Sunday, March 24, 2013

Recap to Preview.


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!

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