Argentina Update
We have finally begun to get settled and adjusted to our new schedule (have we mentioned eating dinner at midnight?!?). Today was our lone free morning of the trip so we began the day with a great tour of the city center from Sam Masters. The afternoon was spent preparing for our trip to “the end of the world” as Sam describes it to La Rinconada where we will work with the church plant from Centro Crecer.
One quick story from the afternoon… One of the things we are doing is taking nearly 80 pairs of new shoes to children in the schools around La Rinconada. We sent a group from our team to make those purchases and the Lord gave us great favor with the shoe store owners. Not only were they extremely helpful but it cost $300 less than we anticipated and they even helped shuttle the team back to Centro Crecer in their car. God has been very good, 80 kids will have new shoes now and your generous financial support made that possible!
As we spent the evening with the Masters in their home we were able to hear the story of how the ministry in La Rinconada began. It was truly an act of God burdening the hearts of one family to reach those who have often been overlooked. And tomorrow we get to trek 6 hours by car to encourage the believers and share the Gospel with those who do not yet know Christ.
We wanted to take the opportunity to let some of the team share what God is doing in their lives during our trip. So tonight here is Mario…
The culture is so different here, obviously. But the greatest thing I notice is the people’s willingness to accept us and even go out of their way to help us. The best story I can think of was Saturday night when we attended a bible study with some college kids. We broke up into small groups and had a discussion about the topic of that night, discipleship. In our group none of our “typical” translators were present. So, even though it probably was a little uncomfortable for him, my new friend Leo, was willing to translate for us the questions and answers that were being shared. Without him I would have been sitting there, silent and clueless. But since he was willing to step out of his comfort zone to help us, I was able to see how greatly the Spirit of God is moving in all the kids we were with. It was amazing to see their understanding and knowledge of God’s Word! I tell you, God will do great things in them!
I mentioned this story to bring up probably the greatest thing God is teaching me. He wants me to step out of my dreaded “comfort zone” to help others and serve Him. God wants and can do some great things if I would just get out of the way and let him work through me. He can move in me the way He is in the students down here. Helping others can go a long way in affecting another person’s life, if I am willing to get away from what’s comfortable. That is what I want to bring back to the good city of Independence: a greater willingness to step out for Him and help others, not just when it’s easy, but even more so when it’s tough…
Well, that and I’d like to bring back some of this incredibly delicious food! You have NO IDEA what are you are missing! Hope God is blessing all of you back home the same way He is blessing us here.
Tomorrow our team will have just the opportunity to step out of our comfort zones to lovingly & boldly share the Gospel. Pray for us as we travel, but more than that pray that we will make much of Jesus and will trust him to step out of our comfort zones.
We will most likely have no contact with the outside world while we’re in La Rinconada. So we will try to update you on Wednesday evening when we return to Cordoba.
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