Morgan Freeman?

Apparently in any culture/country Morgan Freeman's name comes up in a conversation of my name. My Spanish tutor asked if I was related to Morgan Freeman this past week because of our names. Priceless.
 I think it was on Tuesday we watched some of the kids from church while their parents talked with Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons and then went to dinner at one of the members of the church houses.
On Wednesday, I went with Mrs. Gibbons to visit one of the ladies in the church. I had a hard time following all of the conversation especially when they would switched topics. After that Kristi and I went to Alien's grandparents house/ panadería for a sleepover with some of the other girls from the youth group. We  ate pizza, played games and watched a movie and lets just say we didn't sleep that much.

Thursday was church (good news! I got the three major points of the outline from the message!)I know you are all proud of that accomplishment, well, at least I am).
Friday a couple and their daughter came over for dinner. Again, I had to have some jokes/stories explained to me (which is due in part cause I still don't know a lot of spanish, cause it was getting late and I was having a hard time focusing). It is tiring trying to listen so closely to understand what is going on. So I was wicked tired after that and probably cause it was 11:30 ANYWAY.

Saturday was youth group and I followed the message a little bit (  I mean real little). But the highlight of the day was when Danny and I went to buy some vegetables. I had the list with me and Danny was there only if I truly needed help. I got through it...you feel kinda humble not really being able to say a lot when you are trying to buy something from someone.
Sunday was church.  I helped out with the little kids and reviewed my colors/ clothes vocabulary words and such with them as they colored their Bible story pictures. I then gave my testimony in church with the help of Mrs. Gibbons translating it for me. I don't really like speaking in public and trying it out in Spanish would've been way to much to take at this point I think.
This week was challenging, but good.
God is good!



The farm Danny and I bought.

Morgana

The week went by pretty quickly. We drove my parents to the airport in Buenos Aires on Monday and then drove to pick up Pablo. He had driven with the teens up to their camp that started that day, but the van they were in broke down so he needed a ride back home. Bright and early on Wednesday we drove with an Argentine couple back to Paysandu to pick up the Gibbons car that had broken down last week. I played Wii with the Valette kids and got to see Willems who I met three years ago when the Northland soccer team came down. It was fun to hang out with all of them as we waited for the mechanic to come and then fix the van.
Thursday was church and it was good to understand at least some of the prayer requests, even if I couldn't understand the message. On Friday I went with Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons to Beatrize's house to met her and have a Spanish lesson. She is 75 or 77 and  extremely nice. Her 97 year old husband was there too. He said that he fought in a couple wars which I thought was pretty cool. Beatrize speaks English pretty well which helps me when we go over my workbook. We talked for almost two hours and she told me we wouldn't set a time limit when I did come over. She went on a little spiel about Argentina and inflation and told me she studied English in Argentina and I think California. She invited us over there for lunch on the 24th. 
She also told me that she had never heard of Morgan as a first name and said something about it being a last name and then something about Morgana...she than preceded to call me that so I think that is what she will call me from now on. She also told me I need to use my hands when I spoke too. She is going to be fun to get to know. She isn't saved though so pray for opportunities with her and for my Spanish to expand.
It rained Friday night and the mosquitoes were out in storm the next day when we walked to the center. But we stopped and got some milkshakes before youth group that night.

 

The two Morgans at the conference in Uruguay.

First week in Uruguay

Hey everyone,
Just a little update on my time in Uruguay. We (my parents and I) arrived in Buenos Aires on Saturday morning and were met by one of the missionaries, who was picking up someone else, and a Argentine pastor named Juan Claudio who spoke very little English. Naturally all I had been taught in Spanish seemed to be totally gone so I couldn't think of what to say, but I could kind of understand a little of what he said and respond with "Si." The pastor took us to the bus station, where a couple of hours later, we got on a 5 hour bus ride to Colon. We finally arrived at the camp in Paysandu around 7 or so and met the rest of the missionaries at the conference.
The conference was amazing. Myself and two other people watched all the missionary kids for the week, which ended up being a little bit of a challenge since it rained everyday but one (someone said it rained like 20 inches). My favorite part, that was a blessing to me, was after the services at night all the teens, the couple leading the teens that week, and me would spend hours playing random fun games until late hours of the morning.
Random side story: the main building where meetings were held had a tile floor and apparently when it got wet it was extremely slippery. I found that out when it was pouring rain and I was running to get inside and of course slipped and hit my head on the tile floor. <- real smooth I know.
On the last day there the van broke down driving it up to the main building. This in turn was a blessing because we were still at the camp and not stuck on the side of the road. God works things out though and we rented a van and drove back to Argentina.
I had the opportunity to go to youth group on Saturday night and church as well on Sunday night. The language barrier is somewhat challenging, but I know I just need to practice it.
Prayer requests!!
1. Language study and practice. I will soon start meeting with a Spanish tutor, a woman in her 70's who is unsaved. Pray for me as I learn the language and opportunities to share the Gospel with her.
2. There are a couple girls my age here who really need someone their age to encourage and disciple them. Pray for wisdom for me and a growing friendship with them.
Thanks for all your prayers!