Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002601A
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00:06 Putting kids first in the country of Andorra,
00:09 expanding a missionary school in Romania, 00:11 and a delicious recipe from the Mission 360 Kitchen, 00:14 all this and much more coming up next. 00:51 Hello and welcome to Mission 360. 00:53 I'm Gary Krause. 00:55 Today's program is coming to you from San Jose, 00:58 the capital and the largest city 01:00 in Costa Rica. 01:01 When you think of Costa Rica, 01:03 you may think of postcard beaches, 01:05 exotic wildlife, beautiful birds, jungles. 01:08 And if you'd think that you'd be correct, 01:10 because this is a place 01:11 that takes its nature seriously, 01:13 and tourists come from all over the world 01:16 to enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica. 01:18 On today's program, 01:19 we're going to be looking at mission right here 01:21 in this country. 01:22 But first up, let's travel to the country of Andorra, 01:25 which is sandwiched between Spain and France. 01:37 I have eight sons 01:39 who would soon have to enlist in the army 01:41 and face serious Sabbath challenges. 01:46 To protect my sons 01:48 I moved here as a literature evangelist. 01:54 Forty years ago, 01:56 Juan Amigo was sent to Andorra to work as a colporteur 01:59 and to plant 02:00 the first Adventist congregation 02:02 in the nation. 02:03 Andorra is a speck on the map, 02:05 sandwiched between France and Spain. 02:07 It lies in the valleys of a mountainous region 02:10 where millions of tourists come 02:12 for exciting sports activities every year. 02:18 This country 02:19 was one of the last un-entered territories 02:21 of the inter-European division. 02:23 At that time, 02:25 Juan and his family were the only Adventists 02:27 in the country. 02:28 Today, five of his sons remain in Andorra 02:30 and have leadership roles 02:32 in the only Adventist congregation there. 02:35 Our church is a bit different than other countries. 02:38 Actually, in Andorra there's no church registration, 02:41 so we cannot exist as a church. 02:44 So we created ourselves us an association. 02:47 And this is a way that we can operate 02:49 in this country. 02:51 We are a small group, 02:53 we have 25 members of whom 14 are children. 02:59 For several years 03:01 we did many evangelistic campaigns 03:02 without many results. 03:06 We decided to stop to pray until God showed us 03:09 where we should focus our efforts. 03:17 Now we are focusing our efforts on our children, 03:20 and our children's friends, and our friends too. 03:37 Putting kids first has reshaped the style 03:40 and flow of this church's worship. 03:42 On Friday evenings, 03:43 adult members meet at the church for vespers 03:46 and study the Sabbath School quarterly lesson 03:48 ahead of schedule. 03:49 This allows extra time for the kids 03:51 during regular Sabbath morning activities. 03:54 The study is a great way to enter the Sabbath day. 03:57 You know in church 03:58 we're not used to put kids first. 04:00 We don't give them a place in front, in the stage, 04:04 for example, 04:05 many times maybe only once a trimester, 04:08 so we started focusing to do activities 04:11 as the pathfinders for our church, 04:14 for our kids. 04:16 That's actually what every church does, 04:19 but we also created this place Saturday morning for them, 04:23 where they have kind of a sermon for kids, 04:25 they have some activity for kids 04:27 and also for the grownups, 04:28 so we can interact them 04:30 and ask and we can learn from the kids 04:32 and the kids can learn from us. 04:41 This week's teacher 04:42 presents a message from the Bible. 04:44 She brings visual illustrations 04:46 and a kid friendly sermon 04:47 that is also enjoyable for adults. 04:50 Afterward, the children break into classes 04:52 to study their quarterly lesson. 04:54 Then the adults enjoy a special message 04:56 in the main hall. 04:58 Once a month, 04:59 a delicious potluck is served 05:01 with a lot of international dishes 05:02 and flavors. 05:04 This is a great opportunity to grow relationships 05:07 and nourish the body. 05:09 The children of this church 05:10 are catered to in a special way. 05:12 They are put first 05:14 because this group wants them to take leadership 05:16 and ownership of church life. 05:19 They are the future of this congregation. 05:21 And through them 05:23 friends and parents are invited to many fun activities. 05:26 Please pray 05:28 for Adventist children around the world 05:29 who will lead God's Church in the coming days. 05:33 And thank you for your support of the mission offering 05:35 which helped start this church. 05:41 My guests are two church members 05:43 here in Costa Rica, 05:44 Toshiro and Kathia. 05:46 Thank you so much for joining us. 05:48 Toshiro, tell me, 05:50 how did you first become interested 05:52 in communicating to the deaf? 05:56 That's an interesting question. 05:58 Well, I began many years ago, 06:01 I was interested to know more deeply 06:03 the deaf culture. 06:05 I wondered how we could mix and mingle with them. 06:08 I knew that I wanted to learn sign language, 06:12 I found it rather interesting. 06:14 And I didn't know God's plan for me 06:16 but certainly, 06:17 I could use my hands in His service. 06:19 So I began to invest myself in learning to sign. 06:23 I learned to make contact with the deaf, 06:26 to get to know them better. 06:28 Now, I'm interested in mixing more with the deaf. 06:31 That's why I am interested in learning more 06:34 and developing my skills in sign language for the deaf. 06:40 Okay, now, Kathia, 06:42 you the first Seventh-day Adventist 06:47 deaf person in this country. 06:49 How did you first learn about Seventh-day Adventist? 07:07 Well, when I first came to the Adventist Church, 07:10 I didn't know anything about it. 07:11 Toshiro saw me there 07:13 that first time and invited me in. 07:16 I felt strange 07:17 coming into the Adventist Church. 07:19 That was my very first time. 07:21 The place was full of welcoming people 07:23 on this Sabbath 07:25 and I wondered and questioned 07:26 about meeting on Saturday. 07:28 Where did the Bible say anything about the Sabbath? 07:31 I had never seen that. 07:32 I visited the Adventists on four consecutive Sabbaths, 07:36 there I learned a lot and found answers. 07:39 Then I invited some other deaf to come to church with me. 07:45 So, Kathia, what are some of the ways 07:48 that you are sharing your faith? 07:56 Sometimes people from the deaf community 07:59 have never heard 08:00 about the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 08:02 so they visit the church, 08:03 and they arrive there 08:05 with lots of questions and curiosity. 08:07 I invite them in groups 08:08 and explain to them the scriptures 08:10 in how I understand them. 08:12 Sometimes, the deaf guests do not understand the text. 08:15 So I translated it into sign language, 08:18 and the teachings become clear. 08:20 Some of the concepts, they have never heard before. 08:23 But we grow together slowly, in our understanding. 08:26 Wonderful. 08:28 Toshiro, 08:30 what are some of the challenges that deaf people face 08:34 in becoming members of the church? 08:39 Well, the greatest challenge for the deaf community 08:43 is that they don't have interpreters. 08:47 There aren't interpreters in our churches 08:49 to translate the message into sign language. 08:53 I think 08:55 that the greatest obstacle for the deaf community 08:57 is the lack of translation 08:59 and interpretation in our churches. 09:03 They need people 09:04 who have the patience to explain the Bible to them. 09:08 The patience to introduce them to a new world of ideas, 09:13 that is found in the Word of God. 09:16 The deaf also suffer 09:18 because of their lack of knowledge 09:20 about who God is and who Jesus is. 09:24 Our goal for the deaf people 09:26 is to communicate clearly through sign language, 09:30 and to help them to understand who Jesus is. 09:38 So, Toshiro, what are your hopes, 09:40 your dreams, your plans 09:42 for deaf ministry here in Costa Rica? 09:49 Oh, what a good question. 09:51 As I said earlier, for many years, 09:53 I wanted to know more about the deaf culture. 09:56 But now that I participate 09:58 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 10:00 with deaf members, one of my greatest dreams, 10:03 and sometimes 10:05 I can even stop thinking about this. 10:07 It's to be able to start a church 10:10 for deaf Adventists in Costa Rica. 10:13 Why? 10:14 Because they need to know what the Bible really teaches, 10:18 especially what it teaches about the Sabbath. 10:21 Many deaf don't know about the Sabbath. 10:24 For generations, many Christians used to worship 10:26 on Sunday. 10:27 But now, through interpretation, 10:30 they can learn so much, 10:32 especially if they come to a place 10:34 that is prepared for the deaf community, 10:37 a place for them to come and learn, 10:40 a place for them to share experiences. 10:43 We want to start a congregation 10:45 that caters to the death in the country of Costa Rica. 10:51 Thank you. 10:52 Kathia, for viewers watching this program, 10:55 what advice would you give them 10:58 on how they can best relate to people 11:01 in the deaf community? 11:02 How do they build bridges? 11:03 How do they make friendship 11:05 when they don't understand the same language? 11:12 Kathia says, 11:13 "Well, I would suggest 11:15 to people interested in engaging the deaf 11:17 to let us know through some signs 11:19 like waving their hands. 11:22 This would let the deaf person know 11:24 that they're interested in some form of engagement." 11:27 Kathia, 11:29 also what would you suggest 11:31 that people do to make new friends? 11:35 I would invite people to come 11:37 and to get to know a deaf person. 11:40 Let us know their names and learn ours. 11:44 The deaf are often willing to teach some signs, 11:47 and if one is ready to learn, 11:49 this can become a beautiful friendship. 11:52 The simple steps 11:53 would enable us to slowly grow a friendship. 11:59 Gracias. 12:00 Toshiro, 12:02 when you were able to lead Kathia 12:05 to become a Seventh-day Adventist, 12:06 how did that make you feel? 12:11 You have another interesting question. 12:13 When Kathia came to my Adventist Church 12:16 for the first time, 12:17 I stood next to her 12:18 to interpret the sermon to sign language. 12:21 I felt strange. 12:22 I felt like God's Spirit was speaking to me saying, 12:25 "Now I have given you a great responsibility 12:29 to interpret for a deaf person." 12:32 I feel I have to share all that talent 12:34 that God has given me. 12:36 I have to share the Word of God to all the deaf community. 12:40 But each time I begin to think in signs, 12:43 whether I'm at home or at the church, 12:45 when there's something I can't translate, 12:47 it makes me want to get more involved 12:49 with the deaf 12:51 to be able to carry this important message to them. 12:55 It is my goal to share the Word of God with the deaf. 12:59 There are times when I only think in LESCO, 13:02 which is the Costa Rican sign language. 13:05 I desire to be among the deaf community. 13:08 My goal is to carry this gospel message 13:11 to the beautiful deaf community here in Costa Rica. 13:19 Thank you so much for sharing with us today. 13:22 Thank you, Kathia. 13:24 Viewers at home please pray for this special ministry 13:26 not just here in Costa Rica, but around the world. 13:29 Many, many people 13:30 who sometimes slip past our notice 13:33 who God loves so much. 13:34 We'll be right back after this break. |
Revised 2020-05-14