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March 2025
March 2025
March ended up being kinda crazy (in a good way)! At times, it felt like a big jump from the summer schedule in January + February, but I'm thankful to be quickly falling back into routines and rhythms of work and life in Buenos Aires — full of friends and community, listening + learning, and gearing up for kid ministry activities for the rest of the year here!
El Redentor & Instituto Evangélico Americano - Villa del Parque, Buenos Aires
El Redentor & Instituto Evangélico Americano - Villa del Parque, Buenos Aires
There are no youth activities at El Redentor until April, so this month looked like a lot of behind-the-scenes prep work for April Ligas and the taller de Pascua we’re hosting during Holy Week. I feel so blessed to have been more involved with primary school at IEA, which started at the end of February! I had the joy of accompanying Erika and Vero to the 3rd grade Christian Orientation classes to invite the kiddos to take their First Communion at El Redentor (not pictured), and got to join Gustavo in the capellanía (little chapel) during Friday recess — I brought coloring pages and just sat on the floor with the kiddos, watching them be so focused on their coloring pages or listening to every single word when they wanted to tell me all about their snack in detail. (faces censored for kiddos' privacy!)
Gustavo (my supervisor) asked if I could share about my home congregation with El Redentor, and at the congregational lunch at the end of March, I had the opportunity to present about Grace Lutheran Church (my home church)!! I am so eternally grateful for the pastors at Grace for sending me facts and content, as well as El Redentor for listening so intently and asking such deep, thought-provoking questions. :)
Adventuring around Buenos Aires
Adventuring around Buenos Aires
March was full of adventures and experiences! From walking around downtown Buenos Aires to experiencing Carnaval, this month was so incredibly memorable.
I rescued a gecko from a glue-rat trap! Lil gecko is (appropriately) named Sticky :)
Living in downtown Buenos Aires, it is incredibly common to come across signs, posters, and/or spray-painted messages on garbage cans and buildings after marches or demonstrations. Personally, seeing the messages every day is a subtle reminder that art is resistance; it's been impactful and empowering to see all the messages that people leave — forever teaching me more and more about societal, historical, and economic issues Argentinians face daily. Just because the march or demonstration is relegated to one date, time, and space/street(s) doesn't mean the fight for human rights and equality is.
Día Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y Justicia (National Day of Memory for Truth and Justice; March 24th) marks the day of the coup that started the military dictatorship in Argentina in 1976. We learned about the dictatorship as part of in-country orientation back in September, so knowing (part of) the history made the day incredibly impactful. I went with my supervisor to an interreligious gathering at a Catholic church in Buenos Aires, which was both educational and emotionally heavy. I am thankful for the space to listen and learn – knowing that I’ll never know the whole story or feel the full impact of the individuals who lived through the dictatorship first-hand, but listening, learning, holding space, and paying attention to current events so that harmful histories aren’t repeated.
Carnaval !!! 🥳🥳🥳
I loved seeing how the city of Buenos Aires does Carnaval (Carnaval Porteño) — rather than a huge parade down a central avenue, Carnaval Porteño has different, smaller corsos (carnival parades) in parks and plazas in various neighborhoods throughout Buenos Aires. Murga groups from different neighborhoods throughout both the city and province of Buenos Aires performed one at a time: dancing, playing drums, singing, and sharing stories. I loved seeing all the different generations: from the littlest toddlers and teens to adults and grandparents, all performing together. Between the synchronized dances, unified costumes and color palettes, and strong drums I could feel throughout my entire body, I am so grateful to have experienced Carnaval as part of my YAGM year.
📍 Ecoparque - Palermo, Buenos Aires
My German housemates had been raving about the Ecoparque (ecological park) in Palermo, so I took a Saturday afternoon to go and check it out. Historically the grounds housed the Buenos Aires Zoo, but now focuses on species of plants and animals native to Argentina, as well as their conservation. I found it fascinating and learned a lot!
(Obviously) fake dinosaur statue, but was quite the sight to see!
February 2025
February 2025
As people were on vacation and school was still on summer break, February ended up being an overall chill month. I took time to rest and rejuvenate after being go-go-go for the last several months, spending quality time with my Argentinian friends, my cohortmates, and getting back into the rhythm of work and life in Buenos Aires!
El Redentor - Villa del Parque, Buenos Aires
El Redentor - Villa del Parque, Buenos Aires
Work this month looked like more behind the scenes preparation in anticipation of the upcoming school year! I spent time in conversation with Gustavo and Erika, looked up craft ideas for future Ligas and the taller de Pascua, and sharpened and sorted all (!!!) of the colored pencils in the craft closet.
Adventuring around Buenos Aires
Adventuring around Buenos Aires
Between vacation in January and retreat in mid-February, I spent time re-adjusting and visiting new areas of Buenos Aires with friends from my host congregation, my cohortmates, and solo — soaking in the last of summer before the school year started!
📍 Jardín Botánico - Palermo, Buenos Aires
The Botanical Garden in Buenos Aires is home to thousands of different plant species and flowers from all over the world. I loved seeing the diversity, and also learning more about the flora native to Argentina! The sculptures and art were also gorgeous and added to the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.
YAGM Argentina/Uruguay Retreat #2 - San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén
February 16—23, 2025YAGM Argentina/Uruguay Retreat #2 - San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén
Marking the halfway point of our YAGM year, the Argentina/Uruguay cohort was all back together again for Retreat #2! This time, we were in San Martín de los Andes in the Neuquén province in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. It was wonderful spending time together as a cohort, reflecting and processing how things have been going site-wise, and planning and discussing what work looks like going into the second half of our YAGM years. We shared prayers, adventures, and laughter as we explored the surrounding town and trails and engaged in thoughtful, prayerful devotionals throughout the week. San Martín de los Andes is nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and along the shore of Lake Lácar, a combination that my Puget Sound // Western Washington self has deeply missed living in downtown Buenos Aires!
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