Wedding!

Long-time friends of mine got married, and we had the most delightful wedding ceremony last weekend! It wasn't very traditional, but it showed the real us, as the visitors and friends were able to come and see our center, children and volunteer workers.

Children sang and performed, even adults got carried away in impromptu skit for 'older' audience (called "The Ride of Your Life"). Our young people melted everyone's hearts with beautiful blend of voices and live music, and even the bride's parents were able to 'attend' via sending their greetings on video through the e-net from the USA (thank God for technology!)

A friend baked excellent wedding cakes, another friend gave a picture of a bride as a wedding gift, the whole event was kind of unusually set and that made is special!

It was amazing to connect with so many people on a different level and explain to them the way our faith is lived.

A respected lawyer wrote us next day: "We all have a lot to learn from you".

Oh yes, a minor detail: it rained the whole day. Only on the outside, though!

                               

 

Personal outreach

These are some recent pictures from children outreach activity we did last Sunday at one of the largest fairs in Buenos Aires. The reactions from the public were warm and welcoming!

Smile therapy

For several years Medicos del Alma are visiting various hospitals and wards to offer prayer, encouragement and entertainment for patients, visitors and staff. Dressed as clowns with a puppet, balloons and appropriate tracts or magazines, our team goes from ward to ward, room to room, leaving behind smiling faces and thankful hearts. Sometimes friendships start and carry on when the patient is getting out of the hospital. We get to know their families and personal situations, and offer more help and counsel as the need arises.

One neat thing about it is that many young people here are attracted to this form of collaborating with us. It brings immediate fruit (smiles and thanks!) and leaves with this youth unforgettable experience of making someone's day!

Missionary outreach

There is no greater joy then to be able to help someone find the answers. We have heard so often, "God sent you today to me", or "I really needed to hear this!", or "God spoke through you to me", etc. Personal counseling, mentoring, praying is a great calling! When others look at us and say, "There is something different about you", or "Your eyes are shining! What is it?", or "You look so young and full of life!" to us it is so obvious -- it's Jesus. So simple!


Children love it, too! And the response to kids' reaching out and offering someone a prayer of salvation is never dry - people cry, give hugs, feel obliged to express their thankfulness in some form. How sweet!

Puppet shows

2007 Coming to Argentina

It took a string of miracles for us to come to Argentina. Our paperwork, finances, finding the team and actual traveling. A bus company granted our request for half-price discount - another miracle. We arrived here on March 2007 with our seven children and big expectations.

How does one describe Buenos Aires? Tango, asado, wine, theaters, night life, mate (national herbal drink), Maradona, passion for life, growing slum areas, many immigrants, acceptance, hospitality, rough exterior, salsa and Latin dancing, enjoying work and life, pleasant climate, gorgeous nature - just a few phrases that capture the spirit of Bs. As. for me. And its people - intelligent, laughter-loving, aggressive in reaching their goals, impulsive, expressive with their hands, family-oriented, self-efficient, inclusive.


There is a certain void in the spirit for true values that seem to be fading out. Maybe not a void for religion, but for spiritual truths. We found out that many are hurting inside, hence "Medicos del Alma" - a program designed to reach five objectives:

- personal counseling, support and encouragement;

- distribution and promotion of "Activated" magazine and educational materials from Aurora production for children and adults;

- gigantic puppet shows in schools, colleges, comedores;

- risoterapia or smile therapy in hospitals for patients and nurses;

- teaching young volunteers in all the above.

Lixao Mage, RJ