being God's extended arm

Greetings from La Plata, the most affected city of the recent floods here in Argentina. 

We spent almost 3 days helping people in different neighborhoods. We were around 60 ywamers from my home base (Ituzaingó), from the Capital Base (where I did my counseling school) and two outreach groups from the Mendoza base. We worked with the pastors form the local evangelical churches and with other volunteers. 

The flood happened last Thursday and the water went dried the following day. Most of the people had already received mattresses, food and clothes. But most of the houses were still a big mess after the flood. So more than anything we were cleaning the houses and backyards. The rainwater had been mixed with all kind of dirt and even oil so it stained the walls and furniture. 

The people were really touched by our service. Many of them even cried as we prayed for them in the end and tried to encourage them. Some people said that we were the answer to their prayers. One man told us that the work that we made in one afternoon he had thought that he could do in one month!

I didn't hear the saddest stories but the reality is that the flood was really bad. The government had published that there were like 50 dead people. But the fact is that the number is most probably more than 200. What happen is that the government doesn't want to confess that. There are a lot of corruption in this country and you can see it in sad things like this. 

Anyway it was such a privilege to be able to help a little bit the people over there. I came back from La Plata really tired but so blessed. 

Please pray for the people in La Plata!

Oh, before putting the photos Michel took I want to share the verses I was meditating this morning, Proverbs 18:10-11:

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

    the righteous run to it and are safe.

 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;

    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

The foundations of this world may shake, the waters can take away the riches and possessions but what doesn't change ever is the name and the character of the Lord. He'll always be Good, Faithfull, Love, Peace, Provider, Allmighty, Holy and so much more.

Jona & Rodo improvizing a new floor

And there were like 6 more of them in the same family!
Benja, the guy on the right is my little brother. 

flooding

Hey folks!

I just want briefly share what's happening here in Argentina. This is from the wikipedia article:

From 1–3 April 2013, the northeastern section of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, experienced several flash floods that claimed the lives of at least 59 people. Greater La Plata was hardest hit with 51 reported deaths, and Greater Buenos Airesreported 8 deaths. The flooding was the result of extremely heavy rainfall and is said to be the worst flooding in La Plata's history. As of 4 April, 20 people are still missing and 1,200 evacuated in La Plata.

Here is also a video with a beautiful Indian accent explaining a lot what happened:



As missionaries and the body of Christ we can't close our eyes from these kind of things. So tomorrow morning (actually this morning, in 6 hours) we'll be heading for the city of La Plata to help people at least for two days. We are a group of maybe 50 ywamers and surely we'll be cleaning, helping, talking and praying. We also want to have a special focus on the kids and see their needs.

So I just wanted to let you know so you can also be part of this and pray for us and the people.