Transcultural Mission Formation Program

~ Jorge Groh lectures on confessional identity & religious pluralism ~ Paraguay: A land-locked country in the center of South America, comparable in size to California. On its Eastern border, just across the river from Brazil and north of the border with Argentina lies Ciudad del Este, the City of the East. A typical border-town, prices list in a multitude of currencies, goods transit along busy roadways, and crime threatens the late-night trader returning to his seedy hotel. Casting a long shadow on the bustle of the streets, only the Hotel Panorama (far from seedy itself) boasts the capacity to host this international Lutheran Transcultural Mission Formation Program. With nearly four-score men, women, and children in attendance, this pilot program seeks to unite and form local pastors and select Lutheran missionaries from around the world.

Some have journeyed across 12 time zones to attend. Children inordinately suffer jet-lag in the first days of our time together while among the adults, fellowship and excitement rule.  Mornings begin (depending on your child) as early as 3am but hopefully at least as late as 6 when the hotel restaurant provides a welcome escape for one brave parent seeking to entertain a tired but fully awake child while the other parent steals a few more moments of welcome sleep. Morning worship starts at 8:30 with the reflections of one dedicated pastor guiding us through the Scripture. ~ Yerba mate, literally "cup herb," and thermos ~ Morning lectures after worship focus this week on God's Mission, known among theologians and academics by the impressive-sounding Missio Dei, but in real terms nothing more or less than God's complete and reckless abandon in His pursuit of His people's hearts. Breaks come and go with some seeking out new friends and others desperately trying to keep up with email and work from afar.

During lectures, yerba mate, herbal tea from a common cup, makes its way around each table.  In an ornate cup, gourd, or horn packed with this species of holly, steaming water occupies only a little space. Silver straws with a pierced bulb on the bottom filter the tea while drinking. Each tea drinker passes the cup back to the table host who pours a few more tablespoons of hot water in and passes the cup to the next partaker. The yerba mate keeps us awake and engaged through about 3 hours of lectures.

By 1 in the afternoon, the crowd descends from the 12th-floor conference center to the ground-floor restaurant, nearly overwhelming the eatery with numbers and noise. By 2 we stroll out the front door, children often in tow, for a few hours of rudimentary field-work. Tuesday we observe. Wednesday we engage. Through capable translators our group of eight seeks out Paraguayans willing to divulge those highly personal convictions about God, faith, and felt needs. In the street market we descend upon several women minding their stall from stools along the sidewalk. "Who is God," we ask. "How does your faith take expression in your daily life?" Although initially uncomfortable for us, these women happily engage us in a conversation about their own faith and circumstance.

Other groups experience the same willingness. ~ In the street market asking tough questions about faith ~ Together in the early evening we debrief our experiences from our 12th-floor perch high above the city. The sharing is deep, reflective, and hopeful. As the sun sets the large group cheerfully wishes each a good evening and gathers in newly forged or renewed friendships to make plans for dinner. Some go around the corner to the Brazilian steak house with unlimited meat selections while others pass up all-you-can-eat for the (believe-it-or-not) Pizza Hut.

Most fall into bed early, children exhausted and parents only barely less so. As for our family, Josiah (now 5 months old) falls asleep around 6:30pm, Krista goes up to our room at 9, and as soon as I finish this blog and my caipiriña (a local evening drink heavy on the lime and sugar) I'll be joining her. What joy we feel to be here, learning from capable and bright peers, engaging a new culture, and fellowshiping with brothers and sisters from around the world. A transcultural mission formation program indeed. -Shauen