First Day Here

So this is actually like my 7th day here but I was a little slow starting up the blog so I'm gonna do a little backtracking. We arrived at the airport after a miserable 9 hour red eye flight from Miami to Montevideo. You never realize how hard it is to sleep sitting up until you try it. I would wake up and one side of my neck would hurt so then I'd switch to the other and then 15 minutes later I'd wake up and the other side hurt. Not fun but anyways getting to the important stuff.

Once we got to Casa ACU, which is amazing, we had to turn around and go right back out for a scavenger hunt in the city. Just looking around the city was breathtaking. On one hand, it felt like I was in a European city, and yet at the same time there were just as many distinguishing characteristics that reminded me I was actually in South America. The culture is so different here. Everyone's relaxed and people just sit on the street watching others walk by. (every once in a while they give a nice catcall to a girl walking by. I've been practicing mine.) ok jk I haven't but if I did I'd just say I was trying to experience the culture. We were in groups of 3 walking around the city, and thankfully both of my partners could speak a lot more spanish than me. As we kept going around, I felt so lost. I couldn't understand what anyone was saying and didn't even know what half the names on the shops meant. I had to completely rely on the people in my group, which isn't something i like to do. I like to be out in front, leading and organizing. I like to be in control and know exactly what's going on, but unless Rosetta Stone comes out with a new one week program, then I don't have that option. So what do I do? Say, "this is stupid" and stay in the house for the next four months? Probably not the best choice. As we were walking through Tres Cruscess (the local bus station/mall) I still had no idea what was going on or where we were going and doubt started to creep into my mind. Did I make the wrong choice? Did I just waste a ton, and I mean a TON of money on this trip? Am I going to regret this for the next four months and possibly even longer? All of these seemed like realities if I didn't change something quick and so I just started praying as I walked through the station. I just kept saying, "God I give this situation to you. I give you control. I can't do this on my own. I need you. I need you to turn this situation around. I need you to comfort me. I need you to walk beside me. And, you know what, He did. He comforted me, He put people around me to encourage me, and most of all He told me that I am here for a reason and that He has great things in store for me in the next four months.

So, in the matter of seconds my entire semester may have just done a total 180. I went from anger and frustration to victory, peace, and joy. I can't wait to see what else this semester holds and the best part about it is I have to rely on God the entire time. This isn't a position I'm used to. I usually let God be active in my life, but it's been awhile since I've felt like I need God to intervene, and there's a lot of freedom in relying on God. I can't wait to see what new heights I climb to with God this semester! Glory to Glory!

In the future, my blogs will probably be a lot more about Uruguay and my travels, but I felt like this was something I needed to post. Also, I'm working on getting some pictures up here too so check back again in a little bit and I should have some more stuff up.