In the valleys

Hola!!
I am back in the city after over a month in the valleys! I had a great time up in the mountains firstly seeing the beauty of God's creation;

Snow-capped mountains!

Red Earth!!

Although it was tough being away from my friends in the city and technology to be in touch with you all, I was blessed in being able to make some new friends and be part of the team that is working in the village of Angastaco in the first Evangelical Church in the area.

Pastor Ernesto

Some of the girls

Some of the guys

The church started with a Guarderia offering childcare. Here it's not so much that Mums work but more that they are very young and still studying, abandoned by their children's Fathers or have a large number of children and struggle to feed them well. Many of the children arrive malnourished and underweight but within a few months of receiving breakfast and a three-course meal everyday they soon grow stronger and healthier. And they are just as cute as the kids in the city;

Gonzalo

Martina (cousins that live with their Grandmother and
Mums who are still in secondary school)

Sofi, Maria and Sol

I also helped out with a Sunday school class, the youth meetings and preached in a service when the Pastor had to travel!

Next adventure!!
Very excitingly on the 6th June I will be travelling to Peru for 2 weeks. A few months ago I managed to get in touch with Shirley who was a great friend to me in my time in Peru 10 years(!!!) ago. She has since been living in California but has recently traveled back to Peru for the first time in years for a visit. Also 5 sisters who were orphans living in the home I volunteered in are travelling back for the first time in 8 years so I

couldn't resist the opportunity for a big reunion as I am so much closer! So I am really looking forward to seeing all that has happened in the work God is doing in another part of the Andes. I'm sure there will be lots of photos to keep you entertained!! :)

Fame!!
If you haven't seen it yet, I made it into Latin Link's latest magazine!! You can see a copy online by following this link, http://www.latinlink.org.uk/getmedia/e0359530-515f-4ed3-9d4a-b4e64374657a/LatinFile_Spring_2013_web.pdf.aspx

Thanks for reading and a huge thanks for the ongoing support!
Keep in touch!!

Love Jo. xx

For the pray-ers;
-Please continue to pray for my Aunty Sally that she will continue to make good progress and be completely free of cancer.
-Please pray for the church in the valleys that God will bless and protect the workers and children and it will continue to grow.
-Please pray for my church in Blaenau Gwent, Wales as it looks for a new Pastor, that God will provide the ideal person.
-Please pray for provision of a job for when I return to the UK in August and give thanks to God that He's already sorted out a car (for free!!)

Hola!! Here's a little update of the last few months at last!

January;

January ended with 2 very successful youth camps; first with the central church and then with my annex. Over 50 youth attended each camp!! Unfortunately my teams ended in last place in each camp. :(

The youth of my church

My team from the central church

February;

The Guarderia opened for a new year and as one of the teachers had finished in December we were down to two getting everything washed, ready and decorated. Thankfully God has blessed me with some amazing housemates who spent many an evening cutting, sticking and colouring to get it looking good and ready to welcome the eager kids. Thankfully there were also 3 bank holidays in the second week to help us out (Argentina is the country with the most bank holidays-we've just had another 4!!). We were also able to open up for 7 new children to start. The inscriptions opened at 1pm and the Mums started queuing at 8am to get a place so we have a full Guarderia and a long waiting list. The kids are brilliant as ever and full of fun and it's brilliant to see them growing and learning in a place where they are really cared for and loved!

Playing hard

And working hard

Alan and Ismael

The littlest ones love working too

Lautaro

Mauro 

Lautaro and Mauro are brothers. Sadly their Mum died of cancer and their Dad is on the run from the police for abusing their older step-sister. They have been taken in by their uncle whose family has increased from 5 to 9 overnight and they rent a room in a house to all live in. It is a big help to them that the Guarderia looks after the 2 youngest for 6 hours every day giving them breakfast, lunch and lots of love and cuddles!

On the 24th, my church celebrated it's 5th Anniversary with a special service and, of course, 5 cakes!!

The church with a new roof and floor!!

5 years - 5 cakes!

My new friend, Milagros

March;

My two focuses in the church this year are the Guarderia, completing the curriculum and training the teachers and the Youth. In March I began a cell group for teen girls. We meet every Thursday to play, eat, read the Bible together and pray. It has been great to see some of the girls come back who haven't been to church for a while and to be able to accompany them in the craziness of being a teenager!

Over Easter I returned to Cordoba for the International Youth Congress where again over 20,000 young (and not so young) people gathered to praise, pray and get prepared for serving God in their part of the world. It was great to be a part of the big event and enjoy concerts from some of the biggest names in Latino Christian music. Exciting to now put into practice all we learnt!!

Ready for the 12 hour journey!

Some of the 12, 000

Celebrating Easter with an 'asado'

Mmmmmmm....steak!!

Tomorrow (11th) I will travel to the mountains for a month to work with the church there. That means no internet!! but lots of beautiful countryside and a load of good work to get involved with!!

Thanks for reading! Keep in touch. I'd love an up-date from you too!

Big hugs, love, Jo xx

For the pray-ers;

- Please pray for my Aunty Sally who underwent surgery for cancer today. Please pray for quick and complete healing and for peace for all the family.
- Please pray for the trip to the mountains for safety, fun and that I could be of help to the church and people.
- Please pray for the activities I leave behind in the nursery and youth work that those who will replace me will continue the work and make it even better.

Gracias!!!

Hello 2013!!!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and are excited about what 2013 holds - I am!! :)

Here are a few photos from the MANY celebrations that took place here. Thanks for your prayers - every one of the activities was fantastic, blessed a lot of lives and showed the true meaning of Christmas!

Escuela Bíblica

On the 15th December the various children's groups joined together for an end of year Spectacular as each group showed what they've learnt during the year.

Plenty of singing and dancing

My English class singing 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'
- wrapped up despite the heat!

The youngest Bible Club class - thanking God for creation.

The Nursery kids in the Nativity

Singing 'Twinkle, twinkle' to guide the kings

Literally the stars of the show!!

The 5-6 year olds take Jesus' light to the world

Homework club and English class made table decorations and Christmas cards

     Then, on the 22nd December we had a Christmas Party for the children where they received their folders of work they've done through the year and enjoyed a table of food and, of course, a huge cake!!

Ready and waiting!

3-4 year olds receive their folders

The 5-6 year olds

The 7-8 year olds

The pre-teens

Fernando and Jasmin from the Nursery get their
folders of work

Cake, milk and pastries

Agustin and Aron, 2 of 13 siblings, living difficult lives but with the best smiles!!

Lourdes, middle of the 13 siblings has just
finished Primary school with the best grades
in the school! Church here is looking for funding to
enable her to go to a good Secondary
School and escape the cycle of poverty
which surrounds her.

4 of the 7 Abalos siblings, always looking out for each other

Soledad with 3 of her 8 children. Her husband abandoned her just
before Christmas. She came to church for help and we've
been able to provide food parcels and presents for
the kids. P.S. That's not her car!!

Always plenty of smiles when the kids are around!!

A la Plaza!!
     The big church was asked to present a grand show in the city's main square on the 21st December with the title 'Cristo es la Navidad' (Christ is Christmas). It was the first ever event of it's kind and the council set up a big stage and lots of seating and lighting. My church (one of the big church's annexes) was asked to present dances and short dramas in the square in the hours leading up to the event to invite the people of the city and get people interested. It turned out to be a great success with many people stopping in the street to watch us and then hundreds coming along in the evening to watch the big event and hear the truth about Christmas-God sending his son to earth to live with among us and provide the way for us to know Him. 

Painted up ready to act!

The acting and dancing troupe

The first drama

Me playing a blind person (thankfully Jesus heals me!!) even
the dogs wanted to join in

The pre-teens dance troupe and their 13 year old teacher!

The crowds gather for the evening event

The Children's Choir

The Adult Choir

Pastor Daniel preaches

One of the church's bands-Plan V!!

The Youth Band

      Just before New Year I traveled north to stay with the family of one of my housemates for a week. It was a great time to relax, catch up on sleep, visit the pool as it was really hot (36 degrees!), eat lots of meat! and meet some new people. I also needed to cross the border to renew my visa which thankfully was quick and easy. You may have heard I was planning to be going to the mountains again this month with a team like last year but unfortunately the trip has been cancelled. However, I will not be left with nothing to do as I have been asked to assist in two youth camps starting Monday and finishing on the 25th so never a dull moment and I'm definitely making the most of a peaceful week this week!

     I do hope you have had a great start to 2013 and that it will be a year filled of good things for every one of you. Thank you for your continuing support!

     Love Jo. xxx

For the pray-ers;
- Sadly my cousin Kate passed away just before Christmas. Please pray for strength, peace and comfort for all the family.
- Please pray that the youth camps will go really well and impact a lot of young lives.
- Please pray for wisdom to know what activities to get involved in this year.
Thank you!