WindLife: December 2005

Felices Fiestas en La Casita

At Madres Cuidadores (aka "La Casita", the chiquititos began preparing for the arrival of Papa Noel on December 8 (the Day of Virgin Mary). We decorated the Childcare Center´s Christmas tree together on this day. Papa Noel will be paying us a visit on December 23! (He may bear a striking resemblance to Gustavo)

Paul Johnson´s visit

We were glad to welcome Paul Johnson as our guest at San Juan Bautista in early December. Paul is assistant to the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and a valued partner in ministry here in Comodoro. He worshiped with us, (he is kneeling in the foreground)

Shared in a feast of empanadas (here pictured with Nico and congregation president Malena)

Shared mate with us during our annual congregational meeting (here Solange passes the mate to Lili)

Observed the election of our new church council (Lili, Viviana, Mercedes, Natalia, Malena. Not pictured is our vice president, Brunhilde)

Advent at San Juan Bautista

Rocio (Mapuche name meaning "morning dew") lights the Advent wreath. Rocio and her mama, Marcela left for 2 months in Spain this week. We miss you! (Thank you to Paul Johnson for this photo).

The Gang (of chicos) at San Juan Bautista

I really enjoy this series of photos with Monica and several of the San Juan gang. It seems to capture some of their energy, humor, and varieties of moods.

Images of Comodoro Rivadavia

Thank you to Paul Johnson, who shared this excellent photo of downtown Comodoro with me!

Looking out west toward the hills

Looking out east toward the sea

Fiestitas

I am learning (with joy and occasional exhaustion!) the importance of hospitality and celebration in Argentina. It doesn´t take much to merit an informal gathering of friends and family for asado or parrilla (barbecues) -- and these often last well into the night (and morning).

Pedro cooking conejo patagonico (extra-large Patagonian jackrabbit)for a gathering at Malena´s house.

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Here´s Malena and her daughter Ingrid with the completed (and delicious) conejo in the foreground.

During a "fiestita" in my apartment!

At Lili´s house, the group broke into song -- singing the triste Argentine folkore songs of the gauchos.

A pause between ballads . . .

MATE

Mate (pronounced MAH-TEY)is EVERYWHERE in Argentina! A truly communal beverage, to be shared by all. They say that drinking mate together crosses all social barriers. Anytime and in any place -- climbers bring mate with them to share when they reach the top of their climbs!
I couldn´t resist a photo of this poster for Aids Awareness prepared by the Red Cross of Argentina. To paraphrase the poster´s mesage: "You won´t get HIV from sharing mate."
Malena tells me that there is a website for Argentinos who are living in other parts of the world and find themselves missing mate. I have yet to find it - -
Here´s some more perspective from an interesting site, http://www.noborders.net/mate/

"In traditional Mate use, the cup is often shared among close friends and family -
using the same straw, or bombilla. Reminiscent of the kind of closeness written about in Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land," where the characters become "water brothers" or "water sisters" when they drank from the same cup one after the other, those who share the Mate cup join in a kind of bond where the sharing of the health and meditation of the Yerba Mate is a sign of total acceptance and friendship.

In a traditional Mate sharing event, there is one person who pours the hot water and serves up the cup. At a party of close friends, this person is often the host. At outings or at home, this responsibility may change from one sharing to the next. Generally the server will start a new infusion and then take the first drink. He or she will drink all the water in the Mate cup, taking several good sips until air is heard coming through the bombilla. Once done, the server will again fill the cup with hot water and hand it to the next drinker, who will also drink the entire contents of the cup before handing it back to the server. The cup will once again be filled and handed to the next person, who does the same. This process will continue, going around the circle many times, until there is no flavor left in the infusion.

Monica and Amelia share mate in the kitchen during the Patagonian District Assembly in Esquel.

Ana prepares mate to enjoy in the morning sunshine.

Laura and Lydia share mate in the National Park near Esquel.

School Help for Neighborhood Kids

Gustavo spends 3 mornings per week with the older kids in our barrio, participating in a program to assist them with homework and to provide a safe and interesting place to be before school begins.

Comodoro Rivadavia

The beach in Comodoro Rivadavia, small but sparkling on a day like this one . . .

The landscape is like this throughout the city -- these hills lead straight down through town to the ocean.

Gustavo and Solange, Leandro and Lourdes

The beatiful family who provides me such wonderful hospitality! The photo is taken near Comodoro Rivadavia in Rada Tilly.

One of my favorite photos so far --- Solange and Gustavo in their kitchen.

National Park near Esquel

Here´s the amazing National Park near Esquel. Our lovely hosts, Laura and Rodrigo and Sergio brought us into the park for a day of canoeing and hiking and relaxing near the fire.

Patagonian District Assembly in Esquel

In mid-November, we traveled to Esquel for the Patagonian District Assembly. Three Lutheran congregations gathered for retreat, business, and worship in beautiful Esquel. 11 of us traveled the 650 km from Comodoro. Pictured with me here, Viviana, Lydia (visiting from US), Monica, and Leandro.