this is like playing a game.

Tonight Holly and I went for a run around the neighborhood here in the city and it was like trying to dodge bullets with all the people and the cars whizzing past us. We get stares when we go running because we have decided people from Argentina only exercise on Sundays. Every other day of the week we never see anyone out running and then all of a sudden they all run marathons (maybe a slight exaggeration) on Sundays mornings.

I haven't told you about our trip to the Estancia on Sunday so I'll do that now. The group left on Sunday morning and drove a couple of hours to an estancia (a farm) where we walked around the small town of San Antonio, Argentina. Then we went back to the farm and had a huge lunch they had prepared for us and then they did a big dancing show for us. This was by far the best meat we had eaten while we have been here. After we ate we watched the gauchos do a horse show and then we got to ride the horses! I feel so grateful to have had the chance to ride my first horses in back-to-back weekends. While we were on the horses we passed a huge cow and its baby calf. While we were in this silly little town the tour guide kept looking directly at me and Kasey and asking us if we understood what she was saying. A- we were not paying attention and B- she was talking WAY too fast. We decided the way we feel is like the feeling of those Twix commercials when someone asks a question and you realize you need a moment and stuff your face with a Twix to avoid answering the question. I don't know if this makes any sense but we are going to make the commercial and then I'll show you. But believe me, it's so frustrating to not understand and look like a deer in the head-lights when they say "me entiendes"- "do you understand me?" We laughed like crazy on this trip...but we pretty much do that every day all day.

Today was the second day of work at the new place. Meganne and I have the same feelings towards this job. I was translating a "sample only" worksheet from English to Spanish and Meganne was counting the words in a paper for a writing competition. We talked to our professors today in our group meeting and it ended up being very frustrating. I feel like I have limited room to say anything given the quick change from the hospital but we both want to be used and feel useful in the work that we are doing and be able to speak the language. I was thinking this morning of the verse from Philippians 2:14 that says "Do EVERYTHING without whining or complaining...". This verse is so simple yet so hard to apply and requires everything be put in trusting His plan. I remember reading through Philippians last summer with the internship and realizing this verse doesn't just apply to outwardly expressing that we are ok but requires that we not be arguing with God inside, too. There is nothing wrong with asking why and being frustrated and seeking Him in that but when we start to whine and complain and lose sight of our purpose for being in that position, it's like telling the Lord his plan isn't good enough and not believing he has a very specific purpose for our being in very specific places. Pray that Meganne and I would be holding each other up in this and really seeking for why we are there. As a friend reminded me the other day, maybe I'm there simply because God is showing me what He does NOT have planned for me in the future. If this is the reason, then it's perfect and I don't doubt his presence in this.

We had our 3rd tango lesson tonight. We dance the tango like professionals...not really. But before tango Meganne and I went to grab coffee together and decompress from our meeting and as always...laugh! We have become locals at a couple of places next to the school and they have the best cafes con leche and a tasty lemon cake. I can't really explain to you how grateful I am to have Meganne as my roommate this summer. If you don't know her now, you will meet her ASAP when we get back. Again at dinner tonight our other house brother (Leandro) mentioned the orange hair story from last week. We cracked up laughing again and were excited we had cracked the tough egg and that he thinks we are funny.

Here's another verse Rae just read to me. Again, seemingly simple, but always a reminder of where the Lord wants our hearts when we are working. 1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I love you guys.