6 Days Till' Takeoff!

"A veces no eres capaz de creerte lo que ves, tienes que creer lo que sientes. Y si quieres que los demas lleguen a confiar en ti, tambien tu debes sentir que puedes confiar en ellos, aunque estes a oscuras. Anunque te estes cayendo." - Martes con mi viejo professor

"Sometimes you are not able to believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you want others to trust in you, you also should feel like you are able to trust in them, even though you are in the dark. Even if you are falling." - Tuesdays With Morrie

I just spent an hour out on my back porch reading Tuesdays With Morrie (in Spanish of course!), trying to quiet my racing mind and convince my body it's time to sleep! The last chapter I read ended with the above quote; which encouraged me to close my eyes and jump into the unknown, and hold on to trust and faith as I fall (or fly) into a new community, job, home, and lifestyle. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, trying to say goodbyes, pack, and tie up loose ends at work. I haven't quite come to the realization that I only have 5 more days at home before I embark on a new life journey into the unknown. When I say unknown, I'm not trying to create a dark, mysterious feeling filled with danger and excitement; when I say "unknown" I sincerely mean that I have very little idea of what I will be doing for the next year. I have tried to include some info. about what I do know below; please feel free to ask me any questions about the theology/mission statement of the YAGM program!

I will be spending the next year in Buenos Aires, Argentina through the ELCA Young Adults in Global Missions (YAGM) program. The YAGM program is through the Lutheran church and sends around 50 volunteers each year to 9 different countries. Initially when I heard the term "missions" or "missionary" I was turned off by the program with the impression that it would follow what many of us would think of as the typical overseas "missionary" experience. The ELCA approaches mission work with the purpose of walking with others in solidarity to develop interdependent and mutual relationships within our international community. This idea or approach to mission work is termed "accompaniment." Once I heard about this unique approach to missionary work, I was sold on the program. Personally, I do not believe in trying to convert others in culture, religion, thoughts, morals, or beliefs; I do however, feel very strongly that it is essential for us to develop community locally, nationally, and internationally through walking with the "other", depending on the "other", and learning about the "other" so that there is no longer "others" in our worldly community but rather a feeling of interdependence and solidarity. As I prepare to leave for Argentina I have been exploring what this term , "accompaniment" will mean for my year long commitment focused on service.

I leave for Buenos Aires on the 26th of August. There are 5 of us going to Argentina and Uruguay and we will all be serving at different locations. I will be serving in a community center 3x / week and an elderly home 2x / week. I do not know what I will be doing in either of these places, however, one aspect of accompaniment is meeting people where they are at and serving in any capacity/form. I think this aspect of waiting for the unknown with a willingness to serve and accompany others is important because it forces us to give up control and go into a situation without any expectations or set schedule. I am looking forward to walking "barefoot" into a community different from my own with the knowledge that I will always be an outsider and with the hope that by the end of my short time in B. Aires I will be an outsider welcomed in to the every day joys and sorrows of those within my community.

I hope you will continue to read my updates throughout the year and respond with any questions, comments, reactions, etc...

I am humbled by all of the support I have received these past few months; from church, family, friends, youth, and strangers on the street. THANK YOU for your kind words, encouragement, prayers, and hugs...you will be in my thoughts every step of the way!

Peace (Paz),

Cristina