Let's Go

I should probably write a post before I forget everything that happened this week.

Well, after last time I wrote, I went to Maranata for the therapy session. This time her husband's aunt died. So again, no show. I can't even remember what we did. Thursday I passed with people at a friend's house. We ate delicious lasagna for dinner and then celebrated our friend's birthday at midnight. Friday was his birthday BBQ and we ate the whole leg of a cow (the shank?). I could tell that's what it was. And it was delicious. A few of us stayed a really long time and just hung out. We watched Clic later and one of the couples told us their plans to go to Cuba. Can't say I wasn't a bit jealous since I'm not ALLOWED to go to Cuba (dang governments!). Then returned home. At midnight on Saturday after grupo de jovenes, we sang happy birthday to my brother-in-law here. We spent Sunday at his family's house in Funes and watched the World Cup finals. And the storm outside. It was really a lovely day. We were late for church, but whatevs. After church, we went to Nicolasi (?) for another friend's birthday dinner. The cake was delicious.

Monday when I went to Maranata, I didn't really have a plan. I had been praying about it, but still had no idea. So I flipped through the Bible and ended up in Romans. After reading it once through, I decided we should do a Lectio Divina (a Latin way to read the Bible [read 3 times through. the first time, you listen for words or phrases that stick out to you. the second time, a picture or scene. the third, for something God has to say to you]). I think it went pretty well, despite the fact that directions were misunderstood and a few people never had anything to say. (Oh also, one of the women who passed through Maranata's program already showed up, so there were 6 women). All week I had been thinking of a silly team building exercise we did in Alpha called "the human knot". So I decided we'd do it. Turns out that they loved it, and one of the women who is not a believer actually got a lot out of it. Beatriz asked if there was a specific purpose for it, and when I just shrugged and said no, Gabriela politely said that yes, there was. And she proceeded to explain a significant purpose to the activity. I honestly can't remember (I don't think I fully understood) what she said, but I know it was pretty profound and had to do with helping each other. So I'm glad God used that. Oh my gosh! I almost forgot to add that they asked if I knew how to use "la maquinita" (little machine) for hair. I assumed they meant a straightener, so I said yes. Before I knew it, they had pulled out a hair trimmer thing and wanted me to buzz Ivana's head! If you remember correctly, she was the 17 year old cocaine addict with most of her hair gone. I felt very unqualified to do such an important job. I knew it'd be very hard for her to lose the little hair she had and the bangs that hid her baldness when she wore her hood. I figured she'd feel ugly with no hair. I felt bad. At one point, when there was so little left to be done, she stopped me because she couldn't do it anymore. But I told her I understood that it was scary, but there was so little left to do, she might as well let me finish. She did.

Tuesday was my host dad's birthday. He turned 60. We had a delicious dinner and watched "La isla siniestra" or Shutter Island. During the movie, his dad called, lost and unable to remember how to get home. So he and Mabel left to go help him. But it's okay that they missed the movie, because apparently he had the whole thing figured out within the first 15 minutes! And I'm not exaggerating-- I looked at the time on the movie! Am I the only one who was completely taken for the whole movie?

Wednesday finally brought Vanessa to the therapy session. It was not at all what I expected. It was just them telling her how they were really doing. But Guillermo told us there was yet another new woman. She was addiction to alcohol, cocaine, AND pills. Basically anything people are addicted to here, she was on. She happened to be the women I saw passed out in front of Maranata a few weeks before. She had shown up to her interview drunk. Well she is now the fifth resident of the women's house. And she slept through basically all of Wednesday and Thursday while I was there.

Thursday I was yet again confused about my GSP. After deciding to change topics, I now have been given the name and number to a pastor in the Toba community. Sounds like I should be going back to that topic? Argh. This is so confusing. It also means I'd again need access to the university library here. This time though, I've spent time twice with the sister of my brother-in-law here. She's studying English. I sent her a message on Facebook to see if she'd be willing to help me. (Please God, guide me?) But back to Maranata. I was encouraged to play the guitar and sing the songs I had taught the women. The guitar I played was none other than the one our group gave Maranata four years ago, the first time I came to Argentina. We had all signed the guitar and wrote a little message to them from all of us. But after years of use, only the message and two signatures remain. And part of my last name. :) It was a pretty cool experience to use again an object that had been significant in my time in this country. Beatriz apparently met a man on her last venture out of Maranata and has a date next Friday, but nothing to wear. She pulled me aside and asked if I had anything she could borrow. I guess they aren't supposed to be borrowing clothes and such, but it was okay to use new clothes that had been donated. I'm thinking about just donating the stuff I let her use, since I plan on buying new jeans and sweaters anyways. The only thing I'm unsure of is my boots. I would like new boots.  But I'm also going to be in Buenos Aires next week and might want them.. Or maybe I'll find new ones there. But that's not guaranteed. Oy. What am I thinking. It's just a pair of boots. They're hers. I'm also thinking about getting all the women scarves. I also promised Gabriela that I'd bring facturas on Monday because she misses those quite a bit. The only bread they use is hotdog and hamburgers buns. And they just eat them. I can see why she misses them. And because they've been so loving and hospitable to me, inviting me to stay for lunch several times, I want to make them lunch. I'm thinking a macaroni&cheese casserole? Sounds good to me. And possibly somewhat easy? I'll have to look up recipes. Anyone got any recommendations for an easy "American" dish?

I also want to cook for my family here. I'm just afraid of screwing up. Maybe when my parents come, my dad can make tacos. I love how I've never mentioned that to him, yet I'm posting it in a public space. (So how 'bout, Dad?) And then Mabel can cook for them.

Well, this brings me to today. Frida (our dog) has had three seizures, and the day is still not over. We are preparing for Ricardo's surprise birthday celebration tomorrow (the host dad who turned 60). That's about it. I need to go shopping. Get new jeans and new sweaters. Either tonight or tomorrow. It needs to happen.

Also, I guess today is the coldest day of the year? I'm not so sure of that, but everywhere minus Rosario and probably Buenos Aires got snow. I'm glad I don't have to deal with snow; although, it's just as cold without it.


That's it. I need prayers for this stupid research project. How to go about it, what specifically to study, how I will get the help and materials I need, etc. Thanks, friends. I appreciate you. (Also, you should leave comments on recipes. :] )



EDIT** oh. my. gosh. I can't believe I forgot to say that Argentina passed a law to make same sex marriage legal. So there you go. Also, the law included the right for these couple to adopt.

**EDIT 2** Dani agreed to help me with my research project! She's one of two people I know who speaks English, and she's not creepy, so I'm SO glad she's on board! Now if I could jsut figure out what I need to be looking at more specifically...