06 agosto 2010

EFEC 2010 - Republica Dominicana

La Republica Dominicana es muy diferente en tantos aspectos! Estoy disfrutando de tomar jugos de fruta fresca, algunos de frutas que no conocia.

Dominican Republic is so different in many ways! I am enjoying juices from fresh fruit, some of it I never hear of.

El transporte en este pais es otra cosa... la idea es cuanto mas quepan mejor. Los taxis no salen si no tienen a cuatro personas detras y dos delante, sin contar el conductor! Aqui una muestra de cuantos pueden entrar en una wawa, y eso que la foto no muestra los que estamos delante!

Transportation is another story in this country... the idea is to fit the maximum in the car. Taxis won't leave if they do not have four people in the back and two in the front, without counting the driver! This is a photo of the bus that took us to the university so you can see how many can fit, and you cannot see the front!

Es muy insusual que tenga la oportunidad de enseñar sobre evangelizacion a la vez que lo ponemos en practica inmediatamente. Creo que esto ha sido uno de los fuertes de este encuentro. La primera semana estuvimos en Santiago. Yo impartia sesiones por la mañana y por la tarde ibamos a la universidad a hablar a las personas de Jesus. Estuvimos en 4 de ellas. He de deciros que en 20 años que he estoy en la obra estudiantil no habia vivido nada parecido. Cuan diferente es Europa! La gente aqui te permite hablar, estan en sus mayoria dispuestos, conocen de la Biblia. Tuvimos el regalo de ver a varios rendir sus vidas a Jesus. Gloria a El.

It is very rare that I have the opportunity to teach on evangelism at the same time as we practice it together. I think this was one of the strengths of this event. The first week we were in Santiago. I gave sessions in the morning and then we went to the university in the afternoons to talk to students about Jesus. We went to four of them. I have to tell you that in 20 years of work among students I had not experience so much openeness and respect. How different from Europe! People allowed you to speak, were mostly willing to talk and listen, they know about God and the Bible. We had the gift of seeing several students giving their lives to Jesus. Praise Him!

Y tambien tuvimos tiempo de evaluar. Para mi fue muy especial poder contrastar y tambien dessafiar a los chicos a pensar algo diferente: Que entendemos por evangelizar? Como podemos escuchar mejor a las personas? Como hacer preguntas? Como usar palabras que no reflejen jerga evangelica? Como ser contraculturales? Fue hermoso ver como los estudiantes recibian todo esto y ponian en practica al dia siguiente con mejor resultados!

We also had some time to evaluate. It was very special to me to be able to contrast and challenge students to think a bit different: What is evangelism? How can we listen to people better? How do we ask questions? How do we use words that are less churchy? How do we go against the culture? It was so beautiful to see them receive and put in practice as we went out again with better results!


Tuvimos muchos momentos de compartir, a solas, en grupo, por delegaciones. Tambien tiempo para confesar delante de Dios nuestra debilidad y falta de tomar las oportunidades que el nos da de compartir de Jesus. Tuvimos tiempo para orar por nuestros compañeros, nosotros y nuestros movimientos.

We had lots of time to share, alone, in group, in delegations. We also had time to confess before God our weekness and lack of taking opportunities that he gives us to share about Jesus. We had time to pray for our friends, for ourselves for our national movements.

La segunda semana nos dirijimos a Bonao, un hermosisimo lugar en las montañas en donde tuvimos la oportunidad de vivir tiempos mas recogidos y donde Dios hablo a nuestros corazones de una forma poderosa.

Fue hermoso ver a los estudiantes compartir algo de sus culturas, tradiciones, desafios, y necesidades de oracion. Reimos y lloramos juntos.

The second week we went to Bonao, a beautiful place in the mountains where we had the opportunity to live times more intimate with God and one another. God spoke directly to our hearts in a powerful way.

It was great to see students share about their culture, traditions, challenges and prayer needs. We laughed and cried together.

Venezuela

Orando por Republica Dominicana

Ya habia oido de la alegria, la musica, el baile de estos paises Caribeños. Lo que no sabia era todo lo que hay detras de tantos de los estudiantes, vidas que han sido destrozadas por abuso de toda clase, familias mas que disfuncionales, rechazo, descuido, dificultad economica, por nombrar solo unas pocas cosas. Mi corazon se desgarraba un poquito mas a cada vez que escuchaba una y otra historia. Ya podeis imaginar entonces el significado de ver a estos chicos alabar y danzar al Señor. Si algo me ha demostrado que Dios existe en estas semanas ha sido la vida de estos estudiantes transformada por el Espiritu. La gloria sea siempra para Dios.

I had heard of the Caribbean reputation of joy, music and dancing. What I had not heard was all that there is behind the live of many of their students. Lives that have been destroyed and damaged through abuse of all sorts, disfunctional families, rejection, carelesleness, financial difficutlies, to name just a few things. A bit of my heart was ripped every time I heard one story after another. You can imagine then the significance to see these kids praising and dancing before the Lord. If something has demonstrated me that God exists these weeks is the life of these students transformed by the Spirit. The glory be to God for ever.


Fue lindo tambien poder compartir un tiempo con los obreros y voluntarios sobre temas relacionados con la obreria: tiempo, prioridades, formacion, etc. Hay mucha necesidad en este sentido y fue muy bueno poner mi granito de arena.

It was great to be able to share some time with staff and volunteers as well with themes related to time, priorities, training, etc. There is a lot of need in this area and it was great to be able to contribute in that way.

Doy tantisimas gracias a Dios por este maravilloso grupo de estudiantes y obreros representantes de Venezuela, Puerto Rico y Republica Dominicana (los Cubanos tristemente no pudieron venir). Doy gracias por su sencillez y autentico y apasionado amor a Dios que tienen. Su confianza en El a pesar y de donde les tuvo que sacar el Señor. Por favor orad por ellos, para que Dios les ayude a ser Piedras Vivas alli donde les ha puesto aun y a pesar de las circunstancias. Gracias!

I give so much thanks to God for this wonderful group of students and workers representing Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic (sadly the Cubans could not make it). I thank God for their simple and authentic love towards God. Their trust in Him despite where God had to take them from. Please do pray for them, so that the Lord may help them to be Living Stones where they are despite circumstances. Thanks!

Habria mucho, mucho, mucho mas que decir... pero con esto podreis dar las gracias a Dios conmigo!

There will be much more to say... but with this you will be able to thank God with me.

7 comentarios:

  1. Amazing to read! Thanks for sharing this on your blog Edith. :)

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  2. Thank you very much for the info Edith! I'm so glad you had such blessed time together.

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  3. Thank you guys! It was indeed an amazing time and the students talked about you and your generosity many times! They translated and shared your postcards! And each one took a few with them. Many blessings to you too!

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  4. Edith,
    that's so encouraging. Thanks a lot for sharing it. Sounds like you are having an amazing, mind-opening time which stretches your horizon. May God touch you deeply and allow you to share both in his joy and rest. :-)
    Heaps of blessinx,
    yours
    Frauke

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  5. Thanks Frauks! GREAT GREAT GREAT time.
    Much love to you too.

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  6. Edith, I realise it must take all the longer to post to your blog in English as well as Spanish, but thank you for doing this - it was such a blessing to read this!

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  7. Volunteer to translate Andy? ha ha ha. It takes even longer as connections are so slow... but it is a pleasure! Many blessings and hugs.

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