L aughing , L earning , and L istening
By Rebecca Pazmiño , Director , Latin America / Caribbean Region
In the few months I ’ ve served as OMS ’ regional director for Latin America / Caribbean , I ’ ve only dipped into all there is to learn ! It has been a challenge to figure out the administrative side but a joy to meet and get to know our missionaries and ministry partners throughout the region .
I ’ ve ministered with OMS in Ecuador for the last 26 years — first as a single missionary and now married to Pablo . We have three children : Elizabeth , Johanna , and Mateo . We ’ ve been involved primarily in church development and theological training . But , for the past few years , we ’ ve been church planting in Chongón . This ministry began as a result of fruitful children ’ s outreach , with kids who opened doors to reach their parents . Kids Club in Chongón has now expanded to Pascuales and Puente Lucía , two areas on the outer edges of Guayaquil .
As a missionary in one country for many years , I recently realized I had developed tunnel vision . “ Just let me do my job , focus on my own work , and not be bothered by all the ‘ outside ’ stuff … the paperwork , the strategic planning , the meetings , the workshops .” I ’ m now discovering that things change for me when I make the space to step back and listen : to find silence so I can listen to God , to seek mentorship so I can listen to wisdom from others , and to pray with others , listening to their hearts and sharing our needs before God . I ’ ve become less myopic and better able to see my little corner of the world in light of the overall vision of One Mission Society and the even bigger picture of pursuing the growth of God ’ s kingdom . Listening more makes me thirsty to learn how to operate within God ’ s will and within his gifting , how to build healthy relationships in my OMS community and my local community , and how to be a team player and leader in healthy , fruitful ways .
4