"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