Venezuela day 3

Today has been full of new experiences and getting accustomed to my new environment.  The Venezuelan and Americans are beginning to mingle more and more. We are slowly teaching each other our languages and communicating more and more.  I am beginning to understand more of what is said but I am still struggling to speak Spanish.  Hospitality and gestures of welcome and love transcend language.  I wok up this morning with an orange beside my pillow and freshly made hot tea from my new Venezuelan friends.  As we begin to share there are a few people who are great translators and invaluable to our attempts to get to know each other.

We have had some interesting discussions about culture today. It was clear to me that as Americans, even though well intended often try to push our cultural agendas on other cultures where it may or may not be applicable.  We tend to think if something bothers us it is our duty to educate and make an issue in a culture where it is not an issue.  There are simply language and culture barriers that no matter how much you argue I passionately about an issue it is probably not going to change the whole Latino culture.

I did learn a lot today.  I sort of knew that Methodism is new to Venezuela but since I have been a part of the Methodist family most of my life, I forget that people need education on the basic structure and functions of the global church.  Reminding us that the structures of the church are not intended to be limiting and prohibitive but supportive and helpful.  Stories were shared today reminding people that even successful churches early on often falter when even seemingly small challenges and hardship occurs.  This is also a reason for the global church as well as the denominational family to work together towards the common goal of sharing the love of Christ with others.  Division within and among the churches will lead to chaos and will cause us to lose our focus on Christ.  

I was really glad to also hear today the stress of the presenters on the idea that evangelization is a process.  The people here are excited and on fire for Christ and the excitement is contagious but it is important to remind us that evangelizing is not a one and done event.  You don't meet someone on the street, introduce them to Christ, then walk away.  It is a process of introducing people to Christ and integrating them into the family of God through the church through teaching, support and community.

Tomorrow is a day of fasting and faith sharing in the community.  I am excited and nervous.  I am excited about seeing the community outside the walls of the seminary but at the same time I am anxious about the logistics and stepping out of my comfort zone to share my faith with people I don't know and don't fully understand the culture and language.  Lots of prayer will go into this and I am sure it will be a growing moment for me and for many others here.