Sole, Soul, Sol... it's all the same...

So I made it to BA! Can you believe it? Why wouldn't you!? I'll you why!

I left my beautiful parents and the safety of their protective arms in the Bush Int. Airport around 4:30pm Wednesday afternoon. My flight left Houston at 5:40 pm packed full of highschool kids and headed for turbulance! Swanky. Upon arriving in Miami, I went directly to my gate for the flight to BA where I found 20 nervous looking students (like myself) waiting for their fated plane to arrive. After it was delayed three times (until 2:45 am) our flight was canceled. So what does AA do? (AA means American Airlines) They give us vouchers to get into a hotel and vouchers for the bus ride there. Then we can take the 10:15am flight. Now as you read this, you're probably thinking, oh how nice of AA, taking care of their customers. Well they did give us vouchers. But when we arrived at the front of the airport to take vans to the hotels, we were told our vouchers were no good because the destination on the travel vouchers didnt match the hotel vouchers we had. After 2 hours of craziness- getting on and off busses, screaming, crying, sorrow, sweat and blood- Caitlin (one of the girls in the group) and I made it to the hotel around 4:30am. We slept for two hours in one of the guys rooms on their extra bed because there was no room for us in the inn... I mean the hotel... yeah when we arrived the waiting time to get a room was an hour and a half.

After a goodnight's sleep of a whopping two hours, we woke up to the sun shining through our window with 15 minutes until we had to meet the bus. Yep, our morning wake up call never... called. Thank you Lord we got up when we did. I was the first one up and if you know me, I DONT ever get up when I should. When we got downstairs with our luggage in hand, ready to get to the airport and get on our flight, the SAME crazy man was there already arguing with one of us- AGAIN- about who knows what. We were all confused. But thank you God that we convinced him to let us get on the bus and to the airport.

I cannot tell you how glad we were to actually get on the plane. The flight wasn't bad at all and everyone had a comradery already after having been through so much! So that was a plus. A few people's luggage arrived late in BA but it got there after a few days!

BA was fun as I roomed with Christy and Austin from Davidson college! They are so fun! Christy is from Austin and we both discovered we were both part of the poopy club! Oh Joy! So we were instant friends. What's more, we are so much alike that we BOTH slept late and were late to orientation two days in a row! Oh but the laughs made it worth it! We left for Mendoza only two days after being in BA- the 21st.

Upon arriving in Mendoza, Jose through us to the wolves that are our Argentine parents! They were all waiting at the gate with anticipation, holding our names in hand, some jumping up and down! My mom was more calm and cool about the excitment as other parents were running and screaming out the student's name... what a site it was. Each student was greeted with kisses and hugs and bienvenidos (welcome!). My host mom was so sweet. She introduced me to her eldest daughter, Paula, and her ex esposo Juan Carlos.

We got home and they made some great beef, potatoes, and veggies... what else? I also met the other daughter named Valentina (Vale for short). She and Paula (Pau) are absolutely gorgeous! I mean, they could be models! They both speak English but their mom won't them with me. After about 12 hours of sleep, Nora (host mom) took me to the park nearby to show me where I could go running and where everyone drank mate (the herbal tea made popular by Argentines). It was a sunday morning so people were everywhere drinnking mate, playing soccer, having picnics... it was one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. trees are huge and there is a man made lake for remo (rowing). There is also an island that;s called the island of Love. Yeah, Jose told us NOT to go there as the PDA only intensifies. And I'm amazed that it could... sheesh.

I've been here 8 days now. And I love the city! It's very different from Valdivia as it's bigger and not as family friendly. However, it's older, more conservative (than other cities in Argentina) and the coffee shop culture is HUGE here!

It's so sunny here all the time!!! Everyone is really friendly, especially the older people. The city is full of tourists who come for the mountains and to ski. In about a week or so, they will be gone and WE will be starting classes at the university.

We finished all of our orientations on Friday and afterwards went out to celebrate... around 12 (AM!) Yeah, things here always begin late. WT? (TOMS intern inside comment- here is the official shout out to you lovelies)

For a night out, people go to bars which are not anything like the bars in the states. They are more classy than places to drink and hook up. The bars here are like coffee shops. They are well lit, with places to sit down in large groups. You can order meals and enjoy wine with friends. That all happens until about 2. Then everyone goes to the discotechs or the Boliches (dancing).

We wanted to go to a TAPAS bar that looked very nice but a little too nice for us. So as we are standing on the street deciding what to do, three nice boys walked up and asked if we were lost or where we were going. The more outgoing of us (aka Katie Rae) actually answered them as the rest of us just stood there admiring the one chico who happened to be REALLY good looking. He told Katie of a new bar we should go to... and asked if they could meet us there. They did. We were quite a spectacle as there were 9 of girls! Seeing as we were not into the bar, the boys brought us to a Boliche- a very happening Boliche. They were a lot of fun but a few too many people for me. We were lucky all of the guys from the prgram were there! However, I had a blast dancing with the girls!

By the end of the night, two of the girls (Katie Rae and Krysha) had captured a two of the Argentine boys' hearts. Today they had a double date in the park to drink Mate and talk! The rest of us are living vicariously through them!

Last night, a few of us went out for dinner but we were so tired from the night before (and we came back two hours before the Boliche closed at 6am).

I LOVE OUR GROUP of girls here! I feel so blessed to know each of them! We are all so different but we have so much fun and laugh A LOT! And as Jose, our director says, that is how you deal with your bad days here- YOU LAUGH!

Right now, Christy, Katie Rae, Krysha, Austin, Mary, Natalia and I are here. We were just talking about how we will be here for each other when we fall apart... I mean a few of us already have. It's hard being here sometimes when it's cold, you're tired of spanish, and you can't stand being away from things that are familiar. But we are blessed to have one another!

Today, Jose took us to the park to show us everything and at the end of the tour, he took us to a tree, and told us to take 10 minutes and do what many people in Mendoza do... soak up the positive energy of nature become one with the universe. I didn't want to laugh. But when I looked at everyone around me, they couldn't take him seriously. I mean, I understand being grateful for the earth and for nature. But only because it's been given to us by a God that loves us. As jose was laying in the grass soaking up the positive energy, I watched as everyone else was talking with one another, laying out in the sun, and making a circle to throw the frisbee around. I mean, that's what we were made for: RELATIONSHIPS... COMMUNITY!

If it were only for nature, I'd hate Medoza. But I have these wonderful friends here and I hope to make even more. It's the laughing, smiling, talking, and even crying I experience each day with the people here that make life rich. And I consider it a gift from God. Hugging a tree means nothing to me. It doesn;t hug back. God put us here to be in community with him and with one another. I am learning that regardless of our faults and our shortcomings, God has made us each so different and wonderfully.

I have a few prayer requests for yous back home in the states: Pray I understand God's conviction about my life here in Mendoza, pray that God works through me to do whatever he wants, that HIS love is what flows through me, that I won't judge anyone, but love them all, that God will strengthen me to learn and not grow tired of my classes but seize the day and soak up everything I can as this whole thing is a gift, pray that he will reveal himself to all of us here, pray that there will be a church near here that we can join if we want and the Argentines will accept us. Here, the students study in groups so we Americans will need a lot of help. Pray that God gives us Argentine friends. Pray that God teaches us that HIS LOVE is what gives us life and that His Glory is shown when we recieve it. Pray for His glory to be shown.

I love you guys at home and miss yall A LOT. But know that God gives us good gifts and He has blessed me with people here! Just pray for me when you can! Much love and many thanks for your friendship and love!

Paz=Peace
Sarah Beth


My info contact: sewesley@gmail.com

Juan B. Justo 781
Mendoza, Argentina, 5500

Leaving on a Jet Plain

I want to know that I will be back again, back in LA again!

I haven't written much... I mean I lived here 6 weeks and they've flown by! So much has happened and yet, I am constantly amazed at how God works his ways into our lives...

Regardless of all the ups and downs, God's grace has been evident in my friends at TOMS and at Mosaic Church. I am so thankful for their love and friendship. In both settings, I've learned what following Christ is all about. But more importantly, I've learned that the workings of his grace and power are buried in the depths of our souls, waiting to be awakened!

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here at TOMS and I pray that I will return to work, play, or help the company and those who work for it.

Tomorrow, I leave for Clear Lake! I am home for two days (long enough to see Paige, Katie, Marty, and hopefully Gatz) Then my fam (mom, dad, sisters, aunt, uncle, and cousins) and I are headed for a little Get-away at the lake before I fly off and away into the south... the deep, deep south...

I'm beginning to think Southern Sole REALLY fits. But Southern Sol fits better! :)