I will never see the moon the same again!

Recently I made a stop in San Pedro Atacama Chile. I had the opportunity to take a tour where we got to look at the moon and stars out in the desert. It was amazing!!!! The astronomer giving the tour attached my SLR camera to the telescope and used it as if the telescope was the lens of my camera!!! :)

Wisdom from Mister Pip

In one of my recent hostel stops I was given a book called "Mister Pip". It is the story of a girl that grew up on a remote island off the coast of New Zealand. A white man on the island becomes the teacher of the school in her community. He begins the school year by reading to his students the Charles Dickens classic Great Expectations. At one point in the story the main character is comparing people in the story with people in her life. And here is the passage that I found particularly meaningful.

"Now that i had met Miss Havisham, and knew more about her unhappy past, i had changed my mind about my mum being like Pip's sister. She had more in common with Miss Havisham-Miss Havisham who cannot move on from the hour and minute that the bridegroom failed to show. The wedding feast untouched, left for the cobwebs to mark time.

Miss Havisham remains in her wedding gown for an event that has been and gone. I had an idea my mum was stuck in a similar moment. Only it had to do with an argument with my dad. her frown gave her away. A frown that could be traced back to the original moment. I had an idea that whatever my dad had said still rang in her ears."

After reading this I had to stop and look back on my life. Moving on from life's disappointments can be so difficult. It can be so easy to remain in those moments. It can define who we are. Reading this brought up a lot of questions. It made me stop and reflect on events of the last year or so. The Lord and his gentle words are so amazing. He gives me these little nuggets to push me towards the most fullfilling life possible! :)

Something I´ve learned

Greetings!

I was in Patagonia a a while back. I spent half a day walking through Tierra del Fuego National Park. It was a amazingly serien place. The day was beautiful yet mysterious. There was a misty haze that prevailed over the park as if the sky was sending out a warning. We were three people who didn´t heed the threats and meandered along the deserted trails. It did rain but nothing feirce. It reminded me of the showers we have on the Oregon coast. It is a dusting of rain that you almost don´t notice falling on your until you are quite wet. I find it refreshing in the right circumstances!

A silence fell over the group I was hiking with. I think the mysery of the day begged for introspection. I began to think of my many experience over the last seven months. The many experiences at times interweave themselves into a tapistry that will be finished in approximately 5 more months. What a beautiful peice of artistry!

Upon thinking of all the places I´ve been. I couldn´t help but thank the Lord for the many ways this experience has been a blessing. One of the things I´ve learned from traveling is that on your journeys you will either find the place on this planet where you belong or you realize the reason why you call the place you left home.

I know now more than ever where where home is and I am so thankful for that!

On the road again

One of the churches I walk by almost everyday


In one of the malls in Buenos Aires they have toothbrush and toothpaste dispensers in the bathroom! Yeah for good dental hygiene!! :)

Now I am headed out on the road again....

After a relaxing week in Buenos Aires I am on the road again!!! :) I am leaving tonight for Salta. It is a providence in the north of Argentina and should take approximately 20 hours to get there. I don't have a specific plan at this point. Mostly get up there, see what there is to see, make some friends, take as many amazing photos as possible, and round up some adventure. woooo hoooo!!!!! :)

It sounds crazy but I really enjoy the long bus rides. Wide squishy amazingly comfortable seats that lay almost all the way down. They play movies, serve you steak, and all together pamper you for 20 fabulous hours. :) Only thing I need to take care of is my ipod is fully charged and that I have a pen and my journal available.

I understand there is a lot of great natural beauty in the North of Argentina! Right on sign me up! :) I'm not totally sure of the availability of the internet so I will update when possible! :)

If you read this and saying prayers for me. Please pray for my safety on the road and also that all the details of the Spanish course I want to take in August all work out. :) Thanks a million!

Tumbling on....

Cindy Lu

What a wonderful world

Our world is an amazing place! Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Perito Moreno glacier near El Calafete Argentina. It is one of the most awesome and captivating natural wonders I've encountered in my life. I snapped a million photos and found myself not being able to stop. I will have to give more details later about my trip to the South of Argentina. :) For now here is a photo ... :)

Hiking the Pedra Grande

Hellooooo.... Today I hiked the Pedre Grande (the big rock) It was an amazing and wonderful hike that ended with rappelling off a big rock! AMAZING!!! :) I would like to write more but I am soooooooooooo tired! :) I will have to elaborate later.... as for now here's photos... :)

He who promised is faithful

Here is this mornings reading in Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

There was once a young boy whose dad left him on a downtown corner one morning and told him to wait there until he returned in about half an hour. But the father's car broke down and he could not get to a phone. Five hours went by before the father managed to get back, and he was worried that his son would be in a state of panic. But when the father got there, the boy was standing in front of the dime store, looking in the window and rocking back and forth on his heels. When the father saw him, he ran up to him and threw his arms around him and hugged and kissed him. The father apologized and said, "Weren't you worried? Did you think I was never coming back?" The boy looked up and replied, "No, Dad. I knew you were coming. You said you would."

God's answers may seem to be a long time in coming and your waiting may be uncomfortable or even painful. But He will always do just as He has said He will do. The reason we can hold fast to our hope without wavering is that He who promised is faithful.

My first thoughts when I read this passage is ... WOW... that story happened in a time and place when you can leave children on street corners. :)

Second... I believe this story has required me to ask. Do I possess that kind of faith in the Lord? I know I say that I believe He is faithful but has my life demonstrated that I believe that? When I am waiting on Him do I feel anxiety or peace?

He who has promised is faithful..... my new mantra :)

He who has promised is faithful!!!