A New Roof

The team has been hard at work over the last couple of days making improvements to Norma's house which doubles as a worship center. The ladies scraped, sanded, and stained any wood surface they could find as well as the wood boards that would become the new roof. Last night around 10pm they nailed the last board in place. Now they will roll out a membrane that should seal the roof from water leaking in. Norma and her family was so excited to see their new roof, it brought tears to their eyes.


Yesterday we did our second outreach a Church called Christ is The Way. Almost 50 kids came to do crafts, and drink chocolate milk and eat sweet bread, and hear the creation story. We had such an amazing time sharing Jesus's love with the kis in Catamarca. We heard so many heart breaking stories of abuse and neglect and to children that are so young. Please lift these children up in your prayers. There is physical, and sexual abuse Families with drug problems, and neglect. Even despite all of this these children have so much love.

After the out reach we went to the grotto where supposedly the virgin Mary appeared. Before we went up to the Grotto we prayed for the people who are trapped in the idolatry. It was not until we went up to the grotto that we fully understood the extent of it. It begins with the stations of the cross where they add two stations where Mary goes up to heaven and is blessed by God. Here she is credited with performing miracles. People would go to the grotto and pray to Mary for healing and many other things. If their prayer is answered they leave a plaque or erect a sort of shrine to Mary in thanks. What is so heart breaking is that even though they believe in Jesus they give the credit to Mary. They have forgotten that Jesus is the Lord. Please pray for these people. They are so close to a personal relationship with God yet so far away from it. They call her the Virgin of the Valley and they worship her, a piece of wood instead of Jesus. Pray for the people of Catamarca to find the truth. Pray for Scott and Ruth and the churches they work with to continue to grow and to continure to have the courage to preach the  Gospel.

We returned to the church after we went and prayed for the salvation of the pilgrims at the grotto we returned to the church and had a beautiful time of fellowship with the pastor ad his family. They served us tea and sweet rolls, and then they sag for us. After wards Sarah, Nancy, and Stephanie, were able to sing for them. We ended the time of fellowship with prayer.

Last night we had to say goodbye to a new friend who helped us and touched us in a mighty way. Miguel came with such a bright attitude and willingness to help. He was our announcer for the first children's outreach, and helped to paint and put on the new roof. With everything he did he brought the love of Christ with him. We will all count him as a blessing to know and a life long friend.

OUr first Childrens Outreach!!!

We had our first outreach on Saturday. It was in a lady named Maggie's house. She is an elderly lady who opened her home so that we could serve the children of the community. We set up the PA system and we have been blessed with a student studying to become a radio announcer come and call out to the kids in the neighborhood to come join us. We ended up having about thirty kids from the neighborhood come and joined us. We gave out silly bands that were from the creation story, we had coloring books for them as well as a craft using paper plates to make masks. The were a big hit. After the crafts we sang "I've got peace like a river" to them in Spanish and taught the kids how to sing it. After wards we served them hot chocolate and sweet rolls baked by a local baker. We really had a blast sharing God's love with all of the little kids. Seeing the kids and the love that they have amidst the poverty that they live in is amazing and really touched our hearts. Even the older children stayed around and we played soccer with them. Our next youth outreach will be tomorrow afternoon.

Last night we were split up and went to two different church services. Nancy and Sarah were able to bless the church at Norma's house and they sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and Stephanie joined playing the base. Daniel gave a message and Sarah and Stephanie shared their testimonies. It was a big hit. The worship in the two churches was so powerful you could really feel the Holy Spirit moving in the fellowships. At the other church Tessa and Jimmy shared their testimonies and were able to bless their congregation as well.

Today we are at Norma's house putting a new roof on the worship center and staining her windows and doors. Tonight we have the couples fellowship and we are getting to celebrate Rene's birthday with the team. Please continue to pray for us for team unity and willingness to preach the gospel. We are so excited that we were given this opportunity to spread the gospel here in Argentina!!!

Catamarca!!

We have made it to Catamarca at last! We had a very short flight from Buenos Aires. We were met at the airport by Scott and Pedro who just happened to be visiting from Santiago, Argentina. How great is our God. Scott would have had to make two trips from the airport to get all of the team to their home, but since Pedro was their he was gracious enough to help drive us around not just from the airport but to the church and separate homes as well.

This evening we were able to go to a beautiful reception in the home of Norma Cabrera where one of the churches is located. We were able to share our testimonies with the church members and they blessed us with pastries and coffee. The people are such a beautiful and passionate people. The love that they have for the Lord is so encouraging. We are so excited to get to work with them. Jorge, Norma's son is in training to become a pastor. He shared with us his vision to bring the gospel to the youth of Catamarca. He says that if you bring the gospel to the youth then they will bring it to their family and then to all of society. He is so excited about sharing the gospel and only 23 years old. Praise God!!

Norma has an amazing story as well. She has seven children and when her husband died she brought her children with her to Catamarca to stay with family. After a year the family told them they had to go. Norma prayed and promised God that if He gave her a home she would dedicate it and her family to God. Three days before they had to be out God provided her and her family a home. They were able to then turn it into a house of worship. They minister to their neighborhood and family. Through Norma's belief she was able to help lead her family to Christ. It is her home that we will be fixing the roof on.

Well it is very late so I must close now. Please continue praying for us as we go out tomorrow to minister to the youth of one of the churches. Chow and God Bless!!

Getting ready to leave for Catamarca!

We are enjoying our cefé con cremé (coffee and cream) and checking our email before we head to the airport and hop on the plane to Catamarca. We opened our day with a beautiful time of prayer and devotion on the roof of our hotel. The weather is beautiful, sunny and cool. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the hotel and trekked out to the coffee shop down the street. We had the opportunity to connect with Ruth on Skype and say hello. They will be meeting us at the airport and we will be attending a reception tonight. Hopefully we can post a blog tonight.

Lots of love to everyone and God Bless.

Buenos Aires!!!!!!!!

We made it through the first and very long leg of our journey to Catamarca Argentina. We are spending the night in Buenos Aires before we board our fourth and last plane to Catamarca. We arrived around eight o'clock in the morning and were very tired yet unable to check into our rooms until noon. So tired as we were we had the opportunity to trek around downtown Buenos Aires. We had a lovely and surprisingly filling breakfast of toast and jam with some incredibly delicious coffee.

After breakfast we were able to check into our rooms and take showers. After we were refreshed were went and explored this amazing city often referred to as the grimy Paris. We went to window shop, check out the Congress building and ride the subway. Unfortunately while on the subway Nancey's camera was stolen. Amazingly she is praising God that it happened at the beginning of our trip and no pictures and memories of our trip were taken yet. Other members of the team have graciously stepped up and offered her the use of their cameras for the remainder of the trip.

After dinner we gathered together as a team in the solarium for a time of prayer praise and devotion. We are so excited for tomorrow when we head to Catamarca and start our work with the Millars. Please continue to keep us in your prayers for travel mercies, and courage to share the Gospel and God's love to everyone we meet.

God Bless!!

Sad News

We are so sad not to have our fearless leaders Phil and Retha join us on our trip. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Daniel and Sarah have stepped to be our guides. We look forward to continuing our journey to Catamarca to bring God's word to His people. Matthew 5:4

We leave in THREE days!!!

Wow! Our departure is just around the corner! It is happening so fast and we are so excited about bringing the Gospel to Catamarca. In the last couple of weeks leading up to our departure we have been very busy. We wrapped up our last fundraiser, the scrap metal drive, a couple of weeks ago. It was our most productive fundraiser yet. We were even donated a 16 foot box truck to sell and the proceeds will go towards the mission trip. God has been so faithful to provide for this trip.

Last week we got together as a team for a BBQ for a time of fellowship, we also got all of our travel documents and itineraries. Being able to see and hold the documents and lists made it all seem so real and so close. We have also gotten together to finalize the VBS programs we will be bringing to the kids in Catamarca. We will be bringing two programs, one about creation and one about the gospel. Each program will have crafts, games and music, and even some prizes!

We are also excited to be helping out with a teen night and talking with the couples in the church. There are also a couple of construction projects that we have been asked to help with. We will be helping put a roof on a widows home and build benches.


Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we enter our final days of preparation. Please pray for spiritual and physical protection, for travel mercies, for courage to share the gospel, and open hearts to receive the love of Christ.

We plan on regularly posting to this blog while we are in Catamarca, so check in with us and follow along with the team.

Thank you and God Bless!