Greetings from Grantham!!

We began the preparation for our trip yesterday with a mid-morning practice on our own Anderson Field. Practice was very productive, and it was nice enough out that some of us were able to get a little color (or a lot) as well. We then all gathered for lunch in the on campus cafe, The Falcon, and then met up with a few other groups who are also going on different trips for a pre-departure meeting.   Aaron Faro, the man who helped to set up our trip and make it possible, shared with us what it means to go on a short term mission trip, and encouraged us to stay focused on serving God and His people with an open heart, and an open mind. While we are in Argentina, we will be focused on discipleship, exercising our individual spiritual gifts, taking risks and trusting God with them, as well as working on becoming dissatisfied with a complacent life.

Later in the meeting, we worked on our personal testimonies, and really focused on the changes and benefits that have accompanied our spiritual journeys. We then broke up into smaller groups after focusing individually on our testimonies, and worked on sharing them with others. For many of us, this was the first time we really opened up and shared, or even really put much thought into this. It was really beneficial for us to open up to those who we know and are comfortable sharing with, so that if we are asked to share while in Argentina, we will be a little more comfortable and have some idea of what we want to share about our story.

This morning, while our lovely seniors were walking across the platform in front of their families, loved ones, and Coach Good to receive their diplomas, a few of us from the rest of the group went to Bakers diner, a local favorite, for breakfast. The rest of the day today is free time for us to finish packing up, shopping for any last minute things we forgot, and to check out of our rooms. Tonight at 9:00, we will meet as a group for our final send-off, and then it will be early to bed for our departure of campus tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM sharp!

More to come and keep posted!!

Brooke Sands and Angela Klaczak