world cup fever!

In case you didn't notice, I am pretty caught up in the World Cup here in Argentina! It is super fun being in a country so pumped about the games. There is a huge screen downtown for people to gather and watch the games. This week the enthusiasm here for Argentina has really turned up as they won all three of their first games and now move ahead to the next round. To top it off a local player for the neighborhood team, Boca Juniors, scored scored the final goal of the Argentina's last game....goooooolllllll, Palermo!

To top it off the United States won their group today and also move ahead to the next round. Bring on more games days this Saturday and Sunday! At least the Lakers sealed the deal, so no more staying up until 1:00 am to watch the NBA Finals.

Here is a super helpful schedule "wheel" for the World Cup games. The easiest way to keep up with the dates and times of the games, etc. The times are all South Africa time, so you have to adjust to your time zone.

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

And here is a pretty funny satirical article posted on "The Onion" about the insufferable World Cup fan in the USA.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nations-soccer-fan-becoming-insufferable,17553/

31-Day Challenge Update

Finally! Got out on my bike this sunny, clear, but chilly day before winter. Decided to take my camera and take some shots from my bike along the way. To see the pics, click here. (And click "Slideshow" in upper right.)

Breath!

Well, I am about half way into the 31-Day Challenge. This morning I was starting to get down on myself for not following through with some of my goals. Busy days and cold weather have not inspired bike riding and outdoor activity. I have a lot on my mind these days as I prepare to head to the U.S. in a couple weeks. There is always something on my to do list to accomplish. I find myself preoccupied much of the time, which too often prevents me from being present in the now! This morning I started my day with two blog posts that, hopefully, will help reset my posture these days ahead.

Alan Fadling is sharing a new Classic Prayers series on his blog. This prayer from the eighth century helped start my day today....click here. I’m looking forward to following along with Alan and he shares more classic prayers in the days and weeks ahead. Thanks Alan!

Then I was catching up with the 31-Day Challenge blog. Jara shared this helpful breathing exercise...click here. I think I better keep this handy these days ahead. Thanks Jara!

In other news, World Cup fever is alive and well here in Argentina! Thursday was a big game day here! Argentines have been somewhat guarded going into the World Cup this time around. The national team did not play to well in the qualifying games and barely made it into the World Cup. But, Thursday’s big win really seems to have revived hope in Argentina’s prospects. It’s super fun to be here and experience World Cup excitement and passion. As Cora Forcatto says about her classmates, “Todos estan locos para el mundial!” That pretty much sums it up...everyone is crazy for the World Cup! Fun times!

Plus, to top off game day on Thursday….THE LAKE SHOW CONTINUES! Go Lakers!

Today I am off to see Toy Story 3D with the Forcatto girls.

31-day challenge – week one

I week ago, I took on the 31-day challenge. Jara has asked some some good questions along the way. Here are some answers on how it's going for me. See my original post below.

What has been the most difficult, surprising part of the challenge?

Just taking on the challenge in baby steps has caused me to be more mindful of my eating and exercise (or lack of it). So, that is a good thing!

I made Garbanzo Bean Curry this week. I got two dinners and a lunch out of it…so I actually ended up eating vegetarian three times. And I enjoyed the meals without meat… imagine that! Next week, split pea soup. (minus the chunks of ham).

The walking and riding my bike goals have not been as easy this week. My busy

week made it difficult. And it is getting colder and colder here, as we move into winter. Plus, it is getting darker earlier, so it limits some of my window of time for bike riding. Feeling a little sick has not helped either. Excuses, excuses…I will stick with it and find creative ways/times to make it happen.

So, what have you noticed in your body so far?

Flu season has hit in full force these recent weeks. I am surrounded by sick people, coughing and sniffling. This week I have felt like my body is fighting something. Extra tired, a little achy, and a scratchy throat. But, so far, I have avoiding a full on knock out.

What would you add/delete from your list of 31...

Still have 11 more things to add to my list. Here’s five more…

21) Learn more names of vegetables in Spanish. Better then pointing and saying “este” at the Farmer’s Market.

22) Weigh myself weekly at the local farmacia.

23) Wash my hands and use hand sanitizer more often during this flu season!

24) Drink OJ

25) Be more attentive and notice new things about myself, others, and nature.

What's the biggest thing you've noticed in the past two weeks...it could be about yourself, your friends, the weather...I noticed my first firefly yesterday!!!

Good question, Jara! I need to open my eyes and be more attentive (see #25).

What do you love about this part of the year?

It’s coming up on winter here, so the temptation some days is to stay indoors near the space heater. But, I love getting out in this city of Buenos Aires and exploring and taking in the awesome city that this is! Early-June is my birthday, so I always look forward to celebrating with friends. Also, the NBA Finals (Let’s Go, Lakers!) and the World Cup give me extra joy this June!

Celtic Prayer of Hospitality

I have been thinking a lot about hospitality this past month. Our Buenos Aires community finished a book discussion on Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christine Pohl. This was my second time reading the book and I was challenged in new ways. Last week I finished reading Friendship at the Margins: Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission by Chris Heuertz and Christine Pohl. This book does an excellent job explaining the WMF posture of ministry that we seek to live out among our friends who are poor. I highly recommend both books! They deserve blog reflections all of their own.

Reflecting on hospitality, I recently found this "Celtic Prayer of Hospitality" that I just posted on the Prayers and Creeds blog this weekend.

Celtic Prayer of Hospitality

We saw a stranger yesterday.

We put food in the eating place,

Drink in the drinking place,

Music in the listening place,

And with the sacred name of the triune God

He blessed us and our house,

Our cattle and our dear ones.

As the lark says in her song:

Often, often, often, goes the Christ

In the stranger’s guise.

True evangelical faith

cannot lie dormant

it clothes the naked

it feeds the hungry

it comforts the sorrowful

it shelters the destitute

it serves those that harm it

it binds up that which is wounded

it has become all things to all creatures.

~ Menno Simmons, 16th century

(Taken from: With All God’s People: The New Ecumenical Prayer Cycle (Geneva: WCC Publications, 1989), 131.)