End
of the year.
As in North America, Uruguay’s school schedule begins in the fall and ends in
the spring. The timing of
the seasons differs, though, which means that the academic year—approximately March
through November—falls entirely within the calendar year. Next month, by God’s
grace, we expect to finish the first year of classes in the FEBU Bible-college
project. It has been a year of much learning—both for students and for teachers.
God has given us a great group of students (17 this second semester, 8 of whom
are taking a full load). They have been eager, motivated, and tolerant of
mistakes and consequent adjustments in the program and schedule. We’re also
thankful for the teachers who have cheerfully given of time and resources,
sometimes traveling several hours from the interior of the country each week to
spend an evening teaching.
Teachers. While teachers are
indeed one of our greatest assets, they are also one of our biggest needs. The solution has several potential facets: First (though not necessarily first in
importance), we would welcome the arrival of the right qualified teachers who
would be willing to make themselves servants to the Uruguayan churches for the
sake of Christ. Second, we want to
encourage and provide resources for the teachers that the Lord has already
given us (not only those teaching in FEBU but also those who continue to teach
in the EMU Bible institute). Finding textbooks and materials is an ongoing
challenge. Many good tools are available, but sometimes the logistics of
putting them in people’s hands is complicated. Third, we recognize great potential in many of the current college
and Bible-institute students and in others that have not yet received any
formal training. Please pray that their hearts would remain warm toward God and
His Word and that they would take full advantage of the opportunities being
given to them. They are the next generation of teachers.
Pastors
and Evangelists.
The same three facets apply to the need for pastors and evangelists. There is
room for more “pioneer-level” work in Uruguay: many towns and rural areas lack a clear gospel witness. If on
Sundays you pass several other Bible churches on the way to yours, maybe you
should look at a map of Uruguay (or France, or Cambodia, or Morrocco). The
Garwoods (who returned to Uruguay on October 17, after 9 months of medical
furlough) regularly ask for help in the church plant in Pando, with which we are involved on the weekends. In recent months
we’ve enjoyed fellowship with a missionary family newly moved from the U.S. to San Jacinto, another town in need of a
Bible-preaching church. However, we understand that the focus of the work for
which we’ve been sent has to do with those other two facets: in short, equipping national pastors and training new
ones. Who is sufficient for this? When we stop to think about it, it seems
foolish that we should be in such a position. It is an undeserved privilege. We
love this. But we do need wisdom and prayer.
July
through September.
At the end of July we traveled to Paysandú for the first week of the FEBU
pastors’ program: classes designed to supplement the previous experience and
training already received by Uruguayan pastors and leaders. Thank you for your
prayers for this class. It was well attended, and the instruction set a high
standard for future courses. The next block
will be the week of November 10 at Camp Emmanuel in Guazuvirá, where Dr. Gary
Reimers will teach expository preaching. Pastor Reimers is a professor at
Bob Jones University Seminary and pastors Cornerstone Baptist Church. We hope
to see another good group of pastors attend, representing many churches that
will consequently benefit from the investment of these days. In August JM co-taught
a series of classes on biblical principles of music at a men’s retreat in the
department of Treinta y Tres, several hours from Montevideo. Once again, the
pastors and other men there represent local churches that we’re privileged to
serve throughout Uruguay. Please pray for the strengthening of these works.
September 2 marked an entire year since our
final arrival. The process of settling in has been a two-step-forward,
one-step-back affair. Our day-to-day activity has distilled into something resembling
a schedule: Morning study and class preparation, afternoon home life, and
evening teaching or other related activities. At any time of day
visitors—students, for example—might stop by. Correspondence and Skype calls
with many of you ought to fit somewhere in the paradigm; but we apologize for
not keeping up with this better. Please know that we appreciate you. Thank you
for your continued friendship!
National
elections.
On October 26 (and then probably for
a run-off on November 30), every
Uruguayan adult is required to cast a vote to help decide who will govern their
country for the next 5 years. Judging from the last 10 years—and especially the
last 5—there is much at stake. Please pray for God’s mercy to Uruguay, for the
success of the gospel here, and for wisdom for Christian citizens. While
believers might come to different conclusions as to how to vote (in any
nation), there exists
a heart issue of allowing Christ’s lordship to extend even to the level of
which paper list one places in the ballot box. And as God sets up one
government and takes down another, He might be even more concerned about the
individual, eternally-secure sanctification of His children and about what’s
going on in their hearts as they cast their vote.
