On Leaving ISAM

This has been a trip like no other I have made.  Having the SVA students and working to keep them pushing forward with the Spanish language proved to be a challenge and blessing.  I was able to see them every day and hear about their drama and adventures in class and dorms.  From the time I arrived, I was welcomed by the administration and staff as a faculty member like any other.  We were engaged in the kind of operational, visionary, and kingdom conversations my SVA colleagues and I often find ourselves in.  I was assigned classes to either teach, assist, or observe.  I taught a number of songs, my favorite being,

“Lord, I want to thank you for friends.  Friends I can count on ‘til the very end.  I want to be real and not have to pretend.  Lord, I want to thank you for friends.”

We have made friends here, good friends.  SVA is beloved here as no other school.  Our students have been fully embraced into the life of this school.  The human warmth here is so absolutely incredible and it is sad to have to leave.  I can see that our students have such mixed feelings about ending this program.  They love the idea of getting back to the good ‘ole USA (What a place to call home!), but they are not looking forward to the goodbyes.  Arturo told them at the first meeting on the first day that they would all be crying on the last day, and I can see it coming.  I asked Arturo to make sure and capture some of that emotion on Sunday.
 
On Wednesday this week, the school thanked us by giving us the vespers worship program.  On Thursday, they recognized each of us and gave us such an amazing goodbye that it really touched me.  I could see that our presence here really meant something to this school.  Now, I wondered...  "How do I get a reciprocal arrangement for the Argentineans kids that come to SVA?  The culture is so different...  


Yesterday, Arturo and family, all the SVA students plus one invitee each were treated to a buffet-style lunch at what is probably one the biggest restaurants in Alem.  It would be our last time together at ISAM.  We also watched another USA World Cup soccer match against Germany.  We lost 1-0.  (By the way, Wimbledon just began this week in London.)

My family and I headed out early on Thursday night in order to spend the weekend in Buenos Aires.  Look at what we saw today in perhaps the world's most famous cemetery.  It's in a wealthy area of the Recoleta in BsAs.  Basically, this place looks like a Roman or Greek city with its impressive mausoleums.  This is where the movers and shakers are buried.  Of course, they no longer move nor shake now!  Have you ever seen a place like this? 

 A few other sights in the city of Buenos Aires....

Me and Diego...

El argentino caminante...

We will meet up with Arturo and the group again on Monday morning at the Universidad Adventista del Plata (UAP).  Tomorrow we plan to visit the oldest Seventh-day Adventist church in Palermo, Buenos Aires.  (BsAs for short)

I am going to miss my new friends, but let me tell you that some really cool things brewing at which we will be working together in the coming months.  Thank you for an unbelievable experience with you, Arturo, Mariano, and the entire ISAM administration, staff, faculty, and students.  Stay tuned!

Mariano (Economics, Business, and Head Librarian)  and Arturo (Promotion and Recruitment)

Feliz sabado a todos!!!!!!!!