Some Updates

Since I last wrote we have been downtown twice, to an Argentine birthday party, riding the bus a lot, learned how to cook a pasta called ñoguis, and taught our first english classes.
On saturday we had a big scavenger hunt through downtown Buenos Aires which was a blast. We rode the subway and the buses and had some amazing pizza for lunch. It was a tiring day walking all around the capital but it was really neat to see some places that I had heard about in my Spanish class. I really enjoyed seeing the Plaza de Mayo. Every wednesday a group of mothers from the Guerra Sucia go to the Plaza to remember the victims (It was a time I think in the early 70s where a bunch of people "disappeared" but were actually killed by the government). Originally they came out as a protest to what had happened and for the government to admit to what it had done but now it is more of a thing of remembrance. We went on saturday so the women weren't there. It's exciting to get to know the city. We live about 40 minutes from the downtown area by train, the last stop out of town.
After the day downtown we went to the birthday party of a woman who is in the same classes as our leader Martin. He brought us to meet people and try to make friends that we can hang out with while here. Some of us were succesful at making contacts but it was hard with the music blaring. Interestingly enough when we walked in they were blasting Michael Buble :) They really love American music here-they play it everywhere. But it was a good night, but since a lot of people smoke here indoors it got a little bit overwhelming. It was nice to be among the people here.
Monday we had our first day teaching at an english institute. This was definitely a highlight because we are dying to make friends here. We did a few skits and talked about ourselves for a little while with everyone. We had three classes of three different levels. The second group really understood and it was fun interacting with them. One of the guys named Steven that we met was very blunt. He asked us if we thought the city was dirty and we said that it wasn't too bad and he just was so surprised. His reply was "YOU DON'T, I think it's filthy." It was a great time to interact with some Argintines. We invited them to come eat pizza with us this friday so I hope that they come and we can start making friends that we can hang out with on a regular basis. So definitely be praying for this friday night! We have another class tonight at an english institute so if you read this before then definitely pray that we can meet more people there.
One woman here that I love is a friend of our leader whose name is Fernanda. She's like a big sister or another mom here. She comes over and helps us learn how to cook Argentine dishes. She taught us to make Pasta on monday for lunch and we had a great time throwing flour around and chatting. She is a wonderful woman whose love for God shines brightly :) She is great to have around.
Last night I met a woman on the train who wants to learn English and invited her to the classes we will be teaching here at the house on Friday nights. We had a great conversation and hope that we will be able to talk again. She was telling me how so many people here are stressed out with working all day and then studying at school. Pabla (that's her name) said while she was in school all she wanted to do on the weekend was sleep. She said that this isn't how life should be. I definitely agree. I really hope that she will come to our classes and that we will be able to talk some more and that I can show her and share with her the hope that Jesus can give to our lives. I pray that Jesus will be able to come into the lives of those we meet and give them a full life :) One of joy, love, hope, and forgiveness.
All of us at the house are anxious to start making friends with the Argentines. It's been a week and a half and I think some of are frustrated that we are at the house a lot. But now that we are starting to teach opportunities are going to present themselves. Sometimes God requires us to be more patient then we desire to be. It's a strange place to be, feeling like we need to be really going out and meeting people and at the same needing to take time to get situated, pray, and reflect.