Standing on fence posts and 'whole cow soup'

Missionary Moira Hall says she waited eagerly every night for the phone call from her husband, Elijah. And Elijah says he stood balanced on a fence post each evening hoping for better cell phone reception to call Moira.

Elijah Hall was on a five-day survey trip to eastern Paraguay to visit three Mbya Guarani communities and learn more about this people group. And Moira could hardly wait to hear what he discovered each day.

Elijah says that the Mbya Guarani people in Paraguay number between 14,000 and 16,000. (More Mbya Guarani live in Brazil and Argentina.)

Moira shares, “They are a people who have lived in the shadow of European ways for hundreds of years now, and yet are separate and very distinct …. They are very secretive about their religious practices and not much seems to be known about how different their heart language is from the rest of the Guarani dialects …. They are very much in need of the message of salvation in words they can understand.”

Elijah’s survey trip included many interesting introductions to the Mbya Guarani culture. Not the least of these, he says, was the concept of what he calls “whole cow soup.”

Elijah says he was invited to join in a big tribal gathering for a meal. “Traditionally at a big gathering, a cow is slaughtered and the least desirable parts are used first, with the best meat saved for a big barbecue on the last day.”

But Elijah was present for the first day of this process, not the last. So instead of beef barbecue, he was served up a hearty portion of “whole cow soup.” Included were what looked like dumplings, but were instead large portions of the cow’s stomach. Then there were the noodles. No, actually, the “noodles” were sections of very large veins.

Though he tried valiantly, Elijah says the soup was very chewy and he didn’t quite finish his entire bowl. But he did gain a greater insight and heart for ministry to the Mbya Guarani people.

Moira writes, “Elijah hopes to finish his Spanish study soon. His next evaluation will be in August, and he is working toward completing his target level by fall. After that will be a period of time spent forming a missionary team, a possible intermediate move and a lot more survey work before finally deciding where to settle, build a house and work. We don’t know at this point how long all that will take, but we are trusting God to show us each step.”

Elijah and Moira are encouraged by the open and humble attitude of the NTM field leadership to include and disciple them as young missionaries. They are excited about what God has for them next. They feel that Elijah’s recent survey trip to the Mbya Guarani confirmed God’s will for them to pursue ministry with this unreached people group. From hearts that are eager to serve they ask, “Will you pray with us as we further seek His guidance?”

Please pray for Elijah and Moira Hall and their family in their culture and language studies. Pray that God will guide and teach them in preparation for His place of ministry for them. Pray also for the Mbya Guarani people. Pray that God will prepare their hearts to receive the Gospel in His time, a message that will bring the brightness of hope and the truth of His Word to their needy culture.