Today and tomorrow are tourist days. After that it’s time to go to work and serve. So, we enjoyed the day to the fullest. We heard that it was suffocating hot the day before we arrived. Yesterday and today, however, have been just about perfect! Temps in the 80′s and clear skies. Nice!

On Bus to El Caminito en Boca

This morning we hopped on a city bus and traveled to El Caminito, a cute, touristy little spot near the home stadium of the Boca Juniors team, one of the two great rivals of soccer here in Buenos Aires. Cute little shops, street vendors, mimes and tango dancers in the street. After a couple of hours there we headed back downtown to savor a couple of authentic Argentine empanadas to hold us over until dinner. The rest of the afternoon was free time for shopping, since this would be about the only time to focus on this very important aspect of life.

Many of you have heard me speak of our dear friend Edgar and Sonia who are greatly used of God around the world. They are both native Argentines, but Edgar comes from an ethnic Armenian background and Sonia is Ukranian. Both groups are well-represented in Argentine society. If you know anything about history, you will appreciate it when I tell you that Edgar has the most amazing ministry to Turkish speaking people around the world. Edgar and Sonia joined us for dinner tonight and we were thrilled to hear a bit of what God is doing through them and others. We also just had fun spending time with them.Edgar is a Boca Junior fan, and Ryan had purchased a Boca shirt and hat today. Edgar hugged him at first sight! No other introductions were necessary.

A couple of our young ladies were very curious about the whole mate culture in Argentina and desperately wanted to taste some mate while they were here. I did my best to explain the cultural and relational aspects of this drink that countless Argentine, Uruguayan and others here in the southern part of South America constantly carry with them in a thermos and drink out a gourd through a metal straw.

Finally, I suggested that they ask questions of the hotel staff since I had seen the tell-tale thermos behind the counter.  I knew that if they expressed sincere interest, it would not be long before they would be sharing their mate. Sure enough! Several of our young adults were able to taste a bit of this bitter herb last night. Several also slipped out in their youthful energy to catch some tango happening live since our hotel is right smack in the middle of the historic heart of the tango.

All it takes to keep Emily content - Cafe con Leche

It’s late and I need to catch some sleep to keep up with these young people. We will be up very early in the morning to catch the Buquebus (Boat Bus) to Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s a three hour trip down river in a high speed, very large ferry. We’ll spend the day there before getting back to the hotel close to midnight tomorrow.