"Let me go home I've had my run baby I'm done I gotta go home..."

My last day here. I´m COMING HOME!!!!! hugs, kisses, tears, laughter, joy, greatfulness, sadness...it´s all so overwhelming! I´m incredibly grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to witness his work in a small town in South America. :) I had no idea what I was getting into when I first came here when I was 16. No idea how much this place would capture my heart and how the Lord was going to use this place in my life.

It´s raining and did all last night too. Becuase of the condition of the roads were not sure if the bus will leave for Santa Cruz tonight. Were talking about other options, other village bus stops or maybe Andreas bringing us but if the roads are real bad, nothing will be able to get through. It´s possible I won´t be able to get to Santa Cruz in time and will have to reschedule my flight. I´m struggling because my heart is all set on getting home. All packed and ready!! Please pray the rain stops and if we do leave we have a safe trip to Santa Cruz. I know like everything else this trip the situation is in God´s hands...the best place to be. I just need to trust Him and be patient. Everyone here is kindly reminding me that God is in control of the weather......so that means God must want me to just stay here. :)

The retreat is going VERY well! It´s nice seeing all the pastors and/or their wives.I was sitting in the session yesterday and just couldn´t believe I was there. Hearing reports of what´s going on in all the villages and being there during the time of prayer....hearing them cry out to God for help. I´ll never forget it.

I was just talking to Joanna online and I asked if the kids were excited I was coming home...

joanna: yeah
i was talkin to mel a couple days ago
and asked if she was excited
and she's like "JUUUU-DAAA!"
"Ju-da comin' home!!"
"we're having a paaaaaaarty!"

Cannot WAIT to see her. :)

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragment these last three months. I am so grateful for you and am so incredibly blessed to be living life with you. What a trip. :) See you all very soon!!! :)

Love, Julia

Goodbyes have started...

It is very hot today in Entre Rios! I want to jump in a pool right now! Angela and I decided to stay in Entre Rios this weekend since we just went to Las Abras last weekend. Friday night I had the party for the teenage girls. There were about 13 there. It was so much fun!

The girls love the movie and we had a short but good talk afterwards about love and purity. They freaked out when I played the song "Only Hope" on the piano. They had me write down the words for them so they can learn it. Guido and I played and I sang the song in Church yesterday. I've never done something like that before but it was a lot of fun! Saturday was Pepe's birthday so I made an Oreo cake and we had a party in the afternoon.

feliz cumpleaños Pepe!! Best friends :) Marcos (Tim Matayo's son) Abby, Saphie, & Joas

We then all played basketball for a while before the youth meeting. After the youth meeting Angela and I went out to eat hamburgers with Beto and his friend Daniel. Lots of fun...can't wait for an American hamburger though! :)

Yesterday, I was really blessed during the church service. Guido's message was amazing on following where God leads you and listening and obeying. Hebrews 3:15 "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." The service lasted 3 hours but was amazing! The worship was full of dancing and the time of communion was powerful. They prayed for me and shared some encouraging things with me since that was my last church service with them. I was able to share with them about my time here and of course started tearing up...:). I love this place. It doesn´t help when they are like, "Why can´t you just stay here, we'll tell your family and friends." They already have a husband picked out for me and I even have a Godmother of the cake (Abby & Joas´s grandma) and Andreas says he'll be the godfather of the rings...:) What do you think Dad? ;) Just kidding...of course!

Worship rehearsal Sunday night!

Tonight starts the monthly leadership retreat and it goes until Thursday. The days are full of teaching, worship, and just spending time together and resting. A lot of the pastors are very busy. Tim Matayo is currently working on building two houses to get income, as well as maintaining his field of crops which is an hour away as well as pastoring...as well as being a father and husband. ...so if they can take the couple days off for the retreat it's really nice.

Crafts with the kids...thank you Kathy!!

making masks :)

Two more days in Entre Rios!! Wednesday night Angela and I leave on the bus for Santa Cruz! We'll get in around lunch time Thursday, spend the night at the YWAM base there (!) and then early Friday morning is my flight into MIAMI!!!!! :)

Please pray the next few days I would see areas to serve, ways to encourage, and people to share the gospel with. I can't believe I'm on my last couple of days here. It's going to be hard to leave them. Please pray for the pastors, worship leaders, and their wives during the retreat. Hope you all have a wonderful week! I'll check in before I leave. Love, Julia

P.S. Scabies are gone. :) yay

April Fools Y´all!!!!!!

Ok, so I had to. I'm still coming home in a week!! And I am beyond excited :) Your e-mails freaking out were hysterical.

In other news, looks like I have scabies from Las Abras, either that or really bad spider bites all over. A trip back to San Juan hospital may be in store for me. YES! :) Hopefully no shots in the butt this time. ;)

In other news, I'm really craving oatmeal pies. I have no idea where random cravings like that come from!

And I'll leave you with some hysterical quotes from my three year old sister Melody. My mom posted the following on her blog...

Melody (who's 3): "Mooooomm, Ben just told me to shut up. He's stubborn."
Mom: "And what are you?"
Melody: "A hypocrite!"

A while back, Ben hurt himself, and as I was trying to fix him up with a bandage, Melody came and patted him on the arm and said consolingly, "It's all right, son!"

When two of the other kids were arguing recently, she planted herself right between them and yelled, "Guys! It's over! It's over!"

I have been trying to get Melody to stop sucking her thumb and Ben to stop sucking his fingers. Usually when we are sitting on the couch reading, I have to reach over and pull them out. Yesterday, I yanked Ben's fingers out, and Melody said, "Mom, take my thumb out, too!"

Now she's trying to sneak out to the back porch with a cup of milk. There is a straw in it, and the milk is all bubbled up. I told her to come back inside, and she said, "I'm trying to make a milkshake!"

I cannot wait to see all of them!!!!

Andreas, Angela and I may be going to Las Abras again this weekend! I kinda want to stay in Entre Rios since it's my last weekend here but we will see. I'll just go with the flow, and if we go then it will be amazing because I love that place!

One WEEK!!!
Love,
Julia

Wednesday News...

I got a visa extension and I'm staying till the Mission:X trip this summer!!!

Love, Julia

*Behold, I am making all things new* :) Revelation 21

We got back late last night from our third time to Las Abras. :)

"The pleasure of travelling *****" (five star!)

Driver taking a quick nap before leaving

To get to San Jocesito you have to take two buses. Our first bus left us off at the stop and after waiting an hour the second bus finally came except it was packed full. We couldn't stay there all night seeing it was just Angela and I, so we had to resort to getting in the back of this thing (below) for the remaining two hour trip... :)

There were about 15 of us back there. The truck started off and all of us slid to the other side. I'm a very vocal person and I laugh really loud when I'm nervous but I didn't want to embarrass Angela so I tried to act like it was an everyday commute, nothing scary about the back tires going a little off the side of the mountain!!!! We got there fine :) Beautiful view crossing the bridge early in the morning. This is at Abuela's house. She is the grandmother and greatgrandmother to most of the kids in Las Abras. She's catching one of her chickens here for our lunch.

We had a kids meeting Saturday afternoon and that night we had one for the adults. Sunday morning we had a meeting for both. I shared Saturday night the message I gave in San Josecito on loving others, including your enemies. In Las Abras, families are always fighting with each other. Someone's pigs got into someone's corn, someone stole someone's chicken.... It's hard for the adults to grow there because they do not know how to read and can't read the Bible.
The kids love the puppets!! They don't know yet that it's actually us. Angela does an amazing job!! Playing in the field after the kids meeting Santiego's grandson. He's 7 but so small! He has no teeth either but is the cutest kid ever!

Here he is after crossing a stream with us..his pants all rolled up :)

They feed you good in the country! After a bowl of chicken soup, a plate of rice, potatoes and spicy chicken, they gave us each a huge piece of watermellon. Amazing!!

Aleida :)
Rosie!!

I was thinking about three months ago when we first went to Las Abras and how things have changed since then. My first time there I tried to shelter myself so much. I would inspect the kids' heads for lice before picking them up. I would scan the grass before sitting down making sure there were no spiders. I would look at their hands, hesitating before holding them because they had warts on them. Most of the kids have scabies. I would wince when a mother handed me her baby that didn't have a diaper because a lot of the kids have worms there. I was very fearful. Yes, there is wisdom in being careful with such things but it was hindering me so much! A little kid falls and cries so you want to rock them, you can't worry about their lice. To become their friends and share Jesus with them you have to play with them, hold their hands, kiss them, show them affection. So you just pray!! Lord, please protect me from all this things!! :)
We have been to Las Abras three times, and I have learned so much and enjoyed each time. Hiking makes you think a lot. This hike back I was thinking a lot about heaven. Mainly because each time I go to Las Abras I am so affected by Santiego (the man who has one arm and who has a crippled leg).

I always break down when I see him worshiping with his one arm. There are a lot of disabled people in Las Abras. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" Revelation 21:4. One day, Santiego will have no pain. :) He will be able to worship with both hands! To think of all those who are blind, what a sight they will see! Those who are mute or deaf! Think about it for a minute...it's overwhelming to think of them entering heaven!! I hope I can stand at the gate and watch people enter. I came back and read notes from one of Spurgeon's sermons on suffering... Be encouraged!!

No Tears in Heaven
August 6th, 1865
C. H. Spurgeon(1834-1892)

"The night is dark, but the morning comes. Over the hills of darkness the day breaks forth. It may be that the road is rough, but its end is almost in view, you have been climbing up the steep sides of the mountain, and from the top of it you can view your glorious inheritance. True the grave is still before you, but your Lord has snatched the sting from death, and the victory from the grave. Do not, O burdened spirit, limit yourself to the confining miseries of the present hour, but let your eye gaze with fondness on the enjoyment of the past, and view with equal love the infinite blessings of eternity past, when you did not exist, but when God chose you for himself, and wrote your name in his book of life; and then let your glance flash forward to eternity future, to see the mercies which will be yours even here on earth, and the glories which are stored up for you beyond the skies."

Love Spurgeon! Have a wonderful week!

Love, Julia

*Mah-Tay*

Hola! :)

For those of you who have been to Bolivia you are sure to know what Mate is! Mate (pronounced Mah-Tay) is the national drink of Bolivia (also Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile). It´s a tea-like beverage derived from Yerba Mate tree leaves. Drinking it is HUGE here...a big part of the culture. You always drink it with friends...while sharing your soul (that´s what they say here :) I wish I had some pictures of us actually drinking it but I don't...so here are some pictures from Google so you can see what it looks like. :)

Monday & Wednesday night Guido, Maci, Uba, Beto, Angela, Lideo, Maria Angela, Pepe, and I all stayed up till about midnight talking, telling jokes, singing, playing the guitar and of course drinking mate! Fun times!!

We also drank coca cola con leche. *yellow cups*

Beto

Ruth Abigail :)

It's been raining here a lot lately. It came late this year...it's officially fall here and it normally doesn't rain this much during this time of year but no one is complaining...the crops need it. Hopefully the roads won't be too bad because we are going to the country this weekend. We're leaving in an hour for San Josecito and Las Abras. Should be back Monday, but who knows after last trip! Sure to be an eventful weekend! :)

Hanging out in my room... Wow, I'm going to miss him.

Two weeks today and I'm back to my "home by the sea" :) That's where they say I live. I like it.

Love, Julia

"I hope you have the time of your life"...

Well, I simply love it here and am having the time of my life!! This weekend was very busy and lots of fun. Thursday was Father's Day so Raquel asked if I would make a cake for a little party at the mission. Made lunch Thursday, then the cake. Thursday night I had my youth English class. Two more students were added so it was a busy night catching them up on the lessons. After class, Lideo, Angela and I went out for icecream while the marriage meeting was going on at the mission. When we got back we had the Father's Day party.

Saturday we all went over to Naranjos for Beto's 23rd birthday! He's the worship leader there. They asked me to make a cake, so I did. Naranjos is about 20 minutes from Entre Rios. Picture the ride over: it was hysterical. Guido drove (!), the car was packed, bumpy curvey roads, cattle in the middle of the road, and I was holding a huge frosted cake! A couple close calls of the cake flying ...thankfully we all got there in one piece. Beto is the only one in his family who is a Christian so he wanted to use his birthday to reach out to them. He asked Guido to lead a time of worship and give a short message before the huge meal they always have for brithdays. There are two traditions here before eating the birthday cake. You have to make three wishes, tell two of them and keep one of them in your heart -- that's what they say here. :) One of his wishes he shared was that his whole family would come to know Christ. He shared this with his family at the table and then played for everyone a song he wrote. It was a prayer to God for his family, that they would come to know Him. It was amazing. His siblings were very affected and his sister came to church the next day! Pray for his family! The other tradition here is you have to take a bite out of the cake. Of course those around try and smash your face into it. While eating cake, they had people share with Beto an encouragement or a song.

Uba sang a song with Guido. It was so pretty! then they all started chanting my name like I was to go out there and sing in front of everyone. yeah OK! I was so nervous I wanted to throw up. I thought I was going to get away with it but then Beto asked me to sing so of course I had to go out there. Here are some pictures...

Beto in the green

Afterwards we rode his horses part of the way back to Entre Rios!

That night was the youth meeting!

Sunday, Lindanadia and I made another Father's Day cake for the church service at 4pm. She's 22 and from Argentina and is here visiting her family for a couple days. It was fun hanging out with her!

After the church service the kids put on a little song for the dads. They dressed up as animals. It was so cute! Joas was an elephant...

He got embarrased during the song and took off his costume, started bawling and ran offstage. So Guido went ahead and put it on and filled in. :) The kids forgot the words to the song, their costumes were falling off...but of course it was adorable. We all hung out after the service and had cake and soda! That night we had worship rehearsal! Here are the words to my favorite song!!!

Te Alabaré

Eres tú la única razón
De mi adoración, Oh Jesús
Eres tú, la esperanza que
Anhelé tener, Oh Jesús

Confie en ti, me has ayudado
Tu salvación me has regalado
Hoy hay gozo en mi corazón
Con mi canto te alabaré

Te alabaré
Te glorificaré
Te alabaré
Mi buen Jesús

En todo tiempo te alabaré
En todo tiempo adoraré

Here are some cute picture of Matias! He's getting so big!
A famous drink here is Coca Cola and Milk. Sounds really gross...but it's really good! And I even hate milk. Matias likes it too, as you can see...

Aww!

I have two opportunities coming up I would love for you to pray for! Next week, I'm going to have a party for the teenage girls here. Angela has been trying to talk to them about purity in their relationships so we came up with the idea to have a party and incorporate a time to talk afterwards about love and purity. Were going to start the party by watching A Walk to Remember. All of the girls here love that movie and we figured it could spark a conversation on love. The girls of the church are going to invite their friends from school who don't know Christ. Pray that they will come! And please pray for me in what to say afterwards. Pray that I would be able to capture their attention without watering down the message and my convictions. Pray that they would feel comfortable with talking and that our conversation would encouarge them to change. I'm so excited, I'm going to make invitations (thanks mom for that ribbon you sent...I was wondering what it was for...and now I know!) and were going to have food of course because what's a party without food!! :)

The second opportunity...One of the teachers in the church here asked if I can teach one of her high school classes about American culture. We haven't set the date yet for when, but I'll let you know. I'm hoping to incorporate Christianity. I will need your prayer! Thank you so much!

Looks like we will be here all week. This weekend we may go to Las Abras!!

Love, Julia
ps. 17 days!

*Life Under the South American Sun :)*

Hola! It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Entre Rios! ....Monday night was the school's 49th aniversary so there was a huge festival in the plaza with music, food, and games... So much fun! Angela and I were mobbed with little girls the whole night. Since you love them, here are some pics...

***************************************************

**************************************************These girls are so cute! They run up to you and say "Hi, teacher!" and give you a kiss on your cheek. Everyone here greets each other with a kiss on the cheek, so when I get back don't be alarmed if I do it out of habit!! ;) I'm bringing it back to Orlando...:)

Sunday, the streets by the soccer field are closed off and there is a huge market...

...with tons of empanada stands...:)

I'm off to watch Abby, Joas, and Saphie. I've been taking them every afternoon to the park and then to get ice cream! Church service tonight...

Love,
Julia