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!!