Answered Prayers

Three weeks into my life here in Argentina and I can now say with certainty that what I've come to find here is a string of answered prayers. Before flying south I worried (or maybe it would be more accurate to say my parents really worried ; ) about many things, including what my host family would be like, how I (and my temperamental stomach) would react to the changes in food and schedule, and what kind of people I would meet here. But God has proved his faithfulness 200 times over by taking those hopes and fears and turning them into unbelievable blessings.

My host family is perfect. I had hoped for a family with kids and parents that would talk to me and take care of my basic needs. What I got was so much better: a big family with kids of all ages, parents who love and care about me tremendously (even from day one when I had only just met them), all surrounded by a perfect, Spanish-style house and filled with amazing Argentinian food : )

Before coming I loaded up my bag with all the pills I was sure I would need to calm my ridiculously temperamental stomach in this new environment where bread and red meat thrive and dinner is served at 10PM or later. Amazingly though, I haven't had to take one pill... not even one. Now that's a true miracle in my book.

I also had myself prepared to meet a group of people here who had only come to "live it up" every single night with no care in the world for learning or traveling or culture outside the various clubs and bars around town. Once again, my actual experiences have more than exceeded my expectations. Not only have I met people who don't look to get into a drunken stupor every night, I've become friends with some pretty down to earth, spiritual, awesome people who care about learning, traveling, and culture (and they manage to have a pretty amazing time while they're at it).

This past week I've visited a 350 year old jesuit "estancia" (see photo), gone to my first "boliche" (dance club), learned how to make "pastelitos" (amazing little deep-fried desserts, see photo), danced like a "gaucho" (a type of Argentinian cowboy), and become an expert (haha, well maybe not yet) at the tango.


It's funny how things work out... You think you know exactly what you want, exactly how things are going to turn out. But then God always seems to take those hopes and fears and dreams and turn them into something different, something even better than you could have ever imagined for yourself.

And I thank GOD for that.