{"id":75870,"date":"2018-03-01T19:54:12","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T22:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/?p=75870"},"modified":"2018-03-01T19:54:12","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T22:54:12","slug":"confraternity-mission-in-northern-argentina-finishes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/en\/confraternity-mission-in-northern-argentina-finishes\/","title":{"rendered":"Confraternity Mission, in Northern Argentina, finishes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In the province of Salta, Northern Argentina, has concluded the Confraternity Mission<\/a>, of Fraternidade \u2013 International Humanitarian Federation<\/strong>. It took place from February 12 to 26, in five Wichi ethnic group communities, affected by the floods caused by heavy rains in the region. 21 people participated, some for just a part of the period, and the team included missionaries, members of the Network-of-Light<\/a> of Argentina, residents of the Community-of-Light of the Brotherhood<\/a> and local volunteers.<\/p>\n

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Traces of floods in a Wichi temple<\/p><\/div>\n

At first, the missionaries were going to work in the city of Santa Victoria del Oeste (500 km North of Salta, capital of the province, and 2,200 km from Buenos Aires, the capital of the country). That city was flooded due to unprecedented overflows of the Pilcomayo River, but on the way they found Indigenous villages around the city of Tartagal (180 km before the original destiny), which were also affected by the floods. Contrary to what happened to the inhabitants of Santa Victoria del Oeste, the Indigenous people from Tartagal were not receiving help from any public or private organization. The missionaries understood that Tartagal was the place where they should serve, and they stayed there.<\/p>\n

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Access to the Sao Benito community<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt is a very different mission, it is like walking totally in Faith\u201d, explained the coordinator of the Network-of-Light of Argentina \u2013 Northern Region, Mabel Jozami, in February 14. \u201cThe main characteristics of this mission are faith and surrender to be guided from Above\u201d, complemented Helentiana, a missionary of Fraternidade.<\/p>\n

Last days<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last two days of field work, the missionaries visited four Wichi communities. On February 24, they went to El Algarrobo and Sao Benito. On the following day, they shared experiences with the inhabitants of Fwolit, El Mistol and El Algarrobo again.<\/p>\n

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The cacique distributes the donations received<\/p><\/div>\n

In El Algarrobo, they found an organized village. The children showed a better health condition and the adults had less suffering countenances. The Chief, David Ascensio with a natural gift of leadership and a calm and silent character, looks after each family and their needs. He seeks help through the selling of furniture he makes in a little carpentry located in the place. Some women collaborate with the selling of artisanship made by themselves.<\/p>\n

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Status of abandonment<\/p><\/div>\n

However, the community of Sao Benito is in a more precarious condition, surrounded by private properties that they must cross to communicate with the external world. Its Chief, Reinaldo Arias, expressed his great discontent with the lack of public and private help. \u201cWhy do they want to extinguish us?\u201d, he lamented.<\/p>\n

Lands subject to floods<\/strong><\/p>\n

In both communities, the missionaries shared a snack, brought donations (foods and raffia bags) and explained how the villagers could build a wall of contention to avoid, or at least reduce, the floods of which they are victims. The communities are located in low lands where all the rain waters from Tartagal converge, which facilitates the floods.<\/p>\n

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Technique to fight lice<\/p><\/div>\n

On February 25, the team brought donations and taught a simple technique, with vinegar, cream and thin comb, to fight the lice present in all communities. The mothers thanked and admitted they did not know how to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

Confraternity Mission was, according to several participants, an extension of the task with the Indigenous Consciousness<\/a> in Argentinian land, as it began in the dates in which the ninth meeting of the Chaco Mission<\/a> was going to take place.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that what we were able to share was a great Exchange of love, of compassion, of making them feel they are not completely forgotten, as they feel. In this way, through games, sincere dialogs, smiles, little material help, we were able to create confraternity\u201d, evaluated Alejandro, a missionary.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a group, we feel that this mission has no limits and that the seeds of light, unity and love sown will give fruits\u201d, expressed Florencia Biancalana.<\/p>\n\n\t\t