I can hear them sleigh bells ring...

WOW!!!!!

I can't believe that tomorrow I am boarding a plane for the USA! In many ways it feels like I have lived here forever. I definitely still carry the label gringa and will for the rest of my life…lol… but I now naturally initiate greetings with a kiss, when people talk in Spanish I no longer hear gibberish but CONVERSATIONS, love matte, think in Pesos and military times and I'm shocked when someone talks to me in English!

God has taught me a lot over the past 3 months. How to bring all of my frustrations, dreams, concerns, my complete being to His feet. I have enjoyed the privilege of studying in an environment where everything is Christ centered from the moment you wake up until you literally crash into bed. I love the fact that God reveals Himself in everything around us. I can be pulling a stubborn weed in Jardinería in the pouring rain or hot humidity and carry on a conversation with the girl working alongside me about how God is working in our lives or passages of scripture. I love how when I have dish pit aka Lavado, the whole kitchen is filled with the sound of laughter as we sing our hearts out in Spanish. Palabra de Vida is definitely a unique place, a place that I feel very blessed to be at. It is not always easy but as God promises in His word He never gives us more than we can carry and He is there with us all the way.

God is really blessing our Bilingual Bible Program Choir ministry. We traveled to different churches and performed over the past month. Several people accepted Christ as their savior at these events. I am in awe of the fact that God would choose to use me to further His kingdom. We sang at the missions conference this weekend and were told afterwords that we are going to sing every week of camp this summer. Music is such a powerful tool! Our director Ashley has completed her time teaching at the missionary school and is getting married next December so will not be returning in January with the rest of us. Please pray that God will raise up another leader to take over this ministry.

There is so much more I could share and I'm sure I will in posts over Christmas break or possibly in person…maybe even in Spanish…that is if you can understand mine! I am not really sure what to call it. I have friends from all over South America and they have all taught me their "slang" My english has taken a serious hit as I find myself saying things like, "I have hunger" or "No sit in that chair broken" hahaha I've been assured this is a good thing :)

Entonces...I think it is safe to say that I now speak neither English or Spanish but INTERNATIONAL SPANGLISH

I love and appreciate all of your prayers and support more then I can put into words and that is not because my languages are failing me but because I am overwhelmed by the love God has shown me through ustedes…I mean you!

orphanage

Once again my good intentions of posting more frequently flew out the window, but that is something that comes with the crazy, wonderful life I am living here in Argentina :0)

Therefore please ignore the grammatical errors that are sure to follow due to pressed time

Last fin de semana (weekend) on Thursday during class our director Lucas was talking with us about ministry opportunities. He said that we, the bilingual bible program, had the opportunity go to churches and various other places that weekend. He mentioned that there were a few more slots for people who wanted to work in the orphanage. I was contemplating raising my hand when I was pleasantly surprised to find I was already one of the eight people listed to go! We were supposed to head out the next day after classes but the roads were flooded so the decision was made to leave on Saturday at 8:15 am instead, which in Argentina I learned pretty quickly means 9:00 am =)

Ten minutes into the trip our driver tried turning the van around for gas but instead of performing a perfect u turn we managed to get stuck in the mud alongside the road. The three guys (Josiah, Brennan and Nathan) hopped out and tried pushing the van out of the mud but instead of escaping the gooey grossness we were creeping slowly closer and closer to

the near embankment. The five of us who were left in the van (Brittany, Amanda, Athena, Sarah and I) decided that we would rather die outside of the car than in it...lol... so we jumped out in a noble attempt to keep the van from perishing. Working together as a team we soon freed the van and were once again on our journey to Hogar el Alba (the orphanage). After laughing over our comical bus experience we had a great time singing campfire songs, hymns, sharing bible verses and a time of prayer... needless to say by the time we reached the orphanage everyone was bubbling over with excitement.

After settling into the rooms my group headed over to the orphanage's church building to meet with the Director. Pray for the director as He appeared to be in bad health. We were then sent to an apartment they were remodeling to paint. I climbed up on a ladder and taped around the molding!

We took a break from painting to eat lunch and help set up a game for the kids. We formed a rectangle by laying benches around the gymnasium floor and then left an opening on both ends. During the game everyone is assigned a number and when you hear your number called you and your partner run into the circle and grab a broom and try to get the ball into the other teams goal. It wasn't long before we found ourselves playing amongst the kids, cheering on our team and eagerly waiting for our turn.

Later on Saturday night we hopped in a bus with all of the kids and drove to a nearby church for a service and time of fellowship.

The next morning we gathered our bibles and headed over to the church on the orphanage property for the 11:00 am service.

Funny story... when we were dropped off at the orphanage on Saturday our van driver casually mentioned to our host that we could sing. Next thing we knew we were asked to sing on Sunday morning hahahaha...

The service started in typical Argentine time, 11:45 am. It was really cool that the service got a late start because I was able to have a long conversation with someone in Spanish. It was very encouraging to be reminded that I am learning the language.

The rest of Sunday was left open for playing games with the kids in the orphanage. It was awesome and a great blessing for me. I have made several friends there that I am keeping up with through Facebook and letters. Later we went to a very small church sing again. God stretched everyone in our group in different ways. The Pastor asked Josiah to pray and share His testimony in Spanish, a few others shared where we were from and what we were doing. God was faithful in providing us with the words to share even with our limited vocabulary. It was very obvious to us that we were not the one speaking but merely the Lord's foot messengers. It was a blessing to see how the Lord allowed us to be his vessels to bless the congregation.

Going on ministry was a great experience and as always I think the Lord worked more in my life and heart then those I went to minister to. My heart's desire is to be able to use Spanish to share the love of God with others. It is awesome to see the Lord's faithfulness time and time again in learning Spanish. Thank you for your prayers.

Palermo

Sorry that it has been so long since I have updated all of you.

Last week I experienced being sick for the first time in a foreign country away from home. 103 fever... the whole nine yards. For the first two days I braved feeling terrible to go to classes since you cannot retake exams here and the PBB (Bilingual Bible Program) has an exam every week. I was very happy when the weekend came around for some rest. God blessed me with many friends who brought me food, tapped me on the shoulder to make sure I was alive and just showed me they cared.

Your prayers were definitely felt and greatly appreciated on September 21st, when I along with roughly 100 or more other students stepped off our buses at Palermo and faded into the sea of faces. September 21st was the first day of Spring here (I know a funny thought) and therefore a holiday for all students in Buenos Aires. The park was filled with THOUSANDS of faces and on each one you could sense a desperate longing for something greater than themselves. A mixture of alcohol and various drugs hung in the air as people openly participated in all sorts of things even at the early hour of 12pm and small children begged on corners of the park. If someone does not feel the call to share the gospel I would challenge that person to spend just a few minutes in Palermo and see if God changes their mind. My heart broke for the thousands searching for fulfillment and finding only temporary satisfaction. When we hold in our hands a permanent solution how can we withhold it from them?

Because of the language barrier I talked through a translator but I was able to share several verses in Spanish, which is a huge praise! Three girls who were sitting amongst a rowdy group of guys accepted Christ against the taunts of their friends. I pray that I would have unashamed faith like those girls. These adorable gypsy children were selling flowers on the street. They would look up at you with their big brown eyes, lip puckered and hand extended even after you shook your head no. I told one of the small children that I could not buy a flower but if she wanted I would tell her a story. She gleefully clapped her hands and took a seat on the grass next to me. During the story she shyly inched closer and closer until she was sitting on my lap intently gazing at the colorful evangecube. When I finished the story the Katerina, the small beautiful 8 years old girl, asked Christ to come live on her heart. Katerina is an orphan and works with a band of gypsy children and their leader selling flowers for a living. Katerina cannot read but she told me with a huge smile that spread across her dirty little face that she was going to tell herself the story every night! She also made me retell the story to her friends and gave a track to the woman who is in charge of them. Please pray for everyone who made a decision at Palermo and for all of the seeds that were planted.

Yo estoy aprendiendo mucho español muy despacio. In other words... I am learning a lot of Spanish very slowly. I cannot wait until I can carry on a full conversation with mis amigos. My bilingual friends have been very helpful in the learning process...mostly helping me laugh at my pathetic accent... hahahaha. I was very excited when I went to UME this Wednesday and realized that I was understanding almost everything being said before it was translated! I am comprehending a lot more then I can reply to.

Please pray for the PBB choir this Wednesday as we will be performing before the student body for the first time and in Spanish!

This Sunday is mi companera de cuarto birthday. Arielle is so sweet!!!!

I miss and love all of you a ton <3

Week 3!!!!

I am now in my third week at the bible institute and life is falling into a steady rhythm....

Sunday is truly a day of rest here. Breakfast is at 8:30 and then iglesia starts at 10:00 (which in Argentine language it is safe to assume 15 minutes after whatever they tell you). The rest of the day is spent catching up with family, walking to town, studying for exams, and enjoying your free time...because you know it is rare! We are also given the opportunity to go around the lake for evangelism. The lake in town is relatively empty during the week but during the weekend it is bursting with life.

Monday

Breakfast starts at 8am

Bible for three hours at 10am

Lunch at 1pm

Choir practice from 2:30-4:30

Ashley, a young woman who is teaching at the Christian School here on campus, is directing a choir for all of the PBB students. Her mom was very influential in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Ashley herself led a student choir during her college years and is working with Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's sister church now. The plan is for our choir to travel around Argentina and possibly elsewhere singing in both Spanish and English as a ministry. Ashley will be with us for a few months. I am very excited the PBB group is very musically gifted.

Monday has a relaxed schedule because a lot of the students from the bible institute leave over the weekend for ministries in Churches near and far. The rest of Monday is used as a catch all for any extra classes.

Tuesday-Thursday

Roommates alarm goes off at 5am and continues to ring until 6am, when I get up :0)

Breakfast (which is required) is at 6:50. Every morning your choices are cornflakes, bread with dulce de leche or jam and a banana with coffee or tea.

The entire student body then goes to the small chapel at 7:45 for a prerecorded audio service on the morning's devotion by Joe Jordan. The service is translated for us PBB students through our headsets.

After devotions I run to the PBB room for 3 hours of bible class. I'm enjoying the opportunity to really dive into God's word. Please pray for my exam in bible on Monday!

From Bible I hurry off to chapel where we sing a few songs and listen to a sermon from a guest speaker or one of the professors here at the school.

When chapel ends I have a 30 minute break or 15 depending on if the speaker went over.

Spanish is 2 hours and a very challenging class for me because my teacher doesn't speak any English. It is slowly getting easier to understand her and I have learned a lot from my friends and work.

Every student is required to do lavado (dish pit) 3 meals a week. The girls I work with love to teach me new spanish words and have huge servants hearts.

Spanish class ends at 1pm and then I head off to the comedor for lunch.

Study hours is from 2:30-4:00 in the PBB classroom.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Deporte, mine being handball, from 4:15-6:00. On

Wednesday and Friday I have work for 2 hours from 4:15-6:00. I am currently in Cleaning but I think they are transferring me to gardening. Word of life does not hire anyone to help upkeep the school. Everything is done by the student body to help keep costs down.

Dinner is at 7:00

We have study hours again at 8:30-9:45, except for Wednesday because we have UME . I have been assigned to the UME group Nicaragua. I look forward to learning more about the country and knowing specifically how I can pray. Please add Nicaragua to your prayers!

In dorms is at 10pm and then my roommates and I have one of the planned activities I told you about in my last post. Lights out is at 10:30 but always ends up being later.

Friday's schedule is the same as Tuesday-Thursday except that we do not have study hours at night. I have replaced those hours with Argentine Uno, Worship time with students around a table with a cup of mate and a guitar and growing in God's word. :)

Saturday... we don't really have a set schedule but we always have at least two hours of work and something else...not sure lol

This is the crazy life I am living here, but with its craziness comes a ton of blessings! Thanks for your prayers!

Prayer requests:

learning the language

evangelism in Buenos Aires on Tuesday

A virus is going around and I am starting to feel a little under the weather :(

my new home

Wow! I can’t believe after a year of praying and preparing I have been in Argentina for a week! It was hard to say goodbye to everyone but I know that this is where God wants me to be.

The plane ride was great! I couldn’t sleep but a girl named Courtney who is also in the PBB program sat next to me and we stayed up chatting half the night. I also managed to get all my luggage through the airport…building some serious muscles!

I was told in an email to meet the Word of life representatives

under the orange meeting point sign at the EZE airport. I figu

red out later that saying meet under the orange sign is like saying, "turn at the blinking light" which one! After all of the group had gathered in the airport I climbed aboard the school's newly donated double decker bus and headed to my new home.

I live in room 423...pictures coming soon. :)

I am on the top bunk which is really high off the ground so I made a pact with the other girls in PBB that if anyone hears a big thud in the middle of the night we must come to each others aid. In addition to making our beds and keeping our cubby clean every morning, my roommates and I take turns each day sweeping, wiping windows, etc.

I love my roommates they have made me feel at home. I am probably going to butcher there names but it is worth a try!!! Johanna is 18 and is from Argentina but moved to Portugal with her parents a while back, Arielle is 17 and is from Mexico. Both Arielle and Johanna are in their first year at the bible institute. Rebecca is my room supervisor, she is in her third year and is from Costa Rica. The girls surprised me one day by labeling everything in Spanish and English. They are so thoughtful!

Our first day in Monte we went to a restaurant called Maria (something hahahaha) name will be coming to you soon ;) I ate all sorts of Argentine delicacy meats, which basically means don’t ask. For those of you who know me very well that is a pretty BIG deal. Needless to say the school cafeteria’s main dish is always centered around beef…found in the field directly across the road from the school

Each night of the week we have something special planned. Tuesday nights we have a missionary come to our room and share her testimony. My roommates and I each have a job hosting the missionary... bring cookies, hot water, tea, tidy the room or washing the dishes. It is a great time of fellowship. On Wednesday we have UME (Student Missionary Union..I think?) For UME you pick a country you want to learn more about and then with other students you pray for that specific country. Because I came in the middle of the bible institute year I picked three and I will be placed in one of those countries next week. On Thursday the girls in my room and I rotate sharing our testimony and I will figure out today what Friday holds!

This week has been full of orientation classes. I love my evangelism class with David Santander. On September 21st we are going to Buenos Aires for the sole purpose of evangelism. Please pray that the Lord would direct our words and prepare the hearts of those who we will come into contact with.

Today was the first day of Spanish class. Please pray!!! Our teacher doesn't speak any English in class and doesn't really know any English either. I know that God will be faithful to help me through the classes Philippians 4:4

I believe that it is very safe to say that Argentine Uno is way more fun then American Uno! It has been great getting to know

the people here at the school. I can't wait for the day when I can carry a full conversation that does not consist of broken Spanglish.

I went to my new town, San Miguel de Monte with several PBB students on Saturday. It is a gorgeous 15 minute walk, when it is not raining! God's creation astounds me!

Chapel has been really neat. We sing with all of the students in Spanish and then the sermon is translated for us through headphones. It is really cool how everyone is connected through Christ and even though we may not understand each other we share a common purpose.

Thanks for your prayers and support! The internet connection is bad here so I will try to post as often as I can.

shopping and shopping and shots... OH MY!

I don't think I fully understood the phrase "shop till you drop" until this week! Looking carefully over my packing list and smiling each time I draw squiggly lines through a word with my trusty purple pen has made me come to the shocking realization that I leave in less than a week!

This eventful summer has flown by! A brief synopsis to catch you up to the present day...

I started working my second season at Water Country back in January as one of the training coordinators and stayed until July 17th . I have enjoyed the new experience of being a lifeguard instructor and hope I get the opportunity to do it again next year.

I am very happy to say that I have a new sister...well sister-in-law...but Ashleigh fits into the family so well she might as well be a sister. Love you!!!

On June 12th I graduated in Richmond, VA with over two hundred other homeschool graduates at the Convention Center. During our church graduation celebration I was voted most likely to open a veggie burger franchise

I lost my voice two months ago and it was gone for about a month and a half. I went through 12 dry-erase markers! It was unclear as to whether or not I was going to be able to go to Argentina, but nothing can stop the Lord's will. I was diagnosed with severe muscle tension dysphonia caused by Larangytis. I have been working with a Speech Therapist, who is awesome, and I am happy to say that my vocal pitch has dropped from 340 back to a normal 220 :)

My FBI background check came back and they were unable to find anything on me ;)

Grandmom and I celebrated our birthdays... I am officially 18!

I got my shots and had no issues which is an answer to prayer!

God is bringing everything together perfectly! I am so grateful to have an awesome support group of people who care about me!

6 MORE DAYS!!!!!