Winter greetings from Argentina. I celebrated my birthday this year with Argentina, since May 25th is one of the independence celebrations here. My internship is going very well, it is hard to believe I really only have about a month left. Looking back, this internship has truly been a great context for me to learn, grow and thrive in ministry. There is a beauty, love, resilience and grit in the people here that I'll always take with me. The members of the congregations and communities have accepted me and have allowed me to walk with them, and it's those encounters that are forming me in pastoral ministry. Having the two different church communities (MMM, Misión Maria Magdalena -Mary Magdalene Mission- in Resistencia and San Mateo -St. Matthew- in Corrientes) has made my experience broader. I've learned about how small family sized congregations function. The experience teaching and preaching has been particularly valuable. I preach every other week. I'm learning a lot from my pastor's affinity for the type of preaching that keeps the Gospel in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Of course a big question is always, how is text relevant to the context? How do I make 2 years of theological study relevant in ministry? The most valuable lessons I learn are when those questions are answered. In the ministry of presence and listening I have learned a lot about the struggles of the people here, but also the hopes and grace of God in the midst of them.
My Internship Project was to accompany and empower two church leaders in becoming teachers for first communion, so that they would continue in the years to come. I'm lea
rning a lot of tools on how to build up leaders, and how important it is to identify and encourage the gifts in people. We have completed the First Communion class at MMM, and I've been teaching First Communion and Confirmation at San Mateo. I also lead bible studies in Corrientes every other week on the weekly Gospel text.
My Internship Project was to accompany and empower two church leaders in becoming teachers for first communion, so that they would continue in the years to come. I'm lea
rning a lot of tools on how to build up leaders, and how important it is to identify and encourage the gifts in people. We have completed the First Communion class at MMM, and I've been teaching First Communion and Confirmation at San Mateo. I also lead bible studies in Corrientes every other week on the weekly Gospel text. MMM has been in the process of workshops on Natural Church Development, which encourages congregations to look within themselves, identifying their God-given gifts in order to grow. Through them, we identified the youth group as an area for growth. Since then we've been having frequent meetings, and had a worship service led by the youth, after which they felt empowered in their role in the church. The youth group is currently planning a trip to the interior of the Chaco province, to assist aid organizations in their work in fighting hunger and disease.
Last week at MMM, our beloved member Antonia passed away. She was 72, and she would attend worship almost every week. She was a grandmother to all of us. She had a tender loving spirit, and a deep faith. We had the wake in the chapel, and left it open all night. There were so many people who came to say goodbye to her. At her burial Pastor Raul told a story about a church trip to Iguazu Falls she attended, and how she felt God’s presence in the waterfalls. She saw God’s presence in the big and small, and carried it with her everywhere. She passed away a couple days before we were to have her grandchild’s baptism, giving us all a reminder of the gift of life amidst the sorrow of death.
I have also been involved with the broader Lutheran church body here, the IELU (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida - United Evangelical Lutheran Church). Back in January I helped with 3 weeks of church youth camps in Obera, Misiones. I also assisted in baptisms and a bilingual wedding. I have learned a lot about the IELU in two Church-wide Assemblies, and become acquainted with Lutheran seminarians at the ISEDET Seminary in Buenos Aires. I have learned about the joys and struggles of pastors in district and church-wide pastors meetings. I have also been involved in ecumenical activities. Many children have experiences like my upbringing that they are raised in both churches. One of our First Communion students is also taking the classes in the Catholic Church, and a Catholic priest joined us in a baptism.
I have also helped in the work of the various projects of Misión Maria Magdalena. One of which is the comedor, where children come for breakfast and evening snack and receive monthly food bags. It is a constant struggle since the government continues to give the same minimal amount they have for years. I also help the talleres (workshops) which Ofelia, the social worker, and James the ELCA volunteer work with. For example, we painted a mural with the children of the community on the front wall of MMM. In February we had two days where we took the kids to a local farm. The former kindergarten has been opened as a space for these workshops and as a positive space for the kids to come. The project also works with "citizenship" and I've attended city-wide workshops on citizenship and economic development.
I have had several conversations with people about the rising cost of food, and how many products have doubled in price even over the last couple years. Personal testimonies to the crunch being felt by the rising food and gas prices all over the world. Many people have to spend over half their income on food. A conflict between farmers and the Argentine government had lasted for the last few months (100 days), after many failed attempts at dialogue. In objection to increased export taxes, farmers had suspended their shipments of grains and set road blocks. It has also raised worries in the country, and of course in the communities where I’m living and working. Religious groups recently united here in Resistencia for a vigil, encouraging a resolution to the conflict.
Last week at MMM, our beloved member Antonia passed away. She was 72, and she would attend worship almost every week. She was a grandmother to all of us. She had a tender loving spirit, and a deep faith. We had the wake in the chapel, and left it open all night. There were so many people who came to say goodbye to her. At her burial Pastor Raul told a story about a church trip to Iguazu Falls she attended, and how she felt God’s presence in the waterfalls. She saw God’s presence in the big and small, and carried it with her everywhere. She passed away a couple days before we were to have her grandchild’s baptism, giving us all a reminder of the gift of life amidst the sorrow of death.
I have also been involved with the broader Lutheran church body here, the IELU (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida - United Evangelical Lutheran Church). Back in January I helped with 3 weeks of church youth camps in Obera, Misiones. I also assisted in baptisms and a bilingual wedding. I have learned a lot about the IELU in two Church-wide Assemblies, and become acquainted with Lutheran seminarians at the ISEDET Seminary in Buenos Aires. I have learned about the joys and struggles of pastors in district and church-wide pastors meetings. I have also been involved in ecumenical activities. Many children have experiences like my upbringing that they are raised in both churches. One of our First Communion students is also taking the classes in the Catholic Church, and a Catholic priest joined us in a baptism.I have also helped in the work of the various projects of Misión Maria Magdalena. One of which is the comedor, where children come for breakfast and evening snack and receive monthly food bags. It is a constant struggle since the government continues to give the same minimal amount they have for years. I also help the talleres (workshops) which Ofelia, the social worker, and James the ELCA volunteer work with. For example, we painted a mural with the children of the community on the front wall of MMM. In February we had two days where we took the kids to a local farm. The former kindergarten has been opened as a space for these workshops and as a positive space for the kids to come. The project also works with "citizenship" and I've attended city-wide workshops on citizenship and economic development.
I have had several conversations with people about the rising cost of food, and how many products have doubled in price even over the last couple years. Personal testimonies to the crunch being felt by the rising food and gas prices all over the world. Many people have to spend over half their income on food. A conflict between farmers and the Argentine government had lasted for the last few months (100 days), after many failed attempts at dialogue. In objection to increased export taxes, farmers had suspended their shipments of grains and set road blocks. It has also raised worries in the country, and of course in the communities where I’m living and working. Religious groups recently united here in Resistencia for a vigil, encouraging a resolution to the conflict.
When I was in Buenos Aires this month for a youth encounter and pastor’s meeting, we had a devotional (with both groups) in which people brought dirt from their respective parts of the country. People were invited to take a handful of dirt, share a reflection about it and put it in a tray. Some people reflected on how the dirt felt in their hands, the memories that came to mind. Some reflected on God’s love for all of creation, the spiritual oneness they feel with the earth. Some reflected humanity’s failure to take care of the earth, and of the indigenous communities that have had their land taken from them. Some reflected on how the dirt in their hands was some of the richest in the world, but because of political corruption, there exists great poverty and hunger.
When the Gospel meets these broad social issues, as well as the personal ones that come up over sharing a mate; that is where I’ve found myself in ministry this year. It is this intersection that will surely guide me throughout my ministry. I appreciate all your prayers and support that have sustained me throughout my year here.
