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ThomasLindsey
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Name: Thomas
Birthday: 1/27/1983
Gender: Male
Interests: That thing called Love. Doing what I have been fashioned to do. Watching the lightning (its better than the sunrise). The Holy Ghost. He is all I have here until my Lord returns..... well there is always motorcycles and snow skiing.
Expertise: None that I know of. I am kind of an all around guy. I don't think I specialize in anything.
Occupation: Student
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM:  tlw0707
Yahoo:  tw_318
Member Since:
11/7/2004
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| So, I am honestly hoping that not many people will read this, thus my posting to Xanga. No offense Xanga, your just the crust anymore. You had potential.
Anyway. I felt like I was in a movie today. I really had a magical weekend in Iguazu, Argentina. I was blessed to be able to see the water falls there, but even better was meeting all of the people. I literally met people from dozens of countries around the world and had fabulous conversations with them all. Countries that I can remember from the top of my head are: Australia, England, Ireland, Denmark, Holland, France, Canada, Switzerland and Israel. I tried to ignore the US people.
Anyway, so I arrived into Buenos Aires around 11:00am this morning and then took another bus to La Plata, and bought yet another ticket for yet another bus to the children's home. Well, I had quite a stint until my ultimate bus left. So, I sat in a cafe for a little bit and had a liquado (smoothie). I then began my search for an ATM because I will need money to pay for my apartment in BA coming up soon. I got some directions to the nearest ATM but only found that it was out of service. I began walking about again and this elderly man stopped me. We had a great conversation and before I left he said that he wanted to give me a gift because I was doing the Lord's work here. I got excited for a moment until I was staring at a handful of Catholic material that he had given me. I threw it all away after departing (no offense to Catholics).
As I was about to pass the ATM that was out of service, I saw a young woman entering to try and use it. I tried to get her attention to tell her, but wasn't fast enough. So, I inconspicuously waited for her to come out in order to ask if she knew where another was. She beat me to it. We sat there speaking Spanish for a moment until she finally asked where I was from. After answering her, she began to speak English. She was from France studying here in La Plata. We decided to search together for an ATM. After walking a while we got directions to another that was supposed to be better. We spoke about school, work, the fact that it is really dumb that there isn't an ATM right by the bus terminal, and anything else that came up.
I am usually never ever the "hopeless romantic", but I was wondering the whole time why this petite, hermosa, brilliant young woman was studying in La Plata......why my bus had run behind and why she was also running late.
We finally make it back to the bus terminal and it was almost like a knife in my gut to see that my bus was already there waiting for me......she looked and her's was there too. Unaware, we were separated by a line of people as we both walked towards our respective buses. I imagine that we both realized it together that we were not side-by-side.....as we both glanced at each other and paused almost in confusion as to what to do.
We came back together again and said our goodbyes. Hugged and kissed on the cheek (common salutation here). She bought her ticket and walked to the line for her bus. My bus wouldn't leave for another 10 minutes, so I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She looked back again and smiled. As she approached the coach to give him her ticket, she looked back again to wave; my eyes never left her. As she climbed the steps to the bus, she paused yet again to look, then smile for a moment, and then waved again holding up the line behind her. I guess I was just so captured in the moment that I didn't think at all. Once I couldn't see her anymore I began to think a little. I realized that I didn't know her name, the school where she was attending, she didn't know the name of the children's home where I was, no numbers or even emails.
I made like a racoon going through a trash bag in my suitcase looking frantically for a pen, pencil...anything with which to write. I finally found something. I tried to hurry but at the same time not allow my writing to be too sloppy. I got my name and half of my email address on the paper before I looked up. Her bus had already backed up and was now pulling forward. I gave up in a moment of defeat as I watched her bus pull away.
I do think the Lord has someone for me....but I also think I need to be ready to run after her and fight for her. I am not saying that that was her or that even anything could've or would've come of that, but for the rest of the day I couldn't help but visualize myself running with my piece of paper after the bus.....the driver stops, thinking that I was wanting to get on.....then convincing him that a friend of mine had forgotten something and that I was trying to bring it to her......then confidently walking to the back (as i suppose in my thoughts) of the bus and handing her the paper......smiling and requesting that she contact me should she had time one day for coffee or dinner.
I am sorry that I have utterly exposed myself here.
I am not sad in the slightest, but couldn't help but think that I had just been in a short-romantic tragedy film.
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| So, Thursday night was amazing; most of it anyway. Mrs. Yvonne (my pastor's wife) called me on Skype and told me that she had time if I could get out and come to Buenos Aires. I checked with everyone here and they said it was fine. So, I am waiting for the bus, but it doesn't come on time. So I decided to walked about 100 yards to a little shop, which is no more than a little stand in the middle of farm land, and approached the first man that I came to in order to inquire about the buses. He spoke about the same amount of English, which is a big deal, as I did Spanish, so we would switch back and forth between languages. He told me that he didn't know anything about the buses, and that he was just here doing some business. He asked where I was going and I told him La Plata to catch a bus. He asked where I was taking the bus, and I told him to Buenos Aires. He told me that is where he lives and that he is driving back there. So, he finished his meal and we set off towards La Plata. A little ways down the road it looked like the world was on fire because kids has thrown tires in the road and set them on fire. No vehicles could pass, hence the reason for the bus not running I suppose. We kind of look at each other, and we took some streets that would have been bumpy for a four-wheeler. It was the bad side of a bad neighborhood. That's all I can really say. I would have taken a picture if I had not been scared of getting shot for my camera!
But we found our way to La Plata and then on to Buenos Aires. Alberto, the man, and I are talking about everything. He tells me that he needs to check the air pressure in his car. So we pull into the next gas station and get to the air pump. I will chase a rabbit for a second by saying that there are not many things that they have better here but the air pumps are way more advanced. The 1st thing is that it is free, and the 2nd is that you tell it how much air pressure you want in your tire and just hook it up. It does the rest. I was impressed. But the man then tells me that he needs to use the bathroom. So he goes inside and leave me in the car, with the car running, with his wallet and money in plain view right in front of me. I couldn't help but laugh. So he comes back and we are on our way again. I had previously told Mrs. Yvonne and Jennifer that I would call them when I got to the bus station in B.A., but now I am not sure where to go because I said I would call them. I asked the man if I could ask for one more thing. I thought he was going to give me his credit card or something because he was so excited to do more. When I asked to use his cell phone he was just like, "take it, take it!!!". So I called Jennifer and she told me where she was (a street I am familiar with in B.A. I asked Alberto how long it would take to get there (he already told me he would take me anywhere I needed to go) and he said about 20 minutes. But this is Santa Semana (Holy Week) or of what we call Good Friday and Easter. So the streets are packed and it is like New York traffic. So after about 40 minutes, we are really close to the street I asked to use his phone again which again was no problem and got the names of the streets they were now on. Upon approaching my stop I asked if I could pay him. He told me I was out of my mind. I collected all of his contact information. We found the coffee shop where the ladies we. I found Jennifer, Mrs. Yvonne and to my surprise also Daniela (Ps. Claudio's daughter) and her two little ones.
To make things shorter I will just say that we shopped around and then Carlos Anacondia's daughter and another friend of Jennifer's met us and we went out to eat. We ate at this AMAZING restaurant. It had everything that you can almost imagine. Pizza, sushi, anything from a grill, pasta's. You just pay like 62 pesos (about 17 dollars) and you get everything. By this time it is about 12:30 when we finish and the buses in La Plata are no longer running. Mrs. Yvonne insisted that she call a remis (personal taxi) for me. So I leave B.A. at 1am headed back to the orphanage. I asked him if he was sure of where he was going. He was like "Sure sure sure". We carried on a conversation but I rested a too. We get to La Plata and he is like "Where do we go from here?" I told him the town to head towards. He stops like 5 times and is asking people where to go. He then finally thinks he has it, and we take off. I am trusting him for a while but I start to feel really anxious. I told him that it wasn't looking familiar and he is like "its fine its fine. I am sure." I start to feel almost nauseous at the thought of being lost in South America. I told him he wasn't correct and that we needed to turn around because I have been to the orphanage a few times to know when we are going the correct way. He is on the phone a lot with his dad who apparently owns the business and now he is telling his dad that I don't know where I want to go. I finally tell him to take me to the central bus station in La Plata and that I will take the bus from there. I get to the bus station and he is still telling me that I am wrong. I told him that the orphanage was on the way to Magdalena (another town), but that it was only like 10 minutes from La Plata. He is telling me that Magdalena was like 70 kilometers from La Plata.
I paid him and went into the bus station. It is now 3am and the next bus (I thought) didn't leave until 6am. So I am preparing myself for a 3 hour wait in a bus station with some strange characters and various dogs everywhere. I read for a little bit, but got tired of that around 4am and was almost falling asleep, but I didn't think that a wise move in the bus station. So I am moving around trying to stay away (it is also very cold). A few buses are now pulling in dropping people off around 4:30am. I walk to the ticket booth around 5am when in opened up and asked for a ticket to my destination. I was slightly incorrect in my instructions to the remis. The destination is El Pescado, but it is on the way to Magdalena, but by another route. So, we were both wrong. The girl at the ticket booth tells me that the next bus leaves at 5:15! Only 15 minutes away! I get on the bus and almost fall asleep twice, but forced myself to stay awake so I wouldn't miss my stop. I found my stop and got into my little bed around 5:45. What a night! I woke up 3 hours later, still before the boys.
But one thing I will say, Blue Bell has nothing on the ice cream here. It is amazing.
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| So.......where to begin. Hmmm, well I took the LSAT in December. Got my score in January and sat in a state of depression for about a week or so. It was really awkward because I felt like the Lord had instructed me to pursue law school. But as soon as I received my score I reapplied to take the test again. I went ahead and had people fill out letters of recommendation for me, one of them being a senator. I started applying to schools and everything. I figured that if it didn't work out I would just stay in Argentina a little longer and then get a job again.
I retook the LSAT in February. I recently received my score. I about jumped through the roof. My score increased by 11 points! Most people probably would not have done that because it was still not an exceptional score, but one that should be good enough to get me in. That is all I care about. Always have had trouble with tests like that. Took the ACT 3 times. Ha!
So I just have one more school to apply to, Liberty University. That will be done shortly. I am not just trying to finish up all of my English classes for TEFL, the certification to teach English abroad. Though, I am not sure how much I will need it now.
I have been in contact with Eduardo Scataglini (Sergio's brother). He is in charge of the orphanages and schools there in Argentina. I have just been informed that I will be provided with a room and meals free of charge. Also, my airfare is going to be covered too (not by the orphanage)! I was wanting to bring a good camera and laptop to work with while I am there. So, I just got a great deal on the camera that I have been wanting for a while (Canon Rebel XSI 12.2 MGP). All that was left was the laptop. I just got off the phone with one of my dear friends, Brianna. She is going to donate one of her laptops to me while I am there! Thanks honey! The refuge has internet access so I will be able to stay in touch. Add me in your gmail chat or send me your skype username.
So basically everything is covered! I am practically not going to pay for anything while I am there trying to pursue the will of the Lord. The only thing that is unknown right now is the last month that I will be there in Argentina. I am wanting to spend it in the capital, Buenos Aires, so that I can get some new experiences and serve the Lord in a different area. At prayer Tuesday, everyone prayed over me for this trip. Melinda began to speak / pray over me that during the last month I would be sought out; that someone would be calling me asking to participate in something. She prayed that I wouldn't have to look for anything, but that God's will would come to me. I am excited and anticipate this happening in faith.
Please pray for me and for the Refuge there in Argentina. There are in a tough economic spot. If you feel led to give any donations to them you may contact me. It will not be tax deductible seeing that I am just going myself. God bless all of you supporting me! Oh....it looks like I will be leaving March 30th.
Thomas Lindsey
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| Well, I hope my good friend in academy won't mind this. He doesn't ever get on xanga anymore anyway. Plus I could outrun him if he gets mad. Enjoy! And please post or send in your funny pics!!!!
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