Enough Love to Go Around!

During the months of May/June love came to Santiago del Estero, Argentina in many different forms. First, in the form of visitors. One of the friends I made in language school in Costa Rica, Laura came to visit me, she is now a missionary in the north of Argentina as well. Then, June 12th-18th a team of 7 came from Bowling Green, Florida. They came to do creative ministries in the interior of Santiago with myself and the Cook family ( the veteran missionaries here). During that week we all lived in the Cook's house so when we had to get up at 5:45 in the morning and be somewhere by 7 it was a lot easier to have everyone under one roof. The week consisted of lots of translating for me, which was a true blessing because it was my first time having to translate "cold turkey." We went into 2 schools that were in 2 farming areas of the interior and they were open to the dramas and the testimonies we shared. I also got to help with making animal balloons for the kids and face painting, things I love to do. The first school was barely a year old and had two rotations, small kids studied in the morning and big kids in the afternoon. The second school was over 40 years old but still did not have electricity. We taught the kids some about American football as well as the program the team had planned but most importantly we showed them God's love by loving on them. I was truly blessed by the team that came, they worked very well together and made my job as a "helper" super easy. One of big blessings of the team was they brought "a little piece of home" for all the missionaries here. Since I had not been able to have a house warming party here for my new apartment, 2 churches blessed me with "house warming in a box." Fort Totten and Wells Grove sent me many things I can use to entertain and bless others in my new home. Also, my family sent me a lot of love through new pictures and things I needed. I was truly blessed to see the heart of the people through what they sent and also the presents the team brought for all of us. Finally, I have seen love shown in a big way through new friends and friendships I have made here. I had not made it back to my apartment too long after the team left before friends were sending messages to see if I was available, for dinner, or just to talk! God is so good about placing wonderful people in our lives right when we need them! Urgent Prayer Request: Fabian, a 27 year old young man from the youth group I attend is in critical condition in a local hospital with what the doctors believe is viral meningitis, this would be the 2nd time in a year he has had meningitis. He is not responding right now and because he is in ICU not many people can go in to see him. Please pray for his recovery and for the doctors to find out why it is so easy for him to get this illness. Until the last one knows, Sierra

June 12th-18th ( Team Bowling Green, Florida)

Review of the June 12th-18th Team from Bowling Green, Florida! The team arrived as only 7 people but it can take a whole lot more then 7 to get done the amount of work they got done in 5 days. Below is a picture of the whole group of the national helpers: translators, pastors, recreation leader, plus the local missionaries that helped the team get a lot accomplished during the week, the best of all being opening a lot of doors for more work to be done here in Santiago del Estero. On Sunday the 14th the team and I spent the day at Bajo Grande Church. The day consisted of everything from walking from house to house handing out fliers for the afternoon activities to painting faces, making balloons creatures, teaching American football skills, and talking with the youth while the movie Fire Proof was shown in Spanish at night to the adults. Wednesday the Team spent the morning at a school out in country that is over 40 years old but still does not have electricity and most the kids who come to the school walk to it. Below is Jay and Jan Cook, myself and members of the team in front of the school and the team having breakfast with the director of the school The week started by me moving out of my apartment and staying at the Cook's house with the team. Here is me moving back in at the end of the week right before the team left Argentina.

Upianita: Santiageno Culture

From the entrance it looks likes nothing more then your typical park. However, every weekend around 2:00 in the afternoon Upianita is hoping with Santageno culture. First comes the traditional food. You can order empanadas, and just about anything that comes off the grill from steak and ribs to goat. Most people bring their own drinks and buy their food. Then there is a live band playing typical music from Santiago and then dancers in the traditional dress who are dancing the traditional dances especially the chacarera. You have to pay close attention to the whole area because there are things to see and hear covering the whole grounds. If you walk all the way back to the forest part of the park, you will find an outdoor art gallery that is a great way to become educated on many of the traditional legends of the area. Then you will hear the click and clatter of horses hooves as the traditional horse and buggy "sury" takes people around as well as people take horse back rides around the lake. The best part of the experience for me was getting to share it with a family from Santiago. A local pastor and his wife had brought their family and they were able to "shed a lot of light" on things for me. They explained a lot of the differences in the styles of dances and the art. I enjoyed being able to spend time with them and see things from the perspective of an insider.

Birthdays are made for celebrating with friends! (part 2)

On Saturday June 6th it was finally time to celebrate Viky's birthday, Maria's niece. Her birthday was during the last week of May but the family had waited to celebrate till this date. Viky turned 3 and the theme of her party was "Winnie the Pooh." She has had a Pooh party ever since she turned one. When I arrived with the cake to help, I was overwhelmed by the elaborate homemade decorations and the amazing creativity. The party had to be held on the patio to accommodate the amount of people who were invited. Well, about 20 children came but several people did not come because it is winter here in Argentina and it tends to be a little cool at night, in the 50's at times. Overall, the party was a big success with the family making two smaller cakes, alfajores, pasta flora, and some other snacks to go with the hot chocolate served to the kids. I think the thing that is hardest for me to get used to are the balloon pinatas. They fill this big balloon with toys and candy and plow them up and then fill them with flour, powdered sugar, or corn starch. Then they bust it so that it explodes white and all the goodies come out and the kids get covered in white stuff. I think I enjoy more the traditional pinata that the kids have to hit with a stick and break open, then you don't have the chance of flour getting in a child's eye. Being that I have never had a lot of family, the best part of birthday parties in South America for me, are the gathering of family. I used to shy away from big gatherings because I was not used to them but now I enjoy seeing the blessings that come from big families and what they draw from each other.

Birthday's are made for celebrating with friends( part 2)!

On Saturday June 6th it was finally time to celebrate Viky's birthday Maria's niece. Her birthday was during the last week of May but the family had waited to celebrate till this date.

Birthdays are made for celebrating with friends!

On Thursday June 4th was Mariela's birthday. Mariela is one of my language partners and also attends the same church I do. Mariela has been going through some real trials in her life and God has really been blessing her by surrounding her with fellowship through Christian friends during this time. So, on her birthday she just wanted to be surrounded by friends so that is what we did, went to her house, drank mate and fellowshipped.

Kick-off of Escuela Biblica

On Saturday May 31st was the kick-off of escuela biblica at Emanuel Baptist. Escuela Biblica is a lot like one of the programs you have probably heard of referred to as team kid, ga's, hora feliz, etc. It takes place on Saturdays at 4:00 and the children are divided in age levels and learn about the bible, have snack and recreation time. Well, Saturday was the day to introduce it for this year, so there was a jumping castle, a children's Jesus film played, and lots of chocolate milk and cookies handed out. About 150 children came from all over Santiago del Estero and they were ready to get started. I went to help and see what it was all about. I have not commited to a lot of things yet, I am waiting to see where God wants to use me before I fully commit. However, this minister is a true blessing to this church, neighborhood, and the surrounding ones. Noelia and I had a chance to take some of the children home who had come to the event. We thought they had walked from the nearby neighborhood which it was but as we began to walk with them around 6:30 the sun went down and we noticed they had walked a long way alone. The little boy you will notice in the slide show ate like he had never eaten before and his little sister of maybe one year had walked there with their brothers and sisters. I knew from my previous experience this was not anything unusual but Noelia did not need to go alone so I went with her and these children did not need to cross the highway at night alone. That experience gave me the chance to see even in the country they call "the Europe of SOuth America" poverty is so alive. The area where these children lived reminded me so much of the neighborhoods I was surrounded by in Bolivia. God does things for a reason and that day he opened my eyes and my heart and most importantly my mind to a new understanding of Argentina.

Who wants to eat alone?

On Thursday I got a wonderful call from Andrea and Tato a couple from the church where I have been spending a lot of time “Emmanuel Baptist.” Andrea said she was near town and Tato was getting ready to finish work at his barber shop and would I like to have dinner with them and just visit so I would not have to eat alone and they could get to know me better. I was so blessed by the time I spent with them, we laughed, we ate, and most of all we shared a lot.