Latest news!!!

Hola!!!


      I'm so sorry it has been so long since I last posted! It got very busy and then every time I sat down to work on it I just didn't know where to start!!! :) Now that I have a bit of time I have decided I will let you all know what has gone on the last few months. Here goes (you may want to grab a cuppa!);


April


     On Easter weekend I got to travel to the city of Cordoba to attend a youth conference with great speakers, some of Latin America's most famous Christian singers and about 9,000 other young people. I had a great time with fellow Strider Emily and our friend Maria.

     


     On the 27th we celebrated Emily's birthday in the Guarderia which also happened to be the Day of Animals so we decided to all dress up as animals and bring a cuddly toy to have a picnic!!!

Emily and me

Followed by some very tasty cake (you may need to turn the computer sideways-sorry)!!

May

     May began with another volleyball tournament and I'm afraid I played no better than the first time and was soon relegated to the bench. Haha :) Us Brits are planning to teach the Argentines rounders soon, hoping we can perform a little better in that! 


     In the middle of May I got to return to the valleys and the red earth for a weekend. It was great to see a lot of the people and kids we had met in January and how the work the church is doing is really changing lives. The health post we previously helped to extend now has solar panel generated electricity! It was really great to see that a lot of the children who had previously been really shy are now really welcoming to visitors, joining in the games and giving lots of hugs!!

     English classes have also continued and we've been learning body parts;

June


     My great friend Naomi made the journey over from Australia to visit. We had a good few days in Salta to start before undertaking the long bus journey to La Paz, Bolivia. On the way we got to see some truly breathtaking scenery, fascinating people going about their daily lives and of course had a great catch-up after 2 years without having seen each other. It was really wonderful to be able to share all my experiences with a friend-if you fancy a visit just let me know-I'd love it!!

Naomi and Jesus!

Old and new friends

My beautiful hometown, Salta

La Paz, Bolivia

A huge city

A plane coming in to the world's highest airport!

     On the 15th June I caught my first plane of 3 on the journey home!! I arrived back in Abertillery Friday night, had a great first dinner of fish and chips and a lovely cup of tea!! I will be home for 2 months and am hoping to get to see all my wonderful friends and family so watch this space and I'll let you know where I am and when.

     Thanks again for reading, supporting, praying and encouraging! I have absolutely loved every moment and being able to share it with you all. Hopefully I will see you soon for a hug and catch-up!!


Lots of love, Jo. xxx






For the pray-ers;
- Continue to pray for all the work of the church, for more workers to share the load and strength for all those who work so hard. Also pray for finances to be able to keep paying the nursery workers and to afford to take the Sunday school kids on a trip later this month.
- That I would have a good rest while home and feel recharged ready to head back out on 15th August, also for finances for the next year.
- Please pray for my amazing cousin Kate who is currently fighting a valiant battle with cancer. Pray for healing and strength and peace for her and her beautiful family. She is amazingly planning to do the Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research in July. You can sponsor her here: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/kates-angels
Thanks!

February Fun!

  I began February on a 4 day Youth Camp with the teens from my church as a leader of one of the groups. Everyone had a fantastic time and asked for a 2 week camp next time (not sure I could handle the sleep deprivation!!)!! Highlights included; climbing a mountain to see great views of the city, inventing plays and songs, a talent show (I quickly learnt a traditional dance called 'El Gato'!), hearing great speakers, building great relationships and of course the traditional throwing the leaders in the pool fully clothed!...

Climbing the mountain

El Gato

Singing and Dancing!

!!!!!!!!!!!

My Group

The Amazing Youth!

  On 6th February the Guarderia (nursery) opened for a new year. The first few days were quiet which gave us a great opportunity to plan topics and activities and get the rooms ready for a brilliant year. My hours of being chained to the desk lesson planning in the UK have finally proved useful and now the Guarderia has a curriculum for the year-just need to work on the weekly plans now!! (Here are some of the beautiful children who will benefit from a great year in the Guarderia)...

Lourdes

Valentina

Dilan

Tamara

Alexander

 Yesterday the new year for the Escuela Biblica (Sunday School (on a Saturday!)) began with a huge bang!!! We took to the streets with drums, balloons, costumes and fist fulls of flyers to invite the children in the community to come to what is going to be an incredible year! Over 120 children came and loved singing, dancing, playing, watching a sketch and sharing cakes and chocolate milk then going home with a gift! Earlier in the week I was told I'd been chosen to be the teacher for the 7-9's group. They are a fantastic group of kids but dealing with some huge issues in their young lives such as poverty, abuse, absent parents, alcholism and drugs. I feel like it's a huge responsibility but if anyone can bring hope and change in their lives it's got to be God!! (Prayer appreciated :) )...

Drums, clowns, balloons and a rat!!

Erica and her cousin

Umbrellas used more for sun protection here!!

A typical house in the area - up to 10 people
sharing 2 rooms!

We asked for a dry day-and got it!

Running out of chairs!

Cake and chocolate - Yum!

Present!

 The year is really getting in full swing now and there is plenty still to come!! I'm loving being able to work full-time with a church that is working so hard to meet both physical and spiritual needs of so many. Thank you for all your support and encouragement that makes it possible!!


Hasta Pronto, Jo xxx














For the pray-ers;
- Please pray for ideas, wisdom and energy for all the activities and responsibilities!!
- Please continue to pray for my housemates.
- Please pray for my Grandad who turns 90 on the 19th March - pray he'll have a great day and for good health!

January journey

Hola!!!!!

So, about 4 years ago in my church in Sheffield the Speaker invited anyone who was feeling tired to go to the front for prayer. As a recently qualified, stressed out teacher I was one of the first at the front ready to receive a bit of oomph!!! Pastor Lou Davies prayed for me and finished by saying 'God says you have a country on your heart and you have to keep going for it, and he has shown me an image of you working in red dust'. I had never spoken to her about my experiences in South America and thoughts of one day returning and actually at this point in my life I was beginning to think maybe I should just settle down as I had a great job, somewhere to live, a car and a nice wage but this was definitely one of the spurs that kept me on the path of chasing the dream and seeking God's exciting plans for my life. However 'red dust' meant absolutely nothing to me..........until 3 weeks ago.


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...

Our motto; To love is to serve... John 13:35

Our first village Angastaco nestled in the mountains. The church has a buliding, nursery house and vineyard!!

 

Grapes-almost ready to eat!

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.

Acting out a sketch-I played the part
of the on/off switch!

Our first night in Churcal-thunderstorm-
it took a long wait to get this photo.
The boys decided not to sleep in the tent!!

Sunrise after the storm-a beautiful
place; mountains, river, green fields.

12 men from church came to build a new,
bigger room for the kids work.

 

Within 24 hours it was done!!

Some time to relax too.

Our last morning sunrise in Churcal         

Our neighbours  

  

The whole team-celebrating a good job done!

  

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 !!!

  

As you can see an amazing time in the mountains-there are about 400 other photos that didn't make the cut!!


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