So FedEx DOES work in Buenos Aires...

...It's funny how easy it is to overlook the little blessings we have in the US. Like, the ability to correctly assume that systems and businesses function as they say they do and corruption, robbery, deceit, etc. of bureaucracy doesn't really get in the way. We are blessed to be able to assume that justice will be upheld in many places because our legal and justice system work together. A particular thing has happened to me here to make me think about this. I lost my purse the first night I arrived in JSL. It fell from the car as I was moving in and the next morning, we realized it had been stolen from the street. It had all my identification documents, a large amount of cash, and my bank card. We followed trail after trail looking for the suspect, searching for my bag. And finally when we reached a dead end, we filed a police report, but didn't expect it would do anything, except hopefully pressure the man into at least returning my documents. And a few days later, everything was returned (minus the cash and my burt's bees lip balm). But we had already cancelled my bank card for protection. So, I waited for the new one to arrive at home (in the US) and then my mom said she would send it through FedEx or something. It's funny cause it didn't strike either of us that FedEx might not operate perfectly over here like it does in the US. But when I told my host (and American) what my mom was doing, he was very doubtful that it would actually get delivered. He told me sometimes, the package will be held up at the airport because of the contents...and it sometimes ends up costing hundreds of dollars just to be able to obtain your package.
But, to our relief, FedEx does function here as well, at least it did this time for us. And now I have a new bank card and can pay back all the debts I've been racking up over here. YAY! PTL!

On to other news, I finally feel like things are starting to happen here. I've met 6 other sisters from a church in Carcova and have their numbers, so I hope to start spending more time with them. Now I'm at the point where I'm thinkng, "what next? what if I do this the wrong way and mess up their lives or cause harm for the furture?" So many 'what if's like this are running through my head.

--Please pray that I will plan the rest of my time here in humility and that I will be willing to submit to God's will and not my own.

I want to be able to help these women, but I know they don't need me. I am not their savior. And I cannot do anything on my own strengh.
--Please pray that I remember this every moment of every day and cling to Christ for strength and for the ability to love and serve these women, the ability to come to know them better and to built relationships with them based on Christ, the ability to communicate well and understand even better.

--Please pray that I don't put my own agenda before the will of God and the well-being of the people here.

--And please pray that I complete my school work as well, like keeping up with the crazy amount of fieldnotes I need to keep to be able to use the information that I am learning every day correctly, and to be able to realize things later on that I may not have understood when they occured.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers and for taking the time to read this.

Dios se bendiga,
Claire