Greetings from Asuncion, Paraguay

Paraguay is sometimes called "the heart of South America" because of its geographical position in the center of the continent.  I love being here with missions pastor, Koki Nowada and his wife, Mari. 

(Pictured: Asuncion Thursday night dinner and discipleship group. Tonight!)



Pastor Koki and Mari sensei are faithfully serving the Nikkei community here despite many challenges.  It is an opportunity for me to hear how God is working in their church, and how JEMS can support and partner in their ministry. 


The past week has gone by quickly.  We departed LAX surrounded by friends and family and arrived just last Thursday. 

The ministry started right off at Camp Shalom, joining the Okada family and Greg Oda in the youth program.  Camp Shalom is an extremely rustic version of Mount Hermon.  But how great to be able to be in Brazil with one of my long-time friends, Mark Okada.

After an overnight stay at Shalom, we traveled to the city of Sao Paulo and began preparations for the JEMS basketball ministry.  We estimate that in the two days of competition, almost 300 either came to watch the games or participated directly.  Many new contacts were made on behalf of the local churches here.  And the team was blessed with new friendships.  They continue their ministry this week in Londrina and next week in Pompeia, Brazil.




On a personal level, it was wonderful to connect again with long-time friends.  Many of them now married and with children.  Several I spoke to are now involved in church planting ministries and other ways that enlarge the kingdom of God.




Sunday morning began early for team member, Daichi Tsuruta and me as we were paired to serve at the Liberdade Holiness Church in Sao Paulo.  Daichi was able to lead the congregation in worship. 

Following Daichi, I preached the morning message in Portuguese!  Thank you for all your prayers. I think that it was well received.

(Above):  PJ pictured with Pr Key Yuasa of the Liberdade Holiness Church.  Below, PJ preaching with interpreter (to Japanese).


A very special blessing came after the worship service as Pr Key Yuasa invited the leadership of the church to join together in the laying on of hands and prayer for me.

Also following the service, Daichi graciously responded to a last minute invitation to share with the college and professional Sunday School class of over 70.

Tuesday evening, I met with Margaretha Adiwardana (pictured below, right), the president of AME (Associacao Missionaria Esperanca - Hope Missionary Association) to discuss possible future ministry partnerships with JEMS.  Much appreciation to long-time friend, Ullisses Shimizu for setting up this meeting.

In reviewing this post, I noticed that I wrote "long-time friend" many times.  It is a measure of how ministry is cultivated in South America, through the relationships that have been formed over the years.  Thanks to God for these relationships and lasting contacts that form a basis for ongoing ministry.


Blessings to you,
Pr John

Close to launch

Leaving for Brazil on Wednesday, July 21st with the JEMS Evangelistic Basketball team!  Woo hoo!  Please pray for our safe travel!  And for language rebirth.  Why?

I received an email from Brazil this past Sunday.  It came from the Liberdade Holiness Church where I will be speaking on July 25th:

"PJ,
Quick question: during the Sunday service, will you speak in Portuguese during the sermon?  We need to know so we can arrange an interpreter. For us will be easier if you speak in Portuguese, since we have to have an interpreter translate to Japanese."

Oh my!  Preaching in Portuguese on my first Sunday in Brazil, just a few days after arriving.  You can pray with me that God will turn that part of my brain back on!  Really!  An almost ten-year layoff from ministry in Brazil creates some uncertainty and anxiety in my heart.  At the same time, I know that God is faithful.  Please pray for the ministries that I will be involved in this summer.  

In addition to accompanying the JEMS basketball team after their arrival in São Paulo, I hope to visit Greg Oda and the Okada family who will be ministering at the Holiness Youth Camp at Shalom Camp about an hour from the city of São Paulo.  

The basketball team and I will go our separate ways during the second week of ministry.  The team will go to Londrina, a city of almost five-thousand Nikkei families eight hours south of São Paulo.  

I will be meeting with Pastor Koki and Mari Nowada, a missionary couple serving at the Asunción Free Methodist Church in Paraguay.  JEMS hopes to continue this partnership in Asunción.  Paraguay is known as "The heart of South America" due to its central geographical location on the continent.

 


The third week of ministry should find me back in Brazil and on my way to Marilia to visit JEMS six-month worker, Justine Morey. (click here for Justine's prayer blog)

After spending time with Justine as well as the pastor and leadership of the Marilia Free Methodist Church, I will move on to the city of Pompeia, to meet up again with the basketball team.  

Pompeia is about one-half hour from Marilia and six hours from São Paulo.  Our host church there is one of the largest churches in the Brazilian Holiness denomination with an average Sunday worship attendance of 700 (mostly non-Nikkei). 

Our ministries will wind up with debriefing in São Paulo on our last day (August 9) and our departure from Brazil and return to LAX on August 10th.


Please pray for the many miles and varieties of ministries this trip will call for.  Flexibility and a strong sense of dependence on God will be an important ingredient to pack in our luggage and hearts as we will define ministry tasks sometimes in the spur of the moment.  

Remember Marc and Tami Takamine, Matthew Asami, Leighton and Lilly Okada who are serving in South America for the very first time.  The other team members and teams have all had prior experience in Brazil either through JEMS or through Holiness Youth Choir trips.  


Experience notwithstanding, we appreciate every prayer that you can lift up for us even now.  Last minute preparations include message, testimony and lesson preparations, material and craft purchases, prayer letters (like this one), omiage selections, making sure our packing is under weight limitations.  It's a combination of the ministry and the mundane, but all of it is so important.


Thank you again so much for your prayer AND financial partnership.  Without your financial support of our JEMS teams and my own ministry, this would not possible.


God bless you!

July Calendar (Click on calendar image to enlarge)




August Calendar (click on calendar image to enlarge)

JEMS Basketball Team flyers from Brazil

Publicity for the city of São Paulo (click on image to enlarge)

Publicity for the city of Londrina (click on image to enlarge)