argentina

Argentina trip comes up soon--> September 15-25th. I will hopefully be bringing a suitcase full of stuff just for the children there. If you want to help me fill that suitcase, here is what I need:
*children's clothing
*candy
*bandanas
*Spanish Bibles
*coloring books
*wash cloths
*little bottles of shampoo
*little toys for the kids
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? -Matthew 7:11

Maybe

It's not always about fitting into this "Christian mold" man has created. It's seeing God in every situation. Instead of seeing guilt (that I blame on God and then get mad at him for), instead of seeing condemnation, instead of seeing blessing or curse, I want to see GOD. Look into his eyes, fall asleep on his shoulder, and recognize that God is manifested in the physical in more ways than one.
He's not just the inspirational pastor or the innocent and loving child. He's the weary traveler, the cursing sailor, the blind homeless man, the mean waitress. Qualities of God inherently exist within each of these images.

Besos

this is why I love central america so much...a complete stranger (I prefer 5-year-olds) can sit on your lap and kiss you and say they love you within a twenty-minute bus ride. sadly enough I am no longer there, but being back in the U.S. (at least for a time) I know I have a purpose and a mission. For without a vision, the people perish. Once I get my thoughts together, I'll be sure to add more.

6 strings

Tonight we walked back from the beach after admiring the stars and came across an old Latino singing songs with this guitar and his rustic carribbean blues-like voice. Perched up on a window sill of a very simple wooden house, he made the night an experience. Standing there listening to his song about holding onto love and trying not to forget the lover he dreams of everynight, I couldn´t help but wish...

No puedo olvidarte...

Tonight we find ourselves in Boquete, a small, quaint town outside of David where the air is cool and the food is cheap. $2.05 for a big plate of fixin´s (I can´t get the south out of me!). Tomorrow off to the hot springs and hopefully some natural trails.
On the way here today, I ended up sitting next to a grandmother and her 5yr old grandchild with gorgeous long black hair and a lighter tan than most panamanians. The sweet little girl ended up on my lap, kissed me a few times on the cheek and told me she loved me. I swear sometimes God certainly does take the form of human beings...yes, even now. (how funny is this b-c just yesterday I read the quote above from life of pi)

Rain in Paradise

It rains when its suppose to be nice
It's cold,
Cold in paradise
I'm walking the right road
But all alone
With too much on my mind
Nothing left to find,
But You
It's cold in paradise
Will heaven be the same?
We say peace on earth
He says he brought a sword
All our ideas
Are never truth
There's cold paradises
And I'm still searching for You.


Yesterday it rained, today it was lovely and sunny. However, it seemed so ironic to be raining in a place I often dream of going: for in my dreams, it never rains. But in reality it does. Today was very interesting, I have met quite a lot of people from all over the world. Most of whom can speak three languages. I get jealous quickly at that. But I'm finally feeling confident in my spanish-speaking abilities. Dori and I are looking for a place to get the jamaican braids done in our hair. Not only will it look cool, we wont have to buy shampoo! Tomorrow we are supposedly going to have a local take us around the islands and find some good snorkeling spots. I wish I could put my pics on here, but unfortunately, the computer at this cafe does not read my camera.

I am almost done with the book Life of Pi, you'd be amazed at how many conversations it has sparked up from people who see me reading it. Great book so far, can't wait to finish it. There should be a quote on the top of my blog from it (that is if I can figure out this technology).

Bocas

here's josh, dori, and i planning for our trip to bocas del toro where i currently am at right now. its been two long days of getting here, but we are here! and on the agenda for tomorrow is snorkeling. although i was quite sad to leave the beloved masatepe, its looking like this week will be packed with adventure.