Day 9 - Puerto Iguazú
Quick recap: Saturday, we had an asado at Tomás Prat Gay's family's finca. Great food and people, and some wine tasting.
Then a concert at a hotel for the Shelton's home church and friends. Carlos, a fringe member of their church who had yet to engage, stayed for the concert and then decided to engage at their church. He talked and interacted at the service for the first time ever. Talked about life with Chris, Alan, and Ben Wong. Good stuff.
Sunday: Four church concerts. First = decent; 2nd = 25 minutes late, not our best, but they loved us and fed us. The pastor's wife talked about how her father became a Christian because of a missionary wife singing "Jesus Loves Me" in English; 3rd = Big church (First Baptist) that really appreciated us and wanted more (the guitarist from Day 1 was there and kept rousing the audience for more encores); 4th = small but hearty church. This last one bears explanation. Our (and especially Hannah's) new friends Ana and Belén (who translated a lot for us) go there, and their dad (?) is the pastor. Their home was ransacked a couple of weeks ago while (thank God) they were all away. They took everything out of the house, including all of the church's musical equipment, so all they had was a borrowed keyboard. We sang two sets, and in between the pastor split us into five groups to pray with church members. So meaningful! Only downside - one guy started mocking me for being a García and only speaking some Spanish. Well, sor-ree!
The next day we made our way to Iguazú. Flight delays for no good reason caused us to arrive at our concert venue in Andresito several hours late. We drove one and a half hours from Puerto Iguazú to Andresito right from the airport. During that time, I had a chance to have a really great chat with Braeden about music, TED talks, and more. We immediately unloaded and started a concert at a Free Brethren church there. Unique experience - they didn't clap until their pastor did, most women covered their heads, etc. One young boy with hearing aids played piano in their praise band. He is talented, learning English fast, and wants to study music. He is a resident at the church school's dorm as well. A very honest woman named Mónica talked to me after the concert. She asked me why Americans are so loud, whether James Neese and Collin were brothers, and whether Caleb was a girl. Sigh.
Today was my birthday / Iguazú Falls day. The Río Iguazú is the border between Brasil and Argentina. We saw Garganta del Diablo (the opening scene from The Mission), Lower and Upper Circuits (including Salto Dos Hermanas, Salto Bosetti, and Salto San Martín), a boat excursion (San Martín, Dos Mosqueros, Tres Mosqueros), and a 4x4 ride through the jungle back to the front. The boat ride was surreal. Pics below will describe better than words God's grandeur.
And then I had birthday dinner with a bunch of the guys - probably more than 10 (and Isaac and Hannah joined us too). It was great. During our reflection time, I added how great it was to have that caring community even away from home on my birthday. People kept offering to pay even. Then, the hotel restaurant brought out a cake and Mrs. Bradley gave me a card everyone signed. Almost speechless. In the past, it sometimes didn't feel like my birthdays didn't mean that much. This one, though, was just so special. It feels so, well, excessive. Thanks be to God!
Garganta del Diablo
Panorama from Upper Circuit
Salto Bosetti
Salto San Martín from the boat
Three Borders - Paraguay to the left, Brasil across
- Jacob G.
Then a concert at a hotel for the Shelton's home church and friends. Carlos, a fringe member of their church who had yet to engage, stayed for the concert and then decided to engage at their church. He talked and interacted at the service for the first time ever. Talked about life with Chris, Alan, and Ben Wong. Good stuff.
Sunday: Four church concerts. First = decent; 2nd = 25 minutes late, not our best, but they loved us and fed us. The pastor's wife talked about how her father became a Christian because of a missionary wife singing "Jesus Loves Me" in English; 3rd = Big church (First Baptist) that really appreciated us and wanted more (the guitarist from Day 1 was there and kept rousing the audience for more encores); 4th = small but hearty church. This last one bears explanation. Our (and especially Hannah's) new friends Ana and Belén (who translated a lot for us) go there, and their dad (?) is the pastor. Their home was ransacked a couple of weeks ago while (thank God) they were all away. They took everything out of the house, including all of the church's musical equipment, so all they had was a borrowed keyboard. We sang two sets, and in between the pastor split us into five groups to pray with church members. So meaningful! Only downside - one guy started mocking me for being a García and only speaking some Spanish. Well, sor-ree!
The next day we made our way to Iguazú. Flight delays for no good reason caused us to arrive at our concert venue in Andresito several hours late. We drove one and a half hours from Puerto Iguazú to Andresito right from the airport. During that time, I had a chance to have a really great chat with Braeden about music, TED talks, and more. We immediately unloaded and started a concert at a Free Brethren church there. Unique experience - they didn't clap until their pastor did, most women covered their heads, etc. One young boy with hearing aids played piano in their praise band. He is talented, learning English fast, and wants to study music. He is a resident at the church school's dorm as well. A very honest woman named Mónica talked to me after the concert. She asked me why Americans are so loud, whether James Neese and Collin were brothers, and whether Caleb was a girl. Sigh.
Today was my birthday / Iguazú Falls day. The Río Iguazú is the border between Brasil and Argentina. We saw Garganta del Diablo (the opening scene from The Mission), Lower and Upper Circuits (including Salto Dos Hermanas, Salto Bosetti, and Salto San Martín), a boat excursion (San Martín, Dos Mosqueros, Tres Mosqueros), and a 4x4 ride through the jungle back to the front. The boat ride was surreal. Pics below will describe better than words God's grandeur.
And then I had birthday dinner with a bunch of the guys - probably more than 10 (and Isaac and Hannah joined us too). It was great. During our reflection time, I added how great it was to have that caring community even away from home on my birthday. People kept offering to pay even. Then, the hotel restaurant brought out a cake and Mrs. Bradley gave me a card everyone signed. Almost speechless. In the past, it sometimes didn't feel like my birthdays didn't mean that much. This one, though, was just so special. It feels so, well, excessive. Thanks be to God!
Garganta del Diablo
Panorama from Upper Circuit
Salto Bosetti
Salto San Martín from the boat
Three Borders - Paraguay to the left, Brasil across
- Jacob G.