“Brindarse”: What are you offering?

By Brian Utter

























Dirty little faces of shoeless children and big brown eyes peeking from behind the trees…that is who was waiting when we arrived after a 30 hour bus trip to the small Wichi community in Northern Argentina. For the past several years, Ruth Armagno, director of the Brindarse (Spanish for “to offer to do something”) Foundation and wife to David Mastronardi, pastor of the Piran Church of the Nazarene in Buenos Aires, has asked me to join them on their annual trip to minister in the Wichi community.

The Wichi community received the “white man” more than 100 years ago who told them about Jesus. The three chiefs of the tribes decided that from then on that the Wichi community would a Christian community. So, if you are born Wichi, you are born Christian. Unfortunately, many today do not know what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The purpose of my trip was to train the Wichi community in radio. The Argentine government had put a radio station in the community several years ago, but never trained the people in how to operate a radio station. Most of the equipment has since broken, but they still broadcast with the basics. For three nights we trained 20 from the local radio station staff and 20 Nazarene brothers and sisters in many aspects of production and programming. Today, Pastor Rene Victorino and the Dios Wukwe (House of God) Church of the Nazarene broadcast team can be heard every Saturday afternoon at 4 teaching the Wichi community in what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through their program “Santidad A Jehova” (Holiness Unto the Lord).

The Brindarse Foundation group shared their responsibilities and completed many projects during that week including Vacation Bible Schools for hundreds of children in the La Esperanza, El Portrillo, La Paz, El Silencia, El Tronquito 1 and El Tronquito 2 neighborhoods. Isabel carted her tools and bag of seeds around the neighborhoods teaching gardening and giving away bags of seeds donated by the Argentine government. Carla led discussions with teenage girls during several afternoons. Two public bathrooms complete with showers were built directly behind the Dios Wukwe Church.



One free morning I found myself “offering to do something” (Brindarse). With several of the neighborhood children as my assistants, we found two dilapidated wheelbarrows and began hauling bricks to the construction site. The brick had been stacked neatly in the pastor’s front yard about 100 yards from the site. As my assistants passed me bricks over the fence to load on the wheelbarrows, they began passing many frogs and snakes they encountered. They giggled at the site of this “white man” receiving their special gifts.

Utter E-Mission July - August 2007

After 89 years of no snow in Buenos Aires, we were privileged to be able to enjoy about 1-2” of white, fluffy, very wet snow.  It flurried all morning, then mid-afternoon it started sticking to the ground.  The kids were all excited to be able to go out and have a snowball fight, build our “gaucho” snowman and make snow angels (and I’m not just talking about the younger kids!)  Andre (the MK on the right in the red jacket) had been praying for a long time for snow!  Afterwards, we enjoyed homemade hot chocolate and a big bowl of chili!









BRIAN
It seems as though just about every time I am writing a newsletter, Brian has ei­ther just left, or was getting ready to leave.  Yesterday, he left for a 9-day trip to Ecuador.  He’s doing communi­cations workshops on a field, district and local church level.  He’s also going to be able to squeeze in the wedding of a good friend, Leo Longo, and a belated 1-year birthday party for our godson, Jeziel.

Last week, he had the amazing opportu­nity to go to Los Patrillos, in the north­ern province of Formosa in Argentina.  He went with a group of people from a foundation that ministers to the indige­nous Wichi (witchee) tribe.  They are a very poor people and a unique culture.  Brian was able to give radio workshops to not only fellow Nazarenes, but also to people from the community.  He also helped move thousands of bricks, and preached at the Nazarene church there.
Please pray for this tribe of people that are searching for the Lord and desper­ately need Him in their lives.

LYNNE
Things have been moving at an incredible pace for me these last couple of months.  I began with my first class at NBC the begin­ning of June.  This past week, I just began my second class - Survey of the OT.  This is a real stretch for me and has already been quite a challenge.  Thankfully the classes only last six weeks, so only five more to go!

I’ve been rather busy in the office as well.  Our Southern Cone Field office, where I work, is waiting for a new building to be finished in the next month or so, then we’ll be moving into it.  It is located back on our adjoining “Campo 2” property.  It will actu­ally be right across for where our new home is going to be.  We should be able to move into that in the next month or so as well.  Lot’s of moving!  UGH!!!

JACOB
The end of Jacob's winter break is coming to an end, and I'm not sure who is more excited for to go back to school, but I think it's him! He is very ready to get 2nd grace underway. Here is Jacob in action throwing a snowball. I think Dad was the lucky recipient!


2008 HOME ASSIGNMENT DATES
April 5-13 Upstate New York (LINKS District) Tour
April 11-12 Mid-Atlantic NMI Conv.
April 15-16 Mississippi NMI Conv.
April 20-27 Indianapolis District Tour
May 2-12 Washington Pacific District Tour (Brian)
May 11-18 Michigan District Tour (Lynne & Jacob)
May 25 AM Rushville IL CON
June 1-10 Chicago Central District Tour
June 15 AM Frankfort IN CON, PM Vincennes IN CON
June 22 AM Freeport IL CON
June 29 AM Beardstown IL CON

PRAYER REQUESTS
· Please pray for Brian’s trip to Ecuador.  He will be doing quite a bit of traveling within Ecuador as well.
· Please pray for NICA - Jacob’s school.  For the many decisions that need to be made for this com­ing year and years to come.
· Please pray for Lynne as she continues with her classes.
· Please pray for the South America Communications team.  We are still short a couple of staff members and Brian is having to work of extra hours to get everything done.  Pray the Lord sends the right people to join our team here.
· Please pray for the Wichi Indian tribe in Formosa, Argentina.  They’ve grown up believing they were Christians, but have not made personal commitments to our Lord.  Pray they will learn to have a vital, alive relationship with our Lord.