Leaving our comfort zone.

We knew that leaving home and flying to South America was going way (way way) out of our comfort zone.

We knew that we could not even formulate expectations because life in Argentina was a complete unknown to us.

We knew that leaving Benjamin's power wheels behind was a faith step far outside what he was comfortable with.

We knew our only expectation was that we could not formulate expectations.

Ah.

But we serve an awesome God. He has not been surprised by one minute of this trip. Not only that, but He paved the way and wrote these days in our life before He even spoke us into being.

The fact that we met two girls -- from a set of triplets -- that we have been able to interact with who have Cerebral Palsy was not a coincidence. It was God-ordained. Benjamin shared his testimony to their class. Please pray it spoke truth about their worth in God's eyes to their hearts!

Benjamin playing with our new friends.

 The young Godly men from our team -- and that we have encountered all over Argentina, eager to push Benjamin's chair, load Benjamin on and off the bus, assemble his chair and do it all again multiple times a day -- NOT a happenstance. Again, God-ordained.

Making new friends. Growing in God. Having fun. All because He ordained it.

Claire staying with a family that needs her encouragement as they face possible special needs of their own -- NOT a coincidence.

Claire and her new "sisters" from her host family.

Me and my table of primary students -- they practiced their English over lunch and laughed mightily at my spoken-with-a-southern-drawl-Spanish!

Serving God in a rural barrio four hours north of Buenos Aires without modern conveniences -- oh, such a God-ordained chance for us ALL to experience life far outside our comfort zone.

Just outside Colon, Argentina.

I looked up to see my girl on the back of this moped, grinning from ear to ear!

Mason hard at work.

Sigh. I see Jesus in this open window with "rays" bursting forth...

Holding a turtle...not something this boy would normally do.

With the finished sidewalk and wall to the new clinic in Colon!

No matter how far outside our comfort zone...you can count on us to wear our maroon!

We are being stretched -- sometimes uncomfortably. We are growing -- in beautiful ways. And we are serving -- and being served.

The temperatures have dropped and I am desperately trying to keep everyone warm and free of sickness. Benjamin has reached a level of exhaustion that is hard to battle and though we are loving our new friends here, we desperately miss our family at home. Would you please cover us tonight with prayers?

No doubt God has more growth ahead for us. Your prayers surely (surely surely) are a blessing!

Chau, mi amigos!