The Life Lately Update

I was just reading in my quite time in chapter 4 of Philippians. As Paul thanks the church in Philipi for their support, he speaks of how fruit has been added to THEIR account. Pondering on the thought that those who send and support in prayer are equally a part of the work and fruit, I wanted to thank all of you who have kept me in your thoughts and prayers. Also, this morning it’s raining, and here when it rains life kinda stops. I guess that is the natural response in a culture in which walking, not cars, is the way to get from point A to point B especially when you work with the church El Pastito, (literally-little grass), which the members affectionately call El Barito, (literally – little mud pit), after a good rain fall.

So where have I been?

Let’s see, I have finished the summer camp ministry during which I was a pot washer. It was so exciting and encouraging to hear the testimonies and end of summer review, and the numbers and numbers of campers who had, at the very least, the Great News, and many of which expressed a desire to accept it personally.

During that time I was in my Spanish class, where we were cramming together the last chapters trying to complete the key Spanish concepts before the Institute 2011 started. After camp we had one month to fit it all in. Praise the Lord it is over, and we aren’t still studying Spanish grammar. Praise the Lord I passed. And praise Him that amongst all that time of study and work we found a week to goof off for vacation.

For vacation we packed up 28 of the 31 PBB’ers (that’s what those of us who are trying to learn Spanish are called. You know how Christian ministries love acronyms) with which we started the year into a large blue bus and headed on a 22 hour bus ride to south west Argentina to the province of Neuquen where Word of Life has another property.  They run a ministry similar to The Inn of New York, but in the Andes Mountains. That time in God’s creation, to see how far He had brought me in this journey, was such a blessing. It was also there where I got to share the gospel by my-self in Spanish having confidence I was being understood. God is growing in me slowly but surely more boldness in sharing the gospel, especially in Spanish. In English I always had an arsenal of excuses why it wasn’t best for me to share with this person. But now, here, I always have the thought, “Well this is why I learned Spanish for crying out loud!”  pushing me to talk with people. If only I had learned sooner and applied that this is why I have breath in any language.

                “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord”

Please be praying for me that the Lord would make me bold, wise, and innocent in sharing the Gospel… always.

Once we finished Spanish classes, we had a week and a half in which we all were free to find ministries in which we could involve ourselves.  We sent out across South America. Some spent the time in Bolivia, others Uruguay, and others went back towards Neuquen on different evangelism campaigns. I had the pleasure of getting to know a small church in Buenos Aries named Hiacaninda (if you can’t pronounce that don’t sweat it. It’s really hard for me, and I’m almost certain that is spelled wrong. It’s a tree name that is all you… well actually you don’t really need to know.) There God gave me my first opportunity to preach in Spanish to the youth group in a lock-in event. (I preached at 3 in the morning… Spanish is hard at 3 in the morning.)

It is only by the grace of God I can speak and communicate in Spanish somewhat efficiently. (I proved my language aptitude where I barely passed level one Spanish at Centreville, and by the fact I landed in Basic one Spanish here in PBB- which basically says, “Why the heck do you live in Argentina?!? You have no idea what you are doing!”) But God meets me every time there is an opportunity I have the blessing of being part of. Generally, the next few days He reminds me that I have SOOOO much to learn when it comes to Spanish. (Who knows, maybe in that regard the Lord is still working in the gift of tongues. joke joke…kinda =])

The next experience was an evangelism campaign in which Bethel Baptist Church of Virginia came to canvas the neighborhood, preaching door to door. I went as a translator. (I was skeptic of my ability to translate and little nervous, but confident that God provide all at the same time.) So, a whole bunch of gringos hit the neighborhood with full force, some of them being lead by other gringos, (almost the blind leading the blind). But the Lord, in spite of our limitations, brought forth fruit and blessing from that week.

I developed a friendship with the Pastor and the church, and they were generous enough to invite me to do my weekend ministry at their church, (because I’ll be leaving Argentina in just two months, something the institute normally doesn’t allow, making this a answer to prayer).  And like that, I ended up here at El Pastito for my weekend ministry. I am working with the youth group organizing Bible Clubs and starting discipleship relationships with the students.

Oh yes, and in the mean time we have started classes and are in full swing at the institute. Next week is out first exam. and my first Bible exam in Spanish…. You can pray if you want =]

For the ministry here at El Pastito I ask you to be praying for three people in particular. 


Christian – a young man who has stated he is a Christian however is just recently leaving the world of drugs and crime. Now to leave behind his addictions and be a light in the neighborhood where he has robbed various members of the community is quite the task that lies ahead of him. I simply want to see him growing and not fall back into where the Lord is pulling him out of. 


Alexis- a young man I met during the campaign and was able to help one of the young people from Bethel share the gospel with. He understood much of the gospel and has expressed a sincere desire to know more. He is attending a church however, that preaches a work based salvation and the concepts in his mind our mixing. 


Cariña- is not a believer, and is greatly struggling with a problem with drugs but has expressed what appeared to me a true desire to change and asked for prayer. ...really hope to see her family reached through her… first she would have to be reached. Such a sweet young person so hurt by her sin.

So on so forth we live out the time here in Argentina. I can’t believe there are less than two months.


The 26^th of June I will already be loading up on a plane leaving Argentina. I won’t be heading directly back to the states. I have a 2 week layover in El Salvador, =] ...also know as a missions trip. I am truly very excited. The idea is I will be going to help out with translating. Be praying for my Spanish to continue to grow and progress. In El Salvador I will be joining up with the ensemble from WOL FL and possibly my lovely sister.

After those two weeks in El Salvador, it will be off to New York where I will work the last 5 weeks of summer camp on the Island as a counselor. At least that is my current plan, desire, and plane ticket.

As far ahead as I can tell for now, the following fall I will be working in WOL FL on their Dean Staff as an assistant dean continuing to learn, discipling students, pouring into an important relationship in my life, and starting to pay off my student loan from my first year with WOL in FL.

Be praying for the continued guidance and provision from the Lord throughout this journey of life in the steps I have daily. Most of all pray for consistency and faithfulness to be grown in to my life and character that I may not be easily shaken.

Thank you so much for taking the time to remember me. I am praying for you as well.  God bless.

P.S.  I am praying for your comment to be as honest as possible. So aside from the general prayers for loved ones and my church family please feel free to share as well with me.  I don’t promise to respond quickly to messages, but I do purpose to be praying for the senders as I receive notes.