Jesus and Spiders

“They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider's web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.” - Isaiah 59:5

Ok so update. I haven’t been feeling that great the last week but it’s about the same thing I got the first time I came here last year. It’s probably just from the radical weather changes—hot to cold and cold to hot. I only get sick like this down here, not at home or in other countries. There is just something about Argentina. I didn’t really see the need to go to the medical center here though. However, I received a bug bite on my face, my cheek to be exact, which at first I believed was from a mosquito considering the fact that there are more mosquitoes here then there are black people in west Philly (I love black people by the way). But Sat morning, a few days after I first noticed the bite, I woke up to find that my whole right side of my face was swollen; and it hurt, and everyone laughed at me. So I was like whoa I don’t think this is from a mosquito, most likely from a spider—an Argentine spider for that matter. So I went to centro medico (conveniently during my work hours) and they gave me a shot of penicillin in the butt (It hurt) and a few dozen horse-pills to take… it was lovely. Also while I was there I asked if they could check me because I still wasn’t feeling well. They told me I had a huge amount of mucous built up in my chest, or lungs, or somewhere in me, and they gave me a shot in the butt and another few dozen slightly smaller pills (just kidding about that second shot in the butt). So now, a day later, my swelling has gone down and everything is good. That shot of penicillin did me a lot of good, I might want to get them regularly. I got two days off of work so ill take a spider bite and everyone calling me spider-man over washing dishes any day; and I am going to Sunday and Monday. But everything is good we are entering our 4^th week of summer camp. Only like 3 more weeks until our big vacation week to a place more south in Argentina, which I have heard is sooo much fun. But ill update later more stuff I just thought that was kinda cool. THANKS

“Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield.”

-unknown

Just.. more

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

-Jim Rohn

Ok so I have been down here for not even a week yet. Almost. But just a few updates: I got moved out of my old room (they are trying to move everyone out of that building eventually, I just got lucky and was picked first), I am now in a room made for seven with ten guys including myself, so that’s fun, and It is 93 degrees today. The weather though actually is not that bad. Yes it is hot but there is a building with AC and as long as you stay hydrated you will be fine. And you can always take a cold shower, which is what I just did. The mosquitoes though are horrible and although it feels really nice at night, and the morning, like really nice, the rooms are still really hot which is annoying. We are preached to every morning in Spanish and my group has to take notes, in Spanish, for a bible grade. Its not easy but I am coming along. We have class after the preaching for 2 hrs right before lunch, in which I have to clean up for afterwards. My job, lavado, or dish pit, is a lot of work. Really more work than any other job. It takes about two to two and a half hours after lunch and dinner to clean the kitchen and dishes (I don’t have to work breakfast because I have classes in the morning). But I have a little more free time than others, kinda. And I just found out that they are going to give us Sundays off and get people to fill in for us. I had to work today but this is the only time. Its kind of weird though, I work today (today is Sunday) and we do not have a church service. It’s a little heretic, or sacrilegious, or one of those anti-christian terms, working on Sunday without a service of any kind; but its cool. I went to town today. Fun stuff. It’s pretty hot and humid because it rained this morning. We have Mufa Pufa tonight, which is like a hodgepodge of dangerous games that push you to the limit, none of which would be approved in America. So I am looking forward to that. So far everything is good. Did I tell you about the movie I was in? Yeah I’m pretty much a movie star now. Maybe I will talk about it later. So there is probably more but that’s it for now. Thanks!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

-Joshua 1:9

Vuelvo (I Return)

“I am the nail in your wrist, I am Judas’ kiss. But, Lord, you love me anyway."

-Sidewalk Prophets

Ok so I finally arrived here in Argentina, getting ready for round 2 (and 3). And let me tell you how hot it is.. well I cant because I cant put it into words. Its not any hotter than at home, but its more humid, water is hard to come across at times unless you can settle for salty water, and there are only a few places with AC. Other than that it’s not bad; there was a breeze today and this morning was actually kind of chilly. I believe today is the coldest day of the week; the high is only like 84. But the low hangs all the way down to a small 78. Its lovely. I know that all of you back home say that you can use some of this heat. I will be happy to give you some there is plenty of it. But I love it 9down here. I actually kinda like working outside when its hot even though I was assigned to dish pit which is indoors. I was so excited to see all of my friends up here and to hear all about their break. It is so great to be back up here with them. Its funny though—once I got settled in, not too long after I arrived, I was sittin here at the comedor, where we eat, with a few people. We were talking and it felt like we never even left each other. Like us leaving for a month never happened and it was just another day. Like we were just there the day before. Strange.

I arrived late, because of my stupid flight, so I was placed in one of the left over buildings because there was no more room in the inn. I mean dorm. I am in there with three other gringos, who were also late, and a few Spanish students, well one is Portuguese, like from Portugal. This room is absolutely lovely if I do say so myself. Okay, first: the beds are barely stable while the mattresses are barely mattresses at all. Its hotter in the room than it is outside but at night you have to cover up completely with a blanket or something to protect yourself from the surplus of mosquitoes. How do the mosquitoes get in? The window is cracked with a good-sized hole in it and the screens, what’s left of them anyway, do no good. So yes its like a sauna under the blanket but its either that or lose all your blood.. no lie. And OFF Bug Spray? Yeah these mosquitoes laugh in the face of OFF. You wake up sweating and the shower before bed did no good. Okay enough of that

I had to catch myself though and I had to be careful not to complain. I lied in my bed last night and smiled up to God, because even in this place he has blessed me so much. At least I have a pillow, and a bed, and a school that teaches me practical living—Christian-style—and so much more. I am going to enjoy the next 7 weeks in this room (I will go back to the dorms after camp is over) and my experience here; or at least I will after its over. But that’s it for now. I love you guys!!

“Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins."

—Hosea 3:1