August 2013
Dear Family & Friends:
As most of you know, the primary focus of our ministry in Buenos Aires has been with vulnerable young adults, youth, and children at the Retiro train station located in the center of the city. Over the past five years, I have shared many stories and reflected on experiences with our friends who live and/or work at the train station in my prayer letters and blog. I want to share news that it has become increasingly clear that our regular times at Retiro have come to a close. For a variety of reasons, most of our friends no longer spend time at the station. In general, vulnerable youth who we serve no longer go to the station to earn money for basic necessities. The reasons are too many to fit on a one-page letter, but I would be happy to share more specifics if you have questions. Just send me an email.
A few months ago our new WMF Global Executive Director, Leroy Barber, visited our community. Walter Forcatto and I took him to Retiro to share the place that has served as the center of our friendships, ministry and lives for so many years. Leroy shared some gracious words of reflection, which you can read by clicking here. This all caused me to recognize and reflect on just how significant Retiro has been in my life and our Buenos Aires community all these years. It has been a place where our friends have welcomed us into their lives. Whether sitting on the station floor or playing in the park across the street, Retiro has been a special place where meaningful friendships were first established and cultivated. Here I experienced hospitality at its best. While sharing mate and cookies, working on “sopa de letras” (word searches), playing UNO, coloring with the young children and playing futbol in the park, we listened, learned and were present with one another.
The cherished memories and deep formation that happened in my own life are too many to recount here. But, today I celebrate with deep gratitude the gift of Retiro and my friends who continue to impact and shape my life today. Thank you for supporting and partnering with me and our community through it all! Below are just a few prayer requests related to this new season of ministry for WMF Argentina.
• Please pray for us as we seek ways to remain connected to our friends outside the context of Retiro. We praise God that a few are now a regular part of our church community. We also make effort to visit other friends in their homes. I get still go to Retiro a few times month to spend time with any friends who might happen to be there.
• This year we have put most of our effort and focus in our after-school program, Acompañamiento Educativo. Please pray for us we partner with our local church in serving vulnerable children and families living in our neighborhood. In July we kicked-off two weeks of winter vacation with a big party. We celebrated a good first semester with 40 kids! Stay tuned for more Acompañamiento Educativo updates and needs in the coming months!
• Please pray for our entire global WMF community as we welcome our new Executive Director, Leroy Barber. Pray for our US support staff as they settle into their new office and home in Portland, Oregon. We are excited and hopeful for all that is ahead!
• Finally, it is winter here in the Southern Hemisphere. Please pray for our friends and the kids who suffer extra during this season of damp cold.
Grace & Peace, david