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Through La Biblia in a Year |
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A week ago I (Sasha) decided to read through the Bible in Spanish. This project of course will have many benefits. So far I have noticed that in the first place it has made the Bible fresh and new for me. I am drawn by my newness in the language, back into the text, surprised by how Spanish expresses it, and waiting to see how the story unfolds in this new language (well, new to me). I have also noticed that, not unsurprisingly, my vocabulary and speech have begun to get better at an exponential rate. The daily exercise of reading out loud encourages a better pronunciation through practice, and that nobody is listening to me gives me the courage to unabashedly err and promptly correct myself. |
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Maria's Masters in Missions |
 As a part of my (Maria Silvia's) approval process with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, I have been asked to complete a Masters in Missions from Louisiana Baptist University. At the moment I am studying Cultural Anthropology, from the book "Anthropological Insights for Missionaries" by Paul G. Hiebert, and The Life and Epistles of Paul, using the text "To Bear My Name" by Weldon H. Adams.
It has been quite a challenge, especially with the language as I learn new English words and phrases, and as I exercise my writing skills in English. However, I am enjoying it, especially the class about anthropology because I am learning not only about my own culture but also about how to see the American culture as I am immersed in it here.
My favorite story so far about cross-cultural misunderstanding is the one about the missionary to Africa who experienced a warm reception initially, but as time went on found that the people began to avoid them. He set out to find out why. After some time one of the older villagers told him. He said "When you came, we watched your strange ways. You brought in round tins and on the outside of some were pictures of beans. You opened them and inside were beans, and you ate them. On some were pictures of corn and inside was corn, and you ate it. On the outside of some were pictures of meat, and inside was meat, and you ate it. When you had your baby, you brought tins and on the outside were pictures of babies. You opened them and fed the meat inside to your baby!" (taken from Hiebert 92).
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Greetings!
Hello again everyone! We are so excited to have the opportunity to communicate yet again what God is doing in our lives, and in the journey of deputation. We are astounded at the grace surprises that seem never to end, and never to loose their power in our lives. We love you all and hope you enjoy this update. |
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Two Weddings and a Sermon |
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In late Sept. through late Oct. we returned to Argentina for a month to celebrate the weddings of Manuel and Sirley, and Laura and Ricardo (my wife Maria Silvia's brother and sister and their new spouses). Through a crazy set of circumstances they decided to get married only two weeks apart. God has been so faithful by having made it possible for us to apply for and receive another U.S. visitors visa for Maria Silvia (thank you for praying!), and for giving us another set of "buddy" tickets through a friend of ours who works for American Airlines here in Argentina, which is about a third the cost of regularly priced tickets.
We had a full month of activities, and while we were in Cordoba, found ourselves falling comfortably back into the ministry which is our hearts delight, helping with the youth group, encouraging the leaders, and Sasha led a boys small group lesson! Sasha had the honor of giving the introduction to Laura and Ricardo's wedding (in Spanish of course) and also got the chance to preach in Spanish twice. Once to our church Centro Crecer, and another time to another church in a nearby town, which is pastored by Sirley's father Don Abel Hoffkamp. While they were his first sermons in Spanish in front of entire congregations he spoke with relative security and ease.
As a side note, Manuel and Sirley are currently in Angola doing a three month medical missions trip. Manuel is a Doctor, and Sirley is a physical therapist. She had previously gone to Angola to help Argentine missionaries there for a year. Manuel chose to do his surgical rotation in Angola because of the ministry opportunities there. Please pray for them. They have been in the country two weeks and still don't have their bags yet! God must be getting ready to do something huge.
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Centro Crecer Biblica Bautista: Growth Center Baptist Church |
The Church that we will be working with is called Centro Crecer Biblica Bautista. Sam and Carita Masters have been working in Cordoba since 1992, starting this church about 10 years ago. From the initial five people, that being the Masters Family, they have grown to almost two hundred this year. There are many exiting things happening in our church. The Seminario William Carey, started two short years ago, is training close to thirty students to interpret, understand, teach, and minister the word of God. Some of the students feel called already to start churches in other remoter areas of the country and have begun to use their skills on short term trips into these areas to prepare ground, form relationships with some of the locals, and preach the gospel whenever possible.
Sam is a visionary, and is looking to purchase land and build a facility that would include space for a youth center, as well as for the church, and other facilities. Such a vision requires funding, and therefore Sam has begun his own foundation called the Crecer Foundation. You can check out his vision at the foundations website www.crecerfoundation.org. The site is still under construction, but you will find lots of useful info in the "About" section. If you are interested in knowing more about Sam, our church Centro Crecer, and the vision that God has called us to here in Cordoba, please refer to the links section of this e-mail. |
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The Dusty Trail |
The deputation road continues to extend in front of us, hiding new adventures, relationships, and experiences. We just returned from a missions conference with Solid Rock Baptist Church, in Burton Michigan (a suburb of Flint). The theme was iPartner, and it was a very creative conference. They overwhelmed us with their love and generosity for us and for the gospel in Argentina. On our way to and from the conference we were able to stop by some other churches, some supporting churches, and others just churches we are beginning to form a relationship with.
We are back in Boise Idaho for the Christmas season. We are hitting the books hard, being that both Maria Silvia and I have classes to finish through LBU.
Support Level:
We are happy to report that, having beat the trail pretty hard the last few months, God has helped us raise the rest of our initial personal and ministry support. We are now focusing on raising the support we need to begin the youth center. I hadn't planned on starting the youth center until after the first term, but it seems that God wants us to start it now. Please continue to pray that God would raise the support necessary for the youth center.
Schedule:
We have one last long trip through Nevada, Arizona, and California. We hope to raise an additional $500/month in order to start strong on the youth center. We will be arriving back in Boise in February in order to prepare for our trip. We are exited, and truly cannot hardly wait to get back to Cordoba, but we know that God has more for us here, so we are expectant to see what he will do. We will be leaving for sure at the end of February.
Prayer:
Thank you for praying for us! We cannot express enough how essential your prayers have been in our lives. It seems as if sometimes the Red Sea's of bureaucracy, finances, and travel details part before us with too much ease. God has gone before us and prepared our way, and He has done so, we are assured, as a result of your intercession on our behalf. Please continue to pray for the following:
- $500/month more in support by February
- Safe travel
- Time and discipline for our studies
- Preparation of our hearts, and resolution of the details of moving and settling back into life and ministry in Cordoba.
- Protection and help for Manuel and Sirley in Angola.
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Merry Christmas to all... |
Maria Silvia and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. We appreciate your faithful and consitent giving of yourselves financially, spiritually, and relationally for the glory of God, the hope of the Gospel for Argentina's youth, and for our lives!
We wish you all a merry Christmas!
Feliz Navidad,
Sasha and Maria Silvia Rasmussen .
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