ValHanneken

Te Extrana Buenos AIres!!

2008-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

It has been little over a week since I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It has been a little bit of an adjustment to be back in the States, but I have loved retelling all of my stories. I don't know when the next time I will be in BA is, but I do know that I want to go back. Thank you so much for all of your support, without your thoughts and prayers this summer would not have been the same.

I will post final pictures soon!

Peace.Love.Family all over the world.

Better or Butter......Rubbed or Robbed?

2008-07-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a single vowel to change the entire meaning of a word, eh?

The last few days have been fairly consumed with preparation for the upcoming play Saturday night and the Pre-teen lock-in part 2 that will occur tonight. Hannah and I are about to sign ourselves up for close to 36 hours of no sleep. Why you ask? Because we only have a week left in this city we now call home, and so we want to soak up every moment.....which does not really include sleeping. No big deal, nothing a few college kids can't handle...

Yesterday was a really good day for me. Hannah and I worked on costumes for awhile (I am a model of the Cruce de Navidad -Nativity Cross- and am wearing a Mrs. Clause costume...pics will be posted later!) and then had two LST studies. Both studies were really great and I left feeling like the conversations were able to go at least somewhat deeper than the reading material. First was Sylvanna, whom Hannah and I have been studying with for a couple of weeks, and then there was Lily who we just started with last week. Sylvanna was a success because we really felt like she was able to be vulnerable with us and share a bit of her personality. I have learned that it is sometimes hard to get people to open up when they are trying to learn English, maybe it is because they want to present themselves as studious and as though they are really trying. Like Hannah and I with our Spanish, people do not want to sound dumb, so people like Sylvanna act all business and don't give much room for share time. Yesterday was different however, and it gave Hannah and I an opening to really hear more about who she is and discover her adorable personality.....I would call the hour lesson a success!!

Later that afternoon we had Lily and her friend Laura. They were the cutest women ever! They have known each other since childhood and had such a fun friendship that Hannah and I felt honored to watch. Lily last week had a lot of good questions for us about the authenticity of Christianity. This week she did not disappoint us with her pressing questions about the purpose of the Passover and the many conflicting beliefs among people of "faith." Lily and Laura were so sweet to Hannah and I and truly listened as we explained the best we could on how we felt that faith occurs within your soul and people can develop different sorts of "callings" to their relationship with God. Although I do not think either woman is a practicing Christian, whatever that means, I do know that God made them with beautiful hearts and I truly hope that through more studying they will feel called to follow Christ.

The story behind my title is that during my lesson with Sylvanna she became confused when I used the word "better." She was like "better like manteca?" (which is butter in Spanish). I laughed and said no, that is butter, there is a small difference. Then Hannah and I got into a very funny conversation about words like better and butter, rubbed and robbed, gold and golden. This was just one of the many ways that we bonded with Sylvanna that day, but now anytime Hannah and I use better or butter, I always cock my head and say "do you mean butter?"

Today Hannah and I took Will to look around Recoletta and stopped by the Cathedral there. As we walked in they were in the middle of a service and Hannah noticed that he was reciting the Lord's prayer...in Spanish of course. Thinking about it now, it is such a good reminder to me of a universal God that loves everyone and accepts everyone. This experience has taught me God calls us to reach out to all and share his love with all his people. Especially Buenos Aires......=)

Less than a week until we have to get on the plane and go home....I am sure, Mom, that you would love to read that I can't wait to come home....but the truth is that someone might have to push me on the plane! En serio (For real!)

Peace.Love.36 hours without sleep.

O yeah Bu-que-bus...everyone move to the Busque Bus!

2008-07-22T10:51:00.001-07:00

Our busque bus...it looked more like a cruise ship!

The pretty streets of Colonia...the white dots
are rain not snow!

Look at these pretty colorful houses!

Here is our golf-cart....full of memories!

So, yesterday morning, around 7 am, Hannah and I went on yet another adventure...this time to Colonia, Uruguay. We left around 7:15 in the morning to go to the Busque Bus station (basically a giant boat) and headed on a 3 hour ride to Colonia. Who would have thought we would come back with a new outfit on, a bag of drenched clothes, and a lifetime of memories in a golf cart. Yes, all of those things made our wonderful day in Colonia.

When Hannah and I arrived in Colonia we saw a scooter and golf-cart rental place. I really wanted to rent a scooter, but we couldn't because all of them were taken. So, instead, we rented a golf-cart. Colonia is a small town and can probably be reached from end-to-end in about 30 minutes. So, we headed out in the golf-cart in a foreign country and attempted to see the town in 3 hours. The plan got interesting when it started to rain....a lot!

So, for the next 2 hours Hannah and I traveled around Colonia on a golf-cart in the freezing rain (seriously, sleet in our eyes!) It was so much fun, and yet probably not the best idea. O well, I will do everything once right?!

So, when it was almost time to leave we drove to the nearest mall (I know, I know) and bought some dry clothes. Then we got on the busque bus and experienced the most rocky boat ride of our lives. It was a rough three hours, but was made better by a group of British soccer players behind us.

All in all, it was yet another fun adventure of the Summer. It is amazing what can be fun when you are in a new place with a crazy side-kick.

Today is full of LST studies and youth meetings and costume preparation. As I work today, I am working with the mindset of doing so for the LORD. It is amazing how much more important the small things seem when you do it all for God. Today, I am trying to walk with that mindset.

Peace.Love.Busquebus.

Fotos de este semana pasada

2008-07-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

Here we are...wearing our T-shirts to announce
to the world how much we love BA!

Excited faces at Thomas' house cause this was
Spencer's old room!

Pedal boating with the girls!

Saturday night bible study group!

Posing as goalies!

Te amo BA

2008-07-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

So, it has been a few days since I have blogged, namely because I got sick yet again! Here is a lil info for anyone considering coming to BA during their winter (i.e. June through August), be prepared for extreme weather changes and bring lots of allergy medicine with you! I have suffered from quite a few allergens here (as has Hannah) and we would suggest taking our advice.

Now, let me see if I can recap you on the last few days:

Thursday we had several LST students. There has been a change in some of the people doing LST and so Hannah and I were asked to help out more on Thursday. So we started our day early and ended it around 5 or so. Even though the day was long it was by far one of my favorite days for this reason: a precious woman named Lily. It was through this woman that I was able to have one of the most real conversations I have had with anyone this summer. With Lily I was able to talk about the Christian faith and how some people tend to interpret scripture differently than others, and thus some are misguided in their thoughts. We talked about her friend who had cancer and how when she died she doubted God's existence. It was just so awesome to have someone I had just met be so honest, I loved talking with her, and I can only hope that God helps to give me the words again next week as we work through the bible lessons together. I was truly blessed by her this week!

Then that night we went to Thomas' house for dinner and had a wonderful meal. Thomas' is known for his great cooking skills and Hannah and I were privileged enough to get to experience them. It was so much fun to have dinner with him and Pedro.

Friday was a day full of fun. We had our LST student, Silvanna, in the morning and then we went straight to the Thomas family's house for lunch and to go to the park. The Thomas' are here for two years, the father works for Firestone, and they come to our Wednesday night group. Hannah and I have become friends with their sons Chris and Phillip and have fallen in love with their nieces, Imani and Nia. So, we went to their house and ate with them and then ventured to the park where we rode a four person bike with six people and went on a pedal boat. It was a beautiful day and double as nice to be with new friends.

Today was our last day to get to play soccer and our last Saturday youth meeting since we have the play next Saturday. It was a very sad realization and one that left Hannah and I with sick feeling stomachs. It has been such an incredible experience to be here and be surrounded by such wonderful people. I am struck by the realization that I really do not want to leave. I wonder though, if it partially because of the dread of coming back to a busy life in the states. I think that many times people love mission work so much because they feel so useful and fulfilled doing it, I wonder if I could bring some of that lifestyle back to the states and begin to live a more fulfilled life there. I know this is truth and should be acted out, it is just finding the perseverance to make change.

Sunday is national Friend's Day, a big day for the culture here. I am so excited (seriously, what am I not excited about?!) to be here with my friends on this day. It is 1 am as I am writing this and I have already gotten text messages telling me Happy Friend's Day. I love it!!!! It makes me think about the lesson Osvaldo gave tonight about friends and what our characteristics our ideal friends have. He challenged us to see Jesus in those characteristics and to show that to other people. I think about all the amazing friends I have been blessed with over the years and I realize that I want to be just as good of a friend to them as they are to me. What a great thing to strive for!!

In closing, Hannah and I played soccer tonight hardcore. Hannah made two goals (her and her buddy Christian) and I tried my best to play some hardcore defending. At one point I was blocking and fell to the court in splits position, I know I will be feeling that tomorrow!! But, alas, it was a great end to our Futbol season in Argentina!!

Peace.Love.El Dia de Amigos.

"Da una sonrisa mas"

2008-07-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

So, it is Wednesday night and Hannah and I have had a really eventful/relaxing last few days. We left Sunday afternoon for Mar del Plata and came back Tuesday evening. It was a really fun couple of days in which we got to sit on the beach in Argentine "winter" and see yet another beautiful part of this country. (Pictured above are some of the precious children I get to work with every Sunday!)

When we came back Tuesday, a lot of changes had happened. However, the end result is one that I am really looking forward to. Starting tomorrow, Hannah and I will be working more with LST and having students for a few hours almost everyday. It seems a little exhausting, but I am so excited to sit down with people, some of which are agnostic, and hopefully spark some interest into a world of faith. My focused prayer for the last two weeks will be to have God speak through me to these people and that a language barrier will not hinder what could be some amazing conversations about God.

Although the beach was fun, it felt so good to be "home." These people have become my family and seeing them again brought a crazy amount of joy to my heart. Hannah and I are really struggling with not acting like two weeks from now is dooms day, but we really do not want to leave. God has shown us the power of community this summer, and how through him anyone can find unity and friendship.

We are staying busy with LST and making costumes for the upcoming community play. Life here starts early and ends late, but every moment is filled with joy and remembrance of how good the Lord is to all of us.

Thanks so much for your faithful prayers this summer, they are felt!

I will leave you with a story. So, the first night Hannah and I were at Mar del Plata we decided to go out in search of a place we had heard about. So, we left our hotel....kinda late although I will not tell you how late...and got in a taxi with the exact location in our hands. When we got to the place, successfully mind you, the found out that it was closed! So, we told the driver thank you and that we should probably go back. Well, somewhere in the midst of that convo he was laughing and said something about a city tour. Being that we had just driven to the other side of town, I assume he was trying to make us feel better and telling us that at least we got a city tour. So, my encouraging reaction was, "Si, we did get a city tour!"

Welp, 30 minutes and 20 pesos later, we realized that he was in fact taking us on the city tour that I had apparently agreed to. So, I thanked him for the tour and explained that we needed to go back to the hotel. Hannah was sure to emphasize that now would be a good time. So, we finally got back to the hotel and I looked at Hannah with a smile....hoping that she would remember that without me there would not be as many funny stories, and hoping that she would forget that I cost us 40 pesos for the adventure.

Peace.Love.Do yourself a favor and eat a nuez alfajore.

2008-07-12T20:27:00.001-07:00

PS. The title of my last blog was called "Little Gringitas" because that is what Pedro calls Hannah and I, his "little gringitas." He told us the other day he thinks of us like sisters, and well, we think of him as an older brother....so we thought that was perfect!

"Little Gringitas"

2008-07-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days have been packed full of activities and changes, and one thing God has really called me to is flexibility and patience. Last night was supposed to be our Pre-teen Lock-in, but it turned into more of a fellowship time with a handful of kids and a two-week postponement of the actual Lock-in. It is a long story, but what I seemed to have obtained from the occurrence was that sometimes you have to adapt to the culture and not try to adapt the culture to you. So....instead of having the Lock-in like we thought, Hannah and I got a chance to bond with a couple of the Pre-teen girls and get to know them really well. One of the girls, Ruth, was so sweet and ended up teaching Hannah and I extreme Ping-Pong in which you use all the surrounding walls and surfaces to bounce the ball off of. It was so much fun and gave us a chance to do something with Ruth that is universal....Laugh!

This morning was a funeral for one of the brothers at a local church. Hannah and I ended up staying home and being with the girls instead of going, but it was a somber morning because we new the heartache that was going on amidst our new church family. It was a precious reminder of life and how important it is to share with ones you love.

Later today was our weekly youth meeting with all the surrounding churches and it was so much fun to join with them and sing songs. One song that brightened our day was "Cristo es Amigo." Which, to all church goers out there is "Jesus is a friend."

It was so fun to sing that song and get to dance around and hug one another. Being that the Spanish culture is more for kissing and not hugging, it was almost overwhelming to get so many hugs at one time. I LOVED it!

cristo es amigo
es tu amigo
cristo es amigo y canta asi

Then after the youth meeting some of us went to play soccer at an indoor soccer place. It was so much fun to play, this was Hannah and I's second time, and spend time with the guys. Of course, like always, Hannah and I were the only girls who played. However, it was an improvement because we at least got a girl to show up and watch!! Unlike last time, the game seemed to be way more intense. But, Hannah made a goal again and I stepped in as goalie for a little bit, despite my hesitation, and made like 5 stops. I was so scared, but it was really fun!!

Then Pedro, Hannah and I went to have a "meeting" at McDonald's and just happened to eat a meal while we were there. I do not even think I should say how many times we have eaten at McD's since we have been here, but it is way more than we should have. Still, it was a lot of fun to spend time with Pedro and here about why he feels God has called him here. It is so great to have friends here, and to be blessed with relationships that share a love for Christ. I feel so very blessed.

Tomorrow Hannah and I are going to Mar del Plata which is a beach town in Argentina. We are really excited to go and spend a couple of days relaxing and seeing the coast-line. We are leaving tomorrow after church and will get back Tuesday afternoon in time for Spanish class. It should be a fun time and inevitably full of funny stories. So, stay tuned and I will fill you in when we get back. I wanna leave you with a cool poem that Hannah and I learned the other day. It really spoke to me and where I am in life right now.

Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino, y nada mas;
caminante, no hay camino,
se hace el camino al andar.
Al andar se hace camino,
y al volver la vista atras
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante, no hay camino,
Sino estelas en la mar.
-Antonio Machado

Translation:
Wanderer, the only way
is your footsteps, there is no other.
Wanderer, there is no way,
you make the way as you go.
As you go, you make the way
and stopping to look behind,
you see the path that your feet
will never travel again.
Wanderer, there is no way—
only foam trails in the sea.

Peace.Love.Quatro de Libras (Quarter Pounders at McDonalds)

2008-07-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

Un Perrito llamaba Cometa!

2008-07-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Life is wonderful in BA!

Yesterday was Independence Day in Argentina and so Hannah and I woke up early and dragged the family to a parade. Well, little did we know that the parade would be a stationary one, and that moving parades have not quite been mastered here, or at least the coordinators of this one haven't. Moving or not though, it was a lot of fun to hear the anthem and Hannah and I even waved Argentine flags. As Hannah said, "they only cost a peso, but gave a lifetime of memories!"

Last night was group and Hannah and I made empanadas for the party. Well, sad to say that although the first time we made them we were really successful, Hannah learned that putting egg on both sides does not make the empanadas wanna come off the pan!! It turned out to be ok as always....thank God for Andres and his hospitality. He brought some for everyone and we were able to disguise ours in the midst of his...phew!

Today was fairly mellow, Hannah and I went to a bead store to look for supplies for the pre-teen lock-in tomorrow night. Then we went to Dario Lopera's surprise birthday party. Dario is truly one of our favorite people here in BA and it was so fun to spend time with him and his family. We learned a lot about his life and where he has come from. It also helped that he showed us where he was baptized on Google Earth!! It was so fun, and he loved showing us. For those who don't know, Google Earth is the satellite picture system that allows you to type an address in and the satellite zooms in and shows the location. Don't worry, after he showed us the pool where he was baptized over 30 years ago, we were sure to show him our houses. Mom, he thought our neighborhood was so pretty and green...hahah!!!

Then Alejo and Marisa walked Hannah and I back to the Subte and while we did I got to walk a dog named Cometa....a little Spanish version of Comet on Full House. It made my heart happy, I think it was just what I needed to feel like I had a dog again!!

The last couple of days God has really been working on my patience. With just three and a half weeks left, I am starting to get sad about leaving and for sure am wanting to soak up every minute. At the same time, I am starting to get pretty tired too. There is still so much more I want to do, and so many more convos I want to have. I am having to lean on God and let him give me the strength as my body starts to want to stop. God is so alive in this place. I was reminded of that tonight when Hannah and I were on the Subte and a blind man was escorted by an officer to the train. Once he got on and the officer left, Hannah and I kept a close eye on him to see if he would need help getting off. As he got up for his stop, we were prepared to get up and help when this girl gently grabbed his arm and guided him off and through the gate.

It was at that moment that I was reminded just how embedded charity and hospitality is in this culture. It is not just this incident, but the numerous times I see people grab an arm of an old lady they don't know and walk her across the street, or give their seat to someone on the bus, or walk their friend home so that they are not alone at night. It is in this culture that I have seen a consistent desire to take care of one another. It makes me wonder why other cultures have not learned this art.....it truly is beautiful to watch.

I have a new love....it's called an Alfajore (cookie filled with Dulce de Leche and chocolate) and it is incredible. Hannah and I ate one at Havanna restaurant today, and I have decided it is my new favorite.

Peace.Love.Cometa

Pe

"Sorpresa!"

2008-07-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday night Hannah and I decided to attempt to throw Pedro a surprise birthday party! It was a good idea in theory, but like always, we tend to discount the fact that we are living in a foreign country with a language and cultural curve. So...we invited and explained to people it was a surprise and thought we had done our job...

Well when Pedro showed up with 3 of the surprise guests that he was not supposed to know were coming, we had to throw our hands up and let it be....don't worry, the people in attendance still wanted to hide and yell "sorpresa!", even if he knew they were in the other room.

Regardless it was a fun night, but one thing really touched me above the rest. It was after Hannah and I had served dinner, and after the noodle disaster that you can ask about in detail later, and it happened when 13 of us were sitting around a table together. We were all sitting around and they were telling chistes (jokes). Hannah and I were sitting there and laughing at these guys standing up and being so animated and attempting to give their best recap of a story. But it hit me after Pedro's prayer of blessing on the food, in which he thanked God for his "family", that these people have become my family in the last month. Each one of them has started to mean something in my life, and each day I look forward to the conversations or laughs I will have with them. We had a variety of personalities around the table, but looking at all of them made me realize just how important family is, whether you are countries away from home or not. It really was such a beautiful moment to share with them, and one I will always remember. Not to mention the night kept getting exciting as Pedro's Selva Negra cake got smashed into his face and we all went and saw Kung Fu Panda. (Skadoosh!) Every moment is a memory here, and as we are approaching the 5th week of our 8 1/2 weeks here, I am reminded that every moment is precious.

Blessings to you all!

Peace.Love.Bombom chocolate.

"Hello Gringa"

2008-07-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

So, it has been several days since I have last blogged. I would like to say that it is because I was so unfathomably busy that there was just no time to breathe, much less update you. However, that is a slight exaggeration, and a more accurate account would be that I am sick and therefore did not feel like exerting more energy than necessary. So let me fill you in on the highlights of the last few days!!

Wednesday of this week, Hannah and I were fortunate enough to visit the one and only Starbucks in Argentina, located about 20 minutes from our house!! We have seen it before, but the line is always out the door and so not worth waiting in line for. However, we went in the morning having decided to buy mugs that say Starbucks Argentina on them. When we got there, much to our surprise, there was no line. So, of course we got some coffee and sat down and enjoyed the FREE WiFi there. (side note: the U.S. Starbucks do not have free WiFi and I would just like to say that if BA can make it free, so can they!) There we sat down and enjoyed some vanilla lattes and talked about our game plan for the week.

After that we went to a mall in search of something to wear and a present for Debbie's Quince on Friday. And, of course, regardless of what city we are in, Hannah and I are always successful shoppers.....ALWAYS!

Thursday was a day of decorating and helping prepare for the big party.

Friday we had the Quince and it was a lot of fun. We learned some of the traditional things that are done, and then we participated in teaching some Argentine's the "country electric slide!" It was so funny to watch the crowd try and mimic Hannah and I's moves. For sure a moment I won't forget while in BA. Other than that, my favorite moment of the night was when we watched fireworks from the park across the street in celebration of Debbie's birthday. How convenient it was that Hannah and I got to see fireworks on JULY 4!! However, it could have been a little inconvenient for the adults in charge when the cops came a few minutes after saying that "gun-shots" were reported. HAHA, what a funny moment that was to watch....of course I stayed appropriate and kept my laughter in until later. The party lasted from 10 pm to 7 am. Although, Hannah and I opted for an early bedtime around 4:30 am.

Saturday, which is today, we got up around 12 to go to the LST farewell pizza party. Today was the first time that Hannah and I realized just how close it is before we leave. We leave in four weeks from today, and I dont think either of us are ready for that!! But, we said bye to Pat, Les, and Ruth and welcomed the new LST teachers. It was fun to sit down and share a meal for all the students at once, because normally we only see them segmented or one at a time.

The highlight of the week for me was witnessing Andres' baptism on Friday night before the Quince. It was an amazing experience to see a guy, close to my age, who has studied and prayed for so long about the decision. Hannah and I are blessed to know Andres through our Wednesday night cell group and then have started hanging out with him occasionally outside of group. It was the best hug I have received all summer (granted one of the few since people seem to only kiss here) when he came out of the baptistry with a huge grin on his face. I am so happy to have him as a brother in Christ, and I was blessed to witness such an event.

God has been teaching me a lot about perseverance in relationships and anything worthwhile takes a lot of work. God is there in the small things and uses us in those instances to leave a huge impact. God has been so good to me by forming such solid relationships here, ones that withstand language barriers and are built on laughs, crys, and silence. I can truly say that I am IN LOVE with BA and would rather be nowhere else. This week was crazy, but God pushed us through it and led us to a point of peace.

Tomorrow is Sunday which always proves to be a busy day. I have been reflecting on the verse about the story of Esther and "for such a time as this." As I diligently look to make my plans for after I get back from this Summer, I recognize that God has placed me in the here and now, and for no other reason than to exist here with HIM. My prayer, daily, is to be used for "such a place as this." Thanks for supporting me in that!!

Peace. Love. Pedro's dad called Hannah and I "gringas."

Tiger Text Twist

2008-06-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Tigre River. It is about a 2 hour train ride from BA to the Tigre. It was so much fun and we got to ride not only on a train for the first time in BA, but a boat too!!! Enjoy the pics!

Forty is the new 15!

2008-06-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today was a fun adventure! I will start from the beginning:

Hannah and I were put in charge of breakfast this morning for the church. When I say that, it does not mean that we had to cook for 200 people, but merely to be responsible for the come and go breakfast before church for a typical crowd of 50. So, Hannah and I woke up this morning prepared to go and purchase an assortment and set everything up in advance. But then the most amazing thing happened...I underestimated the charity and hospitality of the people that live here. Hannah and I woke up to tupperwares full of food ready to go, our host parents had all organized it the night before. Then when we get to the church and set up, we start to consider buying some medialunas, and then Andres shows up. Andres, one of the most humble people I know, came with two bags full of pastries to share with the church. Then soon after that a man came with some bread to share. I know this sounds like not a big deal, but when you think about the "me" attitude so many of us are used to, it was incredible to see such selflessness. This morning started amazing and carried throughout the morning, all the way from helping in kid class during service to assisting in Pre-teen bible class. I love the church in Caballito, and I know that God must be so pleased with the community that is set up!

So, after church we had our second major planned activity of the summer, the Zoo!! It was so much fun. I learned a lesson is planning ahead for any possible scenario though. I daily underestimate the ability for people here to misunderstand information and to run a good hour and a half late everywhere we go (Luke you would never make it here!) So, although we said we would be at the Zoo at 2:30 to meet up with the other local church, we arrived around 3:30. The roughest point happened when trying to coordinate a group of 25 people and explain to them the plan and meeting place in case something went wrong or we were separated. But, when all that was finally explained, it was probably one of my favorite days here so far!

We saw all kinds of animals, even an Alpaca and Camel! It was a big success and I credit all of that to God's faithfulness in using our meager efforts! It was fun to see the two churches unite, and even more fun to watch a youth group ranging from ages 35-14. Yes, here anyone who is single is in the youth group, so just picture me trying to tell a 30 year old man what the plan for the day was. It took creativity, that is for sure!!

The best surprise of the day was one of the adults in the church passing off his 5 year-old boy for the day. It seemed kinda crazy at the time, but going to the zoo with a child is truly the best way to do it! His enthusiasm was so fun to watch and it kept Hannah and I on our toes trying to make sure a group of 25 people was all together and being sure to have one hand on a adventurous 5 year-old. Needless to say, we are worn out!

Then after the Zoo, a small group of us went and got some dinner at Continental pizza house. I told you we ate pizza a lot here, it is true. However, tonight I tried something new. It is called Noquis. Thanks to Spencer Hemphill I took a leap of faith and tried something new. Well, Spence, I liked it. It was for sure not what I expected, but I would most closely compare it to dumplings in a pasta form??!! It was really good, and better was the Mousse Chocolate that Hannah and I shared after. Let's just say that after a long day, we took advantage of some comfort foods.

God is so good and so faithful to our prayers. Duh, he always is!!! Hannah and I were talking last night and we were talking about how we have been here for almost a month. We were discussing how sad it would be if we were having to leave and had not decided to stay for the full two months. Time is flying and we are trying to soak up every minute. We had really started to form relationships with people here, and helping to bring a community of believers closer to together. My hopes by the end of the summer, is to have a group of people that stands solid in the face of hardship, and lifts each other up. I don't think that will be too hard, especially since everyone here is so willing to help each other and give of themselves.

Praise be to God for all that he does....and thank God for silly trips to the zoo where we can be amazed by elephants even when they are smelly and walk hand-in-hand with a 5 year old and a 21 year old. It is through Christ that we can bridge the gaps; I am learning that this summer.

Peace.Love.Red Monkey Butts.

"Facing the Giants" in BA

2008-06-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

The past two days have been great ones! Yesterday afternoon we played pool with the youth and I held my own. Well....not really, unless you count holding your own getting a few balls in by sheer luck. Let's just say that I have a long way to go from being the pool shark that I wanna be!

Then last night we watched "Facing the Giants" in the church auditorium with some of the youth. Hannah and I made homemade popcorn (both sweet and salty) and it was a success! If you are wondering why in the world we picked that movie, never fear, it is rapidly approaching my favorites list. The whole movie Hannah and I sat there and cried, trying to not be quite so obviuos to the people around us who would surely laugh. I think that the message of "preparing your fields for God's work to be done in your life" is a really powerful message and it really got to me last night.

Amidst the tears, it was a lot of fun to spend time with the youth and to continue building relationships. I love the people here so much, even if they do walk slow and take forever to make decisions!!! I look forward to the time I can spend with them each day, and the funny moments that are bound to arise.

Today Hannah and I went to a women's bible study before the weekly youth meeting. We talked about being good wives, and women of good faith, who can see the good and praise and uplift people instead of bringing them down. It was a great lesson, but even more it was a great moment to be with people who have such a desire to be better wives and role-models. It was awesome.

Then we went to the youth meeting where "Eres mi Fuerza" (You are my Strength) was my favorite song of the night. I have developed a love for singing with the youth, and even moreso learning all my favorite church songs in Spanish. Then afterwards we went and got some pizza with everyone at Ugi's. I will have to say that I have gotten more pizza here in BA than I have in the states in a long time. Weird huh?

I ended the night with a wonderful McCafe with Hannah and one of our new sisters. It was such a great experience to sit and talk and share with each other. God blessed me tonight and I can truly see him working all around us.

I love BA and I love the people here. I could not have asked for a better summer. And....tomorrow we get to go to the ZOO!!!!! yay

Peace.Love.Coca Lights.

P.S. Caramel Macchiatos are not the same as in the U.S., don't be fooled....I was!

Soliciting for Jesus?

2008-06-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

So, Hannah and I started our morning passing our fliers for the LST program in Buenos Aires this summer. Needless to say I hate to pass out fliers, and those of you who know me well, know that I quit Girl Scouts once upon a time cause I could not muster up enough confidence to solicit people to buy cookies....and that was cookies! However, this summer is all about growth in ministry, so out Hannah and I went and at the end of 2 hours, we had a dozen funny stories and had passed out over 200 fliers. I feel pretty successful about that...too bad there is about 2000 more to go!

Then we went to the downtown area of BA and saw the petitioning for better food trading conditions. The park by the congressional building looked like a fair, with banners and booths everywhere.

Then we went to Plaza de Mayo and saw the grandmothers march around the circle (they do this every Thursday) and demand to know more about where their missing grandkids are from the war (a war a long time ago, not to be confused with the current one). It was really interesting to hear the history of this place and see the dedication of these old women every Thursday.

Then we had our second LST session with out student Gisela. I have only known her a day and already I love her. People here have such a strong desire to learn and never do they appear to be lazy. On the contrary, they are so motivated and are not afraid to make mistakes with the language. How inspiring that is....especially considering everyday I live in fear of saying the wrong thing in Spanish.

Then we went straight to our Spanish lesson which was a lot of fun and gave us about an hour and a half of forced speaking time. I am really seeing an improvement already and we have only been going to her for about 5 times. But seriously, don't expect fluency when I get back, cause it's not gonna happen!

Then we went to our Thursday night Spanish speaking bible study and for the first time since I have been here, I really felt that I understood what was going on. It was a really deep discussion on baptism and its importance, and a lot the questions raised are still on my heart and will be for a while I think. I am really starting to see the pressure for growth in my life right now, and how God is calling me to draw near to him for the answers. I have learned a lot already about spiritual discipline and really making your beliefs become who you are in your core being. I want to have my beliefs and know exactly why, not just because I feel that way or my community has taught it to me, but because I have doctrine to back it up. This is my challenge, admitting that sometimes I might be wrong and finding the strength to withstand people when I am right.

Today was good, everyday is good. Everyday I laugh and when I do, I think of my Polish friend Mike who comes to our Wed night group. When Mike laughs and people ask him why he is laughing, he just smiles and says, "Why not?"

Peace. Love. Reir (to laugh).

You know you are a local when...

2008-06-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Today Hannah and I have a pseudo day off. We don't have to go anywhere, we just get to plan for a bunch of different activities that are coming up. So, we are sitting here in our favorite cafe, me with my Macbook and her with her PC, and we are drinking our cafe and eating our medialunas and enjoying the sunlight. Then with just one random moment we became locals. We looked out the window and saw someone we knew...we of course waved emphatically and realized at that moment that we belong here....at least for now.

Just thought I'd share the exciting moment.

Peace.Love.Cafe's on the corner.

Hospital parte dos...

2008-06-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that Hannah and I cannot stay away from the hospital...just kidding, but seriously! This morning I went to Hospital Britanico, yes, a British hospital in South America! I went, don't worry mom, because I donated blood for a woman in the church who needs an operation. Evidently, to get the operation she needed four donors, and since I have the universal blood-type, I volunteered. So, needless to say, it was yet another experience to journal about.

Among the highlights was the fact that they had me drink cafe both before and after the blood draining process. Which, I will have to say, contradicts everything U.S. doctors say about drinking caffeine during blood donation. So there I was sitting in the room with a needle in one arm and drinking coffee with the other. It was a little skewed looking, but hey, I was there for the BA hospital experience.

I will say though, that they were very nice and after the donation process they require a mandatory meal, free of charge, at their basement cafeteria. So, once I rode the elevator up and down five times to figure out the lady described all in Spanish, I found the cafe. As I walked into the cafe, with my second cup of coffee and lunch tray, I notice I am about to eat with all the Hospital staff members. So, I sit down and watch water drip from the ceiling to the floor from an apparent leak, and wait for Osvaldo who gave blood after me and was still upstairs. As I was eating and feeling awkward, I was reminded of home because above me hung a banner that said, "Central de Restaurants" and the word "Aramark!" So, there I was, in the middle of South America in a British hospital giving blood and drinking coffee, thinking that ACU was not that far away and neither was its sick food. I will have to say though, that the Aramark in BA is a lot better than its Abilene partner. Maybe it' s just ACU...

The rest of the day looked up because after the blood donation, which was really easy and the hospital was really very nice, because we went to La Boca which is a fabulous town that has tons of bright colored buildings and beautiful shops. Hannah and I went souvenir crazy and checked off a long list of things we needed to get for people. Poor Osvaldo, I don't think he wants to go shopping again anytime soon. We did get to have a really nice lunch and watch a tango show. Then the dancers asked us if we would like to try and so we danced with a tango man (what are they called anyway?) and learned a few basic steps. It was really funny!!

Then we came home and decided to take a rest. This weekend has been long, but really rewarding. I am feeling a purpose here in BA, moreso than when I first started. God is faithful in finding work for us, if we only ask. I am so blessed by this experience, and I am so excited about the prospect of five more weeks of adventure. The people here are truly family, and I look forward to each new day with them. God is challenging me to think differently and teaching me some religious tolerance. I come from a liberal Christian background ( I have only begun to realize this after experiencing what conservative is) and I am learning what it means to be a conservative Christian. There are a lot of things that I like and am trying to put some of those habits into my life. I think that there is always room for spiritual growth and for that I am grateful.

God is here and is working I know, whether it is in me giving blood or having a conversation with a friend at the dinner table, God is active.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Peace.Love.Dulce de Leche.

Pijama Party, dulces y masqueradas

2008-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

The Pijama Party was a success full of food, verdad y consequencia (truth or dare), games, and of course the make-up party; which oddly resembled clown school. I think that the girls really enjoyed it and despite Hannah being sick, we really got to bond with the girls some more. Who knows, maybe we will do another one soon.

Tonight we got to sing La Batalla es de nuestro Senor (The Battle Belongs to the

Lord) and I felt at home! Then Hannah and I sang a song with our friend Chris in English and I realized at that moment that I really will do just about anything here, including sing in a trio in a room full of people I don't know at a 50 year old woman's birthday party. Welp, it

has and will be quite the summer.

Enjoy the pics, it seems that there is no room for pride in BA, so here it is....a seriously awful make-up job.

Peace.Love.Hannah got her debit card.

Never a dull day in BA, even in a hospital!

2008-06-20T12:51:00.001-07:00

OK so let me start off with the most current piece of news and then digress...

Last night Hannah was not feeling well and so we skipped Spanish group and came home to sleep. Then this morning, while I was still in a comatose state, Hannah informs me that we will be going to the doctor because she has strep. Welp, so much for slow rising, I am up and ready to accompany her. I mean, it's not everyday you get to go to a foreign doctor! So we went to the hospital, which was very nice, and sat for a while while a really nice man was very attentive and told Hannah that yes "she did have strep." If any of you know Hannah very well, you know that she just had strep two months ago, so I am thinking maybe she just likes a swollen throat. Yeah?

Ok, so on to the stuff we are actually supposed to be doing in BA. Wednesday was small group at the house and I have to say that the group of people really are starting to become like family. Everyone is so loving and come with such an amazing testimony. Christian, for example, is a miracle in himself. Several months ago he was in a motorcycle accident and went head first into a concrete wall. Through God's healing and prayers of his surrounding community, he made it through barely. Now he is walking around with a goofy grin on his face and what I would imagine was his same since of humor before the accident. Christian is still waiting to get part of his skull replaced, the part that was shattered during the accident. He has a partially indented head right now, but I am starting to think it suits him!!

There is also Andres, with the most servant heart of anyone I have ever met. He shows what it means to be a Christian, always inviting and encouraging people to experience the love of Christ. There are also guys like Juan Carlos, Jose Luis, Dario who have blessed my life already and it has only been 3 weeks. People here truly are a family and they remind me everyday that families can count on each other and hold each other accountable.

Tonight we are having our first sleepover with some girls from the youth group. Evidently sleep over here means no sleep. So, I have been informed that I sleep that I will get shaving cream to the face. Great, guess I'll learn the art of sleeping with one eye open. Regardless of no sleep I am really excited about the chance to bond more with some of the youth girls. They really do have such great spirits and are tons of fun! Hannah and I's goal is to create a core leadership group among the youth, so that when we leave there will be people who can continue to outreach and pull people into a great circle of friends. Keep that in your prayers!

I am discovering more and more a different kind of exhausted. The kind where you may or may not be as busy as say, a college student, but you are busy in a way that may be even more exhausting. I am learning about the missionary life and the emotional drain it can take when attempting to physically, emotionally and spiritually connect with so many people all the time. This is not to say that I am too tired, yet, or that I am drained. But merely I am saying that I can tell that this type of work can do that, and by the end of the summer, I may very well be that tired. However, there is not better feeling than a busy day just being with people, and hoping to help them in some small way, even if it is just to be their friend.

I am reading Irresistible Revolution right now and it is really convicting. When I read books like this one, look it up if you don't know what it is about, I realize that we have so much room for growth and so many ideals we have got to get over before we can start acting and being the way God intended us. One quote that struck me today when reading is this: "We cannot fully recover (from our addictions) until we help the society that made us sick recover."

I read that and I think that too many times we try to fix people or solve their problems. Then we get frustrated when they go back to the same habits. What Shane Claiborne is saying is that we must first look at what causes people to fall short and go to that source instead of only finding fault in the person. I am finding that true as I meet people and hear their testimonies, I want to be a person who loves all and welcomes all. I want to help them, but first I want to step back and see where they are coming from and what led them to this point. We are all "sick" and must realize that everyone's sickness is not something that is not easily healed, but takes relationship and conversation and a change of the surrounding community, not just a cure-all biblical medicine and to be sent back out into the germ polluted world. These are my thoughts when I meet new people everyday or see the beggars on the Subte, I think that there is something to be said for meeting people where they are at.

Life in BA is wonderful and amidst my germy roomate( hah!) and the impending night of no sleep, I do not think that I would rather be anywhere else! The pics of Hannah and I include some of us with graffiti by the church, we thought we kind of resembled the pics. Graffiti in BA is common, even in the nice areas. Also, we found our first cup of to-go coffee and wanted to document it!

Viva BA and blessing on your day!

peace.love.submarinos at McDonalds.

Hannah, IT IS GOING TO BE OK!

2008-06-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

I would venture to say that everyday is an adventure here in BA, but yesterday might have topped the charts so far. I would like to say that it all started with a little gate that should have been closed, but really it all started with Hannah and I not paying attention as usual!

So, Hannah and I left the youth meeting early last night (around 8:15) so that we could go home and get things done and try to go to bed early. We have had a really crazy week with every minute scheduled, and thought it would be nice to get some extra rest. So as we went to the Subte, which we do a lot, and got on the tren, we did not think that it was possible to mess it up (although last week we would have told you we had not quite mastered it yet). Anyway, we started to realize something was off when we got on the old rickety train and no one was on it. It was late at night so I thought for a minute that it might just be slow tonight, but then Hannah confirmed that it was not right and maybe we should get off. So, as I was processing this information, the tren starts moving. Moving, with no one but us on it, and moving with the doors open, not closed, like normal. So, I stick my head out the window in a moment of panic and try to find something that will show us where we are going. Then I make eye contact with some workers that are on the platform, and give them a helpless/frantic look. They shout something inaudible, and onward we go into the dark abyss.

So, Hannah and I sit down and prepare ourselves that we might be going somewhere very wrong, but it will be ok because we will find our way home. Then just as we determine a plan, the tren stops. Not stops at a station, no, stops in the middle of the underground Subte with no light on either side of us. So, here we are, two girls in an old tren with no one in sight and no idea where we are. Sound like a horror movie yet?

So, as Hannah is explaining to me that she feels like is going to throw up and I am tell her "it is going to be ok", we see a man walking toward us. My initial reaction is that he is some crazy murder and we are about to die, so naturally I back up. Hannah tells me to call for help and steps up to the door. Obviously we know who is the tougher one in this situation, I gladly took the lesser of the two roles. So, as I was frantically trying to call Osvaldo and keep one hand on Hannah to make sure she was not getting kidnapped, he jumps into the cart and much to our relief has a nice smile on his face (not a creepy horror movie one)! So, then through broken Spanish and a lot of scared laughter, we realize he is the conductor and that he will lead us back to the platform.

So, long story short, Hannah and I and one short old man walk in the dark around 9 at night on the tracks of a underground subway back to our tren platform. Needless to say it was the best/scariest thing that has happened to on the trip thus far. I have always said that I wanted to walk the tracks of a subway, but in my mind I always thought it would be because of a mechanical error and a bunch of people would be doing it together. This was not exactly how I pictured my wish to come true, but I am happy to say that I can now cross it off my Life List of Things To Do.

This week has been an adventure already. Monday was the Japanese Gardens and a run in with some peaceful protesters, and Tuesday was detailed out above. With or without the crazy side adventures, I am really enjoying my time here in BsAs. We are really starting to develop relationships with some youth here and are busy with planning and attending all kinds of activities and bible studies. God has really blessed us with answering prayers and providing us with a purpose. I am looking forward to the crazy summer ahead.

Thanks for your prayers....maybe some more about public transportation might help!

Peace.Love.Subte travels.

2008-06-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

World Cup got nothing on us!!

2008-06-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

So, there is a reason there has not been a post in the last couple of days. It might be because my back feels like an 80 year-old grandma, or it might be because we are still trying to recover from the amazingness that was soccer on Saturday night. Hannah and I, embarked on a new way of life, one in which we are athletic and able to face large Argentine men in a sport they are bred to play. Basically, Saturday night what we thought was playing soccer with the youth turned into church soccer with a bunch of men. However, keeping with our promise to ML, we played.....and we DID WELL!! It is amazing what the fear of being bad will do to an unathletic person. So, to sum up the game, we played hard and Hannah made a goal and I made an assist. Awesome huh?

The last couple of days has been really fun, we have been super busy with the youth, going to meetings and planning activities. Everyone here is so anxious to hang out and be together, I love it! On Saturday Hannah and I started a new tradition of playing cards with the youth before the meeting, and never have you played UNO until you have played with Juan Carlos.

Yesterday was full of activities and today we are going to the Japanese Gardens in an outside province. Life is good, and that is enough.

No, I really DID tell a guy I loved him on the Subte

2008-06-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ok so let me clarify for those of you who thought that the titles of my blogs are in fact not true. Yes, indeed, everything written is truth, to the best of my knowledge, and therefore is not used as a mere luring tool. So, if you are wondering did I actually tell a guy on the Subte that I loved him, yes I did. Was I trying to make a brotherly love assoication? Yes. But, did the words "Te amo" come out of my mouth? Yes. And, that is the real story. Don't worry, many were there to witness it and many could vouch for my stupidity.

Today Hannah and I worked on a 4ft by 6ft bulletin board that resembled billboards you might see on a highway. Needless to say, it took the better part of our day to cover it. Then we went to Spanish tutoring and on to Spanish cell group.

The thing that struck me about today was the strict adherence to biblical doctrine. I think may times people want to "create-a-faith" like the famous bear shop, but few really stop to realize that Christianity is about the cause of Christ and his words, not the ones we pick and choose to hear and mold into our own. People here believe in the Bible, and they desire more than anything to be followers of Christ. I am learning a lot...

The other day Hannah and I had some free time and decided to explore a random staircase and room in our house. The pictures included are a product of boredom, plus a pic of the massive billboard. Enjoy, especially you Sally! Ciao.

I accidentally told a guy on the Subte I loved him

2008-06-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a few days since my last blog, but I would say that it would most definitely

be because of a lack of free time. Sunday we went to church at 10 am and did not leave until around 2 pm. It was really neat to be in service with everyone and then Hannah and I went to the LST class and helped natives speak English through a bible study in the gospels. I always enjoy LST classes because they make me feel useful...yah know, since I am not remotely near bilingual yet. Then after church we went with some other people and the Valdez's to another Feria and ate lunch. It was the most massive pile of meat I have ever seen in my life, and for the most part was good. I mean, I will probably have to work up to the cow utters and cooked blood they were serving!! Then we went and shopped around the fair and made it home in time to watch

the Argentina v. US soccer game.

Monday was Hannah and I's day off and so we decided to go explore the city a

little bit more. In BA, much like Dallas, they have different provinces that are fairly near by. So we hoped on the Subte and went to Plaza

de Mayo which is where all the political buildings are. We saw a lot

of historical things, but the highlight was seeing Casa Rosada, which is where Evita stood for her famous speech....and for us Norte Americanas, where Madonna

stood for the filming of Evita.

Later that night we went to a mall with "the fam" and sa

w Made of Honor. Later, the parents went on a date and we played DDR in the mall. I would like to say, that it was a growing experience for me to do this in such a public place, especially since I am absolutely horrible at DDR.

Yesterday was my birthday and so we got to sleep in and then Hannah and I went to Dulce Fressa, our favorite place, and got a cup of coffee and of course a medialuna. Then we went to a Su Chef type place for lunch with the fam. I am told it is one of the nicest in the country, but basically it was an all you can eat buffet with like 10 different stations with their own chef. So...I would like to say that my food intake resembled that of Thanksgiving, and I do not feel bad about it. Then it was off to work and Hannah and I attended our first Spanish tutoring session and then time for the youth meeting. We made a lot of headway on Friends Day and somehow Hannah and I are not only holding

acting positions in the play, but we are in charge of costumes as well. Hah, we will keep you posted on how all of that goes.

I think that the thing I am learning most right now is how important it is to be welcoming and loving of people exactly where they are. I have always thought of myself as a lover, but then I come here and see such unconditional love and acceptance. More than that, they

challenge each other to be better and to honor God is truly all aspects of their lives. There is no apathy among this church or group of people, everything is done with passion. This in itself is incredible, but I would say that right now I am honored to be a part of it.

Today is a new day with new adventures....I'll keep you posted.

Freshly painted bathrooms y Subte acrobatics?

2008-06-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that by the end of the day I would have been wearing white paint on my hoodie while eating Argentenatta pizza (thanks Spencer) and then doing flips on the subway handle bars.....what a night!

The day started with some fun sight-seeing and two rounds of coffee. Since it was Saturday, we were less busy with cell groups and bible studies, so we decided to go out and see parts of Buenos Aires. Marisa took us to the graveyard which I was not so thrilled about seeing. Well once we got there I was astonished. It was like one of those grave places where its above ground and everyone get put in with their family (surely someone reading this knows what I am talking about). Regardless, it was the place where Evita and many other important Argentinian people were buried. It was so beautiful, every gravesight was a piece of artwork. Not to mention, and I did not think I would ever say this but, it was very peaceful and gave me time to really appreciate both life and death. Creepy I know, but it's true.

After we looked at the gravesight, we also saw a cool sculpture designed by an Italian architect and an old monestary that is still used as a church today. It was beautiful and gave me a moment to spend in awe of God...once again, a moment with the Lord in an unexpected place.

Then Hannah and I came back home and met our new Spanish tutor.....that's right, we have a private tutor. She was so great, and we are really excited about the progress we will make by the end of the summer.

After that we went to the church for the weekly youth meeting/bible study (don't worry, we got lost again, if you are wondering, the count is 10 on amount of times getting lost) and spent about 2 1/2 hours with the youth discussing the two types of wisdom in James 4. I learned a lot tonight about not taking bible time for granted. These people spent over 2 hours discussing a mere 20 verses or less and could have probably stayed for more. It was amazing to see their passion and their dedication to asking challenging questions. They wanted answers, and although nothing was a clear resolution, they were intent on sharing their opinions and learning from one another. I cannot remember the last time I spent that long discussing a short passage. But I do know that we should all strive to be more like that, and to really engulf in scripture.

Needless to say we were tired and hungry after the meeting. Which leads me to the beginning of my post. We went for pizza and to watch the soccer game at Argentinatta with some of the youth. It was a lot of fun to be with people relatively our own age (although I did get called old by a 19 year old) and talk. It was a great end to a wonderful day, including the trip to the bathroom where the guy neglected to tell me that a door was still wet. I could have felt bad about it, except another girl did it right after me. We decided to make it a photo opportunity instead of getting upset.

Then as we were going home, we enjoyed practicing backflips on the subway hand bars. They resemble gymnastic rings, and needless to say, we all had to try. It was a great way to spend a day, and a wonderful group of people to share it with.

Me amo Argentina!

Evita was not the only one who stood on a balcony

2008-06-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day in BA! We spent the better part of the morning inside the house, printing pictures of the church members and preparing to make a bulletin board in the church building. Osvaldo was really funny about the pictures, making sure to include every church member. So, needless to day, we did a lot of printing.

Then we had a lunch visitor, Jorge, Osvaldo's brother. He was a really funny character and we enjoyed sharing lunch with him and trying empanadas. Later Laura taught us how to make them, so we will be sure to bring that back to the states!

Later that evening we had our first medienda, or tea-time. We went to a cute little sandwich place and had cafe con leche y medialunas. Hannah had her second coffee ever in her life, and she loved it. I am so excited to share coffee with her now, as lame as that sounds! We spent a lot of time talking with Laura y Marisa and I feel

like we are really starting to bond with them. I am cherishing the sweet fellowship time, and look forward for more to come.

Last night we had our Spanish speaking cell group, which was in a beautiful house of a church member. It was fun to meet new people, and muc

h to my surprise, I understood a lot of what was being said. Granted most of what people said was followed up by me with a "repiten por favor", but understanding is understanding right? ...no matter how long it takes. We also met a beautiful girl named Paula and she was so much fun to play with. I cannot wait to meet all the church children. And, I look forward to next week when we can attend the cell groups again and really start to build relationships with the people. I think there is somethi

ng to having small group communities, I have already seen the growth it brings among people and how it is enabling church leaders. People here have so many questions about the Christian faith, and with small groups like last night, we can begin to answer them and teach them more effectively.

Here are some pictures of the surrounding architecture. Notice that all of them have balconies, long live Evita eh?

Peace, Love, Argentina.

Secondhand Speedos y El Subte

2008-06-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was a day for interesting moments. We woke up and headed for the church to help with organizing clothes and getting them ready to be donated. Little did we know, that as two very loud American girls out on our own, that we would get lost on the Subte. To our credit, we actually did the right thing, but just did not exit on the right staircase. This may seem minor, but it ended in a 2 mile detour around the city, while looking for the Iglesia de Cristo. After several phone calls to Osvaldo and Maria Laura, asking questions to both a Subte attendant and a Christian book store worker (in fragmented Spanish mind you), we walked back towards the Subte a mile and a half and found the iglesia. Hannah and I are about to tour again, and we can only hope that we can improve from yesterday's exploration.Last night we had a English speaking cell group, which basically means it was a bible study with a bunch of natives who were trying to speak English. Interesting enough though, there was a Polish guy as well as people from Peru and Brazil and Bolivia. It was a really neat time to talk with them and do a study of Mark 6. They were all very sweet and two are in the process of preparing for baptism. I can only hope that we will be blessed enough to witness it. Tonight we have a Spanish speaking cell group, this will be more of a challenge!! Keep praying about our encounters with people, that we will get over our struggle to communicate and really be able to minister to some people. Thank you.

I will leave you with a picture of a secondhand speedo which Hannah and I were so fortunate to find while sorting clothes at the church. Enjoy!

Sanctuario

2008-06-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today was Day one and it started out busy! We got off the plane at 8:20 am and did not leave the airport until 9: 45 am. After having our first experience with customs, we drove with Osvaldo and Marcelo to our new home for two months. We unpacked, met the family, spent some time exploring the neighborhood and ate ice cream at an internet cafe around the corner called Dolce Fressa. Then Maria Laura (M.L. as we call her), stomped us in Mario Party. The afternoon was filled with getting to know the Valdez family and the home we will be a part of for the next two months.

Then later that night I experienced sanctuario (sanctuary) for the first time in two days. The moment happened when we met 12 other Christians at their church in Caballito (the downtown area). They were meeting there to talk about and plan their upcoming "Friends' Day." The event was part of their community outreach and is something that they have been planning for awhile. It was an honor to be invited to the meeting and then to be asked to be a part of it. I may have only understood every 5th word or so, but it was great to be in a community of believers and to be accepted almost instantly. Pato, Mikaela, Marissa, Maria Laura, Natalia, Daniel, Herman, William, Pedro, Juan Carlos are people I look forward to seeing again. With them I found community. When we sang together, in Spanish of course, it was a moment I will always remember because it united us under God.

My prayer is that God continues to use Hannah and I and challenge us to reach beyond ourselves to find him. Thank you for your support and prayers. I look forward to continuing to share with you my journey. Viva la Argentina!!

Eleven Days and counting

2008-05-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hannah and I will be leaving in eleven days for Buenos Aires, Argentina. We are mostly packed, and finishing up our last mission training as I write this. At this point we are just anticipating getting there, and being that Abilene is currently around 90 degrees and BA is 60 degrees, I think that this will be a good way to spend the summer. Hopefully I won't be sitting on the bench next to this guy. Stay tuned and I'll keep you up on my adventures this summer.