El viaje de Emily

I've moved

2009-02-07T17:36:00.001-08:00

http://emilyrambow.wordpress.com/

Happy Anniversary!

2009-02-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

We can’t believe we are celebrating 3 years today! By God’s grace we have had a wonderful three years filled with love and many blessings. We truly feel that marriage is more than what we imagined. We absolutely love it and know that we wouldn’t be able to rejoice if Christ wasn’t in our lives. It’s truly an honor and a joy to love and serve George daily. I am very thankful for his relationship with our Lord and how he truly desires to fear, love, and serve Him in his personal life, in our marriage, at work, and in his spare time. My favorite sound in the morning is George singing praises to God. It’s not only a comfort knowing that he continues to seek Him, but it encourages me to do the same. We are looking forward to many more years and pray that God will be our passion in our marriage, that we will be quick to confess, forgive, love, and serve each other, and that He will continue to protect us from evil.

Happy Anniversary George, I love you!!!

Zelda is one!

2009-02-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Drought in Argentina

2009-01-29T17:01:00.001-08:00

"milk does a body good"

2009-01-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Most Argentines buy their milk in 1 liter bags and put them in nifty containers. A bag of milk cost $.83 (give and take depending on the dollar).

At first, I wasn't thrilled about it because it didn't look sanitary and it was different. But, we adjusted and drink it daily!

a new blog in the neighborhood

2009-01-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

Eagle Children

My husband has joined a collaborative blog with several fellow Christians.

Check it out!

4 months

2009-01-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of our first belly shot! It might be hard to see that I am showing a little because my shirt is loose; each month we want to take a picture in the same clothes so I picked a shirt to grow in!

onesie

2009-01-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

I am now in my second trimester; the time is going by fast! The biggest struggle is fatigue; I just want to sleep. I think it’s a combination of hormones, not being able to sleep well at night, and heat (summer season and no AC)! Hopefully, it will pass soon.

Today we received our first baby gift. Nico and Ani (teammates) dropped off a bag with nine presents. Each month I open one; I love the creativity! It was an emotional experience opening the onesie because it hit us that we are going to have a little one in our arms soon! It was a great feeling!

Redeeming the American Mind

2009-01-02T07:50:00.000-08:00

Read A Proposed Evangelical Response to Allan Bloom's Acclaimed Essay by George.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

I only have two resolutions:

1. To love God more than I did in 2008

2. To be a mommy

Click HERE to view photos from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve!

Highlights from 2008

2008-12-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

In January we attended the first Denton Bible Church mission’s conference. During that time we visited many family and friends.

On February 4^th we celebrated our 2^nd anniversary!

Zelda came into our lives at the end of March

In May Leslie traveled all the way to Argentina to visit us; it was a sweet and encouraging time

We moved to La Plata in July

George celebrated his first anniversary of his 29^th birthday (meaning he turned 30) on August 23^rd!

In November we found out that we were expecting our first baby!

George’s parents traveled to Argentina to spend Thanksgiving with us, and we all went to the South and had a wonderful vacation together.

We had our first sonogram in December and it was a magical experience to see our little peanut for the first time.

2008 has been filled with emotions, growth, excitement, awareness, and peace. The first half was very difficult as I dealt with culture, language, team dynamics, and loneliness (of course I still struggle in these areas, just not as much), and the second half God gave me peace about where I am at in my life. This year I was reminded that I am in control of my attitude, the way I look at things, and the way I respond; I can choose to honor God or fall into sin. It’s a challenge to make righteous choices when you don’t understand, disagree with someone or something, or have been hurt, but I was convicted this year that I must choose to honor God despite the way I feel. For this past year I praise God for all the blessings and difficulties because all has drawn me closer to Him.

12 weeks and 4 days!

2008-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

I had another sonogram today and the retroplacental hemotama healed! I can now get up and move around (I am sure George is happy)! He has done a wonderful job taking care of me and the house these last two weeks. I am so thankful to have a loving husband.

It was so great to see the little peanut alien baby today move around! He (or she) waved; I am sure the doctor thought we were silly when we waved back. The baby is healthy with a strong heart beat, all praises to God! Also, our due date was changed to July 9th, which is Independence day in Argentina!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:01:00.001-08:00

cookies and a candy cane

2008-12-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

A few hours ago I posted a blog on traditions and how it didn’t feel like Christmas. I jokingly shared how I haven’t had one Christmas cookie or seen candy canes this season. Dan and Diane, some missionaries who live near, just stopped by our house and handed me a plate of delicious Christmas cookies and a candy cane! They knew nothing about my blog post. I just started laughing and shared the story. It’s neat how God can use Christmas cookies and candy canes to give you a little taste of home and remind you that you are loved!

Christmas traditions

2008-12-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

This is our first Christmas away from our family, friends, and culture, since last year we traveled home. It really doesn’t feel like Christmas because it’s summer, so the thought of sipping hot chocolate or coffee around the fireplace doesn’t sound appealing. There aren’t many decorations around the city and I’ve only heard one public place play Christmas music (Starbucks in B.A.- which I am not sure if that counts). I haven’t had one Christmas cookie or seen any candy canes. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas!

I don’t want to paint only a gloomy picture because this has been a sweet time as my mind is free to meditate on the true meaning of Christmas and how I’ve neglected to truly worship my Savior in the past. With a baby on the way, I’ve also reflected on how I would want to share this season with our children.

In my last post, I briefly mentioned I enjoy secular Christmas traditions, and I don’t think they are wrong unless you put it before Christ (which I often do). I thought I would share just some traditions that I will miss this year, a few that we will continue to do, and one that we will stop.

Christmas Traditions I miss:

1. Visiting family and friends

2. Christmas Eve service

3. Christmas parties

4. White Elephant gifts

5. Outside decorations

6. Desserts

7. Listening to Christmas music everywhere

8. Winter weather

9. Cheesy Christmas movies on T.V.

10. Seeing family and friends opening gifts.

Traditions we plan to do tomorrow in our little house in Argentina:

1. Read the Christmas story

2. Eat a wonderful breakfast and early turkey dinner

3. Hang out, play games, and watch movies

4. Read our journal “Celebrating God’s Gifts” (explanation below)

George and I bought a red journal our fist year of marriage to record the gifts and blessings, both spiritual and temporal, God has given us throughout the year. Every Christmas we take time to reflect on the Perfect Gift, His Son, and we also take a moment to give thanks and praise to God for the gifts He has given us. We’ve titled our journal “Celebrating God’s Gifts” and our theme verses are 1 Timothy 4:4-5, James 1:17, and Matthew 7:11. It’s actually a Christmas tradition throughout the entire year and its now one of my favorites!

Traditions that we will bury this year:

1. Sleeping in since this time next year we will have our fist child.

Merry Christmas!

Labor of Love

2008-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

I would like to share the following video and lyrics as a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. A friend recently bought us Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson and I think its one of the best Christ centered Christmas albums I've come across. The album brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas and really the true meaning of life. I confess, I do enjoy gifts, holiday food, and parties, which aren't bad things, but I surely have spent more time focusing on those things than worshiping my Savior, who is the giver of life.

The following link is one of the songs on the album, I hope you enjoy it, but mostly I hope we can all keep our focus.

Video link

Labor of Love

It was not a silent night

There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

10 weeks and 5 days

2008-12-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

On Monday I had my first sonogram. It was truly a magical experience. Besides seeing our little peanut dancing, I think the best part was seeing George’s innocent reaction as I watched him tear up. I knew at that moment it finally hit him that God has given us a baby.

I had to go in for an emergency sonogram because I experienced spotting and excruciating cramps last weekend. I thought my body was preparing for a miscarriage. Thankfully, according to the doctor the baby is fine and active. The only complication is a retroplacental hematoma, which means that there is a small portion of the placenta that has torn away from the wall of the uterus. I am on bed rest until my next sonogram, which is scheduled to be on the 29^th of December. There is a good chance that it will heal since the tear is small. Please pray for us!

we're gonna have...

2008-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

...a baby!

Since I live miles away from family and friends some have requested that I keep them informed throughout the pregnancy. I will try my best.
I thought I would start with a letter that I copied below that George wrote to family and friends shortly after we found out we were pregnant. Most of you who read my blog received the wonderful email, but I don't think we shared clearly that we tried for over 2 years.
I think one of the most important things that God taught me throughout this journey was that children and family are a gift from God, and however He chooses to give (adoption or pregnancy) is perfect and the best. These last couple of years it has truly been a blessing to read family blogs and witness God's perfect provision for their lives.

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for faithfully praying that God would grant us a baby. He has heard, and He has answered. Yesterday, Emily took a test, and she is pregnant!

We clearly see His hand in this, since for the last two months we've been visiting a doctor here in La Plata who has been running all sorts of tests in order to find out why we haven't been able to get pregnant thus far. Three weeks ago, she told us that the tests show that everything is normal except for one issue. She recommended that we start a drug treatment in January to see if it would resolve the issue.

However, in the words of Forrest Gump, "Then God showed up."

On May 13, 2008 we sent out an email update in which we began asking you, our friends and family, to pray. Six months later, Emily is pregnant, and we firmly believe it is because of your persistent prayers on our behalf (many of you told us that you have been praying specifically and regularly for this) that God has allowed us to conceive.

We just want to express our gratitude to you and our praise to God for His sovereignty over every sub-atomic particle in our bodies, for His supremacy over medicine and drug treatments, and for His gracious answer to your prayers.

And of course, to ask you to continue praying for a healthy baby and for the health and safety of Emily.

Thanks again!

Your brother and sister,
George and Emily

Vacation pictures

2008-12-11T11:50:00.001-08:00

click HERE to view our vacation pictures.

yes...

2008-12-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

I am pregnant.

I haven't been able to blog because we just got home from a wonderful vacation with George's parents.

Photos.. life... news... dates to come soon!

Ten things that George loves

2008-11-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by my friend Courtney to write 10 things that George loves.

1. God~ The top thing that attracted me to George was his love and passion for God. He seeks to worship, know, and make Him known.

2. Me~ I know he loves me because he tells and shows me several times a day.

3. Family~ He loves his dad, mother, brother, and all the other family members he gained through marriage.

4. Friends~ Especially those he has spent quality time with chatting over coffee or beer.

5. Zelda~ She is like his daughter.

6. Music~ It has been a love since he was a child. He received a degree in music and although he doesn’t get to play much anymore, music is played daily in our home and he helps out the industry (maybe a little too much)!

7. Literature, philosophy and writing~ it’s his hobby.

8. Coffee~ It has to be black and he drinks it everyday if not several times a day.

9. Beer~ He likes to socially drink beer with friends, especially if he his drinking it in a cozy bar with dark wood and classy art.

10. Computer~ he might not agree with this one, but he is on it a lot, so he must love it!

I tag Leslie! Write 10 things that Jim loves.

Saturday entertainment

2008-10-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

From our door we saw a procession honoring the virgin Mary, specifically Maria Lujan the virgin's manifestation in Argentina. There is never a dull moment in La Plata!

puppy love

2008-10-16T20:06:00.001-07:00

glimpses of heaven at the bar

2008-10-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

creative writing by my husband.

konichiwa

2008-10-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, George and I decided to start a monthly family tradition to pray and to learn about a different country. This is still a new tradition and we are learning as we go, but so far this is what we have developed. We start by picking a country of interest and I begin to look for a traditional meal from that place. One of our shared hobbies is to try new and exotic food, and I personally enjoy the challenge of cooking different foods that aren’t common to our daily diet. Thankfully, the Internet provides enough information and recipes. It’s a challenge to find all the ingredients in Argentina, but I try to make it work. We search for traditional music to play in the background while we enjoy the food and discuss what we know or learned about that country. I also enjoy looking for traditional games or activities that we can do together during our culture night. Most importantly, we pray for this country, the non-Christians, Christians, and missionaries. If we know a missionary serving in that country we pray especially for them. We use the book Operation World to help educate and guide us during this time. Operation World also has a website. We’ve really enjoyed our culture nights (although we’ve only had two) and pray that others will take an interest in joining us in their own home.

Last month, George and I picked Germany. It was a delightful time and really easy to put together.

Last night, we celebrated another culture, inviting two of our friends to join us for Japanese night. For dinner I made teriyaki chicken, Sesame Tempura green beans, and rice. We ended our meal with green tea ice cream (thanks Ginger Corley) and sipped on green tea as we talked the night away. We had traditional music playing in the background, ate on our coffee table, and sat on the floor. Our Japanese friend's mother sent us two place mats and two chopsticks from Japan as a wedding gift, and we were finally able to put them to use. Operation World helped direct our prayers, and we learned more about the spiritual needs in Japan. The majority of Japanese people are Buddhist or Shinto; they desperately need to hear about the one and only true God, His love for them and how He sent His son, Jesus. It is hard for missionaries to serve in Japan because of culture differences and the difficulty of learning the language. Please pray for Japan.

Below are a few pictures of our lovely time together.

to you

2008-10-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

check out GIRLTALK These last few months, I've really enjoyed reading this blog. Let me know what you think!

a few pictures of our new home

2008-10-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

Our little house and our big tree. The house is divided, and we live on the bottom half.

our dining area.

our tiny kitchen and tiny oven

our cozy living room

friends from Denton having lunch with us

7 months behind

2008-10-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

i am faithful at reading other blogs, but not so much at updating mine. to be honest, i haven't had time to write and so many weeks, events, and thoughts have passed by that i didn't know where to begin and still don't. i think i will start with an overall summary of what is going on and try to continue blogging.

summary:

in may we moved from a small town of 30,000 people to a huge city of 800,000. i've never lived in a huge city with so many people, pollution, interesting venues, sin, and entertainment. the thought of living in a city didn't appeal to me and i wasn't looking forward to all the noise and traffic. but, surprisingly, i truly enjoy living here. of course i hate the sin (especially the prostitution and drugs i witness on a regular basis), the pollution, and sometimes the noise (at the moment our neighbor is having a party), but i really think this move was for the best. george and i are more active in the church and developing more and deeper friendships with others. it fits our gifting and personality. also, there is always something interesting to watch, the jugglers on the streets, those who play with fire, protesters, concerts in the park, and weirdos; we are entertained regularly. so, these last few months we have been settling in our new home and adapting to a new way of life. i am learning the bus system, how to flag down a taxi without getting hit by a car, how to walk fast, how to sleep with background noise, and how to enjoy my neighbors music, even when i don't want to :-) i hope to post pictures soon and keep blogging!

Introducing...

2008-03-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

our new puppy Zelda, she is a German Shepherd. Zelda in German means "famous warrior." She is 45 days old and a little chunky!

2008-03-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

Heather has a blog!

The flood

2008-03-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday our house flooded. Three of our rooms had puddles of water (living, office, and our bedroom). We praise God for keeping us safe. If we weren't home our things would have been ruined. It only took 30 minutes for our floors to have an inch of water on it. Fifteen hundred people in our city had to evacuate their home last Friday because the rain kept coming in. Thankfully we were able to fix our problem before it got worse. The first two pictures are a few minutes before our house started flooding. It was raining so hard, George wanted to get a picture of it, little did we know that minutes later it would be raining in our house.

Welcome to the blogging world hubby....

2008-02-26T16:32:00.001-08:00

One of George's hobbies is to write and he has decided to start a blog about philosophy, theology, book reviews, and what ever else is on his mind. Check it out here.

God is good all the time!

2008-02-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

Isn't God good? His faithfulness and lovingkindness is everlasting and His mercies are new everyday. Our God is great, and He is worthy of our praise!

We celebrated our two year anniversary earlier this month. It's a JOY to be with George, to love him, to serve him, and to serve with him. We are growing together in grace, love, and holiness. We recently started reading Sacred Marriage again for the third time. We feel that this is the best book on marriage and highly encourage everyone to read it. We have listened to conferences, sermons, and heard all the hows for the "perfect marriage" and we feel that this book surpasses them all because its based on Biblical truth and the attitude of the heart. The subtitle is "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy." I have probably mentioned this book in previous post and I will continue!
For our anniversary celebration we took a bus to B.A. and had a wonderful American style meal at our favorite restaurant, Kansas. Normally this probably wouldn't be our favorite restaurant if we were in the states, but since we are away from the food that we so miss, it has become our "special place." Its located in a nice location; here are some pictures of the neighborhood.

Here is a picture of a random house on top of a building. We lived a few blocks from this house when we first moved to Argentina.

We are back in action

2008-02-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

We have been back in Argentina for about 3 weeks and slowly getting back to some sort of routine around here.

I’ve wanted to share some thoughts about our encouraging time in the States. So many amazing things happened that I am not sure where to begin. I guess I will start with the birth of my nephew, Liam. This wasn’t just another birth to me, but the first one that I got to see! Before we left for the States my sister asked if I could be in the room during the delivery. I truly felt honored, but I sure didn’t know what I was really in for. I had my moments of fear, but as soon as Liam was born I literally cried because I was overwhelmed with God’s love for this precious little boy. I praise Him for the beauty of birth and how He uniquely created it. It hit me at that moment that a birth of a baby is so personal; it’s literally inside your body. WOW!

My brother and sister in law also welcomed a new baby into the world a few days before Liam was born. I had the privilege of meeting pretty little Mia about a week before we returned to Argentina.

George and I had a sweet time celebrating Christmas with his family. It was our sister-in-laws first time to visit the States and it was a joy to watch her excitement. We were thrilled that all of us could be together for the first holiday since we’ve been married.

In the beginning of January Denton Bible had their first Mission’s Conference. The missionaries spent a week together in fellowship, encouragement, and training. I can’t express how much we enjoyed this time. We felt very loved and left more focused. I didn’t realize how much I missed singing, listening to a live message, and communicating at a heart level with other women (within touching distance) in English. The last weekend was the church wide Mission’s conference and it was a great turn out. We are thrilled that many people have a desire to get more involved.

Our purpose for the trip to the States was the Mission’s conference, but we were able to spend some quality time with many family and friends. It was hard to say good-bye again, but we were also excited to get back to Argentina. The day after we arrived we took a 19-hour bus ride to the Northern part of Argentina and joined several churches at a conference to build relationships with pastors and share the BTCP. George and I went without our teammates and had some new culture adventures!

We are thankful that we finally received some rest after all the traveling. In a span of 8 days we slept in 7 different locations. Now we are preparing for another semester. The semester begins in March. Stay tune….

Christmas celebrations

2007-12-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Our days are filled with many different activities, more pictures to come!

Home for the holidays

2007-12-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

We are visiting family and friends before the Mission's Conference in January. We are enjoying every minute of it.

Fiesta de Navidad

2007-12-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of a North American Christmas party that we had at our house. We had typical North American food, cookie decorating, Santa Clause, Christmas carols, and Its a Wonderful Life playing in the background. We had a blast and enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and new friends.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T05:56:00.000-08:00

Our first Thanksgiving in Argentina. We had a wonderful time with our missionary friends.

Asado con amigos

2007-11-21T19:00:00.001-08:00

2007-11-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

We recently took a BTCP trip with Greg to reconnect with some existing contacts to see about establishing new centers. We drove over 630 miles and visited two Provinces in two days and one night.
On our way to Entre Rios we met Dardo and Nancy for lunch. George and I worked with this sweet couple with a short term trip from Denton over a year ago. He recently graduated a BTCP class and has a new church plant. We love them so much and always enjoy our time with them.

The map that we looked at often

On the road~ we saw some great bridges!

George preached on love at a local church a few weeks ago . We also shared music ; when they introduced us they asked if I can share my testimony (rule #1 ~ always be prepare). We had a pleasant time with our brothers and sisters and enjoyed worshipingg together.

I am still traveling to school every other week. I love learning, but tend to complain about the traveling. Some mornings it takes me about 2 hours because traffic is so bad and half of the time I am standing the entire time.

Fellowship is getting better. We have found some sweet friends and recently joined a couple small group with some other missionaries.

We are staying busy and find ourselves meeting with people or teaching daily. God is good!

More to come soon

Time is flying

2007-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we had to make our visa renewal trip to Uruguay. It was a pleasant, yet long day. Here are some pictures of our time.

A restaurant we visited: The kitchen is out in front

George wondering what to eat: goat or cow?

You can eat in the car

This last week I went to an intense language school in Buenos Aires. The plan is to attend every other week until I am fluent. It’s a very exhausting week with learning and traveling, but the school is wonderful and I already feel more confident.

We have been getting a lot of rain lately. I really like it, but it makes our transportation situation a little interesting. I am trying to figure out how to ride a bike, hold an umbrella at the same time, and watch out for drivers who drive on the wrong side of the road. For the times I am walking, I am learning to jump big puddles and stay away from cars that drive through water super fast so I won’t get soaked. Here are some pictures of a popular street by our house that was flooded last Friday.

One morning about a month ago we woke up to strange sound outside our front window. When we went to look, we saw a man standing on one of our trees cutting the branches. We did not know that the owner called to have the limbs cut so it was a bit of a surprise. Well, no big deal, however no one picked up the branches that were out in the middle of the street until today, well they didn’t pick up all of them (strange). Needless to say we met some neighbors and a few others who worked for the city.

In my last update I mentioned that we were reading The Question of God by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. with a reading group. Here is a picture of George calling Dr. Nicholi to ask if copies in Spanish are available for a more decent price. George thought he was very nice and enjoyed talking to him on the phone. (George was really nervous).

We had an asado for the Travis’ this last Monday because they will be heading to the States for about 6 months. We wanted to all get together before they take off. The weather was lovely and we were able to cook on our parilla (grill) and eat on our enormous picnic table.

Nico grilling!

We recently visited a Plymouth Brethren church and shared music. One of the leaders went through the BTCP a couple of years ago with Greg. Also, George worked with this church for 6 months when he was on his stint in 2004. They invited George to preach this month.

Tomorrow we are leaving for a BTCP trip where we will meet several pastors. I will post pictures when we get back.

A little behind on updates

2007-09-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

The time is quickly passing by. I can’t believe we have been living in Argentina for 6 months now. Overall our transition has been a blessing (praise the Lord)! Of course we have our days of frustrations and loneliness, but overall it has been smooth.

iTalia
Two weeks ago we had to put our sweet little puppy iTaila to sleep. The week before she started to have convulsions and by the end she was paralyzed and could barely keep her head up. This was a hard decision, but we knew it was best after seeking advice from others and the vet. iTalia was only 3 months old, but we loved her and learned some valuable lessons.

Comida:
Lately we enjoyed numerous meals with different people. It has been a joy to share our lives with them and we look forward to many more meals. Our prayer is that all will see the love of Christ in our home.

Dinner with friends at our house

Inglés:
This past week I hosted my last English club. The women were a treat to be around. I will continue to be involved with the group at Diane’s house on Thursday mornings. I also visited an English lesson for children a few weeks ago and shared simple songs (ABCs, Old McDonald, B-I-N-G-O). I am now known as the lady that crows with a North American accent (because Argentine’s crow differently).

Bible Training Center for Pastors/Leaders
A highlight in my week is participating in the BTCL class via skype on Thursday nights. It’s a joy and a privilege to worship God and learn more of who He is by studying theology and reading His Word intensely.

Música:
A few weeks ago I sang in Spanish for the first time. I know I didn’t do perfect, but the people were kind and gracious. Last Saturday George played a jazz gig with my Spanish tutor. It was an interesting night (a long story for another time), but we are looking forward to connecting with musicians around the area in the near future.

Picture of George with my tutor at the jazz gig

Esposo:
George has been teaching at the Bible Institute on Thursday nights with Kurt, and will begin another class on Wednesday evenings after Greg leaves for the States. Once a month he leads a Bible Study with the worship band at church. He is staying busy with teaching and other responsibilities he has on the team.

Juntos:
On Tuesday nights we are reading The Question of God by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. with a reading group. Its an interesting book comparing the lives of C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud who have similar experiences as children and even as adults, yet their meaning of life and beliefs in God are different (a recommended read). We are also spending time in prayer as we seek God’s direction on how to minister to the unbelievers in City Bell. Our theological principles:
Goal: To glorify God through the proclamation of His gospel in City Bell.
Strategy: To share the gospel in ways that are direct and culturally acceptable.

Matrimonio:
The other day I was asked how our marriage is doing now that the “honeymoon” stage is coming to an end both in our newness of marriage and the excitement of living in another country. After thinking about it, I truly feel that we are growing stronger and loving each other more deeply everyday. Marriage is a wonderful experience for us and I am blessed that God has granted us grace and love in our lives together. I never imagined marriage to be so great, yet so humbling at the same time. I remember when I was single how I did not want anything to interfere with my relationship with God and felt that a husband might distract me from Him. However, I feel closer to God being married because my sin, selfishness, and struggles are more apparent and I am forced to make a choice. I can remain the same and let bitterness and sin reign in my heart or change and confess and pursue holiness and righteousness. Of course I want to choose holiness,

Culture goodness:
One of my favorite times during the day is Merienda or teatime. Typically it begins in the late afternoon and can last an hour or two depending on who is with you. You usually have coffee, tea, or mate with some sort of cookies or breads.

Culture adjustment:
Argentines eat dinner relatively late. Just to give you an example we had people over for dinner last night and we didn’t start eating until 10:00. Some eat earlier (8:00) and others eat even later (12:00). George and I are still adjusting in this area.

2007-08-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Summary of our week:
Monday~ Wednesday we had our team retreat. The focus was building community within the team and planning for the near and far future. Our discussions were great, but towards the end my head was spinning with all the Spanish. The majority of our team members are Argentines so Spanish it is ☺ (a few pictures below of our retreat, we only took a few)
Thursday morning I went to an English club and met with my tutor later that afternoon. George prepared for the class that he began teaching that night on Missions at the Bible Institute.

Earlier this week iTalia (our puppy) wasn’t doing well; we didn’t think she was going to make it. We took her to a new vet who gave her medication and she seems to be recovering. The disease is ugly so we are still waiting; one day she seems to be getting better and the next we feel she isn’t going to make it.

Emotionally this week was one of the hardest weeks since our arrival to Argentina. I miss my church family back in Denton. I somewhat feel alone because I am the only American woman on the team and its difficult because of language and culture differences. I feel that time will help. Although we may have challenges I also feel it’s a blessing because George and I are not tempted to hide in our own culture, but force to learn the Argentine culture. I am learning to depend on God more, so I am also thankful for this time.

Culture goodness:
Birthdays are a HUGE deal in Argentina. Typically an Argentine stays home and family and friends stop by and give a gift. If they can’t come by the house you can guarantee a phone call. You are the special person for that day. One American said it was hard to go back to the States on your birthday when you are treated like a king or queen in Argentina!

Culture adjustment:
If an event is planned to start at 6:00, it really means that it starts 30 min or an hour later (weddings and sometimes church services are included). Also, things tend to last for a long time. If it’s an evening event expect to stay really late, sometimes 2:00 or even 4:00 in the morning. I am learning to be flexible with my time.

I am looking forward to a new week, stay tuned to hear about:
1. Singing in Spanish
2. Hosting my first English club at my house
3. Possibly helping children learn English songs

We were riding like this in the back of the Grothe's tank for almost 2 hours

We slept in an old train wagon.

Nico trying to warm up our meeting room

Dinner anyone?

The Grothes

Happy Birthday George!

2007-08-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you Father for giving this wonderful man another year of life. Today is George’s birthday, however we will celebrate it with friends tomorrow night. I plan to cook Mexican food and some sort of chocolate dessert! On 29 different strips of paper I will have random facts or interesting information about George hung throughout the entire house. I thought it would be fun to share with my blog friends what they are:

1. George lived in Holland for one year when he was 7 years old

2. He does not have any cousins, aunts, or uncles

3. He wants to write a book one day

4. His tonsils were taken out last year

5. At one time George was able to play six instruments (he still can)

6. He used to surf

7. In high school George had really, really long hair (ask to see a picture)

8. He loves watching the Simpsons

9. His favorite animals are rabbits

10. George knows more than the average person about birds, he can identify some by their sound.

11. He ate fried grasshoppers in South Korea

12. George has visited 19 different countries on four different continents

13. He went to a performing arts high school and there was no gym class or sports

14. He took one semester of tap dance in college

15. George has read The Brothers Karamazov

16. He used to listen to heavy metal

17. He cries during sad moments in movies or books

18. George became a Christian when he was 20 years old

19. He used to be an atheist

20. George went to acting school

21. When George was a little kid he was on a swim team

22. This will be George’s last year to say he is in his twenties

23. He wanted to be a farmer when he was a child

24. George loves coffee, especially Starbucks

25. He has wrecked two cars

26. George got deported from South Korea

27. He has never broken a bone

28. George received his B.A. in music and a minor in Spanish

29. George is the most loving, serving, encouraging, sensitive, kindest, funniest, and hottest man I know!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way....

2007-08-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been thinking about one of my favorite times of the year, Christmas. I catch myself singing carols and being tempted to buy decorations. One the weirdest adjustments that we are facing are the opposite seasons. We are currently in the middle of a cold and wet winter. I am still in disbelief that we are in August sitting in front of the fireplace! Although the opposite seasons have played with our minds, its been refreshing to think about Christmas and why God sent his Son to this earth and our call to share that reason and to spread His love throughout the world.

God, Be Merciful to Me

2007-07-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

Reflections:
I profess to hate sin, yet I let it rust within my own heart. I try to bury it until its existence is not known. I am fully aware that God is gracious, merciful, quick to forgive, and abounding in loving-kindness, but pride does not allow me to confess my sin. It creeps into my innermost being and begins to rot within my soul. How can I allow selfishness, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, pride, and dishonesty to dwell within my heart when I claim to love God and acknowledge a deep thankfulness for what His Son Jesus Christ did on the cross for me? Why would I even let a hint of sin in my life when I have tasted how sweet it is to be in pure fellowship with my loving God? I long for the day when I will worship in purity and holiness, free from all traces of selfishness.

God, Be Merciful to Me 
(Psalm 51)
God, be merciful to me on Thy grace I rest my plea, plenteous in compassion thou,  blot out my transgressions now;  wash me, make me pure within;  cleanse, o cleanse me from my sin.
My transgressions I confess;  grief and guilt my soul oppress.  I have sinned against Thy grace, And provoked Thee to Thy face. I confess Thy judgment just;  speechless, I Thy mercy trust.
I am evil, born in sin;  thou desirest truth within.  thou alone my Savior art,  teach Thy wisdom to my heart;  make me pure, Thy grace bestow,  Wash me whiter than the snow.
Broken, humbled to the dust.  By Thy wrath and judgment just,  let my contrite heart rejoice,  And in gladness hear thy voice;  from my sins o hide Thy face,  blot them out in boundless grace.
Gracious God, my heart renew,  make my spirit right and true.  Cast me not away from Thee,  Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;  Thy salvation's joy impart,  Steadfast make my willing heart.
Sinners then shall learn from me, and return, O God, to Thee  Savior all my guilt remove, and my tongue shall sing Thy love, touch my silent lips, O Lord,  and my mouth shall praise accord

Sad News

2007-07-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we found out that iTalia has Canine Distemper Virus. This is very serious and we are not sure if she is going to make it. The vet said the mortality rate is 80% for puppies. We are doing everything we can to make her feel comfortable. It’s a challenge because we are busy this week with meetings and projects. I will try to keep you posted.

a new addition to our family

2007-07-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday George and I bought this adorable little German Shepherd puppy at a hippie fair for $30.00. We have decided to name her iTalia (Italy in Spanish) because the fair was held at Plaza Italia in La Plata. We are excited to have her in our lives!

back in action

2007-07-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

We had a relaxing and wonderful time in Minnesota with George’s parents and extended family. For the first seven days we stayed in Bemidji for a family reunion, and we fished until we were casting in our sleep. After a restful week George and I stayed in Minneapolis for two nights hoping to meet my family, but their flight was canceled due to bad weather. However, that didn’t stop us from exploring the city and the ridiculously enormous Mall of America. Our trip had a sweet ending with a 4 hour layover in Dallas where we met our DCC friends and family at our favorite hamburger place, Fuddruckers. Since we’ve returned back home to Argentina we have been extremely busy with furnishing and setting up our new home. I will post pictures of our new place when all our furniture arrives (some of the furniture takes up to 20 days to be delivered!). Here are a few pictures of Minnesota.

busy week

2007-06-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

We are packed and ready to sleep! We have been busy with many different things. We will leave our stuff in a friend’s garage and leave for Minnesota for a family reunion. When we return we hope to start buying furniture and move in.

Mexico came to Buenos Aires!

2007-06-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

We had an eventful weekend. Our church organized a charity outreach event Saturday night. The students invited non- Christian friends to enjoy Mexican food, a mariachi band, and games. As an entry fee people brought toys, books, and games for a local children’s hospital that specializes in ear, nose, and throat. Some of the doctors came, and were honored for their work. For the event I prepared enchiladas for about 50 people. George shared his testimony, and together we played some music. The night was incredible, but we were tired when we went to bed about 2:00 am (we left early!). I posted some pictures below (check out the one with George singing with the mariachi band!).
Also, tonight was our last Sunday service with the church in Buenos Aires. We will greatly miss our new friends and the loving fellowship.

Visas Renewed!

2007-06-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Until we become residents, George and I must flee Argentina every 90 days. The nearest country (about an hour by ferry) is Uruguay. This morning we made our way to the port and took a ferry to a cute little town called Colonia. We did something really stupid that we would never do in Argentina, but it looked too fun to pass up. The town is small, and it was really dead so we decided to rent an inexpensive moped and ride around because we had about 4 hours before the next ferry. It was a blast, and we laughed most of the time, especially when George went the wrong way down a one-way street--twice. The town is really beautiful, and we had a lovely time. Here are some pictures.

We found a house!

2007-06-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

God has provided a house, and it is perfect. The location is the best and the house is comfortable. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a roomy kitchen, a cozy living and dining room. The backyard is a great place to have gatherings, and our garage can be turned into an extra room. We feel that the house is a great fit for us, and it will be comfortable to invite people over for a small or big gathering. We are really excited and can't wait to move in a few weeks. Here are a few pictures.

on the move

2007-05-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

We found out today that we will be moving (Lord willing) to City Bell in July. Originally we planned to move later in the year after months of language school, but George is finished with school and is considered fluent. We decided that it would be best to go ahead and make the move so that George can start working with the team full time. I will continue to study at a different school. These next few weeks we will be looking at rental houses in City Bell.

School:
George and I are wrapping up another month of classes; our exams are on Friday. For the next few weeks I will review and practice with a language partner. I really enjoy Spanish; I am understanding more and communicating regularly.

Short-term trip

2007-05-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

This week we had a short-term team come to Argentina to work in La Plata and City Bell. We are so thankful for this group because they brought down 6 of our storage bins (we weren't expecting them for another year). On Tuesday we had the privilege of showing them around Buenos Aires and teaching them more about the culture. We said our goodbyes on Saturday at Greg's house with an asado. Here are some pictures

Yummy!

2007-05-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

We received a care package! As you can see we miss a few things.

Our friendly visitors

2007-05-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

George and I see protests regularly. Usually we have no idea what the commotion is for, but we still find them amusing. Here is a picture of one; we could hear their racket inside our cozy apartment ☺

Thoughts on Poverty and our Purpose

2007-05-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

It is hard to ignore the poverty in Argentina. Everyday dozens of homeless adults and children roam the streets, begging in front of stores and restaurants and sleeping at the doorsteps of upper class residences. They truly live hand to mouth and focus most of their efforts on merely surviving another day. Some set up booths and displays in the street, hoping to sell their art and random things to those who pass by. Unfortunately, instead of making money, they become another cultural spectacle that the tourists briefly examine before continuing with their sight seeing. In these brief encounters, people do not realize that the children running around in the streets trying to sell useless trinkets in restaurants, subways, and buses do this everyday and all day to make ends meet.

After walking the same routes for six weeks, familiarity with those who beg and sell things leads to a deeper realization that they don’t have a roof, that the spot they daily occupy is their home, or for those who might have shelter this is their only income. We become more familiar with each other and therefore I now find it harder to walk away and feel merely a moment of sadness because of their condition. Instead I feel burden of sorrow that is carried with me throughout the day. I often find myself thinking more of my needy neighbors while I am eating, bathing, resting, or walking under my umbrella for a few minutes and I am reminded of how blessed I am to live so comfortably.

George and I try to give our best, but I wouldn’t say I am truly compassionate because then I would unselfishly give all my possessions away and live only on what I absolutely need. I find myself fighting the thought that they chose this way of living, but realizing more that it is extremely hard to come out of poverty in a country that is corrupt and filled with it all around. I truly want to provide for the needs of all the adults and children but cannot. I have visions as to how to meet their temporary needs, such as food, shelter, medical, and their future needs such as education and training, and ultimately their spiritual need to know Christ.

But I know that our purpose here is different, and that we are here primarily to serve in another way, and only indirectly in this area. We are here to serve leaders, and I believe if we can reach—by God’s grace—the hearts of leaders in the church and in the government then they will turn around and have a more powerful outreach to the impoverished people around them. God has given us a huge responsibility and I am thankful to be on His team and for all the prayers and support we get from so many people who love God and who want to be part of this with us.

A brief account of the past week

2007-04-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
George presented a short summary of the gospel in class on Monday.
On Wednesday night we were invited to a Mass service and dinner by one of George’s classmates who is a priest and missionary from Lebanon. This was unique and a once in a life time opportunity because it’s not everyday that you are invited to eat with three priest at their eloquent banquet hall with 10 different dishes. We had a delightful time and our conversation was educational and deep.
This morning (Saturday) we had an encouraging time with our teammates in fellowship, devotional thoughts, and in prayer.

Something we learned this week:
Going to the doctor with your spouse because he is sick also means you are probably there for a check up too. Now, you pay for both, but you might only get one prescription even if the doctor said you have the same thing ☺

One month

2007-04-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked a month since we arrived in Argentina. For the most part, we feel that we have a daily routine established and are becoming more familiar with the big city. On our day off we decided to check out some other parts of Buenos Aires. Here are a few pictures of our 2-mile walk in the rain and the area that we visited. There is also a picture of our new water dispenser that we are so excited about! (drag your mouse over the tiles-it may take a minute to download)

School started

2007-04-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of me in front of the biblioteca de las mujeres (women’s library) where my language class meets. The class is challenging, but I feel that the intensity will help me learn quickly. There are 12 students in the class and we are from different parts of the world: England, Scotland, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, Russia, and France (I am the only one from the U.S.). Please pray with me as I try to develop relationships with my classmates.

First day of class...

2007-04-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

Canceled. George and I were so excited about starting class, but are teachers were protesting! You could see the protest from the front of our apartment. I have posted a link if you would like to read more about it.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/04/09/argentina.teacher.strike.ap/index.html

He is Risen!

2007-04-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

He is risen indeed!
Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Easter is a great reminder of what He did for us. However, I am convicted that we shouldn’t remember this incredible event one day out of the year, but EVERYDAY. Christ is alive and with us, and we should rejoice because through Him we are made alive; and through Him we can worship Him and enjoy Him for eternity. Now that is a cause for celebration everyday.

The laundromat

2007-04-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

We have decided to drop off our clothes once a week at this laundromat that is about a block away from our apartment. In Argentina they do your laundry and you pick it up the next day. It is about $3.00 (US) a load; it includes soap and folding too. So far we've been satisfied with it. This is a great deal compared to how much a laundromat can cost in the States.

stumble

2007-03-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today was my first time to walk to the market by myself (a 5 minute walk). For the most part everything went smoothly. The scary part is crossing the streets. After I left the market, I was trying to cross the street quickly and I started to stumble and an elderly man was watching and felt sorry for me and started blaming the street. It was really sweet, but I really didn’t know what he was saying, so I just smiled and walked off.

Already one week

2007-03-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

For the most part we have found where all the important places are in the city in order to survive. Everyday we find something new and interesting to add to our list. We have truly enjoyed living here so far. I am sure when months pass we will start experiencing culture shock and start missing our family and friends in the states.
I am also excited about starting language school. George has been doing awesome with the language and translating it for me. I am picking up words here and there, but I know school will really help out a lot. I will be in an intense learning program for 20 hours a week until I feel comfortable speaking Spanish. I can’t wait to start class because I will also have an opportunity to interact with several students from different parts of the world.
I will keep you posted!

Our new home

2007-03-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

We are finally in Argentina! We have been here for 3 days and we could not have asked for a better transition. The entire team welcomed us at the airport, our apartment was ready when we got here (2 hours early), and we were connected with Internet the same day. The apartment is awesome. We are in the back of the building away from the biggest avenue in the world (18 lanes) so we don’t hear all the traffic (both cars and people); it is very comfortable and peaceful. We were also surprised and comforted that we have a doorman at the front of the building who lets people in and out. Our first three days have been spent unpacking, walking around our neighborhood to find important places (various markets, the Laundromat, the bank, etc.), and resting. We are thrilled to be here, and we hope to have visitors! Here are some pictures of our neighborhood and apartment.

We are getting close

2007-03-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

We leave in a week! George and I are having a wonderful time with friends and family. It is hard to say goodbye.

12 days!

2007-03-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

That is right, we leave in 12 days!

Plane tickets

2007-02-27T18:14:00.001-08:00

We bought our plane tickets today! We leave in three weeks. Argentina here we come!

News!

2007-02-24T19:37:00.000-08:00

We have 100% in pledges!
We are shopping for plane tickets on Monday!
We are hoping to leave March 19th!
Today we put a deposit down on an apartment that is in Buenos Aires!
Here are some pictures that we got from our new landlord. The apartment is fully furnished. It’s located at a central location that is walking distance to my language school, the markets, bus stop, and the plaza. We will live in B.A. for about 6 months and than we will move to City Bell.

A few pictures

2007-02-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Who am I?

2007-02-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

Exodus 3:10-12
God told Moses to go to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt. Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel, out of Egypt?”

George and I are gearing up to leave and I begin to ask the same question, who am I, to go and share with the people in Argentina about God’s love? I do not know the language or the culture, I do not feel fully equipped in theology, I am weak, and an unrighteous person. Why would God choose to use someone like me when there are those around who are more equipped?

God’s immediate response to Moses was “certainly I will be with you…”

I can take comfort in knowing that God will be with me despite my lack of knowledge, my weakness, and my unrighteousness. God is with me and will never leave because He loves me; He did not call me to do this task alone, but only use me as His instrument so that He may be known and glorified. It is exciting and a privilege to serve Him in this way. Just like Moses’ journey, I pray that God’s love and power will be shown throughout my journey in Argentina.

Bags are packed

2007-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

We are now at 95%
And bags are packed to leave!
We are excited.
Our departure date will be posted soon!

Our first year

2007-02-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

George and I celebrated our first anniversary this weekend. We had a wonderful, luxurious, and romantic time. The place was amazing and the food was incredible. We had our first 5-course meal and experienced breakfast in bed that was all made by the owner who went to culinary school in Italy. We highly recommend this quiet and eloquent bed and breakfast.

a new place to sleep

2007-01-31T15:28:00.000-08:00

George and I have packed for Argentina and are now staying with some friends until we leave. When we were packing I realized that we accumulated so many things in our first year of marriage. It was great to be able to give it all away.
George and I are very tired, but we must press on because we have so much to do this week. We can't wait for this weekend because we are celebrating our first anniversary! We are going to Muenster, TX and staying at a Bed & Breakfast for one night. If you are interested in seeing where we are staying here is a link

http://www.elmcreekmanor.com

We will post pictures when we get back!

We are moving...

2007-01-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

to another place in Denton. Yesterday we found out that a couple needed a place to stay so we offered our apartment and decided to stay with some friends until we make our BIG move to Argentina. We have to be out of our place by tommorow so the couple can move in by the first of the month. We have been busy packing up things and will continue the work in the morning. Please pray for the transition and for rest!

Almost time to start packing

2007-01-26T05:25:00.000-08:00

We are now at 93%. God is good!

Preparing to leave

2007-01-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

Today was my first class of MTI (the Missionary Training Institute). For those who don’t know, MTI is a program that Denton Bible offers for missionaries or for those wanting to do vocational ministry. The program lasts two years, and can be described as a mini Seminary because you take the basic classes that most Seminaries offer. I am taking two classes, Church History and Cultural Anthropology. I think I am going to really enjoy it because it’s interesting and I can apply it to my life. The only down side is that I won’t be able to finish the classes in the states because we will be moving to Argentina. But George can teach me because he has successfully been through the program and therefore has permission.

The time is getting closer for us to leave. We are hoping to leave in about 6 weeks (maybe less or maybe more). We have found many language schools in Buenos Aires; we just need to pick one that fits us best. George would probably take a class for about a month and I will need to take several classes for many months. We also need to work out living arrangements. At this point it looks like we will live in Buenos Aires for about 6 months to study language and culture and join our team in City Bell and La Plata on the weekends. The last thing we need to do is get the rest of our support. We are now at 91% of our financial support. I told George that I would start packing when we are at 95% (it could be this week).

Things are moving fast and we are so excited! We praise God for all that He has done. It is a privilege to serve Him.

smooth

2007-01-20T19:51:00.000-08:00

George played a jazz gig for some friends at a private party. He is awesome!

We are now at 91% of our financial support.
Things might be changing in the next two weeks so stay tune :-)

I can't think of a title

2007-01-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve and from our winter blast!

When are you leaving?

2007-01-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

This has been a popular question for George and me these past few weeks. To be honest we don’t have a date. We still need to accomplish some things before we can leave.
1. We still need 10% of our support
2. We need to find a language school (for me)
3. We need to have a plan for living arrangements (setting a budget, finding a house to rent, etc.)
We are praying that we will still be able to leave some time in the early spring, but we will not be able to set a date until we have accomplished the above goals. Please pray for these three areas.

We are getting excited :-)

I'm still alive

2007-01-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday! We spent quality time with family and friends in the Dallas area and in Houston.

Our start of the New Year has been awesome, but busy! We have been back home for about 5 days and they have been filled with activities and meetings! Also, last night some friends from New Mexico stayed with us and will be in town for the weekend. Today George spent time with a good friend who is a missionary in Mexico, and of course we are spending time with our fellow teammates from Argentina who are in the states raising support for the next two months. We are building our relationship with them and trying to help them adjust to this culture.

George is preaching on Sunday! Please pray!

This week we should have a better idea of our departure date! Please pray for guidance, wisdom, submission to God's will and timing, and clarity.
Thanks!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

2006-12-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you Father for sending your Son!

George and I had a wonderful first Christmas together. We had a relaxing morning, we visited a friend from church, and we had a delicious lunch with family. Our holidays are not over yet; we are leaving for Houston tomorrow to spend time with George's parents and some friends before we leave for Argentina.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Adios Mexico

2006-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful and refreshing time in Mexico. The ocean was very blue and beautiful.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas as we celebrate our Savior's birth.

I am a college graduate

2006-12-16T18:18:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the graduation ceremony and the party! We had a great turn out at the party! It was a long day, but we had fun.
George and I leave for Playa Del Carmen in the morning. We will post pictures when we get home.

I can breath

2006-12-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

I took my last final today!
We are now at 85%

We will see you soon

2006-12-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

Kurt and Lore (who are part of our team) left for Argentina today. They were able to leave on their target date. We are excited for them, and can't wait to join them soon. Lore is from Argentina and she is thrilled to get home and see her family for the holidays. They are expecting their first baby in April.

We are now at 84% of our financial support. We are praying that we will have 100% by the end of the year (in about 3 weeks).

White Rock marathon 5 man relay

2006-12-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning some of us from our church ran the White Rock marathon 5 man relay. We had a great time! It was cold and wet. Here are some pictures of the event. I encourage you all to join the fun next time. If you are interested in doing a race (5k or 15k) there is one coming up in January that George and I plan to do.

One more

2006-12-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

I have one exam next Wednesday! What am I going to do with all this free time? Help!

Handel's Messiah & life

2006-12-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Last night George and I used a gift certificate that we got as a gift from a wonderful couple and went to see Handel's Messiah performed by the Fort Worth Symphony and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Choir at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. It was wonderful! If you haven't heard the Fort Worth Symphony, I recommend it. If you haven't heard the SBTS Choir, I recommend it. If you haven't seen the Bass Performance Hall I recommend it too.

On another note:
We are now at 80% of our financial support!
And I only have two more classes left and I will graduate!
So many great things!
God is good!

What am I reading these days?

2006-12-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

In the mission woman’s group at Denton Bible we are reading Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service by Stephens Seamands. I just started it a few weeks ago, but I am really enjoying it. He wrote this book “to demonstrate the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity for the vocation of ministry” (pg 11). It’s been challenging, encouraging, and insightful. So far I recommend it, I will try to keep you posted.

Thanksgiving Pictures

2006-11-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

What are you thankful for?

2006-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

I would love to hear what you are thankful for! If you want, you can post it under comments or send me an email.

I will start:
I am thankful for God's amazing grace.
I am thankful for my loving and wonderful husband
I am thankful for my church family.

I am now waiting to hear from you!

George and I are leaving tomorrow for New Mexico to be with my family. We should have Internet connection; I will try to post some pictures of our week in the beautiful mountains!

A great weekend!

2006-11-18T18:31:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated my niece’s first birthday. She is SO cut e. She looks like my sister when she was a baby. George and I had a great time seeing family. Here are some pictures of her big birthday party.

Last night we went to see Taylor perform his senior recital, and it was AMAZING! He did a wonderful job. He had a great crowd. He dedicated songs to different people, two to God, one to his family, one to his church family, and one to three people who inspire him (one of the three was George). George was very honored.

My weekend has been wonderful. I was able to finish the majority of my homework before the weekend so it has been nice to not think about starting or finishing a paper. Very soon I will graduate and feel free to read and write whatever I want. 10 more class days!

George and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving in New Mexico with my family. We can’t wait to spend time with family, to relax, and to indulge in food.

Some of you may be wondering:

2006-11-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

George and I cancelled my appointment at the hospital today for the sonogram, it was last minute, but we really did not think about it clearly, and felt that this was not a wise decision for various reasons. We are going to still get it checked out, and follow through on everything, but we are currently praying about seeking a new doctor for many reasons. I will keep you posted!

Today was a hard day, but I know tomorrow will be a new day.

Thank you God for your faithfulness

Follow up

2006-11-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

I am on the low end of the spectrum of poly cystic ovarian syndrome. I have decided to manage it through my diet. I do not have diabetes, but I am still waiting on some blood test results that I should hear about on Monday. I will go to the hospital on Tuesday to have a deeper look to try to find one of my ovaries (They haven’t been able to find it the last two sonograms). I had to get off my medication early because it was causing some serious side effects (ask George) so my body is trying to adjust quickly; I only have minor pain, especially when I run, but other than that I feel fine. God is in control; I am not going to worry because this can be managed. I might face some disappointment and some struggles in the future, but I rest in knowing that God’s plan is perfect. He has given me many blessings and the greatest of all is being able to worship Him forever.

Changing subjects:

This is the first weekend that George and I have had off since we’ve been married. We are LOVING it. It has been restful and peaceful.

Just because...

2006-11-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

I love my husband; he's so sweet to me. He gave me a dozen roses the other day because he loves me! He is a blessing.

A quick update: I will find out Thursday if I for sure have poly cystic ovarian syndrom, and what stage I am at. It’s not the end of the world if I do have it, just a pain, and a life adjustment. God is sovereign and kind, and I know He will help me through it.

On the bright side:
We now have over 75% of our financial support! Two more weeks until Thanksgiving! Five more weeks until I graduate! I can’t wait!

We are back home

2006-11-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Austin and San Marcos was fruitful, encouraging, and productive. We had the opportunity to meet with several people and a church to share our vision and needs. Thank you for all your prayers. We are currently at 70%. God is good!

On the road again

2006-10-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

George and I are leaving today for Austin and will also spend some time in San Marcos to meet with several people and a church to share about our vision and needs for Argentina. I am really excited because I will see family and dear friends all weekend. Please pray that our time in Austin and San Marcos will be fruitful, encouraging, and productive.

I will try to post during the weekend.

We are now at 65%