On October 25, 6 new missionaries from the Genesis Initiative of the Church of the Nazarene were sent to cities in Mexico and Guatemala for a period of two years. The volunteers are: Oscar Quej (from Guatemala), Elba Duson (from the Dominican Republic), Teresa De Cuesta (from Mexico), Diana González (from El Salvador), and Daniel Santiago and Andrea López (both from Mexico).
The volunteers arrived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on September 29 to begin a four-week training led by regional leaders. The training prepared the volunteers to plant new churches in Monterrey, Mexico, and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. They covered multiple topics, including: urban missions, church planting, anthropology of missions, personal care, and working in a team, among others. This in-person training was in addition to their prior virtual training.
Testimonials of the participants:
Elba: “During this time of training and living with my fellow missionaries in Genesis, the Lord confirmed even more strongly the special call that he had placed in my heart about 4 years ago. Each of the topics discussed were of great importance to us as we carry out the work ahead. As we reached the last day of training, I was more convinced than ever of what God wants to do through our obedience in the city.”
Oscar: “I thank God for the time of training in the Dominican Republic because it was a great blessing and help. I thank Him for all the facilitators who taught us the courses, the moments of evangelism and the prayers of Scott and Emily Armstrong, and the help and care of Gary and Naomi Faucett and Alejandra García. I feel more prepared after seeing how God is leading me and giving me wisdom for my missionary work. It is a joy to be part of this mission.”
Diana: “The training time was a great blessing and full of challenges. Above all, God spoke to my heart about the love and interest he has for the city. Sometimes, when we think of the city, we focus on material abundance, busy lives, self-centeredness, or people living their lives as they want, but now I thank God for the opportunity to serve in the city by sharing the hope Jesus gives us.”
Teresa: Without a doubt, it has been a time of great blessing, full of laughter, learning, tears, but above all challenges. During this month God has touched my heart and has made me see that Genesis begins with me. He has completely demolished some barriers in my life and has now begun to build a new city, a new life, as I am comforted with the vision of preaching the message of salvation. I am sure that God is already working in the hearts of those I will meet and that these two years will be of blessing to Xela (Quetzaltenango).”
Daniel and Andrea: “From the moment we arrived in the D.R., everything felt different. We began to miss several things from southern Mexico, and God showed us in a surprising way what He wanted for our lives in each of the topics discussed. During several activities in the city, we could see the difference in urban classes, and we were surprised to see the large number of houses and people living in the apartment buildings. Seeing the lack of water and basic sanitation services also impacted us, since the garbage trucks do not pass through the places we were walking. During this month of training, we touched lives, and we are positive that the seed was sown in their hearts and that God will continue to work in them.”
“We thank God for the life of each of these missionaries. Pray for their ministries in the next two years. And may God bring a genesis to Monterrey and Quetzaltenango!”
Source: Alejandra García, Genesis volunteer
