Proyecto Alianza

Here goes nothing. I probably should have tackled this in bite-sized chunks, but alas, I did not, precisely because "this" was happening: Proyecto Alianza. 

This post briefly explains why all I've talked about since getting back from St. Louis is #brazil. In this one, I'll try to elaborate more on what exactly kept me from blogging or really dedicating mental energy to anything extraneous as frequently as I would have liked and reflect on the experience now that it's *almost* said and done. Please don't hear me say anything other than that March was an unforgettable month that I hope we repeat. I got to do what I love to do and came here to do - involve people in what God is doing around the world - on a grand scale. 

It was also draining in every way. 

For starters, things have been pretty closed off from the rest of the world for... 378 days now, so forgive us for being a tad out of practice. 

And while an individual volunteer may be on-field for several weeks, a team is in and out in seven days and rarely buts up against another one. The first Brazilians arrived February 26, and the last won't leave the DR until Easter Monday. 

With a typical individual volunteer or team, Courtney and I run the show and loop others in as needed. With #brazil, we were the ones pulled in mid-stream and only marginally involved in certain aspects of orchestrating everything. It was all hands on deck for the entire DR team plus individuals from other OIM regions and even a sister church body. That meant every decision rippled outward to affect, and needed to be communicated to, multiple people in, potentially, three languages. 

Finally, I had the impression that the bulk of the work would be done up front, and then we'd take on the role of watchmaker, sitting back while the cogs turned. Wrong. When 2/4 of the core workgroup members were in-country (we each missed a week, some planned, some unplanned) to cover a given day, it was a flurry of constant activity, perhaps something like what being a parent is like? I felt like someone needed something from me constantly, or multiple someones needed multiple somethings, and like I was just bracing for the next disaster to strike. Following is a deeper dive into our temporary routine. 

Each day began with Matins and then announcements. Rev. Joel Muller of the Brazilian Lutheran Church (IELB) used footprints leading to the altar as a visual when it was his turn. It seems like forever ago that he and other IELB reps were here even though it was only three weeks!

During weeks three and four, the missionaries started taking turns officiating. For the new grads like Lucas, it was their very first time doing so since churches in Brazil closed (again) between when they were ordained and when they traveled to the Dominican. 

Some also had the opportunity to assist with Lenten services at the three Santiago-area DRLM congregations. Here's Lucas again. 

An extremely simplified version of the daily schedule from 9 am on is language (Spanish, English, or French) and culture classes in the mornings at our regional office, and missiological/on-field wellness presentations in the afternoons, at the seminary in Palmar Arriba. Here, the Africa missionaries + spouses are talking social norms with Shara and Jacob, two of the OIM-Africa reps that came to meet and help care for their new teammates. If I was "on-duty" on a particular morning, you'd find me doing things like setting out an AM snack, making a schedule for rides to church, ordering lunch, tracking receipts, lining up drivers for the afternoon, and the like. 

LAC missionaries & spouses learning Spanish. 

Talking theological education with Pastor Fritzler...

...and praying before delving into the theology of mission with Pastor Krey. 

Courtney & I presenting on short-term teams - our first time covering the material in Spanish. This particular day, we stayed back for the afternoon. Call me lazy, but sometimes it was just less trouble to NOT go through the rigmarole of securing PM transportation, seminary keys, etc. 

Over and above weekday programming, we wanted to show off some of what our beautiful island has to offer. One (rainy) weekend, we toured a chocolate factory and spent the afternoon at the beach; the following weekend we had a picnic at my beloved botanical garden. 

Over hot chocolate (pictured) and so much more, Livia (Salto, Uruguay) and Mariana (Puerto Barrios, Guatemala) grew to be inseparable!

The DR missionary ladies also tried to take special care of the Alliance missionary ladies. Becca Krey and Lilian Fritzler hosted them for real talk about life as missionary pastors' wives, and I held Driftwood Painting Night 2.0 on my patio. It might have been the exhaustion or the pineapple rum punch, but I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. 

Jéssica (Salto, Uruguay). 

Sabrina (Jinja, Uganda). 

Megan Mantey (OIM-Africa, Jinja, Uganda), aka my new "work wife" ever since we realized that I am her husband - and polar opposite - according to the Myers Briggs personality assessment tool!

Ana (Jinja, Uganda). 

Megan kept making fun of my giant piece compared to Jamielynn's teensy one, but I promise it's the right size for the wall I have in mind (above my laundry room sink). I haven't painted what I sketched that night yet, but it's going to read "Sorting life out one load at a time."

Last time in Palmar! L to R: Daniel (Jinja, Uganda), Moacyr (Brazzaville, Congo), Raphael (Panama City, Panama), Volmir (Jinja, Uganda), Rafael (Puerto Barrios, Guatemala), Lucas (Santo Domingo, DR), me, Junior (HLBP group home), Megan, and Maicon (Salto, Uruguay). 

Tirzah & I with the Schieferdecker family (Salto, Uruguay) at Iglesia Luterana Cordero de Dios on the Brazilians' last Sunday in-country. 

I like to think of last Monday's get together at the Fritsches' as not only a celebration of smoked meat but also "we made it to week four!"

Sometimes "member care" (the Africa equivalent of human care) looks like donuts. Future Ugandans Daniel and the da Rocha family say thanks, Megan!

And...exhale. 

Everyone left Santiago on Saturday. I spent a much-anticipated day deep cleaning and generally reclaiming spaces in my home that I'd been sharing since before my St. Louis trip. Well, most of the day, minus the hour I spent on the phone dealing with a missed flight. I have zero complaints about any of my houseguests (neither does Freddy) and in fact loved swapping recipes (brigadeiros) and stories (Lucas was Agatha's quinceañera escort, so one of their wedding videos is a montage of both events), but hospitality is both a joy and a sacrifice. 

But, it ain't over 'til it's over. It was decided today that I'll be making a trip to Puerto Plata on Saturday to help arrange PCR tests for the Africa missionaries. Due to new lockdown measures in Kenya, their on-field orientation was moved to Jinja, Uganda. Nevertheless, we'll be DONE done in my book when and only when they, Lord willing, go wheels up in Santo Domingo at 9:50 pm on Monday night. 

If you're still with me, props to you! Thank you for praying over this monumental undertaking for the past month, and for your patience with me as many things were shifted to the wayside. Specific prayer requests moving forward include

• thanksgiving for all who had a hand in pulling off the events of the past month; 
• meaningful rest for all who put in long hours with little time for self-care; 
• eight negative COVID tests on Saturday; 
• smooth passage to Jinja for the Africa missionaries starting Monday night; 
• all of the missionaries and their families as they transition to life and ministry in a new place; and  
• IELB leaders & members as they learn how to be a church body that facilitates & sustains the sending of foreign missionaries. 

And now back to...everything else! Future iterations of Missions Unpacked, webinars, podcasts, an imminent return to on-field service (yes, you read that right!), a Missionary Services presentation on FOROs, home service...oh yeah, and walking with our Savior to the cross and empty tomb 'cus it's HOLY WEEK. 

Until next time, blessings!