After blogging from the hostel last Friday, Jen and I waited around until finally the money came through, and we hopped on the next bus out into the Andes. We rolled into a town called Cacheuta and pitched our tent in a campground for the night and passed out. The next day, discovering the better views and hikes were in another town close by, we hopped on a
bus to Potrerillos. We spent the whole weekend there, in an ACA (Automovil Club Argentino) campsite right next to a beautiful mountain lake. The entire area was surrounded by hills and snow-capped peaks. The most amazing place I have ever camped, hands down. We enjoyed the naturaleza, swimming in the lake, hiking the mountains, and cooking chorizos and rice over a fire.
The most amazing part about the weekend, though, is what happened on the inside. Right when we got there, we swam out into the lake, and staring at the epic views all around, reflecting on how we had made it this far into the trip, I knew I could not waste one more second being sad about our stolen things. I realized God brought us to that bridge for a reason: To show us how to be strong in a tough situation, looking at the positive side, and to remind us that we are SO blessed. I could not ask for anything more. All the love and support and generosity we´ve been shown throughout this journey, from back home and down here, adds up to a BILLION times more than all that we lost. To feel better about losing those things, we compiled a list of all the acts of generosity we´ve received along the way, and it humbled us to the core. There is no way we could ever fully repay any of the people who have been in our lives or along this trip, but we´re going to try to pay it forward as much as we can. We want to show God that we trust Him; Losing so much, but continuing on and giving even more.
Another amazing thing happened this weekend too. We went to mass at a church overlooking the lake on Sunday evening, and the message, straight from God, was written in the gospel: "No sólo de pan vivirá el hombre, sino toda la palabra que sale de la boca de Dios" or, in
English, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word thats comes forth from the mouth of God" Matthew 4:4. The Obispo (Bishop) went on the explain that it is not money that makes us rich, but our spiritual values and being blessed by God, family, and love. Jenna and I looked at each other like, whattt?!! Just in case we missed the message, He had to make it clear. During the offering then, we pulled out all the small bills we had. We missed the basket going around, so at the end of mass, I ran up to the man carrying them and dropped it in. We walked back to the campsite after church, wondering what we could make for dinner, when the offering collector guy walked up to our site."You two really made an impression on the Bishop and I, how about I buy you guys some empanadas for dinner?" We of course could not turn it down, so we went with him. He ordered the food, and started talking. He asked us about our journey, the things we´ve learned, etc. He went on the emphasize the lesson we had already started learning: You have to prepare yourself for the bad times in life. Know what is important, and keep God and all the people you love close to you, so that when bad things do happen, (like losing a backpack in South America) you will be able to pick yourself back up in no time. He eventually told us that he was suffering from a terminal illness, and though he was reciving a transplant in a few days, I don´t think he was convinced he had much time left. He sent us off with a bag of tomatoes and a number to call him if we ever needed anything. I don´t want to freak you guys out, but I think he might have literally been an angel. Another little message from God to make the lesson we learned this past week permanent. What an experience...
We had to say goodbye to Potrerillos, and then after one last day of hanging out in the city, to Mendoza as well. We hopped on a bus to Córdoba last night, and arrived back in our city $1,200 poorer, but richer in all the best ways. I think the travellers luck is back on track.
Seeking a new backpack,
Nae
P.S. I forgot to add this in to the last blog, which would have been just way too sad at the time on top of everything else, but Mala Ala, our pet egret, died during our last week before Mendoza. She got sick and wouldn´t eat anything, and though I consulted everyone I knew in the bird-bio area, we couldn´t figure out what it was. The zoo guys assume it must have been internal damage from the fall. I buried her in the yard of the foreigner house. At least she got to live for a few more weeks with a bunch of awesome foreigners rather than get immediately eaten by a lizard on the zoo sidewalk...? RIP Baby Egret
What a wonderful post - you two are learning the very best lessons and becoming wise beyond your years! Love the story of the gospel and message; like they say on the local Christian radio station KTIS, "It's a God thing." Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCheryl K.