I have now been back in Argentina for 2 months! It is already going way too fast!!
I had a fantastic Summer and it was great to see so many of you although I am gutted I missed some of you!! I thought 2 months would be plenty to get to everyone but unfortunately not. :(
However, it is good to be able to communicate with you all again through the blog and newsletter. Thank you for your positive comments and being so interested. I am going to do my best to make sure I keep the updates coming at least once a month this year!!!
It hasn't taken long to get back in the swing of things and find some new challenges!!
Guardería
It's been brilliant to see the kids again and I got lots of hugs on my return. One boy has asked me everyday since where my plane is and every time I say goodbye asks if I'm going home by plane!! Here's some photos to show they are as lovely (and cheeky) as ever!
On my return to the Guarderia I was made Supervisor meaning I am now fully responsible for the curriculum and ensuring the kids get a great start in their education. It was a little overwhelming at first but it's going well and the other teachers have been great adapting to changes like having a routine and preparing lessons in advance!! :)
Apoyo Escolar
Homework and English classes are continuing with lots of fun and the kids especially enjoyed our party (including playing 'What's the time Mr Wolf?') on 21st September to celebrate the beginning of Spring (already reaching 32 degrees!) and Student Day! It was definitely the month of bank holidays-I counted 6!! Argentina is officially the country with the most bank holidays-one way to maintain your popularity as President!!
Youth Group
The fun is also continuing with the youth and last Saturday we celebrated all the birthdays from May until October with children's party games (including pass the parcel and a piñata-which traditionally is a big balloon filled with goodies and popped) and a big cake!
All the groups are working hard now to prepare for an important weekend as Sunday is Mother's Day here. We're busy making pretty presents and preparing songs, poems and sketches to present to the Mums for the celebration on 27th October.
The Mountains
At the end of September I got to travel to the mountains again-this time with a group of students. We spent a weekend in a beautiful little town called Molinos then I spent a week in the church plant in Angastaco before returning to Molinos and Churcal for the weekend. It was great to see the continuing work and how much people love the visits and the kids having people to play with them! People actually came looking for us to pray with them, play with them or just spend time with them which is a big step for the shy mountain people. It was also great to see God's provision again as when we arrived we hoped to stay in our usual hostal but it was booked up with a festival so they offered us another room but couldn't find the key (!) so at 9pm as it started getting cold we were sat in the town square wondering if the 8 of us would fit into the Polo car when a kind man offered us room in his uncle's house. As we entered it had 2 bedrooms; 1 with 5 beds (we were 5 girls) and the other with 2 beds for the 3 guys (haha!).
One of the memorable moments of the trip was walking 45mins to visit a family who were making preparations to celebrate the daughter's 18th birthday-we arrived just in time for the slaughtering of a sheep!!! but it meant we got invited back for dinner (roast mutton) and it turned out we were the only guests so it was good to be there to help make Viviana's Birthday special.
I'm hoping to travel more to the mountains over the next year as it's such a beautiful place and there's so much work to do!!
Photos:
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| Molinos |
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| A new friend! |
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| Brick making |
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| Not so good for the feet! |
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| DINNER!!!!!! |
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| The dried up river - in Summer it reaches to both banks!! |
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| The kids that visited us daily |
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| Performing a sketch |
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| The team |
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| The journey to the mountains!! |
Well done if you've made it this far!!!
Thank you for your support and interest. Please keep in touch!!
Some reminders;
Email; joanne_la13@hotmail.com
Address; C/o Priscilla Breekveldt, Los Guayacanes 146, Salta, CP4400, Argentina.
Thanks to your amazing generosity I have enough financially to survive the next year (as long as I stick to my budget-not too many ice-creams!!) however, there is always so much need around and within the different projects so if you would like to make a donation to any of the work just let me know. (E.g. The church is wanting to extend the roof to be able to fit in more of the kids wanting to come to Sunday school!!) The easiest way to donate is through the Latin Link website www.latinlink.org and click on the Donate Today link and let me know where you would like the money to go, or just get in touch for other ways!
That's all folks, for now!
Take care and God Bless!
Love Jo.
For the pray-ers;
Thank God for a good start to the second year and His help and encouragement in all the new adventures.
1. Please continue to pray for my cousin Kate and her battle with cancer as she continues treatment. There are many stories of miracles here-help me to pray for one there too!
2. Please pray for wisdom and inspiration in forming the curriculum for the nursery kids.
3. Please pray for guidance and opportunities to become more involved in the pioneering work in the mountains.
Thank you!!!! :)
