A Wild, Crazy Adventure.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. " Isaiah 55: 8-9

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I am so glad God's ways are higher than my ways, because often times mine are complicated and would end up with me in a hole somewhere. BUT. On days like today I really wish God would tell me before I leave the house, "Ok Bethany, this is going to be one of those times when my ways far exceed your expectations of how today is going to go. Ready?" I don't regret praying that God would give me opportunities to show his love and practice my Spanish, but 1.5 hours would have been good, not 4 hours. And definitely not the detour on public transportation in the rain.

Rewind to before I knew all of this was going to happen. Yes I knew it was raining, but I only had a simple task. Ride the subway, walk 4 blocks, pay some money and hopefully pick up some medicine at DHL. I told my roommate I'd be back in 2 hours tops, and as I was leaving I put my headphones in to be like the Argentines who all walk around listening to music. This should be easy.

Well, at the Subte (underground subway) there was a sign saying something I wasn't quite sure about a stop well before I needed but I went through anyway (like a naive American) and that's where I met my God-send. We'll call her Vi. She asked me about the work on the metro and I told her I had no clue because I too needed one stop past hers. We asked some workers and they told us how to essentially get to where we needed. Over the next 2 hours, we.... got on a crowded subway, exited at the end of the line, got on a overflowing bus (where the driver didn't even make us pay--he was just ushering in the masses from the rain), rode what seemed like hours to go probably 10 blocks, got off the bus to run/walk 8 blocks to the next subway, and then rode together before parting ways. Vi and I talked about our lives, exchanged numbers, and are going to meet in the coming weeks to practice Spanish, which should be interesting with her minimal English and my limited vocab in Spanish.

So, despite the 2 buses, 4 subte lines, NO medicine (because it's at customs at the airport--another story, another time) I would do it all again. Except maybe bring my water bottle this time. Because it reminded my of my dependency on others, and God. I can't do this on my own, ever. I'm a very independent person. I think I can plan ahead but especially in this city, you never know what you're going to get. I have to rely on the kindness of others. Trust in God, that He will put people around me to get me where I need to go, and today He did.

Please join with me in praying for my new friend Vi. I don't know all of her story; I just know that she has two sons and is married. I told her that I am working here with the Baptist churches and I was even able to point out to her to the one I'm working with this week in the midst of our crazy morning. Pray that we will get the chance to meet up in the coming weeks and build a relationship, and in turn I can share the gospel with her.

#BALife

Day 3 in Buenos Aires and so far, so good. To recap the last few days.... lots of exploring! Monday I arrived and went to bed tired. Yesterday was full of explorations with Crystal by foot and we were tired again. Today was a holiday (Día de Malvinas) so a lot of places were closed in the city and it was a perfect day to ride the buses and tour. But I'll still go to bed tired. One thing different about today though was that we finally got some Argentine Pesos so we had money, yay! After touring the town, Crystal and I walked to this awesome megastore, Jumbo. Not sure what I would compare it to in the states, but we stocked up on groceries and goods. Then we had to carry said groceries about 6 city blocks back to our apartment.

When I think about the things that most stand out about BsAs, at first I can't think of them. It's not that different. They're modern. [Some] People have nice things, like a Mercedes driving down the streets and Lacoste stores. But then today I had the opportunity to go to the hospital to visit a girl with cancer and wow. How suddenly it makes you appreciate what American standards are. I think the hospital is subsidized by the government to the people here, so it's free, but there were also Hospitales Alemán (German), or Hospitales Italianos for people who want better care.

But, nonetheless, I have thought of some things that are just not like America:

• Flower stands. They're all over the place and just so pretty! I told Crystal don't be surprised if I come home with flowers on the regular. And then randomly stop because it's not a good use of Lottie dollars. But they're so pretty and European of them!
• The counter-clockwise toilet flush. Yes, it happens that way here.
• Justice/Injustice Awareness. We have this in America, but there's more passion about it here. Walking by the zoo yesterday, there was graffiti because the animals were, "caged in like a jail. Go vegan." Injustice. Outside the Pink House (their version of the White House. Clever, right?) There are always protests. Taxi drivers honk to a certain rhythm just to prove their point. Argentines are proud and they want to be heard.
• Hospitals. Crystal and I think a horror film has been filmed in it before. That's all I'm going to say.
• Panderías. Every corner you can find one. And they're just filled with so much goodness. I might as well mention the ice cream shop less that 100 yards from my apartment door, too. 
• Older people dress nicely. You never know how jovenes will dress, it could go either way. But I'll see men in suits or sports coats, and ladies in skirts with heels on carrying their groceries. Clearly a generational thing.

Life is different here but not in a bad way, it's all so good! It's interesting to have the TV on and learn about another place. As many of you probably know by now, Chile had an earthquake last night off their coast and 900,000 people had to evacuate from their homes.  I'm so grateful for all the people thinking of me and checking on me, but God's got it under control. I ask that you just pray for Chile. And that whole Pacific coast really, because it could affect Peru and Ecuador as well.  


I'll end with some pictures from today in La Boca. 

Futbol!!

Looking down a street with shops

Some street art I love! I bought some, just not here. Also, all the trees are wrapped

Very famous building, corner of Caminito St.

Algunos dulces

Tunesday Tuesday.

Revelation 5:13  "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'"

Disclaimer: Her eyelashes can be very distracting. Some people don't like her voice. I get it. But if nothing else, just go to 6:40 and listen to the poet... so good! 

Holy Guacamole!

As promised, here is a recipe for amazing guacamole from my trusted Colombian friend, Alexandra. It is all natural, no spices--unless you count salt. It varies a little bit from what I learned in Mexico, but it's still fresh. Growing up my mom always added sour cream, cumin, garlic salt and additional spices... but when you take that away it is SO much better (I think) (sorry mom!), I promise you!

You will need:

• Green Onions
• 2-3 Tomatoes
• 1 Onion
• 3 Lemons 
• 1 Banana Pepper
• 6-7 Avocados
• Fresh Cilantro
• Salt to your taste

 

Look at all that freshness!

Really it's a no brainer to make this.  But some of the steps are different (see the grater to the right??) than how I would make it at home. So, in 10 or less easy steps, here you go:

1. Finely chop up your green onion and add to the bowl.
2. Grate your tomato. See picture below. I cut it in half and shred it like a block of cheese.

3. Add the avocados! Scoop out the good stuff and then smash it up with a fork.
4. Then chop up the onion (the finer the better, I think) and mix it in!
5. Next add your lemon juice. Start with half... but you'll probably end up using all of this.

6. Cilantro! Finely chop it up and add. I don't have an amount for it, but can you ever have too much?
7. Take your banana pepper and make sure you scoop out all your seeds! Else it will be hotter than you ever imagined. Just like the tomato, shred/grate it, leaving only the skin.
8. Salt! This started with 7 avocados, so you'll probably want quite a bit I think.

Yum!

Grateful.

"in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:18

God's really been trying to teach me something lately I think about gratitude. This verse above came to my mind the other day when I wasn't even reading in the New Testament but was reflecting on some situations in which Job had not to be thankful.  Everything about this man's life had gone awry, but according to the Scriptures, he was to give thanks. 

I have challenged myself lately to not complain but look for the good in every situation, to find reason for thanksgiving, because this is God's will for me. When everything else is stripped away, you can't take away the hope I have in Christ. And that is worth everything.

I leave you with this video I watched a few weeks ago and it was really... sweet for a lack of a better word. I'm hoping to post pictures in coming days of my time at FPO, but I don't know what that would look like. I definitely want to post a 'how to' blog on making guacamole. I literally took pictures of every step from my Colombian SSL. So fresh, so good.


Xo

Tunesday Tuesday.

Confession: Sometimes I can really act like a girl. Tonight is one of them, and when I just heard this song come on my iTunes shuffle I was reminded of how much I love it.  It's pretty simple; no deep explanation of why I picked it. Just being a girl.

:)

What's in a Name?

Lost are saved, find their way

 at the sound of Your great name
All condemned, feel no shame

at the sound of Your great name
Every fear, has no place

 at the sound of Your great name
The enemy, he has to leave

 at the sound of Your great name

I have been here at the learning center for 6 weeks now and I don't think y'all would want to read through all that I have learned. Whoever compared our time here to drinking from a fire hydrant was not kidding. A LOT of important, valuable information coming at you in a short time. I like what my supervisor told me before coming here. Not to be stressed out;  I will learn some stuff here that I'll never use on the field, and there will be things on the field never covered in my time here in Richmond.

I tell you all of this in short to let you know I'm not going to summarize the 7 dimensions of IMB personnel or review the 4 spiritual laws with you. I want to share with you the renewed confidence I have in who I am sent out by. I have heard so many stories since being here, studied a few different worldviews and I am broken for them. For their lost-ness. BUT. I am continually humbled by the name of Jesus who strengthens me to do His work. It is only by His power that we get to see great things happening in the darkest places of the world.  I would not trust to go out with any other name than Jesus. 6 weeks after training and that's all I can tell you, as simple as it is. Everything we do must point back to the gospel, else we're just talking about ourselves.  And as imperfect as I am, that would be a huge mistake. 

Revelation 7:9 says, "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands." I'm so thankful that we serve a God who knows eternity and who will get all the glory. Every nation, tribe, people and language will be present and I hold on to that promise when times look so dark in Ukraine, Venezuela and other parts of the world.  His kingdom is big and I can't wait to be used for it.