Jan. 12, 2004 issue
Mission workers and Toba teach one another in the Chaco
By Lynda Hollinger-Janzen Mennonite Mission NetworkEL CERRITO, Paraguay — On a small rise in the flat Paraguayan Chaco, just across the border from Argentina, stands a little Toba church built by Korean Presbyterians.
A large Franciscan crucifix gleams darkly from the front of the sanctuary. Toba paper decorations of many colors dance in the breeze created by overhead fans.
During a visit to El Cerrito, Mennonite Mission Network’s Gretchen and Keith Kingsley spent three days teaching and learning in a Bible circle, an inductive method of Bible study.
Then, all heaven broke loose on Sunday morning.
“The Sunday morning worship was for us a wonderful sign of God causing praise to spring forth before the nations, superceding our differences and failings,” Keith Kingsley said.
On this particular Sunday, the sermon was preached in two indigenous languages, Guaraní and Toba. A Maca Indian choir sang in their mother tongue, Maca. Lively dancing wove the service into a glorious fabric.
“And here we were, two Mennonites sharing the joy,” Gretchen Kingsley said.
“We learned that persons who had long been alienated from the congregation were being reconciled. This was a wonderful celebration of the power of God’s Word not returning empty to God but springing forth in praise.”
Two generations ago, the Toba of El Cerrito were separated from their relatives in northern Argentina by the closing of the border between Paraguay and Argentina.
Shortly after, about 35 years ago, German Catholics began to evangelize the Paraguayan Toba and helped them secure their land. They established a chapel, a school and an agricultural project.
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