quenched

I love sarcasm. This isn't one of those cases where I'm using the word 'love' out of context either. I really do love it. I enjoy talking to sarcastic people, reading articles and columns written by sarcastic people and as a given, I like to watch sarcastic people on tv (i.e: House M.D) I've found that in the past I didn't quite get my daily recommended amount of satirical humor and in turn I used to explode with witty and genius-like comments to unsuspecting friends and acquaintances both at local and abroad -- sorry about that. Also, I've thought that my friends here in Uruguay really never got to know me... mostly because I couldn't talk or I didn't know how to use sarcasm in Spanish. Get this- some of them were even surprised to hear my voice! I kid you not, they thought I was shy and quiet. Please, stop laughing now... thanks. However, after watching Devil Wears Prada more times than I care to admit to get my DRA of sarcasm I began to grow a little weary of the flick. I began to get a little desperate- then I found House M.D. It was like a little ray of sunshine from heaven. Maybe not to that extent, but I began soaking in the subtle but evil humor of Gregory House. Like a true addict, I soon realized that there might not be enough House episodes posted online to keep my thirst quenched. After being one of many people hooked on the animated, truthful and satirical preaching styles of Mark Driscoll, I found myself momentarily satisfied; until I got annoyed of waiting 4 hours for the video podcast to load. At this point I also should mention I have way too short an attention span to listen to a sermon without seeing the preacher, a little something I developed in Bible school. Anyways, I continued searching, until one day, which also happens to be yesterday, Allison sent me this link http://www.stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com and my sarcasm quota was filled for a long while. If you like sarcasm as much as I do, then I strongly recommend (which means it's not an option) that you take a gander. Warning: it's addictive.

my little munchkins -- I mean timbits.

Here they are... some of the beautiful little creations of God I work with. They're amazing! The last picture is "la merienda compartida" (shared snack) where 2 kids bring enough to feed the whole group - and the teachers too... shhh.

Have, Shall, Will

While savoring delicious maple butter and sipping green tea this morning I was reading in Psalm 13. The small chapter begins with David, basically complaining, that the Lord isn't hearing him. He pleads with the Lord "How long O Lord; Consider and hear me". The last two verses of the chapter are what hits me the most "But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountiful with me" David started off the chapter in such agony, but he remembers that the Lord is faithful and that He is trustworthy. He's so determined to praise the Lord through his situation, and he is such an example, a testimony as someone who has real fears, real doubts; but always seems to remember that the Lord is faithful and will see Him through it.

Update: Upon thinking on this more, we aren't told how long it took David to write a Psalm. Think about it: He could have had this struggle for 2 weeks! He could have been waiting on the Lord and after 2 weeks he realized, "I have trusted in you before, God. So why won't I trust you now?" We sometimes think his whole spiritual battle happened in the 2 minutes it takes us to read the Psalm, but I challenge you, read them slowly. Reflect upon the struggle that David is going through, reflect upon the fact that he could have been going through it for much longer than 2 minutes, then read the end when he remembers about the Lord being so good. It's a beautiful thing.

vroum vroum

Back from Paysandú and back into the swing of things - for today at least. I left on a late-morning bus Tuesday morning, went to the Corts' family funeral, jumped on a moto and went driving around and around and around, visited with Becca and was back on a bus at 2am Wednesday morning. I went back to work at the school yesterday and to my utter surprise: they remembered me! It was like I never even left :) Those kids are so sweet. Bonus! Another teacher brought her camera yesterday, which means I'm bringing mine tomorrow for "la merienda compartida" (shared snacking = a whole lot of cute kids).

asphalt and concrete

Wow... alright, things have definitely changed pace here in the past couple of weeks. My mom was down visiting from Canada, how cool is that?! I had a really good time with her. We got to do some of my favorite things: drive and explore! We went to Montevideo (several times), Colonia, Punta del Este and Salto. We had the coolest little yellow car (some even thought I was embarrassed by it... oh boy, were they wrong); I requested it because I would never actually buy a yellow car and we put about 2,000 kms of exploring on it. It was great. My mom left this afternoon and I crashed, slept real hard for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately a family member of my host family passed away this afternoon, and there will be a funeral either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. We are all heading 5 hours to Paysandú, where my host family is from. I've offered to take the bus to give them some time to grieve and talk with each other, also to avoid putting 130 (give a few) extra pounds in the vehicle for "personal space in the back seat" reasons. Next week, I need to renew my visa for 3 more months, which means I need to go back to Argentina and get a new fancy stamp in my passport to be able to stay here for 3 more months.
*deep breath* So that sums it up, there's a whole lot going on around here, not to mention the usual kids clubs, youth groups and my job. It's not boring! I love it!!!!!!!!

Termas de Daymán - Salto

Oh man... I spent 3 days in tropical paradise 6 hours north from where I live (I know it's weird to think that north is warmer, but it's true). My mom, who is visiting, and myself took the excuse of my birthday to spend a few days sitting in natural-hot-spring baths. It was marvelous!! Upon returning to the cold South the windows went back up and the air vents in the car shut. We were back on the coast, where the cold winds nipped at our freshly pinked-noses :)

Colonia de Sacramento

Colonia is the oldest city in Uruguay. Founded by a Portuguese man, it was the spying point to see what the Spaniards were bringing in to Buenos Aires... I think it's amusing and a tad bit scandalous...
Last week was exciting: my mom arrived for 2 weeks. We've been to Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este. We've made the "east coast" rounds and super early (way too early for me) Wednesday morning we're leaving to head into the interior to Salto, where we'll be staying for a couple of days. I'm really excited to go, but am kind of sad too because it means her trip is coming to an end. What I need to remember is that there's still a whole lot more in April yet (including a few days in Argentina) and when May rolls around I only have 4 more months here!

home sweet home!

Montréal!!! I really really need to do some more exploring/ picture-taking here! These were taken 2 1/2 years ago when I led a missions' trip in Montreal :) It was grand.

oh Canada!

I've lived 2 hours from Canada's capital city my whole life and I've been more in the past year than I have in 20 years! I need to do some more serious exploring!! Anyone want in?

Nicaragua

"La Chureca" the local dump in Managua, Nicaragua is home to more than 300 families averaging 5 children/'household'. Garbage trucks bring in garbage continually; men and boys race to be the first to see what comes out. Accidental deaths are very common, not to mention thousands of diseases from walking over used hospital equipment, broken glass and millions of other dangerous items; barefoot. I had the privilege and blessing to work with many children from La Chureca both times I was in Nicaragua; I wish I would have been able to capture more of the city, but I can assure you it is most definitely and interesting place!

In west Philadelphia born and raised...

A 16-hour whirlwind trip to Philly 2 years ago and this is the only picture of the city I have (it's from one of the bridges, surprisingly it only took 2 tries to get it between the cars and bridge supports!). We were invited to a CrossWorld Next Steps mission program. We were stuck there an extra night thanks to a snowstorm in Maine, we had amazing plans of going to a Siberian speaking church and then out for coffee. However, being 19 year-olds we had the brilliant idea of watching a movie and we all passed out until 10:30pm. So we watched another movie; this time with high-sugar snacks.

Buenos Aires

Five hours simply was not enough time in Buenos Aires in my opinion! I would love to go back for a day of two and just walk around and explore and see what this huge city has to offer!

This week I'm digging around on my computer for pictures of places I've been to; I'm hoping to find some old favorites and take some new ones! My mom is coming Tuesday for 2 weeks, I'm really excited to have someone to share my experience with!!!

A common sight in Uruguay, especially around Christmas time. Mom and Dad faithfully do their Christmas shopping, load it on to their motos and scoot home, providing a comedic relief for people like me; who think this is hilarious. It still amazes me how much balance and agility they have. I've seen kids as young as toddlers sitting behind mom and dad, barely holding on as they bounce over the bumps. I've also seen people in Paysandú pouring maté (hot tea) and drinking it while riding on the back. It never ceases to amaze me. What about me? Please, I'm a natural. Okay, so the first time I went on a moto was in Paysandú I was holding on for dear life and we were going 100kms down a country road with no helmets. However, on the way home I was practicing my balance skills and you know what? It's not as hard as I thought it would be! Now, if I could only convince the Corts to buy one...

the tables have turned.

I'm realizing my days of gloating about the beach and the hot sun are quickly coming to an end. My pictures of happy people frolicking along the white sand and playing in the refreshing water are soon going to be a memory of what was... the merciless winter is approaching, tauting the people that gloried in the sun a few short weeks ago of months of rain and bone-chilling humidity. Right now we're fighting the plagues of flies that are swarming the houses in hopes of finding refuge. I have 3 on my knee and 2 reading this blog from my shoulder and one checking the spelling on the screen. Someone should tell them that they only live for 30 days and should profit of the short days they have left... especially if I hit them with my rolled up movie guide!!!!!