Collective Culture

The other day, I sat with my sister-in-law in her living room as we worked on my logo for Love Remedy 

(which is finished by the way!!!) 

As I sat there working with her I started to laugh in my head. 

She has a beautiful spanish accent, because she is originally from Spain. As I was working with her I became more acquainted with her little traits that I assume she has picked up from her culture back home. Things she would say and do when she became more concentrated on the project. My brother was in the room with us and I said to Jordan, "Doesn't Lucia remind you of Grandpa when she *does these little things she was doing*" 

He laughed and agreed that Grandpa says and does similar things, we concluded that it must be a European thing, because both Lucia and our grandpa are from European countries. 

I sat there silently laughing in my head and started thinking about how cool it is that God gave me a sister-in-law all the way from Spain and a grandfather all the way from Ireland (Gallic accent, Irish features, ability to dance little jigs all included haha) 

(My beautiful sister-in-law and yes she painted that picture!)

Grandpa with my two brothers terrorizing poor baby Brady.

I hope I can go to Ireland with my grandfather one day! 

I feel fortunate that growing up my parents encouraged a "cultured" lifestyle. We visited many art and world history museums together and I loved learning about all the different places all over this earth. My favorite part about our Florida vacations growing up was always our trip to Epcot where I could walk from country to country exploring each culture, trying new foods and I loved how every part was so uniquely different. 

In high school I studied abroad a summer in Germany and also had a foreign exchange student from Germany. This country will always have a piece of my heart and the language will always be dear to me even if I don't have many opportunities to use it. 

(Anja muller,  foreign exchange 2009)

Not so long from this same time God blessed my cousin, Emily and her husband John, with their son Jaun Paublo all the way from Guatemala. He has made such a sweet edition to our immediate family and oh how I love how uniquely he comes with his very own culture!!

In 2012 God blessed me with an opportunity to visit Guatemala, days before a team was leaving and days before returning home from Africa last minute a spot opened up and a ticket completely paid for! Only I was crazy enough to go on such short notice, but hey, this is what God has created me for! 

And my sweet Africa… 

Even my time spent in California was such a meshing pot of wonderful cultures! I lived in a house full of girls from all over the united states ( and one from South Africa!) and believe me each state has its own culture which came out in each of them so beautifully. 

The church is one nation not just in (your culture) but in ALL cultures.

"Our father has a heart for all ethnicities. He desires a multi- ethnic family. The Gospel has the power to not only save people but also break down barriers that divided people for generations." -Matt Moore

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