Tucumán Thank You

Hi everyone!

I decided to go digital/green with my thank you letter this year so that you can see more pictures and have it be a more interactive experience for you, and without the paper clutter :)

 I returned to the US on July 22, tired from 24 hours of travel and sick from food poisoning on the last day in Argentina. But despite those inconveniences, this year’s trip was memorable as always.

This trip was my fourth time going with Lighthouse (fifth time if you count my solo visit in Christmas 2008). And because I’ve visited before, this year ministering in Tucumán felt natural. Doing ministry in Iglesia Biblica Misionera Tucumán felt like I was doing my normal church activities in Lighthouse San Diego, just with a few minor differences (different language, people, and country…); I welcomed new visitors to the church, I counseled those who were in need, I spent time with the youth girls of the church, and I shared the Gospel with people who didn’t know Christ.

Eugene leads praise during one of our evening evangelistic campaigns.

Me and Roger with some chicas of a neighborhood where we evangelized.

Roger finally got to meet my good friend Pablo.

It made the time even more meaningful knowing that this trip brought much encouragement to Pastor Jorge and Norma Ahualle. I realized during the trip that being a minister of the Gospel in Tucumán is tiring work. Due to the neighborhood’s poverty, serious sins such as drug abuse, crime, violence in families (and that’s just naming a few) is something that Pastor Jorge and Norma have to deal with often. Ministry is also hard because of the constant temptation for Christians to follow and be like the world. I was glad to know that our team being there was having an eternal impact by proclaiming the Gospel. Not only that, we were at the same time encouraging the Ahualles to be effective and rejuvenated even after the missions trip was over. Our ministry to them wasn’t only in the scheduled evangelism activities but also during informal times. Helping out the señoras in the kitchen and discussing God’s Word over mate, Argentina’s signature beverage, as simple as it may seem, was the fulfillment of God’s command for us to be in fellowship. 

Fellowshipping over breakfast at the Ahualles' house.

Me trying my hand at being as great of an Argentinean cook as Maga, the grandma of the church.

Street view of the 24 de septiembre neighborhood.

Roger and me with Norma, Jorge, and their son Josue. One of my least favorite times of the trip--saying goodbye :(

Another very encouraging aspect of the trip was seeing how Iglesia Biblica Misionera served the Lighthouse team. The meals were prepared with love (and were delicious!) and they took care to ensure that we were all well-fed. 

The famous chimichurri that makes everything it touches delicious.

Argentinean pizza.

Argentinean breakfast pastries (facturas).

Guiso (stew).

Pan de carne (meatloaf)

Me and Roger at Siga la Vaca, an all-you-can-eat meat place.

The church collaborated together in making us gifts, they coordinated a welcome presentation for us on our first night in Tucumán, and they were eager to be part of the evangelism campaign in the barrios. It was an opportunity for the youth kids of the church to take part in the life of the church, as well as for me and Roger to be in our element--acting like big kids with the youth and ministering to that age group-- just like we do at Lighthouse!

Roger & I doing what we love to do--spending time with the youth kids of the church. 

This letter is to give you a glimpse of the work that was done in Argentina so that you could know how your support was used to further the Gospel in Tucumán, Argentina. I am so thankful for your prayers and support, and it’s a demonstration of how God uses people like you to fulfill His purposes in having the people of Tucumán hear the Gospel. God always uses my trips to Tucumán as a way to increase in my heart and love for the people there, and this year was no different. Despite the thousands of miles between us, my desire is still to be persistent in my prayers for them throughout the year and to continue loving them.  

Team Lighthouse 2011 (and translators) thank you for your support!

Chile and how the world is small.

My church in Chile, Luz al Mundo, has an elder who is a missionary from Germany. Today was his last day because he has to go back to Germany to visit various churches for about 6 months and he will come back to Santiago in December/January. That reminded me of Meinolf Mellwig (yes, that pastor of the Czech church) and how he had to return to Germany last year when LBC was on missions. So, purely out of curiosity, I asked him if by the off chance he knew Meinolf Mellwig.

And you know what!? They are both sent from the same German missionary organization and they had done missions together in the same location before! They were roommates or something like that way way way back on the missionary trip. He knew about the English camps LBC does with Meinolf's church so I got to tell him a bit more about LBC's ministry with Meinolf. Times like this I wish I actually got to meet Meinolf instead of talking about him as an elusive figure.

What an unlikely intersection of nationalities of United States, Chile, Germany, and Czech Republic somehow coming together on a normal Sunday at church in Santiago...

LBC Missions

I have been checking the EAP website since I got accepted to see if the academic calendar is up so I can coordinate the dates to go to Tucuman (accent mark on the "a"), Argentina . I will need to be in Chile by June 25. That means a little more than three months away.

Nevertheless, the coolest part--the Intensive Language Program spans from June 30 – July 18.
LBC is in Tucuman from July 10-24 (with a few days taken off for travel time).
U de Chile orientation is July 23-25.

...That means I have FOUR to FIVE days off to visit Lighthouse in Argentina.

WOW! God is so good. It's like I am going on missions with LBC again this year since I get to be on the Home Team with the CZ & AR teams this year, I just won't be flying out with them (I'll just be meeting them there, jaja).

Gracias a Dios.