My name is Marcelo Warkentin, born and raised in a Mennonite Colony in Southern Brazil. (Not to confuse with the modern Hollywood definitions of the colony). After high school, I moved to the US and got a BA in Christian Ministries from Fresno Pacific University and an MA in Latin American and Iberian Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Although I could have returned to Brazil, I decided to stay and find a job in the US. This leads me to Bethany Christian Schools in Goshen, Indiana, where I taught Spanish for 12 years. Besides teaching Spanish, I also lead foreign language trips to Paraguay and Brazil and coached JV Boys Soccer.
In 2012, my wife and I were tired of trying to become US citizens and asked God the big question: “Where do You want us to go?” He did not fail to answer, and we received a clear call to move to Paraguay and lead a new school in the city of Juan Eulogio Estigarribia.
Our school, Colegio Johannes Gutenberg Campo 9, is a Christian missional school that has the purpose of providing a quality Christian education to all students. Over 60% of our students receive scholarships. Many come from lower-income homes. This job has challenged me in many areas, to the point that I sense the need to get further training as a leader, which is why I enrolled in the MAL program at TWU. I believe, many times, leadership is situational. I could have never imagined myself being a principal in the US or Canada, but it seems to fit me here in Paraguay.
Hi Marcelo;
Thank you for the exciting introduction. From the US to Paraguay; quite a transition.
So glad you are part of the class. You will bring a very different viewpoint to the class with the Paraguayan/American influence you bring to the course.
Enjoy!
Doug.
Hi Marcelo! Nice to meet you. WOW! It sounds like such an incredible journey thus far in your life! Brazil – CA – IN – Paraguay…amazing! Your school sounds like a great ministry/work environment. Any school that can offer that percentage of scholarships and be focused on quality Christian education is alright in my books! Did I understand correctly? Are you the principal at the school? I am curious. When you moved to Paraguay after being in the USA for so long, did you find that you defaulting to trying some “North American” strategies/philosophies or where you able to adjust culturally pretty quickly? I am sure being a Brazilian there were many similarities?
Looking forward to learning more!
– Lillian Boyd
lillian@springvale.org
Thanks for your comments. Yes, I am the principal. Not an easy thing trying to adjust to a new culture. It takes an act of balance figuring out what I can try and what not from what I had learned in the US. Being at a new school, I am allowed to test new ideas. There is always resistance but it has been encouraging to see growth at our institution.
We meet again, Marcelo! I believe we took 627 together this past January.
We share a Mennonite background although my history is all here in BC. My dad grew up on a Mennonite colony in Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to Canada when he was 16. His family planned to return to Mexico or go to Paraguay when my siblings and I were younger but my mom refused. I enjoyed the close ties of family and growing up with our Canadian Mennonite traditions. I miss those days.
Looking forward to continue learning from your leadership interactions, Marcelo!
Sally
Hello Marcel,
Thanks for introducing yourself to our LDRS 501 cohort. I believe we will be blessed with a broader and deeper understanding of strategic leadership over the next 10 weeks and trust you will be able to apply this learning as God has called you to lead and direct the work at Colegio Johannes Gutenberg Campo 9.
Jason
!Mucho gusto Marcelo! Wow! Your story sounds truly inspiring, investing in education has long term sustainable effects for development. I love how your school provides scholarships. I’m sure you are changing so many lives. !Bendiciones y exitos en tan ardua labor!
Hi Marcelo,
Its nice to meet you and a hear some of your story. I have been getting to know a lot of Brazilian friends lately, and introduced to the world of picanha and Brazilian bbq, which is amazing. How do you find Paraguay after leaving Brazil and then living in the US?
Hi Marcelo,
So good to hear from you again. I look forward to reading your posts and collaborating with you. I hope your new school year has gotten off to a good start.
I have one Brazilian boy in one of my classes this year and another South American from Venezuela, however there are no International Spanish speaking girls at our school.
On the home front we are also taking a break from the home-stay-parent responsibility this school year as we have participated in the program for already ten years and feel like it is time to take a break, especially with the end of my MAEL coursework looming.
I look forward to further dialogue. Blessings Marcelo!
Hi!
I did not know that you were Sea Breeze. Now I can put a face to the postings. Did you take classes this past summer? I hope to take one next summer. Unfortunately, I will have to wait until March 2020 to take the last one, but I will be done with my project by then. I am taking my family with me to Canada next year.