Why Argentina?
This blog will continue to answer questions (started on this blog from last week):
1. Why Argentina? Have you ever been there?
Why not? Just kidding. And actually, I haven’t been there.
The description of the role is what jumped out at me first: tell the story of what God is doing in Argentina.
And then the description of the work being done in the country itself.
Personally, I love South America. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve felt incredible peace. Practically, I do well in South American/Latin culture. It is so fun, warm, and welcoming!. I can eat the food (which is important!) and I have a good start on learning the language.
Buenos Aires, the capital, where I will be living, is known as the “Paris of South America”, because of the European influence on architecture and culture. The city itself also has more bookstores than any other city on earth (WOW!) and has over 250 “green spaces” (or parks). It’s about the same distance from the Equator as Georgia, so the climate is similar (it’s a bit warmer in the winter and a bit cooler in the summer, but barely)… and there are even fireflies there (Google knows everything)! Because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s winter there right now.
Here is a portion of the description of the work done by OM in Argentina:
OM first went to Argentina in 1999, which helped expose the OM ministry and world missions to the local churches and Christian community. This exposure built new relationships and strengthened existing relationships with churches. Though Argentina has been seen primarily as a nation to receive missionaries, many churches within the country have begun to catch the vision of missions and understand the needs of the Church around the world. OM sees the potential to send many missionaries from Argentina and the desire is to help train, recruit and send missionaries into the least evangelized countries in the world. The goal is also to serve the church within Argentina and help mobilize people for world missions.
Most missionaries sent by OM from Argentina live in the rural parts of the country, and OM has realized that there is very little vision and concern for missions in the larger cities. OM Argentina has teams in both Buenos Aires and Cordoba, the two largest cities in the country, and works to build relationships with churches and cast the vision in both places. OM Argentina also holds regular seminars and evangelistic outreaches throughout the country.
As far as international missions goes, Argentina is a sending nation! A huge focus of OM ministry there is raising up and sending missionaries to the ends of the earth!
In fact, that’s something my team leader said I will be speaking on at missions conferences there: using your gifts, skills, and education in missions, like this article talks about.
2. Do you speak Spanish?
Some. I can get around. My joke is I speak it well enough to get into trouble, but not well enough to get out of it.
Until I move, I will be studying Rosetta Stone, as well as listening to Spanish worship, watching tv shows/movies in Spanish, and even trying to read Spanish children’s books. Once I get there, I’ll have a tutor for 3 months. But really, the best way to learn a language is through immersion, which will happen once I move.
3. Will you have a car?
No, I’ll use public transportation or walk!
4. What will you do there?
I’ll be writing stories of the ministry, speaking at missions conferences/outreaches, and also finding personal ministry down there. I’d love to get involved on a college campus (CRU is big down there) or an anti-trafficking ministry in the Red Light District… but ultimately, I just want to be involved wherever God wants me. Long term missions has a very different pace than a short term missions team. It’s a marathon; not a sprint.
5. Where will you live? Will you have a roommate?
I’ll live in an apartment about a 10 minute walk from the church and a 15 minute walk from my team leader’s home. I will have a roommate, but that person is unknown right now. Will you pray that God leads the right person to Argentina, so that our home can be a place of joy, rest, and safety?
I’m claiming this verse once again for my future home:
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:18
6. Do you have trainings you need to attend?
Yes, I have one for a week in October in Georgia and another for 10 days in Germany in January!
7. When is your last day at Adventures?
I am leading one last trip, a youth group trip, to Haiti, July 21-29. Please be praying for that trip! It’ll be 25 people (2 youth groups). Please pray that God will work mightily in and through the students on the trip, and He will give me clarity and strength in leading, and that He will be glorified!
Then, I’ll come back for 2 final weeks of work, and my last day will be August 15.
8. When is the last day to give to Adventures for support?
Please give your final gift by August 10, in order to make sure it processes by the 15th.
If you send an automatic donation and wish to give towards my support at OM, you will need to log into your account at Adventures and cancel the donation.
Online donations can be given at www.omusa.org/give. If you type in my name, it pops up.
If you would like to give by check, you can send it to:
Operation Mobilization
P.O. Box 444
Tyrone, GA 30290
*Please put my name in the memo! OM asks that anyone giving by check include a note stating whether it is for a monthly gift or a special gift. This is so they know how to calculate it towards the monthly support commitments. Online gifts will automatically ask that question.
I will need to raise approximately $2300/month + $5600 start up expenses, and will need to have enough funds raised + proof of monthly commitments to cover the cost of 2 years (and start up costs) by December 4, 2017.
Will you pray about supporting me, not only in prayer but financially as well? I literally cannot go without the support of the church behind me. Thank you!
I’ll “see” y’all on here after Haiti!
