VAMOS ARGENTINA!!!

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

who made heaven and earth,

the sea and all that is in them,

who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed,

who gives food to the hungry.

Psalm 146: 5-7a

Also - Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

It really seems like this whole summer (all 5 and a half weeks!!) has been a lesson of patience. Waiting to see God work in this internship, in my research and ministry here. It's been a slow process. And as soon as I think it is speeding up and I start to plan accordingly, something stops it again. But that's not brought this verse to my mind.

As of late, I've been fighting many battles internally and in my house and last night it seemd to come to a breaking point. I was pretty much breaking down while talking to my mom, internally refusing to leave my room, without hope, and filled with despair. I was also in a very stubborn state of mind. I don't know what really happened between last night and this morning. But I went to scripture, resolved to find the perfect verse to answer my problems. The longer I searched and the more I skimmed through some psalms and proverbs, I stopped trying to pick out verse for myself and I finally started paying attention to what I was reading.

God filled me with an indescribable peace and comfort that things would and could be resolved and that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. His presence overwhelmed me and encouraged me to love and be understanding in the situation at hand, and most of all, be humbled and in a state of repentance. One of the situations I've been waiting to be resolved has been through the mercy of God and truly spending time, being still with God -- soaking up His Word, and praising His goodness. The solution wasn't achieved by looking for the answer and finding it on my own. It wasn't until I stopped looking for my own solution through the out-of-context words of God and waited still in His presence that He gave me peace, courage, strength, and wisdom.

Please pray that I will put distractions aside EVERY morning and not only when I feel like I'm at the end of my rope as I did this morning.

Also, school work for my internship is piling up, so pray that I will do it all well and thoroughly.

Please also pray that God continues to reveal Himself in the relationships He is building for me in Carcova. We have Bible Study again tomorrow night and I hope to be able to discuss the idea of a church-led savings and credit group more. But it has to be completely the women's groups if it will be successful at all.

And finally, please pray that I'll have better organization in my research, taking the right notes and in full detail, remembering what was really said and not what my false poor spanish skills perceptions of situations are.

And PS, Argentina came away from the pre-tournament with 9 points, 7 goals, and only 1 goal scored against them. Maybe it's not the best, but they're pretty darn good at times. Tomorrow at 10am eastern time the US plays, don't miss it!!