A Letter from Sherron George in Brazil
Pentecost 2010
“All were constantly devoting themselves to prayer ... they were all together in one place ... All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit ...” (Acts 1.14; 2.1, 4).
Something special happens when God’s people in mission come together to pray, worship, work, rest, eat and play. Sometimes we all experience Pentecost again.
South American and Caribbean PC(USA) Mission Personnel Retreat
We all arrived on Sunday morning at the busy airport in São Paulo, Brazil. People came from Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Brazil. There were 33 of us — 5 children and 28 adults. Five World Mission staff joined 23 PC(USA) mission co-workers and spouses. The three-hour ride on our chartered bus through the lovely rolling hills dotted with flowering trees, coffee trees and sugar cane gave first-timers a taste of the beauty of Brazil. Those who have worked in solidarity with the earthquake victims in Haiti were in need of renewal and refreshment. Our seminary professors were ready for a break before ending the first semester of classes in the Southern Hemisphere. World Mission staff members were glad to be away from the pressures of budget and staff reductions. There were some new faces, some people with new assignments. We were a family of people in God’s mission.
Good Food and Table Fellowship Together
The first thing folks discovered at dinner was that Brazilian food is delicious: abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, rice, beans, pasta, soups, fresh fruit juices and the dessert table was everyone´s favorite temptation. We enjoyed our table fellowship together, even the many small meetings at meals. One of the favorites at breakfast and coffee breaks was the famous cheese bread. We were “happy campers” for sure!
Worship, Singing and Bible Studies
Participants at the mission personnel retreat praying for Sherron George.
Each morning different mission personnel led us with an amazing variety of creative methods and dynamics to study many Biblical texts about wholeness and balance. God created us to be whole persons with all the parts of our beings and of our lives being developed in harmony. God created us to be complete persons, to live in harmony with others and with all of creation. In small groups of five (each working in a different country), we shared the ways we lack wholeness and the paths to becoming whole and complete. It was soul food with folks who became soul friends! It was bread for the hungry!
Sharing our Ministries
The director of Presbyterian World Mission, Hunter Farrell, shared the new “Strategic Directions” of World Mission. Each of the 23 PC(USA) mission co-workers and spouses had 10 minutes to share about our diverse ministries. What beautiful gifts we have! We work in theological and continuing education, in agriculture, in labs, in programs of accompaniment, with networks committed to social justice, with Young Adult Volunteers, as delegation hosts, and regional liaisons. After a group of reports we would gather around and pray for one another. It was a Pentecostal experience!
Having Fun Together
On two afternoons we visited small mountain resort towns nearby with lots of interesting handicraft and local candies. In the evenings our five mission personnel from Peru planned some fun games, in which our competitive spirits came out, but with lots of fun and laughter. One evening was for sharing DVDs of the beauties of our countries. For those who didn’t put them on DVDs, Jed Koball held up his laptop for all to see (missionary improvisation when a Power Point projector is too expensive to rent).
Children’s Program
Sherron George with Magna Ribeiro.
Our 8-month-old stayed with her parents and brought joy to our meetings. The other children were 3, 6 and 12 years old. Planning a program for them was a challenge for me! The Spirit guided us to invite Magna Ribeiro and her 4-year-old daughter Lara. Magna is Valdice Nave’s niece. Valdice is my Brazilian sister and has worked with me for over 30 years. Valdice and Magna’s mother became Presbyterians under the ministry of PCUS missionaries Stephen Sloop and Paul and Dell Coblentz in the state of Goiás in the 1970s. Magna now lives in Brasília and is a university professor in education with specialization in counseling. She enabled each child to prepare art work for a book on Christian values, aided by DVDs, and offered companionship and counseling to each one. Magna was a special blessing! The fruit of mission work producing now 100-fold.
United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU) and Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB)
The moderators of the IPU and the IPIB, our partner churches in Brazil, the Rev. Enoc Wenceslau and the Rev. Assir Pereira, came to bring greetings. The stated clerk of the IPIB, the Rev. Gerson Lacerda, brought us a critical reflection on mission in the IPIB. He gave us a lot to think about.
I was gratified to see the results of long months of planning for this retreat. It was a sort of crown of joy of my ministry as regional liaison. I want to encourage congregations in the PC(USA) to continue to support our mission personnel, especially through the Directed Mission Support program. Keeping us on the field and sending new personnel is a major priority of the General Assembly Mission Council, but it depends on your gifts.
My latest book, Better Together: the Future of Presbyterian Mission, is available through Geneva Press or Amazon.
Your partner,
Sherron George
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 274
