NTM

  We have been in Paraguay most of this month.  We had the privilege of being a part of the seminar called “Narrative” by George Walker who worked and ministered among the Bisorio people of PNG.   He talked about using the biblical narrative to minister for worldview change.  How important it is to understand the culture, language and worldview of the people we minister to around the world in order to teach them the Word of God.  It was such a blessing to be reminded of how God used specific stories to communicate to us, and how biblical stories impact and connect with the story of our lives personally.  Callie sat in on this seminar with everyone else and enjoyed it very much.  Just seeing how teaching the word of God in chronological order by effectively telling the stories that reveal God’s character and his great redemptive plan in history, now, and the future was so inspiring.  We even practiced a little with our story telling abilities to evaluate and improve.   We also had fun doing a skit that portrayed all we had learned.  The fellowship with the other missionaries was great and playing volleyball with everyone good exercise and so much fun!OFF TO THE CHACO:  Thankfully we caught a ride with dear missionary friends, rather than catching a bus, in order to head about 8 hours north into the Chaco where we use to live for many years.  We were welcomed by Ayore friends and missionaries and we were able to spend some time with them and attend church and teaching times in a couple of villages.  What an encouragement to see young believers teaching people in their own mother tongue from the Word of God.  Callie and Chris enjoyed time in the jungle once again and even some horseback riding with their childhood friends.  We stayed in our old house, amongst the Ayore, that has been significantly modified since we left, but there was still a wonderful familiar feeling.  We even got to see and “talk” to Cammy’s old pet Parrot Lapis-lazuli.  Our missionary and tribal friends treated us to wonderful meals, gifts and great fellowship.   Sharing cold refreshing terere (kind of like Iced green tea) in the heat of the day and talking about all that God has been doing in one another’s lives was such a precious time of catching up as well as helping folks to better understand the changes that NTM is undergoing in the rest of Latin America and world wide.

HOW MANY MISSIONARIES DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A BROKEN TRUCK SPRING?

We headed out to one village where the Nivacle people live, all loaded up with supplies and people.  It was a bumpy dusty trip but we arrived safely.  The guys noticed that a leaf spring on the truck had broken and had to wire it up with a couple of pieces of Paraguayan hard-wood to help them limp into a small area where there was a phone.  It took five hours to go 100  kilometers (60 miles)!  They called for help from one of the support missionaries in town (Tim and Nancy Shelburn) to bring the new part.  We appreciated meeting the Nivacle people.  Ken was able to share a little about our family and Bolivia through an interpreter.  The people were very interested in hearing of other places and other goups of indigenous peoples.   We met lots of neat folks but for the most part, we couldn’t really communicate much more than a smile and a handshake.  The missionaries who live there run a small gas generator a couple hours a day and have a well with a pump that fills up a tank for running water into the house.  The Nivacle have horses and a portable tank that they haul their water from the well to each of their houses that are spread out to form the small community.  It’s so very hot and dusty, we will certainly pray for these young missionary couples, Shaun and Mel Humphreys and Jamie and Char Hunt in this new ministry outreach.  They’ll have to be careful with their kids and about taking walks in the mornings and evenings with jaguars roaming the jungle in close proximity to their houses.   The Nivacle kids love to stand in the window and watch what’s going on in the house.  As you can imagine that makes it challenging sometimes for the missionary kids doing their school work.  We enjoyed the fire the kids made to barbecue meat, they did a great job and it was so delicious.  On Sunday afternoon the Shelburns arrived with the part and the real repair work began.  It took plenty of hands and creative ideas without the proper equipment.  Once the “jungle-repair” work had been removed the new part which almost fit perfectly, was adapted and installed.   The ladies served terere while the guys labored and sweat.  The fellowship was great as everyone tried to make the best of a hard situation.  The missionaries who live there will have to make so much sacrifice to see that work accomplished among the Nivacle in this remote location.  They will become fluent in the language while trying to learn and fit into the culture and someday teach the Word of God chronologically.  We had an uneventful trip back to town and enjoyed the fun and fellowship of all 7 of us packed into the vehicle together with our baggage.  We are so thankful for the opportunities God gave us to help in the encouragement, direction and strategy for some of the works here in Paraguay.  We are thankful for the great missionary team that continues to faithfully serve here in Paraguay and see it as a privilege to be considered co-workers together with them in this great work.