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.
6.26.2009
travel.
Hey friends. Today everyone leaves for our free weekend. The big group I'm going with is headed to Iguazu Falls. If you think of it, pray for safe travel for all and coming "home" to Buenos Aires safely on Tuesday. We will be on an 18 hour bus ride both ways and some people are flying. I'm going with Blake, Kasey, Meganne, Anita, Caroline, Justin and Scott (our house brother). And- we will all have huge amounts of time to talk to people. Pray that would be gloriying to the Lord and used as he pleases. I hope y'all are getting ready to have a great weekend and know how much you are loved.
6.24.2009
random pictures you might like.
this is the estancia. lots of perfect land.
this picture is the best. please note this lady's face! she challenged me to eat the orange and then i accidentally spit in her face. this is before i spit at her though...this is just how she feels about the orange from the tree. i fell over in bed multiple times laughing at this...you should too.
the girls of the group with the horses.
kasey and i stuffing our faces with twix bars when we don't know what in the world is happening.
horse feet.
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.
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.
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