Blythewood Pres helps build church in Argentina

The BPC missionaries constructing the church building in Caviahue. | Photos: Contributed

BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Presbyterian Church recently sent its pastor, Rhett Sanders, nine of its members, and three members of another congregation to Argentina for a missions project – to help build a new church sanctuary in the village of Caviahue for the indigenous Mapuche people in the Patagonia region of Argentina where no church building existed.

It all began when Martin Bonandini of Buenos Aires and president of the faith group Navigators for Argentina, contacted Sanders and asked him to come to Argentina to help with the project.

“Martin and I had worked on projects together in the past,” Sanders said, “so we were eager to help.”

Sanders and the BPC missionary team flew out of Columbia on Jan. 7, and met up with Martin and his family (his wife Claudia and daughters Natasha and Lara) in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Together they flew to Neuquen in the Patagonia region of Argentina, then drove five hours to their destination in Caviahue, which is five miles from the Chilean border. The village of Caviahue, Sanders said, is nestled under an active volcano.

“In Caviahue, we met Pastor Rosendo who is planting the only church in that village,” Sanders said. “He welcomed our arrival and had prepared well to start the project, so we were able to start right to work mixing cement and wheelbarrowing it up a ramp to pour the 6,500 square foot floor of the church sanctuary.”

The team completed the floor in two days, and then spent two days cleaning up and getting the first coat of cement on two of the outer walls.

When it was time for the Blythewood missionary team to leave Caviahue, the building still had no roof to protect from the snow that is expected to start falling in April. Unable to stay long enough to complete the roof, Sanders’ group then raised $7,000 to have the roof built after their departure, and presented the funds to the Caviahue church group on their last day there.

“Pastor Rosendo and his wife received it with tears,” Sanders said.

“Connecting with Pastor Rosendo and the people of Caviahue was an answer to their prayers, our prayers and the prayers of Martin Bonandini,” Sanders said. “He had been praying for a connection in the Neuquen area, and God answered those prayers through a woman in that area who reached out to Martin for counseling. Then as he got to know more folks in the area, he ultimately met Pastor Rosendo and heard his of desire to build a church sanctuary for the worshipers in Neuquen. Martin reached out to us, and a team was formed.

“I am always amazed at how God puts together the perfect team that I would have never put together,” Sanders said. “Each individual missionary was a critical part of the team and played a significant role. In addition to participating in building the sanctuary, we enjoyed getting to know the Bonandini family and engaging with the church members in Caviahue.”

Sanders said it was joy to experience and participate in answered prayers.

Back in Blythewood, the missionary team shared their experience with the Blythewood Presbyterian Church congregation on Sunday, Jan. 26, at their 10:30 a.m. service.

“First, it was a joy to find out that we were an answer to prayer, and then to be blessed beyond our own prayers,” Sanders said. “We loved our time in Argentina and are in prayer for the Church and people of Caviahue, trusting and knowing that God is faithful and committed to the building of His Church.”

BPC pastor Rhett Sanders (second row, center), and his church missionary team.

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