We Are All Tabernacles

Wow! This week! One of the longer weeks! I don't know why! But boy am I exhausted!  I think it is because God did so much in my heart, mind, and my feet!  I can't believe I am a few days short of half way through my time till December!  This is crazy! That went so fast!  Anyway I will bullet some of the awesome or not so awesome things this week.

Awesome #1: God has been giving me the desire to read His word.  That is a huge praise alone because before I came here, I was having a HUGE problem with my devotional life and I knew that was bad!  I wanted to WANT or to HAVE TO read His word every day.  It is hard waking up at 5:45 AM with a flashlight every week morning to do so, but a Pastor Johnny Hunt from Woodstock Baptist Church that was here with his pastoral staff shared with us that it is solely discipline.  God has been using that time to share things with me and open up my eyes and heart for things to come!  As an institute, we are following the guideline to read the New Testament before December.  How awesome is it that I get assigned to read the bible???

Awesome #2:  My package is in Argentina and being prepped to send to the WOL office in Buenos Aires!  But a not so awesome part is that they want to tax us for the contents.  The President of Argentina does not allow importation into the country anymore so the government checks every package to see what people are sending.  BUT IT IS HERE!!!!

Awesome #3: The Lord is opening up my heart, not saying YES, but opening up my heart for the idea to finish first year (August-November of 2013).  It is not a yes or no yet, and I am sure He will tell me after I go home and come back in January, just to see what it feels like!  He just has been asking me to surrender my plans of school again so that He has room to work.  A testimony of a student here gave me the thought about how besides the things within close proximity of time, we don't need to plan ANYTHING!  If we are walking in the will of God and pursuing our relationship with Him, and like Matthew 7:7 says to keep asking, seeking and knocking to what He wants for us, His will is going to happen!! We don't need to worry! It may not be revealed WHEN we want it, but He ALWAYS answers prayer!  Being here has made me realize the amount of faith, love, and willingness to surrender we should have in our lives DAILY.  Christ has the willingness to surrender His life.  Not just His life, but the fact that He is the Son of God and didn't have to take on God's wrath, but He surrendered that day and surrendered who He was, just for you.  Just for me.  Isn't that a great feeling?  How can you NOT feel loved?

Awesome #4:  I am so thankful that the Lord got me through another week! Friday afternoon, I had a huge sigh of relief!  I was like "this was a rough week! Pero, esta el fin de semana por fin!" (But, its finally the weekend!)

Not So Awesome #1:  I miss home :/

Prayer Requests:
1. For my UME group (Wed. Night Ministry) and their mission trip to New Jersey in December.  (Prayers for finances, VISA paperwork, and safety)

2. Energy, rest, and answers to prayers.

3. My family back home because I miss them and I have less to get through than I have already experienced but please, so that they will have rest and peace with me being away.

4. That the Lord will work in the hearts of the people that the ministry is reaching this weekend and for the trips to come!

5. Lastly, for my package to get here!!!!!!

Please feel free to message me of any prayers requests that you have and would like me to pray for because I WILL! :)

Spanglish!

    Well, I have finished another week here! 7 more weeks till I come home!  I can't believe it has gone from 12 to 7 so quickly!  But I am enjoying my time SO much here! Days get pretty rough every once in a while!  I just have to keep my head up and look at the end result!
    So all the prayers have been working! God has been so good in helping me learn spanish! I still have a long way to go but this weekend, my spanish just boomed!  People are starting to not talk in english to me, which is great! Makes things harder but definitely is forcing me to use my brain a lot more!  This is so exciting!!! This weekend was a mix of good and bad things.  Had a crying moment today because I didn't get the chance to do my devotion when I normally do (which is what threw me off) and then after church, I was locked out of my room and it was starting to rain (which means temperature is dropping) with just a dress, sweater and heels on.  Had to walk back to the Comedor, vent to Mom, Dave, and Micah over FB chat because I didn't have headphones to Skype, and I had to work.  NO BUENO!  Pero, God used people throughout the day and also spiked my spanish speaking which al together made today much better!
     On a MUCH brighter side, my package made it through Customs and the sorting facility, entonces, el paquite debe ser aquí pronto! (And so, the package should be here soon!)
     This week, we studied The Tabernacle!  Our teacher was a scottish argentine.  Strange mix, but his family is scottish and he was born and raised all the way through college in Argentina and him and his wife now serve in Argentina.  He is an architect and with his wife, they design replicas and displays of things, liked the tabernacle and other things, to show and teach other people.  He is a very nice and intelligent man that was just FULL of information about The Tabernacle!  If you have not had the chance to learn about it, go! Now!  For those who don't know, it is the way that people were able to truly know God before Christ came and died for our sins.  It was a way of repentance, offering, and forgiveness.  There are so many aspects that are explained in multiple places in the bible but primarily in Exodus (Éxodo) and every part is very specific and important.  One thing that really just resonated in my mind and heart was the significance of all the curtains and coverings.  The colors meant something, the amount meant something different, etc.  Now, remember, Christ's death had not occurred yet, and so the ONLY way to God was through the sacrifice of animals and through the high priest entering the holy place.  A curtain stood in front of this special room because like I said, only the high priest could enter once a year and Moses (seeing how he was the one that God instructed to do all of this anyway) could go in whenever he wanted.  So still, that was the only way to God.  Now thinking of us now, the ONLY way to God is through His son Jesus Christ.  He referenced the"veil" that was hung in Herod's temple at the time of the crucifixion was the one that tore.  At the time, the whole high priest rule was still in place but when Christ died, the veil was torn, the veil that stood in the way of getting to God, therefore MAKING A WAY TO GOD.   How cool is that!?!?  I don't know about you, but I am stood with my mouth on the floor with that.  He showed a picture of the high priest standing with the incense used before the veil just flabbergasted at what had just happened.  I guess I just never knew enough about it but am just like AHHH! There are so many more of these kind of things that are like this within the facts, and yes, FACTS about The Tabernacle.  I suggest you all study it!
    Anyway, here we go.  Another week!  I am excited to see what the Lord has for me!  He is still taking care of me, and there are for sure more hard days to come!  So far, I have really enjoyed my time here and can't wait to study the word more!
   Oh! And one more thing....I am starting to speak spanglish and lose proper english grammar. Good or bad??

The Argentine Life

        This week has been quite interesting to say the least! We have had loads of pastors on campus and the church staff from Woodstock Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia here all week and that team has been a blessing in itself!  I almost want to look at the Women's ministry at that church after I graduate from college!  One of the pastors in training came here with his wife of one month and she went all the way through seminary for Women's Ministry and I don't know if God is calling me into that but wow! What an incredible testimony!  Anyway, this week really encouraged me to have a better devotional life and now, for the past three days, I have been getting up a half hour earlier than I usually do to spend my time with the Lord.  Since I can't leave my room until breakfast, I sit on my top bunk with a flashlight to read.  That is the best way that I can be an early riser with my roommates that are sleeping.
This week was the first week that I had an emotional day.  With the mixture of missing home and still recovering from being ill, I had just let go of a lot of held up frustration because here, we are on the go a lot and don't always have time to just sit down and process things.  I love Argentina and I love it here at Word of Life, I guess it's hard sometimes to transfer to a new culture all at once!  Things are very different!  The people are different! What is rude at home may not be here, and I am totally okay with all of that!  It just takes some time to change and get used to it!  Thanks to my mom, I was able to let it all out for her and someones mom sent a package full of home made cookies (therefore I was cheered up quickly with just one!)
Speaking of packages!  I am thankful to know that I am going to be sent one soon!  Now, when I get it, I have no clue!  It may be all the way in January when I get it!  It's not the best process because I also I have to pay to receive it in Buenos Aires :/  I am hoping that God just has His hand over it the whole time and it gets here as soon as possible!  Another international issue, sending mail.  So if you know of anyone who is traveling down here, any time that I am down here, please let me know and I can ask them to bring things with them!  Now I understand why a ton of people asked me for things before I left!  I will definitely be bringing a huge suitcase of food and a suitcase of warmer clothes for the deadly winter awaiting me in May/June/July.  It is starting to get warm here....FINALLY!  I am a Floridian and its been colder here than it is in our winter and its now spring!  And also more days than its cold in the entire year!  No bueno!
So Monday marks a month since I left the United States.  Another huge thing that I have learned to appreciate is my country.  Yes, I get looked at intensely because of that, I am judged automatically because I am American, but at the same time, I am grateful.  Very fortunate for no, not my possessions, no not the food, but the culture.  However, there are downsides to the culture of Americans, absolutely, and I don't want any of you to think that I don't like it here, so understand....I LOVE IT HERE!  I am only missing home and its not like a normal girl leaving for college.  I surrendered my life gladly to a whole new country.  This includes different everything and the need to be willing to be to adapt to anything.  And so here I am.  Living the Argentine life. :)

Sick and Away From Home..

      Everyone here always would say when I first got here that I would really start missing home the first time that I got sick.  And I have now experienced that!  Friday was supposed to be a really good day.  I woke up and went to breakfast like normal, but didn't feel the greatest, and then shook it off and left for a day of evangelism in Buenos Aires.  All day, I was a mess.  I was getting really sick, congested, pressure behind my eyes and forehead, sore throat, uncontrollable sneezing, all the fun stuff.  I had no medication all day and was a few hours away from school.  So finally, we are on our way home, and by that time I am really ready to get back so I can go to the Centro Medico and of course, the bus breaks down!  We wait 45 minutes for the other bus to come get us.  It takes and hour and half to get home.  In that hour and a half, I am wanting to cry, wanting my mom, wanting medicine, and wanting to be in bed!  We finally make it to WOL and I get to the doctor and he gives me meds and tells me to get rest.  I went to go take a hot shower because of my body aching just from being sick and guess what!  There was no hot water :/  So I just went to bed and I slept through the night, woke up, feeling a bit better, but around 4 in the afternoon, after talking to mom and Micah to tell them that I am okay, I am walking back to my room and am not feeling that well again.  My dorm is right next to Centro Medico so I stop in and I had to use Google Translator with the doctor so I could tell him what was going on.  I got up to get some water and felt realllllly flushed.  My hearing was blocked and I quickly felt like I was going to fall over.  After releasing what was in my stomach, he realized that not only was I sick but I was dehydrated!  Lyndee, my counselor, was not there yet, and another nurse comes in with a liquid bag and points to her arm trying to explain what was going to happen and with my little bit of spanish, I asked to wait till she got there so I could figure out everything that was going on!  Lyndee gets there, I tell her what was happened and she explained to me that I was dehydrated and that they needed to put liquids in me through IV.  After three bags of liquid, that I soaked up within 2 hours (which is pretty fast), the concluded that I barely had any liquid in my system.  I felt much better after that, so I went to eat dinner so that I could take my meds and go to bed! Went to bed at 8:45 and didn't wake up till 7:30!  I feel much better today, definitely needed those liquids and now I am drinking lots of water!  Please keep praying so that I can get over this cold and that I regain the strength needed for class, sports, work, and to study!  Here, it's not as easy to get water like it is in the US so thats really why this happened but I am okay! Just keep praying! :)  I have a spanish and bible test over the next two days and need to focus to retain all this information!  But God has been with me the whole time so even though it was a bit scary, I knew that He would take care of me!
     Other than being sick, God has done a lot of other great things this week!  I am LOVING my bible class! It's crazy to see how much I would have loved to have that in high school!  But at the same time, I am thankful for the road He took me through (meaning public schooling).  We went through the book of Efesios (Ephesians) and my teacher titled it Vida de Cristian (Christian Life).  I highly suggest everyone going and reading through the book! It's only 6 chapters and full of information of how to be an imitator of Christ!
    Thank you to all who have been praying!

Reason to Sing

      I am loving Argentina! So much more than I thought I was going to!  These past few days have been wonderful!  On Friday, it was officially the end of Orientation Week so all of our leaders (Lucas, Gabby, Lyndee, and Kristina) took us into the gym until about 11 PM and we played what they called Mufa Pufa.  Now, Mufa Pufa is not just a tie of intense games....people get hurt, and get very competitive! But yes, it was all fun and games!  From running through a cage of string to playing dodgeball with just one ball, the night was a success!  Then Saturday, we had off.  I got to sleep in, run in the morning, eat lunch, take a nap, and then get ready for Bible Club which was girls night!  We were able to have a good reminder of waiting for God's man that He has in store!  So thankful for knowing who that is :)  That night, my roommate, Keila, who is quite famous in Mexico, sang one of the songs from her album which can be purchased on iTunes (search Keila).  She later translated it for us gringas (white girls) and it was a wonderful cansión about THE one.  She is such a blessing to have in my room and she definitely reached many girls last night!
     Today has been a pretty lax day after chapel!  It is a little frustrating to have to have a translater.  I want so badly to just understand this language already!  I have to remember that good things come to those who wait.  PLEASE! PRAYER REQUEST! Please pray for my ability to learn spanish! I begin class on Monday and am more than excited to start learning!  My schedule will be a little more normal this week, which means work will begin soon as well as sports and ministry.  I can't believe this is happening! I am actually at Word of Life.  I am actually in Argentina.  I am actually following God's will for me.
    As I meet more people at the institute, I am getting to tell my story of how I got here.  I keep telling people how I miss home, but I am so comfortable here because I KNOW that God called me here.  When God calls you somewhere and you follow Him, He takes care of you...and it's one of the greatest feelings ever.  Knowing that God is there all the way, putting a pillow under every step.  This is love.  While writing this, I am being encouraged by a song called "Reason to Sing" by All Sons & Daughters.  I truly have a reason to sing.  Even though I don't understand this language to its fullest and it already has been frustrating, God has given me a reason to sing.  He has given me more than enough reasons to sing.  So I will sing. I will sing because He is holding my world in His hands.  God is the reason to sing.

Come to Me

Today was a good day! God has really shown himself! I told Micah that it's like God has been putting a pillow under my feet every step of the way so far! The great thing is is that I KNOW that He will continue to do so until He is finished with me in Argentina.  I am so thankful for all the prayers because I can DEFINITELY feel Him working here and I'm watching Him right before me!  Joe Jordan, the founder of this ministry of Word of Life in Argentina, spoke to us a few days ago.  He said if you are going to be here, then you need to be all here.  I know that the Lord is taking care of everyone and everything at home and whatever his will is, will remain.  So for now, I need and want to be here, 110%!  In my devotional this morning, I was reading in Matthew 11 and the Lord was speaking and talking about coming to Him and finding rest.  Immediately, I remembered a song (uno cansion) that was written from this part of scripture.  "Come to me, I'm all you need, come to me, I'm your everything!  I am your anger in the wind and the rain and I am your steadfast so don't be afraid!.."  So I say to you all reading this back at home, remember that God is always there, WE are the ones who choose to walk away from Him, He is always there and He is all we need and HE is who I am relying on to get through Argentina!

El Primero Semana!

           I AM HERE! I AM FINALLY HERE!  The whole time I was traveling south, I couldn't believe that it was actually time to go!  I am missing home, but I know that will always be a factor in my day to day challenges.  I am starting to think of everything in spanish, even though I have only been here for three days!  God has definitely blessed me with four wonderful roommates!  Debi, who is 21 years old and bilingual (viente y uno años) and she is technically our room leader but definitely a good friend already!  She was born in Mexico and grew up in Argentina so she will help me the most when it comes to learning the Argentine spanish accent.  For all those reading that are not too familiar with the spanish language, just like our language, there are different dialects and accents.  (IE: English is spoken in Florida, Alabama, London, and Canada but they all sound different and are spoken differently---but still are the same language.)  In Argentina, there is a different dialect of spanish compared to Cuba, Puerto Rico y Mexico.  SO you understand. ANYWAY... another roommate of mine is named Keila (bilingual and 19 years old) and she is born and raised in Mexico!  She is a beautiful singer, plays guitar, has a CD on iTunes (so you should all go look her up, type in Keila) and she is absolutely hilarious!  Always bubbly, laughing, heckling the other girls in the room and just fun to have around!  Another girl is Bea (Beatriz) y dies y nuevo años,and she is from Perú! She understands english, speaks a little english, but definitely a sweetheart! And last but not least, Cathy (pronounced Caugh-tee) doesn't speak or understand english, es viente años, but is SO nice and always sweet to me, even though we both need a translator around!
        Last night, they threw a little Welcome party or Bienvenidos fiesta with matte y café para mi! They are so nice and it made me feel really welcome! God is already working here and it is definitely going to be great!