adolescents have a sense that they know nearly everything in the world. I sure thought that way at that age. It is obviously false. I have a feeling that most agnostics, and even atheists would go along the same track in their indifference or objections to Christ -- they've got it mostly all figured out upstairs.

But wait. Backup. Before getting into an intelligence debate back and forth about the possible/impossible existence of Christ, His sacrifice and what it means, I "think", or should I say I feel strongly convicted that Christ is a matter of the heart, not the head. And so when we focus on sharing Christ with adolescents, agnostics, atheists...any unbeliever...I think it would be wise (ironically so) to stop so much with the mind part of it all and really focus in on individuals' hearts.

Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...(Matt 22:37)

Is it random chance that "heart" appears first?

End of week update

It's been a busy week. Some things of note:

1. First graders continue to impress and humor me. We were coloring the different types of teeth today in science, and one boy exclaimed correcting another "NO! Those aren't incisors, those are cuspids." You take that out of context in the grander scheme of things, and it's quite funny.

2. Argentina's presidential election is this Sunday. After weeks of sleazy, backwards, openly idiotic campaigning, someone will be elected on Sunday. Most Argentines are hoping for the "menos mal" candidate to win. The least bad. That tells you something about this country's politicians.

3. Training is about done for the mountain marathon. The race is next Saturday. I'm not sure what to expect, but I am still pushing towards my goal of finishing.

4. I got to meet the US Ambassador to Argentina this week. He struck me as a very intelligent guy.

BAICA video

Feel free to share it!

Making fun of consumerism

This is well done. But I wonder how many people watch it, laugh at it, and then go on unchanged. How many take time to sit down and think about their lifestyles and why they live a particular way?

my learning in 1st

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matt 18:3-6)

Having taught 3 1st grade boys for almost two weeks now, I can say that I am humbled at what I am learning:

1. They model pure hearts and innocence - How we should be before Jesus (even one of the boys who, when he is thinking hard about something, he puts out only his middle finger on his head, is innocent at heart - he is not flicking anyone else off)
2. They are genuinely sorry and anguished when they have done something that is a "serious" bad - A reminder to me how serious the sin in my own life is. It's real.
3. They are incredibly passionate about being at school and learning. They ask lots of questions and admit that they need help. Often. - I am a dead nothing without Jesus. I can't do it on my own.

pasión de fútbol...

I listened to some of Argentina's world cup qualifier against Venezuela on the radio last night. Whereas before, I knew very little of the soccer world before Argentina (playing until 9th grade didn't educate me very much), I would say I'm catching on to the passion that surrounds soccer in Latin America. So last night on the radio was followed up by this morning talking with some of the other Argentine guys who work at the school about how well/poorly Argentina played. They thought very poorly, although they won 2-0. I recorded some of it, here it is:
http://www.mediamax.com/mathbaica/Hosted/soccer.wav

more HDR

you can click on the photo to view it in a different window. i hope it looks real enough...

playing with HDR photography

same shot...

green trees are good...red things bad (but green trees still good)...

my biggest fears for teaching 1st grade..

1. getting lice
2. not singing the fonicks (please appreciate that) song correctly
3. not knowing the material. 1st grade was a long time ago.

I'm enjoying it so far. I've of course received many playfully mocking comments from high school students and teachers alike for moving to first grade like "Hey Mr. H, could you please teach me 1+1"...or of course the many quotes from kindergarten cop "it's not a TOOOMAAR!!!" But really, they're just jealous that they're not learning cool stuff that 1st graders learn. Heck, I'm learning (or re-learning). Like today, when I was reading the George Washington book, I had no idea that when he married Martha, she was already a 26 year old widow with 2 children and that Mount Vernon is only 12 miles from Washington DC. 1st graders are sponges, they soak up so much, the tricky part is getting them to pay attention for more than 5 minutes at a time.

I'm going to teach 1st grade

Yes, you read correctly. I'm BAICA's new 1st grade teacher. So go ahead:
1. laugh out loud and think how funny that is
2. squinch your forehead and exclaim out loud "what in the world??"
3. try and ponder any understanding in this...

So, here's the explanation. The Berends, who are acting as the current interim principal, are leaving next week. The Berends are really awesome and great, but they are "retired" and have grandkids back in the states. They have been extremely faithful and kind to come and serve at BAICA and sit in for Dana, our principal who left at the beginning of the year when her mom became sick with cancer. So to replace the Berends' spot, Stacy, the 1st grade teacher (who is the most qualified out of all of us) who has experience in a lot of different schools and managing teachers, will be taking over the principal role. So they needed someone to teach the 3 boys in 1st grade.

They thought I was the best fit. Hah. So they asked me, and while I feel like I have no idea what I'll be doing, I did commit to teaching for sure until the end of the semester. I'll still be teaching 1 of my 4 high school math classes and my computer class, because I really don't want to lose relationship time with the high schoolers. My biggest goal for the 1st graders is to get them to read. I'm looking forward to it but somewhat nervous...1st graders really want to and like to learn. It'll be a change from the too often apathetic and too cool for school high schoolers, although I still like them a lot.

telemarketers are rude

October 2. The first day a telemarketer from the US has reached me since arriving to Argentina in July of 2006. I answered "unknown number" on my Skype connection, and a young lady with a kind voice identified herself as being with my "Bank of America credit card. We'll send you a free credit report yada yada yada as a way to protect your Bank of America card...it's free for you for the first 30 days..." as she explains more about the program dah dah dah...I'm really thinking this is Bank of America calling me. Then she goes through my name and address to make sure it's correct. It is.

"So after we send you the credit history the 30 day period will begin, and then after that it will be $12.99 a month...." Wait. I didn't connect something. When did I ever elect to have this service? I didn't responds my brain. My brain also told me Bank of America can't make me pay for something if I don't want it on my card. I ask the lady kindly, "m'am, wait, if this is going to switch to 12.99 a month, I'd just like for you not to even send me the materials and I can do without the fraud protection program.."

I didn't even finish the sentence. Her kind voice quickly changed to a rude "gosh, can't you just get the materials and call a stupid 1-800 number..." click, she hung up. Carson, I know you can sing this melody..."Here's to you Miss Rude Telemarketing Lady..."

Two main things struck me:
1. That someone would become that rude that fast over trying to sell something for 12.99 a month. Maybe if it was a luxury yacht and I didn't want it. That's understandable. I hope she's not on commission pay.
2. I'm perturbed that Bank of America would sell my information.

facebook, or lack thereof

So I've been told that I'm really missing out by not being on facebook. Apparently there are walls and photos and friends. I'm not exactly sure what I'm missing, but I feel if someone wants to keep updated with me, we could call or write an email to each other. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm open to convincing arguments of why it's better than sliced bread...although I have my doubts.