I can’t say how important the translators were on this trip.  Yes, there language skills did come in very handy.  I am saying that as one of the members of the group that was able to survive in Spanish.  I was very proud of being able to have a short conversation without a translator, even if it did make my brain hurt.  I was also able to jump in and help as a makeshift translator once or twice when the “real” translators were busy elsewhere.

The translators were also helpful as cultural guides.  They were able to explain customs and give us social tips to help us interact with the locals in a way that would have been otherwise impossible.  They also became good friends.  The diversity within the group of translators really was amazing.  The ranged in age from 16 (Marcelo, a high school student) to 20 something (Juan, a student at a Bible institute studying to become a pastor).  They had diverse interests.  Rebe (short for Rebecca) was studying for university entrance exams to become a dentist.  Ale (short for Alejandro) is studying law, and playing soccer on a full scholarship.  He is preparing to go play in a tournament in Germany.  Robert (not short for anything — he is in the picture translating as I give my testimony) has dual Paraguay - United States citizenship, and is preparing to go to college at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  Mathys is South African.  He moved to Paraguay a few years ago with his father, speaking only three words in Spanish.

There were several others as well.  Estaban was always making people laugh, Josue was a little on the quiet side, but joked and played with us all.  I didn’t get to know Rut (Ruth) as well as the others until the last night.  All of the translators love Jesus and love sharing the Gospel.  They were all happy to step aside and translate so that others could share as well.

The translators also are evidence of a great vision to plant churches and spread the Kingdom.  During the first trip, all of the translators had to be brought in by bus from Argentina.  One of the e3 staff commented that the difficulty and cost of getting translators was a major obstacle to doing more trips to Paraguay.  In response, the pastor in charge began training translators from Paraguay.  Now, he has a team of translators that he can call on to help with church planting campaigns.  The pastor is now studying English, so that he does not need to rely on translators to speak with his North American friends.

By the way, thanks to Jenn Chen for letting me use her picture of me.  Funny how I didn’t get too many pictures of myself on this trip, huh?