Hello my sweet followers!
Please, sit back, maybe grab
some water, tea, or mate J
and read the recap of my life the past few months!
We had
planned on going to Chile, but God turned those moments into something much
greater! Two weeks later, we left for Pichi Traful! You all have heard of the
Andes Mountains, right? Well they are mainly in Chile but they end up in South
Argentina and so there we went! Word of Life owns a hotel in the mountains and
even though the drive there is about 20 hours, it was so worth it! The fact
that I was driving through the land that you see in magazine stories,
billboards, textbooks and foreign vacation sights! Most of the drive was flat
plans, but then gradually grew to plateaus (which are super cool, never seen in
real life), rolling hills, and finally beautiful and might I add HUGE mountains
with animals and lakes and one giant mountain with a huge snowcap on it! How
could you drive through there and NOT believe that we have a wonderful maker?
It’s impossible! If you don’t see that, you must be sleeping! We finally reached our destination, got off
the bus, and it literally felt like it was some hidden land that people come to
rest and stay for safety! (Obviously that is not the case but that’s what it
felt like) Our friends from school that
worked at the summer camp there all summer coming running to the bus, everyone
with huge grins our their faces, and just a heart to serve us in these upcoming
days. The days consisted of hiking in
the Andes, visiting beautiful lakes, rivers, and resting sights. Pictures are to come, I am just waiting to get
my computer back! But I was just so happy to be there! Now, at school, its very hard to find a true
“quiet” place to be. In the middle of
the week, the Lord just prompted me to go sit outside, seeing how we were
surrounded by mountains and beauty. I sat
outside and began to pray. I realized
that this was a gift from God because I literally could not hear one thing
move, not even everyone inside! It was
such a blessing! It was a bit chilly so I went back inside and sat by the
fire. We left a week later, drove
through the night, got back to school, washed our clothes and later that night,
ventured on to another unknown land, all in the same day!
The
next stop was Uruguay! What was so funny about the border was that we didn’t
even have to wake up, get checked or anything.
Lucas got up and brought all of our passports, we were checked, and we
made it to Uruguay! Once we started to
wake up, the sun was rising and we made it to Blancarena (white sand), which
was the campground we were going to stay at for the week. So this camp was a little different scenery,
we were at a beach! The water was the river that separates Uruguay and
Argentina (for the most part cause we drove), but it is possible to take a
ferry all the way across! Although, the place we were was surrounded by NOTHING
and NOT ONE PERSON around, and we were at the wide part of the river where you
can’t see Argentina. On Wednesday, we
went into a place called Colonia which you can tell by the name that it is an
older city, where all the old factories of Uruguay were from years ago, the
ports for commercial things and the ferry to go to Argentina, and touristy
things! We did not see much of Uruguay but just being there was nice because it
made me feel like I was at home, the warm sun, the beach, wearing my bathing
suit all day, just simply beautiful J
The last day, we headed to two different beaches, and the second being a huge
tourist and world known landmark (to some people) called Punta Del Este, or
East Point. It’s almost like a Uruguayan
Miami beach type of place. Lots of high
rises, places to eat, shop, walk, and a huge beach! What is unique about this
beach is that there are fingers coming out of the sand, as if someone was
holding the beach and sand in their hand.
It is a big tourist attraction and people pay thousands of dollars to
travel to this place and we just traveled a few hours north for a week to just
chill! We were all just so at ease and
relaxed because of the two weeks we just had!
We got
back to school and started out last week of Spanish class ever! It was a bittersweet thing because yes I am
very excited being the end of the second third of my time in Argentina, but at
the same time, our teacher Laura, she is like our mom, and she has poured SO
much into our lives! We are going to miss seeing her every day and spending the
time! I can’t believe how far we have
come but definitely content and happy where I am!
I had
mentioned earlier that I was going to an orphanage for our week break. Two days before I was supposed to leave, God
said “STOP! Listen! Do not go!” I was not sure exactly what that meant but
after prayer and wisdom from Mom and Micah, I knew I was to stay. My mom had asked me in our conversation “what
is your passion? Because if it’s not to help those kids, then do not go.” I realized that it wasn’t to help the kids! It
was to prepare to translate! Staying here and practicing more Spanish and
translating back and forth, was what I was to do. After I made the decision, I realized that I
would not only be able to work on my Spanish but I would also get the rest I
need before the Institute starts and I get back to the early morning/ late
night schedule, but also I am able to meet with the wife of the church I hope
to do ministry with on the weekends this semester! We have been trying to get together for a long
long time and now we can! I know there
are more things that I will see that confirm my decision but I am very content
and ready to keep going!
So
March 15th had come around, a day to recognize my 19th
year of life and it could not have been better!
It started with on March 14th with my teacher making me a
cake and then that night, after I had finished with my work, I went back to my
room and was not allowed into my room. I
had seen a balloon on the door and just had a big smile on my face! So we brought in the 15th of March
with another great cake and by watching The Vow. That morning, I woke up to a
rainy, cold day, but I was still excited for the day! I got to breakfast and my
boss for work had made banana pancakes for me and the people I work with! Lunch time came around and I had been waiting
for Lucas to come back with my packages because he had gone to Buenos Aires in
the morning. I get a call and he said to
me is normal “I have good news and bad
news…” and then I see him with two packages in one hand. He says to me “Good news, I got your
packages. Bad news, (as he holds up a
Starbucks bag with a muffin in it) the coffee didn’t make it!” I WAS FILLED
WITH JOY! The day was just getting better and better! I now had my lovely
packages and my love from my family back at home! As I was taking things out, Kara comes up
(fellow PBBer) and said “I will take all those for yeah” for all the
decorations for a party. I wanted to
keep everything a surprise so I just told my mind to stop figuring things
out! So some girls and I went to town
that afternoon and got ice cream to celebrate and I get surprised with not just
that, but a dulce and peach waffle, a mocha, AND A COKE LIGHT! I was in heaven! But my stomach was definitely
full! Later on that night, I had a
meeting planned with my counselor, and it ended up being a surprise party with
her and my girlfriends! They were standing in a semi-circle and opened up to
Micah being on skype to be at the party too!
I cried of course, but we just talked and talked and talked, and ate
more cake! I was so happy with the day
and just reminded of how awesome God was to bless me all throughout the
day! Just when I thought the party was
over, the next night, after dinner, while skyping with Micah, a friend from
work comes over and says “can you hang up the phone” very nicely and I looked
over to see that my boss had put together another party with cake and
coffee! I honestly can say that this had
been the best birthday of my life!
Last but definitely not least, I
miss home! Being away for the second
birthday and just being gone for this long, is hard! My family went to the Kari Jobe – Chris
Tomlin concert and I FaceTimed for a little.
When Kari Jobe started singing, I started crying because of how much I
miss home! But then the song “You Are For Me” started playing and with the
chorus, “I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness…” I realized that is was God just reminding me
“Maggie! You are here for me, I am going to take care of you like I have been
from the beginning! Don’t worry! I love
you! You’re learning Spanish! You’re preparing for ministry! Keep going! You
got this! With me!” You would never
believe this, but once I calmed down and kept listening, Kari Jobe started
second verse, but singing it in spanish.
I was just floored. I just knew
god was there and He was just giving me another reason to love Him and feel His
presence….and cry. J
I am just so happy to be here and I
am so thankful for all the love and prayers from back home! I couldn’t do anything without Christ but
also without you all and the support that is evident! So KEEP GOING! WE ARE ALMOST THERE! Thank you
J
Prayer Requests:
1.
The orphanage, kids, even though I'm not there!
2.
My Spanish.
3.
Ministry to be a part of on the weekends.
4.
THE BIBLE INSTITUTE and SPANISH BIBLE CLASSES!
5.
Strength to finish strong!
