Vamonos al Campo: Take Part in a Workshop Series to Get to Know Our Latin Neighbors
Vamonos al campo means Let’s go to the fields (or country). Jesus told those who would listen to him, “The fields are ready for the harvest” (John 4.34). In those fields, we hear the cry of the Psalmist: “Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were” (Psalm 39.12, NIV).
Across North Georgia there are thousands Hispanic and Latino families and individuals seeking a better, healthier, and stronger life. As United Methodists we believe God calls all of us to live the abundant life that comes from a relationship in the community of followers of Jesus Christ. The fields are ripe for the harvest, and we hear the cries for help.
During this amazing time of transition and opportunity in the North Georgia Annual Conference, the Hispanic-Latino Ministries Committee invites you to participate in a six-month learning experience to go and get to know our Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Indigenous Language brothers and sisters from across Latin America who are living just around the corner from our faith communities. To register or for more information, contact Pastor Ash at ash.mceuen@ngumc.net. This course is limited to 15 participants. Cost: $300 CEUs: applied for
Taller 1: Saturday, January 27 (10 AM – 3 PM) Spend the day learning about terminology (Latin@, Hispanic, Latinx?), geography, Latin American cultures, peril and promise, and asset-based community learning. Plus enjoy a delicious meal from Latin America (believe it or not, it is not just tacos).
Mentoring 1: February and March Schedule five hours (not all at once) with a mentor from North Georgia Hispanic-Latino ministry leaders to look specifically at your own community and start getting to know your neighbors. As you and your mentor get to know the community and the language(s) they speak at home, start your own process of learning.
Taller 2: Saturday, March 16 (10 AM – 3 PM) Another day of learning together as we talk about our own neighbors (individual community reports), ministry types, immigration, and how to prepare your congregation and to create a team.
Mentoring 2: April and May Again, work another five hours with your mentor in focused study and research to fill in your own gaps in learning and understanding of your neighbors. You will also work on identifying allies and obstacles as you invite others from the church community to join you as you discover the assets already in your community. As always, continue to learn a the language of community.
Potential Additional Learning Opportunity: March/April: Optional trip to Sonoran Desert (Additional cost)
Taller 3: Saturday, May 11 (10 AM – 3 PM) In our final session together, we will continue to work together to understand our neighbors and communities, talking about building a bridge between needs and resources, learn about how to work across cultures and ethnic differences and similarities, and set SMART goals and action steps.
Mentoring 3: June and July Work a final five hours with your mentor to implement your action steps and to work forward toward your SMART goals.