Presented by the Anglican diocese of Northern Argentina

March 2006

 
Geographical orientation
The Northern side of our diocese is a parched area, part of the numbingly flat Gran Chaco basin.  It is dry forest, called monte in Spanish, characterized by thorny bushes, with the occasional tree and scattered cacti.  In this scrub-land live some of Argentina’s last remaining native tribes.  Many Wichí, Toba and Chorote, traditionally ‘hunter-gatherers’, live in huts built with sticks and mud-bricks.  In and out of the bushes scurry pigs, hens, cats, goats and dogs.  The region is sandwiched between two parallel and navigable rivers: the Pilcomayo river, forming a natural border with Bolivia and Paraguay on the North, and the Bermejo river, a bit further South.  Both rivers change their course on a whim, while the earth is quick to crumble into sand and silt.  There are no rocks, no stones and no large trees to speak of.  Indigenous men fish for a dinner of dorado or sábalo in the river’s slow moving slurry, as women gather beans and firewood.  One visiting journalist from Buenos Aires concluded, “There is no life more marginal in Argentina”.

The Pilcomayo river
The Pilcomayo river originates in Bolivian territory.  The river-channel is well defined for 180 km below the intersection of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay as it flows into the Chaco region, an extensive plain that slopes smoothly toward the Paraguay River.  But the combination of heavy sedimentation and a very low gradient cause it to overflow its channel, forming several temporary bodies of water that can affect local communities.  The estimated 98 million tons of sediment that the Upper Pilcomayo annually deposits in the Chaco Plain comes from geologic and man-caused erosion in the upper basin.  Owing to the variability of the river regime and heavy sedimentation, most uses of the river would require the construction of dams to regulate the river discharge and sedimentation.  However, no government has seriously considered investing in this forgotten region.

Culture of Amerindian Anglican believers
Scattered around this land south of the Pilcomayo river are about 90 rural parishes, all of which are lead by their own indigenous clergy.  These Amerindian brothers and sisters – totaling some 85% of the diocesan membership - dwell in a distant orbit to that of the rest of Argentina, linked only by appalling roads, odd telephones and infrequent interference from the authorities – usually around election time.  Many indigenous Anglican believers live a hand-to-mouth existence and very few houses have running water, electricity or gas.  Some produce woodcarvings or weave bags, others sell fish or goats.  The fortunate ones hold down some sort of government post or get a subsidy.  In many ways it is one of the most disadvantaged regions of the country.  Nearly all belong to the poorest in the country and recent statistics prove that the gap between rich and poor in Argentina is growing alarmingly.

Devastation hits
Record rainfalls in the upper basins during the month of January 2006 caused unprecedented levels in rivers.  Near the international bridge at Misión La Paz, the Pilcomayo river marked a historic 6,10 meters on the depth-gauge and burst its banks.  By now a torrential and uncontrollable force, the Pilcomayo began to meander towards communities early February.  First it cut off a number of roads, but around the 21st of February scores of people were driven from their homes because of flash-floods.  A number of villages were wiped off the map completely and in other settlements the river swept away livestock, personal belongings and fences.  We thank the Lord that no casualties have been reported.  In the North-east of the Salta province alone some seven thousand inhabitants received emergency aid flown in by the provincial government.  Faced with a catastrophe, the Salta authorities were quick to dispatch 17.500 kilos of dried food and plastic sheeting to those affected.  The goods were handed over to the caciques (community-elders) or to local health-care workers for distribution, but many families did not receive anything, as they were completely cut off.  Governors from both the Salta and Fromosa provinces have now promised federal help with the reconstruction of houses in inundated areas.

Church-buildings swept away
During the weekend of February 25^th and 26^th, retired indigenous Bishop Mario Mariño and one of his Wichí archdeacons were able to visit some of the displaced people-groups, assess the damage to church properties and minister pastorally to the believers.  Bishop Mario reported in the diocesan offices last Friday (March 3^rd): “We encountered them along the road-side, disheveled and hungry.  We had not brought food as our own finances are inadequate.  All we could do was pray with them.”  The gushing Pilcomayo river has swept away, destroyed or rendered useless ten Anglican parish-churches; the mud bricks were unable to withstand the force of the swollen waterway.  Apart from buildings, the fluvial deluge also took church-furnishings such as simple wooden furniture, communionware, humble decorations and lecterns.  Sadly, paperwork like records, lectionaries, liturgies, hymnbooks and Bibles also disappeared in the brown water.

The majority of disappeared parish churches belonged to communities located in the North-west of the Formosa province:

1. Lote 1
2. Tres Palmas
3. El Pampa
4. Kilómetro 16
5. La Batería
6. San Martín
7. Media Luna
8. Barrio Sol
9. Amarilla
10. Las Vertientes (Salta province)

 The provincial governments will not help with the rebuilding of church-facilities; this responsibility will fall entirely on the diocese.

Project proposal
We seek co-financing for the construction and furnishing of the ten church-buildings over the next calendar year as the parishes resettle and rebuild a sense of identity.  As one Wichí believer commented: “The church is at the centre of our community and we want to get on with building that first.”

The archdeacon responsible for the urban parishes in our diocese, Rev Dr Hugo Vergara, has sent out a letter to the fifteen city churches asking for donations to alleviate the plight of our indigenous brothers and sisters.  He has called for prayer and suggests earmarking all or part of next Sunday’s collection to a special relief fund.  However, given the economic state of the region it is unlikely that this financial and material support will cover the cost of construction and furnishing of ten church buildings.

Costing
Costing details of the largest items for the construction of a 10 x 6 m rectangular roofed building with pane-less windows for light and ventilation.  The walls will be built with sun-dried mud bricks manufactured by the congregation and wooden upright support beams for the roof will be cut from the forest.  Where possible, basic electric lighting will be attached to the ceiling.  Sanitary facilities, siderooms and furnishings are not included.

 
For the total of U$S 20,310.00 ten parish-church buildings can be constructed.

Extras
For U$S 300 (Arg $ 915) per church-building a set of wooden benches, a lectern, a table, some liturgical decorations, communionware and a supply of Bibles, liturgies and hymnbooks in Wichí or in Spanish can be purchased.

Logistics and information:
Mr Rene Pereira, an Argentine national, has agreed to act as supplies-manager and construction-supervisor for this project.  He is a diocesan employee and member of the Clergy and Lay Training department, mainly working with indigenous young people.  He lives in Ingeniero Juarez (Formosa province) from where he regularly visits the Amerindian villages to the South of the Pilcomayo river.  He has a background in construction-work.

Mr Hans Breekveldt, a Dutch missionary seconded to the diocese, will liaise with international donors for this project.  He coordinates the Clergy and Lay Training department and is fluent in Spanish, English and Dutch.  He will also monitor the accounting and the information flow.  His email at the diocesan offices: educris@salnet.com.ar