music & comedy

Ok, it has been more than a long time since last post. There have been lots of things going on and I have been more than busy at least the last two weeks. 

Two weeks ago we had a music concert here at our base. We invited three more bands to play with us. God has been really generous with us as we have received lots of instruments and sound equipment of the best quality. So it's our honor to use it and let others to use it as well. 

This time we had a new drummer and bass guitarist playing with our band Pujahca. To be honest the guys just exploded it and I really enjoyed playing. And so did all the other bands as well.

The goal of the concert was to evangelize, create relationships and raise up funds for our rehearsal room. Praise God it went all well!

Last Saturday we started once again with our musical El viaje de los hermanos Luna. We will be presenting during the weekends and then non-stop for two weeks during the winter holidays. This time it's a theatre in the downtown of Buenos Aires.

It has been such an effort and work once again. During the months I was working with different promotional designs, new tracks, videos, radio promos etc. And during this last two weeks we made a whole new set up. As we didn't have lots of time and resources we have been working super hard. Last week we stayed up almost every night till 1 am. 

We used a projector to mark my drawing to the material.

One of the many many designs I've made.

So it has been kind of crazy till yesterday. I don't personally like pressure because it easily makes me stress. Or actually the work and tiredness aren't that big deal but the way we handle them. In my case, the pressure and tiredness make me see the crap I still have inside and that doesn't really encourage me. 

However God has been more than faithful. There have been so many days I have just said "God I don't know how to go though this". But He has given me strength and helped me in every task. He has healed me from my flu and covered many possible mistakes. 

A video I made to promote the play.

So this is basically what I have been in to. Well, just a small small part of that. Everyday is a new adventure and new challenges. I find myself once again so poor and needy for God. I keep on being surprised by the deceitfulness of my heart but as well by His everlasting love. If I'm alive it's by His mercy. If I manage to do something for His Kingdom it's only by his grace.

Thankful for:

• God's taking more than good care of me.
• The support of you guys, family and friends.
• The concert and the musical.

Praying for:

• To move on in my relationship with God. 
• Our musical to reach the right people.
• A new MacBook :)

crisis

God has been taking me once again deal with the fundamental questions of our faith. We could call this process as crisis. 

I have received once again some revelations about some basic truths of our life. 

1) I am sinner. That's the nature of Adam living in me. I can't do anything good by myself. And I'll never be able to do. I can try my best to not to sin, but the law of sin and death will win me sooner or later.

2) God knows my reality and He always did. He couldn't wait anything good from me and that's why He sent His son to pay my debts completaly when I was still His enemy. I am forgiven.

3) Even though I'm forgiven God doesn't expect anything from me because I still live in this fallen body and soul even though my spirit has been renewed. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Chirst's perfection to live in me. He does everything in me I'm not able to do by myself. 

4) God loves me. He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me because He loves me. 

I can do nothing to make Him love me less. I can do nothing to make Him love me more.

Doesn't sound anything new right? However I have noticed once again how I struggle to believe these basic truths and live according them. I still struggle to fully believe I'm forgiven and loved. It's still so easy to try to do things on my own strength.

All these revelations are amazing! We know that every crisis are important in order to grow up. However let me tell you something. It's everything but easy and pleasant to understand your sinfulness and the corruption of your heart. For God's sake it hurts!

However in the midst of the brokenness we can see His love clearer and deeper than ever before. 

It's easy to get frustrated because I haven't yet internalized these basic truths. But to be honest I'm so grateful God let me to this place once again. 

I am loved. I have peace. 

I can't do it. I don't need to do it. 

Graduation of the Counceling School

Hey guys! For them who didn't know yet... I did it! I graduated from the YWAM 2nd level School of Biblical Counseling. 

To be honest I'm proud of this achievement! I mean, I never had problems with primary school, high school etc... But to be honest the YWAM schools really takes your to another level when it's all about your character, your integrity, your willingness to renounce and change. In these schools we live together 24/7 so there's no space for faking or living a double life.

So honestly this school was way more difficult I imagined. All of my school mates felt at least once that they just want to leave the school and go back home. Well, I didn't because I knew this was my place. But I'm just so thankfull for the staff and leadership that they had grace over me and didn't send me home even when I might deserve it.

God totally guided me through all these 6 months and I'm just amazed by what He did. For the first time for many many years I'm actually doing good with myself. I just love the man God made me! I have way much clearer idea who I am as a son, as beloved, as man, as warrior. I understand I was created for intimacy with my Daddy God and I don't need to do anything to get there. Just allow Him to enter to my reality and brokeness. This all just make me wonder if I even was a believer before this school? Yes, I believed, but so many lies about myself and God. 

In the same time there's so many processes that just started during the school and now it's time to keep on walking in this new truth I received. Many times we want the chances quickly and it's easy to get frustrated when you don't see that much chance. It's scary to see that even after receiving so much healing your inner enemies are still real and it's still easy to deceive yourself. 

But I decide to live above the fear of going back to the old. The fear will not control me, but I grab it as a weapon I point against every enemy rising up their head. Beware, I'm not fighting in my own strength any more!

I wanted to become better during the school. I didn't. What I did, I discovered the good God had already set in me. And well, with all the bad that's still there... I became more dependent - more dependent on God and the help of my family around. 

Ok, let's not get that emotional. Let's show the photos of the graduation! 

Diploma! 

The MC's of the night: Javier & Juli

Beulah sharing the word 

My friends from the Ituzaingó´s base really
surprised me and came to visit me.
Thank u so much guys!

I'm gonna miss this guy. Even though Lisandro was not part of our school, we became really good friends.

The last night all together!

But yeah, I just want to thank you all for sharing this journey with me. I can't find words to thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. I love you people!

Let's give thanks for:

• God really healed me and shaped me during the school
• The good health and support during the school
• The amazing outreach

Let's pray for:

• All of the school mates that they'd allow God to finish His work in their life
• Refreshment for all the staff members and leadership
• My new time in YWAM Ituzaingó here in the province of Buenos Aires

P.S. So basicly I'm back in the YWAM base here in Ituzaingó, Buenos Aires. It's good to be back here and I feel really loved and welcomed once again. I'm working in the art ministry where I used to be before as well. Hope to write some updates soon!

Finishing the Finnish Summer

Few words and heaps of pictures from this summer in Finland.

I came back to Finland in the end of May. The most important reason for coming back just at that time was my brother's wedding in the beginning of June. I am so happy for my brother! It has also been a joy to get to know his wife better during the summer.

The wedding also brought all the siblings together.
From the youngest to the oldest.

The wedding wasn't the only party - of course not!
Some friends graduated. 

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I was asked to help with a youth camp of my church in June. So I prayed and said yes. The camp took us almost around the Finland! We went to the East, then to the North, West and finally back to the South. Most of the places I had never visited before and I was more than excited to know my country better!

I changed shirts with my new friend. I like my new one.

Finland is tiny, but anyway we got to sit hours on the bus... 
Me drinking mate.

This is not me. I haven't become a fish yet.

Lapland - the northern part of Finland.

Delicious food in the middle of nowhere.

Welcome to Finland! What would u like to do?

I know the Beautiful Maker of all this!

BTW, it is true that in the north the sun never goes down in summer! 
It shines through all the night. 

Ok, this time it was not Table Mountain in Cape Town, 
but we made it! 546m :D haha, it felt like 5k

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However most of my summer I worked... hard. Haha, not that hard, but a lot though. We have a summerhouse 20 minutes away from our house. We had heaps of things to fix there. About an half of the time I worked there with my father - rest of the time alone. 

The work was physical and I liked it. The best thing was I didn't have a strict schedule and I was able to live in the summer house if needed. Whenever I wanted to sunbathe or swim in the lake I just took a break and continued after a while. Cool, right?

Here's something we did:

Renovation of the SAUNA..! We made a new floor, renovated some walls, put a new ceiling... Many things!

I made the steps and the path next to the house.

The path to the shore

A platform for the table & chairs

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As most of the ywamers know the time after (or between) the mission field is not always easy. Even though I had a perfect summer the time was also hard for me. I have already got used to live in a Chirstian community surrounded by people. Being at home only with my parents easily made me feel myself alone. 

We are always living in the middle of a spiritual war - no matter if we realise it or not - no matter if we decide fight or not. I didn't see this reality all the time. During this summer I needed to humble myself with certain things. In the midst of my weakness I had to seek the Lord. However most of the time I felt I was failing because I just couldn't do what God had asked me to do.

In the midst of this pain God showed His perfect faitfulness again. He never asks us to do anything without also giving us the courage and humbleness we may need. God showed me again that it's all about Him. So this period of time became a time of victory, real joy, a family restoration and intimacy. All the promises God gave me for this time have been fullfilled.

"On that day I will gather you together

and bring you home again.

I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,

among all the nations of the earth,

as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.

I, the Lord, have spoken!"

Zeph 3:20 (NLT)

I have no words to describe all the joy and peace God suddenly gave me. His faithfulness just blows my mind!

I have become so blessed by my friends! 
Praise God I don't need to be (stupid) alone..:D

Maybe far away from each other, but in the same boat anyway.

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Well, the summer is over and I'm leaving to the late winter of Argentina. However I have SO much good memories from this summer. God has been so good for me. I love my country, I love my language, my food and SAUNA. And that's why it's always so good to leave. You know you want to come back when it's the time.

Now I'm in the middle of the preparation for leaving. My flight is on Wednesday. No, I haven't packed :D But I'm not that stressed. God has showed His favor even in the small things: I have managed to sell many goods I haven't even used for years. There's so many details I could tell you where I can just see God's favor over my life.

---

I wana praise for:

• this opportunity to spend summer in my country
• my family and my friends
• the faithfulnes and favor The I Am has showed me

I'm praying for:

• these two days of preparation for Argentina
• for my flight

Be blessed!

"If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, 

for he cannot deny who he is." 

- 2 Tim 2:13 (NLT)