Feliz Aniversario, Buenos Aires.

Today marks one year since I arrive in BA and what a year it has been. There's too much to write about but I went back and picked some of the top pictures from the year for me. I tried not to overlap with my 2014 review blogpost. God taught me so much about myself this past year that sometimes I wonder why God had to bring my 5,000 miles away just to teach me such and such lesson. But through it all is it unwavering faithfulness. His love is manifested through my brothers and sisters in Christ here in Buenos Aires, this melting pot of nations with believers from nations from all over the world.

Deuteronomy 20:4 "For the Lord your God is the who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

I remember the first time I went up on a neighbor's roof and had a 360 view of the city, from the heart of the city. Overwhelmed by the numbers of apartments and people who live in them.

Typical paro, or strike/demonstration, blocking access to the largest street in the city, 9 de Julio. Currently happening today.

The first Sunday I went to San Telmo I was captivated by the street music and flair for this oldest part of town.

I will never forget my 25th birthday. 

Villa 20, or slum 20, where hundreds of people live in the corner of the city. We went in here when partnering with a church in July 2014.

Alfajores that I made in my cooking class with Norma. Though I don't like alfajores, these I can down a few :)

Celebrating the World Cup final 4! Watched the game at the Baggetts then went down to the Obelisco.

This gorgeous Cathedral is in La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires

With my dad and Dick, at one of my most memorable nights here, our tea at Araceli's during my parents visit to Argentina

My team, all 25 and counting of us. We live life together, and in this moment were waiting to find out if Audrey was going to have a boy or girl! So thankful for whom God has placed me with during this time.

Tunesday Tuesday.

This Tuesday is ALSO my one year anniversary in country. YEAH! So I was thinking the other day about this year and how everything I do, my successes and victories, my failures and mistakes.. everything comes back to Him. HE is the answer. So... I thought a little Shane and Shane was appropriate for this one.

Tunesday Tuesday.

I really like Christ August's music. What I like about it even more is that he and Ben (see last week's post) are friends and write together from time to time. :) Tonight this song came up on my shuffle and I was excited because a) it was Tuesday and b) I needed to hear it.

"Center of It" is its name and the line "When it feels like the doors are closin', Gotta trust that you're doin' somethin'" played, I had to start the song over. I've had to constantly remind myself lately that nothing I do here is for my glory and I can do nothing on my own, without the help of the Holy Spirit. So, this line was really encouraging to be reminded that even if in fact doors are closing in my face, I can trust that the Lord is intending it for good and that years later, something will come of it even if I don't see it now.

This song really is about God's faithfulness. Which is pretty much my favorite thing about Him ever.

I'm going to bed with a happy heart, a thankful heart, and a super encouraged heart from all the prayers that I know people have specifically been praying for me in these last few weeks. They mean the world to me. Without them, I'd be a wreck.

Xo,

B

Tunesday Tuesday.

Tonight, it's a favorite artist track. In honor of the Compadres Tour about to start, that I could literally cry on cue for, I'm playing this appropriate Ben (Rector) song, Sailboat.

I could write you an essay about why ben is the best and how much I love ben, but I'll spare you those details. If you're in the States, do yourself, and ME, a favor and PLEASE GO SUPPORT BEN and NEEDTOBREATHE ON THEIR TOUR. If you think that caps lock means people are yelling at you then good, take it as yelling.

Sorry about the blonde in the video, it's the best one I could find out there on it.

"Night after night there's an empty horizon
My God, do I feel so alone
Sometimes life, most times I, feel just like a sailboat"

Hanging.

If you got my last update, you saw me write a lot about discouragement. It was an over-hanging feeling all month long and wasn't just a one time feeling. It was the accumulation of different people [what felt like] constantly cancelling on me. Bailing. Leaving me hanging.

Now in the middle of all this, I had a great friend who was trying to be so encouraging and telling me, "I just thank God when people cancel because it means I can spend my time reading!" which is true, but when I have finished 6 books in a month, you know something's gotta give.

So tonight I was just so wrapped up in the thought that God knows in the moment I make plans with people, that those plans are going to fail.

Then I was taken to an even scarier thought.

All those times I leave God waiting for me.

He is always there, ready with an open ear wanting me to come to give me everything. Wanting to hear my concerns, my heartache, my joys, my all. Yet how often do I rush my time with him in the morning or cut short my time with him in the nights because of somewhere I have to be, or I'm too tired.

Yet sadly those are the exact same responses people give me when I'm looking forward to my plans with them in the week and then the day of when I go to confirm, they tell me they can't meet.

But our Heavenly Father, everlasting and good, is just waiting for us to go to him. And he hears us. He isn't a god that we have to fast, sacrifice, or work our way to. He has already made a way to be near to us.

I'm so thankful for Jesus and the Father never hanging up on me. Never giving up on me. Never ignoring me when I ignore him.

Psalm 40 starts off with, "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock." (vv. 1-2)

MUD and MIRE. SLIMY PITS, people! It's in the Bible. But that's what my sin is and if God can look past that and still give an ear to me, than I suppose I can take heart and not be so dis-couraged when people cancel or don't make plans for the week.

Yes, it makes relationships a little more difficult, but nobody said it was easy... [cue the Coldplay music]

Xo, B