Lies From The Pit

Filling out the immigration forms at about 5:00 AM this morning on the plane and it hit me...I don't have an address. I have been using Mom and Dad's but they moved while I was in Argentina, so needless to say I didn't know it. This is ok. It's my life, how it has been and probably will be for a while. There was more to it for me though. It was the beginning of a day that Satan saw as a day of opportunity to ruin me, I knew that. He wanted to remind me that so much of my life is uncertain, and weird, and not normal. I am not "on track" to have the normal American house, car, family, career. Fears, worries, doubts, all are such thieves. As I began to pray through approaching these 2 days at home alone, I started to think about how many huge things can happen during times of isolation, both victories and defeats. I know that life is meant to live in community. However, there are to be times alone as well. Most days I cheer and do cartwheels over the opportunity to have these moments alone, being the introvert that I am (ISFJ for all the personality testing fans out there). For some reason, He let me know ahead of time, that I was about to head into some critical hours. I got off the plane, found the car that had been left for me, and found the place that my parents moved into that I had never seen...and was very, very, alone. That is what Satan wanted me to think. Truth vs. Lies, constantly. It is a series of decisions throughout the day...are you going to believe Christ and His truth and His promises or are you going to buy into the world and the falsehood and the empty promises. From the moment you get up til the moment you fall asleep you will be plagued by these choices. To think that we can walk in the manner that He would have us to on our own is so extremely ignorant and arrogant. Are you going to take the next blind step forward in faith? Or are you going to pack it up and go home. If you do not choose to spend time in the Word, talking with Jesus, and listening to Him talk, you will get eaten alive, end of story. Satan is good at what he does. He will lie to you, and if you do not have the Truth of Christ to compare and rule out the garbage you will buy into it. The stakes are high. Oh how we must cling to Him for, HIS wisdom.

"His divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
1 Peter 1:3-4

Happy Birthday Edgardo!

Estrellita,

I am so sad that I am not there today with you guys to celebrate your 11th birthday. I know that it will be a hard day without your sweet Mom there to celebrate with you this year. When I get back we are going to have a fun day together just to celebrate YOU! You have been such a great big brother to Selvin and Julie, especially this year. I am so proud of you. Maybe this will be the year that you start a relationship with the Creator that gave you those little legs that allow you to be such a stud soccer player. I love you sweet boy, you are a blessing to me and my family.

See you soon,

Kate

All Apologies

What if I titled every post with a song title? That would be fun to see how long I could go. I apologize in advance for the randomness of this post. I decided this morning that I am going to start incorporating "cheers" into my everyday language. Paul has decided to incorporate "winge" into his...he picked it up from one of his Aussie buddies down here, or "mates" if you will...por ejemplo, "Kate, quit your winging." Who knew that eating eggs for breakfast was so odd? I had quite an audience this morning as I was cooking us some eggs. We have a couple from Spain in our little hostel room with us. They are funny, her accent is crazy weird. Paul and I have acquired enough inside jokes this past week to last a while...as if we needed more. I love watching people watch us, I know they think we are "together", and then I ask him to pass me a roll and he drops it from 3 feet above my plate and it lands in my food and splatters and we die laughing. I think then it becomes obvious that he is my brother. And people are like hmm, that is interesting that they treat each other like that. We are heading out tonight for another overnight bus ride over to the coast. I was stoked about going because I was told that I would see penguins, everyone else that we have talked to about it said that it is whale season which is supposed to be amazing...whatever, I want to see a real, live penguin. Then last night at the hostel the English dude we were talking to said that the whales beach themselves and FEED on the penguins!?! WHAT!!! It can't be true.

I should have packed my jump rope. Mom came back from Costa Rica with a new found passion for jump rope, and was told it was the "best workout" and obviously easy to take places. Needless to say, I chose not to pack it, and will pay for it. The goal is to NOT need 2 plane tickets to fit my rear in on the way home at the end of the summer. Its all like amazing Italian food here? Pizza, calzones, empanadas etc.

Matt Chandler and I have been spending a lot of time together via podcast...journeying through Hebrews. GOOD STUFF. Will write more about that later. Has been so great to have unlimited time to read, study, write, think, pray. I am interested to see how these past few months and all that He has revealed to me will transfer into lesson form for India...

"Faith honors God...God honors faith."

Buen Dia Che

Made it. Love it. The word on the street is that Argentine people are arrogant...can't blame them. There seems to be a lot to be proud of. Its so different than what I have previously known of Latin America which is fun, if Paul and I don't talk we blend in. It is chilly...but beautiful days thus far. Its no secret that I am not a fan of the cold, but I am always up for an excuse to rock a beanie or a scarf, or better yet both! Paul found the neatest hostel that I have been staying at. It is a couple blocks from his house. It is a super old house that they redid, awesome huge wood doors and windows. There is an open air rooftop place to hang out and it has a pretty sweet view. There is a sushi bar and a club below it, that comes alive at night...which is just perfect since I am such a nightowl ;) Went to the soccer game Sunday night, Argentina vs. Ecuador. The stadium was huge and full of baby blue/white flags, balloons, shirts etc. They love their country, and LOVE their soccer. Fun times. Its just such a blessing to get to spend time with Paul, life has been so intense lately, its nice to download with him and....just....be.

Headed down south Wednesday to ski for a few days. Should be quite entertaining...for us AND the people that are lucky enough to be around us while we are trying.

Happy 30th Anniversary

Meet Glenn & Judy, my precious parents. If you know me, you have more than likely spent time around them at some point. I am not sure you will find more simple people. They love Christ, things of Him, and live to know more of Him daily...taking what they know to be true of Him and sharing that with those who are put in their path. Outside of those things, the details of this life are exactly that to them...details. They have this crazy gift of making anyone they meet feel so at home, so comfortable, they will see the gifts He has put inside of you and tell you about them. While they are the first people to build you up and encourage you they will also be the first people to have the hard conversations, confronting sin and challenging mediocrity and a love for things of the world. I could not be any more proud that they are my parents. I love that they do life differently than the crowd. They don't feel a need to compete for the approval of people. The wisdom, truth, encouragement, and love that have been given to me from them is invaluable and there are no words that I could write that could speak of the 24 years that they have loved me so unconditionally. I have learned so much from watching them work out their faith both in their individual lives and in their marriage. Their marriage is so full of life, love, obedience, passion, service, submission, redemption, forgiveness, humility, joy, and selflessness. Could God have put two more opposite people together? I do not think so...yet they are such a great team. For 30 years they have walked together...brought together, while they were not yet His. They have been such wonderful instruments He has used to display His grace and mercy to this broken world. Happy Anniversary, I love you dearly.

Truth For Today

In Your Name
There is hope when all seems lost
There is freedom in the power of the cross
Let the world see

In Your Name
There is truth where logic fails
Understanding that makes sense of our days
You Are Worthy

Hear the song of all creation roar
We’re crying out as One
To You our God
Now show us the way of Your love
And we will come running

All for Jesus’ name
Your love displayed
We are alive in the mystery
All for sinners’ gain
Your life You gave
We’ll sing Your praise for eternity

In Your Name
There is mercy without end
Overtaking us now time and again
Let the world see

In Your Name
There is love that never fails
And the promise that Your word will prevail

Hear the song of all creation roar
We’re crying out as One
For You our God
Now show us the way of Your love
And we will come running

All for Jesus’ name
Your love displayed
We are alive in the mystery
All for sinners’ gain
Your life You gave
We’ll sing Your praise for eternity

Hallelujah...Great is Your Name

In The Mystery-Joel Houston