News from Abroad
A Message from Christy Tolliver in Costa Rica
Dear Montreal College,
This semester in Costa Rica
has been incredible. I have read
more this semester than in my
whole life put together, but I have
also learned more this semester
than in any other semester.
We’ve learned about the
world’s poverty and how the US
contains 4% of the people in the
world but consumes 40 % of the
world’s resources! More than
anything, we’ve broadened our
worldviews and had our eyes
opened to many realities, which
were covered by presuppositions
and biases before.
Last week I started five weeks
of study in my concentration
- Language and Literature. Of
course it’s all in Spanish. The
professors are Latino and they
talk to the students like we are
too! All our texts are in Spanish
and I just can’t express how
much work we’re doing! I spend
my weekends doing homework,
from Friday night until Monday
morning.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m having
fun too. I have held a monkey,
ridden a horse on the beach, seen
both tropical birds and flowers,
and visited a couple of beauti
ful beaches, but these times are
very far and few between.
We did take a 2-week trip to
Nicaragua and while we were
there we lived with families
for 6 days. That was quite an
experience! Nicaragua is the
third poorest Country in Latin
America and there weren’t many
jobs, so there were lots of people
just sitting around. At first we
didn’t know what to do, because
there wasn’t much going on. But
towards the end we learned to
just engage in the culture. You
can learn a lot more by engaging
in your surroundings, than by sit
ting back watching it all happen.
God has taught me so much
here, through the people, the cul
ture, and the language. Why does
it seem that the people that have
the least in this world are the ones
who give the most? How can the
person with the least seem to
have more peace than those who
appear to have everything? How
do these people find God when
they have children dying of
curable diseases, and starving
because they can’t find a job?
There is so much to say, it
overwhelms me to try to get this
all in one letter for the Whet
stone, so I’ll leave you with what
I’ve written and I’ll have to share
the rest when I get back.
I miss you all and I would
appreciate your prayers as I fin
ish up here with the most dif
ficult part of the semester, twice
as much work, fatigued from
the first half of it, absolutely no
room for slacking, and missing
my family and friends!
I’ll see you all soon!
Love you all,
Christy Tolliver
RS. Hey Stace! I love you! And
to everyone else—take care of
her since I’m not there and she
seems to be having some prob
lems with a broken leg.
Love, Christy Tolliver
Aimee Schimpf Hails from Athens, Greece
To all at Montreat,
The Lord opened the door for
me to study abroad in Greece
this semester, so I transferred to
Arcadia University and now find
myself studying in the busy met
ropolitan area of Athens.
I am taking a variety of
classes that aren’t offered at
Montreat! I’m enrolled in classes
like Modem Greek, an in depth
study of the Life of Alexander
the Great, Virgin Mary in Byz
antine History and Iconography,
and Environmental Conservation
in Greece.
I came to Greece trying to trace
the roots of my heritage, but also
with the intent of stepping out of
my life-long Christian fellowship
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and into the uncertainties of our
preset day society.
I have seen the diversity and
breathtaking beauty of the Greek
islands and the majesty of the
northern mountains in the Pelo-
ponnese.
My time in Greece has been
like a relationship with a dear
friend. In the beginning every
thing was new and exciting. But
as time went on and I became
more accustomed to the environ
ment, I realized things that I had
not noticed before and I was dis
appointed. Now I have learned
■ to love Greece for what it is and
what it is not.
I have learned what it means
to be lonely and needy, and in
that place I have seen a new side
of my Savior’s heart and love
for me.
Greece is a hard country
because it is so steeped in tradi
tion and rituals. A large majority
of the people here are blind to
their need of Christ. Seeing the
From
the
Whetstone
spiritual dryness of Greece first
hand has made me appreciate the
Christian fellowship back home
in the States.
I encourage you all to be thank
ful for the fellowship that you are
surrounded by. Take part in what
the Lord has so graciously given
you, and pray for the people of
Greece. Pray for the Christians
that are here and are seeking
the Lord and leading others to
Christ. And pray that I might
boldly proclaim the truth to those
I encounter while I remain here.
Studying abroad in a secular
environment has_ changed me.
I have seen global needs more
clearly, but also the faithfulness
of God to His children. I have
learned, as Rich Mullins sings,
to make my home anywhere if
Christ is where I am.
Stepping out of your comfort
zone and following God’s plan
is so exciting! You will see Him
move through you and challenge
you in ways that would have
never seemed possible.
To all who have kept me in
their prayers I want to thank
you it has made all the differ
ence in the world. May the love
and peace of Christ fill you as
you walk in his light and keep
us united in spirit and' in truth. I
miss you all and look forward to
seeing you next semester.
-Aimee Schimpf
Page 4, Nov. 19,2003
The Whetstone