If you’ve been following my journey, you may see a post every once in a while that talks about something simple or mundane we do in ministry & I talk about the way my team & I see God in it. Well, nothing about this month in Argentina has been ordinary or mundane – quite the opposite, actually, – making it more challenging to write about!
As we head into the next few days of debrief & rest before we transition to India, I find myself thinking back through the month of February.
For the past three weeks we have served at a YWAM Adventure Camp – where they use sports & adventure activities to share the love of God. You complete each activity & game together, forcing you to rely on those around you to keep you safe & help belay you to the top. Instead of dong a lot of food prep, cleaning, or kids ministry, we spent the month serving kids as they seek to adventure – possibly for the first time in their lives. We had the opportunity to partner with these kids as they climbed, soared, & ziplined to new heights. It was so fun!
Out of all the South American countries we served in, Argentina was the most different. For example, a typical Argentine eats dinner anywhere between 10pm-12am {normally this is my bed time!}. They have this lovely time set apart in the afternoon called “siesta” wherein nearly all the businesses close from 1-5 each afternoon {except the coffee shops!}. I think my favorite part of the Argentine culture is Merienda – you basically get dessert at 5 or 6 in the evening – think cookies, sometimes ice cream, & always a chilly drink. Another new/different thing about this culture is the Mate’ time! Unfortunately the coffee in Argentina is not known for being super tasty, so they drink a WHOLE LOTTA mate’ – they even have special cups & everything {see below}. Getting to experience all of this newness has been fun & I think easing us into the big transition to India next month.
I anticipate that everything is going to feel/look/taste/smell/hear different next month. With the busy, the newness of ministry & team, & even the continually changing plans – I imagine this is only a small glimpse into the newness of next month!
A word I felt the Lord declared over our team at the beginning of this month was: preparation.
If we weren’t helping set up or run a ropes course, we were helping to prepare for some event or the summer extreme camp {where we hiked, rapeled, & rafted!}. We were helping the staff prepare for something new – something challenging & something they needed help with.
This was such a cool analogy because it challenged me to think about the ways we spend time preparing our hearts to meet our father in heaven one day. Do I spend time cleaning my heart, wanting to make it a better place for the Holy Spirit to reside? Do I actually treat my body like a temple – working out regularly, drinking enough water, eating foods that make me feel healthy? {1 Corinthians 6: 19-20}.
I have been challenged a lot this race to dig deep – I am learning to discern the voice of the Lord & I continue to say yes everyday. It is a challenge to ask my teammates for forgiveness when I have been mean or rude. I have had the opportunity to choose humility over my own pride; choose grace over myself time & time again. Because I am human, it will never be in my nature to choose others before myself, but each time I do, I continue to wipe my heart clean, preparing a better place for the Holy Spirit to reside.
I am learning that each choice I make, small or big, can either bring me closer to God or pull me further away from Him.
The days are long, but the weeks are short – it has felt like a lifetime & only a single month, all at the same time, since I left the states. As always, I am so thankful for your support & prayers throughout this journey! I can’t believe I only have 6 months left on the field. I can’t wait to share more with you in the months to come.
