Sentires...The Doors to the Soul

In November and December I'm participating with an international ministry made up of 28 artists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, England, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States. In 2003 and the summer of 2004 the team traveled in Europe with the play, "The Key," having a great success and winning the hearts of an international audience. In Scotland they participated in "The Fringe," one of the most important art festivals in Europe, making it to the front page of a prominent Scottish newspaper.

Sentires in Spanish means sensations, used here referring to the senses.

Sentires is a creative production that offers an unconventional art experience that highlights the Truth that has changed our lives. It combines paintings, sculpture, theater, dance, graffiti, acrobatics, music and poetry. Sentires will be an opportunity to savor, hear, touch, look and smell an expression of God's heart through art seldom experienced.

State of the Sentires Venue (8 November 2004): Before!
 

The huge task of cleaning up & preparing the facility
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Work in Progress
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Updates

Friday, 12 Nov. 2004
    Greetings to you all from Buenos Aires. During the past two weeks we have seen the hand of God move in amazing ways. Not only have we been given permission to use the facility free of charge for "Sentires," but we will be able to use it under these terms until March 2005 with the possibility of renting from then on.
     It was encouraging and uplifting to see the factory getting cleaner and cleaner. It is as though a place void and empty, little by little began to be filled with light and order.
     We need over 120 spot lights, a stage, canvases and many other crucial things for the exhibition. We'll be using recycled material, saving lots of money.

Thursday, 25 Nov. 2004
     With two weeks to go before our opening night, we have a deep sense of gratitude for the miracles we've seen from God's hand! It is though a sleeping giant has awakened. The abandoned factory God has given us to use for our production little by little came back to life.
     Our toilets are working, the lights fixtures in the stage area and rooms for exhibitions have been installed downstairs. Curtains are now in place as well as tables and chairs for the pub area. These have been lent to us by a friend who believes in our dream as well. We are slowly getting there but not without many challenges to face. The final permission from the only electrical company in Argentina to make this production run is still one of our major challenges. Please pray that God will open the doors for the provision of electrical power. We have followed every advice given to us, but it seems that every person tells us something new and different every time. We need a miracle.
     This is the first time in the history of the church in Argentina that a creative project like this has ever taken place. It is a wild and different expression that will touch the lives of many people. We deeply believe that God will use this exhibition to challenge many views and beliefs. Argentina needs a fresh message and we are taking this step of faith knowing that God has placed in our hearts a message to communicate outside the methods used in the past.
     We are still believing for the rest of our electrical supplies, a few arts supplies and the rest of the fabrics. 90% of the materials we've used have been recycled. Even the 120+ spotlight fixtures!
     We are expecting great things to happen! Thank you for being a part of this dream for Argentina. Please continue to pray for our safety, for strength and energy, clarity of mind and a steadfast heart.

Monday, 6 Dec. 2004
    Just a few hours ago, we finished placing all the light fixtures in the bottom floor. Covered the windows, finished the stage and fixed the broken bathrooms and solved a few other huge challenges. With an extremely tight budget, we have been able to make this sleeping giant arise again for God's glory!
    We are still in need of electrical supplies, fabrics and art supplies. We know this dream will come to pass and have a great impact in this city. Continue to pray for us as we try to make of this last week of preparation the final touch! Thank you for being a part of this dream for Argentina.

Thursday, 9 Dec. 2004
    Only a day from the opening night! Intense work goes on and I sometimes feel that we will not make it. We have embraced a huge task and without God's help, we will not be able to finish all the goals we set for this production. One thing that keeps us very encouraged is to see day after day His miraculous provision. 80% of the materials used for the exhibition came from the factory itself. I guess He had good reasons for calling us to his place we back before we even knew it. We are using empty cans to construct over 130 light fixtures. All the canvases and surfaces used for paintings are fallen wooden panels used in the ceiling.
    Several times we've ran out of painting materials, electrical cord, nails, sockets, etc. over the night, somehow, we were able to continue working on preparations as we found used materials laying around.
    We've had several volunteers that have come to help us. They believe in our work. Even a few neighbors have come to see what we are doing. We are thankful to see a great expectation building up in the surroundings.
    This project represents a dream come true. Many hands are involved and I have the privilege to be a part of it. The tension is building, the anticipation is rising, we are tired and we are running out of time, but we know deep in our hearts, The great Helper is on our side and He will see that we make it right on time.

Friday, 10 Dec. 2004
    With only few hours of sleep during the night, we started the day already tired, however, our hearts were filled with awe and excitement looking at all the miracles God has made. The expectation of the opening event was enough to keep us going non-stop until the time we agreed to halt. It was crucial for us to have a time together, pray, thank God and get ready.
    The doors opened just a few minutes late, a miracle for an event this size taking place in South America. The electricity had been reconnected this very morning and we were having a few problems with the breakers. We also burned out a few light bulbs in the attempts... Things were intense... We took a deep breath and greeted the crowd gathered outside the door. We recognized a few friendly faces from fellow YWAMers and neighbors at the door. All ran smoothly. Everyone did great, though nervous, they gave their best and the crowd felt it.
    We've heard story after story of how these different art expressions have touched the lives of many. Those who came, especially our neighbors have asked us to "stay". People we've befriended at nearby restaurants, hardware stores, convenient stores, kiosks, etc. came to see our work, filled with curiosity as they saw us day and night crossing the street running back an forth from the factory to the base.
    A young man commented to one of us that walking through the exhibition brought a deep sense of forgiveness. "I seldom if ever apologize, I don't know what is going on in my heart tonight but I'm calling my girlfriend to make things right with her tonight".
    Please continue to pray for us. We know this expression was born in the heart of God. It is a time for reaping the labor of these past weeks of labor.
 

Before And After