Elizabeth Parish
Reading for Pleasure (A)
April 17, 2007
SMART Middle Assignment
For years I have been content with finding my life’s value in meaningless work and have wasted my time on making money, traveling, and writing pointless articles about sports. While the union was on strike, I realize how despite my missing appearance, life continues as usual. I had the impression that the world needed to know about famous basketball players and the home run that won yesterdays game. Instead of writing about sports, I sat at home watching them on TV and I realized how pointless my work had become. So that’s when I decided to visit my old college professor, Morrie Schwartz. Back when I was in college I understood the meaning of life, I was able to grasp the importance of relationships and values. I guess part of me knew that my life was quickly headed downhill and this was my last resort to fixing it. And I guess another part of me simply felt guilty for not keeping in touch with my professor who was now slowly and painfully dying.
The first time I walked into Morrie’s house and saw him sitting helpless in a wheelchair with his attendants and food dropping off of his fork, I could almost feel the throw up coming right up to the back of my throat. Could this really be the same professor who used to be so lively and active? Could this really be Morrie Schwartz who I had spent thousands of hours consulting and learning from? I felt so sorry for him because I knew that he must be experiencing excruciating pain but at the same time I knew that he would not want me to feel sorry for him. I knew that because of who he is, it would be best for me to just make the most of the time I had left with him. A couple Tuesdays later, I offered to help move him into his reclining chair in the study. Honestly, I don’t know why I offered to help other than the fact that I knew how much I owed him for breaking my promise to keep in touch. When I felt his weak hands gripping my biceps as I lowered him slowly into the chair, it seemed as if a realization of death had spread over my body like an ocean wave. I realized just how short the time left with Morrie really was and I was determined not to let it slip away from me. I was determined to be the best student possible in light of the circumstances. I was determined to make up one thousand times for my broken promise and broken friendship.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Q and A
Question: How could Bruce live with the Motilone tribe for so long without questioning any of their customs?
Answer: Usually, when someone enters into another culture they find that there are certain things that either bother them or else just make them question the way of doing things. I know that there are several times in which I was either frustrated with the way things worked in Korea or else I just did not understand why things were done the way they are done. However, I did not notice either of this in the book, Bruchko. It seems as if Bruce adjusts to the new culture without any problems. Either this was simply left out of the book because of unimportance or Bruce was prepared enough emotionally and physically to allow God to adjust him into the new culture. In some ways, Bruce did question some of the Motilone tribe's "customs" but this was only the fact that the Motilone people did not care about one another. Even in this, Bruce knew that this was only true because the Motilone people did not know the truth about God's love. I admire this in Bruce because he is very respectful of the culture of the Motilone people. In seeing how the other missionaries had tried to change the Indians into a North Americans society, Bruce learned that respecting the culture is more effective in preaching the gospel. Instead of following after the traditional way of being a missionary, Bruce followed the things that God told him to do and provided the way for him to complete His perfect plan.
Answer: Usually, when someone enters into another culture they find that there are certain things that either bother them or else just make them question the way of doing things. I know that there are several times in which I was either frustrated with the way things worked in Korea or else I just did not understand why things were done the way they are done. However, I did not notice either of this in the book, Bruchko. It seems as if Bruce adjusts to the new culture without any problems. Either this was simply left out of the book because of unimportance or Bruce was prepared enough emotionally and physically to allow God to adjust him into the new culture. In some ways, Bruce did question some of the Motilone tribe's "customs" but this was only the fact that the Motilone people did not care about one another. Even in this, Bruce knew that this was only true because the Motilone people did not know the truth about God's love. I admire this in Bruce because he is very respectful of the culture of the Motilone people. In seeing how the other missionaries had tried to change the Indians into a North Americans society, Bruce learned that respecting the culture is more effective in preaching the gospel. Instead of following after the traditional way of being a missionary, Bruce followed the things that God told him to do and provided the way for him to complete His perfect plan.
Writer's Craft - Structure
At the beginning of Bruchko, there is a chapter about where Bruce is returning to the Motilone tribe and meeting with Bobby. At the time, this was very confusing to me because I did not know who Bobby was and I did not understand why the oil company was a such a threat. However, at the end of the book we are introduced again to the concept of the threatening oil company. I thought it was interesting that Olson chose to write the book this way because the reader almost forgets the whole first chapter until they get to the end of the book where they are reminded again of it. In a lot of ways, this not only hooks the readers but also gives them something to continue reading towards. At the beginning of the book, the reader has this curiosity to figure out who Bobby is and how Bruce managed to get so close to him. The next chapter is read hoping that it will provide some more information about it but the reader is pleasantly surprised with the beginning of the story, Bruce's childhood. Subconsciously, the reader will continue reading the book because they want to put the pieces of the puzzle together. While giving a part of the ending away at the beginning, Olson does not ruin the ending. The end of the book is still suspenseful and surprising for the reader. This technique is probably used by many authors but I think that Olson used it in an effective way.
Turning Point
The turning point of the book is when Bruce meets the boy who will soon become his best friend. His name is Bobarishora but Bruce calls him "Bobby" because he has trouble pronouncing his name. As Bobby grew older, he was able to become more influential among the tribe. Because of their friendship, Bruce was also able to become more outspoken and well liked. Bruce was even accepted as next to family for Bobby when he was invited to attend Bobby's ceremony for becoming a man. This ceremony is held way out in the jungle and only the family and occasionally those who are close alliances with the family are able to attend. Before their friendship, Bruce did not really have a place in the Motilones tribe. However, afterwards his influence and the services he was able to do greatly mulitplied. He was able to go back to the city and get antibiotics and other medication that would cure the many epidemics that spread throughout the Motilones tribe. One example of where this happened was when there was when there was a pink eye epidemic. The witch doctor was singing incantations on the people and praying to false gods in order to heal the people. However, Bruce knew that a simple antibiotic would heal the person in less than two days time. So Bruce purposefully got pink eye and then let the witch doctor treat him with the antibiotic cream. When the witch doctor saw that this healed him, he started using all the Western medication that was available on all of his patients. After that, medical centers were formed which were staffed and organized by the Motilones people.
Writer's Craft - Foreshadowing
When Bruce is trying to find the Motilones Indians, he comes across another tribe of Indians called the Yukos. This turned out to be very discouraging for him because it was so hard to learn their language. While he was there he was plagued with lonliness and he tried to leave several times but each time he tried to leave either his mule ran back to the Yukos or else he got so sick that the only choice he had was to go back to them. For him, it proves that God has a purpose for bringing him to the Yukos. In fact, there are many things that prove that God has a plan for what Bruce does throughout his life. In this instance, God wanted Bruce to stay with the Yukos because it would eventually lead them to the Motlinones, whom he had been given the desire to help.
His time with the Yukos foreshadows some of the things that he does when he reaches the Motilones tribe. Some of the time Bruce is with them is very much like how it had been when he was with the Yukos. In a lot of ways, his time with the Yukos prepared him for what it would be like with the Motilones. Things like learning the Yuko language helped a great deal when he began learning the Motilone language even though the two languages have nothing to do with each other. In this way, his time with the Yukos foreshadows some of his time with the Motilones.
His time with the Yukos foreshadows some of the things that he does when he reaches the Motilones tribe. Some of the time Bruce is with them is very much like how it had been when he was with the Yukos. In a lot of ways, his time with the Yukos prepared him for what it would be like with the Motilones. Things like learning the Yuko language helped a great deal when he began learning the Motilone language even though the two languages have nothing to do with each other. In this way, his time with the Yukos foreshadows some of his time with the Motilones.
Letter
Dear Mom and Dad,
I know it seems like I just up and left home but I have a purpose in doing what I'm doing or should I say, God has a purpose. I know you don't believe everything I tell you about Him and probably will scoff at most of the stuff I am going to tell you about. But, just let me get this letter through to you and then you can be done with worrying about you.
When I first arrived in Venezuela, I could not find Mr. Saunders, the man who had made arrangements to meet me at the airport. In fact, he never even showed up. So since I had nothing to do and nowhere to go, I found a semi-comfortable seat and fell asleep. Eventually, I found my way out of the airport and after many confusing things I met Dr. Christian. He just so happened to also be working with the Indians so after a couple weeks I went to the jungles with him for two months. When I was there, I met Mr. Saunders and other missionaries and found that he had purposefully not come to the airport because I did not have a mission agency so he would not make an effort to help me out. Anyways, seeing what he was doing I was glad that I wouldn't be working with him and the others because they were totally destroying the culture of the Indians. From this I have learned the importance of being a missionary without turning the Indians into North Americans.
Your son,
Bruce
I know it seems like I just up and left home but I have a purpose in doing what I'm doing or should I say, God has a purpose. I know you don't believe everything I tell you about Him and probably will scoff at most of the stuff I am going to tell you about. But, just let me get this letter through to you and then you can be done with worrying about you.
When I first arrived in Venezuela, I could not find Mr. Saunders, the man who had made arrangements to meet me at the airport. In fact, he never even showed up. So since I had nothing to do and nowhere to go, I found a semi-comfortable seat and fell asleep. Eventually, I found my way out of the airport and after many confusing things I met Dr. Christian. He just so happened to also be working with the Indians so after a couple weeks I went to the jungles with him for two months. When I was there, I met Mr. Saunders and other missionaries and found that he had purposefully not come to the airport because I did not have a mission agency so he would not make an effort to help me out. Anyways, seeing what he was doing I was glad that I wouldn't be working with him and the others because they were totally destroying the culture of the Indians. From this I have learned the importance of being a missionary without turning the Indians into North Americans.
Your son,
Bruce
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Personal
The book I am currently reading is called Bruchko. It is a true story about one young man who had just graduated from high school who gets a calling from God to go to South America and share the love of God. The main character of the book, Bruce Olson, grew up in a Lutheran family. His church is very strict and ritualistic. He starts questioning God and His existence one day when he comes home to his dysfunctional family once again. Bruce had never been someone who people would be attracted to, in terms of physical appearance and personality. He starts reading his bible and wants to be changed like John the Baptist and the other disciples were changed after meeting Jesus. After praying, he accepts Christ as his personal savior unlike the Lutheran God who was there to judge the world. After accepting Christ, Bruce finds a friend in a boy named Kent who happens to be the son of a pastor. He starts to go to a new church while trying to please his family by going to the Lutheran church. Bruce feels that he should become a missionary because of a missionary conference that he attends through the new church he begins going to. I can relate to this because my church in America has this same missionary conference. I have grown up attending these conferences and have been blessed by them year after year. I always enjoyed listening to the amazing stories of the missionaries’ adventures. I can understand how Bruce felt convicted to do something through the conference.
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