The city of Puerto Madryn is located on the Atlantic coast in the province of Chubut, Argentina. It is a tourist city, well known for its aquatic sports and the marine life including whale watching between June to September. Nearby is also the Valdes Peninsula with sea lions covering its beaches.
The city center of Port Madryn meets with the sea
The nature of the patagonia makes this place very beautiful and calm in its own way.
The Patagonian highway
The center for YWAM which we know as the “base”, can be found 3 kms from the heart of Puerto Madryn, far from the noises of the city. We have four buildings with a lot of extra space for those who want to find a quiet corner to spend with God.
Viewing the city from the “Quintas of the Mirador”
Puerto Madryn
The entire region of the Patagonia was inhabited by an indigenous people until 1865 when Puerto Madryn city, as it is known today, was founded by Welsh colonialists arriving by ship. The Welsh lived here on the coast for 20 years before moving inland to colonise and found other towns.
The old Port Madryn
In a safe harbour on the Atlantic coast, and with mineral resources to be mined and exported, the town of Puerto Madryn continued to grow slowly but surely.
The commercial exportation pier
In recent years most of the growth of the town is due to tourism. Puerto Madryn is a historic town, with a fabulous, long beach. It is a place of great natural beauty, and well known for marine life (whales, sea-lions, dolphins, penguins, etc).
One of the main beaches in Puerto Madryn city
It is a centre for all types of water sports, beach sports and trekking. During the summer season the town takes on an international atmosphere, with an average of 3 cruise ships from all over the world docking here every week. And during the wintter we receibe the visit of the Franco- Austral whale.
One of many cruiseliners that arrive every summer
Though in many ways a good thing, the economic prosperity of the town has led to a spiritual decline. One of the biggest challenges to the Church here is to reach a people who are, for the most part, self-reliant and comfortable, and see little need for change.
The Patagonia
Patagonia is the name given to the southern third of Argentina and includes the provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra Del Fuego. It is a large desert region that stretches between the Andes mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Patagonia has many large plains
The people of Patagonia have a well-mixed ancestry. Over the last few centuries settlers have arrived from many countries including Italy, Spain, Wales, Germany and, more locally, Chile and Bolivia. Also some communities of indigenous peoples survive today (including the Tehuelche and Mapuche).
Many people fish from the main pier during summer
Here in the south, the Protestant church (of many denominations) has experienced growth and continues to do so. But many challenges still remain including unity between churches and denominations, deep-seated occultism, immorality, etc.
Uniting the churches of Madryn – meeting together
Argentina
Argentina is a country diverse in many ways. Its people, culture and lifestyle are a mix of European and indigenous influences. Its physical landscape has something of everything that you would expect to find in a geographic textbook – desert, jungle, mountains, prairie, marshland, forests, lakes, tundra, everything!
The Iguazu Waterfalls in the North of Argentina
It is a vast country with many natural resources – such as minerals, oil, gas, timber, fish, agricultural and grazing land, etc. – but has suffered many years of bad (and corrupt) government.
During the crisis there were various protests
An economic crisis in 2002 brought the entire country to a standstill. Although the financial collapse meant hardship for many people it also gave the nation the chance to rebuild in a manner more stable and effective and put a stop to the widespread corruption.
Buenos Aires – a city with a lot of growth
Statistics
Languages: Spanish (Italian, English, French, and indigenous languages)
Religion: Roman Catholicism (Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, animism)
Currency: Argentine Peso – ARS (conversion rates)
Population: Around 36 million, 85% urbanised.
Capital: Buenos Aires (population 12 million).
The “Cabildo” facing “Plaza de Mayo” in Buenos Aires