Forever Changed.

Inasmuch as we went to bless the people of Samuhu, it was they who blessed us, and so much more than I can find the words to properly express. 

They went so far above and beyond to take such incredibly good care of us. We went on this trip to work, not asking for anything in return, and yet what we were given feels like so much more than anything I could have imagined or possibly have given back. They took us in, treated us so, so well, and made us feel completely at home in a new country on a different continent. 

While, yes, we did do "work" on our trip, none of it actually felt like "work" the way we think of it. The entire time we were there we were making new friends, building new relationships, learning about a different culture, and experiencing a beautiful way of life. While we did discover some surprising things about our lives in the states that we have a little more appreciation for now, their culture exhibited some wonderful differences that we want to hold onto and share with everyone back home. (And I'm not just talking about the amazing food and the mate...) ;)

The Argentine people's hearts are so beautifully welcoming, generous and kind. My husband and I fell in love with the country but even more so with the people. Their hearts for each other and for us, strangers from another country who could barely speak their language, inspired us to come home and do our best to share that sense of love and belonging not just with the people who are already in our lives, but with the people we meet daily in our community, and each person that comes here to visit.  

The experience left us longing to go back, to see those remarkable people again, to introduce them to our children, for our children to see and experience this beautiful nation and culture and for them to see what a different way of life is like. We were really inspired to dig in work toward our dream of one day being on a long-term mission ourselves. 

I don't know when we will be able to go back, but whether it is a year from now or 5 years from now, I cannot wait to return and be able to see the people we met ,who will be forever in our hearts.

Thank you, Anthony and Jessica, for inviting us and sharing this place and these people, that you so love, with us. Argentina will always have a place in our hearts.