It’s been a fun challenge adjusting to Puerto Rican Spanish. One thing that has taken some getting used to is being called “daddy” by a complete stranger. In many Spanish speaking countries, it’s not unusual to hear a wife calling her husband papi (“daddy”), or a husband calling his wife mami (“mommy”). But here in Puerto Rico, these terms of affection are not limited to your significant other.
Continue readingEspañol. Lima, Peru turns 483 years old today. To celebrate, I’ve translated a blog post I wrote just days before saying good-bye to the unforgettable city after serving as an LCMS missionary there for five years. It’s a list of the eight most unforgettable things about the Ciudad de Reyes (“City of the Kings”).
Photo: www.limaeslinda.com
Photo Credit: www.flipboard.com
I’ve written before about the many benefits of being bilingual. In a blog post entitled, The Benefits of Being Bilingual, I pointed out how learning Spanish is not only perspective widening, but that even more significantly, it might prove to be “Kingdom-widening,” as well, as it provides an opportunity to tell Spanish speakers about Jesus! In this blog post, I’d like to suggest one more reason to learn Spanish: so that Spanish speakers can tell you about Jesus! Here’s what I mean: Continue reading
Peruvian Manger Scene. Credit:www.holacalgary.com
The North American missionary to Latin America has his Bible in one hand and his evangelism tracts in the other. He says a quick prayer as he approaches the door and knocks. He rehearses his opening line over and over, hoping that whoever is on the other side of the door will be patient with his broken, heavy accented Spanish. The deadbolt turns. The door creaks open. There’s no turning back now. Buenas tardes. ¿Usted conoce a Jesús? : “Good afternoon. Do you know Jesus?” Continue reading
Bilingual celebration of the Divine Service led by students of Concordia Seminary’s Center for Hispanic Studies.
Español | In a previous post I made the observation that current demographic trends in the US have almost literally brought the mission field to the doorsteps of many LCMS congregations. Continue reading
“Cuy” is Peruvian Spanish for Guinea pig, a delicacy in the Andean region of South America.
Español | I’ll never forget my very first meal in the village of Lúcumo. Continue reading
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There is any number of New Year’s Eve traditions and customs all across the globe. Some are more interesting to the outside observer than others.
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/
In Peru, many people wear yellow undergarments in order to attract prosperity and success in the coming year. Make sure to have your undies on backwards first and then put them on the right way at the strike of midnight, otherwise it won’t work. Continue reading
In Peru there’s a saying that goes like this, “el que no tiene de Inga, tiene de Mandinga.” This oft-quoted proverb means, “every Peruvian has either some indigenous or African blood,” and is used to highlight the ethnic and racial diversity found in the South American country where I served as an LCMS missionary for 5 years.
The mestizaje (Spanish for mixture) of races, ethnicities, and languages resulting from the conquest and colonization of Latin America is an important part of Latin American and US Hispanic identity.
Haga click aqui para leer en Español.
This kiosk-shaped fountain made out of wood and stone is called a sebilj, and is located in the Bevo Mills district of South St. Louis. The monument honors the Bosnian community of St. Louis, which numbers upwards of 70,000, making it the largest concentration of Bosnians outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Continue reading
In Him No North or South 