If the world's nicest Tempur-Pedic and my pillow pet Martin had a baby, THAT would be the perfection that my head gets to sleep on every night.

And I mean, that’s just my pillow, guys. Just imagine how good everything else is here in Argentina!  Not to be dramatic or anything, but I think I'm in love with literally everything—from every afternoon café that is served, to each and every piece of cobblestone laid on the streets of this city.

To put it very simply (and perhaps archaic for my age), I am just smitten to be back in Buenos Aires. I’m giddy with happiness when I finally wrap my face in my dress (my makeshift eye-mask until I buy one) and fall asleep amidst the sound of passing buses through the night, sound of youngins on their way to the clubs, and to the general white noise that comes from being in a city of 2,891,082.

More than the city though, there’s a close tie for my favorite part of Argentina being the open-hearted nature of the Porteños and the gorgeous sound of the sing-songy words that come out of their mouths. For me, it’s a treat to sit for an hour or so after dinner and just chat with my wonderful host-mom (Gabe) and her boyfriend (Sebastian). My current life goal, to be a parrot. If all else fails I'd be an excellent Argentine mute. I look the part and can understand nearly everything perfectly…but reproducing the accent myself…well, let’s just say, I've set some pretty high standards for myself and it will be a while until I meet them.

And that could be a problem, I suppose—that I've been setting my own standards that are waiting to be met by the approval of fellow Argentines. And just like that, God has convicted me of, I guess you could say ‘putting all of my kinder eggs in one basket’. How tempting it was for me when I arrived to throw off everything that identified me as “North American” and to completely immerse myself into the Argentine culture. I’m prettyyyyy sure that’s exactly the opposite of what I learned in the pre-study abroad class…..my bad.

So I've been praying that God continues to keep me on guard against unrealistic ideals and most importantly, that I would continue to seek His praises alone. To balance the difference between appreciating this culture and the time that I have abroad while not seeking to find my satisfaction in it. That Christ would continue to be the well that I draw from to have my thirst quenched rather than from any well-dressed, tan, smooth-talking, smoke-caused-yet-charmingly-raspy-voiced Argentine. It’s so easy to become prideful whenever my Spanish is complimented, whenever I’m asked for directions on the street as if I live here, or when people want to go out with me, but I’m thankful that God keeps me in check and reminds me that when I am seeking the glory from one another rather than the love of God, I am not keeping my priorities straight.

My favorite hymn sings over and over that “You can have all this world, Give me Jesus”. All this world. That means Argentina too. The sovereignty of God knows no ends and if that’s the case, I know for certain that I don’t want to be caught up in the idea that "Argentina can do no wrong" and in turn miss out on opportunities in which God has prepared for me in Buenos Aires.  Instead of proving, whatever it even is I'd like to prove to these amazing people, what I truly want to exemplify is what it looks like to live a life compelled by Christ's love.

My prayer (and if you think of it, yours for me as well :) ) 

That I would not spend myself on men for the sake of their affirmation, but for the sake of drawing them closer to HIM.  More than desire the approval of Argentines, or of other students in the program, that I would truly only desire the approval of God.