By Katrina Wills
Staff Correspondent
BUENOS AIRES—Call me Christopher, an aspiring adventurer who set out to circumnavigate the global waters in search for the new world and unknown civilizations. Or, at least, a few very mature, life-changing epiphanies to convince my parents this overseas thing was a good idea. I, your contact to the Americas below the equatorial lateral, have broken into the urban and natural jungle of this continent, tried to blend in and tried to understand.
Last semester Argentina’s rapid national bus system was my travel associate, carrying me to the Northern, Western and Interior regions of the country. Winter vacation was a five-week summer ride. I and fellow adventurer Diana Rozendaal guided ourselves to Brazil’s borders, Bolivia’s extreme landscape and Peru’s finest just 100 kilometers south of Ecuador. (Stop reading. Grab a globe and check out how ridiculously far that is.) This special traveling experience was a receipt made of lessons to be learned — lessons of virtue, companionship and spirituality.
It had been my plan from September to travel during Christmas break. But I never imagined (nor did my parents) that it would be just me and another girl. My parents, however, “needed some time” to accept the idea. After all, their youngest daughter was traveling through the ultra-foreign landscape of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru as one of two 19-year-old girls alone for five weeks.
Was I scared? Only when friends kept placing hands on me saying, “I’ll pray for you,” as they walked by. As they passed, many turned back around as if for one last glance. My semester in Buenos Aires was a spiritual roller coaster flying between frequent apathy to over-enthusiasm for Jesus. Though I struggle with these exact patterns as we speak — only four weeks into the new semester — I know now that Jesus is a grand, real power to be reckoned with. During the trip we were blessed with his direct, incredible protection.
We met about three church leaders within the first week who all gave us contacts farther up north in churches and congregations should we need them. But I cannot say that I was never scared or even terrified. I was almost scared to tears when we got lost for hours on the Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca hike. I was intimidated every day by aggressive beggars and locals in most destinations. I was prepared to buy a plane ticket home when my traveling partner became extremely and inexplicably ill after crossing into Bolivia.
Things got a little rash, but ask me if we found our way off the island, and if my partner recovered slowly but surely. After a whole lot of prayer, yes.
I’d never been a strong advocate before, but now I believe prayer saved my life physically and mentally.
Our trip was partly directed to tell people, whoever entered our path, about Jesus Christ. Guided tours lasting three to five days place you in a tight group with other travelers. At every meal throughout the trip Diana and I tried to discipline ourselves to pray before eating each meal. In these tours it was hard to cause attention to myself when backing out of the table conversation to bow my head. They would watch, just watch. However, one time Diana looked up and asked if they wanted to join and then we had a group prayer in English, German and Spanish. Also, with Pepperdine’s help and that of the International Bible Church of Buenos Aires we purchased food handouts, dozens of children’s Christian literature and about 100 mini-New Testaments that formed the base of our already heavy backpacks.
Any surprises, you ask? Yes, actually … I’m glad you asked. Children and adults were both eager to talk, tourists and locals, wealthy and homeless alike. Many had heard of Jesus already and appreciated the company of other Christians. Little kids begging at bus terminals always had their puppy dog eyes on until Diana knelt down and said, “¿Conoces Jesús?” It was amazing how their eyes would get wide and they’d point to the sky, and say, “¡Dios!”
But why am I convinced that prayer actually works? It’s the only explanation to the peace Diana and I had with each other and our surroundings on the trip. She and I were practically married. I went to sleep and woke up seeing her face or the back of her head every day. We had to compromise where we ate our meals every day. We even shared a bank account! God graced us both with so much understanding and appreciation for each other that I can confidently say we never had any fights, violent words, jealousy or bitter resentment. (That’s just not possible without divine intervention.) Our tempers were halted it seems, for our protection from all the possibilities around us. We heard about kidnappings, rapes and assaults, and met victims of robbery and hate crime at every stop.
As for now, I’m exploring the concept of being stationary. I’m sitting in Casa Pepperdine right now and my friend just asked why anyone would want to read about this. I hope one of you feels moved to pray before you eat your Caesar chicken wrap just to see if it tastes any better or if your day feels a little more peaceful. I hope someone sees how big the world is with so many things to see, but also how small it fits in God’s hands. Someone, I know who you are, placed a small seashell attached with a note saying “AGAPE” (meaning unconditional love) in my pack before I took off and I want to say thanks for that little gift. Agape is not a characteristic I could ever have with my stumbling all the time, but it’s the entire character of God.
I’m getting a bit homesick from writing this, so thank you for praying and for listening. Chau.
February 06, 2003
