I lied.  It is actually freezing.  

We are very busy.  We get coffee at 8am and then there are things (classes, misson work, dance lessons etc) until dinner which can be as late as 11:30.

We eat TONS of meat.  I have probably eaten an entire cow already.  for reals!

We are still at the Kairos mission center and will meet our families next week

I spent part of yesterday in Buenos Aires.  The city is beautiful and there are people EVERYWHERE!  we had to take a train, bus and several subways to get back here.  It's WILD!

Things are so cheap compared to the US.  A dozen roses is maybe a dollar and fifty cents.

I am pretty overwhelmed trying to understand everyone's Spanish and learning so much so quickly.  I LOVE singing worship in Spanish and reading the Bible.   It's hard though to make this transition.  Thankfully, God is close and transcends language.  I love Him.  SO MUCH!  and I love you too.  adios!

Estamos Aqui!

I'm borrowin a computer
My life is now in Spanish
It is BEAUTIFUL! "que lindo!"
It is hot - so much for packing for winter . . .
We will be at a mission center for about a week, and they have LOTS planned for us.
I'm gonna go 'cause all 30 of us are using 2 computers.
I love you all.
Adios

2 Days!

Well, it's Friday, and I'm leaving Sunday. There is so much I still have to do between now and then. For example, just yesterday I received an email from my professor that I need to read 3 very long articles (2 of which are in Spanish) and then write 2 papers on them to turn in upon my arrival. It's CRAZY! Hence, I am now in the library. : )

I'm bringing a notebook with me to South America, and am currently filling it with lists of things to remember while I'm away. Things like addresses and phone numbers, things I need to buy, and prayer requests. The prayer requests list is very long. Recently, I've been feeling like there are just SO many things for which I need to be in prayer. I have so many loved ones scattered all over the globe this summer, and countless other things I need to lay at my Lord's feet. I realize how I am absolutely nothing and capable of nothing without Christ. I stand alone in Him, the solid rock. The concepts of my helplessness and his perfect help are so comforting to me.

This song has been on repeat in my head ever since I heard it for the first time on Wednesday:

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

(Chorus 2x)

It's as if Christ is speaking right to me. For what am I searching, why am I scared - He is here, and He is everything and He is holding me. I am resting in His arms today. This is my "love story". : )

Argentina

I will be leaving for South America in 8 days. This is wild. I hope to return a better dancer and fluent in Spanish! : ) But honestly, I think this experience will be very stretching as I am going somewhere I've never been that speaks a language I am not fully comfortable speaking, and I will be staying with people I have never met. I am so blessed to be going with my roommate and some other good friends, and I believe in a God that transcends geography, time zone, and language.

I've started reading the Bible in Spanish. That's simply beautiful. I love to read it out loud and in the Argentine accent. How cool is it to hear the word of God in another language!!

Anyway - I'll be writing here while I'm in South America (mostly Argentina, but also Chile and Uruguay). I won't have a computer, so I have no idea how often this will be updated, but I'll do my best.

To do before I leave (this list is not complete):

-get contacts
-get sunglasses
-buy some clothing items
-check that all medications I'll take are legal there
-buy toiletries
-get a phone?
-let bank know where I'm going
-locate my passport (kind of a big deal)
-get a map of BA (Buenos Aires = the capital city of Argentina)
-get CS Lewis books to read (in Spanish? LOL)
-locate my textbook
-read articles
-make copies
-pack
-write my outstanding paper
-learn about the education system in Argentina
-learn Spanish, or practice at least
-say goodbyes