Invasio'n del Amor de Dios

We attended Invasio'n del Amor de Dios (Invasion of the Love of God) Sunday evening. The Pastor of the church is Pastor Ricardo Jaluf. The church started with around 20 people meeting in a garage. Six years ago Ricardo J. went to a pastor conference where a man saw a vision of  Ricardo J. having a huge church with 1000 members. Now he has a huge church of around 1000 members, and even has a TV station.
While we were there we sang (Our God and Down in my heart) for the church. After the message their was an alter call for healing. It was really great seeing the power of God fall on the people.
It is awesome how by getting out of your comfort zone or trying to bless someone you get rewarded for it. A few young girls were standing near where I was during the ministry time and I asked them what their names and ages were (in spanish). Soon there were a whole bunch of younger girls around me. Luciana translated while they asked me a lot of questions. They also asked me to sing a song for them. During tht time worship started and they pulled me to the front of the church and we started dancing.
 The worship was the best I have ever been at. Everybody was jumping in the front. The grown men were jumping and dancing the most, it was strange but awesome. The worship team wanted to stop, but they kept asking for more.
We didn't get to stay for all the worship, because we went to eat on the second story of the church. They had alot of different types of food for us to eat.



The end worship at t Invasio'n del Amor de Dios
The young girls are on stage.

Pastor Ricardo Jaluf, Pastor Gabriel Figueroa and Pastor Ricardo Leguizamon

Iglesia Hay Vida en Jesus

The second church,  Iglesia Hay Vida en Jesus (There is Life in Jesus Church), we visited twice. The pastor of the church is Pastor Gabriel Figueroa. Saturday evening we joined their youth service. They served lots of food before the service, which gave us a great opportunity to get to know some Argentine youth. Because of the language barrier it was hard to communicate. Fortunately one of the older youth girls (Luciana) knew Spanish. The pastor's daughter and I became friends because we were with their family a lot. 
  We Canadians sang two songs (Our God and Down in my Heart) for them. Singing was very enjoyable and they loved it.


Youth worship

 

Some of the youth

 

The youth

 

The food

 

Singing for the youth

On Sunday morning we joined them for their service. We again sang for the church. After the message the pastor prophesied over each one of us on the canadian team. It was pretty awesome how God told him specific things about me and what was in store for me.

Singing for the church

Me getting prophesied over

La Casa de Alfareros

 While we were in Mar Del Plata we visited three different churches. We attended the first church called La Casa De Alfareros (The Potter's House) Thursday evening, September 13, 2012. The pastor of the church is Pastor Lopez. Ricardo gave the message, and after that there was an altar call for breaking addictions. I played on the piano a little during ministry time.
The pastor couple threw a BBQ in our honor saturday. They had a room especially for having a BBQ. Another Pastor couple (Pastor Gabriel) and their children attended as well.

Pastor Lopez and his wife.

 La Casa De Alfareros, ministry time

Awesome BBQ

Pastor Gabriel & his family, Pastor Lopez & his wife, Ricardo & Ida, Toya, and our family 



Mar del Plata



From September 12-17 we were in Mar Del Plata (Sea of Silver). Mar Del Plata is one of the most popular tourist city in Argentina. It has beautiful beaches and gardens. It is about 700 km from Rosario to Mar Del Plata. It takes approximately a 8-10 hour drive, lunch and gas stops included.



Our home in Mar del Plata, Hotel Capurro
Avenida Patricio Peralta Ramos 197
7600 Mar Del Plata
Argentina 

Route from Rosario to Mar Del Plata

My family

Cute sea lion on the beach

The view from our apartment

Incredible views




Rosario

Rosario is the city my family, Ricardo, Ida, Victoria, Earl and I live in.
 Since we don't have a yard, we often go to a park to hang out. Parque Independencia (Independence Park) is not very far away from our home, so that is the  park we go to most. It is approximately a 30 minute walk from our home.
 Sanctuario De Fe is the church we visit most often. It is about a 12 minute drive from our house.
The ghetto is about 5-8 minutes away from our house. 

Map Key:

My House

Parque Independencia (Independance park)

Sanctuario de Fe (Sanctuary of Faith)

Ghetto (slum)

 

Parque Independencia scenery

Parque Independencia scenery

A busy Sunday afternoon at Parque Independencia

Getting exercise

The ghetto

 

Ricardo & Ida

In 2006 I (family and me) met Ricardo and Ida Leguizamon. They are an amazing couple that are like and aunt and uncle to me. Ricardo and Ida live in Abbotford, B.C. Canada, but come to Argentina a few times a year for a couple of months. They have a ministry called Mission Impact International. In their ministry in Argentina they mainly serve pastors, by helping in the churches youth ministry, jail ministry, children ministry, basically any ministry they can help in. Ricardo also preaches in the churches so the pastor can have a break. Also they mentor and counsel people. In Canada they mainly council and mentor people. They also go to different countries (mostly South America) and do the same thing. Ricardo and Ida live with us in the missionary house, here in Argentina.


Ricardo & Ida by the ocean
 

Sanctuario de Fe



Sanctuary of Faith (Sanctuario de Fe) is one of the many churches we are visiting. This pentecostal church started 40 years ago. The church has a radio station, and satellite that projects messages to other countries. It has elementry school, bible school, jail ministry, ghetto ministry, recovery program, counseling services, etc. The church has about 15,000 plus members although the count could be more as some poorer people can not always make it to church regularly therefore they listen to the messages on the radio. Hundreds of people get saved each week.


Norberto Carlini

The pastor of the church is Norberto Carlini. He is the head of the ministrial (weekly pastors meeting for the city). A number of years ago he had and accident with a few other pastors. His car was smashed together between two trucks. Two of the pastors died. He was in a coma for a few months, during which the Lord visited him. The church prayed and fasted for him. When he woke up, the church was brought to a more deeper passion for God. When you look at the car, their is no way a man could fit in their and not be dead. It was a supernatural miracle.

Inside of Sanctuasio de Fe Rosario (end of service)

Bithday Party

Birthday parties are a very big deal in Argentina. It is a way to make someone feel special and show someone you care about them. If you don't do something or at least give a gift to your friends/family members birthday it is disrespectful. On September 4, 2012 our neighbor (Jorge) had a birthday. Ricardo planned the party and we all helped set up. The meal was delicious.

Food!

The dinner table

Jorge's on the right

Happy Hour

Happy Hour is a mission for children in the ghetto (slum, the poorest and most dangerous parts in Argentina). Happy Hour, which happens every Saturday, is where volenteers from Carlini's church, (Sanctuary of Faith) make and give food to the children. They also sing and tell bible stories to the children. On Sebtemer 1 ,2012 was the first Happy Hour I helped at. It was an annual celebration so they made a little more food then usual. They also gave the children each a gift and did a skit. There were around 150 children that we made food for. We made the sandwiches and also packed goody bags for them ahead of time. We also sang some songs in English to them. They loved it.

Bagging the treats.

Making the sandwiches.

The children with their food.

Traffic

Walking down the street in Argentina is very different than walking down the street in Canada. Pedestrians must be aware of their surroundings and always cross the street when they are sure their is no vehicle near to drive them over. No driver will stop or slow down for you while you are on the road. However there is one exception, if you are a pretty young woman and the driver is a single male, he may stop for you. You must also watch for people who could steal from you(specifically on motor bikes). Stealing is common in Argentina. They especially steal from tourists.

 

1st day

 On August 29, 2012 my family, Earl and I  landed in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city in Argentina. From Buenos Aires we traveled with a bus to Rosario (where we live). Buenos Aires estimated population is 12.988 million and  Rosario estimated 1.231 million (2009).https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html



Map of bus route from Buenos Aires to Rosario

Intro

I created this blog to tell you what my family and I are up to here in Argentina. This blog will be geared toward maps and missionary work, because it is a school project. Enjoy!