Returning to South America with a new Come before Winter curriculum always brings back particularly sweet memories—memories of July, 2001, almost nine years ago, when we hosted our first-ever CbW renewal. Perhaps because this is where it all began, the anticipation of reconnecting with some of our original participants builds continually prior to the event and culminates in thanksgiving and celebration. We have never failed to receive a warm welcome and decided affirmation. This year’s Paraguayan renewal, held March 15-19 near Asuncion, was no exception.About one-third of the women participating in the ministry’s nineteenth renewal had attended the ministry’s first event in 2001. Seven of the original 24 participants from 2001 and four members of that 12-member team showed up. Similarly, 19 of this year’s 28 participants attended the 2005 renewal, while seven of this year’s 12-member team also served in 2005. Representatives from five South American countries (Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador) attended; team members came from three U.S. states (Texas, New Mexico, and Tennessee). Missionary Ambassador Eunice Herchenroeder serves Pioneer Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea.Since no group can better measure our maturation as a ministry, we found particular gratification in hearing this group’s evaluation of our Psalm 103 curriculum. All the groups we serve appreciate the new pace—slower and more fluid than our Mark and Philippian studies. But to date no group has responded with such enthusiasm as the women in South America. The daily showing of the theme video on the hesed of God –His steadfast love—touched this group deeply from the first viewing, and they anticipated it with expectation. Worship was incredible, the singing and prayer erupting from the depths of faithful hearts struggling as we do with life. Yet, a simple comfort existed among us—the joy of community—team with participants, participants among participants, and team member alongside team member—the sharing has never been sweeter. Faces that reflected heavy burdens on Monday began to relax by mid-week; on Friday unburdened hearts carried away a new resolve to better represent God’s grace and forgiveness to a hurting world.
Nine years of experience had prepared us to anticipate the depth of struggles we might find. No renewal to date has faced as many challenges as this one. Technical changes in the ministry’s websight followed by miscommunication caused registration to open two months late. Then Paraguayan visas proved difficult; some, including our original Missionary Ambassador, never acquired these necessary papers. Every step of the way seemed fraught with difficulty including, and maybe especially, the team’s final travel day. With only a two-hour time change, the day we left managed to extend over 40 hours from the time we rose on Friday, March 12, until we reclined our heads on Saturday, March 13, at midnight. The extended trip literally swallowed our normal Saturday preparation time at the hotel, forcing our normal spiritual preparation day of Sunday into a creative mix of rest, worship, and work. A tired, but determined team met challenge after challenge with flexiblity and grace—including intense thunder storms all day Sunday which resulted in the need to transport our many suitcases of registration materials to the conference room in a steady downpour along muddy, slippery paths in a steady downpour marked with lightning and deafening bursts of thunder.
As sometimes happens, the team grew to love the whole hotel staff, a group of young Paraguayans the Texan-born manager lovingly refered to as “her children.” It seemed they took as many pictures of us as we did of each other—and that is saying something. They met our every need before we could even anticipate our desire—often following us at meals to deliever a necessary spoon or fork they noted we had forgotten or to exchange our water—whether sparkling or still—having memorized our preference and noting our own mistake. The staff and facility at Casa del Monte near Atyra, outside Asuncion, was exceptional for our needs, and we all relished the distant beauty of this hillside resort.
All in all, the experience reminded me that we have become (by God’s grace) a mature ministry—flexible, able, and faithful, having established rich relationships during nearly a decade of service. Our love for South America and those who serve there continues to multiply. We left that southern continent once again, praising God for the amazing women who walk there, supporting, teaching, and loving not only those they serve but the land to which they have been called. We can never thank God enough for His steadfast love in bringing us to this point and for giving us these remarkable opportunities to stand with Him on the holy ground of His presence.
May the One who is forever faithful bless those we love there and in every place of His dominion. Amen and amen.
