MISSION WORK IN PATAGONIA

  • 0 MISSIONARIES
  • 0 KM OF ROADS
  • 0 THOUSAND EUROSTRAINEES
  • 0 NEW MISSION CHURCHES

Donation: 18.000,- €
Project number: 21020

Argentina

Population: 45,8 million
Member union: AGA (Asociación de Iglesias Bautistas Germano-Argentinas)

Projects in these areas of work:
Children at risk
Church development
Capacity building

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Patagonia is the most southern part of Argentina and home to the Mapuche, for the Chilean side as well as the Argentinian side. When in the late 19th century the whites penetrated into this area, they brutally approached the indigenous people. Recklessly they drove away the people of their habitat into the often inhospitable parts of the south of Argentina. The dry ground makes life difficult for the people there. Impoverishment, crimes, alcoholism, social conflicts, and diseases are the results. Today you will find the Mapuche in the slums at the margins of the cities or in the deserted Pampas and mountains. This people lives withdrawn and feels like people of second class because many treat them like that.

EBM INTERNATIONAL supports local staff members and missionaries in social missionary projects when founding churches and in different projects for children and youth. The main missionaries Pedro and Noemí Boretsky in Esquel are also being supported. Passionately they are working to meet the needs of the Mapuche.

The couple Boretsky has found access to these shy and taciturn people and has been able to reach many with the love of God. In quite a few houses of the Mapuche the certainty of God’s provision has come through the lives and the service of our staff. This has an effect on their whole lives. The Mapuche experience how God heals relationships within families when they accept him as their Savior. The abuse of alcohol and violence do not control their everyday life anymore.

They have also started a work with children in the slums of Esquel. It is a PEPE project for preschoolers.

Meanwhile the mission area has a width of 600 km and a length of 200 km. New churches have been founded. Six missionary couples are working with more than 30 staff members in a team. The couple Boretsky are coordinating all these mission works from their church in Esquel. They visit the far spread out mission stations regularly, they train and encourage the staff and they accompany and support them spiritually.