Bryson and Mindy White Culture/Language Acquisition in Paraguay First Week in PY
Our Host Church
Many, many months of training. Weeks and weeks of packing. Day after day of final preparations. Hour upon hour of traveling. All leading up to our entrance into Paraguayan culture and lifestyle. This time of studying the national culture and language is called Equipping 2—or E2. This has been some event out in front of us for so long, but now it is a reality. This first week has actually been rather relaxing as we ease into our Paraguayan E2.
Most new missionaries down to Paraguay will be given a host church and a host family from that church to help with adjusting to the culture and setting up a household along with any other questions that come up. Our host church is Iglesia Evangelica Bautista las Buenas Nuevas and we do not have a host family; we have six host families plus the pastor who have all eagerly volunteered to help us!
We were greeted at the airport by the missionary couple in charge of our E2 (Randy and Laurie Steel) and several people from our host church. It is so encouraging just to know that they are excited about us being here, as are we! That night we went straight to the NTM Guest House because we still don’t have a house. We got a taste of some Paraguayan food when we got some Lomito Árabe, which is kind of like a burrito with beef or chicken, but a thicker ‘tortilla’ and different seasonings.
The next day was the first time we ventured out by ourselves. We walked about twelve blocks to a hardware store and bought a llave francesa (crescent wrench) and some pinzas (pliers) to replace those that were confiscated in Santiago. On the way back we stopped in a market to get a look around and bought some water. From there we jumped on a bus (thinking it would take us back in front of the mission) but it ended up turning off the main road right away. So we just got off at the next stop and walked the rest of the way back. But at least I found out how much the bus cost, and that the kids are free (I found that out after having paid for them)!
Buying a grounding rod
On Friday, we met with one of the other missionaries in charge of culture and language study; she and her husband also just happen to be our missionary host couple (Steve and Ithie Jackson). Every Friday, everyone in E2 will be meeting together for some group training, so we joined in with that right away, also. That evening, all the New Tribes missionaries in Asunción came to the mission offices for a bienvenida (welcome party) for us. That way we got to meet them as well as the others that are in E2.
Saturday, Randy drove us out to the neighborhood where our church is to see a couple of the prospective houses for us to rent. We only saw the outsides though and got an idea of their sizes. The main purpose of the drive out there though was to meet the pastor and his wife at our church. They are Pastor Sergio and Josefina.
The next morning, Randy and Laurie drove us back out to our host church. We had a great time meeting many more from there. The church service was about an hour and 45 minutes, with the kids being at Sunday School for an hour and a half. They all went to their classes and did very well with it. Not that they understood anything, but none of them came back crying, so that was a good first step! Elijah said, “Well, I found out that whenever anybody says anything to me I don’t know what they’re saying.” At least he realized that. That evening we went on our first profitable bus trip when we rode back out to church. Someone from in the church gave us a ride back home, though.
The big accomplishment on Monday was getting a javelina, or grounding rod, since Paraguay does not generally have any grounds. I will use that once we’re in our house to ground our computer equipment. Through Saturday, we had been having meals with other missionaries, so we also had to do our first grocery shopping. On Tuesday we went to a fresh fruit and vegetable market where there were quite a few items unfamiliar to the US, but also quite of few things that we are used to. Since we have been living right here at the guest house instead of 45 minutes away by bus, we went ahead and did all our administrative orientation on Monday and Tuesday as well.
Avacados from outside the guest house
Wednesday brings us to the end of our first week. We’ve found that most of the missionaries communicate via cell phones and text messages down here, even some out in the tribal areas. So I went out and got a chip for my phone. I know that looks like an English word, but here it’s pronounced “cheep.” So I do have a cell number now if you ever want to venture into the world of international calling or texting. Go to our Contact page to see how to get a hold of me.
I’m sitting in front of a display board with all the missionaries currently working in Paraguay, those in E2, and those that will soon be coming. I am privileged and humbled to look up and see a picture of our family included. What the board doesn’t show is the large quantity of people and churches standing behind each of the 57 missionaries currently in the country. I know that there must be hundreds of churches represented by this group and thousands of prayers lifted daily, all together for a common purpose: to see the Gospel proclaimed among the tribal nations of Paraguay. It isn’t just a picture on a display board. Thank you for standing behind us and for lifting your prayers up on our behalf and for the sake of the Gospel reaching those without it!!!
Updated Prayer Requests – March 2010
Updates to these prayer requests are shown in red.
A few months ago, I posted some specific prayer request for these previous months. Now, I’d like to give you an update on these and other prayer needs. Before, I mentioned the need to fit everything with us on the plane. I think we fit everything we were planning on bringing. At least, so far we haven’t come across anything we’re missing yet. Several people have mentioned the desire to help by sending something down if the need arises. So far, we have not come across that need. If you ever do want to send something, please check with us first to figure out the best way to send it. As for prayer in this area, please pray that we are able to set up a comfortable home and that we are able to find the tools that will help the most with our ministry. We have had lots of help from our Paraguayan friends and neighbors to create an environment of language learning. Sometimes that involves having them into our home, but often it involves visiting them in their homes.
Our visas did come through very smoothly. From the time we dropped off our passports at UPS to the time we received them back from the Paraguayan Embassy it was two weeks. As for the legalizing of our documents, I drove down to Los Angeles when we were in Pomona and actually walked right into the Paraguayan Embassy to take care of it there. I was only in that office for about half an hour. The only thing that’s missing through all this is our Identification Clearance. This is something we need for a more long term visa here. We had the applications sent to the office on the first business day of the year; we were originally told 6-8 weeks, then 10 weeks, then 13 weeks. The last time I called, they said it would be the middle of April. So, right now, we’re still waiting to find out if the fingerprints were even any good. If they weren’t, it will be much more difficult to get this done from down here. Please pray that these initial prints go through and we are able to get our clearances fairly quickly. Our Identification Clearances came to the address from which we left in California one week after we left the country. So, it was too bad that we didn’t get them before we left, but it was very good that they did go through. Again we were reminded that God is in control and His timing is impeccable. Those ID Clearances were mailed to us and we were able to get them submitted for the next phase of our visa paperwork.
We did raise what we considered to be adequate support to step out and head toward Paraguay, and here we are. So praise the Lord for that! He has been faithful to meet our needs all along the way and I am confident that He will continue to do so. Now that we are here, we don’t want to just survive; we want to be able to do well the ministry that we have come to be a part of. Please continue to pray for increased support toward the recommended support level so that we can be as effective and efficient as we can be in the job that we are here to accomplish. Please also continue to pray for wisdom in the use of our finances, tools, and gifts. God has been very faithful to supply all that we have needed and provide for our life and ministry here.
One more prayer request, and perhaps the most urgent, is that we would be able to find a house soon that is near our host church. Our hope was to move directly into a house and be thrown immediately into the culture and language as this is the most critical time for bonding and becoming part of the culture. But, apparently God had other plans. So please pray with us that we will have the house that God desires for us when He’s ready for us to move into it. After two months of living in the guest house, we were able to find a house to rent close to our host church. If you missed the news of this house, click here to read about it.
As always, please pray for more laborers and your own involvement in joining Team Paraguay. It is encouraging to be among 12 new missionaries to the field of Paraguay in this culture and language study. In 2011 we are expecting five more. As for your involvement, your interest, financial support, and encouragement are answers to that prayer.
Got Tickets, Did Fly!
After 28 hours from leaving the house in California, we arrived at the guest house in Asunción on Wednesday, March 17. It was a very smooth flight and everything went perfect. We got through check-in with about an hour and a half to spare, so we were able to spend $20 on 3 hotdogs to split between the six of us. I guess that’s what you get at the airport.
But, wow, the flight was amazing. If you ever find yourself flying to South America, I would recommend LAN Airlines. It was a 767 which had plenty of entertainment built into the seats to keep the kids preoccupied. We never even had to get the MP3 player out that we got the kids to keep them busy for the 13-hour flight. We were served three meals over the course of the flight with real silverware and real glasses. The kids all slept some on the airplane except Elijah and Macayla. This flight had a layover in Lima, Peru, but we didn’t have to get off the plane. We had three sets of two seats each; hence two of the kids were sitting without an adult, but the stewardesses were very kind and helpful.
The layover in Santiago was probably the hardest. Not because of the recent earthquake, but just because it was nine hours long and we were all very exhausted from the first flight. We all slept some in the airport except Daniella, especially Elijah and Macayla because they didn’t sleep on the plane. But again, everything went very smooth. We never had any problems getting our tickets for the second flight or finding our gate. In fact, the area that we happened to plop ourselves down in when we first got there was the waiting area for the gate that we ended up needing. The only negative thing that happened the entire trip was that my crescent wrench and pliers–needed for getting into our trunks–were confiscated upon entering the Santiago airport. I thought that might happen, but I figured I’d try to bring them anyway. They made it through LA, but not Santiago.
The last flight, from Santiago to Asunción, went directly over the Andes and was only about two hours long. Yet, we still got a meal on this flight as well. Nobody slept on this flight except Daniella, because she never slept in the airport. Besides, we were all pretty excited that we would be landing in Paraguay pretty soon. We landed in Asunción and got through customs in about 20 minutes. On the other side was waiting one of the other missionary couples and several from our host church. It was very good to get to meet them and at least say hi to some of the people that we will be spending a lot of time with over the next few months.
Tickets to Ride
In our last newsletter, I told you about the requirement that we know when we are entering Paraguay in order to apply for the visas. That meant, we thought, that we needed to buy our tickets near the beginning of the year.
There are a couple of things that have influenced our decision regarding the purchase of the plane tickets. One being the length of time needed for the legal paperwork. Another is that we really feel that the timing is perfect for us to leave in March. The field wants to stagger the arrival of all new missionaries to the field, and March is open for us. Third, we are constantly remembering that the tribe in which we will work is still without the Gospel.
So, through careful thought and with much prayer, we made the decision to buy the tickets. About mid-December, we bought tickets to fly from Los Angeles on March 16 to arrive in Asuncion, Paraguay on March 17! We are very excited about this and are looking forward to our move down there.
Of course, this means that we have a lot of work to do before March. We have begun the legal paperwork process. We are also busy packing; which entails deciding what is most important to bring with us and figuring out how to divide it up into twelve suitcases at 50 lbs each for 600 total pounds.
There is also the issue of our support. Frankly, it is rather expensive to move a family of six into a secluded area of Paraguay and then to maintain a home there and perform all the necessary actions to establish a mature church over the course of 20+ years. We are currently at about 33% of the support that the field of Paraguay recommends for our size family. Several people have said that they will join our team financially in January, so we are hopeful that this will increase over the next couple months. However, you can see that we have a lot of room for growth in this matter. Now, being under- supported does not mean that we will not be able to do anything there, but our ministry will be much more effective with adequate financial backing.
Certainly, the most important issue here is not just our wellbeing, but the end goal: the translation of the Scriptures for the establishment, edification, and expansion of a tribal church. To accomplish this purpose, finances are but a necessity, while prayer is our most valuable resource. Please consider being a part of this ministry, both financially and prayerfully. No matter the size of the contribution or monthly support, it will be appreciated and God will use it to further Christ’s Kingdom in Paraguay. Please also join us in prayer, for we cannot go without the amazing effects of interaction between God and His people.
The Greatest Gift of All
We are the proclaimers of this Greatest Gift
All our plans, all our struggles, and all our prayers are leading up to this one goal: to reach a tribe with the news of God’s Messiah. This is the time of year that we celebrate the birth of this Anointed One.
However, this very special birth is just part of the larger story that is the story of God’s plan to redeem mankind to Himself. God’s plan from the beginning has been to have a world full of people that are worshipping Him. Ever since the tower of Babel, the earth has been full of people, but for the most part, they have refused to worship their Creator. Ever since then, we’ve seen that it has been God’s intention to use His chosen people to spread the news of his redemption. We can see the extent to which He wants this message to go by reading in the Psalms and the prophets terms such as among the nations, all peoples, all the earth. Then, in the darkest hour, we read about the actual act of redemption; the greatest gift of all is God giving Himself so that we can have a relationship with Him.
But the story doesn’t end there. The highpoint of this story is that God’s intent and plan from the beginning of time has been to employ His own—His family—to proclaim the birth of His Son as well as His death and resurrection to all nations and peoples over all the earth. So the birth of the Son isn’t just a nice story. The birth of Jesus Christ is a gift and a part of God’s plan. This is the true story of a loving God redeeming people unto Himself. And this is the reason: to fill the earth with worshippers of Himself, because He certainly is worthy.
Come, join in the story. Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all, and there’s a world waiting to unwrap His story and bear witness to the One who is worthy of all worship.
Prayer Requests for our Preparation Progress
Alright, so here’s the plan. We are flying to Paraguay in mid March. Of course, there are a few things that need to take place in order for that to happen. We need to begin the process of applying for our visas about 2½ months prior to leaving. To apply for visas, we have to know the exact date that we are entering Paraguay; of course, that means that we have to have our tickets in hand. In order for us to have our tickets in hand, we have to confirm with the field of Paraguay that we have adequate monthly support pledged and commit to a time that we can come down. So you can see that in order for us to be able to leave in March, we have to have sufficient monthly support raised at least 2½ months before then. That means that we need to have the monthly support raised by the end of December. This is a huge prayer request as we are feeling the burden to bring the Gospel to a group of people that have been lost without it for so long. Please pray that the visa process would go smoothly. Please pray that God would raise the needed support. This ministry is a team effort. Please pray about how you can be involved as well and consider joining “the team.”
Here are some other prayer requests. We cannot ship anything by boat or air freight. Everything we bring with us to Paraguay has to fit on the plane with us in whatever baggage we’re allowed to bring. Please pray for wisdom as we go through our stuff and determine what is necessary to bring down, what might be able to be replaced down there, and what we might be better off not having there. Also, we so appreciate all of you that are sending monthly support, and we really do consider you as part of the team. We could not even attempt to bring the Gospel to a tribe in Paraguay without you. We realize that it is a sacrifice for you and that you are giving unto God. We consider your support as provision from the Lord to fulfill the work that He has for us. Please pray for us that we would be wise with the finances and tools that God has provided through you and other supporters.
Oklahoma Livin’
Us with Lucille
We’re in the middle of transition number…umm, I’ve lost track.
Almost 8½ years ago, Mindy and I made the move up to Jackson, MI to attend the New Tribes Bible Institute and begin the process of preparing to serve as tribal church planters. It has been a long road full of stress and growth and disappointments and accomplishments. It seems like every time we got through a twist, there, up ahead, was a turn.
This last bit of preparation was a practical study of linguistics with the Cherokee language in Oklahoma. We had a very sweet Cherokee lady named Lucille Wilson as our language helper. We are very thankful for the time that she gave us for those seven weeks. We especially appreciated her patience as we fumbled along, trying to speak Cherokee while digging for patterns in the sounds and grammar of her language.
Of Course the kids also provided some excitement to the adventure. They were involved in killing a tarantula. Daniella had a tick attached to her chest. Hannah had a case of poison oak. Macayla hit her head on the cement slab, adding an extra hole. Elijah “lost” his first two teeth—one was extracted with a seat belt, the other by another kid’s head. (He just “lost” his third one with the help of Hannah’s thumb!) Click here to see some pictures of our time in Oklahoma.
And now, with our linguistics Cherokee Write-up complete, our training is complete as well. We’re now looking ahead at new curves in the road: packing, planning, paper work, pronouncing our plans, and finally making our pursuit of Paraguay a reality in March.
This seems like a lot of work and a lot of headaches; maybe even with more stress and disappointments. But it’s worth it; because we’ll see more growth and accomplishment as well. Of course, it was God that brought us through the training, and it’s Him that will bring us to Paraguay, and it’s Him that will do the accomplishing after we’re there. With the final destination in mind, we’re trusting God for what’s around the next turn in the road.
Pursuing Paraguay
One thing we always hear, and are fully aware of by now, is that missionaries must be flexible. It’s not because God changes His mind or spontaneously decides to do something different with us. But it is because God knows His plans for us and we do not. God’s plan was not for David to build the temple, it was for Solomon to build it. And His plan was not for Paul to preach in Asia, but in Macedonia. As we walk with Him and trust Him, His plan becomes more clear.
Last week we received some news that creates a change in our plans, but it doesn’t change God’s plans. The Paraguayan field leadership team met for their regular quarterly business meeting and, among other things, they discussed the benefits of us going to Mexico before Paraguay. The result of that meeting is that we no longer have to go to Mexico before we can go to Paraguay! The field of Paraguay isn’t completely set up for this change yet, so it may be March before we’re able to go down there, but it will still be months sooner than was originally planned. We were never against going to Mexico first, and we have been willing to go along with the leadership’s decisions, but there are so many benefits to this change that we are excited about. Praise God with us for His orchestration of this. Now we just have to readjust our thinking when it comes to packing over these next few months. Please pray for us as we make the necessary adjustments to go to Paraguay early next year.
A Day of Linguistics
Working on Linguistics
What does a day in the life of a linguistics student look like here in Tahlequah, Oklahoma? Well, I will give you a sample of one of the busier days. We wake up at 7 to go over and set up breakfast in the dining hall for the whole group of 37 people. We eat breakfast at 7:30 and then head back to finish getting ready for the day. At around 8:30 or so, four little ones come over to be babysat until 11. So, from 8:30 to 11 we watch eight children ages 7 and under. That gets a little crazy on a rainy day—of which there seem to be plenty here. At 11:45, I head over to the dining hall to make lunch for our four kids and Bryson and me, while Bryson prepares for our Cherokee session. Bryson and I eat lunch and then head off to our language helper’s house for a couple of hours. While Bryson and I are learning Cherokee, our kids go play with our neighbors’ kids. When we finally get back, it is about 4:00 and the kids are ready for some quiet time. They work on school or play games, while Bryson and I work on filing and practicing the Cherokee we learned. Dinner is at 5:30, then it’s time to clean up the kids and get ready for bed. Once the kids are in bed, more studying happens as we try to get a grasp on the Cherokee language. Exhausted reading this? We are too! So, if you think of it, you can pray for stamina and health during this crazy 7 weeks.
Oklahoma, After a Long Summer’s Visit
Our family in front of the Cherokee church we're attending while here
Wow! What a summer! It was so good to see many of you and share with you about God’s mission to redeem the lost and our vision to be a part of it. We were able to stop and see some old friends of Mindy along the way. At the beginning of summer, we got to see a dear couple that pastors a church in Idaho now who actually taught my parents in Baker City, Oregon when they were going through the missionary training. On the way to Oklahoma we stayed in a couple houses that are part of a hospitality network for missionaries. One of the couples that we stayed with happened to be the same couple that I stayed with when I was traveling with my parents from Missouri to California 15 years ago.
Along with people that we haven’t seen for many years we got to visit with many people that we’ve been in contact with over the last few years and it was very good to have that fellowship. But we also got to meet a lot of new people as God worked out opportunities for us to share in some churches that we have never been to before. Praise God that the news of God’s plan of missions is spreading! We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the many people that we got to do that with.
After a busy Summer, we’re now heading into a hectic Autumn. We have arrived in Tahlequah, OK and we already have one week of language sessions behind us. I get the feeling these seven (six now!) weeks are going to fly by. We have a very sweet lady named Lucile Wilson as our language helper. She is a believer and we will be going to her church while we’re here. We’ve learned some of the important initial sayings for entering any new culture.
The Cherokee Baptist grounds that we're staying on
Osiyo, tohiju means “hello, how are you? And you respond to this by saying osta, “I’m good.” And to ask what something is we need to say kataustia. This is only the beginning though and they say that the easiest is behind us—well that’s good to know! Thank you all so much for your prayers and for the encouragement that you are. Oh, by the way, there is no word for “goodbye” in Cherokee.
dodedakohai
See ya’ll later!