Reflections on 2002

As we returned to the U.S. to visit family, friends and our supporting churches, we had a need to present a thumbnail sketch of our first year on the mission field.  Linda came up with the theme - changing, learning and waiting.  We think that it is a good way to summarize the year.

This has been a year of learning for us.  We are learning the Guarani language - it’s been interesting having to learn a 3rd language!  Most Paraguayans learn Guarani in the home, and only learn Spanish in school – so it is truly their “heart language”.  If we want to reach them, we have to learn Guarani.

In Paraguay, there are other missionaries from the United States we work with, as well as missionaries from Brazil and Korea, all working with Paraguayans.  We’ve been learning how 4 cultures can come together, leaving cultural preferences behind, in order to glorify God together.  However, it is not always easy, as you can imagine.  We all work hard to make sure that we keep our focus on God who called us there in the first place, and not letting our differences get in the way of our work.

Some of the Missionaries we work with:

This has also been a year of many changes.  Not only changing where we live and our language, but changing how we buy food and fuel – we shop in kilos and liters, and for money we use to the Guarani, 7,000 per $US (as of the end 2002).  Since we are south of the equator, it’s the middle of summer in Paraguay, and we left with the temperature above 100°!  We have lived in two different houses since we left Atlanta, stayed in tents and farm houses, and we will likely move again when we get back to Paraguay.  Change seems to be unavoidable when you are a Missionary!

Ed has had to change the way he sees his role as a missionary.  We are so short handed in Paraguay that he was asked to become a lay pastor as well as a water well driller.  He now preaches about twice a month, in Spanish, of course, and hopes to learn to preach in Guarani this year. 

This has also been a year to learn to wait.  We had hoped our drill rig would arrive in Paraguay the same day we did!  However, it didn’t arrive until September, and then it took another month to get the rig out of customs.  We waited and hoped the corrupt officials at the port did not steal any of the equipment.  Ed went and prayed over the crates, and God placed angels on top of our rig and they protected it until it was God’s time for us to get the equipment out of the port.  We have now drilled 3 wells and look forward to many more.

God knew we needed this time of waiting in Paraguay  in order to learn and change.  Although we were “waiting” we were still VERY busy.  This enabled us to participate in the other ministries happening in Paraguay.  We have 27 Methodist churches, but not enough preachers and workers.  There are 8 family units of Missionaries, from different countries, working with the churches; but this is not enough.  We all wear several hats, multi-task, and are constantly busy. We have had the privilege of working with many of the US work teams that visited Paraguay last year, we have worked with the Mobile Medical Clinic and have helped with the construction and administration of the New Horizons Methodist School, which will have 700 students in grades kindergarten through 12th.

New Horizons Methodist School in final stages of construction	Kids from the New Horizons elementary school
Mobile Clinic at Villa Hayes in the Chaco	Joy Varga - nurse and Clinic Pharmacist

 It has been such a blessing to see how God can use us – normal everyday lay persons in the church, how He opens doors, and how He is working in the life of the Methodist Church of Paraguay.  To God be the Glory!