A time to learn

Finally I am in Argentina! The place I have prayed over and thought about for a couple of years now. The experience so far has been better than I could ever have imagined, I know that I am in the center of God’s plan and there is deep satisfaction for me in Christ within that plan. I cannot think of one thing that I do not love about being here. But then the hard part is just beginning. When I landed in Argentina my world suddenly changed. Everyone was speaking Spanish! You may think: “Duh,” but no one can prepare you for what it feels like to be the foreigner that does not understand what anyone is saying. At first it overwhelmed me, perhaps in part because of the lack of sleep, but also partially due to the culture shock. Many things here are different from America. But most differences I have found that I like better. For one: the people here are very affectionate, and I really enjoy how laid back it is. Everyone that I meet treats me as though they have known me forever, and I enjoy the closeness. I also truly love the Spanish language, and so I am striving very hard to learn as much as I can, as fast I am capable.

I thought that I knew more Spanish than I did. But when I got here I realized I truly only know how to say about three or four sentences, and none of them make any sense to say if you do not know when to say them. But God has blessed me with roommates who have become some of my closest friends thus far, and they are as eager as I am to help me learn Spanish. They call me the “learning machine” and seem shocked but pleased at my extreme desire to learn. But if I do not learn I cannot speak to anyone! Which believe me is a tragedy.

I know that this will only get harder! Please pray for me this next week as I start my first official week in class. It is one thing to learn hundreds of little words to communicate with my roommates but I am nervous for the grammatical part of the learning. Yet I know that the Lord is my help, whom (or what) shall I fear?!