We had a great last full day in Argentina. Nicole, Adam and Martha surprised us with a great homemade breakfast and I got the chance to lead morning devotions. I read Isaiah 145 and we discussed how MIGHTY our God truly is. We had final classes and then our family headed out for an adventure to find some tennis courts. Click on John's journal to see his write up about playing tennis with Jack.
Tonight John and I got to head out on a date night thanks to Adam offering to babysit. We were so thankful for the time to be together and have a nice meal out. The kids loved staying back and having tacos with everyone.
Tomorrow we will go to church and then start the loooong journey to Russia via a 14 hour flight to New York, an all day layover followed by an 8 hour flight to Finland and another 2 or so hours to Moscow.
We have had such an amazing first leg of this trip and I am so thankful for all that the Lord has done in and through this team. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
Off to Russia...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Great day
We had a day off today which was a much needed thing. We spent the morning sleeping in and slowly waking up as a team. It was a catch up morning. It was so nice to have breakfast and catch up on emails, pictures and just spend time all together in the hostel.
Of all places to go back to, the kids were very excited to head to the cemetary again. Their main reason was to bring food so they could feed the cats. The cemetary has so many cats and Naomi especially couldn't wait to get back there to check on them. John took Jack and Naomi there for the afternoon to have some Daddy time with them. They loved it and figured out the cats love french fries.
I spent the afternoon with the girls on the trip. We took the subway to the botanical gardens to explore and find a place to sit and hang for awhile. This group of girls is a whole lot of fun so far! God has handpicked such a unique group of girls with so many different personalities and giftings. It's really neat getting to know them all. Becca suggested that we do affirmations and led the team in this. It was such a special time to hear each girl get affirmed and to see the unity and joy this brought. We then shared our personal goals for the trip and it was so precious to see the vulnerability and their hearts for the Lord shining through. What an amazing group of women and I'm blessed to get to be a part of this journey with them.
We came home to quite a suprise and the guys of the team planned a candelit dinner for us. They pushed all the chairs and tables from the entire hostel into the lobby and set up one huge dining room table. They served us drinks, salad, pasta, hot chocolate and ice cream...and they even serenaded us! It was quite a night...thank you guys...you blew us away!
Thank you Lord for this team and for the experiences you have already given us as a group.
Of all places to go back to, the kids were very excited to head to the cemetary again. Their main reason was to bring food so they could feed the cats. The cemetary has so many cats and Naomi especially couldn't wait to get back there to check on them. John took Jack and Naomi there for the afternoon to have some Daddy time with them. They loved it and figured out the cats love french fries.
I spent the afternoon with the girls on the trip. We took the subway to the botanical gardens to explore and find a place to sit and hang for awhile. This group of girls is a whole lot of fun so far! God has handpicked such a unique group of girls with so many different personalities and giftings. It's really neat getting to know them all. Becca suggested that we do affirmations and led the team in this. It was such a special time to hear each girl get affirmed and to see the unity and joy this brought. We then shared our personal goals for the trip and it was so precious to see the vulnerability and their hearts for the Lord shining through. What an amazing group of women and I'm blessed to get to be a part of this journey with them.
We came home to quite a suprise and the guys of the team planned a candelit dinner for us. They pushed all the chairs and tables from the entire hostel into the lobby and set up one huge dining room table. They served us drinks, salad, pasta, hot chocolate and ice cream...and they even serenaded us! It was quite a night...thank you guys...you blew us away!
Thank you Lord for this team and for the experiences you have already given us as a group.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Our life is very different in Argentina...
Our family is sleeping in bunk beds and wearing our clothes multiple times each. In fact Jack says he loves this because he only has to shower every 3 or 4 days and he gets to sleep in the same clothes he wore that day. He is in boy heaven!
We wake each morning to the sounds of the team waking up and the creaky bar doors opening from each room. Then we usually brush our teeth with a few people at a time which is funny and bonding. :)
Breakfast consists of coffee and toast and the bustle of good mornings with all the students
Morning devotions and worship is an amazing start to the day. The sound of 30 voices praising the Lord in the morning is incredible!
John and Adam then lead class from about 10:30 to 1 while I homeschool Jack and Naomi or we explore the city for a bit. Today we walked to the laundromat and got our clothes washed!
Lunch is usually a sandwich from the corner. Jamon y queso
The afternoons are spent with L.I.F.E. Argentina serving in the slums of Buenos Aires. We play with the kids, tutor them in spanish and math, and just love on them. The kids melt our hearts and it's a joy to be with them. It's such a blessing to watch Jack and Naomi jump in with two feet and play games, make friends, and serve in any way they can too. This experience has been so amazing for them already.
Dinner is super late in Argentina but definately worth it as it has delicious food...and of course the gelato has been a hit for everyone.
Nights are late and there hasn't been much sleep but we are feeling like a family in our hostel. There is always someone studying, someone playing worship on a guitar, someone trying to get a hot shower, a group up laughing or talking, and people coming home with stories of what they experienced.
Monday night bible study and late night Thursday worship are part of our routine now as well. We have explored the awesome streets, markets and culture. The city is bustling and we are picking up on Spanish. We took tango lessons and I even joined in on an impromtu drum line dance in the street. I think we have a video so that might surface at some point. :)
As I write this I am sitting on my bottom bunk which definately makes me feel like we have a whole new sense of "normal" for us in the next coming months. :)
This group of students is absolutely amazing...each one of them. They are adventurous and fun and a pleasure to travel with. I have been blown away by the joyful attitudes and "let's go for it" gusto of this team. They even threw Jack a suprise party on his birthday at McDonalds with gifts and all. They pour love on Jack and Naomi all through the day and it's a huge answer to pray!
Thank you so much for all the encouraging comments and emails. We truly appreciate the prayer and have been blown away at the blessings God has bestowed on us as a team.
We wake each morning to the sounds of the team waking up and the creaky bar doors opening from each room. Then we usually brush our teeth with a few people at a time which is funny and bonding. :)
Breakfast consists of coffee and toast and the bustle of good mornings with all the students
Morning devotions and worship is an amazing start to the day. The sound of 30 voices praising the Lord in the morning is incredible!
John and Adam then lead class from about 10:30 to 1 while I homeschool Jack and Naomi or we explore the city for a bit. Today we walked to the laundromat and got our clothes washed!
Lunch is usually a sandwich from the corner. Jamon y queso
The afternoons are spent with L.I.F.E. Argentina serving in the slums of Buenos Aires. We play with the kids, tutor them in spanish and math, and just love on them. The kids melt our hearts and it's a joy to be with them. It's such a blessing to watch Jack and Naomi jump in with two feet and play games, make friends, and serve in any way they can too. This experience has been so amazing for them already.
Dinner is super late in Argentina but definately worth it as it has delicious food...and of course the gelato has been a hit for everyone.
Nights are late and there hasn't been much sleep but we are feeling like a family in our hostel. There is always someone studying, someone playing worship on a guitar, someone trying to get a hot shower, a group up laughing or talking, and people coming home with stories of what they experienced.
Monday night bible study and late night Thursday worship are part of our routine now as well. We have explored the awesome streets, markets and culture. The city is bustling and we are picking up on Spanish. We took tango lessons and I even joined in on an impromtu drum line dance in the street. I think we have a video so that might surface at some point. :)
As I write this I am sitting on my bottom bunk which definately makes me feel like we have a whole new sense of "normal" for us in the next coming months. :)
This group of students is absolutely amazing...each one of them. They are adventurous and fun and a pleasure to travel with. I have been blown away by the joyful attitudes and "let's go for it" gusto of this team. They even threw Jack a suprise party on his birthday at McDonalds with gifts and all. They pour love on Jack and Naomi all through the day and it's a huge answer to pray!
Thank you so much for all the encouraging comments and emails. We truly appreciate the prayer and have been blown away at the blessings God has bestowed on us as a team.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Happy Birthday Jack
9 years ago my baby boy was born. John and I are blessed beyond words to have Jack...what a fun and amazing boy to raise. Crazy to think that nine years later I would be waking up in a hostel in Argentina, no shower in days, with a team of college students on this incredible journey to say Felix cumpleanos to Jack!!! Thank you Lord for Jack and this opportunity...truly amazing! The woman from the hostel just came by our room to gush over Jack and rub his head and pinch his ear and sing Felix cumpleanos...what a great start to his birthday.
John and Adam just headed out to teach the team in the famous and amazing Recoleta cemetery...pretty dreamy to get to lecture in these crazy locations. I believe they will be sitting by Evita's gravesite.
Later today we will be with Life Argentina working in the slums with the children again. It's heartbreaking to see the conditions but amazing to see the joy in the childrens faces. We pray for God's love and light to shine through us and also that our hearts would be changed and broken for those around us.
John and Adam just headed out to teach the team in the famous and amazing Recoleta cemetery...pretty dreamy to get to lecture in these crazy locations. I believe they will be sitting by Evita's gravesite.
Later today we will be with Life Argentina working in the slums with the children again. It's heartbreaking to see the conditions but amazing to see the joy in the childrens faces. We pray for God's love and light to shine through us and also that our hearts would be changed and broken for those around us.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Buenos Aires
We arrived yesterday after almost a full 24 hours of traveling. Travelling with 30 people is quite fun and thankfully went very smooth for our first experience all together. Unfortunately after flying one 8 hour leg and then another 5 hour leg we were delayed in the air because of fog and then even had to land in Uraguay for a few hours while we waited in the plane before taking off again to Buenos Aires...therefore an extra 4hours in the plane :). The adventure has begun. Jack and Naomi were champs and slept and played for the whole time. Love those seat back entertainment systems for long flights.
The drive through the city made us so excited to be here. Naomi was fascinated by all the laundry hang drying out the tall city apartments. I can already tell it's a very warm culture and we can't wait to explore it. The weather is cold and wintery and I am so happy we packed some warm clothes. The hostel is like an old Argentina home with a courtyard and tall ceilings. We have a room for our family with two bunk beds and the rest of the team are in rooms of 4 or 8 bunk rooms. We all share a few bathrooms and there isn't much privacy so we will definitely be getting to know each other. :). It feels homey already and we have a big living room for devotions and class time which is great.
We had only been here about an hour yesterday and we walked next door to the empanadas cafe and all the guys in our team had befriended an Argentinian grandma and were sharing a meal with her practicing their Spanish and ended by praying with her. God is so good to begin the trip with experiences like this right away.
Breakfast this morning in the hostel was coffee and bread with dulce de leche jam on it. Jack and Naomi loved it and are hoping we have this every morning. :)
We begin our work with Life Argentina this afternoon working with the children in the "villas" or slums of Buenos Aires. Please be praying for us.
Gracias!!!!
The drive through the city made us so excited to be here. Naomi was fascinated by all the laundry hang drying out the tall city apartments. I can already tell it's a very warm culture and we can't wait to explore it. The weather is cold and wintery and I am so happy we packed some warm clothes. The hostel is like an old Argentina home with a courtyard and tall ceilings. We have a room for our family with two bunk beds and the rest of the team are in rooms of 4 or 8 bunk rooms. We all share a few bathrooms and there isn't much privacy so we will definitely be getting to know each other. :). It feels homey already and we have a big living room for devotions and class time which is great.
We had only been here about an hour yesterday and we walked next door to the empanadas cafe and all the guys in our team had befriended an Argentinian grandma and were sharing a meal with her practicing their Spanish and ended by praying with her. God is so good to begin the trip with experiences like this right away.
Breakfast this morning in the hostel was coffee and bread with dulce de leche jam on it. Jack and Naomi loved it and are hoping we have this every morning. :)
We begin our work with Life Argentina this afternoon working with the children in the "villas" or slums of Buenos Aires. Please be praying for us.
Gracias!!!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
1hour till take off
We are sitting in LAX waiting to board for Buenos Aires...the Concordia send off was awesome. Everyone has their passports and we are all together...all 30 of us. Great start!!! Thank you for all your prayers
Sunday, August 15, 2010
only a few hours to go...
It's 8pm the night before we leave for the adventure of a lifetime. It's almost surreal. We are actually packed and our backpacks are waiting by the door. Getting the house to leave for 4 months and getting everything in order to leave the pets was about as difficult as packing. :) We had an amazing send off at church this morning. We feel covered and supported in prayer...it is such a blessing to have so many friends and family behind us in this journey. We had a tearful good bye to my parents today as well. SO happy they will be with us in just 2 months in Egypt. We meet up with the team at Concordia in just 12 hours and then after a University send off we are on our way to LAX. Buenos Aires here we come...
Friday, August 13, 2010
3 day countdown
VBS ends today...what a great week. We have had time with family and friends and have felt so supported by every message, prayer and encouragement we have received.
Please continue to pray for us this weekend as we finish packing, prepping our house, final preparations and good bye's. We have a whole mix of emotions going on right now and I can even see that the kids are experiencing it too.
Just checked the weather...Argentina is having the coldest winter in the last 40 years and Russia is having a heatwave...this makes packing a challenge :)
Please continue to pray for us this weekend as we finish packing, prepping our house, final preparations and good bye's. We have a whole mix of emotions going on right now and I can even see that the kids are experiencing it too.
Just checked the weather...Argentina is having the coldest winter in the last 40 years and Russia is having a heatwave...this makes packing a challenge :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
9 days till take off...
We are 9 days away from the adventure of a lifetime. The packing, the preparations, the visas, the lesson plans, the homeschooling plans, the immunizations and on and on can get tedious and exhausting but the 4 months ahead of us keeps us excited and pressing forward. We are about to embark on a dream opportunity that the Lord has blessed our family with.
We have the opportunity to lead a team from Concordia University this fall semester on a trip literally Around the World. We will cover 10 countries in the next 4 months along side a team of 25 college students. John will be teaching this group along with another professor and friend, Adam Lee. I will be homeschooling Jack and Naomi which I am sure will be a mixture of hard, great and everything in between. It will be new for all of us! :)
The group will spend 2-3 weeks each in Argentina, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, India, Indonesia and China. The dates of the trip are August 16th- December 17th, 2010. In every country we will not only be studying but experiencing the culture and trying to immerse ourselves in it. We will take part in many service projects such as teaching English in China, volunteering for an Indian orphanage, serving in the slums of Kenya and India and Biblical and historical research projects in Israel, Jordan, Kenya and Turkey.
I don't think I mentioned yet that we are doing this all for $27 per day and only taking backpacks. :) This challenge actually excites me believe it or not. But check back for later posts to see how this is actually working out. :)
The story of how God brought this amazing opportunity to us is a story for another time. (a future post) We are blown away and beyond thankful to have this chance. We greatly appreciate your prayers and we have been so blessed by the love and support we have received in the planning of this trip. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
We hope to update often with tales of the journey, pictures, prayer requests, and stories of what God is showing us around the world. If you click on John's Journal to the right of the blog, he will have his reflections on a seperate page. So check that out as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)