As of a few days ago, a week before my scheduled flight date, the real countdown began. Everything became "My last (fill in the blank)." Well, on my last Wednesday, there happened to be a bus strike. Here, almost everyone gets around my bus, so a bus strike really stops the whole city. That means all of the ministries on our most packed day were cancelled. Thursday, we went to Los Galpones when I remembered that we had an event all day on Saturday. That meant I would not be able to see and say goodbye to most of the kids, and I would not be able to go to La Favela to say bye to the children there either. Friday, plans to visit a nearby city were pushed back to Monday. We visited a couple's house/bakery instead, where we ate plenty of desserts, watched a movie, had asado, and walked around the town. It was a reallyyy nice time. One of the best times I have had in Argentina. That night, we found out that another ministry was cancelled.
On Saturday, there was a sort of conference at our church. It was a blast. Worship down here is the best because the congregation is actually HYPE! They jump and dance and worship in such tight community which is why churches gather all together on Sunday (the community). The speakers were great, too. Then, like all Saturday and Sunday nights, the young adults gathered and hung out afterwards (they always hang out until two or three in the morning). I cannot describe how lovely it is to spend time with that group. They are so much fun, so welcoming, and so in love with Jesus! Plus, we had the most delicious choripan haha.
Sunday, we had the chance to have lunch at one of our friend's house. Unfortunately, we got pretty lost on one of the coldest days I have been here, taking us more than twice as long as it should have taken us to get there. Regardless, the (late) lunch was so lovely. The hangout after church (have I mentioned the church services are also held at night here? I love it!) was wonderful as well. Great conversations and moments shared with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Although my last week has been filled with cancelled plans meaning cancelled goodbyes, I am still grateful for every moment I have had. I am grateful that I have been as urgent as I think I could have been to share the truth and Gospel with the people here so that I am not left with any regrets. I am also grateful for these last few days where I will have the chance to spend time with and say goodbye to my closest friends.
I really wanted to write a blog on Wednesday to ask for prayer for health. I had been feeling really sick, and it was having a really negative affect on me. I also wanted to ask for prayer because I was asked to share the morning devotional on Thursday in Spanish, and I was feeling pretty unsure about that. BUT I ended up spilling tea on the computer and it would not turn on, so I was going to try to use my phone to finish the blog and ask prayer for that, too. What can I say? Plans changed. Glory to God, I have been finally getting much better, my morning devotional was understood by everyone, and I am currently typing on my slightly sticky computer keyboard! I would still genuinely appreciate prayers for complete healing from whatever cold I have and prayers for me to enjoy my last few days here!! Thank you everyone who is still keeping up with my blogs or maybe you are reading this two months after I come back, but thank you for taking the time to read this (especially since this one is so long!). I still have a few more coming your way, so don't remove this link from your bookmarks quite yet ;)
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Big Time Difference
As I am coming very close to the end of my mission this Summer (eight days left!), I have recently noticed that there is a bigger time difference between the US and Argentina than I realized. When I told countless friends and family that I was going on a missions trip in another country for two months, I remember everyone thinking it was such a long time. But here, everyone keeps telling me how short my time is.
One thing I have learned here is that truly learning a culture takes years. Truly learning a language takes even longer. (But is culture a part of language or is language a part of culture? Oooh.) People need to stop think we are so internationally-minded because they have been to other countries. The world really is so diverse. I was not planning on writing this, but I feel called to say, do you ever think about how vast the knowledge of this world is? For example, there is no way that one person could know about all of the cultures there are in the world. Do you ever think about how limited our brains are that we have to spend years to obtain X number of degrees in one specific area? And then after you have spent all those years studying that, there are still hundreds of other topics to study and/or learn? Or how about spending your whole life learning how to play an instrument or even five instruments, only to face the reality that there are thousands of instruments to be played? Our human brains are so little and incapable compared to the Almighty God.
Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
One thing I have learned here is that truly learning a culture takes years. Truly learning a language takes even longer. (But is culture a part of language or is language a part of culture? Oooh.) People need to stop think we are so internationally-minded because they have been to other countries. The world really is so diverse. I was not planning on writing this, but I feel called to say, do you ever think about how vast the knowledge of this world is? For example, there is no way that one person could know about all of the cultures there are in the world. Do you ever think about how limited our brains are that we have to spend years to obtain X number of degrees in one specific area? And then after you have spent all those years studying that, there are still hundreds of other topics to study and/or learn? Or how about spending your whole life learning how to play an instrument or even five instruments, only to face the reality that there are thousands of instruments to be played? Our human brains are so little and incapable compared to the Almighty God.
Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Shots Fired
For the past few weeks, CFCI has been visiting a new shanty town on Saturdays called La Favela. A few of our volunteers go there while the rest (the majority) go to Los Galpones. When I was elected to go to La Favela a few weeks back, I really enjoyed it. The kids are much different there. They are much less violent and impatient, which makes it much easier to communicate with them. I started asking to go back (especially since we finish earlier and still get to go to Los Galpones).
Even though the kids seem to have less physical needs, I still see their spiritual deprivation and desperation. I see that some of them hate God. I see that some of them hate each other. I wish I could stay longer to keep reaching out to them and to see how God works in their lives, but I know that God is calling me back to the States for now. As I believe I have mentioned in one of my previous blogs, I have been considering taking this next year off from school to start working with my family with a new insurance agency. After weeks of prayer, I have officially decided that I will be staying home this upcoming year.
Yesterday, the plans in Los Galpones were to watch a movie called Joseph, the King of Dreams. The kids were so excited to see it. To be honest, I was really worried about someone stealing the equipment while we were there, especially since we told them ahead of time that we would be playing a movie. I was told that when our group arrived, nobody was outside. They said it was very strange, but they proceeded regardless. I was told that the children eventually came and were so thrilled to watch the movie. "This is just like in the movie theaters!", they said. Even the most rambunctious of children were telling the others to stay quiet during the movie. While I was in La Favela, one of the leaders from the other church that was working there said that we had to get going earlier than usual.
I remember my first time in Los Galpones when I was washing dishes and this loud clash hit the outside of the house. I remember thinking it was a gunshot, but I was not scared because nobody reacted. Someone then explained that it was only a rock and that that was common. Yesterday while watching the movie, the same type of event occurred, except this time, two of the leaders ran into the house, told everyone to get on the ground, and closed the door. Apparently, there was a shoot-out. The supposed rock that hit the window was actually a bullet. With children being held and watching the movie just on the other side, we were even more grateful that God had protected us. While talking to one of my friends who was there, she told me that she was not scared. She then recited one of the three verses she knows in English.
Philippians 1:21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
This verse is one of my favorites. It says that my life is not mine. Because Christ gave His life for me, I give my life to Him in gratitude. All I want to do is be more like Him and worship Him. That is why to die is gain. In Heaven, we sin no more. In Heaven, all we do is worship our Creator and Savior. I know God has a purpose for me to be on this Earth right now, but I cannot wait for the day when I am reunited with Him face to face. I am not afraid to go back to Los Galpones. In fact, I eagerly look forward to it. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Even though the kids seem to have less physical needs, I still see their spiritual deprivation and desperation. I see that some of them hate God. I see that some of them hate each other. I wish I could stay longer to keep reaching out to them and to see how God works in their lives, but I know that God is calling me back to the States for now. As I believe I have mentioned in one of my previous blogs, I have been considering taking this next year off from school to start working with my family with a new insurance agency. After weeks of prayer, I have officially decided that I will be staying home this upcoming year.
Yesterday, the plans in Los Galpones were to watch a movie called Joseph, the King of Dreams. The kids were so excited to see it. To be honest, I was really worried about someone stealing the equipment while we were there, especially since we told them ahead of time that we would be playing a movie. I was told that when our group arrived, nobody was outside. They said it was very strange, but they proceeded regardless. I was told that the children eventually came and were so thrilled to watch the movie. "This is just like in the movie theaters!", they said. Even the most rambunctious of children were telling the others to stay quiet during the movie. While I was in La Favela, one of the leaders from the other church that was working there said that we had to get going earlier than usual.
I remember my first time in Los Galpones when I was washing dishes and this loud clash hit the outside of the house. I remember thinking it was a gunshot, but I was not scared because nobody reacted. Someone then explained that it was only a rock and that that was common. Yesterday while watching the movie, the same type of event occurred, except this time, two of the leaders ran into the house, told everyone to get on the ground, and closed the door. Apparently, there was a shoot-out. The supposed rock that hit the window was actually a bullet. With children being held and watching the movie just on the other side, we were even more grateful that God had protected us. While talking to one of my friends who was there, she told me that she was not scared. She then recited one of the three verses she knows in English.
Philippians 1:21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
This verse is one of my favorites. It says that my life is not mine. Because Christ gave His life for me, I give my life to Him in gratitude. All I want to do is be more like Him and worship Him. That is why to die is gain. In Heaven, we sin no more. In Heaven, all we do is worship our Creator and Savior. I know God has a purpose for me to be on this Earth right now, but I cannot wait for the day when I am reunited with Him face to face. I am not afraid to go back to Los Galpones. In fact, I eagerly look forward to it. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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