amazing grace.

Isn't the concept of grace amazing? I was listening to the song "How Deep the Father's Love."  Here, I'll just insert the lyrics. They say much better what I want to say...

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Amazing. I was a wretch...but the wounds of Jesus have paid my debt, have made me God's treasure. My sins are forgiven and forgotten by Him. Thats amazing. I sure haven't forgotten all of my sins. He's washed me clean through His forgiveness. His dying brought me life. Everlasting at that. I get to be a treasured daughter of God. Wow. And it had NOTHING to do with me. Nothing. Nothing that I did. Why do I get the benefit of this horrible death. Why? But his wounds paid my debt. I'm so undeserving. But thats when its not about me, how I get to stand in grace and boast in God's hope. Not mine. Romans 5:1-2 says....

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."

Praise you Lord. Thank you for giving me what I don't deserve. Thank you for loving us, and wanting us in relationship with you. Thank you. A thank you is so miniscule Lord. Want my life? You can totally have it. I trust you with it. I trust you. Wow. In a world full of things, people, lies, that we can't trust...You're perfect and fully trustworthy. Take my life. Help me never to get over Your gospel, Your amazing grace.

reflections

It was a blessing to return to the College of Charleston, my alma mater, to share with the students about my time in Argentina. What a wonderful opportunity to answer questions about what God is doing in the city of La Plata. I was invited to share at two weekly meetings in Charleston, one at Charleston Southern University and one at The College of Charleston. At both of these I had the chance to share how the Lord gave me a heart for the world and how He's been developing that ever since. It was good being back at the College of Charleston. I loved seeing friends that are younger than me and see their growth as well as the growth of the movement in Charleston. (First picture below is the CofC group and the second is CSU.)

I have also enjoyed speaking at Bible studies, small groups, sunday school classes, to the congregation of SGPC, and even to the Camilla Garden Club of Batesburg! Reflecting on the past 14 months has been a wonderful challenge. From the amazing things God did, to the hard days when I didn't feel like sharing the gospel or when there just seemed to be other important things to do, even when I was feeling like coming back home and just hugging my mom; it was all worth it. Every tear, every exciting adventure, every frustration, every moment of rejoicing...it was all worth it to serve the Lord. I love sharing the great stories with people standing up in front of a group but I want to share that it was a tough year. The ways I was pushed, stretched and grown by Jesus surpassed my expectations. All of those hard experiences were used by the Lord to refine me and deepen our relationship too. Wow...He's so worth it.

worth the work...

Recently Erika (my disciple) and I just took a trip to the north of Argentina to the city of Posadas! We went with a team of five from our city to help encourage and strengthen the Campus Crusade movement up there! You wouldn't believe how much the Lord is working! The movement started about 2 years ago and is growing with students who are on fire to share with their classmates, friends and family. I had a lightbulb moment when I was with the students. I was picking their brains some to see where they receive the drive to be on campus sharing their faith. Two of the girls looked at me very confused because for them it is their way of life- living out the gospel. They get it. They catch the vision and frankly the call of Jesus to go and make disciples of the nations, sharing the good news. It was so inspiring for me to be there working alongside those devoted students.

Their reality is that they don't have an established movement of students serving, or the resources in place, or a set meeting place like we have here in La Plata, but the Holy Spirt is working! Getting down to the roots of ministry, thats what we need. Students who are willing to share, who are overflowing with the love of Jesus.

It was such an encouraging time for me as well for Erika and Sole (the two girls who went with us). They each had the opportunity to be a part of conversations where a student accepted Christ! Two girls in our short three day trip up north! I feel so blessed that Erika and Sole were a part of those experiences welcoming two new believers into the family! Thanks for reading!

learning a new world

I have the pleasure currently, along with my other teammates, of welcoming our new team members! They arrived about a week ago from the US to join us for the next year! After the support raising journey, Sam, Jordan and Matt are here! Its been great to show them the ropes of the city and help with translation along with just getting their feet wet here in the first weeks of their STINT year, right down to ordering bread in the bakery!

I have also had some time to reflect back to my arrival here and all of the growth the Lord has taken me through this past year. It is amazing to see how I truly can communicate in Spanish, thinking this day would NEVER come, I mean never. I remember week three sitting through a conversation with 4 Argentines in tears of frustration thinking I would never learn the language and wondering why I even came to this country. The Lord showed me so much through that waiting period at first learning the language to totally depend on Him and Him alone. At times it was refreshing to walk down the street and not understand anything that was going on around you, being in your own world. The days of hard work learning Spanish have 100% paid off, and are continuing to do so! I can now translate...what an amazing place to be. Thank you Father!

here's to you...

So, this is the first blog I've created! I'm really excited to be connected in a closer way with friends, family, and supporters! I want to dedicate this first blog to you! I know this first post is WELL into my first year in Argentina, but better late than never right? I am thrilled to have another year to write about and share all that the Lord is doing in my life and ministry! I've said this alot but I honestly couldn't have done it without you. Thanks for all of the prayers, late night skype calls, encouraging emails, mail deliveries, tearful conversations, moments of laughter and so much more! What an amazing experience, to live in Argentina for a little over a year now. Learning so much about myself, the culture, a new way of life in the "big world," starting a job in full-time ministry and the list continues. To take a minute and look back on the past year is mind-blowing. Thanks for being a part of that because you were in a huge way!