shouts of joy

Nate and Lindsay had been classmates from 1st grade up through their very last days of high school. Nate, a quiet kind of guy, had at the time "no interest" in Lindsay, an attractive and well-liked red-head, who also at the time had "no interest" in Nate. After high school, he went in the direction of studying the Bible at a Bible college and Lindsay took some time off to "find herself" where she ended up at an orphanage in Guatemala for a year with quite a life-changing, eye-opening experience. Neither of them really keeping in touch, but going their separate ways they met up again when she returned from overseas. They spent the summer hanging out before Nate left to study medicine in Argentina and Lindsay stayed in Tennessee. They emailed a couple of times, but nothing serious since Nate had met a girl in Argentina. When he came home to Tennessee for a Christmas break, he had told Lindsay and their group of friends about his latest relationship. The st...

Daniel is a Theology student at Universidad Adventista del Plata. He's a Venezuelan from Tennessee living in Argentina. When Daniel left the states to study Theology in Argentina, there was a chance that he might never be back to the states again due to complications with visas and passports. He said goodbye to his family, knowing he was following God, which was and is the most important thing to him. I've known Daniel for almost 3 months. I met him through a friend, who knew him from English Sabbath school at the UAP. When I first met him he couldn't stop telling me about all of these friends of his I needed to meet. Just one big social network hub. Which I must say has been the best part of being in Argentina. Thanks Danny! Daniel is known for his excellent listening ability. Students from the UAP come to find him in his apartment across from the bus station when things go wrong, when they just need someone who will listen and accept them. I'd be lying if I denied...

In many ways, only now this sweet thing has become divinely captivating, just as a bud blossoms in the springtime. In other ways, I'm only now wishing I'd been more careful when tearing open the folded tab to let my soul take flight in such ravishing splendor. As for now it's time to begin sealing it up to be sent out again. It's funny how life is full of sealing, sending and opening. Only to re-seal, re-send and re-open again and again. After a while the seal loses its stick. The edges are blackened. And with the undesired folds it is now fragile and difficult to open without tearing. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude mades sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.  - Melody Beattie

I stumbled upon this blog:  The Urban Nester , since arriving to Argentina. Molly, whom I must say is quite a dedicated blogger, has recently moved to Provo, Utah from Oregon with her husband, Brad. Molly and Brad have been married for several years, but are still in their youthful ages of 23 and 25. Often, Molly writes about not knowing or understanding why she and Brad are in the lonely state of Utah where they know no one. In fact, she says the only reason she knows for moving there is "Jesus." They left behind their family, friends and what seems to have been a strong Christian community to follow God's leading. I am intrigued by her writing, everyday she posts something that reflects her grounded Christian faith. Recently she wrote about the past few months being really hard and confusing, but that just recently she's been able to step back and see a larger picture. She sees proof that God's hand has been involved, and what's even better she says is tha...

It's been 8 years since I was surrounded with the buzz and bickering of presidential elections. For the past two elections I've been out of the country. I can't say that my absence has disappointed me. I don't like the tension, it sort of feels like an on going game of tug of war, only with more name calling. It really seems that way to me. To clarify, I care about political issues and have my fair share of opinions, but why does it always have to be a bashing game.  Yesterday I read this article from one of my favorite magazines Title IX. I wish we talked a little more about how to follow and a little less about how to lead.  “Everything I know, I've learned from coaching teenage girls. In this election cycle, I thought I'd share their criteria for a good team captain. - A captain should really  WANT  to be a captain. - She does not have to be the best player, but she does have to be a  REALLY HARD WORKER. - She should  LISTEN CLOSELY  b...

Last week ACA students were bussed the 6 hours from our small and homey Villa to Argentina's capital and largest city, Buenos Aires. With a population of approximately 13 million I wouldn't say it was a relaxing trip, but it was exciting to say the least. We toured the big city for 3 days, really not long enough. But it's good to be back in the small perimeters of La Villa breathing the fresh country air. El Ateneo Grand Splendid. A theatre converted to a bookstore. In 2008  The Guardian  listed it one of the top 10 best bookstores in the world. La Boca. A popular tourist spot for the tango performers and colorful European style neighborhood. La Boca ... We liked La Boca. La Casa Rosada. The equivalent of our White House. It's painted pink to symbolize the coming together of the two political parties, which are white and red. Teatro Colón. This opera house is considered to be one of the top 5 concert venues in the world for...