Highlights from our Latin America Regional Conference

The Regional Conference for Latin America took place October 1st to 5th in Canela, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, bringing together about 300 TeachBeyond missionaries. We had many expectations about what God would do during this time! But we were quickly reminded that the efforts spent in preparation, the hours of travel, and the feelings of meeting loved ones from so many different projects, were all really about just one person: Jesus Christ. We got a taste of what it means to grow together, through praising God together, each in our own language and through the Core Groups, which brought people from around the region together to pray and share our stories together.

We grew in our understanding of transformational education through workshops offered in the afternoons. Topics included: leadership training, ethics and morals in the context of relationships, formal and informal education for adults and living in the digital world. During breaks, we had the opportunity to connect ideas and become closer through meals that warmed our bodies and hearts. Ah, the meals! What a pleasant time to challenge each other in conversations, while we were treated to the warm welcome of the hotel that hosted us!

One of the highlights for our Brazil team was the grand opening of the GTEC, the Global Center for Transformative Education, on the Janz Team property, in Gramado, Brazil. It was a moment of great emotion and gratitude to God! What an honour to be part of God’s work here and for the world.

Going into this, we had thought it would be difficult to explain to an outsider what would take place—and it's true! We can talk about all of these elements that made up the conference, but God's special touch and presence in each one cannot be conveyed in a few lines. The presence of God was palpable. Two of the hotel staff came to Christ because of what they saw happening that week. What a joy to see the family of God growing! One thing has become very clear: God continues to act throughout the world, continues to empower people, promote projects, deposit dreams in hearts and unite purposes around his Kingdom. He will continue to do so and we desire to continue growing in Him: growing together.