Good Times.

Guess I should update again, since the last time I wrote was a week ago, and it was a short depressing tale. I was homesick that day. Martin took me to see Toy Story 3 that night, and laughing at (and understanding the dubbed version of) the movie made me feel much better. Friday night, some of the girls from church came over for dinner. We ate raviolones (big raviolis. because normally, they are small). and ended up watching destino final 3 (final destination 3). That movie. is terrible. But I couldn't stop watching! The tanning bed deaths were by far the most gruesome for me. ew. ew. ew. ew. Then at midnight they sang happy birthday to me and then everyone left. Saturday was my birthday! I didn't go out and do anything spectacular, but that's quite alright. USA was knocked out of the running for the World Cup. And it rained all day. Did I care? Not this time. Normally, I would think that facebook birthday comments don't count for anything cuz people only wished you happy birthday because they saw it posted somewhere. Saturday I didn't care. I felt so loved. People here and people at home wishing me the best. It made me happy. Then Saturday night we went to the young adults' group, which was combined with the adolescents this time. Afterwards we ate carne sandwiches and cake. And they sang happy birthday to me. I FOUND OUT THEY HAVE GLEE HERE!! My friend Ariel told me it starts up again soon. Apparently he has FOX. I didn't ask whether it was subtitled or dubbed, but I definitely want to see if I can watch it with him. Maybe I'll convince him to have a Glee party. :)

In other news, there's a slightly creepy friend that I have to spend time with because he gains me access to the university library and he's one of like.. two people here who speaks English. So he's vital for my projects. But he's creepy. So be in prayer for that obligation. BUT I going to have access to the library! So that's an answer to prayer! I just have to get in, make photocopies of everything (no copyright laws here) and get out. Also, today I will be starting Wednesdays at Maranata. I'm not leading anything, I'm just going to sit in on their therapy sessions. I was told it will be a little intense because they are working through their issues and conflicts. One of my own apprehensions is that I am unsure of whether the women will be okay with my being there. I don't want to "overstep my bounds" even though I've been given approval from the authorities. Pray for me today? As I do this for the first time? That'd be great.


Oh yea! And Argentina kicked serious Mexican butt on Sunday!! Martin got me a Messi jersey for my birthday, so I will get to wear that on Saturday for when we play Germany! Vamos Argentinaaa!!! (You should root for them, because they're the best.)



Over and out!

Phase 2?

Today life sucks, and I want to go home.

No, that's a lie. Rephrase: Today sucks, and I'd for it to end soon.

Prayers are appreciated.

Darse Cuenta

Darse cuenta means to realize. Today as I was waiting for the bus to leave Maranata, I saw a police car pull up, lights flashing. Then one proceeded to emerge and go to the door of the men's house. I wasn't sure what to think. Was there a fight of some sort? Something illegal? I was just in there and everything seemed calm. And Maranata is a Christian organization, so there wouldn't be any illegal activity. I waited and waited for the bus, watching for it, yet also watching the policeman and vehicle. Finally, he received some sort of confirmation and tapped on the window to the other side of the front of the car and a woman officer emerged. Together they brought out the man in the backseat. Man may not have been the right word, because that puts a picture of someone older in your mind. He was my age. And handcuffed. And walked into the home.

I knew I had been working with people who had problems with addiction. I had heard that sometimes a judge will send someone to Maranata to avoid sending them to jail. What never hit me is that I don't know how many came here of their own will and how many were brought there. In handcuffs. Like criminals.

I tried picturing some of those beautiful faces, both men's and women's, in the same scene. How humiliating to be seen at your lowest, to have someone's first impression of you be you in handcuffs.

But these people are more than that. They are more than their addictions. They love, they laugh, and they hurt, too. And they are giving up everything to get better.

Blessed.

Sunday I learned that a friend for whom I had been praying for 3 years finally desires a relationship with Jesus! God is so good. And that same night, both my home church in Glendora and my new church here in Rosario sang Mighty to Save. I picture us singing it at the same time, though I know we were a few hours apart. Kinda cool to think about: two bodies, two languages, yet one song, and one Lord.

Monday when I went to Maranata, I learned that one of the women, Eugenia, left the program. Please be in prayer for her, that she will find the strength to return and seek the help she needs. But also that day, I had brought my gloves with me, anticipating that I would need them since it was cold and rainy outside. While chatting with Beatriz, I learned that they got to go for a trip to the costal part of Rosario, to the park there, but it was cold for her. She doesn't own a scarf or gloves. And one of the other women told me last week that it often gets cold in the house. Before I left, I reach for my gloves in my pocket and decided I didn't need them. I had used them maybe once the whole time I owned them. I decided to give them to Beatriz. I'm not sure what she thought of the small gift, but it was from the heart.

In other news, the World Cup is in full swing, and I went to a watching party on Saturday to see Argentina beat Nigeria. It's been kinda fun keeping track of who wins which games and writing down the scores. I like the excitement in the air. I really would like to buy an Argentina jersey. That'd be cool. I'm excited for our next game; however, I am very NOT excited to get up at 6am to watch it. Oh well, such is life. :)

I'm cold now. I'm going to go stand by the little source heater. Chau, mi amigos!

Crap.

So yesterday I went for my first day solo at Maranata. I led a devotional on the many names of God. It wasn't bad, and they even told me they never knew he had so many. After that, one of the women I just met told me a little about herself and how she came to be at Maranata. Then I showed them some pictures (I had my computer for the devotional thing) and they showed me around their house. I spent about an hour and a half with them, give or take 10 or 15 minutes (I have no idea what time it was when I arrived), then met with Elvira who is going to be my supervisor. We agreed that I would come again with Andrea on Thursday and then next Monday, I would help her out with some administrative work.

The problem is, I left Maranata yesterday after 2 hours. And it'll probably be about the same on Thursday. If you know math (or even if you don't), that's 4 hours. I need about 10 hours a week.

So I emailed my advisor. The good news? It's only a minimum of 75 hours that I need. The bad news? Hanging out with them doesn't count for squat. "The service needs to be meaningful labor (something a staff person might do) that fits the mission of the organization and that is supervised (and evaluated at both mid-term and final pts) by a national staff person (often the director). Devotional teaching can qualify, though merely “hanging out” doesn’t (even though it’s important in building rapport)."


Well crap. Now what am I going to do? I think a staff person would spend time with the residents. And that's what they need from me right now. Devotionals and personal time. (Not to mention the little activity things once I start them up.) But it doesn't count?? And further, how do I get 10 hours a week when I can barely get 4 with hanging out as part of them?? 


Also, how supervised do I have to be? They are too busy to sit and watch me. That's why I took over devotionals. To help them out. 




This is not boding well, and it worries me. Greatly.

First Contact

After 2 unsuccessful attempts to make contact with Maranata (my internship site), I finally went today and actually had a meeting. It was short, but productive.. the best kind (though I have to admit, I did not much expect that!). As it turns out, we decided it wouldn't be a good idea to teach English and nothing was mentioned of Spanish literacy, but we did decide firstly, that I would go with Pipi on Thursdays for the women's Bible study. Cool. That'll be a few hours a week. Also, I'll probably lead a devotional of my own on Monday mornings to free Elvira (one of the directors) up to do administrative work. Also, on another day, I'll be leading some "workshops." Elvira was saying these women have a tough exterior shell due to the kinds of lives they've had. She said they don't even really know how to loosen up and have fun. So maybe I'll play games with them every other week. The idea was thrown out that we could watch a movie and discuss certain themes that go along with it, so it isn't just mindless entertainment. One of my favorite ideas (besides the games) was lessons in femininity. At first they were talking about life skills workshops, but i can't cook or sew .. or pretty much anything necessary for life. So I was a bit discouraged. But then she mentioned femininity. There are women in the program who don't know to to approach beauty. Some have worked the streets, others have been involved in drug trafficking and ganglife. So needless to say, ideas of beauty have been distorted. What I can do is teach them about how God sees them. Help them find their own beauty. They mentioned teaching them how to use makeup, paint their nails, wash their faces, do their hair. I feel like this would be a big sleepover drawn out over months. It'd be so much fun. I really need to think of a plan though. At first they were saying I should do 6 hours a week to get it all in before the end of my 3 months, but I need to do more than that so I can also focus solely on writing for the last two weeks, which is where the second devotional came in. I'm hoping to squeeze in 9-10 hours each week, otherwise I feel like I'm pushing it with trying to research and interview and everything with the Toba.

That's all I got so far, pray for the planning stages and that God will reveal to me my gifts and how I can be of use to Maranata.

Week 1: done.

So it's been a week, and today I found the blog of a fellow GLT-er in Nepal. Reading her blog really encouraged me to make this time count. I realized that for the most part, I've been holed up in my room, on facebook. Or wasting time on lame websites. Reading her blog opened up my eyes. The way she is experiencing Nepal and REALLY living inspires me to do the same. I don't want this to just be a study abroad where I learn some stuff. I want this to become home to me. I want to really know this place in a way no tourist can. I don't just want to get through it and go home. I'm here. And I want to be present in every single moment. I kinda wish I didn't have wifi in this house. It makes it so much more easy to waste time inside. Mackenzie talked about all the walking she's doing in Nepal. I have only walked a few blocks. This is my goal. Walk everyday. Know my surroundings. Know my neighborhood. Make friends with a neighbor. Or the man that owns the tiny store around the corner. Find a local cafe that I like. Learn to love the rain. I'm looking at a bird sitting one the telephone wire outside. It's pouring rain, and there he sits. I have an umbrella. Rain should not keep me indoors. And when I am indoors. Read. Spend time in the word. Read all the materials I have for school. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Set deadlines. Achieve them. Get off of Facebook. From now on, three days a week. That's still a lot. But I'll ween myself down.



Father, forgive me for taking this experience for granted so far. Help me to really learn to live here. Heal me of my lame addiction to the internet. Give me motivation and discipline to follow through with all I've said.