Welcome to the shire.

**Note regarding the title: everything in Buenos Aires is SMALL compared to what we're used to in the states. The elevator. The beds. The showers. The drinks. But especially the elevators. According to Beau and Jordan, "it's like we're in the Shire 4,000 years after Middle Earth."**

Sorry about not updating the blog last night. Yesterday was actually an AMAZING day, but when I got back to the hotel I couldn't get a decent WiFi connection. So, I am going to fill you in on two days today.

Lunes o Monday

The day kinda got off to a rough start; except for Wes and Sarge everyone overslept. I woke up five minutes before we were supposed to be downstairs ready to leave and yelled "Guys! We're supposed to be downstairs in 5 minutes." This was followed by me taking a very cold (and brief) shower. But, as a testament to my strength I did not let out a single yelp, even though Beau and Jordan we're waiting for me to do so. It happened that the shower got warm just as I was getting out and Jordan was getting in. But before Jordan tried sprinting across the hobbit-sized beds. However, he improperly stepped over the last mattress, causing it to catapult towards him, inflicting a minor injury on his shin and providing entertainment for Beau and me.

That was the morning.

We went to the University of Belgrano yesterday and had an amazing time talking to the students. I was able to meet Daniel, an exchange student from Australia studying Linguistics, and Jenny, a student from Alaska here studying Spanish. The groups I was in were able to have conversations with the students about their interests, etc, but were very mindful of bringing up eternal, Spiritual things. Many of the students have an idea of religion and know the basics facts of Christianity but are lacking faith. However, while at Belgrano we also met Pablo, a believing student excited about reaching his peers. He spent half of the day with us, and was a great encouragement.

After Belgrano we went to the University of Palermo, a business school. However, there were no students there at the time, so after praying we left and walked to UBA Derecho (University of Buenos Aires Law School). On our way we stopped at la Iglesia de San Juan, a Catholic church built in 1732. As we walked inside, the darkness and lostness of the nation was overwhelming. Seeing all the extravagance and idolatry in that place really gives you a concrete image of what we are up against: man's religion. God is not interested in rituals and good works, rather He desires to have a personal relationship with us.

Really, this is the main thing we find ourselves telling everyone we talk to: faith is Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, realizing He is the only Way of salvation from our sins, and that the good things we do in this life (including our trip) flow from our love for Him.

We ended up home last night, and got some rest, preparing ourselves for another great day.

Martes o Tuesday

We were all up on time today. PTL (Praise the Lord).

We spent this morning at UBA Facultad de Medicina (UBA School of Medicine). The UBA schools here almost feel like prisons. Priscilla, Micah, and I spent a couple of hours this morning just walking around the buildings and praying. We really felt the Spirit leading us to simply offer up prayers for the students and people of Argentina. Similar to the Israelite's trek around Jericho, we bathed the building in prayer and asked God to pour Himself out among the people and destroy the bastions of humanism and agnosticism that stand in direct opposition to the Truth of who He is.

As an answer to prayer, Wes, Jessica, Jordan, and Carmen were able to talk to two different guys at the Med School (Fidel and Juliano) and were able to give a full Gospel presentation, with both guys expressing a desire to begin a relationship with Christ. We went to lunch (Jordan and I enjoyed some bistec de chorizo [ribeye]) and then gathered in front of UBA Medicina for some worship. Jordan, Jessica, and Carmen met a guy name Ishmael and invited him to join us for some singing. I was able to get to know him (even though everyone wanted me to sing instead of talk), and I think he is going to be joining us at Spanglish tonight.

Spanglish is a time where Portenos come to practice English and Spanish. It's a non-invasive way for us to have people meet up with us and through our [5 minute] conversations get them thinking about God. Kinda like speed dating, but not actually dating. [And Wes says missionary dating isn't worth it.]

Really, we are all being continually and extremely blessed by this trip. We can honestly see exactly how God is piecing together everything we've done together. There's so much more I can tell you guys, but I've got to go get ready for the night.

Salvation is here!

Justin

P.S. Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures right now, so I'm going to put them on my MobileMe gallery later tonight and give you guys a link. Hasta Luego!