7.03.2009
community.
There is something to be said about community. And I don't mean just a community of believers that share the same values and the same beliefs and loves as us. At church in Athens we are always talking about giving away our lives for our community and the place the Lord has placed us to live. I had no idea what that would look like here in Buenos Aires and it was was one of my main prayers on my heart that the Lord would show me what it looked like to be made empty here. And I thought being made empty would be serving others until I had nothing left to give but along with many other things I have learned, this isn't always true. Sometimes words aren't required, sometimes it's the life people see us living and nothing else but believing the Lord will carry to completion what he has planned for each life. Mom always tells me that our life is our testimony. Mom and dad have been earthly examples of what it looks like to love and to love in abundance. And Dan McIntosh told mom before he passed that I have a gift for gab. So I guess somewhere in the mix of all that the Lord has combined those for chances to be a part of a community here. I don't know if my train of thought is making any sense but hang with me. The other day Meganne and I were walking down the street and passed the owner of the coffee shop where we always go before/ after class. On his own he waved and said hello, knowing exactly who we were. He knows when I go in that I want a coffee with milk, more milk than coffee. Down the road is another place where Meganne, Will, Danielle and I have had a lot of lunches. The waitress knew the other day that I normally order the toasted ham and cheese sandwich. The man at the coffee shop has asked me several times when I am doing a quiet time if I'm writing a love note to someone special. My response, no...well, not really, but yes. He now sees the Bible sitting there and knows what I am doing. In the scriptures we see Jesus loving and witness him apeaking to his disciples. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35)." I am not really sure why I felt like I immediately needed to sit down and think through this idea of community, but I am and now you are part of this thought. Our life is our testimony and our life speaks for what we are living for. Use the gifts you have been given to be intentional with people, to give your life away knowing our reward is not here on earth. Be fearless. Sit in on the hills talking to people. Go out to the places you where you are now and let the people know they are loved deeply regardless of anything the world is telling them. Do this in whatever way we feel we are being called to. I just wonder what would happen if I really believed that Christ is the center of community and all friendships and that nothing is an accident or a coincidence. So I guess my prayer is that together we would really see and experience what it looks like to be the hands and the feet of Jesus and live abundantly in the light he has called us to.
the Lord has a sense of humor.
Ok. I'm going straight to the point on this one.
The rest of our trip has been cancelled. The program is done on Sunday. We come back to the U.S. this week.
Crazy. Huh? I will not analyze this change right now since it's 2:30 in the morning. Me choosing to do that would not be wise. The reason for the change is because of so much fear in Argentina over the swine flu. And this is understandable since they are just now starting their flu season. But to say this is unexpected does not even express how much of a curve ball this is. We are all now trying to figure out how to get home with so many flight changes and how to end our time here. I mentally wasn't ready to say good-bye to this city yet and end our time in this country. But again, the Lord has crazy ways of reminding us of who He is and what little control we have over everything in our world.
So I'll let you know when I'll be home and know that I am grateful I get to see all of your faces a little sooner than expected. But also know the last few days in Buenos Aires are going to be big. I'm not sure in what way yet, but I have no doubt the adventures aren't over yet.
The rest of our trip has been cancelled. The program is done on Sunday. We come back to the U.S. this week.
Crazy. Huh? I will not analyze this change right now since it's 2:30 in the morning. Me choosing to do that would not be wise. The reason for the change is because of so much fear in Argentina over the swine flu. And this is understandable since they are just now starting their flu season. But to say this is unexpected does not even express how much of a curve ball this is. We are all now trying to figure out how to get home with so many flight changes and how to end our time here. I mentally wasn't ready to say good-bye to this city yet and end our time in this country. But again, the Lord has crazy ways of reminding us of who He is and what little control we have over everything in our world.
So I'll let you know when I'll be home and know that I am grateful I get to see all of your faces a little sooner than expected. But also know the last few days in Buenos Aires are going to be big. I'm not sure in what way yet, but I have no doubt the adventures aren't over yet.
off we go to iguazu.
Did you know Iguazu Falls is the 9th wonder of the world? Nope, neither did I.
Last Friday we took of for our 18 hour bus ride to "las cataratas"- the waterfalls. In case you are itching to know about the ride...it's real good. We ate dinner and watched a trillion movies and then slept for a full night. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the switch to tiny seats for the ride home on the plane to Atlanta but I guess we'll find out soon enough. When we got to Puerto Iguazu, the city where our hostel was and where you stay to go to the falls, we walked around the town and explored for a bit. While being world travlers we stumbled upon a sweet little park with swings next to the river. Key thing to mention: you can see Paraguay and Brazil while standing in Argentina from this spot. Three countries in plain sight. Awesome. The next day we got up early to go the park. We coated ourselves in bug spray and started walking through the RAIN FOREST in SOUTH AMERICA. I had to keep reminding myself that this was real and that we are here in another country. Crazy! Our first stop was a ride through the waterfalls. There is a speedboat you can take that literally gets you soaked by taking you right under the falls. We were wet for the rest of the day but it was well worth it! The next stop was to "La Garganta del Diablo" or "the devils throat." I have NEVER seen something so amazing as this. To say they were beautiful is a huge understatement and no picture can do it justice. I hope for all of you that you can add this to a "to-do in life" list and come visit the falls.
It's crazy to think again that our God made this for his own enjoyment and we get to enjoy him through these falls and everything around us. Meganne has learned through this trip that the Lord really speaks to her through nature- very much the same thing I learned through living at the Canyon after freshmen year. His greatness is beyond our measure and through the Falls, the Canyon, the mountains-Christ shows himself in very real ways. And this God of the big is also the God of the small, our God. Just as much as he cares about the big He cares very much for the details of our life. I hope you know how the Lord reaches you and that you are in a continual search of meeting with him and allowing him to take you where he desires to sit with you and speak clearly where you can hear him.
The mist from the Falls is perfect for dancing around in and more picture taking. After we finished our time in the park we went back to the small town for the night. You should also know that Justin, one of the guys on the team, and I chased guniea pigs around the park on our way out. These fat little pigs move real fast. Also, there was the most precious group of kids singing and playing instruments on the way out of the park. They had torn clothes, dirt all over themselves and they had no shoes. Each one of them had a huge smile and seemed so filled with such a child-like and simple joy. These were my favorite faces. I wanted to tell them how deeply they are loved by a great King. These are the kids I wish I could run around in fields with and tell them about Jesus.
On Monday afternoon we got back on the bus to come back to the city and here we are. Again, this trip was packed with laughing and so many funny things were said that I wish I could tell them all to you. But I guess since I can't do that...what happened in Iguazu stayed in Iguazu.
Last Friday we took of for our 18 hour bus ride to "las cataratas"- the waterfalls. In case you are itching to know about the ride...it's real good. We ate dinner and watched a trillion movies and then slept for a full night. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the switch to tiny seats for the ride home on the plane to Atlanta but I guess we'll find out soon enough. When we got to Puerto Iguazu, the city where our hostel was and where you stay to go to the falls, we walked around the town and explored for a bit. While being world travlers we stumbled upon a sweet little park with swings next to the river. Key thing to mention: you can see Paraguay and Brazil while standing in Argentina from this spot. Three countries in plain sight. Awesome. The next day we got up early to go the park. We coated ourselves in bug spray and started walking through the RAIN FOREST in SOUTH AMERICA. I had to keep reminding myself that this was real and that we are here in another country. Crazy! Our first stop was a ride through the waterfalls. There is a speedboat you can take that literally gets you soaked by taking you right under the falls. We were wet for the rest of the day but it was well worth it! The next stop was to "La Garganta del Diablo" or "the devils throat." I have NEVER seen something so amazing as this. To say they were beautiful is a huge understatement and no picture can do it justice. I hope for all of you that you can add this to a "to-do in life" list and come visit the falls.
It's crazy to think again that our God made this for his own enjoyment and we get to enjoy him through these falls and everything around us. Meganne has learned through this trip that the Lord really speaks to her through nature- very much the same thing I learned through living at the Canyon after freshmen year. His greatness is beyond our measure and through the Falls, the Canyon, the mountains-Christ shows himself in very real ways. And this God of the big is also the God of the small, our God. Just as much as he cares about the big He cares very much for the details of our life. I hope you know how the Lord reaches you and that you are in a continual search of meeting with him and allowing him to take you where he desires to sit with you and speak clearly where you can hear him.
The mist from the Falls is perfect for dancing around in and more picture taking. After we finished our time in the park we went back to the small town for the night. You should also know that Justin, one of the guys on the team, and I chased guniea pigs around the park on our way out. These fat little pigs move real fast. Also, there was the most precious group of kids singing and playing instruments on the way out of the park. They had torn clothes, dirt all over themselves and they had no shoes. Each one of them had a huge smile and seemed so filled with such a child-like and simple joy. These were my favorite faces. I wanted to tell them how deeply they are loved by a great King. These are the kids I wish I could run around in fields with and tell them about Jesus.
On Monday afternoon we got back on the bus to come back to the city and here we are. Again, this trip was packed with laughing and so many funny things were said that I wish I could tell them all to you. But I guess since I can't do that...what happened in Iguazu stayed in Iguazu.
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