We’re very excited to report that the Lord is making a way for Steve to take a trip to Colombia!
As we shared in our last letter, since September of 2020, I (Steve) have been interpreting for the weekly meetings of the Latin American Training Coordination Team (called ECELA in Spanish), which has been undertaking a thorough evaluation of our missionary training programs in Latin America (in Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil and one unnamed country) with the purpose of developing a Basic Guide for Missionary Training around a new core curriculum.
My interpreting services are needed because the project is being carried out under the guidance of the Global Equip Coordination Team (GECT) of our international fellowship of church-planting agencies called “Global Partners” (formed out of NTM). Since the GECT guys don’t speak Spanish, I have been facilitating communication between ECELA and GECT.
It was decided that the members of this working group should meet together “live and in person” in the last week of July, in order to put the training guide together. I’m happy that we were able to work things out for my teammate, Duff Gustafson, to be able to join me and help with the interpreting!
Taking advantage of the trip, Duff and I plan to stay in country for another week after the meetings to visit two local colleagues who work with our team on translation projects, and to touch base with other friends before we return to the States. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to travel there together, and you never know when or if another opportunity will come along.
We were grateful to learn that funds had been donated to cover the cost of the participants’ room and board and the transportation associated with the meetings. We will be responsible for our own airline tickets and the expenses of the additional week in country. Fortunately, we were able to get a favorable fare on Spirit Airlines out of Orlando. As you may be aware, they don’t have the best reliability record, so please pray that all goes well.
Before the trip to Colombia, I plan to spend two weeks with my mom in San Jose, California, as I mentioned in our May letter. There will only be a few days turnaround time scheduled between my return from San Jose and our departure for Colombia.
Please be praying for Eida while I’m away on these two trips, since she will be on her own for about one month.
Thank you so much for your faithful partnership in prayer and giving! May the Lord, in His grace, bless and keep you,
Steve & Eida Irwin
Spanish Language Resources
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P.S. The title photo is of the Instituto Misionero campus in Fusa where Eida and I served back in the 80’s. It’s changed a lot since then! I look forward to spending a few nights there on this trip.
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