Preparations

We are getting close to beginning our International Gathering, so, as you might imagine, this month has been full of preparations and planning. The logistical details have, at times, seemed endless, but I have also been very aware of how I prepare spiritually for the event. 

It´s been 5 years since we last met in a Gathering like this (it´s usually every 4 years but Covid blar blar blar!) and it´s the time when we bring together representatives from all of our teams. It´s always a special time of fellowship together to worship (often simultaneously in multiple languages), celebrate, and plan. 

This time it´s also in the middle of a significant consultation as we seek to listen deeply to our members and partners about who we are and what we do. So much has changed and is changing in the world, that we want to be very proactive in listening well and adapting to the new ways in which God is moving. As part of that we are pushing some doors of new ways into mission, and so this Gathering is a key time to share those things and to evaluate and plan together. 

At the same time as deciding on what colour our name badges will be, or writing a risk assessment, this week I´ve also spent some time in prayer and fasting, seeking God´s spirit as I prepare myself for the event. There have been no great revelations (I wasn´t necessarily looking for any), but it has been important to make that physical sacrifice to focus on God, and the bigger picture, rather than getting drowned in all the details. 

I feel really excited to see all that God has for us, as we meet together. 

Historic interconnections

This month, I've been reflecting on our history as an organisation. Latin Link was created in the early nineties with a very modern and flexible structure to respond to the needs in Latin America.  That´s something that attracted me to it. For me personally, when I arrived in Guatemala (now 15 years ago), our team here had been established only a few years previously, so it has felt like we are in the early stages of making relationships with churches and projects that we work alongside, and are little known outside of that. 

But when Latin Link was created in the nineties, it was the amalgamation of 2 (or more?) organisations who I think had a 100+ years of history working with the church in Latin America (in particular in the Andean region, southern cone and Brazil). 

This month, there have been 2 events that have reminded me of that historical link - and the huge impact it has had and continues to have. At the beginning of the month in Argentina the Red de Misiones Mundiales (World Missions Network) celebrated their 40 year anniversary. Members of Latin Link there were able to attend and celebrate with them. They testify to a mutual relationship between mission agency and the Argentine church, in particular as the church has grown in their involvement in world missions, which has blessed them all. 

Last week, I was in Brazil, and was so encouraged by the Brazilian Missions Congress and the vibrancy of the worship and commitment to follow God's heart in reaching all the peoples of the world. I was introduced to a number of people representing ministries or denominations which Latin Link has worked with over decades. Some I met, mentioned the teaching or the writing of some of our retired members being influential in their development and growth. And some even traced the faith expressed in their family in their early years, from a grandparent who was converted through interactions and friendships with a missionary from the past. Many of the Brazilian leaders I met, were fruit of the efforts of previous generations of European missionaries, but were also sewing new seeds and encouraging new fruit in our members as they each use the gifts for the growth of the Kingdom. I came away with a sense of a very symbiotic relationship, in which all benefit from the close connection and interdependency. 

It was wonderful to see and hear those stories and to be a part of it in the role I play in the organisation today. It´s humbling, but at the same time uplifting to really recognise that I am part of a body - part of a greater community and church, which all works together for God´s glory to be known on the earth. 

Migration and Mission

I was recently visiting our team in Colombia, and had the privilege of being with a local church ministry for a morning, as they respond to the needs of (mostly) Venezuelan migrants. I was so impressed with their core response of accompanying people in their spiritual journeys alongside their physical journeys and needs. They were able to support people through monthly food parcels for those recently arrived, as well as ongoing support in accessing medical and education systems, and encouragement in job search or getting started in small business, and yet all of that was based around a spiritual discipleship as people found God in their lived experiences of migration. 

Since borders opened after COVID, the migration movements from and within Latin America have increased significantly. Nearly 7 million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years - that´s around a fifth of the population! It´s estimated that 1 million of them are in Colombia.

The Darien strait, an uninhabited stretch of impenetrable jungle on the Panama-Colombia border without roads or settlements, once under the control of guerrilla fighters and drug cartels, is now the place of thousands of Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, as well as North Africans and others, fighting their way through the jungle with all it´s dangerous wildlife and tropical disease, as well as the threat of assault, rape and attack, making their way north. 

The USA border authorities have seen an overall increase in migration at their southern border, but also a change in the nationalities of those trying to enter their territory both legally and illegally. Just a few years ago, the vast majority of people crossing into the states were from Mexico and Central America, but now the numbers of Venezuelans, Cubans and Haitians have overtaken them, making their ¨Safe third country¨ agreements (which allows the USA to send migrants back to Guatemala and El Salvador) irrelevant for the vast numbers they are encountering now. Article - Migration encounters at US-Mexico border

All of this brings to my mind God´s words to Habakkuk 'Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn´t believe even if someone told you about it.' Habakkuk saw war and destruction around him, and asked God was he was going to do about it. God´s replies was an encouragement to keep watching, - but maybe not towards the things or the responses that you´ve seen in the past. Expect something new! I am sure that God is not surprised by these migration movements happening in our world. He is already working in and through them. 

I want to be like Habakkuk - with my eyes open, standing at my post to see what the holy spirit is doing. So I´m leaning into opportunities to be alongside migrants (of many kinds), to understand more of their experience, and see what God is doing in and through them.

Slow Travel

When I took on this new role, knowing that it would involve more travel, I made an internal commitment to myself that I wouldn't fly within Europe. Knowing that whatever other lifestyle decisions I make in order to lessen my carbon footprint, and other negative impacts on the environment, flying is the worst decision ever, and far outweighs other 'carbon savings'. In particular I vowed to myself that I would not fly within Europe, as there are various other travel options which are accessible and much less damaging environmentally speaking. And I want to make the most out of any flight that I do take. 

So I have spent the last 7 weeks in Europe, and have definitely packed in a lot to make the flights worthwhile, and have really enjoyed traveling by train, ferry, bus, eurostar and bike! 

On the 8 hour ferry from Liverpool to Belfast, I got my laptop out next to a window, and enjoyed stunning views the whole way whilst I worked! I even got a glimpse of a couple of dolphins and seals.

The shorter ferry from Belfast to Scotland was a day off so I choose to just sit in the sun and enjoy the ride.

On the Eurostar to Rotterdam, I learnt that one commercial flight from the UK to mainland Europe has the same carbon footprint as 13 Eurostar journeys!!

And on arrival in the Netherlands, the team there quickly got me on a bike! I'm not a fan of cycling in the UK, but of course in the Netherlands, the whole road system is geared (!) towards cyclists. I was very impressed with their skills - cycling whilst carrying my luggage - and cycling 2 people to a bike!

All in all, I enjoyed it!

Connecting and Representing

I have had a wonderful week in Northern Ireland, mostly at the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention. It was a privilege to be part of the annual event that has been going for decades and continues to inspire and encourage individuals and churches in their missions involvement. 

In particular it was wonderful to be able to share something of Latin Link - I am very conscious as International leader that I represent all our members and so tried to bring some of their stories and reflections to the Convention. I especially wanted to share testimonies from our Latin American members, as we celebrate their contribution to global missions. 

The theme of the week was of Christ's love compelling us - from 2 Corin 5:14, and I was glad to be able to share Pipe's story of ministry amongst young people from many different cultures in North London - how Christ's love fuels his passion and motivates him beyond human love and disappointments. And Gisele's story of helping Portuguese speaking migrants in Somerset to experience God's love and purpose in the midst of loneliness and isolation. Or Raquel's desire to bring dignity to her own people in Brazil to be transformed by God. And Miriam's experience of sharing God's power to heal the hurts of the past for women in Cuba. Or Carmen's testimony of God's provision and faithfulness throughout the Covid pandemic. And Maria's work mobilising Peruvian churches for greater involvement in missions. All these stories connect us to what God is doing around the world. 

It was also lovely to be able to meet so many of the Northern Irish Latin Link team - old members, new members, those preparing to serve with Latin Link and so many volunteers and friends. A real sense of being a community with a calling! 

 

I leave Northern Ireland with a full heart as well as a VERY full belly!

Perspectives

This last month, I´ve enjoyed being part of the Guatemala Perspectives team.

Perspectives is a course - but also a movement! The course helps ordinary Christians understand God´s heart for all the nations, and to connect and get involved with what He is already doing in the world. It´s about mobilising God´s people for His global purpose. 

Here in Guatemala, the course was first offered just a couple of years ago, and we have since offered 2 online courses. This year we went for an intensive in-person format, and had 20 students enjoying the chance to learn and understand more of God´s heart. It´s always encouraging to see how God transforms people thinking, as we study the 4 perspectives - Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic. 

This year I had the privilege of teaching a class in the historical perspective covering some of the pioneers of missions. As I prepared for the class, I was struck by the range and variety of people that could have been included. So many women and men --- in fact twice as many women than men -- who have followed God´s call on their lives, in spite of doubt and opposition from others. Several of them were actually rejected by mission agencies, but went ahead regardless, making their own road, and recruiting support along the way. So many opened doors not only for themselves and their own particular calling, but also created ways for others to follow. 

That´s a challenge and an encouragement for me, as a leader of a mission agency -- to have eyes open to what God is doing in his followers - even when it doesn´t fit into our previous model or structure. We are presently exploring one particular way to do that - helping Jesus-followers to get international jobs using their professional skills. We´re just at the initial stages of considering if and how we can do this, but feel excited about the possibilities.

Receiving the baton of leadership

It´s been a few months now since I took on the role of International Team Leader for Latin Link, and life is only just beginning to fall into a rhythm. 

When I took on the role my predecessor, Paul, handed me the baton of leadership. In fact he handed me two! Firstly he handed me the baton that had been handed to him by his predecessor, and another one before that! It´s a plastic baton filled with small and/ or symbolic items to help in doing the job of leading a mission agency with many different aspects and challenges. However he also handed me a new baton. Knowing my concern for the environment, and aversion to throw away plastic, he had a new wooden baton made and inscribed with the Latin Link logo. 

In these first few months, I've been reflecting on this balance between what is inherited in the role, and what can be created for this new season. I am very aware of all those who have gone before me, not only in leadership, but every member of Latin Link, and all that they have invested and sacrificed in supporting the Latin American church over the years and decades. But at the same time, I can see a very different world around us to the one in which Latin Link was created. The Latin American church is strong and is taking it's place in global missions, looking to partner with others. Within the last 2 years, the global context has changed so much, and the structures and practices that served us well in the past have been called into question. 

It's exciting for me to be starting conversations as we consider new partnerships and opportunities, but I try to hold that in balance with all that has gone before. In it all I want to be receptive to God's voice and his leading in this new era and situation, to discern His way forward for us.