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.

Four Wall Christian Homes.

I lived in my Christian 4-wall house for far too long. And I think a lot of Americans still do, if I'm not wrong.

And I don't mean we don't know pop culture or the world. I think we do that a little too well.

Let me explain. 

I was reading a really great book last week, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, and in it we hear the story of a devout Muslim raised in America come to faith over a 4 year journey in college. One of the things that amazed me reading this book was that this boy raised as a Pakistani Muslim, knew so much of the Bible. Now, facts or twisted truths, that's a different story. But none the less, his family had a KJV Bible in the house growing up and when talking to Christians as a Muslim, he could refute their faith, always anticipating what they were going to say. This amazed me! Growing up Baptist, we never learn anything about any other religions. Is that not the truth? To this day I have trouble knowing the difference because Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, honestly.

So, maybe when I say American Christians live in their 4-wall houses, I mean their Christian home and there is nothing else. No rooms, closets, no where to find out about other religions. NOBODY but Jesus in that household.

Now clearly I'm not wanting idols. Far from it! I also think we make idols out of the smallest things, from iPhones to husbands, but we'll save that for another day ;)

But is it bad to talk about those other religions within the home?? I never once growing up talked about Orthodox Judaism or Islam. What I learned about it was from the television. Reverse that. Do I want Muslims or Jews learning about Christians from what they see of it portrayed on t.v.?? Heck to the NO!  They make us out to be pious no fun duds!!

How are we supposedly to evangelize and teach truth if we don't know what we're speaking against? I realize the Bible stands for itself, but if we don't know what others believe and teach, how will we know what angles they have? We'll be blindsided.

Or how about Ramadan. I really don't think I knew anything about that growing up, but now I know more, finding that it's maybe the second most important month in the Muslim calendar? It's their holy month, full of fasting and seeking Allah. And it's known that during this time God often reveals himself to them in visions and dreams! It's a wonderful month to celebrate in prayer in fasting alongside them and I encourage you to look it up if you don't know much about it here.

I'm so grateful to God for making me aware of many things now, but I feel like it was a cost to myself. But the good, is that now I have a lifetime left to discover how to use what I know and to continue studying it!

(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

The GREAT Commission.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Yesterday was a really great day. I went to two different church services and in each of them I saw this very verse in action. I witnessed an Argentine brother be prayed over as he was sent out from our local church, and later I watched a Brazilian sister be baptized in a step of obedience and faith. 

If you know me well, you'd know I cried at both of these services watching my brother and sister do exactly as His word says. His living and active word calls people to action, and nothing brought greater joy to my heart. Nothing.  Don't you see what makes this commission so great, though?

This brother, Joaquin, is going to India for a month to work and serve with Argentine M's in the Himilayas for the month of December. I'm sure he'd love the prayers. Heading to land of idolatry and false gods, he and his team of 11 others will be traveling throughout the mountains using music and the word to minister to the people there. I'm so excited to see what this trip brings about in both his life and the lives of the people there.

My sister Julia invited me earlier this week to church and dinner afterward. Obviously I love both of those things and accepted. So, imagine my surprise when I got there and she told me she couldn't sit with me because she was being baptized. Her and 20 others were dunked last night. PRAISE GOD. When asking everyone why they wanted this, they all said, "obedience and faith," but some gave additional testimony to how Jesus had forgiven them of their sins forever. To the least of these, can I just get an amen?

As we were singing at the beginning, I was just in awe of the glory and presence of God in this great city. That He would allow me to be a part of His work at a time such as this. To watch a brother be sent out yesterday and a sister be baptized in the same day. As church was letting out they had all 20 of them on stage and were singing a song called, "Te Doy Gloria" which is a party song. It repeats this line saying, "I give you glory (x3), to you Jesus". And I just thought to myself, this is a sliver of what heaven looks like for just one person repenting.

I pray than God gets ALL the glory, NOTHING, but the glory for what is happening here in Buenos Aires. May the enemy be defeated and have no part in this city. It's all for His name's sake.
 

Jesus Wins.

A few weeks ago, on August 4th, a young man was shot and killed in broad daylight for his bike all because he intervened in a street robbery and was trying to help a victim. It was a really harsh newstory to watch and learn about. The young man only had 27 years and was going to work like any other day, only this time he had no idea what was in store for him.

Now, in this neighborhood, only 4.7% of the population is evangelical, so his death was your typical disheartening, what-are-the-chances-he-knew-Christ scenario.

Last Monday night I was in my weekly prayer meeting and one of the requests was for this young man's family, who was in town for a while. They are believers and had been contacted and just, as you can imagine, asked for prayer for them and the other family involved. There sprang a little hope that maybe, this man had not died without hearing the gospel message.

Well, today I found out that this week his parents, while staying in town for the legal matters surrounding his death, are taking time to do work for the kingdom. They are going to be standing at the corner where he was killed sharing the gospel and praying with people! Isn't that a beautiful picture?! This city is so broken, but there is hope. This family is a symbol of faith not shaken. If I had to guess, it's because they know they'll see their son again one day (yes, he was a believer!) and that God had a purpose in this.

I see the enemy winning so often in this city, but not on this one. God has taken this man's innocent death and is using it for His glory. To make His name known in the city. Jesus wins here. And, of course, Jesus wins in the end.

The DR: a Divine Retreat

I've always seen pictures people posted of the Dominican Republic when they were on their honeymoon and I can now confirm, it is just as beautiful in person as the pictures make it look. The water so blue, picturesque palm trees everywhere, and those sunsets... wow!!

But greater than the scenery was the content of my trip: a spiritual renewal which I needed more than I realized after only three months on the field. When I first learned in January that I would be coming to the DR for this retreat, I was a little sad that it was happening 3 months into my time here in BA, but I have to say, I was ready for a break from the city! To see old friends, meet new ones, and worship in our heart language was such a blessing. Not to mention our guest speaker for the week was David Platt, and if you've ever heard him speak, you know that man is anointed! I loved everything he had to say.

Rather than bore you with all my sermon notes (ha! as if David Platt would ever be boring), I will just share one thing that he started with one morning that was overwhelming in the best of ways. He had us write down what we thought God would say to us if we were sitting with him in a room all alone, head-to-head, toe-to-toe. We had 5 minutes to think about it and write it down... When time was up and Platt told us what he thinks God would look at us and say:

"I love you so much."

That simple.

Something about those 5 words and nothing else was just a weight lifting off my chest. Here I was writing down things that I had failed at, what I had done wrong....essentially condemning myself, and all I needed to know was that He loves me.

In Romans 8:1 Paul tells us that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." What joy! I so wish you could have been in the room with me to hear all of his sermon's last week, they were so good for the soul. But really, he was just delivering truth from God's word, the ultimate good for the soul.

We were so spoiled last week. As I was in the jacuzzi tub on my hotel balcony (yes, that actually happened), I felt like I was eating from the King's table all week long. But the more I thought about it, this is a real life picture of how God wants to treat us. I'm not saying we deserve or should be staying at all inclusive resorts all the time, but God delights in giving us good things! [Luke 11:13] Can I just say it is so good to belong to the King of kings?

I can't finish this without giving recognition to the reason this was all made possible: YOU! Yes, if you're giving to Lottie Moon Offerings then you sent me there.  Also, I should just say that all of the other missionaries from the Americas said in all their years of serving, they've never seen anything like this put together. They had to save for this for 2 or 3 years to pull this off, so it's not like we're going to have this again next year. It was a big deal to all of us. So again, thank you.

Now for the fun part, pictures!

flying out from Buenos Aires, the city is overwhelming

mi familia on the beach :: all the Argentine M's got together one afternoon

I'm really going to miss quiet times like this

beautiful mosaic art

me and David Platt, nbd

full size rainbow that ended in the ocean :: Great is Thy faithfulness

hammocking on the beach?? Yes please!

sunsets were unreal here

resort at night

blessed to meet so many career ladies and hear their stories

seriously, so blue

local market

AMP FPO 1.14 :: the best Americas family ever

2 Worlds, 1 City.

For the faithful few that read this, I'm back! Sorry that it's been so long. Amongst all the sickness in June, I just didn't have it in me to write. I wanted to, but I just didn't know what to write about. I want everything I put on here to be authentic, never a front. So, I just didn't write. Last night I got out a my latest newsletter and in it I said I would talk more about what I've been doing with teams these last few weeks. I'm also going to use more pictures in here, so yay!

May 30-June 16 we had two girls from Brainerd church in TN come to work with Once here in BA that does a lot of work in Recoleta. These girls worked in the comedor soup kitchen daily, but also got to see a lot of Recoleta 4 times a week, at least. We had a lot of fun being invited into peoples' homes, being tourists on the bus tour. We even got to dress all fancy and go to a dinner & show in a downtown tango theater FOR FREE compliments of a famous singer that goes to Once. It was amazing. Also, we got to watch the opening Argentine world cup game in an open park with some Argentine friends!! I think these girls were really blessed by their time here.  I know I was.

I promise we were happy! Just trying out the STURGEON face :{

Mi querido Caminito

Before Amelita Baltar!

Outside of the theater, Tango Porteño

Watching the game, at half time, with the screen behind us.

Buenos Aires <3

I had about a week off before a second group to join us, this one from Clarksville, TN. 10 youth joined us in serving in Villa Lugano. This part of the city is known to not be as nice...They have the lowest average monthly salary in Capital Federal. A 180 from that of Recoleta, the highest in Capital. Only 15.7% of the population over 25 years old has completed 14 years of school in Villa Lugano and the surrounding barrios making up Comuna 8.

But.

Villa Lugano has something more than other comunas. Jesus. 21% of people in this comuna reported to be evangelical. Only 3.9% of the people in Recoleta reported to be evangelical. The people we served among this week may be poor in material things, but my are they rich in spirit and faith! It reminded me again of why I am here. For the people in Recoleta who still don't know of their need for a Savior, that their high rise with a view can't save them. And for the sweet fellowship, encouragement and prayer that I had with my brothers and sisters in Christ in their homes and shops. We serve Lord over all. He is sovereign over all.

I think the students really enjoyed being here this week, working with the youth of the church Parque Indoamericano. Again, we were blessed more than a blessing to them. The great thing about this church is that it is a mix of other countries, i.e., Peruvians, Chileans, Bolivians. So there was a lot of folk dancing and food eaten this week! You'll notice in the pictures the villas we were inside (at night, on a rooftop) and in a community house were we did a Bible study one night with kids.

Looking over Villa 20, one of the more dangerous villas in the city.

At their despedida, some of the Hilldale youth dancing!

The Pre-K class was learning about the World Cup in school and then watched it live!

Some of the girls from the church doing an Argentine dance for us.

Trip wouldn't be complete without some ARG v USA fútbol ;)

The thing I LOVE about my job is that I get to do this mission trip with the group, but at the end of the week, when they go home, I'm still here! I don't have to board the plane. I can go back anytime I want!! How exciting it is to be in this city day after day. God has given me a passion for this city as of late, and every time I leave the house I am excited just to walk the city streets. To HEAR the car horns blasting to the chant of the Argentine Mundial fever. To SMELL fresh bread baking. To SEE sunshine or rain in the midst of the highrises. To TOUCH the button on the collectivo when I know I've arrived at my destination. To TASTE the fresh milanesa that someone has prepared for me or I'm going to learn to make tomorrow. I hope no matter where you are in the world, you are passionate about the people around you, because they have an eternal destiny just like you do.