October 23rd
Dear Friends & Family,
I am so happy to be writing you from my new home in Mar del Plata , Argentina . I arrived here safe and happy by the abundant grace of God, which blessed me every step of the way! I was listed to fly standby on each of the four flights I needed in order to be able to visit my friend in North Carolina on my way to Buenos Aires , and God provided me a seat on each one! And not just any seat either, but first class! I praise the Lord, because flying standby cut the price of the ticket substantially.
I arrived in Argentina on Tuesday morning, October 6th; and I spent my first 5 nights at the National Center of Prayer, which is a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) ministry in Buenos Aires . Though I was originally planning on staying just one night, upon arriving I learned that on the coming Friday there was an international prayer day organized by a group from YWAM Kona, Hawaii, and two of them had come to Buenos Aires to help facilitate. They asked if I’d be willing to help lead the worship music on my violin and so I willingly stayed to participate. It turned out to be a wonderful week, full of great conversation and encouragement as well as great new friendships. It was truly a beautiful thing, sharing meals with two in particular who I had the privilege to come to know- Amy from India , and Onesimo from Cameroon . The diversity of cultures within the great family of Christ is something I truly enjoy!
At last on Sunday the 11th, I arrived to reunite with my Argentine, YWAM family here in the quiet and cool beachside neighborhood just south of the coastal city, Mar del Plata (MDP). It was a very joyful meeting, with lots of kisses on the cheek and lots of fast, Spanish chatting. Almost as soon as I arrived, I opened up the large jar of Adam’s Peanut Butter I had brought, which everyone tried with curiosity. It was so funny to see their faces as they were so surprised at how sticky it felt in their mouths!
I’ve now been here over a week, and we are almost all here together. People have been arriving in pieces as a group of five was gone on a mission trip to England , Egypt and Israel ; and others had gone home to visit their families during the month of September. Not including the husband and wife directors and their three sons, there are 12 of us who are living in community and working full-time together. During the first week, we settled in and started right away to involve ourselves as much as possible in the neighborhood. On Saturday, we had our weekly King’s Kids (youth ministry) meeting at a church in downtown MDP. Our first outreach activity as a team was especially to bless the mothers on Sunday the 18th, which was the nation’s Mother’s day here. We made cards with scriptures inside to pass out in the neighborhood and we performed a drama at the new Evangelical-Christian church in the area. Every time we do a drama, we follow it up with a message, sharing testimonies of the transforming power of Christ in our lives. It was a great time of ministering to the people and their families.
Yesterday I participated for my first time in the official staff meeting of the YWAM base here, and it was very exciting as our directors shared with us the many opportunities ahead to be involved in mission trips and activities. Many times we will be working with one of the 10 other YWAM bases in Argentina . Yesterday evening was the first class of a new session at the First aid and Rescue school in downtown MDP. It was my first time attending as a member, to help facilitate the class. Though I am no longer officially a student of this first-level course, I am still picking up a lot since the first time through my “Argentine” Spanish was only “so-so”. I was relieved as I sat, listening to the professor lecture at his usual speedy pace, and I was able to follow every word! I praise God for gracing me with understanding! One of the other staff members from our base, Pedro and I will be teaching a Basic First Aid and CPR course to students of the School of Missions at the YWAM base located in the province of Corrientes, which is in the Northeast part of the country. It will be my first time presenting this type of material in Spanish, and so it is a great help to be attending the First aid and Rescue School classes now with the perspective of preparing to teach.
I thank you so much for all of your support and encouragement during my visit home in September. I want you to know that without your love and help, I would not be able to have left everything to start afresh, more than 5,000 miles from home. Though I miss you all dearly, I am content here, knowing that I am in the center of God’s will, following His plan for my life. There is no better or safer place to be!
I send you all my love and blessings from the southern hemisphere!
In Christ,
Marissa Griffith
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Faith is a confidence in God’s plan and provision for our future as well as an expectation that God will fulfill everything he has promised though we haven’t experienced fulfillment yet.
–Jean E. Syswerda
martes, 12 de enero de 2010
September 25th, Preparing to move to ARGENTINA!
It’s been two weeks since I returned from my first trip to Argentina, and in less than two weeks from now, I’ll be heading back! I have thought of you in my time away and I pray this letter finds you well. I write to you with much excitement to share what the Lord has begun in me during these past 5 months. On April 14th, my Discipleship Training School (DTS) began, and so did one of the most beautiful seasons of my Christian walk. It was an amazing time of learning and being transformed by the love of God! Each week I received more from God, and grew in my passion to spread His love to others. The week of study which impacted me most, was when we focused on building our identity on Christ alone. I realized that thru the painful process of letting go of the extra things I had begun to depend on, came the amazing fulfillment of re-building my identity only upon the love of God. I am truly a new creation, each day as I recognize who I am in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now that I have completed my DTS, I have been invited to serve full time as a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) missionary in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The base in Mar del Plata is a pioneer base as of three years ago, started by a married couple who have been serving for more than 20 years with YWAM in Buenos Aires. It consists of three rental houses, filled with a total of 18 staff. The ministries running as of now are: King’s Kids- a ministry for youth ages 6-18; Mobile team- a team which visits and collaborates in ministry projects and church congregations in different places; Help & Rescue- a team specialized to serve and help in situations of catastrophe; and the DTS S.O.S. -discipleship training school oriented to Help and Rescue. Since we are still a new base, most of the staff will be involved to some degree in each of the ministries while also working to develop new projects.
My decision to come on staff at this base is a big step of faith for me, since my exact role is not cut in stone. Though I am not filling a spot titled “missionary nurse,” I know I will have many opportunities to use my knowledge and experience as a nurse to serve God and others. I foresee myself working in many areas, giving all of my gifts and abilities to the Lord’s service. One possibility, which was a surprise to me, is that I may have the opportunity to teach violin lessons, and in that way, open a door for YWAM in our neighborhood, to have a bigger impact for Jesus. Another sure need I will fill is to serve as a Spanish-to-English translator, for any DTS students from English-speaking countries. In my next letter, I will share more about what God has put in my heart in regards to the work of these ministries.
Now that I have completed my DTS, I have been invited to serve full time as a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) missionary in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The base in Mar del Plata is a pioneer base as of three years ago, started by a married couple who have been serving for more than 20 years with YWAM in Buenos Aires. It consists of three rental houses, filled with a total of 18 staff. The ministries running as of now are: King’s Kids- a ministry for youth ages 6-18; Mobile team- a team which visits and collaborates in ministry projects and church congregations in different places; Help & Rescue- a team specialized to serve and help in situations of catastrophe; and the DTS S.O.S. -discipleship training school oriented to Help and Rescue. Since we are still a new base, most of the staff will be involved to some degree in each of the ministries while also working to develop new projects.
My decision to come on staff at this base is a big step of faith for me, since my exact role is not cut in stone. Though I am not filling a spot titled “missionary nurse,” I know I will have many opportunities to use my knowledge and experience as a nurse to serve God and others. I foresee myself working in many areas, giving all of my gifts and abilities to the Lord’s service. One possibility, which was a surprise to me, is that I may have the opportunity to teach violin lessons, and in that way, open a door for YWAM in our neighborhood, to have a bigger impact for Jesus. Another sure need I will fill is to serve as a Spanish-to-English translator, for any DTS students from English-speaking countries. In my next letter, I will share more about what God has put in my heart in regards to the work of these ministries.
lunes, 29 de junio de 2009
Last Update prior to the outreach
June 28, 2009
Dear Family,
It is about 10 pm on Sunday night, the 28th of “Junio.” We just finished dinner a little bit ago. Since there were only 5 of us here to eat, we ate a special meal of savory crepes and baked fish. Yum! I arrived here around 7 o’clock after having spent the weekend once more in Necochea with two of my roommates (Daiana and Cintia who are also my DTS classmates) plus one of the full-time “Jucumeras” (YWAM-ers) Vanesa, and all three grew up in the same church there. We went there for our “mini-crusada” (mini-mission trip) at the end of May, but we didn’t have time to visit their own church and families; so they insisted I go with them this weekend as it is our last chance before our outreach. I’m really glad I went; it was really cool to be with them in their hometown. Each of them has such a huge burden for their church and family to know Jesus and to grow in their faith. It made me think of my church on Vashon and also in Seattle, how thankful I am for my family there!
One thing my friends are struggling with is that their pastor is not completely supportive of their involvement in YWAM. It seems that the main reason is because now 6 of them have left to serve in YWAM, and he is concerned that they will not return. He has expressed his hurt and frustration in conversations with all three of the girls, and he has even gone so far as to retract an offer for Vanessa to share with the youth-group. She was really saddened by his response, especially because she has known him since she was like 5 years old! He’s known Cintia since her dedication at her first Sunday service as a newborn! It seems he is supportive of missions just so long as it doesn’t send people away from his church body. Yesterday morning, the four of us girls met together at Cintia’s house and prayed for this situation, and that God would guide us to accomplish his will for the day.
It turned out to be a great day—and it felt like another mini-crusada! We went to the neighborhood with Vanesa’s parents, where they go every Saturday, to help lead a little program for a group of about 20 kids. It was a very poor neighborhood, and Vanesa’s mom said that there are so many problems involving abuse and neglect in the homes. And so we sang some kids worship songs and I played my violin. Then the four of us performed a little drama which teaches that Jesus can save you from sin. They loved it! Before serving milk and crackers we prayed for all of their families, that God would do a miracle in each home and bring His peace and healing to them. Afterward, we had a great time playing “futbol” (soccer) outside, and dancing to music, and enjoying the brisk, fresh air!
Later on, we went to the church for the youth group and their pastor was their too. At the beginning the atmosphere seemed kind of tense but it seemed that something changed during the message and after the prayer. At the end, their head Pastor offered the chance for the three of us “DTS-students” to stand up and share parts of our testimonies in front of the group. That was really cool! I went first, and was so happy that it came so easy to me, and everyone seemed to understand my Spanish! Then Daiana and Cintia each shared something on their heart and we ended by singing a song along with Vanessa, and me on the violin once more!
Just now I called Daiana, because the three of them are still there in Necochea until tomorrow night. She said that at church this evening the pastor prayed over she and Cintia and blessed them for our upcoming outreach. She said that God is doing something “Grande!”
I am so encouraged every day to seek God, and to listen carefully for his voice. I am surrounded by people who live by faith and depend on God for everything- including finances- literally. That is something I am learning as well, since God convicted me to set aside the amount raised by the church back in February, to provide for a specific need. For now, I am drawing from my savings to pay for the DTS and I am praying for God’s guidance as far as when and where to offer the amount raised by the church. God is faithful, and I am excited to see where His hand leads me!
This Saturday morning, before sunrise we are heading out of Mar del Plata on our outreach! Now we will apply everything we have been learning during the theory part. It’s going to be an awesome adventure! Each week, we will be in a different city starting in Tres Arroyos, Oriente y Copetonas, Benito Juarez, Mar del Plata, Santa Clara, Santa Teresita y Mar de Ajo. During the last week in July, when we will be in Mar del Plata again, we will be working with a team arriving from a DTS in England!
In preparation, we have been learning many dramas and choreographies to perform in the parks and plazas of each city. The choreographies include “human videos” to Christian music such as the song “Everything” by Lifehouse. We are also learning Folklore dancing and Tango! I will be playing my violin wherever we go for sure, as it is a rarity and always draws attention. The idea is that we will draw attention, share the gospel through music, drama and art, and then go out into the crowd to talk individually and pray for the people.
We are believing for God to fulfill a prophetic word given to our directors a year ago, which was confirmed again just recently. The first word was given to the pastor of the church which provides a room for us to meet with the “King’s Kids” ministry on Saturdays. He said that God is going to use our group more in the area of worship to draw youth to Himself. Then, just a few weeks ago, when I played my violin for the Christian radio, another pastor here in Mar del Plata had a vision of our group moving up the coast of Argentina, and the youth were gathering around us to adore Jesus!
God is moving His awesome hand and drawing the lost! I can’t wait to see it! Another wonderful answer to prayer is that the doors are opening in the community here where we live, for the leaders here at the YWAM base to be involved. For the past two years they have been praying for a chance to be a part of the neighborhood’s “Society reunions” of some sort, but they have not been able to make the right contacts. Finally, just a couple weeks ago, when the sun was out I decided to play my violin outside, and the music caught the attention of a guy in the neighborhood. He stopped to listen and began chatting with one of the leaders of the base. As it turns out, the he is the President of the neighbornood society meetings! So now our leaders are participating in the meetings, and sharing with the members all about the mission of YWAM. Cool, huh? God is a creative God, and nothing is difficult for Him! Sometimes I feel super incapable on my violin, since for these past 5 years I’ve played about an average of once a month at most! And before that, it was maybe twice a month since high-school, and my last official lesson was when I was 14 or 15! It makes me smile every time I play a simple tune and the people are awestruck! I never would’ve guessed that all of those simple pieces I was committing to memory at the cost of my mother’s patience 15 years ago would be such a useful tool in God’s hand now in South America! God is good and full of surprises isn’t He?!
I think I’ve summed up most of what I wanted to say…
Prayer requests:
-Safety in our travels
-Protection from illness (Influenza A & the Influenza Porcina; Dengue fever)
-Guidance each day to know the places to go to find the lost
-Clarity and discernment for our leaders in making wise decisions
-Clarity in my heart and mind for the details of my long-term commitment (Where, When, Position to fill)
-Durability to my violin (an antique from 1865) as we will often be performing outside
-God’s covering from theft and crime walking in the streets, evangelizing
Mil Gracias!!!
(A thousand thanks)Thank you SO MUCH! I CRAVE your prayers! The power of prayer = the power of the Almighty God!!!!
I will be praying for you too!
Dios les bendiga!!!
God bless you!!!
Mucho Amor, un abrazo GRANDE y un besa a cada una!
Much love, A BIG hug and a kiss to each of you!
Tu hermana, hija, prima, sobrina y amiga, Marissa
Your sister, daughter, sister, cousin and friend, Marísa
Dear Family,
It is about 10 pm on Sunday night, the 28th of “Junio.” We just finished dinner a little bit ago. Since there were only 5 of us here to eat, we ate a special meal of savory crepes and baked fish. Yum! I arrived here around 7 o’clock after having spent the weekend once more in Necochea with two of my roommates (Daiana and Cintia who are also my DTS classmates) plus one of the full-time “Jucumeras” (YWAM-ers) Vanesa, and all three grew up in the same church there. We went there for our “mini-crusada” (mini-mission trip) at the end of May, but we didn’t have time to visit their own church and families; so they insisted I go with them this weekend as it is our last chance before our outreach. I’m really glad I went; it was really cool to be with them in their hometown. Each of them has such a huge burden for their church and family to know Jesus and to grow in their faith. It made me think of my church on Vashon and also in Seattle, how thankful I am for my family there!
One thing my friends are struggling with is that their pastor is not completely supportive of their involvement in YWAM. It seems that the main reason is because now 6 of them have left to serve in YWAM, and he is concerned that they will not return. He has expressed his hurt and frustration in conversations with all three of the girls, and he has even gone so far as to retract an offer for Vanessa to share with the youth-group. She was really saddened by his response, especially because she has known him since she was like 5 years old! He’s known Cintia since her dedication at her first Sunday service as a newborn! It seems he is supportive of missions just so long as it doesn’t send people away from his church body. Yesterday morning, the four of us girls met together at Cintia’s house and prayed for this situation, and that God would guide us to accomplish his will for the day.
It turned out to be a great day—and it felt like another mini-crusada! We went to the neighborhood with Vanesa’s parents, where they go every Saturday, to help lead a little program for a group of about 20 kids. It was a very poor neighborhood, and Vanesa’s mom said that there are so many problems involving abuse and neglect in the homes. And so we sang some kids worship songs and I played my violin. Then the four of us performed a little drama which teaches that Jesus can save you from sin. They loved it! Before serving milk and crackers we prayed for all of their families, that God would do a miracle in each home and bring His peace and healing to them. Afterward, we had a great time playing “futbol” (soccer) outside, and dancing to music, and enjoying the brisk, fresh air!
Later on, we went to the church for the youth group and their pastor was their too. At the beginning the atmosphere seemed kind of tense but it seemed that something changed during the message and after the prayer. At the end, their head Pastor offered the chance for the three of us “DTS-students” to stand up and share parts of our testimonies in front of the group. That was really cool! I went first, and was so happy that it came so easy to me, and everyone seemed to understand my Spanish! Then Daiana and Cintia each shared something on their heart and we ended by singing a song along with Vanessa, and me on the violin once more!
Just now I called Daiana, because the three of them are still there in Necochea until tomorrow night. She said that at church this evening the pastor prayed over she and Cintia and blessed them for our upcoming outreach. She said that God is doing something “Grande!”
I am so encouraged every day to seek God, and to listen carefully for his voice. I am surrounded by people who live by faith and depend on God for everything- including finances- literally. That is something I am learning as well, since God convicted me to set aside the amount raised by the church back in February, to provide for a specific need. For now, I am drawing from my savings to pay for the DTS and I am praying for God’s guidance as far as when and where to offer the amount raised by the church. God is faithful, and I am excited to see where His hand leads me!
This Saturday morning, before sunrise we are heading out of Mar del Plata on our outreach! Now we will apply everything we have been learning during the theory part. It’s going to be an awesome adventure! Each week, we will be in a different city starting in Tres Arroyos, Oriente y Copetonas, Benito Juarez, Mar del Plata, Santa Clara, Santa Teresita y Mar de Ajo. During the last week in July, when we will be in Mar del Plata again, we will be working with a team arriving from a DTS in England!
In preparation, we have been learning many dramas and choreographies to perform in the parks and plazas of each city. The choreographies include “human videos” to Christian music such as the song “Everything” by Lifehouse. We are also learning Folklore dancing and Tango! I will be playing my violin wherever we go for sure, as it is a rarity and always draws attention. The idea is that we will draw attention, share the gospel through music, drama and art, and then go out into the crowd to talk individually and pray for the people.
We are believing for God to fulfill a prophetic word given to our directors a year ago, which was confirmed again just recently. The first word was given to the pastor of the church which provides a room for us to meet with the “King’s Kids” ministry on Saturdays. He said that God is going to use our group more in the area of worship to draw youth to Himself. Then, just a few weeks ago, when I played my violin for the Christian radio, another pastor here in Mar del Plata had a vision of our group moving up the coast of Argentina, and the youth were gathering around us to adore Jesus!
God is moving His awesome hand and drawing the lost! I can’t wait to see it! Another wonderful answer to prayer is that the doors are opening in the community here where we live, for the leaders here at the YWAM base to be involved. For the past two years they have been praying for a chance to be a part of the neighborhood’s “Society reunions” of some sort, but they have not been able to make the right contacts. Finally, just a couple weeks ago, when the sun was out I decided to play my violin outside, and the music caught the attention of a guy in the neighborhood. He stopped to listen and began chatting with one of the leaders of the base. As it turns out, the he is the President of the neighbornood society meetings! So now our leaders are participating in the meetings, and sharing with the members all about the mission of YWAM. Cool, huh? God is a creative God, and nothing is difficult for Him! Sometimes I feel super incapable on my violin, since for these past 5 years I’ve played about an average of once a month at most! And before that, it was maybe twice a month since high-school, and my last official lesson was when I was 14 or 15! It makes me smile every time I play a simple tune and the people are awestruck! I never would’ve guessed that all of those simple pieces I was committing to memory at the cost of my mother’s patience 15 years ago would be such a useful tool in God’s hand now in South America! God is good and full of surprises isn’t He?!
I think I’ve summed up most of what I wanted to say…
Prayer requests:
-Safety in our travels
-Protection from illness (Influenza A & the Influenza Porcina; Dengue fever)
-Guidance each day to know the places to go to find the lost
-Clarity and discernment for our leaders in making wise decisions
-Clarity in my heart and mind for the details of my long-term commitment (Where, When, Position to fill)
-Durability to my violin (an antique from 1865) as we will often be performing outside
-God’s covering from theft and crime walking in the streets, evangelizing
Mil Gracias!!!
(A thousand thanks)Thank you SO MUCH! I CRAVE your prayers! The power of prayer = the power of the Almighty God!!!!
I will be praying for you too!
Dios les bendiga!!!
God bless you!!!
Mucho Amor, un abrazo GRANDE y un besa a cada una!
Much love, A BIG hug and a kiss to each of you!
Tu hermana, hija, prima, sobrina y amiga, Marissa
Your sister, daughter, sister, cousin and friend, Marísa
domingo, 21 de junio de 2009
Captions
I´m sorry I didn´t have time to add captions to the pictures I posted last week! They are a collection from the night we went bowling and then went out for hotdogs "panchos." A week later we had the "Cena de Amor" which is the dinner of love! That night we had homemade, Argentine hamburgers! YUM! Then we drew names and went around saying what we loved about this particular person, then we practiced Generosity and gave something belonging to us which was of value to that person to show love :) It was so sweet!
We had a great time! I love the people here at the YWAM base, they are like one big huge family!
The picture of the bowling score sheet shows that I was the high-scorer on my team, and then I got a picture with Matias, the high-scorer on the other team. He beat me by about 6 points!
We had a great time! I love the people here at the YWAM base, they are like one big huge family!
The picture of the bowling score sheet shows that I was the high-scorer on my team, and then I got a picture with Matias, the high-scorer on the other team. He beat me by about 6 points!
lunes, 15 de junio de 2009
lunes, 1 de junio de 2009
Fun times!
This is a picture of the whole team of YWAM Mar del Plata, plus our visitors on this day in April- Alejandro and his wife Marta, the founders of YWAM South America.
We made my Grandma's favorite recipe for Apple Cobbler, along with homemade ice cream!
Facundo and me doing one of the skits called "La Silla"
A group of the youth in King's Kids in Necochea
Facundo and me doing one of the skits called "La Silla"
A group of the youth in King's Kids in Necochea
We take the drums with us everywhere!
"Buen dia Marisa"
Tango for Jesus on the stage of the Revival event in "Necochea"
Practicing our rescue techniques in the First Aid Class is a blast!
Goofin off during our free time!
These girls were SO thrilled by the singing card Wende gave me as a going away gift!
Talkin with my lil sis on Skype with webcam!
My YWAM "sisters", Daiana, Mariana, Vanessa and me :) 
Good times!
Playin my violin in the park!
Marivelia, Daiana and me in the Plaza
My YWAM "sisters", Daiana, Mariana, Vanessa and me :) 
Good times!
Playin my violin in the park!
Marivelia, Daiana and me in the Plaza
sábado, 2 de mayo de 2009
King´s Kids
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Hola!
I’m so sleepy!
Today we went to the same church where I’ve gone these past two Sundays, for “Kings Kids.” Every Saturday Kings Kids meets from 9:45 am to about 6pm. It is a ministry for youth, which includes kids from 6 years old to 18! I remember the first time I heard about “Kings Kids” was when a group came to our church when I was young. That was also the first time I had ever heard of YWAM. Primarily, Kings Kids focuses on composing dance choreography/“human videos” to music, as a tool to portray the message of the gospel. However, here the ministry has truly enveloped every aspect of a growing church! They start with time in worship with a guitar, jambeau drum, and beautiful voices. Then they spend time in prayer- general and specific. Today we prayed for the regions in northern Argentina which are suffering the most from the recent Dengue epidemic. Then we had some time for playing games before starting work on choreography. We ate lunch together- Pizza with sauce and mozzarella! Then there was a teaching on “what is evangelism,” which included each kid in discussion. For the last hour we split into two groups and worked on new choreography which we will use during a mini-mission trip at the end of May.
We all hit the road at about 3:30 to head to the “March for Justice” which some city officials had organized in response to recent instability and violence in the city of Mar del Plata. Apparently there have been many murders and shootings in and around the city, including in high schools, as well as death of Police Force. It was so bad that the military has come into the city to support the local law enforcement. This need for security pushed the city officials to invite the priest of one of the Catholic churches, a Lutheran pastor, and a Pentecostal pastor to bring their congregations to the march in support of the cause. So, we were there too, holding up signs made with the colors of the Argentine flag which say JUSTICE. We marched and prayed that God’s kingdom would come today, as it is in heaven, in the form of justice in this place.
After all was said and done, Norma, our director’s wife, was able to give some Christian literature to 3 very influential people, who are in seek of guidance for this city. She was thrilled and we all praise God for providing the opportunity!
Hola!
I’m so sleepy!
Today we went to the same church where I’ve gone these past two Sundays, for “Kings Kids.” Every Saturday Kings Kids meets from 9:45 am to about 6pm. It is a ministry for youth, which includes kids from 6 years old to 18! I remember the first time I heard about “Kings Kids” was when a group came to our church when I was young. That was also the first time I had ever heard of YWAM. Primarily, Kings Kids focuses on composing dance choreography/“human videos” to music, as a tool to portray the message of the gospel. However, here the ministry has truly enveloped every aspect of a growing church! They start with time in worship with a guitar, jambeau drum, and beautiful voices. Then they spend time in prayer- general and specific. Today we prayed for the regions in northern Argentina which are suffering the most from the recent Dengue epidemic. Then we had some time for playing games before starting work on choreography. We ate lunch together- Pizza with sauce and mozzarella! Then there was a teaching on “what is evangelism,” which included each kid in discussion. For the last hour we split into two groups and worked on new choreography which we will use during a mini-mission trip at the end of May.
We all hit the road at about 3:30 to head to the “March for Justice” which some city officials had organized in response to recent instability and violence in the city of Mar del Plata. Apparently there have been many murders and shootings in and around the city, including in high schools, as well as death of Police Force. It was so bad that the military has come into the city to support the local law enforcement. This need for security pushed the city officials to invite the priest of one of the Catholic churches, a Lutheran pastor, and a Pentecostal pastor to bring their congregations to the march in support of the cause. So, we were there too, holding up signs made with the colors of the Argentine flag which say JUSTICE. We marched and prayed that God’s kingdom would come today, as it is in heaven, in the form of justice in this place.
After all was said and done, Norma, our director’s wife, was able to give some Christian literature to 3 very influential people, who are in seek of guidance for this city. She was thrilled and we all praise God for providing the opportunity!
So, it was a great day! And every Saturday we will be going to participate with the Kings Kids ministry as well as street evangelism opportunities.
School this week was really good. The topics were tough and I’ve been processing a lot! The lesson focus were: The Holy Spirit; Hearing the voice of God; Clean conscience & Repentence; Prayer & Intercession; Forgiveness; &Walking in the Light. The lessons are just like Bible studies, and we are constantly looking up scriptures to learn the scriptural basis for each topic. I’ve been using my NIV English Bible as well as my Spanish Bible “Traducción en lenguaje Actual” which reminds me of the way “The message” reads- easier to understand than King James Version.
We each have a mentor with whom we will meet each week to share what God is teaching us, process questions we have, confess sins, celebrate answered prayer, and more! My “dicipiladora” –Discipler- is Alicia! She is the gal I told you about over 2 weeks ago now- the one who welcomed Renae and I so readily, and spent 2 days showing us around town, and helping me get settled in. She is so sweet and I am excited to get to know her more!
As far as homework goes, it’s not too overwhelming. Most of our learning will happen during the teachings, the practical work, participation with the youth ministry, and street evangelism. Apart from all that is scheduled, we each have a book to read, which we will be doing mini-reports on, to include a presentation to the class regarding what God has revealed to us through what we’ve read. Right now I’m reading,“Is that Really You Lord?” by Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM. It is an exciting story of God answering prayers one after another-- totally faith-building!
Well, that‘s it for now!
I love you lots!
Keep in touch!!
~Marissa
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