Host families, a vital part of short-term missions experiences

Over the summer, a dozen families from the alliance of Pittsburgh churches volunteered to serve as host families of the members of the Latin American team of CCI professors. Here are the responses of some of the Latin Americans and a Pittsburgh host family.

Rixy points to where she recently served as a short-term missionary (9 months)
in Niger, Africa.

Rixy Leiva, El Salvador (recent short-term missionary to Niger)

In one month’s time, I have gone from abject poverty in Niger to the lap of luxury in Pittsburgh with these gracious host families.  I am enjoying both since they proceed from the hand of God.

Rixy at her going away party in Niger just prior to her arrival to Pittsburgh.

Rixy in the "lap of luxury"

Manuel and  Duglas were hosted by Mac and Susie McCabe

Victor Hugo, Gloria and Evelyn were hosted by Shirley & Jim Crawford

Gloria Martinez, Mexico "We are here in Pittsburgh with the folks who have opened their hands to give generously and have bent their knees to pray for us. This gives me a more complete perspective of God’s Kingdom work."

The sweet memories that Norma Lampersk had of her time with the Latin Americans: 

Things that took me by surprise: I was amazed at the fact that despite my lack of Spanish, we were able to communicate quite well with a dictionary, and hand gestures/ "acting out".

Moments we knew we were being used by God to help: 

Just the witness of the pure love and laughter which we shared during meals, quiet times, times of travel. 

The tears in my eyes when I said that final good-bye. :(.

The feeling of "no stress", hey this is fun!!!

The joy of seeing them watch a Latin movie on TV that we had rented.

it was a wonderful experience. Thank-you Henri Doren for the part YOU played in organizing everything.

We are on the right track! Strategic initiative of CCI/LA –Formation of a multicultural team of professors

Until now, the two professors responsible for teaching these Institutes for Forming Instructors have been two missionaries, two North Americans. The task at hand is to broaden this team of professors in a number of ways. How the top tier of our Leadership development pyramid is being broadened (see arrow):

• Instead of just one small team, we are creating two teams, one for the region of South America and one for Mexico/Central America.
• Instead of just two members, each team will have approx. 6 members, making for a pool of 12 professors to draw from.
• Instead of just one culture being represented, ten will be represented, from North to South: USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.

We have started this process and feel God’s confirmation that we are on the right track! A flame burns in the heart of a number of very proficient instructors with a yearning to become part of this multicultural team of professors and they are counting the cost to belong to it. With the exception of three of us, all the rest are volunteers. God did a mighty work just to get these professors to Mexico and He used many supporters from around the Globe who prayed and gave generously so we could begin the process of preparing them to be professors of the IFI.

Here are the professors-in-training:

Gloria Garcia (Monterrey, Mexico)

Evelyn Umana (San Salvador, El Salvador, she's the one standing up)

Rixy Leiva (San Salvador, El Salvador)

We all aspire to be like Bob Sabean, who at his 74 years of age, continues to serve faithfully, impacting our lives with his wisdom, Biblical insights and historical perspectives.

Someone has to lead the games!? That would be me! I love to play, to teach others how to play, and to teach others how to lead games!

What do you love to do?

Tell us about it by clicking on "observations" below and sharing!