Diocese of Down & Dromore

Christmas Greetings to Down and Dromore from Suffragan Bishop Nick and Catherine Grayson in Northern Argentina

Casilla 187, 4400 Salta, ArgentinaMisión Anglicana, 3636 Ingeniero Juárez, Formosa, Argentina

Dear Friends,

We won't be doing an advent wreath this year: the candles have melted! Such is the very different environment in which we find ourselves at the start of this new season. However, the meaning is very much the same... Christ's hidden glory in his first coming, awaited in full at his second, a time of watching and waiting. May Christ be revealed to you afresh amidst the demands and rush of Christmas! (We are looking forward to being together as a family too!)

Our first couple of months here are full of vivid snapshots which brighten the daily struggle to keep cool! You can see some of these on www.picasaweb.google.mail/catleti or on the blog www.ampey.wordpress.com . They include beautiful Chaco sunsets, trees and rivers; emotional reunions, memorials, and a consecration; travelling with previous bishops to a wide variety of communities; seeing youth dancing and old people singing hymns with equal gusto; sitting with those who had been attacked with bullets and rocks; being aware of a whole generation of Indian children graduating from secondary school, but leaving huge questions as to what happens next. And looking desperately for the next fizzy drink to survive the HEAT... 

But the heat is also very good for ripening the algarroba beans, which the forest communities gather for food. Although we are in the town, we have some trees, and little groups of Indians come and gather forest fruits by the house. Some of the children hunt the birds with catapults - another reminder of the background of the people we are here for. And birds are not the only wildlife we are surrounded by: we also get plenty of dogs and pigs, herds of cows, horses and donkeys wandering through, not forgetting lizards, scorpions and ants. They may all be looking for water, which has been scarce in this terrible heat. (Up in the 50s this month - we have to concentrate on keeping hydrated too.)

We are surviving, but it has taken time to get our home organized. The house in Ingeniero Juárez has been renovated, and is now rather like two houses - the old adobe mission house, with a new larger reception room and kitchen. Catherine has made an excellent job of furnishing it and making it home, and we have really good neighbours (René and Marina) who couldn't have done more to help us. We do feel a bit vulnerable, as other houses of comparative size have large walls and guard dogs! We have electricity, but it varies so much that several of our electrical goods have already burnt out, including fans, which is bad news. We have so far found that internet access is very poor, limiting us to a few emails from time to time. Our mobile phones don't seem to work worldwide, and vary locally. However, we now finally have a landline at home (+54-3711-420100), so do feel free to phone us, remembering the 3-hour time difference!

We have started visiting the numerous forest and town communities where there are churches which we are responsible for. It is great to be welcomed by Indian leaders and their flocks, many of whom have not seen a bishop for years. Inevitably there are some problems to sort out, particularly those caused by rival church groups or new movements within the church; in some areas the question of land rights and deforestation is still very acute; and the widespread social changes, affecting particularly education and work, mean that there are very different expectations within the Indian communities.

It will take us some time to get our heads round some of these issues, and of course understanding the way things work in the diocese (urgent pastoral care is required for many who work in this area) and in the different cultures. A key to this would seem to be to learn the language (wichi). It is not easy to find either space or teachers, but we are trying to make this a priority before we get much further, and the summer months (Jan/Feb) when the roads are impassable will be set aside for this.

This month we have some important meetings with all the leadership teams and committees to organize next year's calendar. On Dec 19 Nick goes to Buenos Aires for further meetings, and to collect Sam and Stefi when they arrive on 23rd and they all return to Salta for Christmas together. We will try and visit a few places in the Chaco, including of course Juárez, before returning to Buenos Aires for their departure on 9 January.

It has been good to hear from many of you. Do try all the options (email, skype, facebook, phone, or even snail mail: letters sent to our home address seem to take about 10 days. Letters to the Salta office may be quicker and more reliable, but we won't necessarily receive them immediately). It is always a great encouragement, as is your support in so many other ways, not least prayer.

So here are some prayer points:

• Continuing to make our home functional, welcoming and safe!

• Learning the language

• Family visit at Christmas

• Understanding the complex church situation, responding and taking a lead

• Indian communities in a rapidly changing world, and the relationship between generations

May the growing light of advent fill your heart. Lhawuk iamej.

Nick and Catherine