Chile, Argentina and Uruguay Visit Report
I and my coworker M. Hannah Rhee visited three Southern Latin American countries: Chile, Argentina and Uruguay for 10 days from last August 17 to 27. Even though I didn’t intend it, I found out thatthese three countries are different from other Latin American countries with their unique social background. I thought that we need to consider this in the future mission strategy in Latin America. These three countries have mainly white people and they feel superior because of this. There is racism which is a barrier for the gospel ministry.
We had two purposes for our journey.InChile,Iwanted to knowaboutthe health condition of Missionary Josue Chun and to support their self-supporting missionary life. InArgentina, I wanted to see the successful succession of ministry to M. Mark Kim´s family since M. DK´s family returned to Chicago from Buenos Aires. Also, we wanted to have fellowship and mutual encouragement through prayers with missionaries who are working at the ends of the earth.
1) Chile
The commitment of M.Josue and HannahChun to the Lordwas verybeautiful. A year ago,M. Josue had sudden anginasymptomsand went to Koreato receive treatment. They soldthe shoe store which was their means of self-support. After caring for his healthin Korea, they returned to their mission field even though the doctor advised him not to do it.When they were back toChile, it was more difficult than the first time because they needed tostart all over again with everything. They needed to support the sixthandfifth grade-educationof two children, Paul and Joshua and needed to rent a place to stay. Also,there were difficulties financially since they used all their earnings for health treatmentsin Korea. These two missionaries are workingin storesrun byKoreans. From a human point of view, if they didn´t appreciate the mission and lived in Korea, they would have lived well.However, their lives inthe mission fieldwere verysimple withall worn-outstuff. Due tofinancial difficulties, the self-supporting and mission centered-life seemed to be impossible and they thought to do otherministry. However,they held onto God's callwho called them to the campusgospelministry in Chile.
The students in Chileclaimfreetuitionand they refused to have classes duringthree months. Demonstrations andriotingcontinueday after day. The day wearrivedwas the coldest dayduringthe winterof this year. Despite thecold weather,there wasa bigdemonstration. I pray thatthe campusmaysoonnormalize.
Prayer topics:
- To raise up Abraham, Sarah and twelve disciples in the university in Chile
- For the health of Msn. Josue Chun
- For the treatment of gastritis and knee osteoarthritisofMsn. Hannah Chun
- For self-supporting and get a Bible center near campus
2) Argentina
A. Buenos Aires
We left Chile and arrived at Buenos Aires airport after one and a half hours offlight. After several financial crises, it was hard to see the gloriousappearanceas thesixthlargest world's economy in the past. Unlike Brazil that opens the door of their universities to theneighboring countriesto receivetalented people in order togrow its economy, Argentinahasdespised its neighboring countries because of their pride. As a result, its economy is in stagnation but there is nowillingness toimprove it yet.
Dorka, Claudia, Karen, Aslith, Sandra, Jose and Darwin are growing up in Buenos Aires and Msn. Erendira from Mexico City is serving the ministry sacrificially. Msn. Erendira is in a Master’s program at the University of Buenos Aires. Because of this missionary´s labor, sisters are growing well and they began to receive common life training.
Their earnest prayer topic is the growth of Argentine sheep. Most of the sheep are immigrants from Peru. Since Argentine sheep don´t like to be involved in an immigrants’ meeting, to help Argentine sheep is the most important and earnest prayer topic.
Prayer topic
- For Msn. Mark and Ruth Kim to be good shepherds for Argentines.
- To raise up an Argentine college leader
- For Msn. Kim´s family to have a baby and for their successful business
- To make a co-working vessel of sister’s common life house
B. La Plata
It takes 45 minutes to get from Buenos Aires to La Plata by car. Msn. Isaac and Mary Cho and Msn. Juan and Johana Moon are serving the National University of La Plata and are co-working well.
The daughter of Msn. Isaac, Msn. Ester Cho, established a house church in USA and is now serving there well. Shep. Isaac and Maria Cho are being good coworkers for their parents. The son of Msn. Juan Moon, Juan Moon Jr. entered the university and is growing as good campus leader. Nadia and Jorge, both Argentine sheep, are growing well. They pray for her to grow up as a mother of faith.
Prayer topics
- For one Abraham and one Sarah
- For 12 disciples
- For 6 leader candidates in this year
- For 20 house churches by 2020
- For Msn. Isaac Cho´s powerful Sunday message
3) Uruguay
Prayer topics
- To raise up 12 disciples
- For self-supporting of Msn. Jose Park´s family
- For the work of the Holy Spirit among many sheep since they are fishing everyday in Medical and Chemistry School.
- For the powerful Sunday message by Msn. Jose Park each week.
Reported by M. Timothy Rhee