Jenna Currey Expanding the REACH of the Gospel in Paraguay Climbing the Mountain…Evaluation Results
Learning language over these last few months has felt like climbing a mountain. I am placing one foot in front of the other, over and over, but when I look up the trail, I can see that there is still so much further to climb. The key is for me to never forget how far I have come from the trailhead. I need to look back often and see how far the Lord has brought me. Remembering the footprints that I have left behind, I allow this to motivate me to continue moving forward and onward. I am happy to say that I have received the results from my language and culture evaluation. I went up from level 5 to level 6. Only two more levels to go, but these are the most difficult and the most complex. After receiving the results, and listening to the guidance from the language consultants, I am back at it again. With my Lord’s help, I am moving forward, one foot in front of the other… one word at a time.
Tags: Culture, Evaluation, Language, Mountain
Rebekah’s Parents Visit Paraguay
During the month of February, Rebekah’s parents came to Paraguay for a short visit. It was a joy to get to know them better and to see Rebekah rejoined with her family. Rebekah’s parents were missionaries for more than twenty years in South America. Mr. Huffman is currently the pastor of a church in Arizona. Because they already knew the Spanish language, they could communicate and interact with our Paraguayan friends. We enjoyed many adventures and activities while they were here.
I had the blessing of staying with my language helper Ada and her family for ten days while Rebekah’s parents were visiting. I learned so many new things in both language and culture. Most valuable to me, however, were the relationships that were deepened through the time we spent together…cooking, eating, talking, and playing with the girls. As you can see from the pictures, we had a lot of fun. I loved being part of a family. It made me miss my own family. It also made me very thankful for God’s provision of so many friends and family here in Paraguay.
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- Pretty girls
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- Playing with Pacholi
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- Mrs. Huffman loves birds
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- Arrrrrgh….
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- Watching Paraguayan soccer
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- Funny glasses
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- :-)
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- Silly Girls
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- Rebekah with her parents
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- Hola!
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- At the Bird Park
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- Freeze pop and the zoo!
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- All smiles!
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- In front of “The Palace of Lopez”
Spanish Update
I have recently had another language and culture evaluation (Jan 20). It had written, reading, and speaking portions. I am encouraged to see the progress I have made. Thank you for your faithful prayers for me and my studies. I am still awaiting the results to see to what level I have improved. Needless to say I am a little anxious to find out. There are 8 levels and I am currently at 5 as of July. My days have been busy as I continue to study 45 hours a week. My heart is so thankful for the people that help me with my studies. I meet with Ada, my neighbor, four days a week for two hours each day. I am also studying with Betty once a week. She is not a believer. Please pray for me that I will have the words to say and that I would have the courage to share the truth in God’s Word with her in Spanish. In addition to studying on my own, I am also meeting with a grammar tutor for four hours a week. I am learning so much! I am excited for the way that I am able to say so much more and in more creative ways. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for me as I try to balance my studying with needed rest.
Tags: New Tribes Mission, NTM
God’s Perfect Timing.
My parents came to Paraguay to visit me during the month of November. Even though it was later than originally planned, it was the perfect time the Lord set aside for us to spend time together. During the 3 ½ weeks that they were here we were able to travel to Iguazu Falls, attend my church, go to the local park, go grocery shopping, celebrate both my birthday and my dad’s, and simply enjoy spending time together. The Lord truly blessed our time together. We have memories that will be remembered forever. During the visit I had the opportunity to translate both from Spanish to English and English to Spanish. There were several times that I forgot which language to speak to whom…often turning to my parents and saying something in Spanish to which my mom or dad would say…”Jenna, English, please.” There were several moments of belly-hurting laughing! It was an eye opening experience as I was able to see how much Spanish I knew, and also the certain areas in which I am still lacking. I am so proud of my parents for making their first trip to a foreign country and for their adventurous attitudes. I love them more for coming. Thank you all for your prayers for my dad’s back and for my mom’s health. God truly blessed us with a great time. Here are some pictures from our Paraguayan adventure.
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- I love them so much!
Tags: New Tribes Mission, NTM
Life in the Paraguayan countryside
Life in the Paí village is much different then here in the capital city. There is no running water or electricity. I was able to check some things off my “First time” list. I drew water from a well, washed clothes by hand, and used the outhouse in the middle of the night (all by myself). I felt like I was Laura Ingles Wilder from “Little house on the Prairie.”
Without a Messenger.
Because my parents were unable to come, I was able to join Rebekah on a trip to the eastern side of Paraguay. She had gone with another missionary, named Luciane, to visit and see the work that New Tribes is doing in this part of Paraguay. Ruth, one of our Paraguayan friends, was able to accompany me on the trip. The bus ride was 11 hours long, almost half of it on dirt roads. The countryside was beautiful. In this particular region of Paraguay there are large ranches with spacious pastures for innumerable amounts of cattle. Paraguay is one of the top ten countries that exports beef. Needless to say we passed many cows on our trip.
During the first part of the trip we attended a young adult retreat. About one hundred young people from several different communities attended. The ages ranged from 13-29. Missionaries have been working among these people groups for many years. Some of the young people were third generation believers. The teaching and the singing was all done in their heart language, Guaraní. . As I sat there listening and watching them worship the Lord and read scripture I was overjoyed.
After the retreat, we went to a Paí village where the missionaries lived. I say “lived” because the missionaries are phasing out, meaning that there is a maturing church with their own Paí leaders and Bible teachers. The missionaries have been working with this group of people for over 30 years. The missionaries are still coming in for short visits but the Paí church is functioning on their own. How exciting! The missionaries have translated bible materials and lessons that the Paí use while teaching.
We visited many people as we went about the village. We also attended a weekly ladies meeting. With the sun shining its last rays through the windows, casting long shadows on the dirt floor of the meeting house, I listened to the words of hope and life being spoken. The Paí women each read a verse of scripture aloud. These ladies are able to read God’s Word for themselves. What an amazing privilege the missionaries had in bringing God’s Word, teaching them in their own language and teaching them to read.. What a precious moment! It made me think of the verse that says.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17
God has given his bride, the church, you and me, the privilege of taking His message of hope to the ends of the earth. There are people who need a messenger, someone to come and teach them in their own language. They need a bearer of the Good News, the best news of all…Life. Without the message of life they will continue to pass into a Christ-less eternity. How will they hear? Have you have stopped a moment and thought about this reality? The Paí ladies reading scripture in their own language represents years and years of hard work, God’s faithfulness, and His sustaining hand. I am sure it was not easy, but worth every moment.
“ God, if you will use my life to bring hope to those who have none, I am willing. Use me. I am weak, but You are strong.“ I am humbled and privileged to be a messenger…a bearer of Good News.
THUMP…thump…THUMP…
September 8th…the long anticipated day was fast approaching …the day that my parents were coming on a plane to see me. However, instead of joy it was a day of hope deferred. Four days earlier my mom and dad shared the news with me that they were unable to make the trip. My dad had injured his back and was unable to make the 16+ hour flight. With blurry tear-filled eyes and fists clenched, I cried to the LORD, and heard his gentle, loving voice say my name, “Jenna, my child…I am good. I love you! I know you are disappointed. Come, sit in my lap, place your ear close to my heart. Listen to my heartbeat.
Thump…thump…thump…thump…I…love…you…my…child…thump…thump…”
“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.” Pro 23:26
Oh how precious are the hands of my God, holding me close with strength and gentleness! “Lord, I give you my heart, my desires, my disappointments, my questions. Open my eyes to see your ways, your love, your gentle embrace.
My parents have their suitcases packed and are ready to come as soon as my dad is able to travel. Please pray for my dad to recover quickly and that we would patiently wait on the Lord, trusting His plan. knowing He is good. Please pray that we will give the Lord our hearts…draw near to hear His heartbeat.
My Parents just purchased tickets to come and see me in a little over 2 weeks. Counting down the days. Praising God for his blessings!
Where is my home?
As the week-long trip to the Chaco was coming to and end, I found myself thinking about all my friends back in Asunción and my Paraguayan church family. I smiled as the Lord opened my eyes to see the work of His hands in my life. As I was on the bus traveling back to the city, I was thinking about how I could not wait to jump right back into Spanish study. I had tasted a small part of what my life may be like in the future but it wasn’t time yet. I still have to accomplish what the Lord has for me now… learning Spanish and Paraguayan culture. The day to move out to the tribe is coming, but I need to be faithful today. Having seen the big picture, it gives me courage and diligence in the today! Sitting there on the bus, watching Paraguay flash past, I began to smile and think about my home….my home. It was then that it blew over me like a sweet, warm breeze with the scent of gentle love. Asunción is my home! With affection in my heart, I was calling Asunción, Paraguay my home. What I had been praying for so long came true. The Lord has settled my heart here. As I began to ponder this, my smile continued to grow until it overflowed in tears trickling down my face. I have a family and a home in Paraguay.
As I look ahead and think about moving into a remote tribal location, with joy in my heart I can say, “I trust you, God, to settle my heart”. When my heart is settled in Him I can be “home” anywhere. He is my safe place. This trip has not only changed my view of my future but also of my present. I am rejoicing in His great blessings that he has given me. Where is my home? New York? Asunción? The tribe? I am home in HIM.
Strength for Today and bright hope for tomorrow
“I know this feeling….I have been in this situation before. I was sitting among a group of ladies, drinking terere (a cold Paraguayan tea), my ears were tingling as I was listening to the different indiscernible words that were being spoken. I looked in amazement at the missionary lady that was carrying on a conversation with sounds that were completely foreign to me…some of which I have never heard in my life.
Before the trip as I was thinking about what I would see and experience, a small seed of fear was growing in my heart. “I am going to be in a place where I will not be able to understand anything that is being said around me.” These words played over and over in my mind as my heart pounded. I thought of when I first came to Paraguay. I did not know any Spanish apart from “Hola” and “¿Comó estás?” I was completely closed off from the world around me. It was a kind of loneliness that is indescribable. My heart wondered, “Am I going to feel this way all over again?”
“I know this feeling…I have been here before.” Sitting there not knowing what was being said was not scary like I thought it would be. Instead of it being another time of loneliness, it was instead a time of overwhelming joy and thankfulness. As I sat listening to a language that I could not understand, I began to reminisce about the last year in Paraguay. It has been the most difficult year of my life, but also one of the most precious to me. It was in this time that the LORD showed me in a very intimate and personal way that He was there with me in every moment.
God was with me when I came to Paraguayan not knowing any Spanish and when I move out to a tribal location He will continue to be my faithful friend. Because He is my security…with Him by my side, I am never alone. He will give me the strength and ability to do the things that He has for me, relying on Him and walking with Him each step of the way.
Chaco Trip
My co-worker, Rebekah, and I had the opportunity to take a trip to visit the northern part of Paraguay. This part of Paraguay is called the Chaco, which means “hunting land”. This is a fitting name because the Chaco is home to deer, armadillo, puma, and many different kinds of birds and reptiles. New Tribes Mission currently has several missionaries ministering among different indigenous groups in this part of the country.
This trip was an opportunity to see what New Tribes Mission is doing in Paraguay and to experience first-hand what it could be like working in a remote tribal location. The two people groups that Rebekah and I were able to visit were the Manjui and the Sanapana. We were able to spend the day with the missionaries to see what a normal day was like and to ask them questions about their experience and how the Lord has worked in their lives and in the lives of the tribal people. What a blessing to hear of God’s faithfulness and how lives have been changed because of the Word of God being taught, understood and received!
One of the things that hit home with me during this trip was that the missionaries are just like me…normal and weak but each day relying on the LORD for strength and wisdom. Talking with them and hearing them share their heart was a huge encouragement to me. The task that is ahead of me and the other missionaries is daunting, but with God’s strength and direction, and His mercy and love, His Word will be proclaimed. What a privilege it is to be used in this way! Thank you for all your prayers concerning the trip. The LORD has opened my eyes and heart to the people of Paraguay. Thank you for partnering with me in the privilege of bringing Words of Light to those living in the Dark.