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March 1974 Newsletter
THE COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
San Jose del Guaviare in Colombia, South America
Volume 2, Issue 3 March, 1974
PUTTING IRONS IN THE FIRE
The other day I was talking to some fellow in the States over my ham radio. When he asked what we were doing here I replied with "studying Spanish." True, that is our main purpose for being here in Costa Rica, but, day by day we been to be putting more irons in the fire.
So far it seems as though my life has been one of endless preparation. Even now, the majority of "new irons" that we put in the fire are mainly preparatory in nature. Let me describe a few of these preparation that daily occupy our time.
First, of course, is continued language study. We shall soon have completed our second month of our second trimester. Daily we drill on more difficult sentence structure and work with verb conjugations. Little by little we are beginning to be able to use the language.
Translation of useful tracts and articles is another way that we are preparing for Colombia. We have a bilingual professor at the language institute who is translating things such as the "Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery" and the "Misunderstood Church" into Spanish for us. We will have these ready to use when we get to Colombia.
We also try and read some of the literature of Latin America as well as other books about the area in which we will work. This is part of the cultural indoctrination that is so essential.
A special project of mine is the study of Morse Code and radio theory. This is in preparation for a General Class exam that I must take before my novice license expires in about a year. I would like to pass this test before we leave for Colombia and get involved in the work.
Trying to get our visas is another type of "preparation" that we are involved in. We were delayed by over two months in submitting this application by technicalities. It has finally been submitted for the first time. Now we are waiting to find out what else they will require before they grant this essential document. This is one item that we need your help on. Please pray that this be granted.
One final preparation going on in the Meade household is for an increase in our family. Jeanie is five months pregnant and we are looking forward to the addition of our first child around June 20 if all goes well.
As you see, there are many preparatory irons in the fire. It is our prayer, that through continued preparation, we might be more effective missionaries when we get to Colombia.
ELECTIONS IN COSTA RICA
Campaigning in Costa Rica is completely different than in the United States. Way back in August when we first came, things were getting started for the February Presidential elections.
Right after we started language school, the spray painting began. Party slogans and candidates names were sprayed on walls and buildings. About a month later the painting reached our part of town. One morning as we were leaving for school we noticed that our building had "Vote Rojo" (means vote red in English) spray painted on it. A few days later someone spray painted the poison sign over it. Since then various other things have been sprayed on.
A little while later the poster papers came. Our building contains, at least one of each of the main political parties' posters. Some are in duplicates of about ten. Then the kids in the neighborhood tried to tear them off little by little. Once our van even had a poster pasted on it.
Each political party has their own flag. Almost every house flies the flag of their party. With eight different parties in this election the scene is really colorful. The cars started flying flags too as the elections grew nearer. One flag is similar to the colors of our van, green and white striped. One little fellow was convinced that we were voting for that particular party because our van resembled the flag so much. I tried to explain to him that we were Americans and couldn't vote here and that was the way that our van was painted in the States but he wouldn't believe me.
About early January the big political rallies began. A candidate would have a rally somewhere and most of his followers would go along in cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, and motorcycles, everyone carrying a party flag. We watched one convoy go by that was several miles long.
About the time that the political rallies started the honking campaign of the same party, they exchange honks vigorously. The night before they party all night long. We didn't get much sleep that night.
February 3 was the day of voting. Each party hired taxis to run their followers to the polls. The honking went on all day long. When the people vote here, they put their thumbprint in the box of the ballot for the candidate of their choice. and when they leave the polling place they are required to dip their forefinger and thumb into a inedible ink to mark them from voting again.
The night after the polls closed was very calm and peaceful. We had thought it would be another noisy night but we were fooled and got a very peaceful night's sleep.
Being in Costa Rica during the Presidential election year is quite an experience. One of our local friends described it as being just like "one big football game." And in a way it is. Everyone gets enthused and really gets out there and pushes for their candidate. Elections here make the elections in the States look like nothing. It was quite and experience but needless to say I'm quite glad its all over now. J.A. M.