John Simons

Happy night, sad night

Today was the last day of visiting with our new friends in the barrio.  It was fun to sit and talk with new friends like Jorge and the Valiente family.  I really like how social the people are here.  When you show up unannouced and say hi, the pull up a chair and ask you to come sit down.  If they are drinking terrerria or mate, they offer you the guampa.  It is a wonderful culture for relationships.

Tonight, there was a special service.  It was a time to celebrate the formation of a new church, but also a time for goodbye.  Two of the women that I have met with all week got up to speak about meeting Christ, and how happy they are that we came.  It was very emotional.

I spent a long time with Alé  and Jorge.  Jorge was telling us about how he used to be addicted to drugs, but that once he had his son, he new that he had to change.  He described all of the violence near the neighborhood where we have been working.  He said that he is glad that we have come, and that he hopes that the church will help change the neighborhood.  He has invited me back to visit.  I hope that I am able to return some day.

Tomorrow, we will not be in the barrio.  We get to sleep in a little more.  We will go shopping in the morning.  In the evening, we will have dinner with Pastor Alcides and the translators.  Josh and I leave on Saturday.  I am sad to be leaving behind all of the friends that I have made, but I am looking forward to being home and catching up on some sleep.

Tags: goodbye, mission, Paraguay

Church Planting - The Pain of Fairwell

As I have posted in the past, I am part of a young church. We have been meeting for Sunday worship for a little over 2 years. We brought in our first pastor at the end of January.  I am an active volunteer with the church and am very emotionally invested in what is going on.

In the past month, we have said goodbye to two families. It is never easy to say goodbye. I think that this is especially true in a church plant.

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Tags: Church Planting, goodbye