First Days in Uruguay!

April 15, 2024 tswancreek

We left for Uruguay two weeks ago and have been on the move ever since. After two very long days of traveling, we had to leave Jeff and our Mongolian family in Brazil because the airlines overbooked the flight. Yikes! I went with the team so I could translate once in Uruguay. Through an absolute miracle, Jeff and the Enkhbats made it onto a flight after 12 straight hours of Jeff talking with airline agents. A flight that did not exist previously popped up, and they ended up being in Uruguay in time to catch the bus to the base where we have been serving ever since. The team lost two nights of sleep, Jeff and the Enkhbats lost three nights, we shifted seven hours ahead in time zones, and the next day we hit the ground running. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to understand the caliber of people we are leading. On our first day of ministry, EVERYONE on the team was smiling, serving and doing anything that was necessary. What a joy and privilege this is!!!

The smart ones who attempted to sleep at the airport in Brazil.

While waiting, Jeff and the Enkhbats talked with Milton and gave him a New Testament. When Jeff handed it to him, Milton said he got goosebumps all over his body, felt joy and said he was going to read it. This small interaction in Brazil will make everything we have done worth it if Milton finds freedom in Jesus.

Reunited!! Everyone was so thrilled to get them all back with our team!

Team Brothers!

Surf ministry! I forgot to take pictures of the actual surfing, but we do this twice a week, so there will be more opportunities. This has been running for several years, and they have many faithful kids who continue to come and hear the good news before catching some waves.

Day two with “Kings’ Kids”. The kids who come to the base on Saturdays are the core of ministry here in Uruguay. Their families are the ones Kathe and Cristian have focused on since they pioneered the base. Their relationships with these families are strong.

Speaking of relationships, the youngest boys on our team are dog-piling Caleb here. This went on for a while and loud laughter was heard the whole time. All of the kids have already become like cousins.

More “cousin” time during the transitions between ministries.

Side note: there are creatures down here, including gigantic spiders and lots of snakes. So far, we have all survived! LOL!

I got to celebrate my 50th in Uruguay! SO much fun! Good thing I have my Caleb soldier by my side! This cake was seriously the most beautiful cake I have ever had!!!

How can I not include Kathe and Cristian’s daughter, Hannah, in these pictures!!! The cake was chocolate brownie, caramel and cream. WOW!!

Bringing wood and groceries to one of the families the base serves. Across the street is the yard of the family they want to build a home for. Their current house does not keep out the wind, weather or animals. Pray for resources!!

Kathe and Jessica (who lives in the house mentioned above)

Shoko gave haircuts to many of the kids who live in the neighboring town. Practical gifts really bless these families.

Shoko was also able to cut and style for a couple of the moms too!

Megan felt so beautiful after getting a haircut. She was so excited to show off her new look!

Eli has been an extra hard worker. One of the rooms on the base is being remodeled to be used as a classroom, but the old glue had to be tediously scraped off the floor.

Mari giving it a go with Jeff!

One of the things we all take turns doing is cooking with Hermencia, Kathe’s mom, who makes the most amazing food! She is Colombian, so we get dishes from Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil (it’s quite close) and Chile (where Cristian grew up). Hermencia has shared with me that she cooks with excellence because Jesus is by her side. It is quite obvious when you eat her food!!!

Hakon and Elise felt so happy after leaving a clean kitchen. Cooking for dozens of people in a tiny kitchen is a lot of work, but it can be so much fun!

The overall report so far is that we are doing great! We know that many have been praying, and our team takes a lot of time to daily pray together as well. The following are some ways you can join us:

Continued joy and energy for team members
Our team is big, and with more people there is more that needs to be done in the kitchen. Although we are helping with every meal and with cleaning up, we know that it is a lot of extra work to plan! Pray that the addition of so many people would be a BLESSING despite this.
For resources to be able to do the following: to make improvements at the base, to build a skate ramp for another sports ministry, to build a home, and to buy the property. Kathe and Cristian have lots of dreams, but resources are scarce. We know God is our provider, so pray that doors would open for these resources to come.
Pray for even more opportunities to interact with the community.
We found religious statistics for Uruguay before we came here, but the internet is optimistic! What local Uruguayan research actually shows is that less than 10 percent of the nation is Christian, 45% are Deists or Atheists, and the rest fall into syncretism with Catholicism, witchcraft and African spiritualism at the center. It is a very intellectual nation and very opposed to Christianity. There is also a very heavy feeling here. Pray with us that people would see that Jesus is not a religion, He is freedom from all the things that bind us. He is life and hope.
Please continue to pray for our family and that we would all be growing in unity. Even when we are doing well (like now), this is our ongoing prayer.