Mission Peru

by Jeff Enns

I have heard so often from students, “Man! I wish I had learned more Spanish!” If you have participated in Mission Peru over these past 9 years, you more than likely felt this way, whether you voiced it or not. When we’re in the moment, and in Peru, we have this longing to communicate more effectively through words, and more often than not, we leave some of those experiences feeling frustrated. You might have even felt like you should have been a better messenger, but the words just simply wouldn’t come.

Most of you that know me, have gathered that I speak Spanish fluently. In fact, Spanish was actually my first language, and it’s not very often where I can’t find the right word at the right time. It’s usually the other way around. Sometimes I can’t find the right English word back here in Canada. #latinprobs

But when I preach, I love teaching from what I would call my “heart language” which is English. I married a Canadian girl, and have Canadian kids. When we talk emotional language, it’s all in English. Further to that, when I talk with God, for some reason it’s mostly in English. I read my Bible in English, and study it in English. So when I’m asked to preach in Spanish, I feel like I’m speaking from a language that’s not my heart language. It’s not only frustrating; it’s a real challenge.

I felt this frustration was compounded by my tiredness this trip.

Do you remember that exhausting trip on the way there?

Arriving in Lima at 3am, waiting for our bus...we finally hit the road at around 4am, and arrived at our destination just before 1pm, had a quick lunch (no showers) and went right to ELIM? We arrived back at the property in time for showers, and a late dinner, then de-brief. That night I stayed up until 130am, working on my sermon, and arose four hours later to do final tweaks and edits.

Imagine my first sermon (I’m so glad none of you were there). Ray sent me a text asking how it went, and my response was #leadballon (It went over like a lead balloon).

As a messenger, I felt so imperfect. I wished that my heart language was Spanish so that I could preach with ease. I also wished that I was more awake, and less exhausted (You might remember that I joked about our Canadian addiction to Tim Horton’s coffee and off the cuff I said that they weren’t yet in Peru, but if there were any business people interested, they should speak to me after the service). Between services, Pastor Antenor had invited me upstairs to have some breakfast and coffee (maybe he could tell I was tired #ha!) He was a few minutes late joining me and he apologized for being late for our breakfast.  He then explained that someone had pulled him aside after the service, a young man who had recently given his life to Christ. He was a businessman whose family is originally from Spain. Their new business venture was to open up bake shops, multiple ones in Trujillo. He said that as a result of the sermon, he wanted to give a significant donation to the church, and that moving forward they wanted to use some of the proceeds of their business to bless the mission of the church.

WOW! It hit me like a ton of bricks. It didn’t matter that I felt like an imperfect messenger.

The message was perfect because it was God’s spirit delivering it.

This doesn’t mean we don’t learn Spanish, or try to use the little we have learned. It also doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t prepare for messages when I speak. But it certainly is a reminder that it’s not about me, or even my perceived abilities as a messenger; it’s about the perfect message that the Spirit of God wants to deliver.

As we live out our faith in a Canadian context, it’s also important to remember that we will come up against many barriers. These barriers will most likely not be ones of language, but they will make us feel that we are imperfect messengers for the mission. What are the barriers you are already finding that are preventing you from being an effective witness, representing your experience in Peru, but also your faith at large? Remember, the message is perfect, because it’s God’s Spirit who delivers it.

He actually asks us to be a part of this process...how cool is that?

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. (II Corinthians 5:20 NIV)

Remember your five F’s? Who wants to press on to the fruit stage?

I am so proud of the way you served, and am praying for you as you transition back to Canada.

Jeff Enns
Director
Mission Peru