(As You) Go - My Vacation to the Falls.

So a few weeks ago I had the great joy of taking vacation to Iguazu Falls. Have you heard of it? Maybe you've seen my pictures?

 

There, that's the falls. As seen from the Brazil side. I thought "seen one set of 'falls' seen 'em all, right? WRONG. Niagara falls has NOTHING on Iguazu. Below: Niagara 

Niagara. Not impressive, I know.

 I'll post more photos of Iguazu, I promise, but this post (really) isn't about the beauty of the falls. 

It's about how even on our vacation, God used my teammate and I to share His truth with Argentine nationals and teach us about this culture we still know so little of.

First, meet Gabriel. This is his Spanish name. He has two other names, I think, one in Guarani which is a tribal name, and then another, in Bu'ah which was a dialect of Guarani. Incredible.

Gabriel was born in the jungle. Just like this picture above shows, he is a natural at building traps. He started going to national schools at 11 years old, and that's when he started learning Spanish. An Argentine, that didn't know Spanish until he was 11 years old! Culture is so rich if you're willing to listen.

Anyway. Gabriel lives with his wife and three kids in a small home with a little bit of electricity (he just doesn't like it; he wasn't raised with it). One weekend per month he comes to this school in the jungle to teach about 100 children the ways and heritage of the Guarani so that the kids don't get any half-truths from the national schools.

Along our jungle tour, Gabriel told us that his father was a Shaman. This was really interesting to me for several reasons. In college, I did my capstone project over shamanism. When you confront that in real life with your beliefs and knowing truth, it is a strong dissonance. 

Then there was the fact that I hear about these tribes, and people who are animistic and often are associated with Brazil and Peru, but Argentina? My mind so often drifts to Buenos Aires -- which is anything but tribal. The diversity here is real and my heart longs for them, and for once, I understood and if even for only a fraction, felt like I knew what it felt like for the people working with the Unreached, unengaged people groups all around the world. And that's not even to say that all UUPGs are animistic.

When we started talking to Gabriel about the afterlife, I was curious if he had a spirit, where would it go? He told me we all have a good and bad spirit.  With all due respect, I asked if they were little angels and devils sitting on our shoulders. He laughed and told me no, that they come from the earth and heaven when we're born and then return to where they came from when we die. That simple. 

My friend had to ask him then, where did he learn this? He told us his father, who learned it from his father, and so forth. But there are no books with anything written. Because their language (bu'ah, remember?) is not a written language, it's only spoken.

Oh, how I pray for the Holy Spirit to just open his eyes! Truly, I saw Romans 1:20-23 played out in that very moment. Gabriel chose to give credit the things of God, to things of the gods. 

Yet how often is my sin so similar; choosing to give the credit of things of God to credit of man.

Ruth and I left with him an opportunity to know the cross and he unfortunately never wanted to hear it, and we didn't see him the next few days because our schedule had us out all day. If you think about him, or right now, please pray for Gabriel, that his eyes would be open to Creator God. That God would continue to be merciful in sending people to share truth with him and that he would not reject the beauty that is so evident around him.

my super fun travel partner for the week!

Ok, so you've heard one story of how God moved in my heart teaching or showing me something, but there's more. Enter day 3 of our trip and we're heading to the Argentine side of the falls and up drives this guy is in an unmarked car wanting to give us a ride. Uhhh, no thanks. He circles around. Says he'll do it for the same price as the bus. I see on his window it says "Cristo me guia" or, Christ guides me.  Well that must make everything better! (at this point you probably think we're writing the script for Taken 4, but I assure you, it's okay!)

Ruth and I talk it over and I get in, and before she gets in and shuts the door, she takes one last look at the lisence plate number (how's THAT for contingency training?!?) and we're off to the falls! Our driver's name is Miguel, and he's young, and I quickly ask him what the sticker across his windshield means to him.

"Oooh, that means everything to me." He assures us. He quickly hands us a really old, used Bible and hymnal that was up on the dashboard that I had noticed right after we got in the car. After looking over the Bible, I realized the pages were missing from Genesis 1-4. The pages were a yellow/brown. I had a feeling this had been in the family for a while. He told us he was evangelical, Betuel [note to self: still need to look them up. Every Argentine in BA has not heard of this sect/congregation...]. I mentioned to him our experience with Gabriel and said "so animism must be normal here by the jungle?" and his response?? No, we're about 85% evangelicals in Iguazu. 

Now, Buenos Aires is about 2% evangelical, reached of the 14 million. I cannot fathom this little city being that reached. I didn't see one church! Ruth and I eyed each other in the back seat with a smile to keep from gasping, I think. So, appropriating, she led the next question to explain his relationship with Christ. He talked about how he was raised in the church, going since he was a child with his parents and grandparents, but not once was the word S I N mentioned.

We thanked him for the ride and had his information for the next day to go to the airport. This is where it gets good.

The next morning Miguel came to pick us up with his girlfriend to take us to the airport. We didn't have too much for conversation until on the way to get gas he tells us they saw a snake coming to get us and showed us the picture they took of it. 

I think both Ruth and I were both thinking about how the conversation ended the day before, and wanting to know how to get back to it. Suddenly Ruth asked them if they'd ever heard of the story in the Bible about the snake in the garden. They said no.

This is a 21 year old boy who was raised in an evangelical home driving around with his "Cristo me guia" sticker and Bible in the dashboard and didn't know who the snake in the garden was....SAY WHAT??

So Ruth ever-so-kindly tells them that I'm going to share a story. I went through Genesis 3 with them all the way to the airport, and the whole time, Miguel's eyes were looking back into the rearview mirror. When I explained the moment she picked and ate the fruit, sin entered the world, you know what verse he referenced sin with?? Not Romans 3:23. Not 6:23. Not even 5:8

John 8:7.

But. It was so great to share with him that from that moment, God had a plan for redemption, that the seed of woman, Jesus Christ, would crush the head of the serpent and forever have power over death.

Miguel asked us where to find this story and we said, Genesis 3. Just chapter 3? Genesis 3, God's word, that's it, we told him. Not my word's but His. Remember how I told you that Bible on his dashboard was torn and didn't start until Genesis 5? I pray he and his girlfriend went home and read it and sought truth for themselves.

I am continually seeing how the truth God showed to me from 2 Kings 22 keeps coming around, the importance of the Law, and teaching it to those around us, to your children. This boy who claims to be an evangelical didn't know the story of the garden, of sin. We have to read God's word to know God's word. To know Him.

I think I've written enough here. I just wanted to share about some of the awesome ways God allowed me to be apart of the work and people's live in the part of the country. I could share about Alex the German, but that's just your typical post-modern worldview, and sadly there's so many of those around I feel like there all the same... though I know every person's story is different. Like Alex, who was in town to see Haussentauten. The DeadPANTS. Not DeadPANS. Better to say DeadTROUSERS so someone doesn't misunderstand you. Which can happen in German. If you say Haussentouten it means DeadHARES, like dead rabbits or something, and that's just sad.

Ok really I'm just rambling now. Here are some pictures of this BEAUTIFUL world wonder!!

Enjoy! xo 

so much water

garganta del diablo

rainbow

25 in 25.

I'm just gonna give it to you straight: this year had a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes I wonder if God really just wanted to bring me to Argentina to prove a point to me because I'm that stubborn or what. However, here are some of the things I never would have learned in the States, starting with #1...

1. Not applying heat to your hair for one year with a blow dryer or flat iron can do amazing things. I don't have any split ends!! Let's not talk about white hairs though...
2. A Godly person does not automatically make them a Godly leader. This one was hard to learn but I'm so glad I learned it sooner in this setting rather than later.
3. I really miss Dr. Pepper.
4. I've learned to cook things and with things I didn't know were possible. Red Velvet Cake without cream cheese or red dye? Sure, no problem......
5. I've learned what a woman's role in the relationship looks like, in a Godly submissive way. Let me explain a little.  It really was eye-opening because I've always thought that to be submissive was so 1950's, but when I actually studied the Word and how God designed relationships and the Church and Christ, I see how perfect and complimentary it is. I see it modeled with the ladies and families on my team and I am so thankful for this example now.
6. My selfishness and pride is at the center of all my sin, and God's grace and mercy are greater than said sin. Yep, still learning that.
7. Argentines are passionate when they love someone. So when they like you, then reallllly like you, and you're in great company. When they don't like you, well... you just kind of know.
8. The Church has so many problems, and will continue with problems, because it's full of sinners just like me. And I can't fix a church or its people, only Jesus can. This is a burden and relief. Mainly a prayer, than Jesus would be the center of the church, and that the people would believe that.
9.  Hebrews is the coolest book of the Bible. It just screams the gospel and glory of Jesus Christ from Old Testament to His resurrection and I don't know why I've waited so long to study it in depth. Best decision ever.
10. My theology and study of doctrine has developed in so many different areas in the last year that I didn't even realize needed developing. The Bible has an answer to every social, cultural....you name issue.
11. I watched part of the Billboard Music Awards the other night and I'm now afraid of re-entry into the United States. What has the country become..... pop culture is a mess. I would not let my son of 18 watch what I saw.  I think Christians in the US have become watered down because they are so apart of culture that they don't even realize it. I think we're already that boiled frog.
12. Peru and Brasil have a tie for the best food in South America.
13.  Ministry is messy. It's hard and many times I don't even see the fruit of work, but I'm not promised the fruit in my time here, and that's not what I do it for. It's all for an eternal value.
14. I have the best team in the company. I say team, but really we're a family. I mean, who else would go on vacation with you so you didn't have to go alone?? We're big, but we know the Lord has blessed us, so we're trying to make much of Him as long as we are all together.
15. Speaking of company, I work for the best company. I'm going to miss them in January. What I won't miss are the novel-long-emails from the president. (stick to the NOVELS, for novels, Mr. Platt- all due respect)
16. I learned that moving overseas doesn't really change your personality.  FOR EXAMPLE. If you're not one to make a lot of friends, and when you do, they're older, have kids, retired, whatever...... it's probably going to be the same in your new setting. Quality over quantity still exists overseas, fact.
17. I've found a new hunger for God's word like never before. Have you ever read Pslam 119 and realized every verse meditates on an aspect on the law, word, promises, statues, commands, decrees? Something, about HIS WORD. I love it. I thirst for it and cannot get enough of it. It IS the best thing and I relate to Josiah in 2 Kings 22 when he mourns for not having previously known its goodness before it's discovered. Do you know its goodness? I thought I did, but I was so wrong.
18. Time and again, I've seen God answer prayers. Even if it takes 15 years. His timing is perfect. Again, another christianism I'm still learning.
19. When they say it's a cold winter in Argentina at 50*, don't question it, just believe them and pack your long johns and scarves because 50 feels like 35 suddenly.
20. Americans really don't walk much. I know this because I didn't like more than 7 blocks when I got here, and now I walk around 20 blocks a day, maybe, if not more. Yet I've still managed to gain weight here... (I'm looking at you, medialunas)
21. Language learning NEVER gets easier. You never make it. 1 year later and someone will complement you, or switch to speak English because they're trying to help you. You just never know how the wind is going to blow that day. There's always room to improve.
22. We are not in control. I am not in control, as much as I try to be (ISTJ, speaking).
23. Americans make things more difficult than necessary. So you don't have a mixer? Use a fork, it works just as well when making cookies. Argentines improvise LIKE A BOSS. I haven't figured what's the correct improvisation for a blender yet.......
24. This is still my favorite number so I don't have to fill it out.
25. The biggest truth bomb of this year.. so obvious yet never so clearly presented in my life until living here: God is to receive all the glory (through my Spirit guided actions). But mainly Him receiving all the glory. All the glory. Even when I mess up, it's my prayer that He redeems my mistakes and failures for His glory.

Do I Really Like What I Do??

I was talking to a friend back home, as a frequently do, and she told me, "Bethany, are you happy there? It just seems like you're really depressed every time I talk you you."

Now, these may not be the words you're looking for when you talk to your best friend, but then again, if they are your best friend and they know you well, they should be able to tell if something is really wrong, right?

The problem with this, cross-culturally, is that ministry is messy. I'm good. I (most of the time) love Argentina. Now, God didn't promise moving here was going to be easy. In fact, he said quite the opposite when said he was sending his disciples out as sheep among wolves (Luke 10:3).

But just because I'm living in a "Christian" nation doesn't mean all my thoughts and ideas are welcomed and accepted. Being a North American is not necessarily a good thing here, and working alongside my brothers and sisters here has a sandpaper like effect here. It rubs some people the wrong way. While I'm praying it has a smoothing affect, right now it is painful.

I see hints of prosperity gospel. Authoritative leaders. A lack of faith. And because of the politics of the Church (yes, that exists here,) I can't just fix it.

But what has God shown me in this? Or rather reminded me of? That the church is still all sinners, and we all need Jesus.

I have seen so much good in my last year. Praise be to God. I have heard stories of missionaries who leave the field without physically seeing fruit in their term, but that does NOT mean God wasn't working. It just means the work is hard. It is painful. We (hopefully) put all of our heart into these people, these churches because we so want for them to seek God, and when they don't it pains us. It is ALL for an eternal value. If it wasn't I wouldn't be here. Anything less than eternal is in vain. My heart aches when people don't want to get together to study not because my feelings are hurt (that initally happened, but I'm over it now) but because I fear they're losing out on the promises of God.

So am I depressed? Not in the least bit. Do I like what I do? Absolutely. Do I LOVE what I do? There are some things I'd change, but I can't change Argentina ;) nor can I change America. My citizenship is in heaven and I'd have it no other way.