wfn.org | Mission term in Argentina

[BethAH <BethAH@mbm.org>]

June 13, 2001
Beth Hawn
Mennonite Board of Missions
(219) 294-7523
<NEWS@MBM.org>

June 13, 2001

Mission term in Argentina characterized by building relationships

ELKHART, Ind. (MBM/COM)  A pickup truck, crayons and
conversations.  For Brent and Lourdes Hartzler, these were the
tools of rural ministry in the Patagonia, a mountainous region in
southern Argentina.

The Hartzlers, appointed by Mennonite Board of Missions, and the
Commission on Overseas Mission of the General Conference
Mennonite Church, completed their ministry in Argentina in May,
after 20 months serving in the Proyecto Misisn Patagonia
(Patagonia Mission Project), an outreach initiative of the
Argentina Mennonite Church.

Brent, Lourdes and their four daughters lived in Chos Malal, a
town in the Andes Mountains, and ministered in Cancha Huinganco,
a rural valley community of 500 people.  Each week, the family
would drive 30 miles to the church in Cancha Huinganco in their
pickup truck, stopping along the way wherever they saw trees.

Trees only grow where there are people to water them, so if you
see a tree, you know youll find a house there, Brent said.
They would continue their visits until they reached the church.
There, about 30 people would join them for a meal, singing and
stories about Jesus.

The most important thing there is spending time with people, he
said.  At first, they were quiet and reserved with us.  They
are suspicious of outsiders because they have been taken
advantage of in the past, he said.  Toward the end, we could
just go and talk.  We could see all the barriers breaking down.

Lourdes said one of the joys of their ministry was seeing the
children at the church.  They would be there waiting for us
before we even showed up, she said.  Lourdes would play guitar
and sing with the 20 children who came each week.

With help from photocopied pictures and crayons, Brent and
Lourdes also told stories about Jesus and helped the children
memorize Bible verses.  When we did crafts, even the adults
came.  Coloring was new to them, she said.  Most of the adults
cant read or write, so pictures and stories became the primary
way of teaching the Bible.

Cancha Huinganco also has a Catholic church, but the priest comes
only a few times each year for baptisms, Brent said.  The
population has varied ethnic backgrounds; most people have roots
in Chile, Spain or Italy.

The Hartzlers worked at building the church through
relationships, but also through improving the church building.
Brent built tables, benches and a Ping-Pong table.  Lourdes
collected dishes for fellowship meals.

Mennonites from Neuquen traveled to Cancha Huinganco in February
to rebuild the roof of the church, which had blown off in a
severe wind.  They also added a second-floor loft and lights
inside the church.  Youth groups from Neuquen and Chos Malal
visit in the summer for fellowship and outreach.

The Patagonia Mission Project works at church planting in rural
areas of the Patagonia.  Brent said the church leaders have
contagious enthusiasm and the youth, in particular, have strong
passion for evangelism.

Its really amazing what theyve been able to do with the very
small amount of funds they have, Brent said.  In addition to 10
outreach locations in Argentina, the project has also sent three
women to minister in Chile through Bible teaching and Christian
presence.

The Hartzlers participated in the project through the Patagonia
Partnership, a joint effort of MBM; Arm in Arm, a network of
congregations in Illinois Mennonite Conference; the Argentina
Mennonite Church; and the southern Argentina Mennonite churches,
a cluster of congregations along the Rio Negro Valley at the edge
of the Patagonia region.

They dont want the United States to just send money.  They want
people to get involved and go into Argentina  to visit and be
part of whats going on, Lourdes said.
Lourdes, a native of Uruguay, first moved to Argentina when she
was 16.  A native of Hesston, Kan., Brent first visited Argentina
with a Hesston College soccer team.  He later returned several
times to visit and work with MBM workers Floyd and Alice Sieber.
It was during these several month-long visits that Brent and
Lourdes met.

During their return to Argentina, they also found ways to reach
out from their home in Chos Malal.  Lourdes enjoyed welcoming
visitors into their home and spent time with neighbors.  One
neighbor, when the families sat down at meal together, turned to
Lourdes and said, OK, Lourdes, do your thing, as a way of
inviting her to pray for the meal.

Brent taught English in their youngest daughters classroom.  The
family also provided housing for many guests, such as the RAD
(Reaching and Discipling) team that stayed with them for
orientation during the teams first three weeks in the country.

The family returned to Bird-in-Hand, Pa., in May, where Brent
drives a tourist buggy and hopes to find a teaching job.  Lourdes
would like to continue working with people, perhaps through
relating to immigrants.  They are members of Petra Christian
Fellowship in New Holland, Pa.  The congregation made a covenant
with MBM to provide financial support, prayer and encouragement
during the familys time in Argentina.

As they readjust to North American culture, Brent and Lourdes
hope their daughters will keep some of Argentina with them.
Maria (age 12), Gabriela (9), and twins Alejandra and Natasha
(7), all attended the local school in Chos Malal.  Their parents
hope they will continue working on their Spanish skills.

I hope that they can be open to everybody, just to remember
their friendships and what the people gave them there, Lourdes
said.  I hope they can keep with them the idea that they can
live with less  that they dont need so many clothes, so many
things, and to appreciate all the things they have.

* * *

Bethany Swope       PHOTOS AVAILABLE