A direct answer to my prayers... SBP! (02/21/2011)

After going to Winterblast with Campus Outreach in February 2011 in Ashville:

I am so thankful for my wonderful community of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those from Campus Outreach who pray for me and challenge me to step out in faith. WinterBlast was a BLAST!!! :P The talks this weekend were such great guidelines for us to live our lives by and such a blessing to hear with 300 other fellow Christians. The worship was beautiful and such a great time for reflection and prayer, as God truly humbled us and spoke to us.

Also, God is taking me to Summer Beach Project this summer for 8 weeks of fellowship, prayer, discipleship, the sharing of the gospel, and the strengthening of our faith! :) i cannot wait! It is so funny and truly inspiring how God works! He definitely answers prayers...sometimes in more obvious ways than other times (speaking word-for-word, through the book we're reading- "Lady in Waiting")! :P lol Also, we are all so blessed to be able to see Christ work in others' lives all around us...esp this past weekend in Ashville! :] Praise God!

WHOOO-HOOOOO, Myrtle Beach HERE I COME! :D

Longing to go back in time...

I'm longing to go back in time as I remember bits and pieces of my exchange~what an adventure! :) I miss my host family, my friends, and the Argentinean lifestyle the most. It makes me long to go abroad again as soon as I can. I am pondering where I would like to go and what classes to take. I know whatever I choose it will be difficult academically and verbally, but totally worth it! I have talked some to my host family (LOS MORETTIS) , but really they are doing a much better job of keeping in touch. I can't WAIT until I can go back and visit with them! Paula is basically like my sister and I miss the long talks with her when we shared a room. There are also things about Argentina and Spanish culture that I miss the most. One thing is how people say hi to each other even though they may have never met before! That would only happen in the USA if you were being introduced to someone. I also miss the very loving way they greet friends, family, and even sometimes strangers. Always with a firm handshake, most of the time with a kiss on the cheek, and usually hugs for every friend that is present at any gathering or fiesta! :) So not only do I want to go back and visit Mendoza, Argentina or even study abroad again in South America, but ALSO, I really would love to spend some time living in South America and helping with kids especially in some of the poorer areas/countries. I just can't wait to see what God has in store for me! :D

Reminiscing... and Dreaming...

I have just been reminiscing about my past experiences and dreaming about the God-given ones to come, and COULD NOT wait to share the great piece of insight I read on my cousin's blog :) So, thank you Hayley Yettru, for posting such inspiring blogs during your semester abroad! :D Can't wait to see what God has in store for us down the road! We are so much alike and I just LOVEEEE talking with you about our majors, plans for a career one day, and our exchange experiences! :D So, just HADDD to post this excerpt of your blog written recently on my blog, so that even MORE people (like friends of mine) can see such an inspirational blog! :D <3 youuu!

My cousin Hayley Yettru, enthusiastically explains TRAVEL like this:
"Why do we travel? To see the world? To experience new cultures? For an excuse to get away? To feel independent? To escape what we know? Do we do it for ourselves, or for others? Do we expect to grow and be a stronger person because of it?
We travel to step outside of our comfort zone, or at least I did. It is a way to prove to yourself and to the world really that you are capable and you are able to do this on your own, it is a way to discover who you truly are. I was reading from my text book the other day, and ironically I found a quote that is quite fitting. It says, “Rather than feeling daunted by the prospect of stepping out of the comfort of your own familiar world, consider theses explorations a personal challenge…and discover your own strengths…” (Maidment & Egan, 2009, p. 29). This quote sums it all up – attack the problems and the sadness and the bumps in the roads. Do not let these get you down, but rather see them as personal challenges that once you have overcome will be stronger."

***That's it for now folks! :P Just awaiting a wonderful, God-given summer at Project with Campus Outreach before I blog again! :D Love all of you, and God bless you!

keeping up with the Spanish (trying!)

:D i got home about a month ago....its crazy. somedays i dont feel at home here, but it almost feels as though Argentina was all a dream. it sucks. i wish i could still be there :(
I did get asked to tutor a guy I know from school using what I know in spanish! :) I hope it will help me to continue to practice and review old material. I know I should know all of it, but I feel like I forgot a LOT and in Argentina, I didn't do a lot of practicing when trying to read or write in Spanish, so it may be a little of a struggle, but nothing I can't handle. :) I'll just ask my Argentinian friends if I have any questions :P haha
I am also going to talk with an old retired Spanish 3 teacher to review what I learned in Argentina and practice more! I am forgetting a lot of Spanish and fast, so maybe this will continue to help! :D
I miss my Moretti family and friends in Argentina. I miss my sister, Paulita! :( I was also very worried to hear about the earthquake that hit Chile, so close to Mendoza, Argentina, and find out the aftershocks were quite strong, even over 2 hours away in Mendoza. :0 TOO many earthquakes lately! I feel like the world is coming to an end soon! :0
As for now, I am trying to focus on God, family, and friends to spend valuable time before I go off to college :D
~Kaychuu

Forgetting the Little Things :(

Yesterday's history and tomorrows a Mystery.... so live it

My new favorite quote of 2010, especially since I got home from Argentina.

Yeah i feel completely.... weird. it almost feels like my whole trip was a movie i just watched of myself... like i remeber all the big fun important memories and life lessongs, but as each day passes i forget a little detail of amazingness and it breaks my heart a little! :(

I will never forget the greatest experience of my life, including everyone that was a part of it, from the people who helped me get there (by rasing money and getting accepted to AFS and getting my VISA) to my 2nd family (only and best sister, Paula) and all my life-long friends in Argentina!

My heart is made up of two little parts...my American life and my Argentinian life :D

Some people even tell me they think I was once Argentinian in another life. haha.

<3 Kayla

January 9th 2010! :)

Wow, so the New Year passed in Cordoba with Ago & Emi Marasco, and now I have arrived home from Cordoba. It was great fun with their family and an awesome experience to get to visit another region of Argentina (very different than Mendoza)! it was great. so, i spent new years there and christmas here in mendoza with the morettis.

im kinda nervous about coming home to two different houses (both my parents moved. still in GF but) anyway, i have soo much to get used to when i get back...school snr year, family, hosues, college soon, english again and another culture shock. but im excited to see you all (friends and family) . its going to be really hard to leave in less than 2 weeks. i come home the 21.

USA HERE I COME, whether im ready to come back to my first home or not! :(

(Dec.27) Can't Believe I Am So Close to the End

~I really have so much to catch up on here and once i get home and have time, i will take what i wrote in my paper journal and post the 'appropriate & unpersonal' stuff on here. ahha.

~Christmas was just a few days ago and it was amazing to be able to experience it here with the Morettis and all their family. I'm so grateful to feel so included in their lives for a short 5 months!

~But for NOW, I can't believe I am this close to the end of my stay here. I am so comfortable here and have made so many relationships rooting me to my second new culture here and I hate to think about leaving in 3 weeks :(

~Tomorrow I will be packing for my trip to Cordoba with my classmate Ago. I am excited to know another part of Argentina & can't wait to start the NEW YEAR of 2010 soon, but also kind of in shock that 2010 is the year I graduate & end high school and life living with my family. I have learned a lot about what I treasure back home, because of what the Argentinians have taught me and also what I've learned from being away from my old life in Granite Falls, NC, USA. (what people always say: you dont realize what you have until you don't have it anymore). And for that I know I am going to try my best to spend valuble time enjoying and being thankful for the family, friends, and God I have in my life, before I go off to college starting a whole new chapter in my life.

~Another thing I am so thankful for is for finding the real meaning of having God in my life. Its not the church you have or don't have, its knowing he is always there for you and waiting for you to depend on him and love him as much as he loves us. :D NEVER thought I would have such a wonderful, eye-opening experience that drew me so close to God, by just attending a SPANISH-speaking (of course) church in Argentina by myself. I found so many great people brought into my life, some for only 2 hours in one Sunday service, others who I sat with every Sunday, others who just solely greeted me at the door, and some who only came to share their missionary testimony for one service. People I will remember forever and always keep in my heart and in y prayers. <3

~So, that must be all for now, as I go off to Cordoba Tuesday, and am coming home to be with my loving, wonderful family (The Stovers) in 3 weeks~ :D

~love, Kayla Jane

CHAU! un beso & un abrazo (XO)