Mission Team from Argentina!!

Most of the mission teams that come to NVM are from the United States. So it is refreshing to receive a team from another country. About a week ago a team of young people arrived from Argentina. This team is made up of university students and young professionals. Most of the students are involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. However the team members come from a variety of cities throughout the country. And we are thrilled to have them with us.

 So that you don't have to go look at a map, Argentina is the southern most country in South America. And like the majority of the countries on the continent, they speak Spanish.

The Campus Crusade movement in Argentina is committed to mission outreach. They send teams out within Argentina but send one team outside the country each year. This year that country is Haiti. The Campus Crusade National Director in Argentina knows Pastor Pierre personally. Pastor Pierre encouraged them to send a team to Haiti and they responded.

This trip is a major commitment for each of the members. Besides the time a trip like this takes, it cost each member 10,000 Argentine pesos. This is equal to $1,800 US dollars. And it is difficult to raise funds for mission trips in Argentina.

The purpose of their trip to NVM was to interact with Haitian students by conducting sports clinics. As you can well imagine, the primary sport here is soccer. But they also played volleyball and basketball. Both sports are growing in popularity. They not only taught the students skills but ran scrimmages. And after playing the games they sang songs and told stories from God's Word. They have been a real blessing and have made a tremendous impact on the young people in this area. Here are some of the sights.

One of the team members is Haitian. Roberson is studying medicine in Argentina and he was a strong connection to Haiti for this team. He conducted Creole lessons for the team via Skype before the trip. The team members came speaking some Creole and were able to sing songs in the language. And Roberson's understanding of the Haitian culture and language is a great help. And one evening this week, the team visited his home church.

Trip highlights for the team include meeting Pastor Pierre and hearing his vision for Haiti, attending Roberson's church and spending time in Chambrun and Onaville. Meeting Haitians in their own communities and making new friends has made a big impact on the team.

This is the first cross-cultural experience for most of the members of this team. And the trip has made a lasting impression on them all. We are grateful they have come and ask God to richly bless them as they return. The impact of their ministry here will continue in the lives of Haitian young people for years to come.

Let's end by watching them conduct a soccer scrimmage and listening to them sing How Great Thou Art in church on their first weekend at NVM. I'm sure you will be blessed.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner