What did we do for the last 3 months?!
What did we see the last three months?!
What did we feel the last three months?!
How did we impact?
How were we impacted?
Honestly, it is hard for me to write like some of my teammates who have done such an amazing job of sharing how its been!
So it’s been easier to write my style and share their blogs so you get a better feel of everything that’s been happening!
This blog is going to be my attempt at a recap…although i may have to write a recap2 or a recap3.
We shall see!
…
Chile,
Argentina,
Bolivia.
How can i sum you up?
– The personal while doing the impersonal.
– The impersonal while doing the personal.
– Ministry together.
…
Living together, working apart.
Living apart, working together.
Living together, working together.
…
Chile looked like living in the same house with our hosts but then leaving everyday and working across town in a school. It didn’t feel like ministry…until we were wrapping up and got to see how God was working that month.
Argentina looked like living on a huge property and walking across a forest to join the rest of the staff and then we went and did ministry together all day, and then parted again at night.
Bolivia looks like us all living together with our hosts in the same building and getting up and going out and doing ministry together and then coming home and going to bed together.
…Well, not together. Just in the same house 🙂
…
Chile: I woke up to the sounds of your children, and the smell of your cooking.
I was so tired and i didn’t want to get up, but another day was yanking my chain…plus, there was tea and pan (bread) and yogurt waiting for my hungry mouth.
i would get up and eat with your family. And my heart would be happy. And then i’d walk 5 miles to school and feel like a teacher student as i was greeted by all the teachers, and students. And then i would stand in the classroom and hear the lecture and assist if i could, with my broken incoherant spanish. With my laughter and my doodles i made friends.
Then, at the end of the day, when my energy was spent from all the human interaction, id walk the 5 miles back home with my teammates. And we’d get home and help with dinner, or watch your children, or take a shower, or assist/attend biblestudy with church members….
I heard a few peoples testimonies. Of their struggle in life – how they tried to find meaning and happiness in it – and how God spoke to them. How they resisted and wrestled, and how God won.
I was invited into their stories personally, and felt the sacredness openly unsharable.
We ate in the back of the sanctuary, or all squished around your dining room table, or (my favorite) in your backyard…even though your mop dog did sometimes poop under the table near our feet.
Then, there was that special night we all crowded around your tv and watched Collateral Beauty together.
There were a few things i did in Chile that are specially memorable: my whole team and i met a man named Fernando thru the evening bible study our host (Pastor Juan) held every week.
Fernando became our friend and took us around to a few notable places nearbye where we were (which was a valley village called Los Andes).
We visited an old monostary, church, a few villages, a vinery, and a famous old place strewn with ancient carvings that we had to hike to and then scavenge hunt for!
We also spent a weekend in the mountains with some Christian brothers we met thru a friend of Pastor Juans who came to visit.
It was very beautiful and my most peaceful moment in Chile.
There was that moment with my dear Elvira, following a “for sale” car – that broke down in front of us. It still makes me laugh.
My favorite moment in Chile was when i and my Squad Leader, HanaBeth, got invited to visit an older gentleman who was a longtime member of the church we were staying at.
The little old mans faith was so encouraging. And our time with him blessed. That moment stays in my mind as the reason i went to Chile.
A few days ago, i learned that our dear brother has since gone to be with the Lord.
My feeling of Chile: homey, mountains, fenced in houses, the taste of tea and dense bread….the early morning light, tinted, falling on the floor creating a cozy moment. The feeling of Fernandos hug, Luis’s smile, Elvira’s friendship….
…
Argentina, you were rest. You were exhaustion. You were family. We arrived and dragged our bags through your eucalyptus forested property to a two story building with four rooms and over (approximately) 60 bunks. You were clean. And felt safe. From one side of the property the other didn’t exist because of the dense trees. There were dirt paths leading from one side to the other, and one that encircled the property. The whole forest held little ropes course challenge spots – bubbles of surprise when taking a walk alone.
I woke to the sound of birds and a sliver of daylight from the edge of a window visible under the bunk above me.
The clothes id hand washed the night before hanging from the slats above me.
The room was full of bunks, bodies, and bags.
I kept my bags unopened on my bunk.
Meals were at predictible times.
The kitchen was my rest spot. I could go in and wash dishes, and my mind and energy could relax. No one demanded anything from me because i was already doing something they didnt want to do.
Ministry was with YWAM staff. We always had someone with us. Someone to interpret. We helped on the base cooking and cleaning, we helped prep land for 4 new houses (in the heat and with a lot of exertion cleared the land of brush and weeds, my hands bled from popped blisters while i wacked away at the thorns our sin produced). Our partner in crime that day Marcelo wore a dark full zip up suit – like mechanics wear – in the blistering heat. He hacked on without complaint for all the hours we did. Near the end, my edges fraying i hacked with loud words of exhortation. I told the weeds to give up so i could be done.
We taught games and songs in english in a kindergarden, we did prayer and intercession walks in gang and trash infested neighborhoods, we helped a small kindergarden in an extremely poor part of the city, prepare for a christmas celebration by making flower decorations for the tables.
Despite their poverty they brought us meatloaf, juice, and cake.
We also helped prep donated items for the staff and community and nearbye prison.
We went into the main city of mendoza and did evangelism in a public park: put on a skit, teaching, played games, and painted nails. A whole group of kids asked Jesus into their hearts that day.
I still pray and ponder about one little girl about 11 years old who seemed to have a very heavy heart…but she left soon after the prayer and i wasnt able to hear more or pray more specifically with her….
We invited people to a church by going door to door and praying for whatever needs they had, and then did singing, and shared testimonies and a preaching.
And last but not least we put on a youth retreat.
This was my favorite ministry moment in Argentina. We got up early and packed modified bags for the weekend. Then we walked to the front of the base and waited for our ride.
Soon a long white van came and we climbed into the back and sat on the floor, our bags, or the makeshift bench along the side.
Then we bumped along back there for 45 minutes as our driver took us out into the countryside to a low long house situated in the front of a vineyard.
This was our weekend.
We were totally in charge of a weekend retreat for 30-40 teens and young adults. And honestly, although we planned everything out (the night before when we were told about it) i still don’t know how we pulled it off.
It went so well! It was totally God.
We played games – laughed, and ate, and rested and played more games. I hid in a back room and wrote and then preached a sermon and felt God move as a whole lotta people stood at the end and surrendered their wills asking God to empower them to walk in the identity of “Loved One”, to know Him, and to learn from Him.
It was just a group of people coming together just as we are, and honestly sharing life together for two days.
There were jokes, and tears, and worship, and prayers, and the last night a bonfire.
How can i convey to you that feeling?
The ground was wet and puddled and muddy from rain that flew in with little notice. A group of older ladies hung around the house, mopping mud and cooking hot savory dishes.
The sun refracting off the water puddles everywhere, and streaming thru the leaves and bamboo slats that shaded the area we occupied during most of the day.
The shouts of kids as they played ball during free time. The taste of warm tea as we listened to spanish words and waited for Betto our YWAM friend to translate.
And Betto. And Sanna. And their two little boys….how can i explain all the little looks, and laughs, and bonds that grew in argentina?!
Betto and Sanna met there at the YWAM base during their DTS (discipleship training school). They did not like eachother. Then they got to know eachother beyond their little habits and annoyances. Sanna is from Finland.
They got married and are fulltime YWAMers in need up support. This year they hope to be able to get support to cover what they still lack in for the past few months, and so they can travel to see family on their off time. (I will post a guest post for support!)
Then there’s Jonny.
My 19 year old Argentinian brother. You were the first person i met, and we were both wearing batman shirts. You made me smile when i had nothing to smile about.
Everyday, you wake up and youre following Jesus in the mundane because you couldn’t deny His call on you while you were busy partying your life away.
You shame my poor attitude in the face of exhaustion.
When our squad had all night worship, you stayed up, danced and prayed and sang with us, although you had a full schedule of work the next day.
I wont forget that.
Standing, watching the sunrise with you. Worship still warm in our mouth’s.
Argentina: you were a new home for me. Because ywam staff became family.
Even when i didnt want to be there, i wanted to be there.
You are the rain, and the mud, and the cold shower at the end of a very sticky day.
You are courage, and laughter in the face of 50ft rope drops. That sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when gravity pulls me down…
You are cold milk chocolate under the orange tarped greenhouse and the feeling of 50 mosquitos attacking my exposed arms all at once.
You are the hugs and the burning sensation of saying goodbye.
….
Bolivia.
I wake up in bed, and mosquito net is the first thing i see.
And i have wifi.
beautiful wonderful wifi.
I dont want to leave my cozy bed, but no-agenda time with the Lord is better.
I get up, grab my journal, bible, phone, and headphones and head down to the kitchen.
Everythings still locked up but that doesnt hinder me. I get in the kitchen and put water on the stove to boil. I put tea and sugar in my cup and wait.
When its ready i take my tea and stuff outside and pick one of the branchmade green cushioned chairs and sit down.
What does my time with God look like lately? Whatever He suggests.
I sip my tea and talk with Him…or listen to a worship song and praise Him. The mornings are generally cool, and i have no agenda. Just sit with Him….a verse comes and i look it up and meditate on it…i journal, i talk, i sip, i pray.
What did i do this month?
Well, you will have to read Recap#2. Because i reached 3622 words and decided to split this post :).
Any specific questions?
I will be happy to give more details!
Comment down below!
