If I try to write about everything that happened and how it has affected me, this will become a novel that nobody will want to spend the time reading…so I will try to capture just the high points, and as much as I have processed them.  Anyone who has spent time on a mission trip will know that it will be a very long time, if ever, before I can fully capture internally this trip, as I am still “running into” my last trip to Africa from time to time.

The biggest, by far, take away from this trip is my relationship with God.  I will confess that I never felt God as forcefully or personally as I did during and since the trip.  I am in awe of His presence, constantly, in my life now.  Having spent concentrated time with God for a week, my conversations with Him have changed into, well, real conversations.  True he does not “speak” to me in a conventional sense, but MY end of the conversation has certainly changed and I speak to God   more conversationally now.  It FEELS like a two way conversation, and it is.  His responses may not be audible or immediate, but they are responses I can see or hear or feel now.  I suspect they were always like that, and it is me who has changed, certainly not God.  Finally, my prayers don’t feel like such a duty these days as they do a desire.  It is like talking to my oldest dearest friend.

Less spiritually, but marginally so, are my views on several topics I had thought had been determined.  For one, the concept of “working poor” has changed.  Prior to this trip, I would have said that term was an oxymoron.  If you are working, how can you be poor? And if you are, work harder!  What I saw in La Plata were people working as hard as they could, and still not making ends meet; People who, if only they could FIND steady work,  would work very hard for long hours.  Certainly there are people who also simply refuse to work and rely on others to support them, but how do you know when you see someone who is struggling?  Is that true here at home as well?  Since my experience tells me that once you strip away language and cultural differences we are all the same, children of God created in His image, the answer is yes.  Consequently, for me, I find I look at people differently.  I find I can no longer assume someone in need simply needs to work harder and stop being lazy.  I have not finished thinking through this issue, and recognize some discernment is required, if not to decide who to help at least to decide how to help.  I suspect I’ll be working on this one for a LONG time.

Illegal immigration is another topic I thought I understood but am changing views on.  Nate pointed out to me what, while it should have been glaringly obvious, is a point I had never before considered.  His question to me was, “What would it take to make me  leave my country permanently settle somewhere else?”  Of course, I wouldn’t!  I am an American!  I love America!  I would have to be totally desperate to move!  Well, here is the epiphany, IMMIGRANTS LOVE THEIR COUNTRY TOO!  Where I saw people wanting to come here to take advantage of the U.S, I now see desperate people who risk coming here illegally just to survive. This is another topic I am still working on, and I have not come to conclusion but I certainly have a new perspective to work from.  I do believe it is wrong to come here illegally.  It IS illegal after all.  Perhaps we need a new Ellis Island, or something, but it is (my new conviction is) our responsibility to address the issue of desperation in other countries while still making sure that our solution does not result in a collapse of our economy and the blind acceptance of everyone including dangerous criminals. As I said, I have not come to a complete conclusion on this one.

Lastly (for this post anyway) is my idea of evangelism.  I previously believed evangelism was something you “did”.  I am realizing now that evangelism is something you LIVE.  Another glaringly obvious point Nate helped me with that I was previously blind to is the idea that you had to leave the US to have cross-cultural evangelism.  The truth is that ANY Christian being an example to and speaking about Christ with a non-believer is participating in cross-cultural evangelism!  Believers have a culture of Christianity, and a non-believer does not.  Even though we may be speaking the same “language” we speak from a perspective of a different culture just as much as if we lived half a planet apart.  ALL EVANGELISM IS CROSS-CULTURAL!

This was an amazing trip for me personally.  It was much more “difficult” than what I expected.  I thought that doing something physical like digging ditches or building buildings would be more difficult, but to get and stay emotionally engaged and invested with God and our group for a week was EXHAUSTING.  Doing something physical, while physically challenging, in my mind would be easier than a week of serious emotional investment.  Not to discourage anyone.  If you have an opportunity to do something like this, I URGE you to take it!  While exhausting it is also eye-opening and completely rewarding!

The whole team!

Thank you to Nate and Deb, Rich and Jill and Brian and Tara for hosting us.  It was a pleasure to meet you and your families, it was inspiring to watch you and get to know you and I for one look forward to returning to La Plata soon!  God bless you all, we will continue to pray for you and the people of La Plata and Argentina!

We did find the Bus!

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To help us get a “flavor” of traveling in LaPlata the team set up a scavenger hunt by dividing us Yanqui’s (that’s what we were to the Argentine people) into three groups with a set of specific instructions. As we accomplished each step we accumulated various points. We could request help from anyone except the “Shadow” (a LaPlata Team member who was some where behind – for safety and to keep us from getting too lost)

1) We had to take a bus to “Plaza Passo” and get off at 44 & 13

After we got to Plaza Passo, these were the instruction:

1) Buy ice cream from “Indiana Helados” – 50 points –the problem was it was “closed for the afternoon ciesta” so we took a photo to prove we were there – we purchased ice cream later elsewhere

2) Buy an alfajor (alpha-whore), a cake like treat – 50 pts

3) Buy a diario (news paper) – 75 pts

4) Make phone call to “414-0622” and say hello to Deb – 100 pts

5) Have a sit down cup of Caf’e – 100 pts

6) Buy a “una factura” (a pastry) – 50 pts

7) Buy candy for the Kids (Team’s children) – 75 pts

Say “Bracia, Que Dios te bendiga” (Thank you and God bless you) to the people you buy things from – 100 pts

Then we were to walk down 13 until your reach 50 (stay on 13 and make sure the street numbers increase) to the plaza and spot the Cathedral, then:

1) Stop at the snack bar and buy something to drink – 50 pts

2) Go into the Cathedral and write down descriptions of at least 3 statues – 500 pts

Then were to hail a taxi, hand him the instructions back to Team LaPlata headquartes – OH, make sure the “shadow” is in the cab with you – 500 pts

We never were told who “won”. I think the object was to “run as if to win the race”!

As I thought about our final time there, and during our talk and decompression session, I realize that I have a much greater appreciation for everything I have.   When we look at the poverty in that country contrasted with the wealth in our country, we are humbled by the question of WHY did God choose to put those people there instead of us?   Why are we so blessed??   Did we do something to deserve that??   And the answer is quite simple – it is God’s amazing grace.  We didn’t do anything to earn the right to heaven or the right to live in a wealthy country, we weren’t special, we aren’t better than anyone else, we were, pure and simple as God planned.  So then we must ask — WHAT NEXT?   Ah, but then we must wait patiently for the answer.  

I have been blessed in many ways, and I know that.   I feel the presence of God in my home, at my work, through my family, and through most of my social life – what a wonderful feeling that is!  

I am so thankful to have been a part of this team.  And as we were getting ready to go, with a small smile on my face, I looked around and thought to myself – “our work here is through”   met with the sobering question … “or is it really?”   

What if God had stopped at some point in time?  Where would we be?   

So truly, is ‘our’ work there through?  

I don’t think so, I think we’re only getting started, with a more clear understanding of the mission, a more clear understanding of the culture, the people and their needs, and a much more clear understanding of HOW we can be of service to this community which is so vastly different, as well as a  great distance, from our own.

More when I’ve had time to process the thoughts and feelings!

Peace, Love & JOY!!!!!   In All things.

Back to work on Tuesday – it was nice to do another prayer walk with Rich through the Villa de Miseria (the village of misery) and we discussed the economical issues facing his neighbors and contacts. Once again, our hearts were tugged by the living conditions of the people in the villa and we felt tugged and blessed all at the same time.

After another fabulous lunch, we sadly said goodbye to Norma and Anna – our wonderful cooks for the trip – and we will certainly miss them! Wonderful cooks, and beautiful hearts and love for the Lord!

The afternoon was another fabulous adventure! A scavenger hunt through the city of LaPlata. In a foreign country, in a foreign language, and very little assistance. We had a list of things going out into the town with certain items to gather, and places to visit and the team with the most points at the end of the day wins.

What utter pleasure it was!!! Of course, being the naturally curious – this is the type of exploring I would do in any city regardless of whether or not I was going to be awarded points!

We did visit the Cathedral, which has an incredibly rich history, and thought to be cursed – I have not read the entire history on this subject yet, but is sounds fascinating. The building was majestic in many ways and I was glad we were awarded points in there for studying some of the statues – it made us pay more attention to the idol worshiping that plagues the country.

The evening was met with the ‘family’ gathering – EVERYONE… and we had a wonderful shepherd’s pie meal, along with threefold communion. A great time of prayer, thoughtfulness, worship and fellowship – the way God intended for us to be.

It was hard to believe that we’ve been here a week, and yet tomorrow we will pack and leave….. and hug

and probably cry…

definately pray!

After an overload day on Sunday, we spent Monday being pure tourists!   It was fun, informative and very unique.   We loaded the bus and headed for Buenos Aires – lots of interesting sights along the way, and Brian and Nate probably got tired of all of the ‘tourist’ questions, but they tolerated us nonetheless.

The national cemetery was interesting and again, being with Lindsay and Butch was highly beneficial!  We (along with everyone that day it seemed) visited the gravesite of Eva Paron.   We compared her to Jackie Kennedy or Princess Diana as far as the national female iconic figure.  The graves there showed how much people believed they could be prayed into heaven, or that they could earn their way.   It was sad to think how many people made the mistake of placing their faith in the wrong place.

Next, the obligatory visit to Hard Rock Café (for one of my special-ist friends in the whole world, Jim) J

The Cathedral there was interesting, as well as learning about the Lost Children.   I won’t begin to try to spell all the Spanish terminology, because, well, I just can’t.

Our lunch consisted of another 6 pounds of beef….(Hey… I’m trying to cut back!) and the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever had.  Absolutely fabulous!

Then to the shopping …. Gee, I wish I had more money….and at the same time, glad I didn’t.   It wore me out.  Probably the continual language barriers/limitations, and the fact that I have yet to master numbers in Spanish or the peso/USD$ conversions.   I found lots of interesting things, tons (literally) of leather, and at the same time, felt guilty spending the money, knowing it could easily do much more good in the small villa miseria that Rich and Jill live close to.  

We visited another place where artists gather and it’s like a continual street fair – very interesting, but again, wish I had more time to browse, since we got there just as they were wrapping up for the day.

It was all in all a fabulously tourist day… but actually I was happy to be back in our little home-away-from-home!

Okay – can you believe that while we were here, we were given a homework assignment!   We were told to READ Psalm 105 and 106, then write a Psalm about our life….  So we did this individually, then collectively read our Psalms, alternating one paragraph at a time, and it was amazing how many similarities there were, but more – it was VERY revealing to see how God has been working in all of our lives for a very long time.  I would strongly encourage you all to do this exercise for yourselves.   It’s very revealing at the same time, makes you more and more thankful that, at whatever point it happened, you chose to follow God!

What a wonderful way to start our Sunday morning.  Then off to worship at a very small church near Buenos Aires (or at least I think it was!)  Although the number of people was small, it was a wonderful experience – very happy, loving church.   This is the church that Anna and Norma (our gracious cooks) were from and they greeted us all, and introduced us to her family.   As I heard more and more what her friends said about her, I realized that she was truly the grandmother to the whole church!  (not in the family lineage way, but certainly with her heart).   They all spoke very respectfully and admiring She reminded me very much of my mom.   She does all of the party planning for the teen girls’ parties, she sews for them all, and she is in charge of running a soup kitchen that feeds the poor twice a month.

We broke into small groups, and I realized as we held hands and prayed, that although I couldn’t understand everything they were saying, and they couldn’t understand what I was saying, it didn’t matter – God heard and understood it all.   I loved talking with Anna, Mary, Maria Rosa, Elsa, and Lindsay, the language barrier was there, but we all understood it was, so patience prevailed and we all laughed and talked about our families.

After that off to the Asado – read everyone else’s posts as I know they all wrote about it – however, no matter what they say – I still don’t believe that given the amount of meat that we started with we only ended up with a little leftover!  WOW… and yes – it was ALL good…   I did my part by devouring another nine pounds of delicious beef!   (No way I will ever become a vegetarian!)

We met Brian & Tara’s mentors – wonderful people!    The evening followed with worship at a different church – this one was a bit more structured, and more people – interestingly a couple of the people from the morning church came to the evening service as well.   Apparently a Sunday morning church is a very rare commodity down here.     It was still a relatively  small church –very spirit filled and it was nice to meet several people who spoke English.   Somehow Lindsay and I ended up setting in the front row next to Eduardo – whose son just happens to live in Indiana – he was a great help in translating for me.   There was a wonderful message, and it was even more obvious what the main reason behind this trip was…and why there needs to be a new church planted in the LaPlata area.   Travelling here is much different than travelling in the states -  the primary mode of transportation is shoe leather…

The entire day was a HUGE blessing – in multi-languages!   I’m finding that I can understand far better than I can speak!   I’m truly thankful for Lindsay!!!    But the poor girl is now being taxed with having to say what I’m thinking too!!!   Fortunately (for me) she is getting good at it!   J   Peace, Love & JOY!!!!!

This morning we did part one of our tour of Brian and Tara’s neighborhood.    Brian led us through the neighborhood, pointing out several shrines that have been erected in the area.  Interestingly, these shrines have a christian (small c intentional) overtone.  Many of these shrines are set to worship the virgin Mary, who is exalted in this culture.  Brian explained that the view of Jesus here is either as a baby, dead on the cross, or dead in Mary’s arms. In short, it is Mary who gives Jesus life, and who supports and carries Jesus, even in death. Visiting the cathedral both here in La Plata and in Buenos Aries reinforced this view, as both places surely do depict Jesus as either small and weak (a baby) still on the cross or dead and in Mary’s arms.  As a matter of fact (we did not get to see this, but Nate told us about it, the stations of the cross in the cathedral in BA stop at the tomb; it is as though Jesus were still in there!

While it is somewhat sickening to see how Mary is idolized over Jesus, at least Mary is a biblical figure of some importance, and one can at least understand the mistake. There is, however, an even worse example of Satan perverting Christianity here.  A very popular spiritual figure here is known as Gauchito Gil.  The pictures of the red items below are examples of shrines to this person.

Gauchito Gil is a possible historical, possible mythical figure on Argentina’s history.  Supposedly he is a “Robin hood” type figure who it is said had fallen in love with the girlfriend or wife of a local political figure (a mayor or sheriff).  Knowing he could not be with his love, he went off to war and became a hero, only upon returning the local political figure captured him and took him out to hang him.  Just before hanging him, Gauchito told him that his son was deathly ill and if he would spare Guachito, he would heal his son.  The mayor (we’ll call him) hung him anyway, only to find upon his return home that his sone was in fact deathly ill.

Pagan Shrine to Gauchito Gil

He quickly returned to the site of the hanging to give Gauchito a decent burial and honor him.  Lo and behold, his son was healed and the legend is no that if you pray to Gauchito he will “bless: you, the only catch is if he does bless you, you must have a celebration to tell everyone how Gauchito gave you what you wanted, and then erect and maintain a shrine in thanks.  Gaucho, although supposedly hung, is depicted standing before a cross!

It is clear that Satan has done a good job of deceiving the Argentine’s here since this pagan worship is simply whitewashed with Christian symbols.  It is likely, even probable that these shrines and the worship to idols produces some spiritual “rewards”, but that is the way Satan and his demons work. It appears you are being blessed, when in actuality you are being cursed. All the celebration is designed to bring more followers to the demon (idol) and AWAY from Jesus.

There is a lot of background reasoning behind why and how the people here are deceived by this, but there is not enough room in the blog to explain it…if you are interested in more info see the following links:

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0847553020080108

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauchito_Gil

This is a horrible perversion of spiritual worship, and could use some very focused prayer, particularly since our team is on the front lines of this battle, and it is clear the enemy is fully engaged.

After walking with Brian, we had ANOTHER wonderful lunch of “baked fried chicken”,

Us and our chefs

(our group with our wonderful chef’s seen here) a short siesta and then out on our scavenger hunt!  We began by leaving hte house, with a “shadow” of course to make sure we didn’t end up in Chile somehow, and headed to the bus stop.  We were to take the bus toward the center of La Plata and had several tasks to complete once we debarked.  Of course, the FIRST task was to find the right bus, and after a couple false starts (we were originally on the side of the street headed AWAY from the center of La Plata) we were able to get instructions of where to stand and which bus to catch.  We made it ti Plaza Passo, missing the CORRECT stop by only one block.  Thankfully there is a bus stop on every corner here!

We managed to get a bottle of water, find the ice cream parlor (although ti was closed so we couldn’t buy ice cream), have a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe’ along with a pastry, call Deb on the phone, buy candy and cookies, a newspaper and finally arrive at the cathedral int he square.  The cathedral (see the picture below) is the largest Gothic church constructed in the 20th century.  It is a beautifully ornate structure, which dominates the center of the city.  Directly across from the cathedral is the Mayor’s office which is dwarfed by the size of the cathedral.  It is interesting that the Cathedral is the central building in the city, catolicism is the state recognized religion (you must be catholic to be president of Argentina) yet the worship among the common people is pagan.

La Plata Cathedral

It is a bittersweet day as we are beginning our preparations for leaving,  We still have one more worship session, another prayer walk and lunch together, but it feels lke things are coming to a close today.  Everyone is running around packing and gathering their things to ensure nothing is forgotten and we leave as little a “mark” on the place for our hosts to take care of after we leave as possible.  As much as we missed our homes and families while we were here, we will miss our family here in Argentina when we are gone.

Hopefully we will return soon!

Then after lunch we did a very diffeent Prayer Walk. The afternoon walk was about “issues”, those that stem from the “demonic” forces. We prayed, but did it as if we were talking to each other as if in conversation, but it was Prayer to God, not to draw attention to ourselves more than what we would being “non-Argentine”. It was evident that there were intentional “forces” which drew people to a “priest”, “chamin” all of which was definitely no “God sourced” Even the Catholic church was a place where the people were not encourgaged “not to read the Bible”, but work thru a man, the Priest. Even the one “evengelical” church was not like the “evengelial” churches in the states. Here the “leader’ of the evangelical church was a type of “chamin” which is definitely not “truth” related.  Through all this we prayed that the presents of the LaPlata Team they would be able to establish contacts with would lead to a conversation though which there would be opportunity to talk about the Truth which is Christ. I could go on and on, but others did the same thing and there will be other aspects to share with you.

Listening to Deb made me realize how busy and secluded we can allow our lives to become leaving no time for the people in the world that don’t know Christ. We fall into the trap of living in our own little circle of Christian friends and family.  We keep to ourselves hiding the light of Christ from the lost.  On the other hand Deb and Nate engage the lost they look for opportunities to make friends with them and build relationships.

I came to Argentina hoping to give a part of myself to help the lost find Christ but have discovered that I have been hiding the hope of Christ in my own world.

National Cathedral

Javier