A letter from Dennis A. Smith in Argentina
January 15, 2011
Dear friends:
In February we begin a new phase in our ministry as Maribel, Lucas, Benji and I move to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Southern Cone - Can you find Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay on this map of South America?
My appointment to Cedepca came to an end in 2010. The PC(USA) then appointed me as Regional Liaison for the Southern Cone and Brazil. (Geography Alert! In Latin America, “Southern Cone” means Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. See the map and you’ll understand why. . .)
My new job will include three areas of service: relating to the PC(USA)’s historic mission partners, accompanying our mission workers and encouraging mission partnerships between U.S. Presbyterians and our South American colleagues.
The PC(USA) has engaged in mission in Brazil and the Southern Cone since the 19th Century. We have rich, vibrant partnerships with almost a dozen denominations, theological seminaries and ecumenical service agencies. We have much to learn from and share with these valued partners.
Our first month in Buenos Aires, while we look for our own digs, we will stay in a guest apartment of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP). The boys begin school in March. That means we’ll have several weeks to familiarize ourselves with one of the world’s great cities.
A new family portrait.
We continue to rely on your prayers and financial support as we embark on this new adventure. Since our assignment and country of service is changing, we have new account numbers where you can designate your support for our ministry. Our work budget number (and I won’t be able to do this job well without a work budget!) is E052106. Our new salary support account number is E200481. Please send your gifts, marked with the proper account number in the memo line, to the address below. [You can also give online. See the Give box in the left column —Ed.]
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Pulling up life-long roots in Guatemala is not easy. Please pray for us as we move through this grief into the joy of new challenges, new friendships and new opportunities for learning and service.
Under the Mercy,
Dennis and Maribel Smith
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 280
