The semester is moving.  My last semester of college.  I am not working on my presentation for tomorrow, but I am not worried or stressed so I must be prepared.  I have just arrived to the last track of a new album I downloaded about 50 minutes ago.  Vetiver and i must say, very diggable.  I thoroughly enjoy picking a random download and come to discover that I thoroughly enjoy the music.  The album I downloaded is their newest "Tight Knit." Check em' out if you want.

Hmmmmm, let's see.  I Have been reading a lot.  The other day I realized I probably have read more books in the past 3 months than in the last year, I think that could be a good thing.

Just went to Vetiver's myspace and really dig the track "Roll On Babe" click the "Tight Knit" enlace above to hear it. 

Something from the past couple weeks...

So I was really stuck on this idea that I had to confront some people.  Also to to share with these people in my life what God has been doing in my life and things God has been showing me since last Easter en Argentina (mas o menos).  This preocupation with "obeying God" was consuming me and really leading me to discouragement and a lot of doubt.  I was in this process of seeking for wisdom, guidance, and especially tools/opportunities to carry out these acts of obedience that I thought i HAD TO DO in order to progress in my relationship with Christ.  As I was doing this, I ran into this...

". . .the friend of the bridegroom . . ." (John 3:29)

"To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom (Christ), we have to be more careful to have the moral and VITAL relationship to Him ABOVE everything else, including obedience.  Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ . . ."

Wow, this was like a slap in the face, or a punch, but I have never been punched in the face so I cannot compare the two.  I came to realize that my focus was not Christ, but solely my relationship with these friends of mine.  How dangerous is that?  Super dangerous and ignorant.  Although I felt I was doing the right thing, I was actually yanking the control from God's hands and taking control of the situation while at the same time disguising this misunderstanding as "obedience to God."

Sleep time.  wakin up at 6am for some mate and breakfast.  buenas noches.

(quotes from Oswald Chambers)

Nuevo año/nueva vida

Filipenses 1.20 is a verse that i keep going back to ever since i read it January 1st, 2009.

I like to just put the reference because I like to imagine people grabbing their Bibles to read the verse straight from the source.

My sister challenged me to make these next 2 lists in replace of a new years resolution. 

What stirs my affections for Christ?

1. Being honest about who I am in Christ

2. Early mornings (alone) in the Bible and speaking with God

3. Being/talking/discussing with people that have the same desire for the Glory of God

4. Hillsong -  This is Our God album

5. Being outdoors in the nature

6. Sharing my FAITH with others

7. Blue skies and the sun

What robs me of affection for Christ?

1. laziness or procrastination (too much sleep, internet, tv, or music)

2. SARCASM and CYNICISM

3. pride

4. excessive time with certain people

5. not doing things that i "commit" to

Re-expression

I have realized that I know about a lot of things, but just a few details about each one.  I usually do not see this as a problem.

It is a problem when it comes to the most important thing to me, which would be my relationship with Christ and Belief in God.  Also when I cannot express that which is on my mind.

I have found myself studying, reading, hearing, and believing a lot of information that I can not re-express.  What good is this if I can not share?  How can God use me if I can not share what I have learned in my own words through my own thought processes using examples of real experiences in my life. 

For awhile I have thought I would be prepared for encounters with non-believers, old friends or people with different views, but a couple recent conversations have proven me wrong.  They were not complete failures, but I was not able to let God fully express Himself through me to these people I was speaking with.

We can say awesome quotes, lyrics, movie lines, or passages from books but it will not fully share who God is in us personally.  Yes these things help, but being able to interpret it and apply it to yourself personally is what we have to do in order that one can see the Glory of God in us and first hand.  I believe that if i were able to do this it would guarantee a showing of God's Glory.  Although C.S. Lewis (insert favorite author, person, pastor, leader, historical figure) is insanely good with his words and expressing his ideas, they will just be another quote for somebody.  It is not personal.

Basically I am fed up with myself and my lack of ability to be able to be unique in sharing the Glories of God in my life with people I love.  We underestimate the beauty of God in our own lives and try to bulk up our experiences to fit the qualifications that the world puts upon life changing experiences or "exciting" stories.

What do I take from this rambling of thoughts?  I want to be able to take a verse from the Bible, a speech I hear, a book I read, a song I hear, or a conversation I have and express it to myself over and over until I really learn from it.  I want to put it in my own words.  I want to be ready for the next time God gives me the opportunity to share anything with anybody.  Like always, easier said than done.

Ramble City

I am on a roll. I am on a roll because this will be my 2nd blog in one month.  It could be due to that I have finished the semester, or it could be due to my disease of starting and stopping things that I "commit" to and I will abandon the blog once again.

In 19 days I will be back in the United States of America.  I have been trying to avoid dwelling on this, but it is unavoidable.  During these thoughts I would describe my feelings as leading me into an anxiety/panic attack.  I really cannot be too sure because I have never had either one, I believe.

Some reason I always find myself leaving places when I seem to be getting into some kind of flow.  Flow for me is enjoying life, the people in it, the places involved, and the current activities I participate in.  My life here in Buenos Aires is normal, differently normal.  I love it.  It is full of amazing and interesting people and full of learning, moreso spiritually and personally than academically.

I speak Spanish every day.  I use public transportation every day.  It is almost in the season of summer here.  I do not watch a lot of TV.  I know nothing of pop culture.  I'm one of the luckies that missed the majority of the campaign/election season (not looking forward to all the hate, slander, and false hope in man that will be found in politics and media when I return).  I walk a lot.  I have a lot of alone time (this has been very impactful on my life).  These are just a few things I have enjoyed very much and will miss.

"live in the day" and "be intentional" have beenmy most frequent thoughts while being down here.  These both are still a struggle for me to do.  Being away from normality I have found myself discussing a lot of the past and a lot of what is back in my birth country, not wrong, but it gets old and tends to lead me into a stagnant state in life.  Being intentional has to do with my relationship with Christ.  I make efforts to see Him, hear Him, experience Him, or just talk with Him throughout the day as often as possible.

I will not be able to put ALL that I have learned into well written sentences or good explanation, but it is inside me and I will take from it and attempt to apply it, if possible, to my life. 

My future has many doors.  I love ideas.  I make too many plans.  Too many scenarios play through my head.  I tend to be too sporadic.  

One thing I pray for myself is that I will be able to kick the pride out of my life and let God take control of the ideas, scenarios, and plans of my life.  Some areas are easier than others to let go of.

Realization is a big step...it tends to come easy for me.  The bigger step for me, that which I struggle with, is letting go.  That part is the hardest for me.

I just changed the name of this blog to "Ramble City"

Long time and now I am a year older

I abandoned the blog for a good while...not intentionally.

My days are winding down in Buenos Aires, trying to take advantage of the last days and ignore the sadness that is making its way to the surface.

Beautiful day today, relaxing birthday, blue skies, nice breezes, hot, played frisbee, bought new pair of alpargatas, ate some cake. God has blessed me with good health and 23 years of age.

He has also blessed me with a wonderfull family that loves me, friends that care for me, and opportunities that are only given to me by Him.  

ABOVE: is from canoeing outside San Rafael in Presa El Tigre.  Beautiful water, and very interesting rock formations.  I was able to go visit the province of Mendoza and it was beautiful, a great trip to get away and relax.

 Now pertaining to the ridiculous picture below.  I am thinking wether to dread my head or not.  there is no way I would ever let them grow out as long as the dude in this picture.

Friends in South America

It has been way long since I have posted.  My life became very busy with the end of the semester, getting visas to travel, and visitors!  Above here you are going to see 2 people that have been constant spiritual leaders throughout my life thus far.  Their travel plans landed them in Buenos Aires for one day together. Kate (The sis) and Dan Urban (friend, old sunday school teacher, life teacher) and I got to spend lunch at Cafe Tortoni, some bone old Cafe in Buenos Aires, tango history and what not.  Anyways, It was great to have them here...I had not seen family in like 5 months so it was refreshing.  God Has blessed me with amazing people in my life.  Wasnt really expecting anybody past immediate family to jump down a hemisphere to come visit me...just leave it to Urb the world traveler.

I am currently in Brazil.  Needless to say I am in Love and plan on learning Portuguese next, maybe teaching English and/or Spanish in Brazil while learning Portuguese?  I will have to talk that over with my brain to see if he can handle it.  Above here we have some awesome friends I met while working at a YMCA camp in Trinity, TX 2 years ago.   Finally I have made it to their country to see them and I feel like I am visiting family, it has been so great.  Tica, Felipe, Christina and I are chewing on sugar cane in this pic.  I need to start planting that stuff in my back yard when I get back to the states.  It would be a great substitute for dip Kate ;)  One thing I noticed while being here is How distance can never ruin a friendship or bond between people, if it is real.  My family and I showed them hospitality 2 years ago, and Their families have been just as amazing to me!  It has been so nice to have this after 5 months of weird, awkward, and different routine in Buenos Aires (although I love it).  Anyways, I thank God for putting these people in my life.  I believe He has been glorified in our relationships from 2 years ago and still today, which is the most important thing of all, God´s glory.

Oh, the food is amazing here...They wont stop feeding me, I love it, but Im sure I will regret it, not.  Once I get my pics on my computer I will put up a picture of the ultimate game day food, moreso for fútbol(soccer) but I could knock out about 3 at a Razorback game.  

Get Lost in Patagonia

This past week has been amazing.  I've had the great opportunity of traveling through southern Argentina with my sis, Kate.  I cannot get enough of la naturaleza that one can find in Patagonia.  Although our plans have not gone as planned, it has been perfect so far and I am sure we will continue to be amazed by God's wonderful earth.

We have met amazing people, seen amazing views, had amazing conversations, and have had many great laughs.  I am so blessed.  I don't deserve any of it, but I am very grateful for it all.  

It was also really exciting and fun to show kate around Buenos Aires and what my life has been like for the past 5 months.  The night she came over to have dinner with my host family, protests broke out in the streets towards the conflict between "el campo y el gobierno" (the farmers vs. the government).  This "cacerolazo" or pot banging form of protest has been used a lot since i have been here, and my señora Georgi and her son Joaquín took us to go check it out before dinner, quite an experience.  I wish i could post a video but im stupid and cant figure it out.  so if you really want to see it just go to youtube.com and search "cacerolazo 2008 callao."  Callao and Sante Fe are two main streets in Buenos Aires really close to my house.  

Anyways, Buenos Aires was last week and we just arrived to Puerto Madryn which is a city next to the Valdes Peninsula.  We were going to see penguins we thought, but they have left for brazil.  So i guess penguins migrate too, and they migrate north, and they swim, weird to think about.  But it is whale season, so we will get to see some huge southern right whales, hopefully.  Got to go and hope to post some more pics from Puero Madryn or whatever else happens on the rest of our trip!

 

Small talk = blah

"If we are so impoverished that we have have nothing to reveal but `small talk`whenever we meet, then we need to struggle for more richness of the soul."
-Frank C. Laubach-

In my time here in Argentina I have met a large amount of people from all different areas of the world, with different lifestyles, and very different ways of percieving the world. I have spent anywhere from 5 minutes with these people to a handfull of months.

I have realized that I have never really understood the majority of these people fully. Conversations always seem to be full of this thing we call "small talk." Sometimes because of time restraints this is all we can to talk about.
i.e. whats your name? where are you from? what do you do? the weather, current events, common interests etc. etc.

I find myself constantly repeating these conversations, or really just elaborating on these subjects the next time I spend time with the people I come in contact with again. Why is it that we are afraid to talk about things that matter. Granted I have met people that are open about talking about their beliefs, religion, world views, and inner thoughts, but it is hard to come by. Sometimes it is hard to do this also with my difficulties with the language, or theirs.

One thing I intend to start doing is initiating conversations that are directed to things that matter more. I understand that my belief in God and Jesus Christ does not interest a lot of the world, but this is my life and who I am. Should I not share this just because I do not want to "bore" the other party? Am I denying my faith in Jesus Christ by keeping it to myself, or am I detaining an opportunity for someone else to experience the Glory of God as I have in my life?
Just something that I have been thinking on recently.

"It is not the fashion to tell your inner-most thoughts, but there are many wrong fashions, and concealment of the best in us is wrong. I disaprove of the usual practice of `small talk` whenever we meet, and holding a veil over our souls."
-Frank C. Laubach-

el desierto negro?

Just saw this movie. Not too sure what I think of it yet. Not too much dialogue which was what I wanted in order to practice my castellano. It was in black and white, so the movie poster serves its purpose.

Been workin on my 2 final papers that I have due next week, one on La pasión de Argentina and El populismo: Getulio Vargas y Juan Domingo Perón. I always seem to procrastinate and kill myself with work for a good week. I guess that is just how I am.

I will be attending my first foriegn concert. The artist is Jorge Drexler. Check him out, he is pretty good. I dig the guitar in his songs, or the songs I have heard thus far. Im sure my next post will be about the concert, hopefully with some fotos.

ooooo...and mi familia got a router so I have some legit wireless connection now!!!

Días difíciles

I have added 2 new things to my way of life, juggling and running.
Juggling is really self entertaining for me. I enjoy it...a lot.
There is a real legit plaza, or 2, close to my house here in BA that I run around now, and the last time I went i realized that it is marked with distances. I know, really convenient.

God has been working in my life. I feel like sometimes people believe that everything will be perfect and easier once your relationship with Christ is flourishing. Atleast I used to think of it that way. I have been learning that I am privileged to be able to have a relationship with God, I do not pursue a relationship with God to benefit myself. I strive to love Him and follow Him in my life so that He is glorified. The Glory of God is the only thing that matters to Him. This is so much easier to type. Living to help spread the Glory of God is crazy hard sometimes. These difficult days cannot defeat me though.

La semana de parciales.

This week I have had a majority of my midterms. I had one Monday, one in 2 and a half hours, then one thursday.
Hopefully friday I will begin my visa processes for Bolivia and Brasil. Such a pain in the butt, but I guess it is not easy for them to get one for the United States.
A good movie for you all to watch pertaining to the previous sentence would be
AMERICAN VISA. It is a Bolivian movie and I think it may have won an Academy Award for foreign film or something like that.
Not too much to blog on today, hopefully the next one will be more exciting.

Ciudad de Humo

So I guess the agricultural process of choice in Argentina is still the slash and burn method. My bus ride/walk home the other night ended with me smelling like a camp fire.
I would have usually enjoyed this smell if I had spent my night hanging with friends around a campfire, but I did not. Buenos Aires is being attacked by smoke from the North. Roads are closed.
Tonight I went to an English Club to help teach. It was fun, and even better I was able to speak mucho Spanish despues.

I also have an opportunity to volunteer with a group called Fundacion TEMAS. Some of the times conflict with school, but it should be manageable. It is nice to be in contact with some type of organization, I have attempted a couple times before. I also had an interview with an English Institute for a job the other day. They did not have any openings for me as of now, they need some more advanced students that just need conversation classes and practice with a native speaker before the need me. Atleast I am on their list though.

Met a Peruvian, Columbian, and two Misioneras (girls from la Provincia Misiones) tonight at a Campus Crusade thing. It was very cool. This was after the English Club. I will be attending this ever friday night.

Hasta pronto, chau...

¡Feriado!

Yes, today is a holiday.
I just figured out my password again so i can continue to blog.
today is Día del Veterano de Guerra y los caídos en Malvinas
There is not too much celebration because it is in rememberance of the decietful and devestating war against England over the Falkland Islands.
I am going to try and check out the memorial today to see if there are any ceremonies.
2 weeks of school have passed. Not too bad, just a lot of reading. My newest class Traditions and Cultures is going to be my favorite.
We are currently discussing the Mapuche people, which are an indigenous tribe here in argentina. more to come.

-Paul-

First week of actual class

Started classes this week.
I have to be in class by 8am on monday and wednesday.
I guess i do not remember looking at the times while signing up.
I have a lot of reading to do.
A little overwhelmed.
Glad to be starting though.
More exciting news to come.
Oh, i supposedly missed Mos Def in concert last night, not to happy about that.
And i also met an argentine last night named Guillermo whos favorite bands are Kings of Leon and The Strokes, very cool.

Things I miss the most so far...

1. Not being able to call or see family/frieds whenever i want.
2. Mexican food
3. Hot wings with ranch
4. Fabric Softener
5. Arizona Green Tea

The First Day of My Blogging Life

Rundown of a typical Day in the past month of March.

Usualmente I wake up at 7:30 to read some Bible.
I eat and catch "el colectivo 59" or public bus for you americans to La Universidad De Belgrano.

I have been attending classes of Spanish from 9:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri.
After class we usually go somewhere into the city and explore...there is quite a lot.

I went to Iguazu, la provincia de Misiones, this past weekend and it was amazing, it was like being in a movie.
I wonder what it was like to be one of the first people to come upon the falls, what were their thoughts?

We also went to Jesuit Ruins in San Ignacio. These were also very cool.

One of my favorite parts of traveling to Iguazu was the tour we took of a Guarani tribe. These were the first people to ever live in the area. Most of them live in La Provincia Misiones en Argentina. There are only about 850 of them in this area. They rely totally on tourism, they give tours to people like us and sell things to the visitors. There is a spanish language school near the village we went to. It teaches the Guarani people spanish so they can leave the area and get work outside of the village.

Hopefully i will be able to post some pics and a great video of the Guarani people singing us a song.

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