Earlier this year, ChangeMaker Gerson Orellana traveled to Asunción, Paraguay, to spend time with local missions coordinator Regino Acuña and encourage the ministry taking place there. Gerson serves alongside Johnmichael Poulin, BMA Global’s Regional Coordinator for South America, helping support pastors and leaders across the region.

The purpose of the visit was simple but important: to strengthen relationships, encourage the local leadership, and better understand the ministry taking place in Paraguay.

From the moment Gerson arrived, it was clear how meaningful the visit would be. When Regino greeted him at the airport, his first words were, “Thank you for coming. Almost no one visits me.”

That simple statement captured why these visits matter.

Over the next several days, Gerson spent time listening, learning, and sharing fellowship with Regino, his family, and members of the church. Together they visited two house Bible studies and met with several leaders and families involved in the ministry. These gatherings revealed a growing network of relationships built through discipleship and small group Bible studies.

One encouraging aspect of the work in Paraguay is the strong sense of community that has developed among families connected to the church. Through consistent discipleship and relational ministry, believers are growing together in faith.

Gerson also spent time getting to know Regino’s family, including one of his children who had recently moved back home after living in Bolivia, where Regino is originally from. As a missionary who has also raised children across cultures, Gerson was able to share from his own experience and offer encouragement.

During the visit, Gerson also learned about the church’s current challenges. The congregation recently had to leave the place where they had been meeting and is now gathering in a small home that provides limited space. However, there is reason for hope. The church has already purchased a piece of land and is planning to build a new facility in the future.

Perhaps the most important outcome of the trip was the strengthening of fellowship and communication. The time together helped reinforce that the work in Paraguay is not isolated. Through BMA Global’s partnership, leaders like Regino are supported and connected to a broader family of churches and missionaries.

Reflecting on the trip, Gerson shared that the experience was encouraging both personally and ministerially.

“I continue learning and growing through these experiences,” he said, “while also appreciating the effort and commitment involved in the missionary work being carried out on the field.”

Through visits like this, BMA Global continues to strengthen relationships, encourage leaders, and support the ongoing work of making disciples and planting churches across South America.