Blanco y Celeste: Tres Arroyos and Cascallares

(The blue circle is Cascallares)

We just spent a week with the people who live 'upcountry' from Bahia Blanca. There are two towns, Tres Arroyos is the bigger (literally means Three Streams). An agricultural town of about 70,000, with a big component of Dutch and Danish descendants. Cascallares (pronounced Kas-ka-YAR-ess) is just a tiny settlement, also centred around arable cropping. Cascallares is where the West family were from. The workers first went there in the 60s I think it was, and were living in a little room. They went to buy a gas bottle and were going to take it between them on a pole when the man who worked there offered to take it for them. That man was Isabeto West (the surname is English! But they are of Danish descent). It was through him that his sisters Lilia, Graciela and Susy and their mother began to listen, and made their choices to serve God. Isabeto's wife Maria Ines, and then two of their three daughters Ines and Ester also professed, but sadly he himself although a very good, honourable man who never opposed his wife and daughter's decisions, never made a commitment himself and passed away suddenly not long ago. Lilia has a daughter preaching the gospel in Colombia, Valentina de la Fuente.

After Sunday morning meeting at home of Graciela and Hector Justus (Cascallares)

Having 'mate' after the meeting.

Hector talking with Jorge (Ines' husband) outside Hector's house after meeting.

Ines and her mum Maria Ines

Ines and Jorge married about 6 years ago. Jorge attends all the meetings with Ines, but as yet doesn't seem to feel a need to make his own commitment.

Dining room at Jorge and Ines' home.

Outside Jorge and Ines'.

Ines' mother, Maria Ines, lives here. You can see the little sleep-out down the side of the drive where we sleep.

Out and about in Tres Arroyos

Now let's go to Cascallares...about 20 kms away from Tres Arroyos

These little settlements, built around the grain industry, are set along the main highway. They all have their big entrance way and an entry road down to the silos, the Co-op (which pretty much runs everything in the town), and the houses, school, shops if there are any. The settlements vary in size, some are just little dots on the landscape like Cascallares, others are fairly good sized little towns.

The Justus home (around 100 years old).

Hector and Graciela's daughter Nora with husband Roberto and little Maitena. They live in the city of Cordoba

And their other daughter Lina who lives in USA with her husband Brian Drew, and their adopted Violet. Violet is part Maori!

Walking around Cascallares with Ramona and Graciela Justus

Susy is 80, has quite bad arthritic pain. Has had a hard life with a rotten husband!

A couple of Susy's paintings

And her fig tree! You soon learn to spot the best figs...the ones that are open at the bottom, drippng nectar....mmm can't beat a good tree ripened fig. Have to beat the parrots to them though.