by Christina Conti, Peru
28 June 2005
English is the stepping stone to a better future for Peruvians, and they are serious about wanting to learn and practice. Knowing English makes them more marketable in the highly-competitive job market of Peru, where the number of those without jobs or who are not working in their trained area outweighs the number of those who have stable jobs.

While long-term missionaries have to turn down the many requests for English help so they can focus on their specific ministries, short-term workers can step in the gap. Vegas Dargatz, former missionary to Peru, observed, "From what we have seen, the most amazing results from teaching English were with short-termer Karen Brown from the USA. She offered to teach English in the primary school of San Luis, and simultaneously began the children's weekly Bible Club. Through that 18 months of teaching English and running the club, Karen laid very clear and strong biblical foundations in the lives of many children in San Luis."

Priscilla Wong, a short-termer from Australia went to Peru to assist people with English and could even approach those students more at their level.

"I got to build relationships on a deeper level because I met with them everyday. I'm mainly into English to build relationships as a bridge to help long-term missionaries in their outreach," Priscilla said.

She enjoyed her days in Abancay, Peru, that were packed with one-on-one sessions and classes at churches and working with Christians and non-Christians, children and adults.

In the evenings she studied the Bible in English with another girl.

She even did an English-Spanish swap with Lisette, a non-Christian girl her age, where they would alternate days speaking in each other's language and experiencing cultural differences and spending non-structured time together.

"I never Bible bashed, but I got to explain about why I was here and give her an example through my life," Priscilla said.

The experience in Peru showed her the many ways people can use English as a ministry. Priscilla is returning to Australia to Bible College then hopes to return long-term to Peru, where English might be part of her ministry.

Just like any friendship evangelism tool, English is best used in conjunction with a love and concern for others. So spending time outside the confines of a classroom is important. Peruvians are eager to practice English, but they also enjoy the friendship that forms.

Using English can give missionaries ministry experience from their first day in the country. SIM wants to make English something more than academics—a door, a bridge, a magnet&mdahs;for God to call others toward Himself.