3 weeks ago I set out on a journey with a group of 12 young people and 2 leaders to the andean valleys to visit places where there is no church, to encourage people who have hard lives and often feel isolated, to pray with and for them, to lead kids clubs and bring them gifts and build them a bigger meeting room!!! Here is a picture taken on the journey in the mountains:
NOW I know what the red dust is....!! Amazing that 4 years ago God already knew and had plans!
The whole trip in the valleys was absolutely brilliant. We started as a team of 12 and then divided into 2 teams of 6 visiting 4 different villages in total. My team was brilliant and I definitely have a lot of new friends now! In each place we visited homes to invite people to our kids clubs and events and generally spend time with them and learn about what life is like. Some of the houses were a 30 min walk apart and without electricity or clean water. To reach one community we had to wade across a river holding onto each other!! People in the valleys are generally really shy-it was hard to get used to kids hiding behind their Mums when you talk to them and teenagers not able to look you in the eye. The church is committed to visiting the communities every month, working to improve their health, economic situations, education and future. I'm hoping to continue to be involved in the ongoing work now as they are such beautiful places with great people and huge opportunities to make a big difference.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest...
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| Our motto; To love is to serve... John 13:35 |
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| Our first village Angastaco nestled in the mountains. The church has a buliding, nursery house and vineyard!! |
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| Grapes-almost ready to eat! |
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| Children in EL Carmen. Their homes had been washed away by a landslide the week before and they are now living with their families in a primary school. |
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| Acting out a sketch-I played the part of the on/off switch! |
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| Our first night in Churcal-thunderstorm- it took a long wait to get this photo. The boys decided not to sleep in the tent!! |
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| Sunrise after the storm-a beautiful place; mountains, river, green fields. |
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| 12 men from church came to build a new, bigger room for the kids work. |
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| Within 24 hours it was done!! |
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| Some time to relax too. |
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| Our last morning sunrise in Churcal |
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| Our neighbours |
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| The whole team-celebrating a good job done! |
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How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 !!!
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Still to come... (Prayer appreciated!!)
In the next few days I will be moving into a flat with 4 other girls who are coming to Salta to study.
On Monday I go on camp until Thursday with the teens from my church. I get to be a leader of one of the groups and participate in all the crazy games and late nights!!
On the 6th Feb the nursery opens again for the new year!
Thanks for reading, all the brilliant letters, parcels and messages. Keep in touch!!
Lots of love,
Jo xxx
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