Camp Nozomi En - Ministry in Argentina

Among the priorities that JEMS established for our ten days in Argentina was the opportunity to minister directly with the community through the partnership of a local church.  The Iglesia Evangélica Japonés provided the context for a four-day camping ministry with youth and children.  Camp Nozomi-En was held in the town of Moreno, about one hour from the city of Buenos Aires.  

Looks like a tough crowd

Lígia bringing devotional message

Breakfast time

Youth helpers preparing the games for children

Erika teaching crafts (origami)

Pr Rick sharing through our interpreter, Gabo

Game time with neighborhood children

Worship time

Pr Rick receiving a blessing as he returns to the US.

A prayer of blessing for our workers, Lígia and Erika.

Closing day and camp photo

This camp served as a beginning of hopefully many more ministry partnerships between JEMS and the Nikkei churches in Buenos Aires.  We are also in contact with Pastor Luis of Megumi Kyokai, and he seems to have an interest in learning more about how JEMS can work with the Issei (Japanese language) population.  

We are blessed because of the open doors that continue to call us back to Buenos Aires.  I pray that a North American JEMS team will soon be able to go and serve there.  JEMS is also working with local Brazilian Nikkei young people to field a team to serve at camp next January.  Please pray as these plans take shape.

Thank you!

Posts you may have missed:

NEW!! Missions: Not called to go? Then are you called to stay?
Traveling to the extremities of Brazil
The highs of travel in São Paulo state!

Loss of a dear ministry partner: Pr Amakawa

JEMS is deeply saddened to hear the news from São Paulo about the passing of our very good friend and ministry partner, Pastor Amakawa. 
Com grande tristeza, JEMS recebeu notícias do falecimento do nosso amigo e parceiro em ministério, Pastor Amakawa.

I considered him a great supporter of JEMS as he cared for our teams by providing encouragement to our summer volunteers.
Ele deu muito apoio para JEMS, cuidando de nossas equipes, providenciando encorajamento para nossos voluntários.

Much of what I learned over the years about ministry in Brazil, I learned from him. We spent many days traveling together and many hours talking together over a dining table. 
Eu aprendi muito durante os anos, conversando sobre o ministério brasileiro. Nós passámos muitos dias viajando junto e muitas horas falando juntos durante várias refeições. 

He was the one in 1992 who first suggested that I visit the city of Pedro Juan Caballero in Paraguay. And he took me to visit the home Bible studies in the province of Misiones in Argentina in 1993. He would open many doors for me by creating ministry partnerships. 
Ele foi o primeiro que sugeriu que eu faço uma visita para a cidade de Pedro Juan Caballero em Paraguay.  Foi em 1992.  Em 1993, ele e Rosa também me levaram para conhecer os estudos bíblicos em casas (katei shukai) na província de Misiones em Argentina. 

My deepest condolences to his wife and to the many who were blessed to have known and served with him. 
Minhas profundas condolências para tia Rosa, sua família e todos que conheceram e serviram junto com este grande homem de Deus. Que Deus vos console, sustente e vos guarde em Suas mãos durante estes dias.

Pastor Kiyohiko was one of the first pastors to receive a JEMS worker. In the photo below, taken in 1989, the pastor and his wife, Rosa, received JEMS Missions Director, Rev Roy Y and JEMS volunteer, Dan H.
Pastor Kiyohiko foi um dos primeiros pastores que recebeu um obreiro da JEMS. Neste foto de 1989, ele e tia Rosa receberam o diretor da Missões da JEMS, Rev Roy Y e o voluntário da JEMS, Dan H.

After my return to ministry with JEMS in January 2008, he was one of the first to welcome me back to service in South America. Here he is pictured at the Free Methodist Church in São José dos Campos with leaders of the church. And also together with his wife, Rosa.
Depois de minha volta para ministério com JEMS em janeiro de 2008, ele foi um dos primeiros líderes para estender boas vindas. Abaixo ele está com os líderes da Igreja Metodista Livre de São José dos Campos. E também junto com sua esposa, Rosa.

Through the years, Pastor Kiyohiko has shown his care for me and for the ministry in the most practical ways, including providing transportation to and from the airport for our workers (and a homestay for me).
Durante os anos, Pastor Kiyohiko tem mostrado seu cuidado por mim e pelo ministério da JEMS numa maneira tão prática, inclusive providenciando carona ao/do aeroporto de Guarulhos por nossos voluntários (e uma casa para mim).

As a matter of fact, my first driving experiences happened when Pastor Amakawa encouraged me to take the wheel. I think that I must have driven half of the miles from São Paulo to Argentina and back!
Uma das primeiras experiências de dirigir no Brasil aconteceu por causa de encorajamento do Pr Amakawa. Eu acho que dirigi uma metade do caminho entre São Paulo e Argentina e também na volta!

Most recently, he assumed the presidency of the São Paulo Nikkei Pastors' Federation (Renmei). He shared his vision to seek revival among Nikkei pastors and churches.
Mais recentemente, ele foi eleito para servir como o presidente da Federação Evangélica Nikkei (Renmei). O objetivo dele era de buscar avivamento entre os pastores e igrejas nikkei.

The church has lost a great servant leader in Pastor Amakawa. Our prayers are with the family and the churches in which he served.
A igreja tem perdido um grande servo de Deus e lider em Pastor Amakawa. Nossas orações estão com tia Rosa, a família e as igrejas onde o pastor serviu.

Posts you may have missed:

NEW!! Missions: Not called to go? Then are you called to stay?
Traveling to the extremities of Brazil
The highs of travel in São Paulo state!

A look at worship in Buenos Aires

It was a special privilege to serve in the three Nikkei churches in Buenos Aires.  On this particular Sunday (January 20), JEMS worker Erika and I were invited to share at the Iglesia Evangélica Japonés.  We were hosted by Pastor Ruben and his family.  

The worship team led a very anointed time of worship.  Here's a bit of it:



This was followed by testimony and preaching by Erika and me, respectively. 

     

Pastor Ruben

My interpreter, Karina

It was also a blessing to meet members of the church.  They were very welcoming and I hope will provide a foundation for joint ministry with JEMS in the future.

Posts you may have missed:

NEW!! Missions: Not called to go? Then are you called to stay?
Traveling to the extremities of Brazil
The highs of travel in São Paulo state!

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Missions: Not called to go? Then are you called to stay?

We sometimes use words and phrases that give off the feel of spirituality.

"I'm not called to go."

But really, we need to think of the flip side of that statement: Are we called to stay?

We sometimes equate the lack of a specific calling as evidence that missions service is outside of God's plan for us. But have we become confused by the idea of some pre-packaged blueprint that we imagine God has outlined for us without the larger understanding of God's overriding purpose for our lives? Someone wiser than me once said, "God doesn't have a plan for your life, he has a purpose for it."

When we begin to think of God's purpose for our lives, we understand that his purpose is to draw us ever nearer to himself and to enable others to do the same.

There was a time certainly when missions was a calling. It meant the dedication of one's life and career to serving God in some far flung country and saying good-bye to family and friends. A short term missions trip of three to four weeks is not the same thing, and we should really rethink short term missions, not in terms of whether it is God's plan for us, but whether it might be included in God's purpose for us.

On the mission field, even in small doses, one learns much about one's own character and perhaps as important, about the character of God.

If God's purpose is to create men and women of character, integrity, compassion and unselfishness, what better place to learn than in a ministry context where we are stretched to discover that we are far from where we could be in our walk with God.

How humbling to work with children who are excited to receive pencils as gifts when we grumble about not having the latest smartphone. What a test of our servant's heart when we are handed a mop and bucket with twenty bathroom stalls to be cleaned. How blessed are we with whole and healthy bodies when kneeling next to a child whose legs were vaporized by an undetected mine or a mother who is slowly dying of AIDS.

When we stay relatively isolated in our day-to-day cocoons, it's possible that we can miss the aching heart of God who yearns to see many others come to himself. 

• He wants us to learn something about his character. 
• To learn that he is present in the remotest of locations and humblest of circumstances. 
• That he has the power and authority to bring forgiveness and cleansing to lives and hearts scarred by abuse and sin. 
• That his grace can restore broken people. 

How did YOU spend your summer vacation? 

"I hung out at the beach, went to lots of parties, did some shopping." 

Is this the purpose-filled, abundant life that we've all read about? I don't think so.

Remember: We are God's plan. There is no plan B.

Support Pr John's ministry with JEMS.  Link

Posts you may have missed:

NEW!! Missions: Not called to go? Then are you called to stay?
Traveling to the extremities of Brazil
The highs of travel in São Paulo state!

Traveling to the extremities of Brazil

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Greetings from a weary traveler!

The last leg of my ministry of contact and preparation has been perhaps the most schedule-intensive as I traveled to three state capitals in just over a week.  My trip took me to the relative cool of the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba, to the warmth of Brazil's central west in Campo Grande and finally to the humid and hot north Amazon basin in Belém do Pará.  It is a journey of almost 4500 miles for which I am thankful for the advent of air travel.

Curitiba

It was my first visit to Curitiba since 2008 when I traveled with Rev Sam and Matt L.  At that time, we were unable to have any substantive contact with the church family as they were on retreat. However, this visit was much more valuable as I was able to meet with pastors and some leaders to discuss the possibility of JEMS' ministry in July or in the coming years.  

(All photos should be expandable by clicking on the photo)

As in much of Brazil ministry, key moments of discussion and conversation are often held around a meal.  Many Facebook friends have asked why Pastor John is always pictured while eating.  This is part of the ministry and relational reality of South America.  Bonds of friendship and fellowship are formed around a supper table or with the passing of the chimarrão (bowl of gaucho tea).

Curitiba also provided insights into the ongoing challenges of ministry to the Japanese speaking community as I met with Pastor and Mrs Shingai of the Holiness Church (below).

Being in Curitiba on a Sunday afforded me the opportunity to preach twice. The morning service was conducted in Curitiba itself, while the afternoon service was held at a preaching point some 90 minutes away in the city of Paranaguá.  

I am blessed and grateful for the warm reception of Pastor Orlando and Pastora Silvia (pictured below) during my stay in Curitiba.

Campo Grande

From the southern city of Curitiba, I traveled to the central west city of Campo Grande.  I was a bit troubled by published reports that dengue fever had significantly impacted that city with over 18,000 confirmed cases in the first five weeks of 2013.  I was assured by my homestay family that appropriate care could be taken to minimize the risk.  Needless to say, I was careful to apply repellent daily.  Teams which go to Campo Grande in July face minimal risk as it is both winter and dry season during that month.

As in Curitiba, it was my purpose in Campo Grande to share about ministry partnerships with JEMS.  Meetings with Pastor Vagner and others were very helpful to get a sense of the church's interest and receptivity.

Pastor Vagner and family (center left), Coushi and Toshie, host family

Campo Grande Youth at Itiki home and pastel supper

It was also a joy for me to see Pastor and Mrs Yamamoto (below), who hosted JEMS teams as early as 1994 in the city of Cuiabá.  A number of our JEMS alumni were blessed by their ministry and care.

Belém do Pará (pronounced, "bay-layng"

Despite seriously messing up my itinerary by missing a connecting flight, I was able to arrive  at my next city, in Belém do Pará, the old stomping grounds of the Yamadas and Iwanagas.  

In all honesty, this city has not been on my agenda because I remembered the very challenging climate of the Amazon region.  But I am so happy to have overcome my reticence and included the Igreja Cristã Evangélica do Amazônas on my schedule.  What a blessing to see Pastor Josué, Suzana and the ICEA church family again!  

In addition to meetings with the pastor, I was able to share with the men at a Friday night "old guys" futsal (indoor soccer) game, to visit another mission organization, to visit the Palavra da Vida (Word of Life) seminary and campground, take a brief tour of the city and to preach on Sunday morning.  

With missionaries, Lynne and Bete

Staff of mission team working in Benevides

Some faculty and staff of Palavra da Vida Norte

President of Palavra da Vida Norte, Gary P

The famed Ver-o-Peso Market in Belém

Panoramic view of the Amazon River 

Youth at futsal

Special family in Belém

Youth in Belém

Thank you so much for your prayers. I am confident that God is working to open doors of partnership so that the message of Jesus can be shared in these cities and communities.  Please pray that these three specific churches will be able to respond in a timely way so as to receive JEMS teams in July of this year. 

Won't you consider an investment in ministry this year?  Please pray for God's direction as to service in South America this summer.  

Posts you may have missed:

• The Highs of Travel in São Paulo State -  Link
• In Country - End of January 2013 Prayer Update - Link
• Pastor John´s January and February ministry schedule. Please pray!! - Link
• Happy New Year photo from Pastor John and his kids!! - Link