So this is the account of our Luke10 faith journey. This story starts with two guys setting out on an adventure. Jesus sent out his disciples two by two into towns to prepare the way for the kingdom. We prayed and felt God said we should travel through Argentina to the city of Asuncion in Paraguay. I asked God to show me His love on this Luke 10...He did.
Day 1 - Wednesday 14 Oct
On a bus from Chile to Argentina at 05:00
We traveled over the Andes mountains at 4200m above sea level
Andes mountains are amazing...snow capped peaks
Amazing views on the way, Argentina is so vast in landscapes
Arrived in Salta 20:00
Bit nervous
Slept in the bus terminal with the rest of the group
Day 2 - Thursday 15 Oct
Woken up by cleaners to wash floor 01:00
Met Francisco from Chile
Saw shop named "Belen"
Got picked up by a guy who bought us lunch - sub and Coke
Dropped Off at intersection
Picked up by a guy and wife in an uno - party in a car!
Had Coke again
Francisco rapped a song about our adventure together
Chased an iguana for lunch
Dropped off in small town - Joaquin V González
Francisco got fruit, cookies and bread from tiendas
Tried to catch a lift for 4 hours outside of town
Got chowed by those Machu Picchu mosquito things, itches like crazy for days...
Walked back to town
Felt defeated
Ate lunch with locals - fried rice things
Humbling experience
Slept at same people next to the railway station, they live there in a self made tent
Had a bucket shower next to the railway under the stars
Shared a tent with Francisco
Day 3 - Friday 16 Oct
Tried to catch a lift at 08:00 - shake the dust from feet and leave...
Started walking out of town
Francisco got us bread on the way
Got picked up at 11:00
Had lunch with same people who picked us up - meat and Coke - in El Quebrachal
Told to wait for 3 hours
Had chocolate and caramel ice cream, a decent shower, and took a nap
Walked through town with the kids
Got invited back to preach by the grandmother
Received 200 pesos
Scared to leave, not having a good day
Got dropped off at truck inspection place at 20:00
Me and Henk got picked up by José , Christian guy, nada es impossible por Dios
Not enough space in truck for three people, Francisco stayed behind to catch another lift
Had Matte while driving in a truck
Prayed with José
Henk got in the other truck driving with José
Listened to worship music while driving and chatting
Fell asleep
Day 4 - Saturday 17 Oct
Slept on the truck through the night
Dropped off at Resistencia at the rotondo
Didn't know what was going to happen, bit nervous
Waited for 3 hours for Francisco to come...he didn't
Read Psalm 91
Prayed and felt God said we should leave
Lost Francisco with the pesos
Got picked up by 3 students on their way to Formosa
Had chats about homosexuality and church
Had cookies and matte - very good
Dropped us off in Formosa
Got 40 pesos for lunch
Got picked up by a local
Dropped off at the border to Paraguay
Got picked up on the other side straight to Asuncion
Had someone's left over cheesecake at McDonald's
New friend we met bought me a meal and a sunday
Heard from Francisco via Facebook, he stayed in El Quebrachal, wants to meet up with us on Monday
McDonald's closed, wandered the streets aimlessly
Got booked into a hostel by Giuli and her boyfriend who are very honest about their life, very honest
Day 5 - Sunday 18 Oct
Breakfast included in hostel - booyah!
All the mugs had the name "Belen" on them at breakfast
Booked another night with money received
Watched movies with a Nigerian guy and American peace core girls
Got invited to hang out with locals
Explored the city...got lost
Went out with Belen and her friends for her birthday
Her daughter's name is also Giuli - apparently not a very common name in Paragauy
Prayed for a homeless guy
He recited Psalm 91 to us
Day 6 - Monday 19 Oct
Breakfast provided
Received a donation for hostel for two evenings and food - R1000
Spent QT with God on what's next
Feel God is saying to go spend time in a park and chat to locals
McDonald's again
Had a conversation with a Nigerian about church and politics, was a Muslim but gave it up a while ago. Shared on what we are doing this year. Asked me if I lost my faith???
Day 7 - Tuesday 20 Oct
Breakfast at the hostel
QT with God the whole morning, He taught me about His faithfulness
Had empanadas for lunch with Belen and her friend
Sight seeing, house of independence
Went to university campus with Belen
Cookies and juice for dinner
QT with God in the park
My emotions is all over the place today. Lots of questions.
Day 8 - Wednesday 21 Oct
Breakfast at the hostel
Took a bus to the municipality to meet up with the rest of the team
First team arrived 06:00
Last team arrived 20:00
Camped at a boy scout facility next to a massive church
Summary
Person of peace: a lot of people along the way
Worst moment: day 3, was taking a nap and waiting for the guy to come pick us up and drop us off at a truck inspection place. Didn't want to go. Just wanted to stay there and sleep.
Best moment: When the whole team arrived safe in Asuncion. Jesus did it!!
Divine appointment: For me, the Nigerian guy in the hostel
Observations/lessons
1) We as Christians complicate things a lot...we should sometimes just use common sense...
2) God provides in different ways. Sometimes we say no because we think God will provide in another way but the blessing is actually in front of us. As an example, Random people gave us money to sleep at a hostel and we debated if we should sleep there or not, instead of just using the money and sleeping there.
3) A Luke 10 journey looks different for everyone. There is no blueprint that says what it should exactly look like
4) Ask and you will receive. I think the disciples did this as well. In the Latin culture people don't always offer, they respond to what you ask for. Reminds of the scripture that says if we humble ourselves and pray God will hear us, forgive our sins, and heal our land.
5) Jesus said if you are not received in a town shake the dust from your feet and leave. We struggled in the one town to catch a lift so we walked out of town a few kilometers and then someone picked us up.
6) Most of the blessings we received were from non Christians. Love is universal and we as Christians dont show it enough. Maybe that's why people don't want to convert.
7) Christians can become snobs very easily. We judge very easily instead of loving. Jesus spent time with prostitutes, tax collectors, and outcasts.
8) Respond to what is happening. Wait and see how the story unfolds. Be patient.
9) God shows his love to us in different ways. We help expand the kingdom and he provides the means. It's not a tit-for-tat relationship. Meaning we don't have to do something to receive something. He gives because He loves us.
10) God motivates us throughout our lives. He confirms our path. Last year God said that this year was going to be very tough for me. Through the year I doubted a lot of times if I made the right choice to come on a journey. When I look back now I can see how God has motivated me through this year. Almost like checkpoints he put in place and when I reached them He reminded me of a prophetic word I received or of a scripture I read. Like the Psalm91 we read and then a homeless guy recited it, seeing Belen's name everywhere, and the story of Giuli - which is pronounced Julie, my sister's name. It may be coincidence, or maybe not. I choose the latter.
11) Prophecy is for encouragement, it's for the edification of the church. God will remind us when it comes into fulfillment. We just need to believe and wait on Him.
12) God builds our faith, we just need to step out in obedience. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
13) We want God to take away a lot of stuff from our lives when it's actually us who should just choose against it.
14) People have different perspectives on relationships and this causes conflict at times. It all depends on how you view a relationship.
15) Have faith in God's faithfulness. In Hebrews it speaks of a lot of people who received promises and never saw it, but they kept faith...until death...and were counted as righteousness.
16) When you follow your own plan things are a bit more difficult.
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