December in Obera

Living with Caro and celebrating La Noche Buena


In the end of November, I moved into a new apartment with roommates, Carolina (Caro) and Vivi, whom I met through a friend of mine who was teaching English on a Fulbright Scholarship in Obera. Caro has taken me in like a sister. Not only do we drink mate, cook and eat lunch and dinner together, wash clothes and clean the apartment together, but she also brings me along to her family’s house for lunch and siesta on the weekends. I have become an adopted member of her family. Due to my friendship with Caro, I now feel like I have truly acclimated to the culture of Obera to the point that at times I forget that I am living in another country, speaking another language, eating different food, etc. I now wash my clothes by hand, make a delicious mate, and cook guiso (a local dish, that is much like stew with beef, vegetables and rice or pasta.)
Caro and her family invited me to celebrate the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with them. In Argentina, families observe the birth of Christ in a very different way then the U.S. typically celebrates. First of all, Argentina is in the midst of summer, where the temperature of Obera is anywhere from 80 to 100 degrees. Typically, families gather for asado (grilled meat) for dinner anywhere from 9 to 11pm. When the clock strikes 12, fireworks are set off, and champagne is shared. I was blessed to be able to share this experience with Caro and her family. After sharing some champagne with the family, we headed out to visit other families. It was amazing to me that children and grandparents were up with their families at 2am celebrating Christmas Day! Then, I joined Caro, and all the other young people of Obera, in the streets for drinks and dancing. We danced until 5am, when I then went to the Christmas Sunrise service, the Swedish tradition celebrated in the Lutheran Church here, with its Swedish heritage.







Drinking mate with Caro in the plaza



















La Escuelita Biblica and Christmas in San Martin

I have been involved with the activities with the children and the bible school in San Martin. For the week leading up to Christmas, the church in San Martin, “Dios Es Amor,” had a week long bible school, which lasted for two hours in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. During the bible school, the children heard the story of Christ’s birth, made Christmas trees and other Christmas decorations, and rehearsed the nativity scene for the Christmas service. The older children also memorized versus of Christmas poems, to recite in the Christmas service, which I believe comes from the Finish or German Christmas tradition. We had over fifty children attend the bible school, which was quite impressive for the size of the community.
On December 23rd, “Dios Es Amor” celebrated Christmas. The church was filled to the brim, with people standing outside of the church. A church with normally 40 people now held 180. We sang Christmas carols and watched the nativity play and heard the children recite their versus. Then we had the Christmas raffle, which the church members had put together to raise money for the church community. And then Papa Noelle (Santa Clause) visited the children in the church. After the children received candy from Papa Noelle, the community shared sparkling cider and sweet bread, toasting to Christ’s birth.


Christmas was a different experience for me this year, however I was blessed to be able to share in the preparing of the way and celebration of the birth of Jesus with my new family members in Christ.







Children's Bible School in San Martin














“Let the Star of the Morning Rise”
from “Guerrillas of Grace” by Ted Loder

Lord God,
In the deepest night
There rises the star of morning,
of birth,
the herald of a new day you are making,
a day of great joy dawning
in yet faint shafts
of light and love.

I hear whispers of peace in the stillness,
fresh breezes of promise
stirring,
winter sparrows
chirping of life,
a baby’s cry
of need
and hope –
Christmas!

In the darkness I see the light
and find it in comfort,
confidence,
cause for celebration,
for the darkness cannot overcome it;
and I rejoice to nourish it
in myself,
in other people,
in the world
for the sake of him
in whom it was born
and shines forever,
even Jesus the Christ.

Caa-Yari

On Tuesday, November 27th, 2007, the Project for Sustainable Development and Human Promotion, through the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina and Uruguay (IELU), met with the farmers of the community Caa-Yari, which sits on the outskirts of Oberá, in the province of Misiones, Argentina. The role of the project is to accompany farmers in their own organizing, promoting their own dignity and creating sustainable development. During the meeting, the farmers began comparing prices of La Feria Franca (the open vegetable market of Misiones), the local supermarket, and the prices that the producers of Caa-Yari currently sell their vegetables at. The farmers noticed that within their own community, they were selling their products at different prices. The farmers began to discuss the importance of setting a standard price, so that they cannot not only create community among themselves, instead of competition, but also so that they can set a fair and just price for their products.
Later, we did a group dynamic. The group stayed in a circle, as it had been throughout the meeting. We passed a ball of string around. When each person tossed the string, s/he said what his/her dream for the farm is. There were many tears shed, as the farmers not only talked about their dreams, but also about their current reality of the farms that they live on. After each person said their dream, they held one side of the string, and threw the ball to someone else in the room. After the string was tossed, a large web was created, with each of us connected. We noticed what happens when tension is put in one area of the string and what happens when some people drop the string. We noticed the importance of us all holding an equal amount of weight on the string. To me, this a beautiful image of us as the body of Christ that is fully connected and dependent on all the parts of the body. We each have different functions and gifts, but we need each other to keep the web taught.
Please read our dreams, and pray these dreams with us. All of us are connected to this great web of life, whether that means as consumers or producers.


Our Dreams:

• Que mis hijos sean comprometidos en la chacra

That my children be committed to the farm.

• Tranquilizarse

That that farm can give me peace.

• Que mis hijos tengan el sueño de volver a sus raíces, volver a la chacra, ¡que funciona, y tengan algo para su futuro


That my children have dreams of returning to their roots, return to the farm, the farm works, so that they (my children) have something for their future.

• Poder quedarse en la chacra y no en la ciudad, que haya mas gente con voluntad, que puedan trabajar dignamente

To be able to stay on the farm and not the city, that there are more people with determination and that they are able to work on the farm with honour.

• Seguir luchando. Antes tenia el sueño de que todo iba cambiar, pero hoy le aconsejo a mis hijos, hijas que busquen trabajo afuera. Pero sigo apostando a tener un futuro con la chacra. Es muy importante el rol de la Iglesia, es bueno que nos estén acompañando y tenemos que estar mas en esto.

To keep fighting. Before I had the dream that everything was going to change, but today I advise my sons and daughters to look for work outside. But I continue betting that there will be a future with the farm. The role of the church is very important, it is good that it is accompanying us and we are better in this.

• Juntarnos y tener más. Poder juntos y poner en práctica.

To get together and have more. To be able to get together and put it into practice.

• Así como hay bailando por un sueño, nosotros hacemos “Trabajando por un sueño” siempre pensé mientras duermo mis plantas crecen. Y tengo algo. En la ciudad podemos tener un trabajo, pero que pasa cuando nos quedamos sin, en la chacra nunca te quedas sin trabajo. Algo se va a comer

This is how I dance with my dream, that we are: “working for a dream.” While I sleep, I always think of plants growing. And I have something. We can have work in the city, but something can happen when we situate ourselves without the farm. In the farm I am never without work. There is always something to eat.

• Estar en la chacra y seguir estando, y que las chacras sigan estando. Hoy todo se vende, yo quiero que quede por mis hijos, por mis nietos. Tenemos que tener diversificación hasta en la forestación. Por que el pino crece, pero después no crece nada, y que le dejamos a nuestros hijos. Plantar árboles. Volver a sembrar futuros montes: guatambú, anchico, hasta canela.

To be on the farm and to continue to be there, that the farms continue to be. Today we sell every thing, I want my children to stay, for my grandchildren. We have to have diversification until we have forestation. Why does the pine grow, but later nothing grows? And what do we leave for our children? To plant trees. To return to plant the future forests; to plant guatambú, anchico, up to canela (native trees of the area).

• Yo considero que es el rol de la Iglesia, acompañar esto pero también del estado y de todos.

I consider, what is the role of the church? To accompany this but also to be and to be of all people.

• Ayudar a mi hijo, seguir cultivando cuidando la tierra.

To help my children, to continue cultivating and taking care of the earth.

• La iglesia debería también ser una vos por el uso y abuso de los agroquímicos.

The church must also be a voice for the use and abuse of agro-chemicals.

• Descansar

To rest.

• Estar en la chacra y que este mi hijo

To be on the farm, and that my son be on the farm.

• Que la chacra sea con producciones y que siga en la familia, y que se quede en la familia.


That the farm be with production and that it continue in the family. And that my family can stay on the farm.

• Que salga bien lo que estamos ideando, empezando. Que podamos vender nuestro producto.

That every thing come out well that we are going, starting. That we can sell our product.

• Que Dios nos dé salud. Trabajo y el futuro para mis hijos. Que mi esposo mejore, por que si el esta enfermos toda la familia esta mal.

That God give us health. I work and the future for my children. That my wife get better, because if she is sick all of the family is bad.

• Mi abuelo me aconsejo plantar eucaliptos, será para mi futuro, yo probé vivir en la ciudad pero no me hallo. Es mejor en la chacra.


My grandfather advised me to plant eucalyptus. It will be for my future. I tried to live in the city but it did not let me. It is better on the farm.

• Mi deseo para el futuro que no haya más roundap, ni más tabaco, es una guerra. Más oportunidad de trabajar mejor.


My desire for the future is that there be no more roundup (a genetically engineered agrochemical), nor more tobacco, it is war. More opportunities to work the farm better.

• Mi deseo como consumidora; que las chacras den vidas a las futuras generaciones, y me gustaría que haya mas consumidores comprometidos y que apoyen por la mejor vida, una calidad buena de vida de los productores.


My desire, as a consumer, is that the farms give life to the future generations. And I would like for consumers to be more committed and that they support this better life, a better quality of life for the farmers.


May all of our dreams be realized!

El Foro de la Tierra - The Forum of the Earth

¡Alerta! ¡Alerta! ¡Alerta que camina la marcha campesina por América Latina!

Watch out! Watch out! Watch out for the farmer march in Latin America!


This past Friday, November 23rd, I took part the Forum of the Earth. The Forum was a space for farmers, with, or without, land to share their struggles and to reflect with other farmers in other parts of the province of Misiones, Argentina, as well as from Paraguay and Chile.
During the forum, each community shared with the forum the issues that the community is facing, based on lack of land, water, or forest. Not only did adults participate in the forum, but the future generations of Misiones were also present. The forum was opened with music from children from the community of the Guarani (the indigenous people of the province). They sang about their hopes and dreams for a future where they can again live on their land peacefully, with their own land and rights. Students from a local school also attended. And sons and daughters of farmers and other solidarity workers involved in the movement were also present.
Of course, mate was present. Whenever this drink, filled with Yerba mate is shared, I always feel a greater sense of community. And I cannot think of a better place to drink it than with those who work the yerba of the red earth of Misiones. For me, mate is a symbol of how the Argentina understands what it means to be community. It is a way for all people to meet on an equal level and to share with one another. With the mate, farmers and solidarity workers were meeting each other, wherever they are in the struggle. Some have been involved in the movement for years, and for others this was their first forum or organized meeting with other farmers.
After each community shared, they marked their area on a large map of Misiones. After all of the communities shared, it was quite impressive to see all of the communities that are actively in the struggle to claim their rights to their land and their survival. It is amazing to me to hear about how deforestation due to outside multinationals is ruining the land and way of life of these people!
After each community shared, we took to the streets of Misiones, chanting, ¨¡Alerta! ¡Alerta! ¡Alerta que camina la marcha campesina por América Latina!¨ For me, this is a clear sign of how I am accompanying the people of Misiones this year. First, I had the opportunity listen to their stories. Then, I had the opportunity to walk with them, to be with them in their struggle.
It was impossible for me to forget that I am an U.S. citizen during the forum. One of the technicians that I work with in the Seed Movement kept telling his friends, ¨She´s a Yankee! Can you believe it?!¨ Yes, I am a citizen of the United States. Yes, my country is doing much damage to the people of Misiones. But, my role is to listen and then share these stories with others from the U.S. so that we can learn how to be better stewards to God´s creation, to be better neighbors. My friend later followed his Yankee comment with, ¨But she´s in the struggle with us!¨ This is the ministry of presence.
The forum has made me think even more about the ways in which my country’s consumption affects the lives of the farmers in Argentina, and really all of God´s creation. Issues of deforestation and global warming were mentioned various times during the forum. When I think about the amount of paper the U.S. uses, and how it contributes to the deforestation of this area, this alone makes me cringe.
As a Christian that is beginning to enter this Advent season, I am pondering how to bring awareness to my U.S. brothers and sisters about the contradicting message of consumerism that my country brings to the world during this Christmas season. Is this how Christ wants us to celebrate his coming to this earth? I encourage my brothers and sisters to meditate on this new reign of God that Christ promises to bring, and how we as Christ´s body can celebrate its coming with joy and hope. Let us prepare ourselves for this new year.


¨Help Me to Believe in Beginnings¨ by Ted Loder


God of history and of my heart,
So much has happened to me during these whirlwind days:
I´ve known death and birth;
I´ve been brave and scared;
I´ve hurt, I´ve helped;
I´ve been honest, I´ve lied;
I´ve destroyed; I´ve created;
I´ve been with people, I´ve been lonely;
I´ve been loval, I´ve betrayed;
I´ve decided, I´ve waffled;
I´ve laughed and I´ve cried.
You know my frail heart and my frayed history-
And now another day begins.

Oh God, help me to believe in beginnings
and in my beginning again,
no matter how often I´ve failed before.

Help me to make beginnings:
To begin going out of my weary mind into fresh dreams,
daring to make my own bold tracks in the land of now;
to begin forgiving
that I may experience mercy;
to begin questioning the unquestionable
that I may know truth;
to begin disciplining
that I may create beauty;
to begin sacrificing
that I may accomplish justice;
to begin risking
that I may make peace;
to begin loving
that I may realize joy.

Help me to be a beginning for others,
to be a singer to the songless,
a storyteller to the aimless,
a befriender of the friendless;
to become a beginning of hope for the despairing,
of assurance to the doubting,
to reconciliation for the divided;
to become a beginning of freedom for the oppressed,
of comfort for the sorrowing,
of friendship for the forgotten;
to become a beginning of the beauty for the forlorn,
of sweetness for the soured,
of gentleness for the angry,
of wholeness for the broken,
of peace for the frightened and violent of the earth.

Help me to believe in beginnings,
to make a beginning,
to be a beginning,
so that I may not just grow old,
but grow new
each day this wild, amazing life
you call me to live
with the passion of Jesus Christ.

October in Misiones

Campamento de Jovenes –
In the second weekend of October, I joined the Confirmation Class and youth from Olas Petri, the IELU´s church of Oberá, on a camping trip in Panambí. We left Oberá on Saturday afternoon, with a clear sky. After a two hour ride on the public bus, we arrived to Panambí, a small town of Misiones, and walked to our campsite. After pitching our tents, we took a walk down to the Uruguay River, which separates Argentina from Brazil. Some of us sat along the river and drank tereré, and others played some soccer on the municipality´s soccer field. I think I may love tereré even more than mate, if that´s possible. Tereré is the summer version of mate, and it is of Paraguan origin. The Yerba mate is poured into a cup, instead of a mate. Then, instead of hot water, you drink the mate through the bombilla with juice of your choice. I think my favorite may be lemon-lime. It is a wonderful way to pass the time, passing the tereré, while chatting. However, do not be fooled, plenty of mate was had that weekend as well. (And in the pastor´s giant mate!) In the evening, we had guiso, or stew, played games, sang songs and fellowshipped some more.
On Sunday, Clovis Kurtz, one of the co-pastors of Olas Petri, led a workshop on justice with the youth. They seemed to be very moved by his group dynamic. We continued with songs. The rest of the afternoon was followed with more time to drink tereré and mate, play games or rest. In the evening, the rain started to come down hard. But that did not stop us from playing our planned game for the evening in the rain. My group won the game! That evening I decided to try to sleep in my tent. After sleeping in my tent for several hours, I woke up to a wet feeling. I moved my sleeping bag to the bathroom, where several other girls were also sleeping. I must say that it was an interesting experience sleeping there. And a whole lot drier!
We finished up Monday morning with some songs, games and taking down our tents. We had some choripan (grilled sausage in bread – my favorite Argentine dish!) for lunch, and caught our bus back to Oberá. It was a great experience being with the youth for weekend. They welcomed me with open arms, and always included me, as if I had always been a member of the group. I look forward to camping with them again in January.

San Martín´s congregation ¨Dios Es Amor¨ –
I have continued to get involved in the life of the church in San Martín. I have joined Mariela Pereyra, the pastor, making visits with her, in organizing different church events, and accompanying her with her First Communion Classes. I have enjoyed getting to know some of the families on a more intimate level, and look forward to deepen my relationships with the members in the remainder of my time here.
Perhaps the highlight of my time with ¨Dios Es Amor¨ (the IELU church in San Martín) was this past Saturday, when I helped with the children’s bible school. It was the first time that I took the bus, and spent time in San Martin without the pastor. My friend Michela had asked to join me, and I will admit that it was nice to have an Argentine friend accompanying me on the journey. When Michela and I arrived, the children greeted us and Norma, the woman leading the school, asked me to open with prayer. This was the first time for me to pray on the spot in Spanish! We spent the hour and a half with the children making picture frames for their moms for Mother´s Day (which occurs on the third Sunday of October, because it is spring for them now, not in May). And I taught them the song, ¨The more we get together¨ in Spanish and English. Then two of the teenage girls who were helping, Diana and Andrea, walked Michela and I back to the bus stop. We waited for over an hour for a bus to stop for us. The buses were so full from people traveling to visit their family for Mother´s Day that they were not stopping to pick us up! Finally, we had enough luck that one stopped for us..

Friends in Oberá –
Over the last month, I have made some wonderful friends in Oberá. I have met a girl, Lauren, who is from Nebraska, who has spent here last eight months in Oberá, teaching English through a Fulbright Scholarship. She and I have spent many afternoons and evenings together cooking or drinking mate. She has introduced me to some really nice Argentines close to my age that are studying English at the school where Lauren teaches in Oberá. This past week was the first time that I had some friends over to my house for lunch. I cooked pasta for my friends Naty, Michela and Lauren. Now my apartment feels like home, because I have shared my table with others. I have enjoyed the several evenings that I have spent with them going for walks to the Parque de las Naciones with mate or tereré.

La Feria de las Semillas - Oberá

On September 25th, I attended the Seeds Fair of Oberá, Misiones. The purpose of the seeds fairs is to create an open forum for local farmers of small farms (chacras) to exchange knowledge and seeds. The fair is part of the Seed Movement - a movement created by farmers, agricultural technicians, and organizers in the province of Misiones, that is working towards sustainable alternatives to the dominant forces of the transgenetic and hybrid seeds of the major companies in the U.S.
In the morning, several farmers and technicians gave talks on issues of water conservation, deforestation, and the problems that pine trees create in the province. In the afternoon, the farmers exchanged seeds and plants with one another to create or maintain the biodiversity of their small farms. My supervisor, Malena Parras, and I shared a biblical reflection with the group, as church organizers that are supporting and accompanying farmers in the Seed Movement. Here is our reflection in Spanish and English:


Buenos días, compañeros y compañeras. Queremos compartir una breve reflexión. Cada uno ve un tema desde su punto de vista. Nuestra ventana es la palabra de Dios. Venimos de la IELU. Queremos compartir la lectura de Marcos 4:30-32.

También decía: ¿A qué compararemos el reino de Dios, o con qué parábola lo describiremos? Es como un grano de mostaza, el cual, cuando se siembra en la tierra, aunque es más pequeño que todas las semillas que hay en la tierra, sin embargo, cuando es sembrado, crece y llega a ser más grande que todas las hortalizas y echa grandes ramas, tanto que LAS AVES DEL CIELO pueden ANIDAR BAJO SU SOMBRA.

¿Que piensan ustedes que puede ser en sus chacras la semilla mas pequeña que crecer tan grande hasta que los pájaros del cielo se cobijan a su sombra?

Cuando estábamos reflexionando nosotros sobre de esta lectura, identificábamos que los pequeños productores son como estas semillas y pueden ser las semillas de la esperanza. Vemos que las chacras pueden ser un modelo de la mayor justicia, equidad y respeto de la creación de Dios. Como la semilla de mostaza es lo mas pequeña, pero crece mucho, queremos que las chacras crecen en la justicia y la esperanza para los que miran desde afuera. Ustedes, pequeñas productores, no solamente siembran semillas, pero también, siembran su vida, cultura, economía e historia. El Reino de Dios, nosotros vemos las chacras que mas diversificadas con mas respeto a la creación, a las personan que convivan y a las que están alrededor. EN cambios, hay otros modelos que están en contra, por el uso de los agro tóxicos, porque no respetan el suelo, representan un esclavitud para el trabajador, porque no recibe su precio justo para su producto.

Así, al principio dijimos que esto e nuestro punto de vista, hay muchos otros puntos de vistas. Por eso decimos, que sólo entre todos sabemos todo. Y tenemos que compartir nuestras ideas y aprender entre todos.

¡Esperamos que podamos ser semillas de la esperanza hoy y para siempre! En el nombre de Cristo, Amen.





Good morning companions. We would like to share a short reflection. Everyone sees a theme from their point of view. Our window is the word of God. We come from the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Argentina & Uruguay). We would like to share the passage from Mark 4:30-32.

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

What do you think could be the smallest seed in your small farms that could grow so that the birds of the air can make nest in the shade?

When we reflected on this passage, we identified that the small farmers are like these small seeds and that you can be the seeds of hope. We see that the small farms can be a model of the best justice, equality and respect of the creation of God. Just as the mustard seed is the smallest, but grows much, we want the small farms to grow in justice and hope for those that are looking from outside. You all, small producers, not only sow the seeds, but you also sow your life, your culture, your economy and your history. We see that the Reign of God is the small farms that are more diverse, that have more respect for creation, for the people who live in the farms and for those who live around the farms. However, there are other models that are against creation, those that use toxic agricultural chemicals, those that do not respect the soil, and those that represent slavery for the worker, because they do not receive a fair price for their product.

In the beginning, we said that this is our point of view, and there are many points of view. We say this because only between all of us can we know everything. And we have to share our ideas and learn from each other.

We hope that you can be seeds of hope for today and forever! In the name of Christ, Amen.



¡SEMILLAS EN MANOS DE LOS PRODUCTORES!

SEEDS IN THE HANDS OF THE FARMERS!

Beginnings

I have been in Argentina for two weeks now. For my first week, I was in Buenos Aires for an orientation with the other Young Adult Global Mission folks who will also be spending a year in a Lutheran church placement in Argentina or Uruguay. We were housed at the Lutheran seminary in Buenos Aires, ISEDET, and spent the week visiting various Lutheran organizations and other groups that are working to promote the peace and justice.
One of the groups that we visited during our orientation was Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. We went to the mothers´ weekly Thursday march in La Plaza de Mayo, where they still ask the government, 30 years later, where their children are today. The mothers began gathering around the plaza when the government was disappearing their children during the Dirty War in the late 1970s. These sons and daughters were mostly in their teens, twenties, and thirties, and were often youth that had a new vision for their country, a vision that differed from the current social order of that time. Many of the groups of youth that were targeted were church groups.
After witnessing a march around the plaza, we had the opportunity to meet with some of the mothers and hear their own personal stories. They spoke about the power and importance of names and telling stories to keep the memory of what happened alive. 30,000 people disappeared in that time! Just as we say for the Holocaust, ¨Never Forget¨, it is important that this struggle stay alive – that the government not only acknowledge what it did, but tell the families of the disappeared where their children are, and who killed them. To this day, we still do not know where the bodies are, nor do we know who the potential killers are. Yet, places have been discovered to be much like the concentration camps that one would find in Europe.
It is also important for the citizens of the U.S to be aware of the ways in which our government played a role in the Dirty War. Much of the problems at the time were around issues of money and trade, and the U.S. government wanted to keep Argentina in its control. At that time, the U.S. had created a military base, known as the School of the Americas, now currently known as WHINSEC (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), to train Latin Americans techniques of torture and other ways to dehumanize the people of Latin America who were fighting for their human rights and dignity.
As you can imagine, these women had powerful stories to tell and to this day understand what their children were fighting for – a just world. The mothers are involved in current projects of advocacy that they believe their children would have been rallying and organizing for today. They held a banner that read, ¨¡Distribucion de la Riqueza Ya!¨ (Distribution of the Wealth Now!).
This past week, I moved to Obera, Argentina, which is the northeastern province of Argentina. It sits on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. I will be working with IELU (United Evangelical Lutheran Church)´s Project for Human Promotion and Sustainable Development and with the congregation ¨Dios Es Amor,¨ a church community located in the rural outskirts of Obera. So far I have been spending my time with my facilitators, Maria Elena Parras and Pastor Mariela Pereyra. I have been accompanying them in their daily work, further acquainting myself with the projects and communities that I will be involved with this year.
For me, the highlight of my week was when Tito, one of the small farmers that is involved with the Project for Human Promotion and Sustainable Development, invited me to join him on a ride out to his farm to check on the Yerba mate (Argentina´s tea), tea, lemons, and bananas growing on his farm. We took an hour ride out through the rolling hills of the red earth of the province of Misiones. I had a chance to hear more about Tito´s life story and the life of a small farmer in Misiones. I enjoyed the visit to the farm, where we checked on his new Yerba, which unfortunately is not growing well due to the lack of rain these last few months, and harvested some of the lemons from his trees.
What strikes me right now is the number of pine tress that are growing in the province. In the 70s, the government attempted to help the region by distributing pine trees as a raw material for the area, for paper, firewood and furniture. However, the pine tree is not a native plant, and takes too much water from the ground. It is both a mystery to me and the farmers as to why the government would choose to plant pine over a native plant to the area. This is one of the areas that small farmers are working on – asking the government for native trees instead of pine trees. Yet, the government seems to be taking its time in listening to the farmers´ request. I am just beginning to understand the struggle of farming out here in Misiones, and I know that I will have more to say about it in the future.