Missionary Effectiveness

We are forming fraternity here is Brussels. We are sharing tasks and getting to know each other. We are strangers in a strange land together which has aided our bonding. Today is the end of my second full week at the Interfranciscan Mission Program in Brussels. This picture was taken at the end of the class on Franciscan Missionary Methods Throughout History given by Damien Isabell, OFM. Damien has been in DR Congo for 32 years! He was a member of the Sacred Heart Province before joining the OFM province in the Congo.

I am learning about missionary effectiveness. The historical missionary concept of building churches and baptizing babies is no longer viable. The job of today's missionary is to try to understand and respond to the heart of the people. In this way the Gospel can be realized. This missionary (that means me) has a lot of things to learn about to whom God is sending me. I must be open to learning more from the people then what they may learn from me. This will take time and effort. From what I am hearing I will have to learn Swahili. Language learning is not my strong suit but I will do my very best. My assignment to the Province in East Africa is for six years. I will be spending a major portion of that time acclimating to the culture before I can ever begin to be effective.

I feel so privileged being in this program and getting the input I am receiving. The men I am studying with come from all over the world. The diversity is great and is in itself a part of the learning for me. One thing that I am learning is that culture is not static, it is dynamic. There may be similarities within a culture but each person in the culture may or may not follow all cultural norms or behaviors. Practically, then, my job is to take each person individually. What a challenge! Certainly one that I am excited to about. Peace Tim

Oh! Please continue to pray for the refugees in Europe. They are finding no welcome and are increasingly finding no place to go. This is a shameful crisis with no remedy in sight. ODE