Welcome to the blog "2½ years"! 

Behind this maybe a bit cryptic name  is a very down to earth situation. We are working as missionaries in Paraguay and have just entered into a new work situation.

In a small town north of Asuncion the Baptist convention we are working with used to have a church. Well, in fact they do still have the church, plus the old church hall and a pastors house, but they don't have a congregation any more. During the last years a faithful few have been keeping up the work until there was only literally a handful left.

Enter us. Our challenge is to restart, resuscitate, plant again or however we can put it, this church. But not only that, there is some special circumstances that gives this challenge an edge.

One. We know when we're leaving. Most pastors don't know that when they enter a new place. We will leave Paraguay in 2½ years, due to our contract and Swedish laws (i.e.. we don't plan to emigrate)

Two. We don't know if there will come anyone after us. The convention suffers from a lack of pastors and workers. Perhaps there will come someone after us, perhaps there will be someone local who can take over with some financial support, or perhaps there will be none.

So this is the challenge:

Build up a church which can be self-sustaining in 2½ years. 

And in this blog I would like to write about the thinking behind this work. It will not be a more traditional missionary blog with photos and regular reports, but reflections, discussions and materials as the work progresses. This blog has a sister in Spanish, which is kind of cheeky as I only speak Spanish since 1½ years, but I would like to share with my Paraguayan friends as well.

So welcome! Feel very free to comment and question, that what this blog is all about and hope that you would like to share a part of this journey!