Volunteering and traveling in Argentina to proclaim God's great love, and hopefully not getting sick along the way.

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Hotline rechazado

You've heard the phrase, "Some people just can't take a hint."

This guy is one of them. And yet I mean it in the nicest way possible.

Here comes a story that even I don't really like how it has played out, but writing it down is therapy for me. What's done is done.

The other night, I came home via taxi--something I had heavily debated doing. I was trying to get a bus from Villa Dolores that would get me back to the terminal in Córdoba around midnight. With very little baggage, I could still take the E4 home.

Unfortunately, I was left with no other choice. Even in the line, I remember thinking about how this wait determines which taxi I will be in. I recalled a taxi home with a guy named Cristian and how much can happen in about a 15 minute drive. Certain appointments are unavoidable.

But when you take in account a recent story of mine involving a late night phone call, I just have to say, I am a little tired of the attention from guys. Honestly, I just want to share Jesus with some young women, because those relationships can continue without the awkward one-side attraction factor. And trust me, I'm not trying to be arrogant here.

All this to say, via short version of the story, this taxi driver was also interested. I was very clear about what I do in Argentina and why. In fact, I doubt one can put Jesus into a sentence as much as I did. When we finally reached the "white fence with the light," he surprised me with a, "I really liked talking with you. I really like your point of view on life.

"Can I have your number?"

I stumbled and finally said yes. Why I couldn't think of an excuse for no; why I couldn't think of a wrong number; why there isn't a Spanish version of the Rejection Hotline.. all come up with a giant I DON'T KNOW.

If that weren't enough, plenty of other strange things with young men kept happening all week, but I choose to focus on taxi driver for the time being. He started texted me like crazy. They were all innocent questions of trying to get to know who I am: family, life in Argentina, etc. In fact, the only thing that really bothered me was the fact that he kept calling me beautiful. I dunno, you can call me a romantic I suppose, because it's just something I want one guy to call me in the end.

I used the excuse (a true one), that I can't respond to all of his texts because I don't have credit. The ones that I did respond to again, were filled with things like, "Because God is worth it" and "He died for me." So taxi driver bought me a card to give credit for more texts.

When he still asked me out to eat one evening, I honestly thought it had something to do with the fact that maybe, just maybe, he loved Jesus too. At a last minute request, and after a whole heck of a lot of prayer on my part and my friends' part, I went...

He was a perfect gentlemen if you will. Never touched me (apart from the obvious typical Córdoban greeting), asked more about the family, and talked about dreams. Yet, it was very clear that he is not one to put God first. Even if he's nice, let us look to 1 Corinthians 7:16

How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?


Lord willing, I will never dare to take that risk. An uneven matrimony can not reflect Christ and His church as is the goal of marriage in the first place (see Ephesians 5:21-33).

God's timing is perfect you see. He made sure that I was to listen to two sermons on marriage (although unintended), as well as read a certain chapter in A.W. Tozer's book that reinforced this truth. And the crazy part is that I was not even tempted to want to like taxi guy. But I didn't know how to say no.
love and chau.


I remember sort of grasping at straws at the end of our "date"(?) together. He had taken me down the main avenue in Parque Sarmiento, and it was a busy time, filled with young adults eating choripan and playing soccer. He asked about my plans for the weekend, so I openly told him about a Bible study I have on Saturday. Without waiting for him to ask, I laid out the gospel one more time through the story of the woman at the well.


Nothing. An "Oh, that's very interesting," but a quick change of subject.


He dropped me off and asked to see me again. I said I would be gone the following week (true). 

"Could you text me when you get back?"


"We'll see," I told him.


Halfway through the day, he had already texted a couple of times just to say hello. But I didn't respond. One had given advice to just ignore him. When a third text came asking if I was angry, I decided that something must be done. With more prayer and coaching from my new friend Andrea, I came up with this:


"No estoy enojada. Lo que pasa es que mientras no tengo novio, sí hay alguien en que tengo interés. Él tiene la misma pasión por el Señor como yo. Y es algo que no veo en vos. No usé el codigo me mandaste porque no te quise aprovechar. Perdón otra vez."


TRANSLATION: I'm not mad. The deal is that while I don't have a boyfriend, there is someone that I am interested in (true). He has the same passion for the Lord that I have (also true). And it's something that I don't see in you. I didn't use the code you gave me for extra texts (true), because I didn't want to take advantage of you. I'm sorry again.


Response: "Pero puedo aprender mucho d vos, m transmitis mucha paz, y sos una mujer q aca n hay."

TRANSLATION: But I can learn a lot from you, you give me a lot of peace, and you are the type of woman that you can't really find here.

I had to think about this one for a second, but thankfully, I believe the Spirit helped--

"La paz para que buscas es JESUS. No soy yo. Si la quieres tanto, te recomiendo ir a una igle en el centro se llama Aviva."


TRANSLATION: The peace you are looking for is JESUS. It is not me. If you want that peace so much, I recommend you try out the church in the city center called Aviva.

And just like the woman in the well, he didn't get it.

Response: "Es q en nuestro pais n tenemos inculcado tanta la religion como uds. Creo en dios jesus y la virgen. pero no somos d habla d la religion."


TRANSLATION: It's just in our country we aren't impressed so much by religion. I believe in god jesus and the virgin, but we don't talk about it.

While my heart goes out for him, I know that I can't be the one to change him. Certainly not in a dating context. I hope that what was done was right. The choice to give the number was probably my first mistake. I have learned!

Nevertheless, may taxi guy find a group of believers to lead him to the cross, and may his life be forever changed! Please pray for him!

love and chau.

3 comments:

  1. Praying for taxi guy! Maybe your words about Christ will stick with him and trouble him for a long time.

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  2. Sharayray!! Enjoyed reading this...made me laugh and pray simultaneously, which is awesome. I forget how forward guys are there haha...but then again, maybe you're just a heartbreaker ;) Miss ya kiddo!! Abrazoooooo fuertisimo

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  3. Miss you both! I'm glad y'all are praying. The guy keeps sending texts every now and then, but I am just not responding.. I have much to share with y'all as of late.. perhaps better in email form when I get a chance. Besos!!!

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