I have a huge surprise for everyone – I LOVE BUENOS AIRES!!! Well, okay, so I know that isn’t a great surprise to those who know me well. I love the cities, I always will I think.
We arrived at 3am on Thursday morning to the airport here in Argentina. By the time we settled into our hostel and got to bed, it was after 5am. Originaly we understood that we had to be out by noon that same morning, but when we got in, they told us we had till noon the NEXT day, so 30 hours to figure out our next plans. Well, at noon that SAME day, we got the news that we had to pay for a second day or get out. Misunderstandings abounded!
ZEO packed up and started research for a new hostel, which was found in relative good time, and only 7 blocks from where we were. It’s a cool little place, an old house, remeniscent of Victorian style. The community kitchen and bathroom are nice enough an we are sharing a dorm stye room with one other gal – from Australia. There are a number of others living here as well, though we haven’t had time to befriend them just yet.
We are here in the city till Wednesday, and we have already stayed busy thus far.
There was an Assemblies of God World Missions Conference here from the 24th-27th, so we attended both Thursday and Friday nights, and didn’t arrive back home till about midnight each night. We did, however, find contacts for ministry while we are here in town for a while. Today we worked with a local pastor and his family cleaning out their church as they are moving into a new building, which turned out to be a dandy fun day, cleaning, while dancing and singing to the radio!
Friday was a fun day as well. After a good night’s sleep till 11am due to travel exhaustion, and a breakfast, ZEO met to pray for the day. We then split into teams of 2 and headed out to prayer walk the area. We are living in the San Cristobal neighborhood, on the corner of San Juan and Entre Rios.
Amy and I took off down the road, praying and discussing intercession and prayer. We rang into a lady, Sonya, and took some time to chat and pray for her, before reaching the Congressional Park, where we took a seat on a bench to pray. A young woman approached us selling perfume and lotions, so we talked and prayed with Shanina as well. All the while, both Amy and I were observing a homeless man with his four children. He had a shopping cart with his belongings in it, as well as some pieces of bread, and some milk. We approached him and began a conversation in our very broken Spanish. He obviously deeply desires someone to talk to because he talked to us for over an hour, and over the course of a little while, he shared that he had Bible but didn’t understand it. Amy pointed out some key scriptures about salvation, and after much laughter and MISunderstanding, we finally understood that he was asking us what he had to do to be saved. Amy prayed with him, and then we continued talking about the truths of Jesus. We hadn’t spent any time with his kids, because we were focused on him, but when we got up to leave, and say goodbye, they gave us many hugs and were so excited.
There were four kids, between 2 and 8 years old, 3 boys and 1 girl. The youngest has scabies, or something similar, all over his face, but after hugging all the other kids, neither Amy or myself could withhold a hug from a boy who has obviously not experienced many in recent times. We prayed over our own bodies and hugged the precious boy, with a love that I haven’t experienced until this point. They all, including Antonio, the father, wanted us to return the following day. Unfortunately we were unable, due to the other ministry that came up. I am still praying to go back to that park and find them again.
Antonio was a sweet man, homeless with four children, yet not begging, and even turned down our offer to take his family to lunch, while pointing to his meager supply of bread and milk. It was such a humbling experience for both Amy and me.
I am enjoying being in a city again, and though I love the mountains and country areas of the world, I feel most in my element in the city for some reason. I have spent some time feeling guilty for that, and attempting to justify these feelings, but I honestly believe it’s okay. To be honest, I have had most effective ministry here in the last couple days than much of my time to date on this trip, because for some reason, I just feel more comfortable here. Talking to homeless people here, even in Spanish, was a hundred times easier than anywhere else we have been.
I am continually praying for more clear direction as God calls me forward and lays my life out ahead of me. I believe I will always live with an element of surprise and the unknown, which is fine with me, but I am also trusting that as this year continues, I will be given a more definite purpose in my life when I return from this trip.
Thank you for your continued prayers. I love you all!
