ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network)—Five participants in Mennonite Mission Network’s Radical Journey service program, who were scheduled to spend 10 months in Bolivia, are instead heading to Asunción, Paraguay, due to complications in the Bolivian visa application process.
Radical Journey is a year-long service program of Mennonite Mission Network for young adults ages 18-30. Participants spend 10 days of orientation in a North American city, 10 months in an international service location, and another month in re-orientation with their home congregations.
Two days prior to the departure of the Radical Journey team to Bolivia, it became clear that changing visa regulations in Bolivia would prevent the team from serving in that country.
The Bolivia Mennonite Church president, Ona Saucedo, notes that Bolivia-U.S. relationships are problematic right now, which has contributed to the Bolivian government enforcing more complex visa regulations for extended stays in the country.
The team, which left on Thursday, Sept. 8, is currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a week while church leaders in Paraguay make final arrangements to receive the group—orienting host families and preparing service locations.
“While we would not have chosen to ask the participants to make a last-minute change, we are humbled and encouraged by the participants’ faith, generosity of spirit, and sacrificial willingness to go where God is leading them,” said Darrell Gascho, Radical Journey’s director.
While in Paraguay, the team will join existing ministries with children, including both day care and elementary school programs, and also the High Refuge ministry for adults and children with HIV/AIDS.
Linda Shelly, Mission Network’s director for Latin America, said she was pleased by how quickly both the Paraguayan and Argentine Mennonite churches began making arrangements for the group’s arrival.
“We are very grateful that the Convención Evangélica Menonita Paraguaya (The Paraguayan Evangelical Mennonite Convention) quickly accepted receiving the group, and the Buenos Aires churches agreed to host for a week and help the group apply for Paraguay visas,” Shelly said.
Alfred Klassen, president of the Paraguayan Mennonite Church, said the church’s existing service programs provided ways for the group to plug in on short notice.
“We also realized that if we didn’t accept them, they could lose a good opportunity in Latin America. Some of our young adults have gone to the United States and Canada, and we appreciate what the churches there have done for them. We know that we can also give to young adults from other countries,” Klassen said.
Mission Network has sent two previous Radical Journey groups to Paraguay.
Jonatán Flores, who has been hosting the group in Argentina, said the short-term exchange has already been transformative for both the Americans and Argentinians.
“In truth, they have helped us in the church,” Flores said. “We shared testimonies together one night and we were impacted by each other’s stories. We are very content that we have had this opportunity to receive them. It’s an honor and a privilege. “
Shelly said Mission Network, which has worked alongside Bolivians since 1971, is committed to continue strengthening the relationship with Bolivian partners, and to facilitating exchanges between the churches in Bolivia and Kansas, which will carry on, as it is still easy for Americans to secure tourist visas.
“We will continue to support their leadership development and youth programs with finances,” Shelly said. “We anticipate that in the future it will also be possible to send Radical Journey teams and other longer-term workers after our partners have been able to stabilize their relationships with the government and clarify new visa regulations.”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
