2 weeks down, 4 to go

¡hola chicos! Where has the time gone? It seems like so much has happened since my last post!

Sunday
Sunday we went to a hippie fair at one of the plazas, which was a really cool experience. I ended up buying a traverso flute (which the lady offerred me free lessons on over mystay in la plata) and a scarf.

For dinner Sunday we went to mcdonalds. It is so expensive here!!! For 15 pesos (5 bucks) I only got a plain cheeseburger, kids meal sized fry, and water!! It was crazy!



Monday
Monday was argentina's fake independence day so for English club we went to the bosque for a sports day. The funniest moment in that had to be the fact that while I was filming I totally got nailed with a soccer ball which knocked the camera to the ground. America's funniest home videos anyone?


Tuesday
Tuesday was our first day on campus. However we got there really late thanks to the banks here. It was our first chance to exchange money and being the culture that it is, it took about 2 hours for 5 people to change money. You had to wait in line to register, then wait to be called, then fill out paperwork, then go upstairs and wait in line to acutually change money. It was crazy!!!

This week we were at the physical and exact sciences campus, meaning few English speakers. Luckily, Sarah and I found juan and bélen, whom we talked to for 2 hours about god and American life...anything you can think of. From talking to them we learned a lot about argentine life

After campus, since I finally had money I went and purchased 20liters of water. I also got some frutilla tang mix, which is realllly good!

Tuesday night was also our first bible study night. I'm in Cindys which is so amazingly fun! Then we all went to a cool reatuarant to fellowship as women.


Wednesday
Wednesday on campus I ran into juan and bélen again and we had a great conversation about catholism and Methodism which gave meal chance to share the gospel some more. That was a lot of fun and well worth it! I also talked to a girl completely in Spanish today. Granted it was simple thing with bad grammar but I got a lot of practice.

I also went with abby and matt to the post office. Like the bank, this was a very long process. It's set up a lot like the DMV in the states. You go in, take a number, sit there until they decide to call you, then mail your letter. Problem is, this culture is very relational so in between and during helping people, they sit around talk, drink maté, anything you can think of!

Speaking of maté, I forgot to talk about it in my last post. Maté is like tea only it looks like weed in a cup. Argentines drink this all the time! The server pours water and passes it to the first person, then that person drink it all, then it's refilled and goes to the next person, etc around the circle. Oh, and it's rude to touch or wipe off the straw! So, partially because I don't like it, partially because it has cafeine, and also because it's a great way to spread germs, I have not been participating. Not to mention the ever growing rise of swine flu, which has now hit Argentina (but mainly in Buenos Aires).



Thursday
Thursday campus was kinda quiet so I just had discipleship with Cindy, did a prayer walk Around campus, then went to help pass our English club flyers. Thursday night we went over to the STiNtgirls apartments with some Argentine to watch a movie.



Friday
Friday was...interesting. After a quick lunch on campus, matt and I (one of the 2 guys on project) set out to talk to this guy and girl. Well, as we finished Solarium and they told us they didn't believe in God, one of their friends came over and wanted to do Solarium so matt took him and I asked the guy, gáston, why he didn't believe. Well, needles to say, I ended up sharing the gospel and my testimony for 2 1/2 hours with a crowd of 9 people. That was frustrating when they decided they didn't want to speak English anymore! 9 people talking fast in Spanish isn't what I meant when I asked God to give me practice speaking! What a sense of humor He has! Luckily, 3 of the girls from vida showed up and translated for me and helped me share with these 9 atheists. While none of them came to know the Lord, the seed was planted. Even the most "stubborn" guy agreed with me on some things and I could tell it was starting to work in his heart. God calls us to plant seeds so only He will see what will grow from that. It was a great experience but just solo overwhelming!

That night after English club, there was a fiesta during la vida to welcome us to "the tina". There was lots of dancing - everywhere from salsa to tango to cha cha slide to boot scoot boogy.


Saturday
Today was supposed to be a social project outside of la plata. However, it was an outdoors thing kind of like bible shook but due to rain it was cancelled. However, since we were going to do some songs for the kids (matt on guitar, I on trumpet, candice, michelle and elizabeth singing) we ended up sitting around and singing praise and worship songs all day. The coolest part is we were with argentines, obviously but we were in a Brazilian missionaries home, so we prayed and sang in 3 languages, sometimes at the same time. That was just so refreshing to know all nations praise God and music was the one time we could all communicate without a need for translation. Music is truly a gift from God



Tomorrow we are taking a day trip to Uruguay which should be super fun. We have to leave La Plata around 730am to catch the ferry in buenos aires around 930. We are going to rent mopeds which will be fun. Hahaha. Pray I don't wreck one of those things!


I would love to hear from you all! Feel free to comment on here and let me know how your life is going!!!