Billy and the new daddy Jason

I miss you all guys!

The only thing wrong about the picture is the sign...well, now that I think about it, you didnt cross the border...you stayed from the Argentine side. A full!

Yeah! this is me!

There was a time when I was re-heavy y re-jodido!

Mission Trip to Salta-Part lll

I was thinking of writing about the team I work with. Truth is that I rather keep all those memories for myself.
This experience showed me who are the persons around me... and allowed me to get to know those who I might have taken for grated for a long time.
Above all, the person I got to know the most was my savior Jesus Christ.

Mission Trip to Salta 2005-Part ll

Ok, time to keep updating my trip to Salta. What I have written so far happened the very first week.
I have to say that we had a day off and it was on Sunday…and me and a bunch of argentines (some of them sort of whiny) plus some Americans went hiking that day…it was awesome…I really enjoyed it.
Next week would be different in a sense, because the whole team would remain together and we would be assigned different spots or locations to visit but we would go to these places and get back the same day.
On Tuesday, six of us went to a place called “Las Pailas”… The main idea to go there was to show Jesus movie. The shocking thing about this place was that they don’t have electricity…the church was the only “building” that has it…that nite was amazing after the movie a lot of people came to Christ…young people and not so young…Gosh! They just want to be loved!!! They don’t care about material possessions and stuff like that…They just want to know that there is someone up there that is taking care of them or that will give them the hope they are looking for…unfortunately, they believe more than in our Lord. Trigger by their traditions they also believe in the virgin Mary or what is worst they believe in “la pacha mama”, it is sort of adoration to the earth…weird, isn’t it? I guess it is!
The good thing about it is that we where there to tell them the truth and that is the coolest part…having the chance to do it.
I will deliberately skip many details that I want to keep for myself from our second day up there in “Las Pailas”…those persons are INCREDIBLE! God knows they are…pray for them to be the chosen people and that God put in their hearts the desire to seek Him everyday and that they would surrender their life to Jesus.
The next days were interesting; a guy from the same team and me would go to play soccer with the idea of reinforcing the contacts already made the past week. I don’t like soccer at all but I must say that at some point I enjoyed doing it…I was short of breath so many times though.
I am so proud with my ministry up there…I wish I can come back next year…there’s so much to be done.
My team? That’s for the next time

The Golden Chance

Carpe Diem:
Carpe Diem, is the expression that means seize the day, means that one should take advantage of every minute of this life. Many people do not succeed because they are scared about life. It is very difficult to accomplish anything in this life if they do not risk themselves or do not do anything to get what they want. One should enjoy this life in a responsible way. My particular carpe diem philosophy is do the right thing at the right moment...
...Carpe Diem means "seize the day", but for me it has another deeper meaning. The meaning for me is that one should take advantage of opportunities with wisdom and care, analyzing each move we make, not making precipitous decisions and not thinking only about the effects that will cause us that decisions, but also how decisions will decisions affect the ones who surround us. Opportunities only knock once at your door. Be there and do not slam your door, or be afraid to open it. Seize the chance!
question: should we care about how these decisions will affect the ones who surround us?

Mission Trip to Salta 2005-Part l

I am a member of a Christian university student movement called “Vida Estudiantil”, which is the Spanish equivalent for Campus Crusade for Christ down here in Argentina (a Christian Organization worldwide). I have been collaborating with them since I became a Christian. Tons of times, I had the chance to go to Summer Camps and Mission Trips but I never took those chances till this past year. I don’t really know the reason for this decision but never mind at this point.
Summer Camp was an experience I am not ready to “think out loud “yet. I am cool though with the idea of sharing what happened three weeks ago in “Los Valles Calchaquies”…in Cachi (province of Salta) to be more accurate.
I don’t think it really matters when we left from La Plata (Bs As) and when we got up there. What really matters is my time in this small but stunning place called Cachi…
I’d like to say that even when I had never been to Cachi before I was really aware of the social situation this province and this small place located 2000 mts over the sea are going through. Now that I think about it, I should have kept a journal (like Nathan did), I am pretty sure many memories will vanish from my mind while writing this blog.
The first two days were pretty hard for me. Although I was with some guys from my same place, I got to know new faces. Extroverted as I may seem, let me tell you that getting to know a lot of new people all at once, makes me not shy, but it takes me a while to open, mainly when I think that I probably wont see most of those persons again…Once in Cachi, the whole group that was sent there, was divided into three smallest ones and I got to stay there with only one person I knew…I felt kind of lonely sometimes, but it was not a big deal…I tend to be a “whiner” sometimes. However, I had no time to think about me…I didn’t want to think about me this time….I was there not for me, but for the people…
…Its weird…I was there for them, I was focus on them…but at the same time, I was thinking about myself…something I don’t usually do because as I see it, it is a clear example of selfishness…not this time though. I followed Martin’s piece of advice: focus on your job and on the Lord…not on people I would be working with, and it worked.
Mariano (a guy from Tucuman) and I were in charge of the sports stuff, ironical if you know me…I am not much of a sports person…I like few of them though. Anyways, we used soccer as the “bait” for the new contacts. That was hilarious, I aint no clue how to play soccer…but I had to do it. I was in the goalie…needless to say…I suck! Mariano played like a real player or at least he tried to do so…seriously, he is good at playing soccer. We got to talk to a couple of guys that were kind of respected among all the “cachenses” that were there.We were part of many other activities, but soccer was our area.
Evangelism was the main point and that was what the whole group would do late at night…because most of the young people hang out in La Plaza after 10:00pm. There were many that accepted Jesus in their hearts during those nights.
Natalia, Lidia, Mariano, Hebe, Mel, Teo, Hernan , Leticia, The Miller’s, and me remained in town for the first week. What a team! We had a great time together, but apart form them there were Cecilia (the lady that cooked for us), Carlos her husband and Elias and Ezequiel their children.

Jon, Jason and me.

It's amazing when God places people like you guys in my life. Thanks for so many wonderful times. I will miss both of you.

D'you like my teeth? (this is Tincho) 

Coming up next...La Bande del Golden Rocket

Have you ever heard about " La Banda del Golden Rocket"? Probably you havent...
Well, I think Martin, Irina and Me in a sense are this Banda...pretty soon I will tell you why.

My roommates Part lV- John E. Meeker

Meeker es el apellido de este “grandote” como Martín lo llama.
Si lo conocen, saben de qué hablo, si no, es como el Hulk,
pero un poquito más chico.
Por alguna razón insistimos en utilizar “meeker” como si este fuera su
nombre aunque en realidad su verdadero nombre es Jonh Edward…
o simplemente “Yon”, nombre adaptado a la fonética del castellano
por los hispanos parlantes.
Conocí a John por primera vez hace tres años atrás. Yo hacía muy poco
que había tomando la decisión de cambiar mi vida y
como otra de las consecuencias ahora formaba parte de Vida Estudiantil
(Movimiento que explicaré más adelante en otro blog). En ese tiempo,
John estaba en Argentina como parte del Proyecto de Verano (proyecto
que también explicaré en otra oportunidad),
pero que sirvió para que tuviéramos la oportunidad de conocernos.
Bueno, conocernos en el sentido de…
_Hola, me llamo John
_Hola, encantado, mi nombre es Fabián
Había una particularidad que lo hacia resaltar del resto…el español. WOW!!
Cuando lo escuché hablar español por primera vez me quedé como resorprendido…
la tenía reclara…aunque “desafortunadamente” su español era más bien centro-americano. Pero aun así…increíble.
Lo más súper increíble es que por esas cosas que tiene Dios y que
como un buen ser humano que soy jamás voy a entender es que
terminé viviendo con él.
Hey, hay un par de cosas que me sacan la cabeza…pero eso no es
para escribir en este blog, eso es entre nosotros.
Lo que sí quiero escribir es que por las venas de ‘meeker’ corre sangre…
Latino-Americana. Y cuando digo esto lo que quiero decir es que la forma de demostrar cariño es muy argentina, por utilizar un país especifico.
Recuerdo que cuando decidí mudarme con él y el resto de los chicos,
estaba todo el tiempo tratando de que me sintiera lo mas cómodo posible...
NO me mal interpreten…con esto no quiero decir que el resto
era cualquier cosa. NO. Por el contrario, pero “meeker” parecía
tenerlo incorporado. Siempre preocupándose por mi,
haciendo lo que hace siempre…compartiendo todo lo que es suyo…
sin importar que…es muy argentino…primero esta la otra persona y
después nosotros.
Eso si, tiene algo que es contagioso…la risa. WOW! Jamás había escuchado a una persona ser tan “loud” cuando se ríe…pero no solo eso, sino que también, al escucharlo es como una epidemia…comenzas a reírte con él.
Un defecto que sí quiero compartir, pero que no se si tengo la autoridad para hacerlo ya que de fútbol no tengo la menor idea es que es hicha de “Boca Juniors”…oh, wait! Eso es otra cosa…sabe mas de fútbol que cualquier otro argentino que pretenda saber de fútbol.
Y en cuanto a los asados… se merece otro GUAU! Deberían probarlos alguna vez, son exquisitos.
Para terminar, quiero decir que si alguna vez necesitan estar despiertos, por cualquier motivo…pídanle que les haga un café…GUAU! Sé porque se los digo…
¡Les va a encantar!

Psalm 119:11

I think that God is teaching me way too much lately. My stupid brain is
too slow to process all the information though.
I feel like I am all the time complainig about this and that,
when in fact I should be celebrating the fact that Jesus died for me,
and He did that because His Father loved me so much that
He sent His only begotten Son to die for my retarded stupid past,
present and future sins.
So...have I mentioned this in the past days,weeks, months or years?
NO! I haven't!
Have I gotten my butt out of the apartment and done somthing about it??
NO! I haven't!
Also, I should be more than happy for having been chosen...
If God chose me as one of his children...well, what else do I need?
my mind wanders all the time and you know why...
cuz I am the biggest a..... in the whole world. Focusing on stuff or people that either dont deserve my attention or are nothing compare to the love of God.
Shame on me! Shame on me!
If the time I spend in the word is not enough,then I should do better.
Psalm 119.11
Conclusion, its not the people around me...its ME who screw it up all the time.

you play around too much!

You play around too much! this was the first thing Ned told me the second time I got to talk to him.
That woke me up!
Who's Ned?
...who's Ned...hmmm
I met Ned two weeks ago.He came down to Argentina with a bunch of Americans whose main purpose is to share their faith with the argentine students.We have been hanging out for the last two weeks and tonite I got to see who he really is.
If some argentine came right now and told me that American people are really "cold"...I will kick his/her butt so badly that they wouldn't be able to sit for a month...there are some exceptions though.
I wont write in this blog what happened tonite but I was stunned...
GOD is awesome...
And its amazing when I see God in people's life. Once I thought I had seen Him...but I was wrong...that was what I wanted to see...tonite it was different...cuz it was out of the blue...
You play around too much! it was the starting of a brand new day.

Cuando no vemos.

Estoy completamente confundido, sutilmente han vuelto los pensamientos
plagados de preguntas…Por alguna razón, el libro del Génesis
esta rondado mi cabeza.
Then God said,” Let us make man in Our Image,
according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea …
Genesis 1:26
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27
Si Dios creo al hombre a su propia imagen y semejanza,
¿Por qué soy lo que soy?
¿Por qué un simple ser humano puede cambiar lo que Dios
ya había diseñado de ante mano?
¿Cuál es la parte que no estoy entendiendo?
La tristeza es que nadie puede explicármelo.
Nadie puede saber que me pasa. Sólo mi alma lo sabe, pero es muda…
Un inmutes que puede romper Dios con palabras que no alcanzo a escuchar.
Miro por la ventana y el sol me da en la cara, escucho las voces de los chicos
en la calle, juegan, se divierten, ríen…pero también lloran como lo hace mi alma.
Y me canso de esperar…y el cansancio es cada vez mas frecuente.
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God
Psalm 43:5

Changes that heal

Anoche después de muchas idas y venidas, finalmente decidí ir a
un pequeño grupo de estudio al cual había sido invitado un par de veces.
Muy en el fondo no me había unido antes porque tenía una vaga idea de lo que podía tratarse y no quería hacerlo, la verdad es que no me equivoqué.
El libro que están estudiando o analizando se llama: Changes That Heal
(Cambios Que Sanan) del Dr. Henry Cloud, cuyo apellido es bastante irónico
si uno se pone a pensar en el contenido del libro.
Ayer comencé a leerlo, pero no puedo emitir un juicio aún.
Volviendo al tema del grupo. Debo admitir que me sentí medio mal, no por las personas con las que estaba, sino porque durante todo ese tiempo que estuvimos juntos, ellos fueron los únicos que compartieron lo que había en sus corazones,
o al menos algo de lo que hay en el. Yo no pude…no quise, y esta es la verdad.
El lema del libro es: Entienda su pasado de modo que asegure un futuro saludable.
No creo tener ganas de “entender” mi pasado, no por ahora.
No quiero compartir otra vez mi sufrimiento, que aunque me demuestren lo contrario, sigo creyendo que fue un error haberlo hecho. Admito que puedo estar equivocado.
Sin embargo esto es interesante porque anoche mientras estaba ahí recordé algo que estoy leyendo de Sinclair B. Ferguson. En su libro “The sermón on the mount” (El sermón de la montana), el explica lo que Jesús nos quiso decir en Mathew 5:22-25, que si hay algo entre dos personas, discusiones, pleitos, peleas, malos entendidos o como sea que lo quiera llamar, que no pase mucho tiempo sin que se resuelvan esas cuestiones…¡básicamente que hablen! Pero lo que también dice, y esto es lo interesante, que Jesús no nos esta diciendo que compartamos cada pensamiento en nuestros corazones, contarle a otros no nos va a llevar a la santificación. Lo que Jesús dice es, aceptá la responsabilidad y arreglá cualquier problema antes de que se produzca una muerte espiritual.
Entonces vuelvo a una vieja pregunta , ¿tiene sentido contarle a otros nuestros mayores temores, fracasos o tristezas? Ummm. No sé.
Necesito pensar un poco más al respecto. Lo que si sé es que necesito ejercitar la palabra “GRACE”…
...pero en mi mismo.

The grapes of wrath

Hoy me desperté con una pregunta dando vueltas por mi cabeza:
¿Las personas son tontas, estupidas, retardadas, egoístas,
creídas, ORGULLOSAS, superadas, vanidosas, autosuficientes y todo adjetivo calificativo que se me escape en este preciso momento, por naturaleza?
o ¿por qué en realidad les encanta fastidiar a los demás?
¿Qué hace a una persona creerse indispensable, indiferente, que todo le resbala?
¿Por qué si hacemos algo mal, somos crucificados o
juzgados como lo peor de este mundo?
Alguien conoce el verdadero significado de la palabra GRACIA,
a veces parece que todos son eruditos en cuanto a su significado, pero la verdad es que son muy poco didácticos al momento de ponerla en práctica.
Todos parecen ser expertos en su uso, pero a veces parece que solo
saben deletrearla y no tienen la menor idea de lo que significa.
¡GRACIA, no es tener lastima! ¿O si? Si contarle a alguien nuestro
mayor dolor o error tiene como resultado un manto de lastima encubierto
en uno de GRACIA, Shame on you people!!
No tienen ni idea de lo que están hablando.
Después de compartir el dolor de nuestros corazones,
nuestras almas, cosas que hemos llevado por mucho o poco tiempo
dentro nuestro; esperamos que el amor que se profesa sea verdadero
y no una patética obra de teatro.
Nadie pide lo que no existe, solo se pide un poco de sinceridad.
Hey, yo se que soy muy demandante, que siento que nadie me quiere y
bla, bla, bla. Pero, HOLA,¿¿¿ alguien se puso en mis zapatos???
¡NO!
Siempre es mejor probarse los zapatos de la vidriera de la zapatería,
esos que nos fascinan cada vez que pasamos por ahí y sabemos que nos quedan bien.
Estoy cansado de negativas, de creer que siempre es mi culpa,
de ser el primero para pedir perdón por cosas que no hago.
De pedir perdón cuando me atacan gratuitamente, estoy cansado de tener que preguntar siempre y que no me demuestren el mínimo de confianza.
Estoy cansado de ser bueno.
Estoy cansado de pedir un abrazo, de pedir un tiempo juntos,
de ser siempre el que da el primer paso.
Estoy cansado (punto)
Las cosas que pude haber escrito pueden herir la sensibilidad del lector,
¡NO ME IMPORTA!
Hoy es 1ro de Junio de 2005, 9:51am.
Y así me levante hoy…espero seguir así
y no tan entupidamente vulnerable como siempre.

My roommates- Part III ( yastin)

Justin is the kind of guy you would love to meet in any period of your lifetime.
I got to meet him last year.It is said that its no good to judge a book by its cover,but thats what I did with Justin;and I think that was the first time I was not wrong.There was nothing against him, he seemed a cool guy,very friendly and talkative...He didnt know a lot spanish back then but believe me that he was able to find the ways to make himself clear.
I was staying in La Plata for a week,and during that time We set a time to have some spanish classes.So We would meet at "Rektorado" at noon for classes.I was really surprised cuz He happened to know more Spanish that the one I was told or the one that he spoke to me the very first time I met him.
The short version of the story and the most amazing one is that I ended up living with him (and obviously with the rest of the gang).
And it is there where everything got started.
Justin's heart is "enorme", which is kinda strange for an only child.I remember finishing having dinner and while we were doing the dishes we would get into those deep conversations, and the interesting thing is that it hadnt been long since We had met.
He is way younger than me but his wisdom...WOW! its awesome!
I am the kind of guy that is always packed with questions.But not only question about ordinary life,but enquiries as regards the christian living and everytime I had one, I would go to him and he would always have an answer for it...or at least a word.
Time passed by, and I changed...or we changed.We didnt hang out o lot...and an unexpected situation would show me that I was taking Justin for granted. Sorry man! But fortunaltely,God provided with the right time and the right words to solve the situation.
What I also like about him is that he trusts me, and let me explain this...he wrestled while in his college years and somehow I was interested in this sport.I thought I was too old for it, or at least to learn something about it.However,he was really encouraging and taught me a couple of moves...and once in a while we would get into these "classes" where he always kicked my butt! but I like it!
But its his passion that catches my attention...His desire to share his faith is UNBELIEVABLE! Im not really sure, but He might be a bit discourage to do it for not having a lot of vocabulary in Spanish, but still he would go out off to campus to spread the word among the students from Odontologia and you should see his smile when he achieves it!
We have had our bad days but I love the fact that when We screw it up, we leave no room for our pridefullness and selfishness and we wont let the sun go down before things are fixed.
Im so glad that I may have the chance to live with him one more year...
oh,wait,...He is not perfect and you know why? he is a NCSTATE fan!
love you justin, and you know that!

runnig out of time

Romanos 2:5
But because of your stubbornnes and unrepentant heart
you are storing up wrath for yourself
in the day of the wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.Esta manana estaba leyendo 1 Timothy capitulo 2,
cuando por alguna razon termine leyendo Romanos y
lei el versiculo que cite arriba.
Una y otra vez venia la misma pregunta a mi cabeza:
este persona,soy yo?
Tal vez,hay cosas a mi alrededor que aun no puedo ver;
lo note antes de ayer cuando me hicieron ver que hay comportamientos
en mi vida que no han cambiado y que ya deberian.
La verdad es que yo quiero,pero no puedo...

14For we know that the Law is spiritual,
but I am of flesh,sold into bondage to sin.
15For what I am doing,I do not understand;
for I am not practicing what I would like to do,
but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do,
I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17So now,no longer am I the one doing it,
but sin which dwells in me.
18For I know that nothing good dwells in me,
that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me,
but the doing of the good is not.
19For the good that I want, I do not do,
but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want,
I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21I find then the principle that evil is present in me,
the one who wants to do good.
22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23but I see a different law in the members of my body,
waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner
of the law of sin which is in my members.
24Wretched man that I am!
Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Romans 7:14-24
Pregunta: who will set me free from the body of this death?
Respuesta: Christ Jesus!
Pregunta: quien es el que no esta funcionado?
Respuesta: YO
Comentario: Esto sucede por buscar la aceptacion de las personas, en vez de buscar la de Dios, MI Senor y MI Salvador!
Comentario: muchas veces me enojo conmigo mismo por hacerlo,pero no lo puedo evitar.
Pregunta:Conozco en realidad lo que pasa a mi alrededor,puntualmente ciertas personas?
Respuesta:Si, pero no quiero reconocer que no soy parte de sus vidas.
Pregunta: cuanto tiempo mas pasara?
Respuesta: Tanto como yo lo quiera.
Comentario: Fabian, you are running out of time...

Filosofia barata y zapatos de goma.

Hace unos dias me quede sorprendido de ver que mucha gente
presta mucha atencion con respecto a la ropa que usas,
la marca que tenes en tu ropa o que estas usando indistintamente.
Me sorprendio, porque por lo general no presto atencion a esas cosas, salvo que yo sea el que las vaya a usar.
Es interesante escuchar o ver la reaccion de las personas
cuando ven lo que llevas puesto. Enseguida quieren saber si es tuyo o no,
si lo tenias de antes, o simplemente quieren saber porque tenes puesto
lo que tenes puesto.
No estoy diciendo que nadie puede aconsejarte en como combinar
los colores o el tipo de camisa que tenes que llevar con determinado pantalon...
pero de ahi a solo querer saber por el solo hecho de saber...wow!
La verdad es que me pone un poco de mal humor porque parece que
todo tiene ver con lo superficial...tal vez este equivocado con mi observacion,
pero no creo que lo este al cien por cien.
Lo que me gustaria saber es: que lleva a una persona a querer saber todas esas cosas; curiosidad? falta de un topico interesante? algo de ...? la verdad es que no tengo ni idea. Any suggestion? I will really appreciate it!

My roomates- Yeison Blair Part II

La primera vez que conoci a Jason fue hace un tiempo atras, cuando vino a Argentina en un proyecto de verano. La verdad es que no pasamos mucho tiempo juntos durante su mes y medio aca.A cenar salimos solo una vez, y creo que fue la primera noche, lo hicimos el, Phil y yo.
Yo vi a Jason como uno de esos chicos muy callados,de los cuales es muy dificil saber algo. Y no era callado porque no hablara castellano ( su castellano es optimo!), sino porque era parte de su naturaleza, creo que aun lo sigue siendo.
A finales de 2003, me ofrecieron vivir con el, tenia un poquito de miedo, porque bueno, habia pasado mucho tiempo rodeado de americanos,pero de ahi a compartir el mismo techo, era mas que un desafio.Sin embargo, lo acepte.
Nada de que arrepentirme, aprendi muchisimo de su pais, su cultura...Es increible lo que sabe de historia!!!
Anyways,mi idea de que era un chico que no hablaba mucho no ha cambiado. Debo reconocer que si me llevo mucho tiempo conocerlo, parte de eso fue mi culpa por no intentar acercarme mas. Descubri que destras de esos "rulitos" hay una persona que puede compartir lo que tiene dentro.Ser su "roommate" fue uno de los privilegios que jamas he tenido,aunque no voy a negar que un par de veces me senti medio solo; pero tampoco voy a negar que jamas intente buscarlo para que pasaramos tiempo juntos y conocer de nuestras vidas.
Imagino que el habra tenido sus momentos de soledad y yo no estaba ahi para contarle un mal chiste o algo asi y poder robarle una sonrisa.
De Jason me gusta esa "carcajada" espontanea que tiene...no importa cuan malo sea el chiste, el se rie igual...Me gusta cuando vamos a comer y agradece por la comida...siempre es cortito y al pie. No muchas vueltas.
OH, casi me olvido...Jason fue el roommate mas silencioso que jamas he tenido...pero cuando digo que era silencioso,lo era....wait, lo sigue siendo
Lo que tambien me gusta mucho de el es que re-neat! Es ordenado. Jamas vi su habitacion en descontrol.
Su paciencia para conmigo es una gran virtud, imagino que alguna vez, aunque no me dijo nada, le habre sacado de sus casillas.
Pero lo que mas sobre sale de su "historia" es el hecho de quedarse un anio mas en La Plata para compartir su fe con los estudiantes de mi pais. Se que no ha sido facil para el hacerlo!!
I will miss you, dude! I have great memories, being your roommate was a privilege.