Argentina

Well what can I honestly say about our trip to Argentina other than the fact that it was the greatest and most amazing trip I have ever been on!!! The main reason that this trip was so memorable is because I have never been on a trip where everything that was done was done with the intentions of showing and sharing the Gospel with every person that we came in contact with. All week we would start out by having breakfast and doing a morning devotion and prayer time and then we would go to the towns (either Clarinda, Laguna Blanca or Espinillo) and we did some door-to-door ministry. This experience was awesome because people are so receptive and inviting and most people would invite you into their homes or shops and sit down with you and listen to what you had to say and talk with you about it. It was great seeing God work through us and in the response of the everybody we talked to. The best thing about us sharing the Gospel with these people is that we started a relationship with them which was followed up that night with events for their kids and time for the parents to talk with us more and watch a film. Also, in doing this the local church got their names and contact info in order to keep up with and make visits with them in order to follow up on the seeds that were planted. After door-to-door we would have lunch and 'siesta,' which meant that the entire town went to sleep and was basically a ghost town! Then we would get ready to do some VBS and kids/sports ministry which was really fun! As most know, I love to work with kids and I love to play sports, and I love telling people about the love of Christ and being able to put all these things together was great. Towards the end of the week my Spanish was getting pretty good and I was able to talk with the locals and just share with them how Christ changed my life. This was seriously one of the greatest experiences of my life! I thank God for allowing me to go on this mission trip to Argentina/Paraguay, but it also taught me several things. I continue to learn how to become a follower and to remain humble, but the main thing that continued to burden my heart all week was the fact that we are so eager, willing, and quick to share Christ to those who don't speak our own language, but to those who speak our language and share our cultural experiences we are reluctant and afraid. Why is this? I am not sure, but in looking back to our week it all boils down to intentions. Everything we did was intentional and was done for the sole purpose of sharing and showing the love and saving name of Jesus. So in coming back to our comfortable culture and language I continue to ask myself in everything I have done, what are my intentions? It's great that we go to the nations to share Christ, but let us not forget about those who are around us crying out and who desperately need to hear the name of Christ! Going to class, riding the bus, buying food, whatever I do, I do with the intentions of showing the love of Christ so that others will be able to see Jesus through me! The main question that we have to continue to ask ourselves is: what are your intentions?