The Friendship Model in Argentina.
Youth Goes Down to Argentina for the First Time in 2014
Through connecting with the First Methodist Church of Buenos Aires, young adults exchanged prayers with clergy, heard from human rights leaders like Adolfo Perez Esquivel, and met fellow young adults to know about each others’ lives and worlds. They hosted a birthday party for under-privileged children, lending a hand to a local feeding program and joining in the country’s human rights march that happens each March 24th.
A Focus on Education
Every consecutive trip has toured Methodist-affiliated schools of all educational levels. With a focus on friendship, schools in Florida and Argentina set up exchanges of all sorts. From scholarships for high schoolers to come visit the USA, to technology deployments. to co-hosted virtual classes, and mutual fundraising opportunities; the bonds of friendship are only growing and strengthening.
Missions Returned
The friendships created in trips have led to invitations to Argentinians doing missions in the United States. The Young Adult Missionary Movement of the Florida UMC has benefited from six young adults staying 1-2 years to aid our local churches and non-profits. Many of those missionaries have returned to Argentina and taken leaderships roles in their own churches and communities. The projects God gives the world to do together are never one-sided.
Micro-Industries
Hobbies, interests, and need can all lead to organic micro-industries. Between the two countries, we now have income-generating businesses through selling jewelry, origami, crafts, religious garments, magnets, and local art. Much of these businesses are women-led, all of it is God inspired, and future endeavors can not be contained in a box!
