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Staff Reports
Reports of recent Trips and Work by Godspeed Missionary Care
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Staff Missionary Reports
Reports and Experiences of the Godspeed Staff
"But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and
he kept making signs to them and remained mute."
Luke 1:22 NASB
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to
dwell together in unity!"
Psalm 133:1 NASB
Cross-Cultural Charades
Struggling once again, feeling the frustration of not being
able to understand and communicate; my remotely acquired Spanish
has withered over years of non-use. I can understand only a few
words and can speak even less. I am in Latacunga, Ecuador,
accompanying the supervisor of a short-term missionary team; my
task is to see how the team members are doing physically and
mentally, to better be able to help prepare the next group being
recruited for subsequent tours. This is the first year of this
particular program and there is interest in how the experience
has been for the team.
This team is composed of seven young missionaries, most just out
of college, one will return home to finish his degree: five
from the U.S., one from England, one from New Zealand. Six men,
one woman; the married couple came here eight months after
their wedding and have spent their time here learning not just
cross-cultural adjustment but also the trials and challenges of
living together as husband and wife. The five single men and
the couple are here with a program known as "Extreme Walk":
after three months of intensive language study each has been
assigned to fledgling Ecuadorian churches in various towns
throughout the country. Some are in the mountainous regions,
cooler than the equatorial (thus, the name of the country)
location would suggest, others on the hot and humid Pacific
coast, still others in the Amazon basin near the jungle. Their
tasks are to be encouragers, assistants, whenever and however
the local pastor may best use them. The "walker" commits to
ten months of service; although this is considered a short
term situation, the experience will change the participant
for a lifetime.
Most are already talking about returning here for longer term
or even career missionary service. The group, spread about the
country, has intentionally come together every five or six
weeks, rotating the location so that every team member has had
a chance to visit the other members' workplaces and homes. In
these two to three day reunions there is time for fellowship
and food and worship; it is during one of these times that we
have been allowed to visit.
Many of the trips we make to visit missionary teams are
necessitated by unresolved conflicts within the teams:
disagreements unspoken but acted upon, misunderstood motives,
disparate interests and goals. Missionary team members may
live in close proximity, work together regularly, love and
serve the same Jesus, yet after months and years under such
circumstances still have no understanding of each other as
persons. But such is not the case with this "Extreme Walk"
team. I watch as they reunite with hugs and laughter, the
conversations resuming where last left off, an ongoing stream
of quips and comments and shared humor topics that are so
familiar amongst the group that they have been almost reduced
to a code language. They are a group with a wide diversity
of personalities and styles, yet each knows, tolerates, and
encourages the unique aspects of the other. It is not that
their year has been conflict-free, but rather that their mutual
openness and understanding has allowed those conflicts to be
processed and resolved. There is joy in their midst. It is
evident that Jesus is in their midst, as well.
A favorite pastime during these reunions is to play charades,
and we are asked to join in. It is an incredible experience;
the team members are so communicative and know each other's
subtle nuances so well that they constantly have to raise the
bar to make the task more challenging. Two examples of phrases
that were successfully acted out: "A Squirrel Eating a
Chimichanga", and "The Devolution of Governmental Power". I
am as handicapped in being able to communicate in this way
as I am trying to ask (in Spanish) a waiter why there is a
bowl of popcorn on the dinner table at a local restaurant (the
popcorn is to put into the corn soup, not to be eaten by itself
as I determined the hard way), or to get more towels from the
hostel manager. The ease with which the team members
communicate with their Ecuadorian hosts and with each other is
humbling and appealing. I can always try to study and retrieve
my long-lost Spanish skills. But could I, would I take the time
to study and learn about those around me, to be open and honest
and forgiving and loving? Here in Latacunga, Ecuador, I am
seeing evidence of what happens when a group of Christians live
out the command to love another. And Ecuadorians see it, too;
this is missionary activity of the first order.
I leave Quito early in the morning to return to South Carolina.
This cross-cultural experience has been a blessing, and I am
grateful to God for all those He has used to make it possible.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Godspeed,
Barney, for Karen and the Godspeed team
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