Warm welcomings, 15lbs and an invitation without a choice

A few days ago we landed at EZE, one of Buenos Aires two airports. Having been traveling for almost 24 hours we were greeted at the airport by two members from the church we would be connecting with for the next week. Of the two only one of them spoke English--and her English is still in the works. Ruth, an 18 year old native to Argentina has been studying English in school for the past 2 years. She spoke English well enough to let us know we were in the right place and would be well taken care of (think of how well you spoke another language after studying it for two years in high school).

After about an hour car ride we arrived at the home of Pastor Alejandro, our host! The sunset picture here was taken while standing just outside his front door. Also pictured is the front of his home. Since arrival we have been treated as royalty, or so it seems. Everyone we cross paths with, though they don´t speak our language, makes it a point to see that we are comfortable. They will ask us, using mostly hand motions, if we are hungry, tired, thirsty, if we need cafe (coffee), etc... This culture is very welcoming and loving. You can´t enter a room without first greeting everyone with a kiss to the cheek. As far as the language barrier goes our hosts have made an effort to have someone who knows at least a hint of English be our shadow each day. We are amazed at how the people here are so willing to put their lives on hold to come and shadow us around and help us communicate--we are thankful for this.

Every day we are well fed. Huge meals are prepared and shared amoung family and friends. After we have had our fill our hosts still insist on us filling our plates again. Once the main course is finished it is time for desert. Each meal is at least an hour event-- dinner especially being 2 or more hours. Despite the language barrier great amounts of laughter are shared over these drawn out meals. I am sure that by the end of this week alone we will have each gained 15lbs.

Upon learning I (Cole) spent the last two years working with youth the pastor´s son, Diego (who heads the youth program here), made it a point that I would be teaching at the Saturday night service this weekend. No option was given, it was simply decided that I would be doing this. I´ve been told that the Saturday night service is mostly youth, but a handful of families come as well. Somewhere around 100 people will be in attendence. There is one family in the church who lived in Miami for 6 years, the father of this family will translate my teaching. This month they have been teaching on unity. So, come Saturday night looks like I´m teaching on unity. Pictured to the left is the front of the church.

One of the afternoons earlier this week Diego took us into downtown Buenos Aires. The picture above is of Tina and me standing in the heart of BA. Downtown felt very much like New York City. Also pictured here is Diego and me sitting on bench in a park in central BA that felt much like New York´s Central Park or even Denver´s Wash Park. (As a side thought: Tina says we would be friends with Diego if we lived here and spoke his language...his humor and facial expressions fit with the people we hang out with at home). The feeling in downtown BA is very different from the dirt roads, fenced off houses, shards of glass fixed in the tops of tall cement walls, strong odors, and dozens of roaming stray dogs that characterize the area where we are staying this week.