Ambassador of Christ in the Americas

Was it so very long ago you came to live on earth?

When will I ever comprehend the value of the Savior's birth?

A man with rough, but gentle hands, a carpenter by trade

I want so much to understand the sacrifice the Father gave

And in the silence I can hear a voice that calls to me

Sometimes it comes in loud and clear, sometimes I'm just not listening

The rains have come, the winds have blown, and stronger for the storm I stand

Amazing grace I've come to know while clinging tightly to your hand

Lord, help me hear that voice inside, the message coming through

Please take my heart and amplify the love I have for you

Please take my heart and amplify the love I have for you

Written by Chet and Danice Sweet of the a cappella singing group, Revival. 

Today our dear brother Luis Useche from the church of Christ in Carúpano passed away. Luis was a most wonderful brother and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his faithful obedience to the Lord and his genuine witness, his wife and all of his children are faithful disciples of Christ. Today we mourn his death and his absence among us but we rejoice that in his death he has gone home to be with the Lord who he dearly loves. Let us continue to pray for the Useche family in this difficult time. 

I wish the more supernatural gifts were still around! If you know me, you know which one most interests me! That’s right – speaking in tongues! Every since I was little kid, I remember being fascinated by foreign languages!

I started studying Spanish in the 11^th grade. My last year of Spanish I did not go to class. My teacher graciously taught me more accelerated classes after school four days a week. Once I arrived at Oklahoma Christian my freshman year I took Spanish. My sophomore year I began studying Brazilian Portuguese. It was my senior year that my love-hate relationship with the French language began.

Ever since I was a young child, I wanted to speak French! My goal, for many years, was to be fluent in French because I wanted to work for the U.S. State Department or the U.N. I thought I was good at imitating a French accent until I began studying French in college. It seemed as when I got in front of my professor, my accent suddenly went missing and I would begin to speak French with a Latin American accent. My French professor even told me one day, “Vous parlez le français comme un Vénézuélien.” I was a little insulted by the thought that I spoke French like a Venezuela, but I decided to take it as a compliment. Since then, I have bought a number of French CD’s and text books in order to keep learning. I even watch TV Monde, French television every now and then.

I really needed to speak French this last Saturday. Luis Gómez invited the young people from church to go to the Plaza Altamira, also known as the French Plaza to tell people about Jesus. I’ll have to admit I am a little timid and I prefer other types of evangelism, but they we were! I told my partner that we should buy some ice cream from a vendor and that we could talk to her for a while. I quickly realized that our new friend did not speak Spanish very well at all! She spoke French! Our friend Nicole was from Haiti.

She lived in a dangerous barrio in West Caracas and sells ice cream in one of Caracas’ favorite plazas. I used whatever French I could remember . . . I introduced myself, got her name, asked her about her family and where she lived . . . and that was about it! I could not remember any more French! I got so mad at myself!

Did you know that Caracas has a large Haitian community? There are more than 7,500 Haitians in Venezuela, principally in Caracas in the barrios La Vega and Antímano. A great majority of them come to Venezuela looking for better political and economic conditions. There is even a Christian bookstore that sells Bibles in French at a discount to the Haitian community.

What are we doing to help the Haitians in Caracas? How many members from the Lord’s church are praying for and helping these needy families? Who is telling them about God’s unfailing love? In missiology we talked about unreached people groups. For what I know, the Haitians in Caracas are an unreached group!

Who will go and preach to them?    

“My Jesus, as Thou Wilt” is one of my favorite hymns. It was written by Benjamin Schmolck around 1704 and was translated into English from German by Jane L. Borthwick in 1854.

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Oh, may Thy will be mine!

Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign;

Through sorrow, or through joy, conduct me as Thine own,

And help me still to say, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! If needy here and poor,

Give me Thy people’s bread, their portion rich and sure.

The manna of Thy Word Let my soul feed upon;

And if all else should fail, my Lord, thy will be done.

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear,

Let not my star of hope grow dim or disappear;

Since Thou on earth hast wept, and sorrowed oft alone,

If I must weep with Thee, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me;

Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee:

Straight to my home above I travel calmly on,

And sing, in life or death, my Lord, Thy will be done!

This is a bulletin article written by Involvement Minister, Mark Yeakley for the Northside Church of Christ, my new supporting congregation in Wichita, Kansas. Enjoy! 

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Last week Jonathan Hanegan, Northside’s missionary to Venezuela, hosted the elders and the Missions Oversight Team at a dinner of Venezuelan food he prepared. Jonathan frequently cooks for guests at his apartment in Venezuela as he believes that showing hospitality to others is one of the best ways to let them see the love of Jesus and to influence them for Christ. His frequent practicing in Caracas was evident in the quality of the food he served to us.

After the dinner Jonathan gave us a trivia quiz about Venezuela and Colombia. (He works one week there every three months.) We were all surprised to learn that a recent World Values Survey named Colombia as the world’s third happiest country. (The U.S. was ranked 16th.) “Surprised” is probably putting it mildly because “happiness” is not normally a word that comes to mind when we think of Colombia. I usually think of words like “cocaine”, “cartel”, and “poverty”. 

The per capita income in Colombia is much lower than in any of the other countries that made it to the Top Ten Happiest list. Why, then, are so many Colombians happy?

Jonathan says that many people think it’s because the Colombians have low expectations. But his theory is that they have learned to look for happiness through relationships with people rather than by accumulating things. He thinks there’s a lesson for all of us there. Maybe those of us in the U.S. would do good to find our happiness (and more importantly, our joy) by laying up our treasures in heaven and by investing our time and money in people rather than things. In other words, we need to cut back on distractions.

Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, offers several ideas on how we can all cut back on distractions.

Buy things for their usefulness rather than for their status.

Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

Develop a habit of giving things away.

Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry. 

Learn to enjoy things without owning them.

Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. 

Look with healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes.

Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God. It is so easy to lose focus in the pursuit of legitimate, even good things. Job, position, status, family, friends, security – these and many more can all too quickly become the center of attention.

Jonathan, thanks for the great meal and the lesson in what’s really important in life. May God bless you as you return to Venezuela to continue sharing food and Jesus with the people there.  

Would you like to receive this monthly newsletters in your email? You can subscribe through the Northside Church of Christ "Mission Venezuela" email distribution list. Send an email from your email account to the following address:

mission_venezuela-subscribe@northsidecoc.org

If you would like to unsubscribe to the email distribution list, please send an email to the following address:

mission_venezuela-unsubscribe@northsidecoc.org

Thank you very much!

The realities of life in Latin America are so extremely different than what a typical citizen of the U.S. would experience on a day to day basis. Even though we are all Americans, life in the South faces quite a different reality. One of the main differences is the issue of national security. Both Venezuela and Colombia have had a harsh past of violence. Since gaining their freedom from the Spaniards, there have been constant struggles for power and wealth. Now, one of the major tools of the guerilla fighters and paramilitaries in this struggle for power and wealth is kidnapping.

Many are aware of Colombia's struggle with the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Since their humble beginnings, they have wreaked havoc in Colombia, decimated entire villages and small towns, slaughtered and tortured helpless victims and raped countless innocent women and children. There are currently over 500 people being held captive by the FARC in Colombia.

Ingrid Betancourt, who was recently freed from captivity through the famous Operation Jaque was an ex-presidential candidate in Colombia. She had high hopes for negotiating peace talks between the rebel groups and the government. However, her hopes turned into more than six years of captivity in the Colombian jungle. Since her rescue, she has been campainging internationally against the FARC and for the peace in Colombia.

As Christians, we must share the pain of the people to who we minister. What does this mean? If we are going to work in Colombia, sharing God's love with the Colombian people, we must understand what it means to live in Colombia. We must share the pain of the Colombian people. The day that Ingrid Betancourt, a small group of ex-military officers, policeman and three North Americans were realeased, we shared the joy of the Colombian people.

God desires peace for the Colombian people. Were you aware that the church in Colombia has faced persecution due to the armed conflict in Colombia? Did you know that there are very few congregations of the Lord's body in Southern Colombia because Christian groups came under great persecution for preaching against the violence and greed that promote the FARC's agenda?

Peace in Colombia will bring many more opportunities to share the Gospel with the people who only see two options: a life of extreme poverty or a life of revolutionary resistance, a.k.a. violence. Please pray for the nation of Colombia that it might enjoy peace and ultimately experience the peace that comes from God. Please pray for the churches in Colombia and those that work with them, that we might spread the Gospel in every department of this great nation!

Now that I have shared a number of negative factors about life in Venezuela, it is only fair that I share a number of the blessings of life here in Venezuela! Let me just start out by saying that I chose to come to Venezuela. Nobody forced me to move here. In fact, many tried to discourage me from coming here. Some offered me attractive ministry positions in the States while others encouraged me to seek out other possibilities in Brazil and Honduras. Others flat out told me that I had no business in Venezuela. However, after almost two years here on the field, I have no doubt that it was God’s will that I come to Venezuela.

Family Values.

One thing that I have learned from Venezuela is value of family unity. My American culture places a great emphasis on the family but the Venezuelans have a unique way of living in family. If you are reading this post, it is likely that you are aware of the American custom of sending the kids off to college and kicking them out once they get their diploma. In Venezuela, most children live at home until they get married! Some Venezuelan parents remind me of Bill Cosby because they want their children out of the house while others have a wonderful healthy relationship with their adult children. Another thing that impresses me is their commitment to the family. If there is some kind of need, whether it be economic or another type of need, the whole family comes rushing to help. It seems that most families keep in touch better, they know most of their extended family and family is a big part of their lives. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to live in family from the Venezuelan people.

Friendship.

You might have noticed that the name of my website is “panajonathan.” It is a combination of two words, pana which means friend and “Jonathan” which is the name my mother gave me the day I was born. I’ve always thought that everyone should have a lot of panas, acquaintances with whom you have a friendly relationship. However, in life there are very few amigos or good friends. I greatly value the friendships that I have in the States and they will never be replaced. But one thing that I’ve seen since I’ve arrived here in Caracas is that the Venezuelan people seem to be wired for friendship. I cannot visit a city or small town in Venezuela where I don’t have at least one pana. And amigos or good friends, I also have a number of them as well. It is surprising to me that in less than two years, I could find such quality friendships in Caracas and outside of the city as well. God has truly blessed me in this area. It seems like my best friends have learned about what it means to be a friend, from the best friend that has ever lived, Jesus Christ (John 15:13).

Sense of Humor.

I consider myself a funny person. I think my jokes are pretty good. My dad’s jokes are pretty bad and I think mine are at least a little better than his! The American sense of humor involves sarcasm as well as other elements. Venezuelan humor is quite different. Sometimes I will be joking around with a friend here and I will make a really sarcastic comment and my friend will not know how to take it. Sarcastic comments in Venezuela are easily misunderstood. Along the same lines of sarcasm is what I like to call exaggeration. This is a culturally acceptable way to joke around in Venezuela. Once I stopped being so sarcastic and started exaggerating more is when the people really started laughing. They’ve also told me that any gringo telling jokes in Spanish is worth laughing at! Another part of the Venezuelan sense of humor is chalequeo. This form of joking around that reinforces the trust that you have with the person you are joking with. In one way, it is a way to laugh at someone or make light of something they say and do. When I first arrived in Venezuela I could not stand the chalequeo! It drove me nuts! I felt that they were critiquing my every move! That is, until I learned to play by the rules! Now, I’m known for my chalequeo! I love how the Venezuelan people can sit in the living room for eight straight hours, never turn on the TV, never turn on the radio and cry because they are laughing too hard! Here we call it bochinche!

Intergenerational Living.

There are so many positive things that I could write about concerning life in Venezuela, but I will only write about one more: intergenerational living. The local church and the Venezuelan society as a whole enjoys living life with all ages. Many children grow up with their grandparents in their home. Grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all come to the young child’s and teen’s birthday party. Actually, the concept of a “teenager” is exclusively American. Linguistically, the word teenager does not exist in Spanish. A teen is someone who is in between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. The Spanish numbers do not end in “teen” thus, there is no such clear age distinction. The word joven is used to designate a young person. Thus, grupo de jóvenes would be youth group. Because the Venezuelan society does not take into consideration the idea of the teenage years, neither does the church. The churches of Christ youth groups in Venezuela have people from 15 years to 40 years old. Practically anyone who is not married is part of the youth group. This means, in East Caracas we have people who are still in high school hanging out with single professionals who are 35 years old. Not only are the youngest spending time with other young people, but many church activities are designed to bring the different generations together. I would like to see this paradigm in the American church. I think it would bring stability to the young people’s lives and a joy that cannot be found otherwise.

Like I said, there are so many positive things to write about Venezuela that I don’t know where to begin and where to end. However, I hope these different ideas help you to get a better idea about life here in Caracas! I hope you can come and visit me soon so you can meet these wonderful people here in Venezuela! May God bless you always!

“We need to change the bands for orchestras!”

The “bands” that this satirical comic refers to are bands of organized crime or gangs. There are many strategies in place to reduce organized crime in Venezuela. There has been a recent push with the socialist missions to send people back to the classroom. There have also developed new sports programs to keep kids off the streets. But one of the most effective and acclaimed programs is the Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.

Venezuela has received worldwide acclaim for their Youth Symphony Orchestras. The largest youth orchestra is located in Caracas but it has satellite orchestras all over the country. Venezuelan children first start studying music and playing in the orchestra as early as age five. They begin by playing the recorder. They also learn how to read music, sing and dance. Little by little they are exposed to different forms of music. When they are old enough, they choose an instrument to play in the orchestra.

Thousands of young people and children play in orchestras around the nation. Many young people and families do not have enough money to buy their own instrument but this does not hold them back from giving a world class performance! Check out the following YouTube video of the Simon Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra in the United Kingdom under the direction of Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel playing “Mambo.”

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874-1963), Mountain Interval, 1920.

El camino no tomado

Dos caminos divergían en un bosque amarillo,
y apenado de no poder viajarlos ambos
y ser un único viajero, permanecí largo rato
y contemplé por uno tan lejos como podía
para ver adónde se perdía en la vegetación;

entonces tomé el otro, tan recto como iluminado,
y teniéndolo tal vez como el más apropiado,
porque estaba cubierto de hierba y era incitante;
aunque para el que pasa por allí
tenían los dos realmente la misma utilidad.

Y ambos igualmente yacían en aquella mañana
en hojas que ningún paso había manchado de sombra.
Ah, ¡dejé el primero para otro día!
Aun sabiendo cómo el camino conduce al camino,
dudé si habría de volver alguna vez.

Estaré diciendo esto con un suspiro
en algún lugar a edades y edades de aquí:
dos caminos divergían en un bosque y yo...
yo tomé aquel que era el menos transitado,
y eso ha hecho toda la diferencia.

Robert Frost (1874-1963), Mountain Interval, 1920.