The last week has been so full!
I’m learning how to be completely flexible and not get my mind set on any expectation. Monday and Tuesday are the off days which usually include laundry, reading, getting WiFi, poking around the city center, long bus rides/waiting at the bus stop, and exploring the cool touristy stuff.
Wednesday my team was told we would be helping to build a green house in the morning and cleaning the humongous pool in the afternoon. We ended up sorting through donated clothes for the women’s prison and the local neighborhood, and in the afternoon raking leaves. Oh and I saw a turanchula (aside from in a pet store or zoo) for the first time! I was pretty uncomfortable with its existence so I asked a staff memeber/local and he gave the okay to do away with it so I chopped it in half! Some may feel that the spider deserved to live but I didn’t have that conviction…I’ve been killing little spiders with my bare hands daily.
Thursday was Thanksgiving in America! My team prepared a presentation on recycling for a local school. We went for the bus at 12ish because we were supposed to present at 1:30. No bus wanted to stop for ten ladies apparently. We hailed three buses with no success for nearly two hours. Eventually someone from the base came and picked the ten of us up in the back of a pickup truck. Never rode in the back with so many people and 6-8 frozen turkeys! After our presentation we rode the school bus to drop off the school kids and eventually were dropped off at our bus stop. Thursdays at the base are a time for intercession prayer, worship, and a word. I always love this time for group worship. The word was a testimony of a squadmate who encouraged us to be known, to which I felt conviction that maybe I had unintentionally been holding back in some way. After there was a time of feet washing, which was very humbling. I teared up. It’s a very special thing. Then we enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and a little dance party!
Friday my team was serving lunch as a “soup kitchen” where we give a devotional and bring food to an old train station for homeless people and hungry locals. It was not a huge group. When my team was asked who would give the devotional (lasting 4-5 mins including the translation), I volunteered. I’ve been feeling for a while that I want to write something. This was my first time ever ever writing anything sermon like or speaking about God in front of strangers or a group like this. I felt confident and that God was leading me as I decided what to say:
“Today I want to talk about the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ died so that every person who ever lives would have the opportunity of everlasting life which is salvation, through faith in Christ and a desire for relationship with God the Father. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can have the Holy Spirit in us,to lead us in holiness and a life that honors God. Of course, this life of honoring God is not easy on our own, but in this, we are not alone.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him, because it does not see him, or know him.” For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. If the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead lives in you, then you do not live by your flesh which is hostile to God because it does not submit to God. But instead, the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.
For me, the Holy Spirit is the inner voice that reminds me of truth when I feel negative, convicts me when I think in a selfish or unkind way towards another, and brings peace when my heart is hurting. It’s the presence of God with me always.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort. I pray that He would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, the wealth of his glorious inheritance, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of His strength. May you begin to grasp the depth of his love for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
We had our bible study as a team before we left–I admitted to recognizing that I was holding back, and our team leader challenged us to be closer/more intentional and we discussed some ways which we can improve in this. Then headed to the “soup kitchen.”
Saturday there was a wedding in the evening so I worked all day long very hard to beautify the dining hall to be a reception hall. Helping to hang decorations, set up tables and chairs, and do anything to make the place ready! It was sooo beautiful–I enjoy seeing a final product after a day of work 🙂 Afterwards, we had a special team time drinking mate and painting nails then we talked about movies and life stories I was able to confess my places of not letting go and not trusting or holding back, and repented and declared that I want to grow closer with them and experience deeper vulnerability. I am learning and growing in how to walk out as a new creation in Christ, dying to self and learning to love deeper. How to go to God with my heart in all of it’s brokenness and fault.
Sunday, my team served in the kitchen and helped to clean up from the wedding. In the evening we took a bus to Mendoza for park evangelism. We split into groups-one Spanish speaker for each. My group prayed for a couple people and I even attempted a small prayer of blessing en Español! I loved seeing the smiles of those we could pray with. That night during the night, the squad vowed to pray through the night so we could sign up for different times. A prayer shield for the neighborhood, the base we live at, our ministry, our health, and prayer against spiritual attacks, and any other special prayer requests. My friend found a SCORPION UNDER HER PILLOW. Seriously? How does the scorpion go up the stairs and crawl into her bunk and get under the pillow!? We thought this was a bit of a spiritual attack. It’s crazy that of alll days she felt like she was supposed to turn on her headlamp and look under the pillow, since the lights were already out. Normally she would’ve just gone to bed–CRAZY… I’ve never even seen a scorpion in the wild!
Monday–I went with two teammates to a hot spring water park called Termas Cachueta. It was very relaxing and such a good day. One of my favorite days, probably ever! I have a waterproof camera and took sooo many pictures! We laughed a lot and enjoyed the extreme beauty around us.
Today I hand washed my clothes, had toast, and headed to town for wifi. Gonna need to pick up snacks for the two day bus ride to Bolivia in a week. I don’t believe I will have wifi again until Bolivia so don’t worry if you dont hear from me for a couple weeks.
KEEP MY SQUAD AND OUR FINANCIAL DEADLINES IN YOUR PRAYERS AND PRAY GOD USES US TO IMPACT THE PEOPLE AROUND US! 🙂
