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.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Better or Butter......Rubbed or Robbed?
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
O yeah Bu-que-bus...everyone move to the Busque Bus!
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.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Fotos de este semana pasada
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!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Te amo BA
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
"Da una sonrisa mas"
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 worl
d 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 sh
e 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.
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