A treasure for you to love!

Dearest Readers,

If any of you are still out there (so sorry for my long hiatus!!)....today is an exciting day! I got a very special package in the mail today and it was for YOU!

So you can just sit back and relax while I tear the tape off and open up this little goodie box with all of its precious contents. You could be the one to walk away with a treasure! We'll just have to wait and see. :) I will be opening one treasure every day of this weekend, beginning with tonight's. I pray my hands will be empty by Monday! Here we go...

All right, I got the tape off and didn't even need the car keys! Now for the fun part...thank goodness there are no foam peanuts...

Treasure numero uno:

Meet Urmila! This beautiful brown-eyed girl lives in India! Sweet baby girl turned five years old TODAY!!!! I know the perfect birthday present for this precious girl. Can you guess what it is??

Sponsorship* (if you have never heard of Compassion International's Sponsorship program, jump down to the bottom where I will explain the details!). Two other children are also available for sponsorship here and here.


Urmila has been waiting for a sponsor for seven months and is in desperate need of one. She lives on the plains of Longkharang, home to approximately 59,000 residents. Her area has a high risk for child rights violations, making it even more imperative for her to quickly get a sponsor. Urmila helps out around the house by running errands. She loves to play with dolls and play hide-and-seek! What a cute little girly-girl. She attends church activities and preschool regularly.

Typical houses in her village consist of cement floors, wood walls, and tin roofs. Urmila lives with her father, who is sometimes employed as a laborer, her mother, who maintains the home, and one sibling. Most adults in her community earn the equivalent of $16 per month. The regional diet consists of maize, bananas,chicken, beef, rice, and potatoes. A common health problem in her area is malaria.

Her community needs improved sanitation, income-generating programs, and drug abuse prevention programs.

YOUR sponsorship would allow the staff of Longkharang Child Development Center to provide Urmila with Bible teaching, health checkups, vaccinations, outdoor games, hygiene education, group activities, picnics, special celebrations, community service opportunities, tutoring, educational materials and skills development programs.

Your monthly payment of $38 will give Urmila a hope and a future she wouldn't otherwise have. And trust me, you will be rewarded in full.

My favorite part of sponsorship is the correspondence. You will be given the opportunity to write letters to Urmila, and these letters will truly change her life. You can watch her grow up through her letters, and watch her scribbles turn into recognizable drawings to hand-written prayers for you. Please believe me when I tell you the gift of correspondence is one you won't want to miss out on.


My family and I have sponsored a precious boy in Uganda since 2009. Moris loves with his whole heart, and although we have never met in person, my family feels he is absolutely a part of ours. I can't put into words the blessing to us his relationship has been. Y'all, he prays for us daily. With his whole family. They sit in their little hut in Uganda and pray for us every.single.day. Wow. Talk about humbling.

Instead of fumbling over myself trying to find eloquent enough words to express how much I love this boy, let me just share a piece of his latest letter with you. I know he won't mind if it helps Urmila find a family.

Moris and his beautiful mother with a cow and cowbell he bought
with money from a family gift. You can send up to three family
gifts a year to your sponsored child!

"...He said that he is wearing a smiling face and tears of joy are always coming out of him and his mother, as shown in the photo. Moris also said that he is so proud of you and he said that he will never forget to put you in his prayers for the wonderful support you are giving him always and he said that may the Lord our God continue to protect you and award you abundantly. He said that due to your support he has been able to attend school up to this moment and his performance is good and  he continues to ask you to pray for his good performance on his exams which will come soon...he said that he is praying very hard that God one day will bring you together and you can see him face to face...."

He is proud of me. This precious little boy. Oh, how I love him. He scribes his letters to a translator (hence the "he says"...), but his sweet heart and love for Jesus just shines through! His letters bless me immensely. As you can see, sponsorship is not a one-way street. He pours just as much into us as we pour into him. Yes, I, too, am praying very hard that one day God will bring us together!!

Sponsorship is amazing. It's a little bit of what Heaven will be like. I'm praying God will guide you as to whether Urmila or one of the other children I feature on my blog this weekend will be yours to love and support! Please take a chance to show Jesus to one of these little children. I promise it will be well worth your while.

Please leave a comment with your email address if you would like more information! Also, specify if you would like me to leave your comment "unpublished" so I'm the only one with your email address!

Mucho amor, dear Readers! Your Blogger,
Claire

*Compassion International is a Christian organization that provides children across the globe with sponsors. These sponsors pay $38 a month for their child to receive healthcare, a weekly meal, Bible teaching, training, and a safe place to come every week with mentors and friends at their Compassion-sponsored child development center. Many of these children don't have any adults in their lives to look up to, and this center provides an opportunity for that.
For more information, click here.

A letter for Nico

This is from last year...I can't believe how much you have grown
since then!

My sweet sister Nicoletta,

I smile every time I think about you. I wish I could give you a hug everyday. I miss you with all of my heart.  I am so thankful we are sisters and friends! 

Do you remember the first time I met you? You had just finished skating, and your dad was working on Vamos X Más. I really had no idea what was going on, to tell you the truth! I knew very little Spanish, and everyone around us was speaking it very rapidly. You were so sweet, though, acting as a little interpreter. I braided your hair and it was the start of a beautiful friendship. :) 

Since then you have asked me to fix your hair many times...and I have cherished doing it!  I also remember when you taught me the word for hair in Spanish--pelo. You have taught me so many words in Spanish...

This is from this year. I fixed your hair at the school! :) 

I still laugh thinking about when you taught me the word for pillow. I just couldn't pronounce it correctly!  Actually, I still struggle to pronounce it, and always say it kind of like this; "almohaaaaaada". Haha!

Another from last year..I love you this picture of you, Cami, and I!

I just found this one that you took today. I love it! :) 

Remember taking all these pictures? They make me laugh!

We took so many pictures this last trip...

amigas del alma <3 td="">

Thank you for loving me, Nico. I know I came to your house as a stranger to you, who barely spoke your language...but when I left we were family. That is the biggest blessing ever.

I can't wait for the day when I am back in your home...we will take many more pictures like this! :)

This is one of my favorites!

Nico, thank you for your smiles and laughter. 

Thank you for all of the sweet memories you have blessed me with. 

Thank you for being my sister!

I pray for you to know how special you are. You are such a gift and light to the world! I also pray for you to continue following the Lord and for Him to continue using you to touch people's lives. You have definitely touched my life!! You are so beautiful on the inside and outside.

You are so loved, dear girl. 

Much love and so many hugs,

 Your Sister Claire

Isabella!

Dear Readers,

Do you know what the Spanish word for 'smile' is?

It's 'sonrisa'. Don't you just love that? 

It makes me think of the English word 'sunrise'...which is so perfect because a smile really is just like a sunrise.

I want to do a post for each of my Argentine siblings, and thought I would start with Isabella.

So of course this post has to do with smiles. Because Isabella always has a smile on her face.

Dear Isabella,

I had so much fun with you while I was in your home! Thank you for welcoming me in and for showing me so much love! Even though it had been a year since you had last seen me, you were so precious to me. You are such a blessing.

We did so many fun things together that I am so thankful for. 

This is one of my favorite pictures. :) 

One of my favorite things we did together was reading "La vaca Luluz". You would get so excited about this book and were so patient with me when I didn't know how to pronounce the words! We laughed a lot over that book. 

You loved my suitcase. Some times you would lie down on it, and other times you would rummage through all the silly things I had inside. You found the Minnie Mouse I had for you! You were absolutely adorable--you gave out an excited shout and took Minnie with you everywhere you went from then on. 

You loved my camera! Once, you were upset, but when I pulled my camera out you immediately turned toward me and posed, a huge smile on your face. I have so many pictures of you!!

Isabella, you fill my heart with joy. I love you so much! 

 Thank you for loving everyone with all of your heart! Thank you for your hugs, kisses, and sweet laughter. I feel so blessed to get to watch you grow up, and I know the Lord is going to do (and is already doing!) amazing things through you. Keep smiling, beautiful girl! 

Love,

 Your sister Claire :) 

I hope you, my readers, have a wonderful week...and I hope you find a reason to smile as Isabella does! 

Your Blogger,

  Claire

Orphan Care

She laughed as I pulled her hair up into a ponytail for the third time. She wanted it to match her friend's hair, but I just couldn't get it high enough. Or smooth enough. After finally getting it right, she pulled it out. Ha!

We just started walking around the orphanage that is home to so many precious kids. On seeing a ball, I  grabbed it and asked if she wanted to play. Of course she did. :) Soon we had a little group of four children playing, and she was laughing so hard she missed the ball almost every time. 

After a while a couple of girls wandered off, and soon Ana found the swings to be much more interesting than our three-person game of fútbol. I pushed her and her little friend for a while, before they decided to take me on a tour of their home. (Ah, the attention span of little kiddos)...

They pointed everything out to me, including the multiple video cameras stationed, and the gate that they pointedly showed me they were not allowed to go out of.  

Look at those pictures. See the adorable gap in her teeth? She is growing up, reaching milestones, learning new things--all without a family. 

I still can't believe I got to hold her in my arms. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to show those precious ones love...and so thankful for the love that they filled me with. I'll always cherish memories of my time with Ana, and the other sweet kiddos there.

Angelina is another precious little girl growing up without the love of a family. Look at this picture from 2011, and look at the below one from this year...

She is in the same exact bed. She has been living in that bed, waiting for her family, for six years. I have never met Angelina, but judging by her precious smile I would say she has the same spirit as little Ana (their names have been changed for privacy). 

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings." ~Psalm 36:7

These pictures raise a lot of questions. Where are their families? Why are they living there? Why on earth haven't these beautiful girls been adopted yet? 

I don't have the answers to those questions, but I find comfort in that verse and the fact that I know God has a beautiful plan for their lives. I know He is holding them in the shadow of His wings. 

You don't have to travel the world over to show these children the love and comfort of the Father. Pray for these dear girls and the thousands of others like them around the world as they live out their days in government institutions. Pray for the families who are working to bring their child(ren) home through adoption. Pray for the ministries and their workers who are being Jesus' hands and feet and meeting these children! 

Thank you for reading. 

Your Blogger,

 Claire

A love that reaches over countries, languages, and years: One day in Argentina and the billions of adjectives that go with it!

Dear Readers,
   I love Fiction.  Historical fiction is my favorite, although I love mysteries, as well. If you've been reading for a while you know I adore the Mitford series. That is Fiction at its best. :)

I've always loved writing fiction, as well. I have pages and pages of "novels" that I wrote on a whim some weekend. School assignments where we're allowed to pick the subject are my favorite.

I feel like I could write a book about my days in Argentina. The country spurs so many descriptive words in my mind that I long to write out each moment detail by detail! So I thought I'd try a different approach this blog post and give you a view of my last day in Argentina, descriptive essay style. :)



......................................


I wake up to the sound of the news in Spanish, a sound that has grown so familiar to me over the past days that I can't help but smile. As I sit up I glance over to see if the sign language interpreter is shown in the right corner of the screen. She is, and I see her hands bend and sway to the flowing motions that make up Argentine Sign Language.

I only watch her for a moment, though, because this is my last morning waking up in this place I love so much, and I'm going to squeeze every moment that I can with my dear host family. I step into the kitchen and hug my host mom and dad just as I've done every morning I've been here. We talk about how we slept and how the day will be cold...without Google Translate. Because God breaks down language barriers, friends.


This morning seems to be no different from any other at first glance.  As I carefully smooth Dulce de Leche on my bread, I see Reynaldo opening the computer. I think of this time last year, when he played "I'm Yours" every morning to wake us up. I think of the days I had listened to that song, remembering and replaying moments of the trip through my mind. I remember the final morning of our trip last year. He played "I'm Yours" one final time as I sat in that same spot, trying to forget the fact that I wouldn't be returning to this kitchen that evening. Transported back to the present, I take a sip of my sweet coffee, savoring the flavor. After all, it is my last morning in Argentina. And lo and behold...

"I'm Yours" comes on. I look up with a huge, ridiculous grin on my face. I practically leap up to the computer, quickly typing how I listened to this song all the time and how much I loved it and how it made me miss Argentina so much. My words didn't even scratch the surface of what I was feeling, though.  I would be back. All those days in the United States I had listened to that song and feared that I would not return to this place. But I did. There I sat, listening to the song once again, only in Argentina. I listened to the song as I ate my toast, thanking the Lord over and over again for His blessings.

I've been awake for less than an hour, and already have four paragraphs of memories. Haha.
Fast forward about thirty minutes...Reynaldo has left to take Nico to school, and Isabella is happily watching cartoons as Renzo sleeps. Viviana readies the house for the day, and I follow her every step.

Hi, my name is Claire, and my love language is quality time. Do you mind if I am your shadow? We talk and laugh and enjoy the morning together. She fixes Isabella's hair so carefully, and when the three of us step out the door that precious little girl looks stunning.

I stop to kiss Renzo in bed, just in case I don't get to see him that evening. That sweet baby boy. I lean over and gently kiss his chubby little cheek, and he looks up at me with those soulful brown eyes. I tell him I love him so much and kiss him again.

Isabella was soooo excited to see her little friend at preschool that day.  As we walked to the bus stop we also talked about her favorite book, a sweet story about "La Vaca Luluz" (a cow named Luluz who is on a quest to find out what noise cows make :)). I could quote the book at this point and so we went along, quoting this cute little book.

Then we boarded the bus. The bus rides are a big part of the Argentina trip for me, as I love the conversations that transpire there. (once again, quality time...)

I guess you may be getting ready for the day to get a move on, though, so I'll breeze by this quickly...

Of course the bus ride is wonderful, Viviana and I talk and I almost get killed by the bus door...haha! It opened rather violently while I was standing in its path...it almost knocked me over...and then I couldn't stop laughing so that was a safety issue for those around me, haha! But I made it to church all in one piece. ;) Although I longed to stay home with my family, I told dear Viviana goodbye and sat to wait for everyone else to get there. I had very low expectations for this day, since it was the last day after all. Actually, though, I was pleasantly surprised by the day.

Our dear friend Pali and her daughters came along with us, and so when we went into La Boca to shop, I went with them and another girl from our team. We spent the afternoon together, searching for the right gifts for our family members and enjoying time together. Such a sweet time.

Fast forward to lunch--I ate a bite of cow intestines because I knew Mason would have eaten them if he was there. Although I didn't throw up or anything, the texture was pretty disconcerting. I was excited to tell him that I had tried it, though, so it was worth it.

Fast forward once again to the church--I knock on the door and who should answer it but a dear friend who I thought I wouldn't be seeing again! I was so excited to see her one last time, and couldn't hug her enough. She was so kind to give me some earrings she had crocheted to take home to my mom and sister. (which they adore!)

Then the goodbyes...we had a blissful hour in which we pretended that they weren't going to happen. We talked about our day, dear Pali took some sweet family pictures of us, and I hugged each member of my family about a dozen times. Renzo gained some adoring fans and we had such a sweet time together.

Then Diego called all the families together for a time of prayer and opportunity to share special moments of the trip. I held Renzo in my lap as he ate crackers, and listened to the families share. I looked down at this happy little boy and was just thankful for the moment.

Then my host dad stood up and asked me to join him. He put his arm around me and began talking, and I just stared at the floor as what he said was translated into English.  After a few sentences I forewent my "I'm going to get through this without crying" mindset and looked up at him, not even needing a translation because the message of what he was saying was clear. I knew I was loved in that moment. I knew I was loved by my own family, who had allowed me to leave them even after Benjamin's surgery for this opportunity which my heart needed. I knew I was loved by God, who placed me in a family that supports who I am, who was so gracious to allow me ten days with a family in Argentina that He knew would have my heart even before I was born. I felt the love of Reynaldo and Viviana as he told me that they loved me and would miss me.

The love of that moment was so overwhelming that I just put my head against his chest and cried. And as I cried, Renzo put his arm around me.

I'll stop the day there. More sweet moments happened, more hugs were shared. We drove away on a bus. A girl  on our team told me how my relationship with my host family encouraged a lot of people. That comment surprised me, and blessed me. I continued to thank God for His mercies in allowing me to have two precious families. We boarded an airplane, I slept fitfully...journaled almost constantly, talked with the Argentine sitting next to me. And then we were in the United States, and then...home. I was reunited with my family.

Just as the first moment stepping off the bus in Argentina was memorable and precious to me, hugging my mom again was so special to me. I talked nonstop for the next several hours, pouring out my soul to my mother, the one who I knew would listen to the most minute of details such as the taste of Dulce de Leche on toast, cry with me, and delight with me over how my dear host siblings have changed and grown. She is a blessing.


I don't know why God would see fit to bless me with ten days in Argentina. Why did He place these two families in my life, ten people who I love so deeply and who love me just as much? How is it that love reaches over countries, languages, and years?

Sometimes I focus on the ugliness of this world. But tonight, thinking back to that day, I see clearly the beauty that God has blessed us with. Beauty that all comes out of one thing: love.


Thanks for letting me share all those adjectives that I had to cut out of my thank you newsletter to keep it down to one page...thank goodness for blogs with no word-limits!

Your Blogger,
 Claire

Yet another taste of Argentina!

Dear Readers,

Here I am again, to tell you a little more about my mission trip...
So much had changed in one year in Argentina!
I had looked forward to so many little things, and they were all more wonderful than I had wished they would be. Coffee and dulce de leche on toast in the morning...late nights chatting with my precious host mom and more coffee...bus rides with my host dad...time just "being" with my dear family...

It all happened and it all was so wonderful. Only there were a few changes: I got to have some bus rides with my host mom and Isabella, too, because she attends the preschool now. And when we arrived in Argentina we got to straight home to our families! The first day was my favorite.  And time just "being" with my family was the sweetest time of the whole trip. I'll highlight those moments in this blog post.


 

This was taken last year: Renzo, Nico, Emily, and I

First of all, those little babies were huge! Renzo and Isabella (my host brother and sister who are twins, now 2 1/2 years old) have grown so much in the past year it blew me away. Nico has grown up so much, too! It was so bittersweet to see how they had changed as I was sad to have missed so much of their lives, but was so thankful that I was back with them again. 

I'll never forget riding home from the church, Isabella was asleep in Viviana's arms and I was just so thrilled to be beside them I could hardly contain myself. We had the sweetest conversation, which was a mix of my newly acquired Spanish and her words in English. Then she handed the phone to me and I was speaking to Reynaldo! It was so sweet to hear all of their voices again. 

Last year some of my favorite moments were just holding these sweet little twins, this year I think my favorite moments with them were when I would read a book to them called "Vaca Luluz". Isabella loved this book, and so despite the fact that I didn't know how to pronounce some of the words, I read that book so many times that by the end of my ten days in Argentina, I could quote it! hehe it really is a cute book and I loved that time with them. 

Nico and I spent a lot of time fixing hair last year, and this year was no different. She loved fixing my hair and putting makeup on me, then having me fix her hair, and setting my camera to take ten pictures of us with our beautiful new do's.  ;) We have some really funny shots! This girl has the most beautiful heart and I can't wait to hug her again! 

We worked on English, too :) 

Another difference in this trip was that Benjamin, Mason, and Mom weren't there. It was so strange to not have them with us! Their host family from last year invited my family and I over for dinner one night, and we had so much fun! They were so kind and welcoming and you could tell how much they loved my Mom and brothers. They were so sweet that they kept thinking I had been in their home before, too, since they said they felt like we were all family. (The first picture in this blog post is from our night there.) I love these people and this loving culture! 

I really wish we in the United States took a lesson from the people in Argentina. 1 Peter 5:14 says: "Greet one another with the kiss of love." 

I really can't describe with words the warmth and love you feel while you are there. It is incredible. It goes beyond the kiss (although that is a big part of the welcoming feeling).The church embraces us with open arms. The fact that so many at this church welcome us, teenagers who don't know their language or their culture, into their homes, their lives, their families is huge.  It's the most beautiful thing, and I'm so thankful to say that I have a family in Argentina. 

There's so much more I will share...

God taught me things and grew me and really blessed my time with these dear people. But here's another little snippet for you! 

Thank you for your prayers that made this trip possible. Your Blogger,

 Claire

  

A taste of Argentina...

 Dear Readers,

    I'm back in the United States and fairly bursting with photos, hugs and kisses for each of my family members, and enough stories to write a book.

Thank you for your prayers for my trip! I appreciated them so much and could feel them as my time in Argentina was clearly blessed. To be back with my host family was amazing. I can't even put into words how amazing that was. I stepped off the bus and we picked up right where we left off. It was as if I had never left, except for a few differences: the kids had grown so much. Renzo, Isabella, and Nico are three of my favorite children on earth. They make my heart smile and teach me things and inspire me. My Spanish had gotten better--woot woot!--and so less of our conversations centered around Google Translate. Oh, goodness, we had so many conversations. That was my favorite part of the entire trip. Whether we were on the bus, walking to the church, or in their warm and inviting kitchen, we were always talking. Quality time and physical touch are my two love languages, and so oh man, am I content in Argentina! Time praying together was also so special and a blessing to my heart.

Precious Renzo!! Hasn't he grown up so much in the past year??

Argentina was full of blessings. And, as you can see, most of the blessings stem from my time with this precious second family of mine.  I have so much to share, and I promise I will write more soon.

But right now I need to continue to process and get my thoughts into order or else words will come spilling out that make no sense. :) Maybe a little more sleep would help, too...

So I leave you with a few of my favorite pictures, and also with a devotion I read by Joni Eareckson Tada today that touched my heart. It instantly made me think of Argentina. Exchanging prayer requests with my dear host family, I realized that we were indeed giving the other person our heart's burdens. And there is something so beautifully God ordained in that act. 

Te amo, readers! Thank you for your precious comments and encouragement!

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2

I don't often have the chance to physically help other people, but when I do,

I love it. Nowhere do I feel more useful than at the airport.

I have to pack what seems like half a hospital when I go anywhere. Even after my friends and I check in all this stuff at curbside, we still have a pile of carry-on luggage which includes lots of the usual paraphernalia plus a duffel bag with emergency medical equipment. The challenge is to carry everything from curbside to the plane. This is when I get to "carry another's burden." On the foot pedals under my legs goes the duffel bag. The briefcase goes on my lap, purses are slung over the handles of my wheelchair, coats or sweaters land on my lap. Airline tickets are squeezed between my leg and the side of my chair. I look like a bag lady. But I don't mind. It gives me a chance to carry someone else's burden.

That's what Galatians 6:2 tells us to do. It's good advice whether we bear actual physical burdens or emotional and spiritual ones. Galatians 6 says we should do this on a regular basis and not be so puffed up with pride that we fail to offer a helping hand.

And we are to do so to fulfill the law of Christ, which is a law of love. Love obliges us to be compassionate. Maybe under the old covenant God's people made a habit of laying burdens on one another, but under the new covenant, we don't lay them on, we take them off. So why don't you find somebody today who could use a hand. It will give you an opportunity to lighten the load of another and lighten your heart at the same time.

___________________________________

"God did not write solo parts for very many of us. He expects us to be participants in the great symphony of life." Donald Tippett

Tomorrow!!

Colon. We will be going there again!

My dear readers,
   Tomorrow morning I will arrive at the airport at 10:00 (hopefully! :))...and by 7:30 that night will be on a plane bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    Last week I was a ball of anxiety imagining leaving. I still am nervous, but as the date is so near, I feel myself getting more and more excited.

Were you to ask me what I'm most excited about, I think it would be hard to pinpoint just one thing. I'm just thrilled to be back in this country I love so much!  I'm  really really really excited to see all of the precious Argentines again!! I know the moment when I see my host family again will probably be the best of the entire trip. I've missed them so much this past year!! So I am very excited to step off the bus on that first day. :)

But I'm also really excited just for the mornings. Last year every day I woke up it was just with a feeling of wonder that "Wow. I can't believe I'm actually in Argentina!!!" This year I know I'll wake up with a similar feeling of wonder that I'm actually in my host family's home again. And the coffee, and the dulce de leche on toast, and walking to the bus in the chill of the early morning...it's all so wonderful. I can't wait!!

I'm also thrilled to do prison ministry again. I really wasn't prepared for how much I would love it last year, and think that now I'm more comfortable with it hopefully I'll be able to spend time with more women while we are there. 

Were you to ask me what my biggest fear was, it would be going without my family. Each time I imagine this trip it's with Benjamin, Mason, and Mom. I'll miss them so so much. 

And were you to ask my biggest needs for prayer, they would be the following: 

1.) Please pray for me to not be too homesick! 

2.) Please pray that the language difference won't be too much of a barrier. I know a lot more Spanish than I knew last year, but nevertheless my heart wants to be able to get to Argentina and have long conversations with my host family...and I know that I don't know enough for that! So please pray for patience while we try to communicate, and just that God will evaporate that barrier like He did last year. 

3.) Please pray for our team to have safe travels!!

4.) Please pray for the Argentines who are welcoming us into their homes, and for the people we will be serving and interacting with all trip. Pray that we can touch hearts!! 

5.) Please pray that those of us who are going back for a second time will be able to cherish every minute of the trip without comparing it to last  year. 

6.) And please pray for my family while I'm gone, and for Benjamin's recovery to continue to go well.

Thank you so much for praying over these with me!! 

I'm so thankful to the Lord for allowing me this opportunity. And I'm so thankful to all of you for your prayers and support that made it happen!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Next time you hear from me I'll most likely be accidentally mixing Spanish with my English, posting a TON of pictures, and trying my best to fill you in on all  that happened over the next ten days. I look forward to catching you up!! 

Chau, dear ones!! Your blogger,

 Claire

Argentina 2013...and what it means to me.

Dear Readers,

Last summer my Mom, brothers, and I stepped on a plane bound for Argentina. We had no idea what Argentina would be like, little idea what we would be doing there, and certainly no connection to the country itself. It was just the destination at the end of our flight. We were very excited to get there, and thankful to the Lord for this opportunity to serve Him on a mission trip, but there was nothing particularly special about the country itself. We didn't really know much about it. 

But now.

Now, when I see mention of Argentina in History, or the newspaper, my eyes leap to the article. I thoroughly examine it, taking in every minute detail. 

Now, when I hear Spanish, I whip around to find who's speaking the beautiful language. 

Now, my heart skips about ten beats at the thought of going back to Argentina. 

Now...

Argentina means so much to me. 

It means hugging that sweet baby (pictured above) and his family. 

It means seeing all of the friends we made there again.

It means going to La Puerta Abierta (the church in Buenos Aires) again...

And having Dulce de Leche multiple times a day (smile)

It means about a gazillion hugs because now I know just how far away Buenos Aires and Phoenix feel

It means savoring each moment, because you never know when you will be able to travel there again

It means thanking the Lord for His goodness in allowing me to be back every moment I'm there.

It means getting absolutely no sleep...

and enjoying every minute you're awake

Did I mention getting to hold this little boy again? Because of all the things that going back to Argentina mean...

That is what makes my heart sigh the most. 

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with this incredible opportunity to return to Argentina in 2013.

Although I am looking forward to it more than I can say, I am also anxious to leave my family. Very anxious. 

My wonderful Readers, I would so appreciate your prayers in this! Please be praying for me as I fundraise and then travel to Argentina (my heart just skipped another beat!), and for my family as Benjamin has surgery in May. Also, please be praying for the precious people of Argentina! 

I am ever grateful for you. 

Your Blogger,

 Claire

What is Prison Ministry?

Mom, the boys, and I with the founders of SACDEM.
They are blessings, I love them so much!

 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?'" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him.

   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'" Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
    At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'" "'No one, sir.'" she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,'" Jesus declared. "'Go now and leave your life of sin.'""   ~John 8:3-11

   
   I wonder what Jesus was thinking as he knelt there, writing in the dirt? This passage is beautiful to me, because I know I have come to Jesus many times, asking Him to forgive me, even though I don't deserve it. This woman deserved to be stoned. She hurt her family, hurt her husband, and disobeyed the Law. She was supposed to be judged accordingly, and killed.  But Jesus demonstrates an important point here...how many times have you judged someone harshly because of what he/she did? Do you think of people in prison and immidiately remember the mistakes you have made, acknowledging that what they did was no worse? Does your heart break for those in prison today who are there because of murder, theft, or drug running?

    
   When we were in Argentina we had the opportunity to do prison ministry. It was incredible.  Orphan ministry has always been my passion, and although the idea of prison ministry excited me, I didn't think of it the same way I think of orphan ministry- that it isn't an option. We are commanded to do it. When God tells us to take care of the orphans and widows, I can't imagine He is saying "If you feel called to, if you get around to it, go ahead and take care of the orphans." He is commanding us to do so. And I'm not going to take that lightly. I now feel the same way about prison ministry. I don't believe it's something to say "Oh, how cool that Julie does that! But, I'm just not called to it."
We are called to be like Jesus, and prison ministry seems to me to be the very embodiment of Christ.

I also believe that, as my mom would say, " a sin is a sin is a sin". My disobeying my parents this morning is no worse/better than Bob robbing that bank. We both sinned. Bob, however, must go to jail for his crime. So why don't I go to jail for mine? We all deserve to be in jail, guys. We are all ugly, sinning creatures.

So. Back to Prison Ministry.
  "Were you afraid?" is a question I've heard a few times. I wasn't at first. When we arrived and I actually realized "they're locking us in this gate, oh my goodness!" I did feel a stab of fear. But once we met the first woman that was completely gone. Actually, I forgot I was in a prison. I so thoroughly enjoyed loving on these precious people, I didn't want to leave!
  When Mason got up to preach, I wiped my eyes. The lady next to me (who had been crying during worship) leaned over and put her arm around me.
My heart, from that moment out I knew, was going to forever go out  to those in prison. An inmate in prison-- someone some would find frightening-- comforted me.
She comforted ME. Wow....I love that lady, and when I hugged her back, totally forgot that we were in prison.

The earrings the guard gave me. Please pray for her!

  When we painted the prison for those with infectious diseases, it was a similar story. The guards were precious, fixing us lunch and making sure we were comfortable. They were so grateful for us being there, and that gratitude touched my heart.

I complimented one of the guards on her earrings...and she gave them to me, as a way of saying thank you, she said. Here I am again, in a situation I would have never dreamed of...hugging this prison guard, filled with love for her, telling her I will be praying for her. And I have been, ever since. I love that guard, my friend at the prison, and the others we met so much that sometimes I just want to cry.
Neat, isn't it, how when we obey God He blesses us so abundantly? My new friendships are absolute blessings. And found in the most unlikely of places. 

 I challenge you all to serve outside of your comfort zone. You will be blessed, I promise.
Your Blogger,
Claire

Of one heart and soul...Argentina, 2012

(Traducción al español a continuación para todos mis seres queridos en la Argentina.  )


Dear Readers,
   Argentina was absolutely incredible.  Incredible. God did so many beautiful things on this trip, I can't even find the words for them. I will try, but know that this is just barely touching what He did...

  First of all, thank you again to all of you who made it possible for this trip to happen. Without you we couldn't have gone, and that would truly break my heart. Thank you, also, to everyone who encouraged  us and prayed for us as we went on this new journey into uncharted waters. I'm so grateful to you. So very grateful.

  For me, the trip, and the church we were with, can be summed up in this Bible verse:
 "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony tot the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." ~Acts 4:32-33

  Precious families opened their hearts and their homes to a group of teenagers from Arizona. They fed us, got us where we needed to be on time, shared their lives with us, sacrificed personal family time, and loved us.  Spending time with my host family was my favorite part of the trip. They are a gift from God, and truly blessed my heart.  Thank you to everyone in Buenos Aires who hosted each of us...I love you so much! May God bless you for truly being His Hands and Feet.



 I know you all probably remember my fears and my prayer requests as we left...well...not only did God answer them all beautifully, but He surpassed all my expectations.
    God did miracles on this trip, dear ones. Absolute miracles that I am still trying to sort through.
 But let me start by saying that the people from La Puerta Abierta are genuine gold. They jumped in and lifted Benjamin and his wheelchair wherever it needed to go. They hugged and kissed us and welcomed us in even though most of us spoke not even enough Spanish to get by.  I love that kind of Acts 1 fellowship. Again, just like that verse I shared above.  My heart was full the whole trip!


   This post really doesn't even scratch the surface of all that God did while we were in Argentina...I can't even communicate the love I have for these people. I can't communicate what a blessing they were to my heart adequately enough. Words just aren't there for any of this. I feel like I am a different person now that I've gone.  And, God willing, I will definitely be back.



   God is doing amazing things in Argentina, but the work is not done. We painted one prison room bright colors...but that's only one. We were able to feed the homeless a meal...but they are still hungry. We passed out clothes to people...but more are cold. We talked with the guards...but they are still lonely.

  Do you see my point? I know God is going to continue the works He is doing in Argentina..I am praying He will guide people in Buenos Aires' hearts toward prison ministry.  And I am praying He will bring more of YOU there...your heart will be blessed, your faith will be grown, and you will leave even more in love with God and this world He created.

  So are you ready? Go!

Your Blogger,
 Claire  (PS keep scrolling past the Spanish translation for photos!)

Estimados lectores,
   Argentina fue absolutamente increíble. Increíble. Dios hizo tantas cosas bellas en este viaje, ni siquiera puedo encontrar las palabras para ellos. Voy a tratar, pero sabemos que esto es apenas tocar lo que hizo ...

 En primer lugar, gracias de nuevo a todos los que hicieron posible este viaje a suceder. Sin ustedes no podríamos haber ido, y que realmente me partiría el corazón. Gracias, también, a todos los que nos animó y oró por nosotros a medida que avanzábamos en este nuevo viaje en aguas desconocidas. Estoy tan agradecido. Así que muy agradecido.

  Para mí, el viaje, y la iglesia nos encontramos con, se puede resumir en este versículo de la Biblia: "Ahora, el número total de los creyentes tenía un solo corazón y alma, y ​​nadie dijo que ninguna de las cosas que pertenecieron a él era el suyo, pero tenían todo en común. Y con gran poder los apóstoles daban testimonio tot la resurrección del Señor Jesús, y abundante gracia era sobre todos ellos. " Hechos 4:32-33 ~

  Familias preciosos abrieron sus corazones y sus hogares a un grupo de adolescentes de Arizona. Nos daban de comer, nos dieron a nosotros, donde teníamos que estar a tiempo, compartieron sus vidas con nosotros, el tiempo de sacrificio personal, familiar y nos ha amado. Pasar tiempo con mi familia fue mi parte favorita del viaje. Son un regalo de Dios, y verdaderamente bendecido a mi corazón. Gracias a todos en Buenos Aires que organizó cada uno de nosotros ... te amo tanto! Que Dios te bendiga por ser verdaderamente sus manos y pies.

 Sé que todos ustedes seguramente recuerdan mis miedos y mis peticiones de oración cuando nos fuimos ... bueno ... no sólo que Dios les responde en toda su belleza, sino que superó todas mis expectativas.

 Dios hizo milagros en este viaje, queridos. Milagros absolutos que aún estoy tratando de clasificar.

Pero déjame empezar diciendo que la gente de La Puerta Abierta son oro puro. Se saltó y levantó Benjamín y su silla de ruedas allí donde necesitaba ir. Se abrazaron y besaron con nosotros y nos dio la bienvenida a pesar de que en la mayoría de nosotros no habló siquiera el español suficiente para salir adelante. Me encanta ese tipo de actos una beca. Una vez más, al igual que el verso he compartido anteriormente. Mi corazón estaba lleno todo el viaje!

    Este mensaje en realidad no tiene ni siquiera arañar la superficie de todo lo que Dios hizo cuando estábamos en la Argentina ... ni siquiera puedo comunicar el amor que siento por estas personas. No puedo comunicar lo que una bendición que estaban a mi corazón de forma suficientemente adecuada. Las palabras simplemente no hay nada de esto. Siento que soy una persona diferente ahora que he ido. Y, si Dios quiere, voy a estar de vuelta.

   Dios está haciendo cosas maravillosas en la Argentina, pero el trabajo no se hace. Pintamos una prisión brillantes colores de la habitación ... pero eso es sólo una. Hemos sido capaces de alimentar a los desamparados de una comida ... pero todavía tiene hambre. Pasamos por la ropa a la gente ... pero más frías. Hablamos con los guardias ... pero siguen siendo solo. 

¿Ves lo que digo? Yo sé que Dios va a continuar las obras que Él está haciendo en la Argentina .. estoy orando Él guiará a la gente en el corazón de Buenos Aires hacia el ministerio de prisión. Y estoy rezando para que traerá más de vosotros ... su corazón será bendecido, su fe se cultiva, y se irá aún más en el amor con Dios y este mundo que Él creó.

 ¿Están listos? Go!
Su Blogger,
Claire

Making meatballs to feed the homeless...
going to deliver them was an incredible experience.
The needs are the same everywhere...

Hacer las albóndigas para alimentar a las personas sin hogar ... vamos a ofrecer una experiencia increíble. Las necesidades son las mismas en todas partes ...

The boys and I with the founders of Sacdem, Daniel and his wife Maria Elena. God has used these two to bless so many lives...mine included! I love them so much.
Los chicos y yo con los fundadores de Sacdem, Daniel y su esposa María Elena. Dios ha usado a estos dos para bendecir tantas vidas ... incluido el mío! Los amo tanto.

One day during our trip we spent the morning with  the kids at high school. We got to talk with their classes, and afterward play with them during PE. Here Benjamin and I are playing with the girls who are triplets, also! It was such a blessing to meet them.
Un día, durante nuestro viaje pasamos la mañana con los niños en la escuela secundaria. Tenemos que hablar con sus clases, y después jugar con ellos durante la PE. Aquí Benjamin y yo estamos jugando con las niñas que son trillizos, también! Fue una bendición para hacerles frente.

Here I am with my sweet host sisters, Nico and Cami.
These two girls blessed my heart immensely...I will thank
God for them for the rest of my life!
Aquí estoy con mis hermanas de acogida dulces, Nico y Cami. Estas dos niñas bendecido mi corazón inmenso ... voy a agradecer A Dios por ellos para el resto de mi vida!

After we went to the high school we spent the afternoon
at the primary school. These children are little angels!
We got to worship with them in English, here is a picture of that
beautiful experience.
Después nos fuimos a la escuela secundaria pasamos la tarde en la escuela primaria. Estos niños son angelitos! Tenemos que adorar con ellos en Inglés, que aquí hay una foto de ese experiencia muy bonita

I got to serve in Nico's class, here I am braiding her hair!
I got to teach an English mad lib to her class, that was an amazing
experience I'll never forget. Her teacher was just
precious and we had the best time!
 Having the opportunity
to influence children should never be taken lightly.
Children are one of God's createst gifts!
Tengo que sirven en la clase de Nico, que aquí estoy trenzando el pelo! Tengo que enseñar a un lib Inglés loca a su clase, que era un increíble experiencia que nunca olvidaré. Su maestro era preciosa y tuvimos el mejor tiempo!  Tener la oportunidad de para influir en los niños nunca deben tomarse a la ligera. Los niños son uno de los mayores dones de Dios!

We spent a few days near the town Colon ministering
to the people there. Or rather, they ministering to us!
 In this picture I'm with one of my friends
 trying fruit mate for the first time. I love it!
Pasamos unos días cerca de la ciudad de Colón, el ministerio a la gente allí. O más bien, que el ministerio a nosotros!  En esta foto estoy con uno de mis amigos  tratando compañero fruta por primera vez. ¡Me encanta!

Triplets!! :)

When we got home to Buenos Aires, one of the things
we did was to go to a little Barrio and sort through
clothes to be donated to those who lived there.
(the girls did this while the boys laid down a foundation)
I tried on this ensemble..what do you think? ;)
Cuando llegamos a casa a Buenos Aires, una de las cosas que hicimos fue ir a un barrio poco y ordenar a través de la ropa para ser donados a los que vivían allí. (las chicas lo hizo, mientras que los chicos establecido una fundación) He intentado en este conjunto .. ¿qué te parece? ;)

While parents got clothes, we played with the children.
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip!  (second to my home stay and prison ministry)
The kids were so sweet...here we are teaching them "Ring around the Rosie"!
Mientras que los padres tiene la ropa, jugamos con los niños. Esta fue una de mis partes favoritas del viaje! (segundo de mi estancia en casa y el ministerio de prisión) Los niños estaban tan dulce ... aquí les estamos enseñando "Ring Around the Rosie"!

I tried to fit as many as I could into my lap...
I'm pretty sure we are laughing at my Spanish here!
Me trató de encajar tantos como pude en mi regazo ... Estoy bastante seguro de que se están riendo de mi español aquí!

These sweet girls made my heart smile!
 The love they had for each of us upon
meeting us was endearing.
The one on the left went around with her arms around my legs
telling everyone that we were amigos!
Estas chicas dulces hizo que mi corazón sonría!  El amor que se tenían para cada uno de nosotros cuando cumplir con nosotros fue entrañable. El de la izquierda dio la vuelta con los brazos alrededor de mis piernas diciendo a todos que éramos amigos!

This young mom and her sweet kiddos touched my heart.
 She has 5 kids and another on the way...each of
them was so sweet and my interactions with them were huge blessings.
Please pray for them all!
Esta joven madre y sus dulces kiddos tocó mi corazón.  Ella tiene 5 hijos y otro en camino ... cada uno de que era tan dulce y mis interacciones con ellos eran enormes bendiciones. Por favor, oren por todos ellos!

La Puerta Abierta is a precious church...
filled with precious people. I am so blessed
 to have met some of them! Here I am with my dear
friends Sol and Ana Clara, who I love like sisters!
La Puerta Abierta es una iglesia preciosa ... lleno de personas valiosas. Me siento muy bendecido  de haber conocido a algunos de ellos! Aquí estoy con mi querido Sol y amigos de Ana Clara, que me encanta como hermanas!

My precious host "brother", Renzo, and I. I cherished each moment I got to hold him!
Mi anfitrión preciosa "hermano", Renzo, y yo he apreciado cada momento llegué a tenerlo

I sang Cate's lullaby to him, saying "Goodnight, Renzo" instead of "Goodnight, Cate".
It made me smile to think that the same song I used to comfort my little sissy
for so many years I'm using again to comfort this sweet boy all the way around the world!
That is a memory I will cherish forever.
Canté arrullo Cate a él, diciendo: "Buenas noches, Renzo" en lugar de "Buenas noches, Cate". Se me hizo sonreír a pensar que la misma canción que solía consolar a mi pequeña mariquita durante tantos años que estoy usando de nuevo a consolar a este chico dulce, todo el camino alrededor del mundo! Es un recuerdo que se aman para siempre.

Family picture take one!
 Foto de familia tener uno!

Family picture take two!
Foto de familia toma dos!

Family picture take three!
 This family blessed me immensely and I cherished every moment with them.
 God had the perfect plan when He placed me in their family for those weeks, and I'm so
blessed for it!
Foto de familia tener tres!  Esta familia me ha bendecido muchísimo y me apreciaba cada momento con ellos.  Dios tenía el plan perfecto cuando Él me colocó en su familia por esas semanas, y estoy muy bendecido por él!     Los amo tanto.

I LOVE this picture!!
Me encanta esta foto!

So many of my dear ones all in one picture...makes me smile!
Mom and they boys' host family was also precious...
I loved getting to meet them!
Así que muchos de mis seres queridos en un solo cuadro ... me hace sonreír! Mamá de la familia los niños y los de acogida fue también preciosa ... Me encantaba llegar a su encuentro!

We spent our final day shopping in La Boca...
the day was a sad one...but the area very colorful!
Pasamos nuestro último día de compras en La Boca ... el día fue triste ... pero la zona muy colorido!

Sweet Debora and I! She was such a blessing...
I'm sad I only got to spend a little time with her,
but look forward to spending more time with her when I go back! :)
Dulce Débora y yo! Ella fue una bendición ... Estoy triste, sólo tengo que pasar un poco de tiempo con ella, pero esperamos poder pasar más tiempo con ella cuando vuelva! :)