9-16-2012 Sunday – More reaching out.

Today we separated again and went back to our previous days churches. One team went back to the small town of Hurligham with Pastor Jorge Ferrari. Pastor Ferrari invited us to his church where the small children did a song and dance for all of us. They also recited books of the Bible, some did both Old and New Testament, and some were as young as 5 years old!! Can you imagine? It was so sweet to watch. The older kids did a skit on how we all spend too much time being busy that we forget about God and family -- what it's really all about.

Of course we ate!!! Lasagna and salad prepared by the members and Flan! Yum!!

Later we took a nice walk to a polo boot and riding shoe shop. Incredible!! The business was started by a member of Pastor Ferrari's church great grandfather from Italy. “Casa Fagliano” was founded in 1892. Prince Charles and his boys have their boots made by him. A custom boot for women will run you $3,000. Yes, dollars! The evening was spent at church, the love in this place was genuine and lovely. We talked and learned about the church's Small Groups and shared about our team member's Small Groups. We also did a Bible Study from the Purpose Driven Journal. Our team gave Eric, our precious translator, a English copy of Purpose Driven Life along with the journal. He was so thankful, he almost leaped out of his skin! God is so good! There are so many searching for Him and with these people, they will find him.

The other team went to ISO (The Church of Second Opportunities). We were taken to Jujan to see a large, beautiful basilica, established at this location when a gift of the Virgin Mary was being transported, the wagon transporting this statue sunk in mud, so they thought that God was telling them to build the basilica there and so they did. Very interesting. It is a mecca to where many people from the region travel. There is idolatry there according to the pastor. We were also taken to the original province of Buenos Aires in the countryside, now a converted tourist locale.

We ate, of course, at Camino Abierto, a fully self-sustaining, family owned and run restaurant and farm, where the owner adopts and cares for 10 orphans. What an amazing place from A-Z! A beautiful husband and wife relationship who are very humble, full of love and they are saved. :o)

We attended service, where Chelsea, Oscar, and Kathy Martin each opened their hearts and shared their testimonies. A hilarious skit for the children was performed by church members dressed up as clowns - what beautiful people. Our trip leader Kathy Martin did wonderfully with translating the ‘entire’ service, including the clown jokes. This is a small, but very loving congregation, who prayed over us and gave us a blessing.

After a long, heartfelt goodbye to Pastor Fernando, Sabrina and the staff, we boarded our bus back to the hotel.

Monday Sept 17 A Happy Birthday Wish and Saying Goodbye

Happy Birthday to you, John Parker! We all are so blessed, grateful and honored to be led and loved by him. You make it all look so easy!

We had breakfast with the new pastor and his wife. It was so good to spend time together, reflect on our time in Buenos Aires and look forward with great anticipation to the great things they will do under God's guidance. Praise God!! We will keep this pastor and his wonderful wife and family in our prayers!!

We had morning devotions, checked out of our rooms, and then had a de-brief of the time we had in Argentina, what to change for future teams, what worked well, etc. There was love and hope and gratefulness in the room, no doubt about it. Kevin, Laura, Kelsey, and Stacey with the International Mission Board attended and we were able to give them gifts of gratitude for their help and support on the trip.

We had one last Argentine meal and a few of us went out for some last chance dulce de leche ice cream before heading back to the airport. On Day One, Kevin had told us to get lost in Buenos Aires, and taste, smell, see, and feel it, and I believe everyone of us did just that. The trip to the airport was quiet as we took in some last visions of this new place, a place that has richly settled into our hearts.

It has been an honor and blessing to be part of planting a new Saddleback in Buenos Aires. We pray for the city and the church leaders, and know that Saddleback Buenos Aires will be a welcome addition to the Saddleback family and will teach us a lot about amazing love, warm hugs, right cheek kisses and the heart of the people of this country.

We all pray and sit in thankfulness for being hand selected to do what God has asked us to do. Planting seeds and showing love in His name, in the city,

You're the God of this City

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You are...

We love you Argentina!

The Buenos Aires September 2012 Saddleback Team