A Special Day in Canuelas

I need to start this blog by making a correction to last week's entry.  It has come to my attention by Nico, that I said his English was limited and he takes exception with that.  So, sorry about that.  Nico's English is bueno.  He says Cesi's English is limited.  Now my life is settled.

The Argentina Bethel Family had their annual family day here at our home at the Canuelas Assembly Hall.  Because we live here, we were invited.  We will probably never have such a privilege again and we are so happy we were here to have a part.  They have been planning all year for this and started putting it together last Wednesday.  We took so many photos and just can't do it justice so if you want to see more than posted here, come by and we will share.  I did not get photos of the following:  the brothers playing on six different soccer fields, volleyball, tennis, game tables, puzzle table, playing basketball, playing bocci (two different areas) and playing foosball.  I will try to show the other activities though.

Some of the brothers arrived Friday night and slept in the assembly hall, open rooms and some in tents.  They started cooking the meat at 5:30 Saturday morning and the buses arrived around 8:30.

 This was the night before.  

We had pizza the night before made in this pizza oven.

This is the welcome sign that the brothers would see when they arrived.

This was the event schedule.  Everyone received a gift bag with a hat in it and drink mugs and a special letter.

This was some of the sausage and chorizo cooking.  There was much more.

This was the pork and beef.  Pork is closest to us and beef in the background.  We had salads, bread, sweets, potato chips, soda, watermelon and tons of Bethel ice cream, chocolate and strawberry.  Enough for seconds, thirds and whatever.  No one went hungry.

Our table for dinner.  We got to meet so many wonderful people.  400 Bethel family members were there.

There were brothers singing..

Horses with no saddles.  That freaked me out.

Aerobics first thing in the morning.

Two go karts.

Several pool tables.

Several ping pong tables.  I thought I was pretty good but young 

Alejandro beat me four times straight.

There were six pools.  This is the permanent one at Canuelas and you can see two in the background.  We didn't get in because it was cool and breezy and a very fine mist of rain for a short time.

There was time for siesta too.  Lots and lots of hammocks.

This was an exhausting day for some of us.

We were divided up into language groups and given a verse from Kingdom songs to sing.  There was Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Guarani, Armenian, English, Sign Language and I think I am forgetting one.  Anyway, at the end we sang the last verse altogether.  It was awesome.  Brings tears to your eyes.

English Group

Sign language group.

This is the home overseer for Bethel, Pablo, and his wife Norma.  So friendly and loving.

Sweet couple from Bethel, Eunice and Marcos.

Argentina Bethel Family 2013

We are so privileged to have been a part of this special day.  Next weekend here at Canuelas is the Ezeiza Construction Family Day.  More fun to be had and we will photograph that as well. 

 Neil and I have received a very special gift from a very generous family.  They are sending us to Iguazu Falls.  They are one of the new nine wonders of the natural world.  They are located on the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.  It is said that when Eleanor Roosevelt saw Iguazu Falls that she said, "Oh, poor Niagra."  We will let you know.   We leave on February 2 and return the 5th.  We will post photos of this experience along with a photo of this most generous family.  Thank you Sergio and Claudia and Mattais.  

Until next time, we send our love from all the brothers here in Argentina and wish you could be here with us... love,  Neil and Cindy