Merry Christmas!

A recent trip to Las Bajadas left us with some great photos that give a good summary of our 2011:

~exploring and discovery~

 ¡fútbol!

~laughter (yes, and tears)~

~chopping wood for a hot fire~

both literally and figuratively: trying hard to figure out how to make sense of the ax, the branch,

the fire that we've been given, and knowing where to chop

 ~asado-ing~

in Argentina, the asado is a great cultural experience and much is shared around the grill

~siesta-ing and mate drinking~

~making new friends in all walks of life~ 

~sharing meals~

do you think the chickens in the background are disturbed by what is on the table? 

~being with (and serving) children~ 

~celebrating new seasons in life~

this photo was taken at our friend's wedding (obvio not in Las Bajadas)...

we celebrated from 9:00 pm until 3:30 am

Now we say chau to 2011 and bienvenidos to 2012.

Eternal life is in Him,

and this life gives light to all mankind.

~John 1:4

May His beautiful and amazing and unconditional love light your way.

Merry Christmas!

Much Love,

Chris, Krista, David, Andrew, and Johnny

Egresados, Escoltas, y Ejemplos

Johnny is an official kindergarten graduate.  We had the last second-to-last acto last night. 

A couple of weeks ago I received a note that said:
“The administrators of Niños Argentinos have the honor to communicate with you that your son, David Frohling, has been elected to be the escolta of the Cooperative Flag that represents our school.  We congratulate you and we share your emotion and pride for this accomplishment.”

Well, there is no fitting translation of escolta into our USA English language, at least in how it applies to the flag.  The Argentines are a very proud and patriotic people.  Every school day, upon arrival and upon dismissal, the flag is raised or lowered and the national anthem is sung.  It is a very, very big deal. There are abanderados who actually hold the flag; the escoltas help the abanderados, I guess you could say.  (The literal translation is "escort".)  They are all elected by both their peers and their teachers based on their grades and behavior.

During the sixth-grade graduation, there was a “changing of the guards” so to speak.  The graduating sixth-grade flag bearers gave over the responsibility to the incoming sixth-graders.  It was definitely a new experience for us.  Everyone kept congratulating Chris and me.  I asked David, “Why do they congratulate us?  We didn’t do anything.”  And he replied, rather embarrassed, “Well, I think it’s because you raised me.”  I had to bite my tongue.

And finally, today, we had the final acto of the year and got the libretas (report cards) for each boy.  I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that this school year is over.  I feel quite proud of the kiddos for learning a whole new language, making friends, and having good attitudes.  They are examples to me!

David's classmates all said their lines in English. 
Suddenly, Seño Gimena said, "We have our very own translator!"
And she called David up and had him translate all the English into Spanish.
His face was as red as his hat.  This would be one of my personal pesadillas (nightmares)!

Chau, Salita de 5
¡¡¡Bienvenidos 2012!!!

Have a great, school-free weekend!

Felices Fiestas

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

It has been a little difficult for me to wrap my brain around the fact that it is the Christmas season for any number of reasons:

• The boys are finishing their school year and anticipating a 3 month vacation, not just a 2 week one.
• It's summertime.  And it's hot — so hot that one is known to sweat stinky just sitting still.
• The twinkling lights, family photo cards, and consumer mayhem have not become important parts of the festivities down south.  I'm feeling particularly thankful that there is no such thing as "Black Friday" here... no further comment.
• The Christmas decorations that we have used for the past 17 years of marriage and family life are resting in our attic in California.

December 25 of last year does not go down in our memory books as one of the best days of our life.  I'll spare you the details.  What a difference a year has made.  While we still miss what we've known our entire lives, we are thankful for each other and for new traditions, while keeping many of the old.

Since, as I said, all of our Christmas decorations are somewhere else, last year, we had to make due and come up with our own.  In so doing, we have laughed and learned a lot... and cried a little.

My favorite Christmas items are our Nativity Sets from all around the world.  Many have been gifts from Jill (lover of all things Advent) and my mom.  We have also done our fair share of collecting throughout the years.  This year, we have a special one on loan made by our friend Kristy and a few others created by certain boys in my life. 



Drawn by Andrew last Christmas



This is Johnny's Lego Nativity Scene.
You can't see R2D2 who is the Angel "because he can fly"
and Mary isn't here because Johnny didn't have the "right kind of Lego hair for her."
And just so you know, "Jesus's manger has gold all around it because it's His birthday."

Part of the Nativity made by Kristy over 25 years ago

Throughout the month of December, we used to read a different Christmas book each day from the collection we had built up over the years. Now, we spend time reading through Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree Devotional that I was blessedly able to download. It has readings from scripture, beginning in Genesis, and covers significant events throughout the Old Testament that all point to the coming Messiah, the baby Jesus. There are also daily family devotions that include an action plan on sharing Jesus's love with others. Last year, I printed out the beautiful ornament drawings in black and white and the boys took turns coloring them. We had a unique and handmade collection of ornaments hanging on our Christmas, um, plant.  This year we have the same cute ornaments and a more festive tree.

At the risk of boring you, I'll tell you that our other traditions haven't changed.  Every Christmas morning, the boys wake us up and we read the story of Jesus's birth from the gospel of Luke in the comfort of our cozy bed. 

We figure that because we're celebrating Jesus's birthday and He received 3 gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh), and gift-giving is a part of the joy of this season, the boys also receive and give 3 presents.  One is a wanted toy, one is intentional family-time, and one is a gift-given-in-their-name. With this last one, Compassion International and World Vision have captured our hearts, and we peruse their catalogs to find something that has been particularly meaningful to each of our boys. David has been known to give soccer balls and sports equimpent, Andrew likes to give education or medical care to orphans, and Johnny seems to change each year from chickens to mango trees to mosquito nets.

After gifts, we have cinnamon rolls and smoothies for breakfast. 

This year, we have some special handmade adornments created by forever-friends.  If you're looking for a personalized, made-with-love gift, I highly recommend Jill's Joy in the Small Things.

As far as cultural differences are concerned, in Argentina, Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is the time of family celebration and Christmas Day is a time for sleeping off the festivities of the night before.  There is a big, lit up Christmas tree in Plaza España, but not many other green and red items.  Various stores sell plastic trees and ornaments, but there are no tree-lots or Santa's lap photo shoots. 



I like this mellow version.  It's nice.  We will enjoy it with sweet friends this year and will definitely join in the firework extravaganza at midnight on Christmas Eve.  We will, however, miss our family, Santa Barbara friends, and our Christmas season beach walks.

Joy and Love and Peace and Hope to you this Advent Season.

Lucky Lady

Love these boys!

Giving Thanks

On the day after the USA holiday Thanksgiving, Chris and I have set a goal:  we're going to be mindful of the things we are thankful for and begin recording them in our own personal journals.  This is no new idea; we have been reminded of the importance of being thankful by dozens of people, including historians, authors, prophets, and wise friends.

I have no plans to make public any of the items on my list - not because they are scandalous, but because I believe in the importance of keeping this as an intimate act of worship between my Creator and me.

However, I thought you'd like to see my Thankfulness Journal.  You can guess what one of the first entries is.

"I love you Mommy"

by Johnny

Church Retreat 2011

We had a great time with our church,

Jesucristo Rey, 

a couple of weekends ago at the annual retreat.

I was reminded me Santa Barbara Community Church's retreats except for the following:

• Waiters served us our delicious food (appetizer, entree, dessert)
• The schedule was a bit different (see my notes in red below)
• Everything was in Spanish
• Young folks from another church came to do the childcare
• I came home with a scalded mouth due to all my mate drinking

Gorgeous hike in the rain - Andrew was in heaven!

 "Guiller-moto"

 Games with a purpose, organized by our amazing friend Pato (Patricia)

 Great conversations, mate, and food

And, finally, surfing the river.  David shredded and taught everyone how to do it. 

They LOVED it and now have a new tan to prove it.

We are incredibly thankful for this body of believers and the way God provides.

Santa Teresita Again

These 2 men are very like minded and as I've said before, Guille and Susi are huge blessings in our life.  We had our first encuentro (meeting) with the neighbors in Santa Teresita to go over the results of the survey and to further equip them in helping themselves in the problems that the survey revealed.

It was necessary to get the galpón (abandoned workshed) ready for the meeting.  We were so thrilled to find this place with a roof and walls.  Even though Santa Teresita is a rural neighborhood, there aren't big trees that offer shade against the strong sun or heavy rain.  The galpón had a bit of trash that was easily removed and weeds that were macheted away by the muscles of our almost-12-year-old.

The trash-picker-uppers

Getting ready to begin the meeting... we had facturas (I'm not sure how to describe this typical Argentine food - maybe a danish?) and of course mate.

Here is an acto in action.  Chris was "playing the part" of the extranjero (foreigner) who came along with the desire to help those in need.  David and Guille were the locals who desperately needed to cross a river but didn't know how to swim or where the rocks were placed within the river.  The foreigner knows all about rocks in rivers and how to swim so he generously offers to carry David across.  But by the time he gets halfway across, he is too tired and can't go any further.  He deposits David on a rock structure in the middle of the river without giving him any instructions on how to get to either side.  He reaches the bank where Guille is waiting and informs him that there is no way he can carry him and offers instead to teach him how to cross, which is what you see in action above.

They arrive at the midpoint and the tired, well-meaning foreigner can't go on.  But, since Guille now knows how to cross on his own, he is able to teach David and they cross together to the otherside.

Here they are, after victoriously crossing the river on their own, able to show other locals the way as well.

It's a little silly, but it got good reviews from the neighbors who liked what it represented: they are smart, they need some tools and instructions on how to accomplish the things they want for the barrio, and we can work together for its good. 

Going over the results of the survey

This was a great exercise in talking about Salud Integral (Integral Health) and what the neighbors thought was needed for a healthy community.  Many important themes were brought up and discussed at length.

Chris and Guille will continue visiting with the neighbors a couple times a week and Susi, the boys, and I hope to attend the meetings on the weekends.  It will be interesting to see what God has in store for this barrio que no es olvidado ya.

PS I'm such a geek numbers person and very much enjoy the fact that today is 11-11-11 and this post was published at 11:11.  :)