It's Christmas Time...in Argentina!`

 

Christmas Tree in Ensanche Norte

Christmas is coming!  You wouldn't know it by the weather but there are more and more signs of Christmas popping up all around Ibarreta, Ensanche Norte, and Estanislao del Campo.  We've had the opportunity to attend and support Christmas activities in two of these areas and will attend the third this Saturday in Ensanche.  It's a great time of year to celebrate with the members and participate as they observe this time of year and, most importantly, remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Our first Christmas party was in Ibarreta.  Last week we had a day with a lot of rain, more on that later, so the party was moved to a different day.  When it rains around here things stop and people do not go outside.  The water and mud really do make it very difficult for people to go out.  Most do not have cars.  They normally walk or some have motos (they are scooters, not motorcycles).  The activity was fun with good food and lots of people.  We met many members for the first time.  They may not come to church but they come out for the annual Christmas dinner.  Martha participated in a choir with the Relief Society.  Martha was the best singer of the bunch!

Ibarreta branch.  

The girl in the foreground is Mahia.  She was recently baptized. Olga Garnica, the branch presidents wife, is next to Mahia.

Zoe on the left was recently baptized.  The other Marta, Marta Falcon, is on the right.

Us enjoying some good food with another Marta and her daughter. Three Martas in the branch!


Making decorations for the Christmas tree in Ensanche

Teaching Christmas hymns to the primary children

In Ensanche Norte we have been helping the primary children learn a few Christmas hymns to sing at their upcoming church party.  It's been fun to see them learn new songs as Martha teaches them about Christ's birth through music.  They have not had the opportunity to grow up with Primary and singing songs every Sunday.  How grateful we are to all those primary music leaders that helped our boys learn about Jesus through song!  It's a bit sad that these kids do not have that same opportunity.  Step by step we are doing what we can to give them that experience. In Ensanche Norte they are only a group (not a ward or branch) which means they do not have separate classes for youth and primary.  

Our second Christmas party was in Estanislao del Campo.  We went early Tuesday morning to help the branch president get the food for the party and Martha helped decorate.  We have also been working with the youth to help them sing for the party.  It was a good experience.  The youth picked the song and made the effort to learn the music.  They were great!  Lot's of people and again lot's of people we have never met that showed up for the big party.

Youth singing

Making empanadas!

I made the comment that the other branch had empanadas with their asado so President Huels had to make sure they had empanadas also!  I wasn't trying to compare parties but he insisted they have empanadas because Elder Francis wants empanadas.  President Huels is a bit of jokester. 

I think we had about 50 people at the party

The tree and some decorations on the wall that Martha made and showed some of the others to make.


I mentioned helping to get the food. This is it!  That's two live goats and a sheep in the back of our truck.  

This is the "after' picture with the goat cooking.  

My proud catch!  I really didn't do anything to catch it. I was just the delivery driver.

I mentioned some rain we had last week.  It was quite a storm that came through. Wednesday evening it rained quite a bit overnight but then Thursday morning it rained from about 8:30 to almost 2:00.  Lots of rain came down and made quite a mess.  Several members in Ensanche had water come into their houses and we went there Friday morning to try and help.  We brought some food and fresh water for them.  A few days later the young missionaries went to help them shore up their houses.  There is not much they can do other than to lift the house and put it on a foundation.  Makes us think of the primary song that says, "the wise man built his house upon a rock".  And that rock is the sure foundation of Jesus Christ upon whom we should build our lives.

You can see how much water collected around the houses

Us along with Hermana Ibarra sorting clothes and food for those families who were impacted by the rain.

Water in one of the houses

We had our own minor impact. A tree in our backyard fell and we woke up to see it right outside our back door. 

It narrowly missed the truck!



Christmas Tree in the plaza of Ibarreta

Reindeer and sleigh but no sign of Santa!

Ibarreta has a nice nativity scene in the plaza

Kids love Jenga

Ensanche Norte crew





I couldn't convince them to get the cow for dinner.  Goat is okay but it's not beef!

Just like our dog Ace this cow likes to be scratched under his chin.

even more people in Estansilao



We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  We are very grateful for this opportunity to serve in Argentina and come to know the love our Savior has for all of His children.  We are not with our family and friends this Christmas but we are where we need to be to help those around us to know and come closer to Jesus Christ.  We love the Christmas season because of the hope that the Son of God brought to us when He came to earth to sacrifice His life for us and be resurrected so that all of us will one day live again with Him in the kingdom of His father.  We know that He Lives and lights the world with His love!











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