So They Said.

*Apology! I want to apologize for lack of blogs lately (I feel like I say that every time). I've been having computer issues which was annoying at first, but then I realized what a blessing it was to not be distracted by Netflix and YouTube videos. 



"A year and a half is nothing if you really think about it," they said. 

"It will be over before you know it," they said. 

"It will fly by," they said. 

A year and a half ago, I didn't believe them. I actually hated it when people told me that. How they heck did they know what living in a third world country would be like?

Even throughout my time here, I still kind of found it annoying. No one back home truly understood what I was going through and experiencing. They couldn't. And that's okay. 

But they were right. 

I'm leaving my beloved Paraguay in three weeks. Just typing that bring tears to my eyes. This place has changed me. And I may never have words to express how or why I love this place so much. 

I truly believe that the Lord is constantly preparing us for what is to happen next. I got my degree in Spanish without any idea of what I wanted to do with it. And God brought me here. I lived in Boyle Heights for year with seven other awesome lovers of Jesus. And God used that time to mold me and shape me to be a stronger woman, which has helped living in a foreign country. I've been living in Paraguay for a year and a half, and I know, without a doubt, that God is using this time to prepare me for my future, even though I am unsure of what those details exactly entail. 

Now that I've wiped all the tears off my face... I have been praying recently that I would really enjoy my last couple months here, and God has been so faithful. Here's a couple pictures that capture just that. 

In October, I went to Rafaela, Argentina on a mission trip with a group from my church. We shared the gospel with the people of the neighborhood and had a soccer outreach. It was so fun being a part of this team. Nothing bonds a group of people together like a 18-hour one-way bus ride!

Cerro Porteño. My heart now bleeds red and blue for Cerro. I've been able to go to two soccer games. And let me tell you, it is no joke. No sporting event in the United States comes even close to a soccer game here. They sell more tickets than seats, so you can only imagine. Not a family friendly place whatsoever, but I loved it. 

Now, I've never been "a runner." Sure, I ran the Biola Block a handful of times, but if there weren't bases involved, I wasn't usually involved either. And then this happened. A friend had invited me to run what I thought was going to be a 5k (which I had never done before). Turns out it was 6.5 kilometers. We ran with a thousand other people in the streets of Asuncion. I was sweating profusely... because of the humidity, of course (you believe me, right?). I only tripped like twice. And I loved it! At least when it was all over. 

Fifth grade. 15 boys and 5 girls. This class makes me want to rip my hair out sometimes. But then they ask me questions about why I only have one last name, and how to conjugate a verb in the past tense. And I love them again. 

I may only have three weeks left, but I have a lifetime full of memories. I don't think God is finished with me yet in Paraguay. If you would like to pray for me, I would love prayer that I would rest in the Lord's timing and wisdom for my future, that I would continue to enjoy my last few weeks here, and that I would make a smooth transition back to life in the US.

Rohayhu Paraguai. <3

Picture Recap.

I want to apologize for taking so long to write a new update. I could come up with 1,001 reasons why I have been pushing it off, but today I am making myself sit down and just do it. And because so much has happened the past two months, I'm going to let photos be my guide. But to give you a brief overview, we hosted 4 mission trips in the span of two months. In the middle of that, I was able to go home for a short visit!

Okay. You ready?

This might be a doozy. 

Buckle up. 

 Alright... the first trip was to Ciudad del Este, which is a town on the border of Brazil. This is Dr. Ray Pigeon sharing his testimony. I think. He used a lot of medical/scientific terms so I could have missed it completely. But I do know that Ray shared his story - the story of how God changed his life. It was awesome.

 This is Edna and Faith. I've known these beautiful ladies for a few years now. See that brown water? That's the water from largest hydroelectric dam. Or something like that. 

 While in Ciudad del Este, the group got to perform the Empty Heart drama three times! This is sweet Esther playing the part of Suicide. She did a wonderful job!! 

 Trip número dos! That's Rick in the midst of a LOT of dirt. Like five or six truck loads. Rick has also been coming down to Paraguay for quite some time. He's a lot of fun. Anyway, the second team was in charge of moving that dirt. Unfortunately, all we had were shovels and wheelbarrows. There were rumors one day of a dirt mover thingy (sorry, dad... guess I didn't pick up too much of the constructiony lingo), but then it was kind of rainy. And the next day was nicer, so the owner decided to go use it on a different job site. 

 But look at what an awesome job everyone did!! That's the Center of Hope. The dirt was moved to where trees and landscaping is going to be planted!

 Oops. How did this get in here? ;) 

 Many many thanks to Pastor Trevor and Maranatha Chapel, I was able to go home in July for a couple weeks. As soon as I landed in the US, I got a text that my baby niece, Emma Grace, was born! Isn't she beautiful?? Proud Auntie moment :)

And then!!! I got to visit Davey in DC. It was the best. Dating long distance is hard. It was fun to do touristy stuff, hang out, and go on dates! We even got to have dinner with my long time family friends Dave and Rhonda.

 Davey and I took a day trip up to New York, where he surprised me with these two stunners! I LOVE surprises, but I'm not exactly the easiest person to surprise, but they got me. They got me good. Natasha and I went to Biola together, and I hadn't seen her since we graduated. Julia had an internship in Philly over the summer and came to spend the day with us in NY. We basically did an eating tour of New York City. We ate, we walked, we conquered.

 Team number 3 came from Crosspointe Church in Detroit. This was their fifth time to Paraguay as a church. We had 3 or 4 medical clinics followed up by door-to-door evangelism. This older lady just touched my heart. She is so consumed by the Virgin Mary, like a lot of Paraguayans. She doesn't believe that she is saved by grace alone. Her daughter, a fellow believer, has been praying for her mother's salvation for 10 years. Please be praying for these sweet ladies. 

 Also, I teach. This is Hildi and Edu from 6th grade. They are acting something out. Edu has his jacket on his head because he is supposed to be a messy teenager. Their humor just gets me sometimes. 

 This is my English class that I teach on Saturdays at Su Refugio. They may be few, but they are mighty! And they are really improving :)

 This guy has visited me way too many times in the shower. Scares the bajeebees out of me. Every stinkin' time. 

 On Wednesdays, I don't usually wear pink. But I do go to church at Los Nogales with these fun girls. 

This is my beautiful, wise cousin, Kendra. She turned 24. We celebrated with Guatemalan tacos and funfetti cake. Don't be fooled by those tall brown things sticking up out of the cake. They aren't candles. They're Pocky that Charlotte got in a care package. See that big red thing she's holding? That's the only candle we could find. And it wouldn't light. But hey, we had a great time! 

These are some crazy kids from Concordia University Irvine. They are on their semester abroad and are traveling around the world! They are going to 10 countries, two weeks at a time. We were so blessed to have them in Tobati. They worked really hard, shared the Gospel, played with kids, built a bathroom, put up a shade for the playground, and captured my heart.

 Here they all are. 

Kendra and I have decided to do things for the memory. It started off by drinking coffee in bed. Then we wore Burger King crowns -- in the grocery store. Join us and do something for the memory - letting loose, and not caring what other people perceive of us. It's fun!

Whew. That basically sums up my July and August.

Now that September has come, it has been a little bit of an emotional roller coaster. But Jesus keeps reminding me of His words in Matthew. I hope that these verses will minister to you as well!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

One Year

I've made it. It's here. One year. One year in Paraguay. 

After my first year out of college, I remember telling my friends that were getting ready to graduate that the first year away from everything I had known for the past four years was the year I cried the most in my life. It was such a drastic change from everything I had come to know and love - friends, community, way of life. It was all stripped away. And it was hard. It was very hard. 

But this year might have that year beat. 

Charlotte shared this blog that really touched my heart. The author gets it. She knows what its like to leave what you know, and live where the Lord has called. I want to share a pretty lengthy snipit of this blog by Patty Stallings becuase it's just that good. 

The cost is real. 

The endless goodbyes. The missed birthdays and holidays. The wedding vows said outside our hearing. The eulogies spoken without us in the pew. The fellowship and friendship circles that go on without us. 

The cost is so very real.

We say goodbye to a lifestyle, to routines and rythms, to familiarity.

We say goodbye to favorite places that evoke memories and a sense of belonging and comfort, fun, and togetherness.

We say goodbye to shared experiences, those everyday moments when inside jokes are born, secret smiles are shared, knowing looks are passed between sisters and friends. 

We miss out on those little conversations mostly about nothing that create a whole lot of something between two people. 

We miss our best friend or sister's bad hair days, and for a while, we'll have to live on the fumes of the fragrance of a life-giving friendship that dwells in a different corner of the planet.

The cost is real.

Somewhere in the midst of your goodbyes is a sacrifice that you and God have wrestled over. You laid your Isaac on the altar and there was no ram in the thicket to rescue and return your sacrifice. Your "yes" stands. Your sacrifice accepted. And not just accepted, but rejoiced in, delighted over, honored by Jesus.

So, as you tearfully separate from your support system,

as you walk to the car hand in hand with your loved one,

as you hug your nieces and nephews a little tighter,

as you promise your fiancé you'll be back in ten months,

YOU ARE DECLARING THE WORTH OF THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU.

I am trusting our Father to step in with heavier doses of His grace and peace and comfort. And I'm remembering He delights in my willingness to pay the very real cost of following Him to faraway places.

The sacrifices we make do not go unnoticed. "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10

Did you catch that? We show God our love for Him as we serve others. Our willingness to lay all else aside for His name's sake is take very seriously by God. He takes note and makes crazy promises to those who obey His call.

Your "Yes" courageously and beautifully declares His worth. 

In every goodbye you and I whisper, we loudly and clearly declare His worth.

I wanted to share this with you because it really touched my heart. I don't mean to toot my own horn. That isn't my intention at all. In fact, I think that this can very easily apply to you as well. When you say "yes" to the Lord - whether it be serving at church on Sundays,  volunteering during the week at the homeless shelter, working with a group of people you wouldn't necessarily chose to work with - you, too, are beautifully and boldy declaring His worth. 

As hard as it was to say goodbye this last time, it is also hard for me to think about leaving this place. Ideally, my two worlds would come together. It would be perfect. I guess I'll just have to wait for heaven. And I can't wait for you all to meet each other! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

six months

26 weeks.
184 days.
4416 hours. 
264,960 minutes.
15,897,600 seconds. 

That's it. That's all I have left until I return to the US in December. I left the beach, California burritos, donuts, iced coffee, my friends, boyfriend, and family 279 days ago. That's a little over 9 months. Some days it seems to be dragging and like I'm not going to make it. Some days I've cried in my bed wanting to be with my family. But most days, I have spent with my Paraguayan friends laughing, drinking terere, hanging out, going to church, building relationships, teaching English, preaching the Gospel. Most days, I'm totally content in where I am and in what I'm doing. There truly is no better place to be than to be where the Lord wants you to be.

And for the first time since I've been here, I have thought how much I am going to miss this place. 

Paraguay will always have a special place in my heart. I wish all of you could experience this beautiful country. I wish there were some way I could bring Paraguay to you, or better yet, bring you here. 

But the best I can do, until my two worlds meet in heaven, is to show some pictures! 

Get ready for picture overload! 

My Paraguayan little brother and the rest of the worship team from church!

My mom has been speaking at women's conferences for 8 years. For the first time ever, I was able to hear her speak. I absolutely loved it! The lovely, Fern Nichols, was the keynote speaker. What amazing women of God!

#onlyinparaguay does it start pouring right as you're getting off the bus. and then stop 10 minutes later.
but we are thankful!

Rainy day Twister game at the English Academy in Su Refuigo!

The best way to play and watch a soccer game. Seriously, the best.
And you don't get hurt! That's a plus :)

With Joel, sharing the gospel with some kiddos in a nearby barrio. 

The little boy on the bike captivated my heart. See the toilet behind him? That's the part of the property next door, where he lives. Notice how his bike doesn't have a front wheel? You can't tell, but his pants have a huge hole where you don't want a huge hole.
This is an example of the need here. The need may be great, but our God is bigger! 

Kid event!

Tati and Ivette, from my small group. We went to see God's Not Dead :) 

"God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise." 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT)

When a dear friend first told me that I had childlike mannerisms, I was a little offended. I was already a little self-conscious that I get mistaken for 18 all the time. I was just barely coming to grips with the fact that it was okay that I didn't know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I don't know what changed in me, but I started to become thankful for my childlike mannerisms. Maybe even joyful. I think it was Jesus who changed that in me. 

We all remember being in junior high. Or maybe we try to block it out of our minds because it was that bad. Junior high is when we start to deeply feel the pressures of fitting in. We change our clothes. We change the way we talk. We try to change our appearances. And what's the end result? "We become like everyone else... We stop being ourselves and start being who we think everyone wants us to be... Instead of becoming the one-of-a-kind original we were destined to be, we settle for a carbon copy of someone else" (Mark Batterson in In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, page 148). 

Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Jesus' standard is a child. No inhibitions. No prejudices. Children are the ones with big, grandiose dreams of becoming a princess, astronaut, puppy, garbage man, Aladdin, or a teacher on any given day. They are unpredictable. And by the world's standards, they are foolish. They are uncivilized. I think that is exactly what God is calling us to be. Growing and maturing in Christ is becoming less self-conscious and more God-conscious. "Part of taking God more seriously is taking yourself less seriously" (Batterson 160). We've got to let the fool out. 

Jesus in no way was civilized. He "touched lepers, healed on the Sabbath, defended adulterers, befriended prostitutes, washed the feet of His disciples, partied with the tax collectors, and regularly offended the" Pharisees (153-154). And as far as I'm concerned, the only "civilized" people in the Bible were the Pharisees. We all know how that turned out. 

We all have dreams in or for our lives. However big or small. Some we may not be willing to admit. By why not? Because people will think we are foolish. One of my dreams is to be able to call myself a surfer. I want to be one of those wrinkly old ladies with long grey hair that gets up early in the morning. Not to do her crossword puzzle, but to go surfing. Some people may say that it's a silly dream - that I'm foolish for having that dream. I've gone surfing a whole two times. And I couldn't even get up the second time (I swear it was because the water was so cold!). I'm not exactly living in a place where I can learn to surf. And I might look really silly trying. But who cares. When I'm in my sixties and I'm out in the water with the blonde, buff, tan twenty-somethings, who's going to be laughing then? Me. I'm going to embrace my childlike mannerisms and laugh to myself. 

Let's not be a church that dresses the same way, says the same things, has interests in the same things. Embrace the unique individual God has created you to be. Be willing to have a dance party in your car. Order that Frappuccino at Starbucks. Ask a question you don't know the answer to. Raise your hand in class even if you aren't 100% sure you have the right answer. Change your career path. Ask her out on a date. Wear the floral print pants, not because people tell you they like them, but because you like them. And most importantly, 

Let the fool out.

Are you my home?

Remember that children's book, "Are You My Mother?", where the little bird hatches from his egg while his mother is out looking for food? He searches and searches for his mom, asking a dog, a hen, even a boat, but is rejected time and time again. Until finally, he lands on an earth mover which blows him back to his nest, right as his mother comes back. They are finally united and enjoy each others company. 

Now this might seem like kind of a stretch, but hang in there with me. 

A couple weeks ago, I was having a conversation with my mom. I was going through a time when I just really wanted to come home. I had hit the three month mark of being back in Paraguay since I was home for Christmas, and culture shock hit me good. She asked me, "If you came home, what does that mean? What does 'home' mean?" 

I didn't have an answer. 

What is "home" for me? Is it in my mom's house where we've lived since I was little? It is at my dad's new house in northern Escondido? Is it in La Mirada where I lived for four years in four or five different living situations? Is it in Boyle Heights, in East LA, where I lived for an incredible year after college? Or is it in Paraguay? 

Our friend Cesar, who is now a missionary in Israel, always said, "My home is where my suitcase is." But ehh... I don't really like that. There's no sense of permanency or comfort. 

Maybe I have multiple homes. Or maybe Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros got it right. 

But then, a couple days later, in my quiet time, I came across this passage: 

"Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" Luke 9:58

I guess I don't have a "home" here on earth at all. (Now, I'm no Bible scholar, so don't take what I'm saying as exegetical commentary or anything, but just what I got out of it.) I'm not saying that I don't have a place to sleep or food to eat or a family that loves me because I follow Jesus. I have all of those things; and so much more. But rather, I need to have a change of thought. I need not to be thinking about how much I miss being with my family and friends in California. I shouldn't spend so much time dreaming about vegetables and Mexican food. It's not helpful to be desperately desiring to go on a run through the neighborhood or hang out on the beach. Those are all good things, and it's okay to miss them. But really, my mind should be set on things above. I need to be more heavenly focused. For while I am living here on this earth, my true citizenship is in heaven. 

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

I am so incredibly thankful for my time in Paraguay. The Lord is teaching me so much while I am here. I am also so thankful that I when I go back to my friends and family states-side that I will be welcome with open arms and lots of donuts. But when I find myself searching, like the little birdie, for a place to call home, I can rest in the fact that Jesus is saving the most perfect place for me in heaven.  

Maranatha Youth Trip

This might have been my favorite week in Paraguay so far. It was also one of the most exhaustingly difficult weeks. 

I had been anticipating this week ever since I came back in January. I had been preparing for it weeks ahead of time. And yet, it seemed to have flown by in a flash. Along with a ridiculous amount of selfies. 

The Maranatha Youth Group had finally arrived! I immediately felt like we had known each other for years. Each and every student was such a joy to be around. We spent the week going door to door, sharing the gospel, handing out shoes that were donated, and working around Su Refugio. 

Follow this link, for a video recap of the week. It does a much better job at depicting the week than I could ever do. Just look at the joy these kids have! As you can tell, it spread to the Paraguayans. 

One of my favorite parts of the week was walking through the barrio to share the Gospel with Bryn and Tommy. This was the first time either of them had done something like this. They were nervous. This was the first time I had ever translated. I was nervous. But the Lord calmed our nervous and brought us to talk with Ariel. Bryn and Tommy shared the story of Jesus Christ, and asked Ariel if he wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior. He said yes! We prayed with him and invited him to a Bible study in his neighborhood on Thursday nights. Before we even left Ariel's property, Bryn and Tommy turn to me and I could just see absolute joy on their faces. "That was awesome! Let's do that again!" Not only was Ariel's life changed, but so was Bryn and Tommy's. We all went from super nervous to totally excited about what God was doing. I hope I never forget the look on their faces. 

Trying to recap this incredible week seems to be impossible. I am so thankful for each of the students and leaders that came this week. For the first time in a long time, I felt that I could truly be myself. Even some of the other translators noticed that I was different. Maybe it was because I was with a group of people that shared the same language and culture. Maybe it was because God was doing a work in me to grow me as Missions Coordinator and I could see it coming together. Maybe it was because most of the students knew my brother and I loved talking about him because it was like he was there. Whatever it was, I am so thankful for such an incredible week.

Every single hug I received Saturday night as the group was about to leave was a gift in and of itself. Please join me in praying for these world changers. Pray that they would be able to share their experience. Pray that the Lord would receive all the glory and honor. Pray against sickness and thoughts from Satan as they are adjusting back to life in the States. Pray that they would continually seek what the Lord has for them. 

Bryn, Tommy, and I with Victoria and her daughter, Maria Isabella, after we gave them each a pair of shoes that were donated through Maranatha. 

The whole gang plus some kids at a school where we were able to share about Jesus!

I miss you guys!

So, like, what do you do?

Good question. 

I've been here since August 31 first (with a brief visit home for Christmas), and I think I'm just now figuring it out. Here it goes...

I teach English at Heaven's Kingdom Christian School. This is the school that is connected to the Florida Church (Florida is the name of the street, I don't actually go to South Beach every Sunday). I teach from 5th grade through high school. Some classes I teach alone, and others I co-teach with Josu. The school year started in February, and so far this year has been going much better than last year. It makes a world of a difference to start the year with the students and set the classroom rules than to try to come in halfway through the school year. 

I also teach English at the English Academy at Su Refugio. More like, I'm going to be teaching. Classes start this Saturday! We offer classes from ages 7-97 (or even older!). One of the goals of the Academy is to bring in revenue for Su Refugio. However, Su Refugio is located in a small town, and not many people are able to afford it, at least right away. Learning English would open up many doors for jobs for the people of Tobati. We would like to offer scholarships for those who are really interested but are unable to afford the registration fee, book, and tuition. The classes cost $30/month and will go until the end of November. If you are interested in providing a monthly scholarship, email me at nicole.m.riha@gmail.com, and I'll get you set up! It would be a huge blessing! 

Not too long ago, I was appointed In-Country Coordinator. Basically, there are various missions trips that come to work with the Florida Church throughout the year, and someone needs to coordinate translators, transportation, hotels, that sort of thing. I don't have a lot of experience in doing this kind of thing, but so far I'm really liking it. It's a little bit of a challenge, but I think it is using some of my gifts. 

Last week, Alcides talked to me about his desire to set up an study abroad/ exchange program with the school where his brother teaches in Virginia. The idea is to have a few students from Paraguay go to the United States for about 6 months to study, learn English, and maybe play soccer. Eventually, the goal would be to have students from the Virginia come to Paraguay to study and experience a new culture. But someone needs to coordinate all of this. Nicole's job #4. The only experience I have that's anything close to this is that I studied abroad when I was in college. I definitely didn't have to do any of the coordinating myself, but maybe that can give me some sort of direction. 

Number 5 - Alcides wants me to teach him English. He already understands so much. It's the speaking part that's difficult. And I totally, completely, 100% understand that. I think he'll improve really quickly! 

I also lead a small group of college aged girls, and I'm a leader at the youth group on Saturday nights :)

Whew. I think that's it! I like having things to do. It's way better than being bored all the time! And as of right now, it doesn't seem to be super overwhelming. Praise Jesus for that! I hope that kind of clarifies what it is I'm doing down here :) This year is going to be full, and I'm sure it will just fly by! 

Where do I even begin?

I guess I should start off by apologizing. I'm so sorry it has been so long since my last post! Life has gotten super crazy and busy these past couple weeks, and I have finally found time to write it down for you! Of course, that means I'm sacrificing my siesta, but you're worth it! 

We'll go chronologically. Sound good? I promise to keep it brief!

That means we'll start with my birthday!! I just love birthdays. And I so enjoyed my birthday in Paraguay! It was definitely the hottest birthday I've ever had. What made it even better was that Rebecca and I share the same birthday! First thing in the morning, the family all came in and sang to us :) It was such a fun tradition to be apart of. The rest of the day, I was stuck in teacher meetings. That was blehhh, but they all sang to me when I first got there, and that made it a little bit better! 

Then the party really got started! Our friends started coming over around 8, and we hung out for awhile. We ate super panchos (hot dogs) for dinner around 10 or so. And then we had karaoke! If you know one thing about my family, it's that no one can sing. We just have not been blessed with vocal chords of angels. Or even of an 90s pop band. But you only turn 24 once, right? And as far as I know, this is going to be my only birthday in Paraguay. So why not rap Grillz by Nelly? 

Wednesday was the start of a new school year! It was fun to see the students again. Some familiar, others new. I think this next school is going to be better than last year. Everything is more organized, with more direction. I'll be teaching 5th & 6th grade, Level 3 for junior high, and Levels 2 & 3 in high school. So far, so good!

This is the high school Level 2. Well, most of them anyway!

Late Wednesday night, my mom and Scott flew in!! It was so nice having them here. Especially my mommy :) Even though they were only here for 4 days, it was so refreshing to have my own family sitting next to me at the dinner table, and getting a hug from my own mom. 

On Friday, I went out to Su Refugio to celebrate my birthday with Charlotte, Candida, and Bill. Charlotte made Guatemalan tacos which has become a birthday tradition! They are seriously so yummy :) We made brownies and just hung out. It was so relaxing. 

The next morning was the inauguration for the Center of Hope for Women at Su Refugio. The front doors were put on about an hour before people started arriving! The Center for Hope is going to be a place where women can come a learn different trades, such as sewing, knitting, cooking, etc. to be able to support their families. This is also where we are going to be holding classes for the English Academy starting in March. If you want to read about it and test your Spanish, here's an article to check out.  

Getting ready the day before. Check out those clouds!

One last thing, I was in Asuncion yesterday, and I thought it would be a good idea to take a little video of where I was to show you what it looks like because I know that not many of you have been here! Well... I just watched the video, and you see more of my face than the actually city. My apologies. I tried. Here it is anyway... 

I hope that it won't be so long until my next post! Until next time, my blogging familia :)

Muere + Vive + Sobrevive

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  Galatians 2:20

I had the incredible opportunity to spend this past week in Cordoba, Argentina, at a missions conference/camp. The organization that put it on is called Movida ("moviendo vidas"). It is their goal to encourage and motivate young latinos to impact the world for Jesus. There were about 2,500 young latinos from all over South America - Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil - just to name a few! 

I was so encouraged and blessed by my time there. While it wasn't the most comfortable week (imagine trying to provide food, showers, floor space to sleep for 2,500 people when it's 113 degrees!), the Lord used it to teach me a few things. As He always does :) 

Because of my sin, I have died. My sins have been crucified with Christ, and now He lives in me. And I don't want to live for me. I don't want my life to be focused on myself. I want my life to make a difference. I want people to know that they, too, can have a life in Christ, and spend eternity with Him in heaven. 

One of the speakers, Bill Wilson, talked about how Jesus called ordinary people to make a difference. He uses the person you would least expect to make a difference. Like in Numbers 16. There's this giant plague that is killing thousands and thousands of people. Moses told 100-year old Aaron to run to the midst of all of it. Can you imagine?? At 100 years old. Running. He stood between the living and the dead. I don't know about you, but I definitely wouldn't chose Aaron to be on my team. But God chose him. He chose the least expected player to make a difference. 

Bill also pointed out that when you choose to step out and make a difference, there will always be someone to tell you can't. And in my life, I think that's myself. I don't always believe in myself that I can do something. Sometimes, I believe the lies Satan tells me. I don't want that to be the case. I want to see me as Christ sees me. I want to live my life for Him. 

This week was a perfect mash up of cultures, loving Jesus, and serving Him. And I am so incredibly thankful. 

 One of my favorite parts of the sessions was the worship. Check out this song we sang all week. I love it. We sang in Spanish, English, and Swahili. The two men in white in the middle are from Mali. One was the speaker and the other was the translator. I just loved seeing so many cultures and countries represented in one place worshipping Jesus.  

 This is my it's-frickin-hot-but-I-love-Argentina face. 

 And this is where I slept. With about 700 other girls. On a yoga mat. 

Here is my small group. We met up all week twice a day to talk about Jesus and missions. We went out one day to clean up the city together. What a fun group of Bolivians, Argentines, Chileans, and Paraguayans.

In 2016, the next conference is in Quito, Ecuador! Maybe you can be the representative from the United States!! 

Campa Florida 2014!!!

I survived. We did it. 

As you know, I wasn't the most stoked on going to camp. I'm just not quite the camp person. But praise Jesus that He knows me better than I even know myself. 

I ended up having a really good time! 

The first day and a half was really hard. I didn't want to be there. I wanted to be home. I didn't want to jump up and down and scream. I didn't want to run in the heat and humidity. I wanted to be sitting at home with the people I love, speaking English, and eating food that doesn't make my stomach feel like someone is tying some intense Boy Scout knot around my waist. 

But I went. I am so thankful I serve a gentle God. Throughout the first two days, He gently nudged me to step outside of my comfort zone, to reach out to the kids, and to enjoy my time there. And that's exactly what happened. After the younger kids left on Wednesday, things started going up hill. The older kids came later that day. And even though we were still running around when who knows how hot it was, and screaming and cheering for our team, I could relate to them better. And I actually got pretty into the games! I played soccer for the first time in years. I played water polo for the first time ever (and scored two goals!). I encouraged and cheered on our girls. I got to sit, read Scripture, and share difficult stories with two beautiful girls. 

And you know what? By the time Sunday rolled around, even though I was the most exhausted I have been in I don't know how long, I wasn't ready to leave. Sure, sleeping on a yoga matt size mattress outside with the bugs for about 3-4 hours a night wasn't ideal. And yeah, I could have eaten more fruits and veggies. But I really did enjoy myself. 

I laughed throughout the talent show. I cheered on our team as they won their soccer games. I ran alongside our girls through the mud. I slept next to them. We drank terere together. We worshipped together. And we prayed together. 

And now, as I'm sitting in my room, getting over the flu (see what camp will do to you??), I am so thankful that God doesn't listen to me sometimes. He knew I needed to be there. And I am so glad He made me go. It was unlike any other camp experience I've ever had. It was only by the grace of God that I made it through Sunday with a smile on my face. He is so good. 

Here are some picture highlights of the week. I apologize for lack of pictures. I really just need someone following me around taking pictures, or else I just won't really do it. Anyways.. here ya go! 

 Our team name was Bruzuca, after the name of the soccer ball for the 2014 World Cup. This proud little boy was our mascot. 

This may not look like it, but it's a talent show. The kids had 30 seconds to impress the judges with whatever talent they had, from singing and rapping to breakdancing and ball juggling. These two guys, dressed in black and wearing masks, would come out, and start mocking you. And if they didn't like your talent, they would hit you with pool noodles and give you a nice shaving creme pie to the face. 

I apologize for the horrible quality, but this is a glimpse into the girls' cabin. See how they are all lined up like sardines? They are even on the floor. And this is just one side. There are just as many girls on the other side. And about 10 counselors outside. Quite the experience! 

Please pray for my health as I continue to get better! I'm leaving on Friday to go to Argentina for a week for another camp. The 15-hour bus ride will just be miserable if I am sick the whole time. Also, please let me know how I can be praying for you! 

Bananas

I just got back to Paraguay after spending three weeks at home with friends and family. And it was hard. It was hard being home. In more ways than one. 

I've been well aware that I'm living in a third world country. That's what I've been told anyway. But it didn't hit me until I got back to the States what that actually meant. I didn't quite get it until I was on the road back to San Diego. It's not like I live in grass hut without water and electricity (although that happens sometimes). I have a bed to sleep in. People have internet in their homes, cell phones, and cars. Sure, there is the occasional horse or cow blocking the road, but for the most part I didn't understand what the big difference was. And the funny thing is, I found the big difference in something so small. 

Bananas. 

And I don't even like bananas. 

The bananas back in the United States are spotless. Perfectly yellow. I'm telling you, the bananas I saw in the grocery store a couple weeks ago were really nice. 

Just like the sidewalks, landscaping, cars, grocery stores, buildings, roads, restaurants. Everything you can think of. It is all really nice. 

I don't know why the bananas stuck out to me so much. I don't think it bothered me so much that one culture has really nice things and the other doesn't. I understand that. I think what bothered me most was that it doesn't bother other people. For the majority of the people in the grocery store that day, I can tell you they probably didn't think twice about how nice the bananas were. If anything, they probably complained that they weren't nice enough. That they weren't just right. 

One of my favorite quotes comes from John Stam, one of the men I learned from in Costa Rica:

"Countries are like people. When you get to know them, it enriches your life."

We can learn so much from people of other countries. I know I have learned so much from the people of Paraguay in my short time here. Jesus has been teaching me grace and to be others-focused through His people here. 

As we start this new year, I pray that you will be open to learn from people of other cultures. Even if you aren't able to leave the country, there are people in your own back yard (in some cases, literally), from whom you can learn. Be open and listen. Ask questions. You might be surprised by what you learn and how others can change you. 

I also have a few prayer requests of my own: 

• We are leaving for camp early Monday morning. And I'm not so much the chasing-little-girls-through-the-mud, screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs type. Pray that I wouldn't be so self-focused. Pray that I would put others first, and stretch myself to do things that I wouldn't normally do. 
• That goes for my time in Paraguay, in general. It's really easy to be self-focused here because it's hard. It's hard being away from my family. It's hard having stomach issues. It's hard being dependent. I can either chose to focus on those things, or go out and spend time with other people, learning from them. I want to be open to what Jesus has for me here, and it would be very difficult to do that from inside my own head. 
• I would also love prayer for my health. When I was home, the doctor told me that I have gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining. Which basically means I have to be more careful of what I'm eating and drinking. 

Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement. If you're looking to support someone financially in this new year, and you feel that God is calling you to support me, send Scott an email at sckvandal@aol.com and he'll get you all set up with the whole tax deductible thing. And send me your prayer requests too!!