JEMS Summer ministry 2014

This summer holds some special blessings for the JEMS South America ministry.  While we danced around the dates of the World Cup to avoid many of the expected problems of over-crowding, security and just the plain distraction of one of the largest international events to hit the continent, we will be there later this summer.  Once the WC festivities are over, JEMS and Pastor John will be in South America to serve the Nikkei community in four countries, including Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

With my itinerary coming together, here are some highlights:

August in Asunción, Paraguay - 
While Asunción is the nation's capital, I can't say that I have been very successful in cultivating relationships with the Nikkei community there.  I am hoping that my month-long study of the Spanish language will afford the opportunity to establish contacts there.  

August - Summer teams serving South America  (all photos can be clicked to enlarge)

Team 1 (above) from August 3 to 21 in the cities of Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay and Sorocaba, Brazil.

Team 2 (solo worker, above): August at the Itaquera Holiness Church and September at the Sorocaba Free Methodist Church

August will also include Pastor John making a quick weekend visit to the JEMS team serving in the city of Pedro Juan Caballero.  This is part of my field supervisory function and involves a six-hour overnight bus ride from Asunción, one way.  

Four days in Buenos Aires, end of August 
Given the absence of one of the key Nikkei pastors during my travel to Buenos Aires, my shortened visit will be primarily to touch base with contacts from Centro Nikkei Argentina, one of the principal community organizations in the country.  They have been very good to collaborate with us and we were able to benefit from our participation in the COPANI conference last September. 

September in Brazil
Time will be spent strengthening existing partnership as well as establishing new ministry relationships.  With a country larger than the continental US, it's not an easy task to move from place to place.  

My program will include participation in the regional General Conference of the Brazil Holiness Church in Panorama, a campground ten hours by bus from the city of São Paulo.  In the days around that conference, I will visit churches scattered through the interior of São Paulo state, which contains the highest population of Nikkei in Brazil.  Cities and churches have yet to be confirmed although I have a commitment to visit the Free Methodist Church in Marília.  

Another city I am scheduled to visit is the port city of Belém in the Amazon region (with a significant concentration of Nikkei).  I will spend a week with the ICEA (Igreja Cristã Evangélica da Amazônia).   

October in Lima, Peru with Pastor Rick
As a rule (or practical principal) of missions advancement and partnership, the role of the executive director is important in seeing the potential for ministry in the field.  As we begin our foray into Lima, it is hoped that Pastor Rick will assist in providing JEMS South America Department with some insights and wisdom as to next steps for partnership building.  Please pray for opportunities to meet with community friends and key ministry leaders during our weeklong stay there.   

Home again
I'm scheduled to arrive home (together with Pastor Rick) on October 13th.