113 Fahrenheit at the shade, It was stinking hot!

Rio Bermejo Chaco, Argentina

Thanks for praying dear friends! The time in the Chaco, North Argentina was terrible for my humanity and great for the kingdom of God!
Yes it was terrible since it was too hot, 113 degrees Fahrenheit melted all the fun of the trip. I could not do much after midday because it was really hot. The area where we went has one of the largest jungles in this part of Argentina. There are many species of bugs, birds, monkeys and plants and the river was infected with "palometas" a fish that are cousins of the "piranhas", you know that little fish that eats human flesh... Actually many people in the river got bitten by palometas, one of them was a guy that went with us, nothing serious but enough for me to not take a plunge in the river, cold showers were safer to me. Crazy enough my kids were in the water with Claudia all afternoon and nothing happened to them.



The Family and friends

I was totally uncomfortable (what a great missionary I am!) no running water, just water that they collect in a cistern when it rains (they collect it from the roofs, so imagine all the "stuff" they also "collect" together with water:) I felt weak, like a fish out of its river (a "palometa" if you wish) I was for a time looking at the cup as half empty. I had to sleep with my clothing totally wet and a fan direct at me to be able to sleep because it was so hot. Imagine my surprise when I went to the toilet one night and a little, sticky, slimy, yucky frog jump from it at me!



The Kitchen... :)


Well I told you what happened to my humanity. In case you wonder about my wife and kids they had a great time (yes, after all the whole family went). Claudia and the kids were in a tent with the rest of the camp and I had asked for a room in order to get ready for the talks and stuff. Bummer it was cooler in the tent during the night!



My daughters and two of the six children of pastor Lucas

Let me tell you the other side of the story...

God lead me to prepared three workshops to give to almost 400 people. One about the masks we use to hide from God and others, other about the world's plan for our lives, and the last workshop about God's plan for sex. By the end of each workshop I could squeeze about 1/4 gallon of water from my T Shirt, it was so hot.



Giving the workshops soaked in perspiration

After the workshops people started to come to me asking if they could have some time to talk. I met with some people during the following afternoons when it was not so hot. They told me their different problems and burdens. Many dating couples without limits in the physical relationship, feeling that they couldn't talk to anybody in their different congregations. Others confessing for their first time in their lives that had been sexually abused in their childhood.



A Toba Indian who I had the opportunity to show how to memorize the Scripture and some basics in Christian life.

Praying for people after pastor Lucas' preaching one night

I had the opportunity of leading one guy Sebastian, to the Lord! I was so happy-jumpy that the Lord had that for me as well as for you!



Sebastian a new Child of God

I spent hours literally talking and praying with people, most of them confessing with big tears for their first time that they were living a double life as I was living many years ago. I made the commitment with many of keeping in touch and helping them from afar, with most of the others I just can pray that they can find someone in their congregations who they can talk to.



Betiana y Beto new friends God gave us

After I saw that God was using me in midst of my weakness I had joy in my heart. However I also felt the frustration of being unable to do more, to help more, to be geographical closer to most of them. I felt mad at a 24 years old man who was trying to get an internship into a mission school and for more than a year was having sex with his girlfriend of only 16 years old! and on top of it, he didn't have the guts to go and talk to his pastor about it right away. I was told later that these "situations" were common in the culture of that area of Argentina. I felt like a foreigner in my own country.

Again, as I told you in a past blog entry, as I prayed for people God seemed to reveal to me things that were hidden in the heart of people, things that were blocking their spiritual development and growth.

So after all the heat, bugs, jungle, frog and toads, I felt like I was in one big spiritual party. I learned so much about me and others. I maybe saw for the first time that my wife and I can minister together even if we do a very different thing. I made a lot of friends and I had the opportunity to help a person to become a child of God.



Claudia During a meeting

I can not imagine right now to live there for more than a week. I always dreamed to go to the South part of Argentina and always resisted to go North. A pastor friend of mine told me "maybe you are like Jonah..." I do not know, but he got me thinking...



Beef a serious business in Argentina :)