The little things, give them back!

I was hoping culture shock had moved right along and wasn’t going to visit me here in Argentina but last week it did. Exactly at the 3 month mark everything began to hit me at once. I could look at the different type of water heater or shower and cry. Because I was aware of what I was going through I began to pray, and talk about it. I was not going to let all the new little overwhelming things steal my joy. Another way I got through it was by thinking about someone God has placed in my life…

Mariela is 28 and because of family circumstances has to live the life of a 38 year old. Over a year ago Mariela’s father was accused of fraud. After that happened the city seized most of their possessions but could not prove her father was guilty. However, being that the justice system in South America is very corrupt, he was still held under arrest. He fell ill and has been held in a hospital for the last 9 months or so. Recently he was taken back to jail when something happened with the recent governor. When he was taken back to jail he began to use the example God had given him preaching to his fellow inmates. He had led 4 men to Christ when he fell ill again and recently was back in the hospital again. When he became sick, those men stayed up all night praying and reading the bibles I took them. Moreover, Mariela has had to grow-up very fast, she is running her families internet café business, and she has had to quit school to help her family. Her mother is now working when she didn’t work before and is now figuring out how to run the family. What does all this mean? It means when the little things start to become too much to handle we have to refocus and realize why we are where we are. I open up my apartment sometimes just so Mariela and her brothers have a place to go and feel free from the rest of the world. I go see her father and take him moves etc. I remove the little frustrating things from my life, find the positive and give them back!

Formosa Flexibility

This month has been quite a month. It started with a road trip to a more northern part of Argentina, Formosa for a regional meeting. On July 9^th I boarded a bus for Formosa and embarked on a 10 hour bus ride all alone. It was my first “Greyhound like” bus trip alone. It was an overnight trip so it went by real fast. When I arrived in Formosa I had to immediately meet up with some team members so I could cross over the river to Paraguay and renew my tourist visa. So my second adventure within 24 hours was to cross over the river into Paraguay with 6 college students who were spending their summer in Argentina. Well, that was an experience I will never forget. It was cold and rainy and the first thing we were asked were why we going over to the other side and of course we said to shop because border shopping is always a must, because almost always things are cheaper right as you enter a country. Well, right away we were warned that because of the Swine flu we could not buy and or bring anything back with us from one border to the next, except for our bodies! It was crazy because we could bring back the virus just as easy without stuff as we could with stuff. Anyway, they said we could pass over and return. However, the process to get my passport stamped was more complicated than we thought it was going to be. However, needless to say 3 boat rides, 4 passport stamps and 3 hours later mission accomplished.

After our short stay in Paraguay we all returned to start our weekend of missionary fellowship. The weekend was great for me because being that I am new to the Argentine Lowland team there were many missionaries I only knew by name. We kicked off the weekend with an early sweet 16 dinner for Elizabeth Cook and ended with all day strategy/policy meeting. Overall, it was a great weekend because it was a time to hear what God was doing all over Argentina and what he is cooking up. As well as I got to return back to Santiago with my favorite/partner missionaries, the Cooks and we were able to stop in one of the small towns where they used to live near and minister and attend a church serve and fellowship after with one of the families. Honestly, God is moving here in Argentina, he is opening doors, please pray for his workers to be diligent to answer the call and start the work.

This month has been quite a month. It started with a road trip to a more northern part of Argentina, Formosa for a regional meeting. On July 9^th I boarded a bus for Formosa and embarked on a 10 hour bus ride all alone. It was my first “Greyhound like” bus trip alone. It was an overnight trip so it went by real fast. When I arrived in Formosa I had to immediately meet up with some team members so I could cross over the river to Paraguay and renew my tourist visa. So my second adventure within 24 hours was to cross over the river into Paraguay with 6 college students who were spending their summer in Argentina. Well, that was an experience I will never forget. It was cold and rainy and the first thing we were asked were why we going over to the other side and of course we said to shop because border

shopping is always a must, because almost always things are cheaper right as you enter a country. Well, right away we were warned that because of the Swine flu we could not buy and or bring anything back with us from one border to the next, except for our bodies! It was crazy because we could bring back the virus just as easy without stuff as we could with stuff. Anyway, they said we could pass over and return. However, the process to get my passport stamped was more complicated than we thought it was going to be. However, needless to say 3 boat rides, 4 passport stamps and 3 hours later mission accomplished.

After our short stay in Paraguay we all returned to start our weekend of missionary fellowship. The weekend was great for me because being that I am new to the Argentine Lowland team there were many missionaries I only knew by name. We kicked off the weekend with an early sweet 16 dinner for Elizabeth Cook and ended with all day strategy/policy meeting. Overall, it was a great weekend because it was a time to hear what God was doing all over Argentina and what he is cooking up. As well as I got to return back to Santiago with my favorite/partner missionaries, the Cooks and we were able to stop in one of the small towns where they used to live near and minister and attend a church serve and fellowship after with one of the families. Honestly, God is moving here in Argentina, he is opening doors, please pray for his workers to be diligent to answer the call and start the work.

True Friends

During the last month so many blessings have come pouring my way. I have had some up and down times and God has really used these times to show me the true friends he had already put in my life. I was amazed because some of them were people I had just met! Below you will see some of the various events he used to help me build closer relationships. Please keep the up and coming month in your prayers a team from Maysville, Ga is coming August 11th-18th. Also, please pray as school gets back started her after a long Swine Flu break.

Showers of Blessings!

Game Night Carolina's Birthday Dia del Amigo

Something Could Come of this!?!?!

About a week ago I could not sleep and I knew that God wanted to talk to me. So, I did not fight it prayed and listened. I have been praying for weeks about what God could be doing with me at my local church here in Santiago. I thought about the youth age girls who have not been coming now for several weeks or who come and then don't come again until one of their friends comes. I have been feeling a lack of discipleship for this age (20-30) and so I started praying about it. It wasn't to long until I was approached by one of the youth girls and asked when I was going to have the girls over to house again. We set the date for last Friday and then I was talking to another one of them on how it would be nice if the get-togethers were not just to play games but were to study the bible and fellowship about Christ and our lives as well and where they could bring their non-believing friends. So, last Friday when we got together we discussed it and I asked the girls if it was something they were interested in and they all said yes. So, I am now praying about what material I am going to use and about the space. Please pray about it. God is very much answering. I want this to be a study where the ladies feel they can bring their unsaved friends and not get attacked so, it is in my apartment until we run out of space. Pray th that the girls will be patient with my ever learning mind and that their confidence in me will grow. I want this study to 100% be the Lord's and not Sierra's.

Making My First Argentine Pizza

FirsSince I had already learned to make empanadas, noquis, milanesa, and fiambre sandwiches either in Costa Rica, or Bolivia I had to find a food my nationals friends wanted to eat and that they wanted to teach me how to make so, my Andrea suggested pizza. I know what you are thinking, "how different could it be." Well, normally they use a dough that you can buy at the store that already has the yeast mixed in with the flour in one bag and you just add water and let rise. Then, they put thin tomato paste with spices on the crust and back the crust till done. Next, they sautee tomatoes, tomato paste, pizza spice and oregano. When the crust is done you spread on the other sauce and any toppings you want. Finally you put a soft cream like cheese on top and back till the cheese has melted and is ready to spread out. Normally, the crust is real thin but Andrea, my friend who taught me, wanted me to make my crust recipe, so that is why it looks much fluffier! I love learning new things and it was a lot of fun showing Andrea on the second pizza the normal shredded cheese I use and the sauce. I have always that cooking could bring people together and now I know, it really can!

We Must Always Be Ready

Just a few days ago I sent out the following prayer request.

Fabian, a 27 year old young man from the youth group I attend is in critical condition in a local hospital with what the doctors believe is viral meningitis, this would be the 2nd time in a year he has had meningitis. He is not responding right now and because he is in ICU not many people can go in to see him. Please pray for his recovery and for the doctors to find out why it is so easy for him to get this illness.

On Saturday I went with Maria to the hospital to see Fabian and met his mom and brother in the waiting room with all of Fabian's stuff beside them. As soon as the mom saw us she said "guess where we are going?" Then she just offered up the answer, " to a normal hospital room, we're moving out of the ICU." That was such great news! While we were sitting there talking to his mom she was telling us about the experiences she had had since being there at the hospital both last year when Fabian had the same thing and this time ( 10 days so far.) While she was telling us an older gentleman walked over and said " can I join the conversation?" Of course we said yes and at one point the man shared with us that his wife was in ICU with cancer and he was sad and tired. He had heard us talking about what God can do and the miracles he works in peoples lives when they believe in Him. The man said he wanted that faith in his life and right there in the hospital waiting room prayed to receive Christ as his savior. Then, Fabian's mom looked at me and said " as a missionary you have to ready for moments just like that one, no matter where you are."

Please keep praying for Fabian, he is on the road to recovery. He is now able to communicate with his eyes and index finger. He is eating good but it will be a while before he will talk again. Pray for his family as they are being pulled in many directions trying to stay there with him and manage their jobs and their house.