Mission: Urban

(I’m a couple of days behind…so I’ll do my best to catch up here)

Okay – can you believe that while we were here, we were given a homework assignment!   We were told to READ Psalm 105 and 106, then write a Psalm about our life….  So we did this individually, then collectively read our Psalms, alternating one paragraph at a time, and it was amazing how many similarities there were, but more – it was VERY revealing to see how God has been working in all of our lives for a very long time.  I would strongly encourage you all to do this exercise for yourselves.   It’s very revealing at the same time, makes you more and more thankful that, at whatever point it happened, you chose to follow God!

What a wonderful way to start our Sunday morning.  Then off to worship at a very small church near Buenos Aires (or at least I think it was!)  Although the number of people was small, it was a wonderful experience – very happy, loving church.   This is the church that Anna and Norma (our gracious cooks) were from and they greeted us all, and introduced us to her family.   As I heard more and more what her friends said about her, I realized that she was truly the grandmother to the whole church!  (not in the family lineage way, but certainly with her heart).   They all spoke very respectfully and admiring She reminded me very much of my mom.   She does all of the party planning for the teen girls’ parties, she sews for them all, and she is in charge of running a soup kitchen that feeds the poor twice a month.

We broke into small groups, and I realized as we held hands and prayed, that although I couldn’t understand everything they were saying, and they couldn’t understand what I was saying, it didn’t matter – God heard and understood it all.   I loved talking with Anna, Mary, Maria Rosa, Elsa, and Lindsay, the language barrier was there, but we all understood it was, so patience prevailed and we all laughed and talked about our families.

After that off to the Asado – read everyone else’s posts as I know they all wrote about it – however, no matter what they say – I still don’t believe that given the amount of meat that we started with we only ended up with a little leftover!  WOW… and yes – it was ALL good…   I did my part by devouring another nine pounds of delicious beef!   (No way I will ever become a vegetarian!)

We met Brian & Tara’s mentors – wonderful people!    The evening followed with worship at a different church – this one was a bit more structured, and more people – interestingly a couple of the people from the morning church came to the evening service as well.   Apparently a Sunday morning church is a very rare commodity down here.     It was still a relatively  small church –very spirit filled and it was nice to meet several people who spoke English.   Somehow Lindsay and I ended up setting in the front row next to Eduardo – whose son just happens to live in Indiana – he was a great help in translating for me.   There was a wonderful message, and it was even more obvious what the main reason behind this trip was…and why there needs to be a new church planted in the LaPlata area.   Travelling here is much different than travelling in the states -  the primary mode of transportation is shoe leather…

The entire day was a HUGE blessing – in multi-languages!   I’m finding that I can understand far better than I can speak!   I’m truly thankful for Lindsay!!!    But the poor girl is now being taxed with having to say what I’m thinking too!!!   Fortunately (for me) she is getting good at it!   J   Peace, Love & JOY!!!!!