Day 4/5 - Uspallata, Mendoza
Yesterday we got to sleep in (yay!) and then embarked on the road trip to Uspallata, west of Mendoza city. We had lunch in Mendoza. Right before loading the bus, James Neese caught me and said the equipment driver Rolando ("Rolo" for short) wanted company, and asked for the guy who gave a testimony in Spanish - that is, me. So I met up with him and the van and left on Ruta 7. We drove out a van loaded with musical instruments, paint cans, and PA equipment for Uspallata, and it also towed a trailer with all the big bags in it.
Rolo spoke a little English - he is 35, but is taking a number of classes, including English. Mostly we conversed in Spanish, at least in so far as I could. He is as earnest, gentle and passionate a man as I had ever met. Converted to Christianity by Baptist IMB missionaries in the 80s (was it 82?), he is the image of the servant leader. He left high school early to support his family and has worked nearly nonstop for the last 19 years (until recently, when he lost his job). He's one of those quiet, passionate people who can maintain an innocent love for God in spite of life's hardships. He divorced a few years ago, his mother died a few months ago, and he's still working hard to help out his family (including his father who lives several hours away). He now feels a calling to missions, and plans to go on a mission to Yemen with his church in Mendoza.
We conversed well (despite my memory lapses and his kind correction of my Spanish) until there was a loud pop and the trailer began to wobble. We pulled over to find the trailer tire shredded and the wheel well partially bent inwards. We were about 60 km outside of Mendoza.
Tire - ASPLODED!
I helped him prop the trailer up with rocks -we had to be quick because many people will sack abandoned vehicles on this highway. We went to the next town, Potrerillos, and got a hold of Paul Shelton ("Pablo"), our missionary contact in Mendoza. Paul and Dr. Bradley stayed back in Mendoza so Dr. Bradley could host a Q&A about church music at the Baptist Institute Music School. Paul went to get a new wheel for the trailer. Rolo removed the busted tire, and we waited.
About 45 minutes later, Paul arrived with Dr. Bradley. Unfortunately, we discovered it was the wrong tire (IIRC, there were too few lugs). So Rolo took the van (sans trailer) back to Mendoza to exchange it. I talked with Dr. Bradley and Paul in the meantime. Paul told us about Rolo's life and the greater picture of the Church in South America. I also talked to Dr. Bradley about my own journey with vocation and music education. it was, to say the very least, very elucidating.
Rolo returned after well over an hour, maybe an hour and a half. Apparently, he was stopped by gendarmes, national guardsmen. They had stopped someone shortly before he drove by who was smuggling contraband across the border, so they turned the van upside-down, opening every instrument case and can of paint. They were going to detain him for questioning, but he explained his situation and his employ with an evangelical, Baptist, international group that awaited him in Uspallata. They releented, and he arrived.
Rolando saves the day! Paul and Dr. Bradley look on.
Rolo and Paul fiexed the tire, and arrived in Uspallata, albeit over 4 hours late. The next day we had tourism in the Andes, west towards Chile.
Trees in Uspallata
We saw Aconcagua, the tallest point in the Americas, and many other amazing sights. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. We had some free time, a concert in the open, and dinner, and then we returned to Mendoza. And now, it is time to sleep. With three "E"s.
Aconcagua
Descending from an outlook
The old railroad into Chile
- Jacob G.
Rolo spoke a little English - he is 35, but is taking a number of classes, including English. Mostly we conversed in Spanish, at least in so far as I could. He is as earnest, gentle and passionate a man as I had ever met. Converted to Christianity by Baptist IMB missionaries in the 80s (was it 82?), he is the image of the servant leader. He left high school early to support his family and has worked nearly nonstop for the last 19 years (until recently, when he lost his job). He's one of those quiet, passionate people who can maintain an innocent love for God in spite of life's hardships. He divorced a few years ago, his mother died a few months ago, and he's still working hard to help out his family (including his father who lives several hours away). He now feels a calling to missions, and plans to go on a mission to Yemen with his church in Mendoza.
We conversed well (despite my memory lapses and his kind correction of my Spanish) until there was a loud pop and the trailer began to wobble. We pulled over to find the trailer tire shredded and the wheel well partially bent inwards. We were about 60 km outside of Mendoza.
Tire - ASPLODED!
I helped him prop the trailer up with rocks -we had to be quick because many people will sack abandoned vehicles on this highway. We went to the next town, Potrerillos, and got a hold of Paul Shelton ("Pablo"), our missionary contact in Mendoza. Paul and Dr. Bradley stayed back in Mendoza so Dr. Bradley could host a Q&A about church music at the Baptist Institute Music School. Paul went to get a new wheel for the trailer. Rolo removed the busted tire, and we waited.
About 45 minutes later, Paul arrived with Dr. Bradley. Unfortunately, we discovered it was the wrong tire (IIRC, there were too few lugs). So Rolo took the van (sans trailer) back to Mendoza to exchange it. I talked with Dr. Bradley and Paul in the meantime. Paul told us about Rolo's life and the greater picture of the Church in South America. I also talked to Dr. Bradley about my own journey with vocation and music education. it was, to say the very least, very elucidating.
Rolo returned after well over an hour, maybe an hour and a half. Apparently, he was stopped by gendarmes, national guardsmen. They had stopped someone shortly before he drove by who was smuggling contraband across the border, so they turned the van upside-down, opening every instrument case and can of paint. They were going to detain him for questioning, but he explained his situation and his employ with an evangelical, Baptist, international group that awaited him in Uspallata. They releented, and he arrived.
Rolando saves the day! Paul and Dr. Bradley look on.
Rolo and Paul fiexed the tire, and arrived in Uspallata, albeit over 4 hours late. The next day we had tourism in the Andes, west towards Chile.
Trees in Uspallata
We saw Aconcagua, the tallest point in the Americas, and many other amazing sights. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. We had some free time, a concert in the open, and dinner, and then we returned to Mendoza. And now, it is time to sleep. With three "E"s.
Aconcagua
Descending from an outlook
The old railroad into Chile
- Jacob G.