Port's Visit, Going to Ramirez

We took them to visit the town in the northern part of our field, a small agricultural town called Ramirez.  In 2009, when I was in that field with Monica Wolf, a group of around 20 dissatisfied religious people started listening to the gospel.  Today there is a small Sunday morning meeting there with nine who take part.  It's been an interesting experience to come back six years after I left there, and to see the changes that have slowly taken place and to see these people really have life.  It hasn't been easy for them to be different in a small town full of gossips, but they've stuck to it.  There are lots of things we'd still like to see changed, but just gotta have patience!  Meanwhile, they're like little children - they bring a lot of joy, but need a lot of attention!

It's around a 400 km trip from Buenos Aires.  German and Rossy Olmos took us in their converted bus.  We normally do this trip in a public bus, takes 7 hours as it calls in to all the towns on the way.  This trip was the most fun ever!  Here we are leaving from Herman and Rossy's house:

Scenes from the housebus trip:

(The Coke was an instant addiction).  The Argentinians couldn't BELIEVE he'd never had Coke before!  Poor deprived child...

Heidi was a hit with Danielle with her girly hand-clap games that she still remembered!

She was also a hit with Lincoln because she played all the dragon-slaying/fighting games he wanted.  And we could enjoy a peaceful trip while she entertained Linc!

Stopped for lunch on the side of the road.

A good little Catholic!  This shrine caught her eye and she went and arranged the things inside it much more tidily...

Every picture tells a story... In this case, Lincoln got out the bus, and was interested in the stagnant pond of water there.  Herman told him he could go for a swim in it.  Linc being Linc needed no further encouragement and was about to strip off his t-shirt when his father intervened, and told him there are crocodiles in there!  So here he is throwing stones at the pond hoping against hope to rouse the said crocodile.

Going into the town of Ramirez

At Nelson and Zulma's house. This is the meeting home, and the home where we had the first of many gospel meetings.

Walking to next house a few blocks away

These kids began to play inspite of not being able to speak to each other.  The two little girls are Abril (April) and her little sister Eluney.  They are so, so shy normally, but got on great with Linc and Dan.

The Ports with this precious couple Jesus (pronounce He-SUS) and Belen (means Bethlehem).  (Yes, that's their names!).  Jesus' parents are Nelson and Zulma who have the meeting in their home.  When I first met them, Belen was 16 and expecting Abril!! They later married after the second girl was born, because they wanted to profess.  This year, we gave up the bach that the workers have had for about four years in this town, and we started staying with our friends here.  This couple had just received this new house from the govt, which they pay as a rent-to-own scheme, and it had just one bedroom.  Belen hurried Jesus along to build two other little bedrooms for the reason that she wanted us to stay with them!  We love going to stay, they are such a dear little family, and Belen in particular is outstanding in her revelation of truth, and the convictions she receives.  Since she professed, her younger sister started listening, and then her parents.  We recently visited her grandmother too for the first time.  It's so cute to see the girls start to warm up to us.  One day a school friend of Abril's came to play and asked her if we are her aunties!  That got the littlest one thinking (she's four), and the next day she asked me if I'm her aunty.  I said technically no, because I'm not her mother's sister.  She paused, then said quite convinced, you ARE my aunty. 😊

Playing memory - that was the icebreaker!

Behind their house.  You can see houses in the background, soon all that paddock will be built on.

Danielle couldn't resist the horses

After Sunday am mtg.  Back row: Fabian Zapata and his brother Nelson, Jesus, Ruben Holzer (a man who lives in the city of Parana, 80 kms away.  Sisters met him in 2007), Fraser, Charlotte, Herman Rossy.  Front row: Alicia (Fabian's wife), Sonia (Ruben's wife), Belen and the girls, Danille, June, Lincoln.  Nelson's wife Zulma wasn't present that day.  

The kids watching other kids play football on the sports ground in front of Nelson's.

Observing the asado after the meeting.  Man in the grey jacket is Belen's father

We found a small frog in our bedroom Sunday am, so Heidi trapped it and we gave it to Lincoln (much to his enormous delight.  He immediately named it Hoppy.

Lunchtime

Linc kind of overdid things...what with all the running around, Coke, lollies, dogs, frogs... got a sore tummy!  

Going back to Buenos Aires

Selfie moments

Visit from the Ports

Recently my cousin Charlotte and Fraser Port visited us with their two children Danielle (10) and Lincoln (6).  They had a week with me, and then a week with Nadine in Uruguay.  What a neat time!  Noone comes with children, so they were a real novelty with everybody!  Thanks guys for coming... I will now attempt to resume my blog and share a few photos.  It's been so long since I did a post, I've almost forgotten how to do them... 😞.

Here they are arriving after a long trip across the Pacific...

Lincoln was so enthused with his wheelie suitcase he wanted to play dodgems with everyone!

Crammed into the back of the taxi loaded to the hilt with luggage and people!  Welcome to Buenos Aires!

Crossing the street to where Charlotte had hired the airbnb, San Telmo area of Buenos Aires

Chilling out after long flight!  Hyped-up Lincoln finding games to play in the cushions...

First meal together in the apartment.

The kids woke up at 1am... wide awake ready to go...until about 8am when WE were getting ready to go out.  Their batteries ran flat and this is how they stayed!

Fraser, Charlotte and I went out for their first look at Bueno Aires while Heidi babysat...

We got home at midday to find this:

After much coaxing and gentle waking up, we set off to eat at the Gran Parrilla del Plata...an historic meat-monger that has been turned into a well-known steakhouse. Still got all the old white tile-work on the walls and meathooks around the place.

Heidi showing a video of her dad's latest toy - some forestry machine.  MUCH more interesting than sitting around eating!!

Out and about on the streets of Buenos Aires.  Lincoln made a "machine" of a glass water bottle, a cork and toothpicks while at the restaurant.  Kept him entertained for hours!!

Yummy! One of the many ice-cream (gelato) shops to be found (and enjoyed)...

We had a study at Emilio and Alejandra Alencastro's apartment one day, where a Emilio's mother Betty was also and Teresa and her son Mauro.

Was cute watching the kids play inspite of their lack of communication!

Doing hop-on hop-off bus tour

One of Lincoln's favourite pastimes here was scaring the pigeons (of which there is no shortage).  Here he is hiding from those ones in the distance hoping they will come nearer so he can leap out at them.

Gluten-free diet out the window

Tango street-show

Taking the luggage for a walk through Retiro neighbourhood, to the train station.

At the train station about to go onto the platform to face the next big challenge... how to get on a train at rush-hour with many heavy bags, a couple of kids...and more importantly, how to get OFF it when it will be jam-packed!  All part of the Buenos Aires experience...

Not so full at the beginning of the trip.

Phew!  We did it!  walking from he station to German and Rossy Olmos' house (the school/convention grounds).

Where Lincoln made firm friends with Florencia's dog Hussar....

...and we ate what Danielle later declared to be the "best steak of the entire trip!"