My placement

I opened my email this afternoon to find the email I've been anxiously awaiting for the last 3 months. I know where I'll be in Argentina and what I'll be doing.

I've been placed at La Casita boys' home in Florida, Buenos Aires. The email I received says this about the site:

"This is a home for boys coming from broken families and sent to La Casita by the local judges. La Casita is a ministry of El Tabernaculo, a Pentecostal Church."

I'm pumped about spending another year working with young people. I feel blessed.

Some of my anxiety has waned, but now my mission has realness to it. I can't pretend any more that this year is just another stop along my journey.

Addressing My Supporting Church

Yesterday I talked at St. Giles Presbyterian Church , my supporting church. Everything went beautifully. I was received with open arms. The congregation is excited about having a volunteer abroad and curious about all aspects of my service. I couldn't ask for a more supportive church.

Funding Woes

In order for me to go to Argentina, I have to raise $8,000 in support. This money ensures that I am not a burden on my community there and that I have food to eat and a plane ticket home. The good news is that all of you can support me by donating.

Instructions:
1. Make checks payable to the Presbyterian Church (USA).
2. Write "Andrew Barron ECO # 074156" on the memo line.
3. Send the check to:

The Presbyterian Church (USA)
Individual Remittance Processing
PO Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Launching a Blog

I'm going to Argentina for mission service. I don't know what I'm doing, yet. They (the good people at the Prebyterian Church (USA)) tell me that I will find out the details of my placement on Argentine time. I'm pretty sure that is later rather than sooner.

The main purpose of this blog is centralize my thoughts and pictures from my year of service in Argentina. If I have cheap access to the Internet, I'll probably do a wonderful job of keeping up with my postings. If I'm in a rural village, miles away from the nearest computer, the postings will be sparse.

I have mixed feelings about blogs. I think they are somewhat presumptuous. Why should I think that people are all that interested in what I have to say? But then, I'm not making you come to this website and read my postings, so I won't feel too bad about it.