Next Steps in Partnership for WMF Argentina

Our Buenos Aires community just posted a letter sharing some next steps in partnership with our Argentine friends who serve alongside us here. To read more, click here:
http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/argentina/2010/03/nextstepsinpartnership/

semana santa ~ passion week

I recently came across this depiction of the crucifixion on the wooden door of Santa Sabina in Rome, Italy. This is one of the earliest surviving depictions of the crucifixion of Christ that dates back to 430-432 AD. I found the icon on the Twitter account Passion Week, which posts real time daily reminders of Jesus’ experiences throughout the week of Palm Sunday to Easter. I believe you can check it out with or without a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/passionweek).

This morning I listened to an audio conversation on the “1st Four Days of Holy Week” on Creighton University’s Praying Lent site. You can check out the entire conversation here: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/Audio-Conversations/Lent-Conversations.html

But the following was, especially, helpful in posturing my heart and mind for this week : “Will you follow me? Will you lay down your life for me? That’s a question we can ask ourselves – how much are we really willing to lay down in our life? And, yet, really, this week is not about me to become self-absorbed. This is a week for me to be with Jesus. The focus of our prayer this week is not me. The focus of my prayer is Jesus and following Him in His story. And compassion for Him. He is doing this for me and the deep gratitude to realize the story and its retelling.”

I also appreciated Christine Sine’s reflections on Palm Sunday and following Jesus this Passion Week: http://godspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/are-you-ready-for-easter/

Finally, here is the Collect from The Book of Common Prayer for Palm Sunday:

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(http://www.liturgy.co.nz/virtualchurch/episcopalian.html)

root canal in buenos aires

Well, I could no longer deny the tooth pain every time I chewed on one side of my mouth or drank something hot. I made an appointment with an English-speaking dentist here and went in today for my first appointment. Two hours of F.U.N. in a dentist chair. Ha! While it was something I was avoiding, I am thankful I found a good dentist who could talk me through the root canal process in English. The other bright side…the prices are probably three times cheaper then in the U.S.! Thanks to those who have been praying.

I will go back on Monday for the follow-up. It is also good timing before I head out of town for a few days on Tuesday night. Both Thursday and Friday of Semana Santa (Holy Week) are holidays here, so a good opportunity to head out of town for a four-day weekend. I will visit Cordoba which is about 10 hours away by bus. It is a foothill region in the center of Argentina. Looking forward to exploring a little and also visiting some Jesuit churches and buildings that date back to the 17th-century.

Here’s the Wiki link to Cordoba:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Córdoba,_Argentina

I’ll post more on my trip soon! Right now, I am going to pop some ibuprofen. The numbness is wearing off!

Hace dos años…

…que vivo en Buenos Aires! Last weekend was my two-year anniversary of living in Argentina. I went away for a personal retreat to reflect a bit and give thanks to God has all He has done. I also have begun the process to discern renewing my commitment beyond my first three-year contract.

Last year, Silas in our WMF Community Care Department shared some helpful information with me about the ups and downs of cultural adjustment and language acquisition. While it is not always exactly the same for everyone, there are some pretty common high points and low points for missionaries moving to a new country and culture during the first two years. Many of my experiences could definitely relate to those highs and lows. Especially, the second year “crash” I experienced about 6-months ago. I just felt extra discouraged and frustrated with my Spanish and some of my ministry relationships. I was feeling extra impatient with myself and my perceived lack of progress. I am grateful for our Buenos Aires community who accompanied me and encouraged me during all the discouraging times these past two years.

The encouraging news is that new missionaries tend to have less of these low points during their third year. This is not to say that I have arrived, by any means! I have a lot to learn and grow into, for sure! I will continue to feel like a fish out of water for some time. But, as I begin year three I am hopeful and encouraged with all that is ahead.

Probably just coincidence, but this last week was one of my more encouraging weeks with Spanish. Both my Spanish tutors commented on how my Spanish has improved. And I had to introduce myself and my roles in our WMF community at a meeting with potential board members for our new Argentine organization/association. One of my tutors commented that something “clicked” these recent weeks. YAY! Thank you, Lord! And thank you to all who have been praying and encouraging me along the way. Again, I have a long way to go and anticipate more highs and lows this third year in Buenos Aires, but it helps to remember God’s faithfulness so far!

Friendship at the Margins

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a new book by Chris Heuertz and Christine Pohl, titled Friendship at the Margins: Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission.

This book is part of a series of books published in partnership between Duke’s Center for Reconciliation and InterVaristy Press. The “Resources for Reconciliation series applies rigorous theological thought and methods of practical action to discover real solutions for reconciliation in areas of deep division on local and global levels.” This latest book is the fourth book in the series. They all look really great! Learn more about Friendship at the Margins and the other titles here:

http://www.divinity.duke.edu/reconciliation/pages/programs/smallbook.html

prayers for social justice

Two prayers for social justice from the Book of Common Prayer.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

mission & partnership

My upcoming April prayer letter will include letter from our WMF Argentina community sharing some next steps of partnership with our Argentine friends and leaders who serve alongside us. We are moving forward in establishing a legally recognized Argentine organizational structure, which will include a board of eight Argentine leaders. Please pray with us as we take these steps forward in partnership.

The following quote Oscar Muriu, pastor of Nairobi Chapel in Kenya, summarizes well the posture we strive to live out here in Buenos Aires.

“But as you come, come as a new-paradigm missionary. Come as a people who seek to develop bridges of healthy interdependence. Come as a people who build reciprocity into the task of missions. Come as a people who approach the cultures of the world with respect and with humility. Come as a people who are learners and not cowboys. For this century must be the century of genuine partnerships and nothing else.”

~ Oscar Muriu, “The Global Church”

(Urbana Missions Conference 2006)

To listen to the audio of the entire message that Oscar Muriu gave at the Urbana Missions Conference in 2006, click here and look for his message titled, “The Global Church.” It is worth a listen!

http://www.urbana.org/archives/2006/session-info?session=3

March Prayer Requests from WMF Argentina

Our community just posted some March prayer requests on the WMF Argentina blog. To partner with us in prayer, click here....

http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/argentina/2010/03/march-prayer-requests-from-buenos-aires/