Blooming

 

It's been a while since I've updated anything about my life, what God is showing me, how I'm doing and all I have been up to. So, I thought I'd appropriately (and ironically) title this Bloom to show where things are growing since I last shared much. The irony is that for 3 weeks now we've been in Spring and are still having some of the coldest nights yet.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. -Psalm 90:12

In the last few months, we haven't had any teams (the last was in July) and I just found out we won't have any more coming for the rest of my term. It could be really easy to complain and be sad about that, but I'm not going to give that any of my time when there is so much to focus on here.

Knowing that I'm leaving in 3 short months has starting putting pressure on myself...to see results, which is good on the business professional side, but horrible for the disciple side. Yes, I need to work diligently while still here (cf. John 9:4), but I cannot be sure of seeing any results. Doesn't mean they aren't going to happen, it just means God's time scale is different and longer than what I would choose (how often is that the truth?) So I cling to God's great promises, knowing He cannot lie or change, and trust by faith for when my work yields fruit.

The small groups I attend are still going strong. We're almost done with John in Puerto Madero and considering Acts next if the others in the group want to. It's been 5 whole months in 1 gospel. Don't you love how rich God's word is that it alone is sufficient and we don't need prepared studies to be students of Christ?? In La Boca we're awaiting the birth of little Benjamin any day now!! We're no longer in the pizza shop, which isn't a bad thing, but it does put the pressure on finding a place to meet.

That's the short of the working side of my life, if you'll call it that. 

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.  Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. -Isaiah 42:8-11

I have been on 2 great trips in the last month. I will not call either one refreshing because one was physically the hardest thing I think I've ever done in my life, and the other a mental challenge for the weekend. 

I had a week long trip to Peru. And I fell in love. With Peru, just to clarify. The food there is delicious, this much we already know, but the views, the nature.... and Peruvians are just nice people. How could I not love it! I want to go back to see other parts of the country, but it may be a while before that happens. I went with some other company girls to visit the great Machu Picchu and we were blessed! By each others' company, the weather.. in every aspect. (Maybe I'll do a more in depth Peru post about what I did visiting Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu for readers with future ganas de ir a Machu Picchu)

Next, I went to a retreat/camp/meeting for ABA Jovenes which is just like youth group but older for the Argentine Baptist Association. We had it in Córdoba which was a 10 hour fun filled adventure in a bus! (see the sarcasm?) Really it wasn't terrible... with 2 stops driving all night we made it in plenty of time. [Note to Americans, why can't you do a 10 hour road trip with only 2 stops?? I remember going 5 hours to Branson with the youth group and had to stop 4 times to let people go to the bathroom.] We had two really great speakers and they talked about being protagonists in the story (or maybe it was in history.. still not sure). How God is THE protagonist, but as his disciples we too are protagonists in where we are. It was great to hear a Christ centered speaker with a heart for God's word. You could hear his passion in the way he preached, and assuming it wasn't just a camp high, a lot of youth were called by God to commit or a decision of some sort. 

So, why wasn't all this refreshing? I'm not against 10 hour bus drives, it's economical when you have a group. But I felt all weekend long I had on 'Merica cap, without evening intentionally putting it on. It was so clear in the way I skipped dinner to go to bed at 11PM to the fact I came to breakfast first every day expecting to leave on time, that you can take the girl out of America but you cannot take the America out of the girl. I try so hard to adjust but it's hard. Oh and did I mention I got sick with a horrible cold and the pharmacy didn't have the meds I needed? I hope I don't sound like ALL complaints here, because it was a good trip and I am thankful for the way the people looked after me. Not only when I was coughing and chugging 2L of water, but just in the in between. The family of God is good.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:2

A note on me. I'm doing well and still learning a lot. I got to go to a 9Marks conference last week and WOW. If you ever have the chance to listen to them or read their material, please do yourself a favor and do it!! For two nights I sat in with pastors and leaders from all around BA, Argentina, and other South American countries listening to 5 men speak (yep, the conference was in Spanish without translators!) about the Church and Christ and God's word. I left refreshed and challenged which I think is always a good thing. 

I've been doing a Bible Study with the other missionary ladies on my team called the Truth Project. It's a DVD series of 16 weeks I think looking at a Biblical worldview. I highly recommend it, but it isn't easily accessible. You have to complete the series as a "student" to place the order for it as I understand. It's also been a really challenging study to look at every little thing that enters our mind and test it with God's word, and make sure we're not making any assumptions or buying into any either. This study has again strengthened my love for the sufficiency of God's word in our life.

God is still revealing to me areas of my life where I need to let go and change, but I'm telling you it's hard! The process of sanctification is one of the most difficult things because it is showing us our ugly; Our personal sin that we love and don't want to get rid of, but if we're ever going to be like Christ, there is no other way. I'm thankful to God for his mercy and love! That He still pursues me and chasing me, a sinner as I am, knowing my sins past present and future, yet He calls me his own.

Tunesday Tuesday.

I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son, I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three in one!!

I have not been able to get this chorus out of my head. It's called This I Believe (The Creed) which the whole song is not bad to have stuck in your head all day, in my opinion. What do you think?

Tunesday Tuesday.

Oh, Adele. You've got that voice that is just smooth as butter.

I remember when this song came out in college and it was every girl's favorite jam. Thorwing it back to 2011 tonight:

Someone Like You from Adele's album 21.

Tunesday Tuesday.

It's time for another post from my favorite Ben. His new album, Brand New, drops THIS Friday, so be sure to get it!! He released this painfully adorable music video last week of a song off his upcoming album. It's called "Paris" and the melody is just so Ben. Hope you enjoy!

A Week in the Life of...

Sometimes you may wonder what my life actually looks like, or a day, looks like for the typical missionary. Well, there's no easy answer. Mornings are late and nights are later. There is no "schedule" and you never know when plans are going fall through or be canceled - for the 3rd time.

Now after a year and a half in, I have a "routine" but that doesn't mean I'm set in my ways because there is still a lot of flexibility in my schedule!

Sundays, you guessed it, I go to church. I am not assigned to one particular church, but rather when I first arrived was able to visit a number of churches in the city before choosing where I would go. I stayed with Villa Mitre, which is right in the heart of the city. Almost "suburbs" of city apartments if you can imagine. People don't go to Villa Mitre to work, they live there. I hope that makes sense. A lot of Porteños don't even know where the barrio is, so I have to explain more or less streets in the area or give them an idea. THIS CITY IS SO HUGE. . . Anyway, so Sundays there is Sunday school followed by church. The rest of the day I can eat lunch with people, or spend it however I want. The weekend here is people's time to get OUT, not really a napping indoor thing like Baptists at home tend to do ;)

Mondays, I catch up on e-mails, laundry, and grocery shop. I go to a Bible study that is in Recoleta at 5:30, followed by a prayer meeting at 7, then service at 8. I usually get home around 10 and have dinner afterwards. (If I'm lucky it's Crystal's night to cook ;)  This part of town is what they call "old money" and it is evident not only in the buildings, but even in Bible study. People coming in suits, their style of dress.. you just are made aware of where you're at. And It's great, because this part of the city only has 1 Evangelical Baptist church for the 157,932 persons living there.

I pass this flower outside the Law School in Recoleta every Monday coming home.

Tuesdays I spend my afternoon into evening with my good friend, Araceli. We have tea together and study the Bible. I met here in the Monday night study at Recoleta and for over a year we have been meeting.  I used to go to another couple's house for dinner after Araceli's, but the woman's health hasn't been doing well this winter. She and her husband are like my grandparents of BA. Tuesdays are easily one of my favorite days!

Me with Araceli

Wednesdays I have all day to organize with people how I want to. Our Puerto Madero Bible Study happens this night and I leave my house about 7 to get down there and return home around 11. Then it's time for dinner :)

Puerto Madero is prettiest at night and I pass by this landmark pedestrian bridge every week

Thursday we have our bi-weekly team meeting, which I am so thankful for. Thursday night I have my small group with church in Villa Mitre. It's at 8:30 so I go an hour early to discuss the night's material with my co-leader. We finish up and I get home around 10:30, usually. Then, as you can imagine.. I eat dinner.

My small group has become like a small family to me. This was for my birthday.

Friday I try to attend a Bible study in La Boca that my boss and his wife have been leading for about 3 or maybe more years now. We meet in a pizzeria at 6:30 when the sun goes down and shops start to close up in the famous Caminito district of the barrio. There we sing worship songs and study the Word for a few hours before riding back home together.

Thousands of tourists pass through Caminito "the little street" daily

Saturdays are, obviously, one of the better days for getting to meet up with people in the city, if there isn't a special event or activity planned with a church. Every Saturday night I try to go to youth group here, which is not intended for high schoolers necessarily, but more 16-30 year olds. People studying, people working; anyone is welcome. Until you marry and have kids..... then you're pretty much out of the group.  Again, this is like at 7-8 start time, and finishes around 10 or so. Sometimes you eat there with friends. Otherwise dinner is on your own.

So, there you have my week, more or less; and no two are ever the same. I adore this city and the people and God is welcome to change any of the above if it is necessary for bringing His name more glory in mi Buenos Aires querido.

An Open Prayer to the Future Hubs.

My mind often wanders to some of the strangest things late night on the colectivos (buses) that bring me home. Tonight in particular, I was not distracted per say, but let's just call it like it is: there were good looking men on the bus. This is Argentina, after all.

So how do I appreciate God's good creation in a fine looking man? Well, I thank God for his creation (no, seriously) but what it really draws me to do is pray for my future husband, God willing I have one. Because while on the outside this man may be good looking, I know nothing about his heart, which is where the wellspring of life flows from (Proverbs 4:23).

There are so many ways to pray for my future husband, right? I mean SO many ways. And that's before even knowing him. Lord help me when I have character and real issues to intercede on behalf of! Tonight though, I thought it would be a good idea to pray for the armor of God. I know it's something in theory we put on everyday, but I thought, how could I specifically apply all of these to him?

Ephesians 6:11-17 we specifically find the armor, as stated:

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

So, amidst several things I seek, I think this passage gives great insight not only into how we can pray, but also what God wants for every one of his children.

The belt of truth. His Word is truth and by it we are sanctified, being made new. Does he know truth, that we mutually agree on?
The breastplate of righteousness. Does he leak Jesus? I know I don't always leak Jesus, and I can't expect him to 100% of the time because we're not perfect, but by God's grace and power of the Holy Spirit, we are made righteous by the blood of Christ Jesus. This I pray for my future husband.
The shoes (...) that put on the readiness by the gospel of peace. Is he willing and ready to always give a reason for the hope that he has? Can he challenge me and push me to be a better witness.
The shield of faith. Will he lead me and our household as Christ does the Church? When hard times and things of this world come our way, can he hold up this shield and say "our faith will not be shaken" because we have a firm foundation.
The helmet of salvation. Oh Lord, does he know you, today? If not, bring him now to your presence so he can grow in knowledge and wisdom. This helmet guards the most central part which cannot be taken away from us.
The sword of the Spirit. Does he know the Word, love the Word? It is sharper than any double edged sword because it cuts straight to the heart. I want him to have a hunger for it and it to constantly be on his lips.

There you have it. I new way to spiritually lift up my husband, Lord willing. Like I said, today there is so much more that needs to be taken into account. I've never been super animada about the idea of praying for a future husband, because - in case you missed it - it sounds presumptuous (hence all the "Lord willing's").  But, Lord willing [there it is again... I just can't!] He brings a man into my life, I don't want to say I never prayed for him. Given the way our world is today, young men could really use all the prayer they could against the things of this world... girls and the media aren't helping young guys, at all. Let's help a brother out.

Xo,
B

5 mos. and counting

It's been a long time since I've written and there's a few reasons for that.

1. I've been busy with teams, and until now my life hadn't returned to normalcy.
2. I, as per usual, didn't know what to say. I don't like writing a lot unless I am sure of what I'm saying. To get on my blog and just write about how I went to Fulana's to make tacos doesn't seem profitable to anyone. I feel like I need to have a passion to write something (ha, I almost wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit. I am not writing the 5th gospel).

Now that it's mid-August, the summer teams have all come and gone and yet I'm looking at my calendar, with only 5 months left until my return home. Unbelievable.

Something I've been confronting lately is this reality and struggle we have when we desire so much more for people and all we can do is pray for them. And wait.

There is a specific group I have in mind and we have had so many great discussions, but arrive at different conclusions. Life is often like that isn't it? We want more - the best - for people, who reject it for themselves.

I have faith, and pray to God who can make all things happen that there will be a day when they will have understanding and their eyes will be open to the things we are discussing now, but until then, it is so hard.  To wait, and trust in His timing is so difficult.

Especially when there's a 5 month countdown.

So, in the meantime, I've been finding my prayers more fervent (why now more than before.. good question. Eternity has always been at stake since day 1). Asking God that even if I don't see anything change from now until the I leave, that for their sake the seeds we have sown would continue to grow and through other means and the work of the Holy Spirit, bear fruit in one day yet to come.

My heart is heavy knowing that a day is coming will I leave leave from here to head home. Maybe I didn't do all that I expected to do. Were my expectations too high? My supervisors or the job description too high for me? I'm not sure.  But I'm taking great comfort in knowing I don't accomplish anything on my own nor in my own power. For it is all by the work of He who goes before and He who will also bring it to completion.