ESL Classes and Caring for Kids

We started back ESL classes again Monday. Here are some pictures of classes to give you an idea.
There have been incredible opportunities from these classes. Yesterday, we had only about 30 students because it was a national holiday. Yet, last Wednesday, there were around 60 students. After the lessons, we discuss a short movie clip from various movies. Each of these movies contain songs/concepts that encourage spiritual conversations and thinking deeply about life. During this small group, the people who have stayed continue to think about relative truth vs. absolute truth along with church traditions vs. a real relationship with Jesus Christ. The Lord continues to open many doors with these classes.

The other day, I was reading 2 Timothy 4. Verses 3-4 say, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." This is exactly what I am seeing with many of the people with whom we are working. Often people will believe only what they want to believe. Like one teenager we were talking to, he said "religion" is important, but the majority of the emphasis is on the person and "doing good" instead of completely resting in the work of Christ on the cross to forgive sin.

Today, we have been caring for some of the children down the street. This is Oriana.
This is Lautaro.This is Juan Cruz.

The little baby, Bianca, that was born 16 days ago is struggling to breath. In the States, she would be in the hospital, but apparently "there was no room." For the past 24 hours, we have kept her here with an air purifier, but she's really struggling now and cannot get enough oxygen. The Donells are taking her to a hospital an hour away. Please pray that the Lord would heal her little body. She is so precious and it's hard to see her struggling to breath.

Walking by faith,
kristen

Gladys Aylward

I have been reading the book Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper recently. A few days ago, I came across a quote by Gladys Aylward, missionary to China. She was speaking of her parents, and I have to say the same:

"How good they were to me. I realize more fully now as I look back. How great was the sacrifice my parents were making in allowing their daughter to go off alone to a place thousands of miles away...How much I have to thank them for, that they did not try to hold me back."

-Kristen

La Rioja

This past week we went to La Rioja to meet Claudio, Amy's finance's, extented family. It was a genuine taste of Argentine culture! Here is a map of Argentina. The red star is where we are, Carlos Paz and the blue star is the city of La Rioja in the province of La Rioja. It is about a 500km trip, and it took us about 5 hours because we only drove between 80-100km/hr. (You do the math. ;)) La Rioja reminds me a lot of Arizona, flat and dry with mountains in the background.

Wednesday, we went over to the grandparents' house for the big asado. The majority of the family, about 50, came to celebrate the grandparents' birthday and meet Amy. The food and festivities were incredible. We got there around 1:00pm and started our meal with homemade empandas, these are like turnovers filled with meat or vegetables. These empandas had potatoes, olives, onions, and hot peppers. Que ricisimo! (How delicious!) Then we had locro, the authentic stew, I wrote about several weeks ago. And then... the asado. One kilo of meat per person, thus 50 kilos total! As you can see in the pictures, we could have fed a Chinese army!I had a great time with the cousins. They helped introduced everyone.

After the incredible dinner, we had the coolest part. The family set up microphones and sang for us. The whole family has incredible talent from song writing to playing the guitar, violin, and piano. The sweetest part, at the beginning, they sang a song for us, that they had written, welcoming the Donell's into the family. Then they sang for the next five hours! As time went on, the time become more exciting and they moved into dancing. It was all very sweet. At the end, I was a little worn out..but a great time.

The next day, we drove around the city and out to the desert. It was cold and windy but a beautiful view.Until later,
kristen

ESL Classes

It has been a few days since I have updated my blog, and I apologize. We went on a trip for several days. But I sure do have a lot to share now!

On Monday night we started helping this American from our church with ESL classes. He has done this before in other countries and takes the opportunity to share the Gospel with those attend. He advertised a lot for these classes and got the Municipality all excited for him. I was a little skeptical, but he was sure that he would have a class of about 50. Amy, Mr. Donell, and I got to the municipality building early to set up. The next thing I knew, the news reporters were there to advertise. The interviewed Nathan, the American, and had Amy translating! By the time the classes started we had 45 students! Nathan teaches with a very interactive and exciting method. It was very cool.

Between the two hours, he showed a short movie clip with the song "Where is the Love?" by a group called Black Eyed Peas. He showed it as an opportunity for discussion after the class.

After the class, eight people stayed to further discuss the movie (in Spanish because this is a beginners class). One of the most thought provoking phrases that we talked about was, "If you never know truth, you'll never know love." We went into a a discussion on relative truth and real truth. It really challenged some of the people to think about "What is truth?" Unless there is a basis for truth, truth is all relative. Mr. Donell took the opportunity to present the truth of the Bible and the Gospel with them. What a perfect opportunity! I found this discussion very interesting and different from other conversations we have had because these were educated people who could really think deeply about philosophy

Excited about the more opportunities that are ahead.
-kristen

Church Asado

Last night, we had a group of about 40 people over after church for an asado. This is where they buy all different cuts of meat and grill it for about three hours. The general rule of thumb is to buy about 1 kilo of meat per person! On top of that people brought all sorts of dishes to go with the meat. It was incredible! Here is all the meat before it was cooked...

The meat on the grill when it was almost ready!

Great fellowship. Apparently this was the first time that a group like this has gotten together spontaneously after church. We had a sweet time and fellowshipped until about 2:00am! It was all worth it.
-kristen

Pictures from the Marriage Conference

Here are some pictures from the marriage conference...
Jose Moreno, our speaker, drinking mate the cultural drink.

Amy and Claudio
Mr. and Mrs. Donell

We got some great pictures. Last night we had an asado until 2:00am! I'll put some pictures up from that in a little bit.
-Kristen