Despedir is to say goodbye, which is exactly what it is time to do with 2015. I can't believe this year has gone by as fast as it has, and yet so much as happened that it only seems right to have taken a year. One year ago today I was with my parents in Mendoza exploring the Andes on the Chilean border getting ready to come back to ring in 2015. Now I'm weeks shy of [anxiously] getting ready to get back to them!
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| One year ago on January 1 having lunch with my parents and great friends in the city! |
This year started off on a really high note, or low, having to say goodbye to my parents. But that wouldn't last long becuase shortly thereafter I went off to Guatemala to a singles' retreat with the company and saw all my FPO family. It was awesome, drinking delicious hot chocolate, eating Taco Bell, and climbing volcanoes. I had such a good time. I came home, had some hard conversations which resulting in losing a best friend, but you can't have it all. Oh, but what did come from the retreat? God spoke to me (He always chooses to reveal big plans in January...) and confronted me about seminary. I've always been very reluctant about going back to school, and God changed my heart that week and ever since then I've been very excited to say I'm going to seminary to study Biblical Counseling! I just don't know where yet. I won't know that until I know to what end I want to serve as a counselor.
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| the city gate of Antigua, Guatemala. |
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| Roasting 'mallows with Misty on the volcano! |
Other highlights of my year..... include my birthday trip (to myself from myself) to Iguazu Falls!! I loved it so much more than I thought I would! I was going to be going alone until my awesome coworker Ruth selflessly offered to go ;) I always learn so much when I'm with her and will always cherish those few days we had together.
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| Iguazu! Gorgeous, and so far north it borders Brazil! |
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In July, my best friend from home came!! She gave me about a 3 weeks notice but boy was I ever excited when she bought her ticket! We had a blast being tourists (there are things after a year that I still hadn't discovered) and being here mid-year she got to be a part of my Bible studies. It was a real treat to be able to take her around.
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| Yay to Emily's visit!!! :) |
We had teams com in March and in June/July. After that, they just stopped coming. [If I'm going to be honest on the missionary side here, it's really hard when churches don't uphold their side of the commitment. Not only are the churches here looking forward and expecting you to come, so are we. In churches with 200+ members and dates in advance, money is no substitute for the sending of persons to partner alongside Argentine churches.] So there you have it. The last 1/3 of my term I didn't see or work with any volunteer teams, but that's fine, it just allowed more time where I was already at work.
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| People here love meeting the teams almost as much as I love talking to new people from the states. Every person brings a new story with them! |
I went a long time after Iguazu before leaving again, then in September I took my long awaited trip to Machu Picchu with other girls from Mexico and Peru... it was well worth all the planning. Then again in November I took my last trip to the glaciers in the Patagonian south...El Calafate. This time solo for real. It was the most gorgeous thing for real. Can't even be mad that I was alone.
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| Oh hey Machu Picchu |
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| Calafate...also gorgeous. So far south! |
This wouldn't be complete without some news from home. In August at my niece's 2nd birthday we got news that she's going to be a BIG sister this next year... coming March 2016! So exciting that when I get home I won't have a long wait until I'm made aunt again! This is an even greater blessing because one of my best friends here is pregnant and I won't be here for the birth. So, I'm missing one special birth for another. Also, in May, another best friend from home got engaged! I was relieved when she said her wedding would be over a year away so that I wouldn't have to miss it. And imagine my surprise when after 6 month and 3 countries, she asked me to be a bridesmaid!?
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| 4 months to go!! (guessing??) |
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| You're gonna have to turn your head, but that says missent to JAMAICA! |
2015 was a year of growth I think. A year of challenge for sure. Things I wish I could fix, I can't. While I definitely don't believe in or "do" new years resolutions, I do have a list of improvements and things to work on in my life. This year God brought me new friends that I so wished I'd had in 2014, and I lost cherished friends from 2014 that I'll probably never have again. Life is funny sometimes in the way people move in and out. But at least when they're there, the least you can do is be a friend and praying for them. And even after there gone, still pray for them. At least that's what I'm learning to do.
xo, B
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| This is me on Christmas Eve, or Christmas at midnight technically. Cheers! |
