Language victories and challenges
Many thanks for your prayers and support during my ministry in South America this past month. What a blessing and privilege to be able to serve God's people in three countries and to continue to be a testimony to those who don't yet know Jesus. I was able to preach in Portuguese to three congregations in the cities of Pompéia, Presidente Prudente and Presidente Venceslau.
I was also invited to preach at a Japanese church in Buenos Aires. The congregations met separately in Japanese and Spanish. I spoke in English at each service, translated through interpreters.
Thanks to the partnership of Julian and Karina who ably served as my interpreters in Japanese and Spanish respectively.
At the conclusion of the Spanish language service, a Nisei señora challenged me to "come next time and preach in Spanish!" Well, okay. haha! That will greatly depend on the working of God in my brain. And in that regard, nothing is impossible.
[Though truth be told, the week serving in the Spanish speaking countries of Paraguay and Argentina was especially challenging. My Spanish is not up to snuff and the number of English speakers I met with were very few (maybe three at most). This meant spending the majority of my time trying to decipher (listen, understand, speak) Spanish. That in itself proved to be extremely tiring. My mental and physical exhaustion caused me to want to skip my last week of ministry in Brazil. However, coming back to São Paulo and finding myself in the midst of Portuguese speakers was somehow refreshing and my spirit was renewed.]
New models for partnership
The JEMS hybrid team. Sounds a bit ominous. Like the origin story of a Marvel superhero. But what I am exploring in South America is a new model for ministry. It provides opportunities for Brazilian young people (and others) to explore God's purpose and plan for them by giving them a chance to serve in the mission field together with JEMS US teams.
We want to combine JEMS workers with Brazilian national volunteers to work jointly in ministry. I believe that God has invited many young people in Brazil to think about serving him in missions. But the problem is that there are not many opportunities to serve in transcultural projects or programs outside of their own churches.
Many Brazilians, when thinking of missions, think of China or India. But that's often overwhelming to easily attain financially or logistically. I believe that we can groom and cultivate the missionary vision by beginning in their own backyard, their Jerusalems and Judeas. With the contacts that God has given to me in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru, I believe that this hybrid project has great possibilities!
Another reason to explore this ministry opportunity quite frankly comes from the reality that we are seeing fewer young people serving from the USA. As smaller teams go to South America, they can be augmented and encouraged by team members from Brazil working side by side. In so doing, we also provide young Brazilians with a taste of cross-cultural ministry. And who knows if from there, they will consider full time missions service.
South America is about relationships
Why does PJ continue to go to the field? Why do I put myself through the difficulties of meeting medical requirements when it would be easier to just stay at home? Three reasons:
1. It's the calling of God on my heart.
2. I love to serve in South America despite the inconveniences.
3. The culture of South America is built upon relationships and networking.
There is no JEMS ministry in South America without the partnership of leaders and pastors working alongside of us. We are not an organization that rides in on a white horse and saves the countryside. We recognize the importance of working hand in hand with established national groups and churches. Therefore I’m grateful for the men and women who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with me this month. The time spent together was productive and worthwhile.
May I say that there remains tremendous receptivity in South America to partner with JEMS and its volunteers/workers. What is lacking is the interest and motivation on the US side to be involved in the work of outreach and world evangelization. Please pray for our own hearts to be sensitive again to the leading of the Holy Spirit as it relates to seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
