Ian's Weblog

Festival de Esperanza – March 5, 2009

ianisinuruguay — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:37:31 +0000

Though I was unaware of it when I first came here to Uruguay, I would be lucky enough to participate in one of the largest revivals to ever take place in this part of the world. A few weeks ago, many of the churches in Montevideo and throughout the country came together to host Franklin Graham’s Festival de Esperanza (festical of hope) in the Estadio Charrua. Over the course of the three nights, thousands of people poored into the old soccer stadium to hear music from several different Latino Christian music groups and hear the gospel message presented by Franklin Graham. The festical started Thursday March 20th and over the next two nights the number of people in attendance grew to the point that by Saturday the Stadium was filled to capacity both on the field and in the seats. In addition, Sunday morning the stadium hosted the “Festiniños” event for which our church brought two busloads of kids from the congregation as well as some of the working class and poor neighborhoods where our church hosts bible studies. “Thousands” came to know the Lord through the events.

For Greg and I, this gave us an opportunity to do some work outside the farm. We volunteered as Arreglos Fisicos (physical laborers) and helped out with the setting up of chairs, cleaning of bathrooms, and picking up of garbage. It also gave us the opportunity to meet some other Christians from other parts of Latin America who had come to help.

Perhaps the biggest blessing the Festival de Esperanza brought was that it created an opportunity for the Evangelical churches to come together for a common purpose. One of the goals that Myron and Alice have had has been for there to be greater unity among the churches in the country. The strong tradition of secularism in Uruguaay means that many congregations are young, small, and unorganized and as such have trouble networking and combining resources. Much of the effort of SIM in Uruguay has been directed towards achieving this unity and sense of purpose the churches, in which the Franklin Graham Crusade played an important role.

As my last five weeks are now upon me, please pray that I can be diligent in my work; not losing focus on what needs to be done here and now. Pray for our continued safety at the work site. Lastly, I am currently searching for possibilities for housing for the coming fall. I would appreciate your prayers in my search for an apartment/dorm/room-in-a-basement where I can live for the coming school year.

Thank you and God bless.

Being a Part of BA and Saying Adios to Samuel – March 2, 2008

ianisinuruguay — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:05:58 +0000

The last month has really been rewarding for those of us doing the Lord’s work here in Uruguay. Construction on the retreat center has been progressing very well. We completed the floor of the new building and spent last Friday building the support rafters for the roof. Soon the carpentry work will begin as we start the walls and ceiling and finish the adjacent bathroom. In other recent developments at Mi Refugio, a new missionary family has arrived. Bill, Linda, and their son Matt have been spending most of the last few decades ministring in Nicaragua and Honduras. They will be overseeing many of the operational aspects of the retreat center as it continues to be built and sees greater usage by local churches and Christian organizations.
Sam, Greg, and I were able to enjoy a week off from work which we spent exploring Buenos Aires the Big Apple of South America. It was a wonderful experience and gave an excuse to put on our turist faces for a while and enjoy what the region has to offer as far as culture, history and cuisine are concerned. Sadly, today marked the end of Sam’s time here in Uruguay, as he is returning home to Switzerland to fulfill his military obligations. It is compulsary for men in the country and (much to my surprise) does not involve multi-purpose knives or providing protection for the Pope. He will surely be missed but we wish him the best of luck.

Please pray for out continued safety as the work continues forward, with Sam gone, much of the translating responsibilities will fall on me since Myron and Bill are unavailable during most of the weeks. Also pray that God will give me peace of mind about my plans for the fall concerning where I will live and study, as they are still up in the air.
Dios te bendiga!

The New Year – January 25, 2009

ianisinuruguay — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:54:19 +0000

This last month has seen a lot of exciting new developments here in Uruguay. Since Greg arrived we have been working closely with the Uruguayan team on a new structure at Mi Refugio that will serve as a sort of meeting place and cafeteria once it is completed. This means lots of concrete, wooden posts, shovels, and rebar. The work has been hard, but it’s been nice that we never have to worry about being bored! Many of the buildings at the retreat center have been modeled after a rustic camp architectural style. For the meeting place we have been planting pressure treated wood posts in concrete around the outside of the building. They will eventually support the roof, but for now it looks like a ruined version of the Parthenon. Many people have been asking questions about a picture on my facebook profile of me putting out a fire. This summer has seen one of the worst drouts in Uruguayan history and as a result, brush and forest fires have become common. It is not unusual to see two or three fires at a time on the horizon from Mi Refugio. The one in the picture was in a park next door to the retreat center. It was getting too close to the fence so we used the tractor to haul a tank of water over to the park to help some local people put it out. Please pray for rain and that lives and property will be preserved during the summer.

Some time in the near future Greg, Sam, and I will be taking a trip to Buenos Aires, partially because our visas are close to expiring but also because this is a fantastic opportunity to see one of the most developed cities in South America. Aside from this we are continuing to work with the youth group here at the Loss’s church on the weekends and take part in workshops at Mi Refugio during the week. Please pray for physical health and safety for the work ahead of us, and on a more personal note, for my housing situation for this September. I am scheduled to do a phone interview in a few weeks with a representative from the Queen’s University Residence offices about becoming a Don (Residence Assistant) in the upcoming school year.

God Bless!

Feliz Navidad – Devember 21, 2008

ianisinuruguay — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:52:42 +0000

Christmas is right around the corner and in typical Uruguayan fashion Sam and I along with the newest addition to the Uruguay ministry team, Greg, have been celebrating the season by swimming at the beach and attending soccer matches. As with the rest of the southern hemisphere, Uruguay is now in the dead of summer, which is characterized here by long hot days, the end of school for the season, and rampant forest fires. Our pace hasn’t slowed though, as we recently began work on a new structure at the retreat center which upon completion will serve as a sort of meeting place and cafeteria. Overseeing the construction is Greg, a civil engineer from Iowa who recently quit his job to devote the next twelve months to serving the Lord in Uruguay. Sam and I have been helping to translate between Greg and the other workers at “Mi Refugio” (Sam much more than me) which has been a very rewarding, if not tiring process. Please pray that we can continue to form a coherent team and be an encouragement to one another.

When we aren’t working, we have been taking plenty of time on the weekends to enjoy what Montevideo has to offer. Last weekend, Greg, Sam, and I went with two of our friends, Pablo and Andres, to see “El Clasico”, a major soccer event between Uruguay’s two best teams, Nacional and Peñarol. The rivalry between the two teams is considered the oldest outside of the British Isles, and as a result the outcomes are often considered to be dangerous. Thankfully, the game was clean and there was no apparent violence at the conclusion of the match. As is the case with all of Latin America, soccer is considered to be one of the most important influences on the local and national culture.

Work will be halting for the holidays on Tuesday, so place pray that we may have an enjoyable and productive few weeks off from work. Also, pray that during this Christmas season the eyes of Uruguayans will be opened to the majesty of our King and Saviour, Who entered the world in an unusual fashion with the intention of ruling in an even more radical way.

With Love,

Ian Gilbert

Workshops at Mi Refugio – November 24, 2008

ianisinuruguay — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:49:53 +0000

These last few weeks have been filled with many wonderful opportunities to serve the Lord, so much so that it has been difficult for me to find time to update the blog! In Myron’s own words, he intends to “sweat us into maturity”, which I believe he is succeeding at!

This weekend Sam and I had the privilege of working with a Costa Rican missionary named Pablo with a leadership workshop he was doing. Pablo has traveled around much of Latin America training youth leaders, pastors, and teachers in group team-building activities not unlike the challenge course ministry that Beaver Camp and many other North American Christian organizations do. Sam and I prepared food and washed dishes for the group of about 15 leaders and then took part in some of the activities.

Also, during the last few weeks a Canadian missionary by the name of Julie has been shadowing Myron and Alice Loss and contemplating future ministry opportunities along the coast of Uruguay. She is a theological student in Texas and has been a huge blessing to us here in Uruguay. Sadly, Julie is leaving this Saturday to finish her semester but Lord willing she will return in the future to help start a women’s ministry in some of the middle to upper class neighborhoods that have been difficult to reach in the past.

Over the next few weeks please remember keep us all in your prayers. Pray for traveling mercies for Julie and that she can do well on her finals. Also, there will be a new missionary coming down from Iowa next month to help with the construction projects at the retreat center. As always, keep the Losses and Sam and I in your prayers as we do the Lord’s work here in Uruguay.

God Bless,

Ian Gilbert

The Arrival of More Help – November 1, 2008

ianisinuruguay — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:00:59 +0000

These last two weeks have seen many things happen, so much so that it has been difficult for me to find the time to do blog updates! Last week another SIM short term missionary arrived who will be helping with the work at the retreat center. Sam, like myself, is twenty years old and is taking time off from his life to do the Lord’s work in Uruguay. Coming all the way from Switzerland, Sam speaks Spanish and English competently (in addition to his native Swiss German). This has been a huge blessing for me and has made working with the Spanish workers much easier as we now have somebody who can translate more difficult words and phrases. Sam will be leaving in March of next year so until then, we will be working together for the SIM ministry.

As far as the retreat center is concerned, Sam and I have spent most of the last week working on odd jobs that have needed work, such as finishing signs and staining furniture. One of our jobs that we have to do every few days is to water all of the saplings growing on the property. Many of them are fruit trees that grow in warm temperate climates and will provide both shade and delicious pears, apples, avocados, and pecans for groups that come in to use the center when it is completed.

Please pray for good health for the missionaries here, as I have been struggling with a cold. Also, this weekend a group is coming to use the facilities at the retreat center since one of the cabins is complete. Pray that Mi Refugio gets good reviews!

God Bless,

Ian GIlbert

Beggining the Work at the Retreat Center – October, 18 2008

ianisinuruguay — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:24:12 +0000

During the last two weeks I have been working at the retreat center known at “Mi Refugio”. The center is still under construction but thanks to the hard work of Miguel, Fernando, Gonzalo, and William, work is progressing quickly. I recently moved up to the retreat center which is located a bit off the beaten path in one of the suburbs of Montevideo, but within walking distance of a bus stop, making it both remote and accessible. Of the workers I am currently the only one that speaks any English, but I have found that my own Spanish comprehension and communication abilities have improved a lot since I have arrived here. While it is difficult, spending my time at Mi Refugio is a blessing in disguise as it has forced me to work harder on my Spanish language skills.

The arrangement that we have now is that I spend the weekdays at the center and the weekends here at Loss’s house so that I can continue work on my blog and email friends and family back home, attend church with Myron and Alice, and get some rest and relaxation. Three of the workers live near the center but Miguel and I have rooms in an old farmhouse structure on the land where we eat, live, and sleep during the week. All of the workers are believers and it is clear that God is working through them by their servant attitudes. This past week Myron asked me to create signs for the buildings since it is difficult for me to work with the group due to the language barrier.

Please pray in the week ahead that I can continue to develop my Spanish speaking skills, that there will be plenty of work to do, and also for safe passage for Samuel, a Swiss missionary who will be arriving in Montevideo on Wednesday to move into the retreat center with Miguel and me.

Thank you, and God bless!

Learning the Ropes – October 7, 2008

ianisinuruguay — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:43:23 +0000

Two weeks have passed since I arrived here in Montevideo. One thing that I have come to see and appreciate is the great amount of work that needs to be done and thus the many opportunities I have to serve the Lord and the SIM ministry here.

This past week the lion’s share of my time has been spent working with a team of three men from Ontario who came down to work on one of the SIM missionary families here. I am thankful for the chance this presented me to work with my hands, and even more thankful that I was able to transition into what the Lord has called me to do here by working with people who spoke English! The Canadians returned back home to their families this evening, but I will either be spending some time this week helping to finish up the work on the roof or moving up to the retreat center (El Refugio) to help with the construction that Myron Loss has been overseeing.

I am so thankful for these opportunites that have arisen. Please pray that I can continue to improve in my language comprehension skills and for safety for myself and the other workers alredy at El Refugio. Lord willing, there will be another missionary coming down from Switzerland soon who is about my age and speaks fluent Spanish and English. This is an answer to prayers as it will make work go much more smoothly for me since none of the other workers are bilingual.

Hasta Luego!

Ian Gilbert

Arrival in Montevideo, Uruguay – September 22 2008

ianisinuruguay — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:39:23 +0000

Yesterday morning after about 24 hours in airports and on planes I arrived safely with all my bags in Montevideo. Myron Loss was there to pick me up and take me to his and his wife Alice’s house where I will be living for a while. Just as I arrived a church service was beginning under a big tent that they have set up in their backyard. There were about thirty or so people in attendance, which is pretty typical for evangelical churches in Uruguay, although Myron told me there are usually more but the weather was a bit cold and many people don’t have cars to get them to Church.

Right now I am sleeping in their guest room, but eventually I will be moving out to a construction site where they are building a retreat center. All of the action is going on in the outskirts of Montevideo, which is the capital of Uruguay and home to roughly 1,350,000 people (about the size of greater Syracuse, NY). As these next few days progress, please pray that I will adapt well to Uruguay and also pray a special blessing on Myron and Alice for welcoming me into their home.

With Love,

Ian Gilbert

Arrival in Charlotte, NC – September 17 2008

ianisinuruguay — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:24:02 +0000

This morning at about 10:00 I flew out of Syracuse NY to a quick connection in Newark before flying on to North Carolina. Right now I am at the SIM USA facility staying in one of the dormitories. This will be my home for the next three days before I fly out to Uruguay on the 20th.

Most of what goes on here deals with the coordination of many of SIM’s international missionaries from the United States. Individuals (like myself) go through training and preparation here before being sent out into the field. Likewise, this place serves as a place of debrief for individuals coming.

Myself and one other Short Term Associate will be here for the next few days before we head out to the nations we have been assigned to. Most of our training focuses on the spiritual and emotional aspects of traveling abroad. This evening I heard a presentation from one of the staff people on evangelism in the biblical context and how important it is in fulfilling God’s plan for ourselves and also for the world as a whole.

Please pray that over the next few days God will open my heart and mind to what I should be taught. Also pray that my flight plans can go forward smoothly. I expect to fly out at 11:45am on Saturday and arrive in Montevideo, Uruguay at 5:45pm on Sunday.

Thank you, and God bless!

Ian Gilbert