Latest / Global Leadership Collaborative / #06: Listen and Follow: Maria Vega, Indonesia Growth Strategy Leader, Seed Company
Transcript
- Woody McLendon: Hi, and welcome to the Global Leadership Collaborative Podcast. I'm Woody McLendon your host, and the purpose of this podcast is to encourage leaders in the Bible translation movement by hearing the story of other leaders who are sharing their journeys, their experiences, how God called and prepared them and equipped them to serve. So today I'm thrilled to welcome a dear friend, Maria Vega, who has extensive experience in nonprofit, consulting, and in Bible translation around the world. Thank you, Maria, for joining today. It's a huge blessing to have this conversation with you. Maria Vega: Yeah, so good to see you, Woody. Thank you so much for the time that you spend in doing this. Much appreciated. Yes. Woody McLendon: well, it's a privilege. Well, and I'm thankful you've had such a rich experience and I'm so looking forward. We had such a great time in preparing and Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: for this for this conversation today. So I'd like to dive Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: right in actually. I understand there was a season in your life when you sensed God was getting a hold of your heart for something bigger, but you were struggling and there was a bit of a battle going on. Take me back to that time and explain how God was at work. Maria Vega: Thank you for asking. You know it's really a testimony. Back in 2005, I felt God calling me to serve him more directly. But I did not act right away. For three years I told myself I was not ready. I was afraid. I had a brilliant professional career. I didn't want to leave it. But in 2008 I finally decided to test the call. I left my job and went to serve as a volunteer in Ghana and Ethiopia. After only two weeks, God showed me something clear. There was a big need to help mission organizations with community development work. I thought this is it, this is my answer. But finding clarity did not mean the doors opened easily. For another year, I tried to find a place to serve. Many organizations said no. They told me kindly. that I did not have the right background because I came from a business world, not from missions. How about that? Woody McLendon: Wow. Maria Vega: Finally, I gave up. I went back to a normal job. I found one work in one week, but I felt sad. I had offered myself to serve God, and the organization serving him said "No." I cried, really cried. I thought that chapter of my life was closed. Then six months later, out of nowhere, I got a call. Someone invited me to interview for a job in Bible translation with the Global Alliance. After two interviews, they offered me the position. It used exactly the professional skills I thought I had disqualified me. I remember asking God, is this really what you want me for me? I could go back and speak to that version of myself. I would say, do not wait as long as I did. Do not think the first closed door is the final answer. There are people and organizations ready to help you find your path. Seek them out early. This is exactly what shapes how I lead today. I began serving Bible translation organizations in the Americas. Later I was asked to replicate the same model in Ghana, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Each time I felt like starting over new culture, new context, new lessons. I learned to move forward without needing full certainty first. And every time I found something beautiful, people from many different cultures united by one desire to honor God and serve Him with excellence. That is the world I led in today. I only found it by stopping to wait for an easy door door and walking toward the need. How about that? Woody McLendon: That's wonderful. Thank you. Well, I understand you had some moments, you're like, Yeah, I don't know that I really want to do it that way. Tell me a bit about the backstory of how that unfolded for you. Maria Vega: Well I was living, you know, I was in the middle of of an experiencing very successful career. I was you know, working with the international corporation. I was covering ten countries in Latin America. We were doing poverty reduction, lots lots of involvements with the international corporation, the World Bank, the Inter American Development Bank, the Secretary of Economy in Switzerland, that you know there were a lot of investments being done in Latin America. And I was in the middle of it. I was just helping with that. I was you know flying around, you know, constantly flying to Washington and constantly, you know, having different meetings. Like usually at the beginning of the year it was kind of what are we going to do now for you know to develop in Latin America. I really, really had a very successful life in many ways. A successful career and a very luxurious way to to you know to to implement my job, yes. So I started to receive this call, and you know, every time that I would go to church, I would hear, Maria, and what are you doing for my kingdom? That type of call, that type of question, it came to me slowly. I didn't want to answer. I thought it was kind of hey, God is this is not the this is another Maria Vega. This is not for me, because I am not a missionary. I am not prepared for that. I am not ready for that. And but but he continued, you know, calling me, even waking up at two o'clock in the morning. And Woody McLendon: Wow Maria Vega: once again it's Maria, what are you doing for my kingdom? So I came to a point that I was very, very uncomfortable. So I had to do something about it. So that's when I decided to take a sabbatical. You know, j just what I told you before. Woody McLendon: Yeah. Maria Vega: You know, just to take a sabbatical and then decide to say, you know, I need to, you know, have my silent time with God and then you know hear. And just be still and know that I am God, right? Just be still and just hear what He wanted to from me. And that was a huge experience. Yes. Woody McLendon: Thank you, Maria, I'd like to jump back now and start back a bit at the beginning. Tell me a bit about your family and where you were born and grew up. Maria Vega: I I was born in Bolivia. My Woody McLendon: Mm-hmm. Maria Vega: father was indigenous. My mother was German. I I grew up in in La Paz, Bolivia, and went to a Catholic school for girls, only girls. As a teenager, I went to a boarding school in Spain and later to the United States to continue my studies. So this is the type of education that I had, it was kind of a balance between you know, the the the German culture and also the indigenous culture from Bolivia, right? So one one year I would, you know, I would sleep on the floor because indigenous sleep on the floor in my country. And and the other year I would go to Europe. And you know, I was raised that way, and then honoring both sides. So I realized that, you know, when the time came for me to serve in different parts of the world, for me it was very easy. Yeah. Thank you, Lord, for that. Thank you, Lord for that. Woody McLendon: So who was a big influence on you at that season of your life that influenced who you are today as a person and as a leader? Maria Vega: My father, he was a major influence on me. He was also, you know, I as I told you, he was indigenous. And he worked and studied hard to become a skilled petroleum engineer, very famous in Bolivia. He loved the arts and classical music. So he taught me to be self-sufficient and to always aim for excellence. He believed that there was no limit to what I could achieve and he pushed me to keep growing. And but you know, that didn't you know, he didn't stop until I was forty five years old. I said, you know, when are you gonna stop? And he said, No, you can continue. That was him. Yeah. Woody McLendon: No, praise God. So you grew up in a Catholic family or Catholic school context? When did you begin Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: to fully grasp the the reality of the gospel and and and make a personal commitment? Maria Vega: I became a Christian in 1983. I was already married. Before that I was sure I already I already knew God. You know, I was so sure about it. I was Catholic and grew up with Catholic traditions. My sister-in-law often invited me to Bible studies. I thought that was for people who didn't know God. So I kept saying no. Eventually I asked her to stop inviting me because I didn't need it. A few days later I woke up with a sore throat. I took some medicine, you know, over the counter. And hours later I had a serious allergic reaction. I could not breathe. My family tried hard to help me. And then all of a sudden I truly believed I was going to die. And in that moment, I realized I did not know where I would go after death. I asked God for forgiveness and for another chance. So the next day I asked a couple named David and Gloria Farah to guide me through a personal Bible study. They were missionaries. We started with a book called Knowing Jesus, Who is He? They became my spiritual mentors until they passed away. Even back then they were serving with SIL in Bolivia. What a small word, Woody McLendon: Wonderful. Maria Vega: right? Yeah. Woody McLendon: What a wonderful story. So how did you meet them and make that connection? Maria Vega: I met him through through my sister-in-law. You know, my sister-in-law was a Christian. And she she introduced me to them. I thought at the at the beginning I I look at them and I s I thought that they were kind of crazy people. Sorry to say that. I apologize. Woody McLendon: Get it, it's okay. Maria Vega: I apologize to everybody everyone who's you know hearing this. I apologize. But I thought they were crazy people, fanatic. And but they were so humble, Woody. They were so patient and so humble. And they gave testimony of Jesus in their life in so many ways constantly, at least every time that I was with them. And then I said, These people are so weird. That's that's how I met them. They wanted to become friends, you know, they wanted to get closer. But then I said, no, no, no, this is good enough. Not no not anymore. But the moment that I had this this accident, you know, and the moment I realized that I didn't know where I was going to go after death, the first person and the first couple that I wanted to hear about is the Faras. Yes, yes. Woody McLendon: Wow, praise God, what a wonderful story. So then your connection to the world of Bible translation happened almost immediately after you made your commitment to Christ, even though you weren't Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: directly involved, you were at least aware. Maria Vega: Yes, yes, yes, yes. I was aware of that. I was not that interested. you know this SIL, this this name Summer Institute of Linguistics, it was kind of what is it about? I was not interested in getting to know more about it. So it was for me it was kind of something, nothing that I could, you know, I could be involved in. You know, it's it's it's kind of something that you know, fanatic missionaries could do. Sorry again, Woody. Woody McLendon: No, it's fine. I love it. I love it. It's great. And yeah, I I think there's an aspect of following God's call that does look a bit crazy at times. So I I can I hear you and understand. Maria Vega: The crazy w you know, I was I was a crazy one, by the way. Woody McLendon: Well, we all are in our moments. That's so so you had a pretty significant professional career. You know, so you were as a young believer, you were working in a number of different contexts. How did God work in and through you when you were working in the nonprofit realms and some of the other things before that story of your refocus and rededication to more direct involvement? So how did you see God Maria Vega: Mm-hmm. Woody McLendon: at work in you? Maria Vega: A complete transformation. A complete transformation. As soon as I became a Christian, I felt freedom. I felt that I was a newborn person. So you Woody McLendon: Amen. Maria Vega: know what the Bible says is you know, you're a newborn, you know. I felt what really a newborn a newborn was was. my friends, you know, that even my my my colleagues that I was just working with them around. They felt like I was I was in a very difficult moment and they were just waiting for me to be back. But I knew I needed to go back. I I needed to f you know find more and then to hear more about Jesus. I needed to hear more about what he was what his purpose in my life was. So this is what I I have shared with you a while ago on how God called me to serve Him, you know, but I do not regret a single moment of that decision. Serving in Bible translation brought real clarity and peace to my heart, really. If they would ask me to go back, I would not accept it, really. Yes. Woody McLendon: During that season, you learned about leadership. You saw leaders in action. Again, you're Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: you're you were talking about how and I'm sad to say it has been the case when mission organizations don't really know what to do with people who have professional experience in industry and don't seem to value that. Thankfully, I think that's a bit better. But you were growing Maria Vega: Yes. Yes. Yes. Woody McLendon: as a person and as a leader in that season. Who was influencing you and what ways were you seeing God prepare you during that time to help fulfill all that He's called you to Maria Vega: Mm-hmm. Woody McLendon: in these recent years? Maria Vega: That's a very good question. I cannot point to a single name. God used many different people at different times to prepare my heart to serve. Each one of them showed confidence in me and trusted what I you know what I proposed. I am grateful to every one of them. You know, in every place. I mean they they you know, whatever I was just trying to do, proposing and say they would they were so sweet, they were so humble, they you know they were very supportive. And I learned a lot, you know, from you know, you understand Woody, that for me it was another world. Totally a complete different world. Woody McLendon: I understand as you were moving into ministry and evaluating that, you you participated in a a program called Halftime. And I'm curious if you Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: would share a bit about that and how God led you through that and then what what ways God shaped who you are through that season of formation and engagement. Maria Vega: yes, This was part of God's plan. since I was struggling, you know, in trying to find the purpose in my life, I was really, you know, going through a midlife crisis. That's what I call it, because I was fifty years old back then. My spiritual mentor, David Farah, knew I was going through a difficult season. And he sent me a book called Halftime, Moving from Success to Significance, with a short note. "Take time to read this, it might help you." I trusted him. So I started reading that night. By the end of the first chapter, I knew the book was written for me. I could not stop reading until early morning. I was so interested that I wrote to the organization right away to ask how to join them. They told me it was not that simple. You needed an invitation. I felt disappointed again. I mean again, right? But two days later I got a call from Halftime's headquarters. They were interested because they had heard from a Bolivian businesswoman. It turned out into an interview and they invited me to a gathering in Dallas, led by Bob Buford the author of the book. I had to prepare by reading two more books and taking a strengths assessment. When I arrived in Dallas, I was so excited. I had missed the first evening session, you know, just traveling from Bolivia all the way to Dallas, right? The next morning I walked into a room of 25 people, all men. I Woody McLendon: wow. Maria Vega: was yeah, I was the only woman and the only foreigner, by the way. It did not matter to me. I was there looking for an answer. I was there looking for, you know, help in looking for an answer. So you know, Halftime is that is an institute that coaches and equips leaders. They help people find personal clarity, community, and lasting impact. Back in 2007 they helped me to write my personal mission statement. I really that was a a huge discovery. They gave me a coach, but who now by the way is teaming with me in this ministry. And invited me to their events. During that season I found the true meaning of God's purpose in my life. And I decided to serve him fully. I gained clarity about my calling and discovered my real strengths. Well today I call myself a Halftimer. How about that? Woody McLendon: That's awesome. Praise God for that. And then I love the connection from Dave Farah, who was an initial mentor as you, he Maria Vega: Yes, yes. Yes. Woody McLendon: and his wife as you became a Christ follower, obviously staying in touch with you throughout your your time and then recognizing Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: and the Holy Spirit and prompting him as he heard you were having some, Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: observed you were having some challenges and and used him to introduce you to Halftime. That's great. Maria Vega: Yes, yes. Woody McLendon: And really wonderful organization. I have good friends that are part of that world of Halftime, and I think that's really powerful. I just want to touch on you you were able to write your personal mission statement, get a sense of your calling. What to you brought clarity? I mean, specifically for you, what helped you and and what did you see about how God was weaving these pieces together that became kind of an Aha for this next chapter of your life? Maria Vega: I found people who were struggling the same I was struggling. I found people who were very successful, but highly, highly successful more than I was. And they were they were not happy with themselves. I was not happy with myself. And this is you know this this this words about from success to significance, you know, try to find meaning about that. Yes, I was successful. Yes, they were successful. But we were not happy. You know, we were trying to find meaning into our lives. So they help us in a way, you know, just walking through our lives, walking through ourselves, our own lives, and then going through that process who helped them, you know, they help us to find our own meaning, our own meaning. We heard about many testimonies of people who changed their lives, you know, they they didn't leave their jobs, but they did something else. In my case, I felt that I needed to spend a full time with God. I needed to I needed, I needed to change my life completely. That was my calling. Yeah. Woody McLendon: What was the hardest part about that decision for you? Maria Vega: Not not just one. Woody McLendon: Okay. Maria Vega: My family. You know, I was very, I don't know, kind of famous Woody McLendon: Sure. Maria Vega: businesswoman in Bolivia, you know. My children, I have two two boys, and I felt like, you know, I need to talk to them. I need to let them know what my decision will be. My job, just leaving my job. And the question is, where are you going? And why is that you're leaving? And just giving the explanation of, you know, that I was I dis I decided to do something else. I decided to, you know, take a sabbatical, you know, at least that was that was a good one. But you know, I had to, you know, to talk to my children and said, this is what I'm going through. They saw me that I was suffering and they said, It is it it is time for you to do something else. Yes. So somehow God orchestrated. God prepared the ground for me to to to to make this change. But it was not as that simple, Woody. It was not that simple. Yeah, I had to wait for another year. Yeah. Woody McLendon: Well, and thank you for sharing that because I I recognize even in our own lives, from the from the time of sensing God's call to actually entering into that in a tangible way takes time. And sometimes you're Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: like, Well, did I mis-hear? Did I misunderstand? God, what are you doing? And in fact, it's the Maria Vega: Yes, yes, yes. Woody McLendon: process that He's preparing me or us and the circumstance around us that takes time. So thank you for sharing that. Maria Vega: Yes, yes. Woody McLendon: Sounds like God really Maria Vega: Yeah, yeah. Woody McLendon: provided for you and your family that your sons recognized this was something you needed to do and they supported you. And your Maria Vega: Yes, thank you, Lord. Yes. Woody McLendon: obviously your job, others, even though may they might not have understood you, you were able to take that step. So that's great. So I'm curious, as you were looking, you've you've you've been through this Halftime, you're now looking as you shared this this waiting season. When you got into begin when when you got invited to work for the Wycliffe Global Alliance and you were beginning to do the kinds of things that were actually aligned with your experience, what struck you as you first entered in more directly into the world of of Bible translation? What yeah, what what did you see? Maria Vega: Definitely I saw a different world. I I met different people. I realized that they were also they they also had a very strong background, that they were answering to a call from God also. I found an environment of of commitment to serve God in such a different way, back then, you know, in such a in such a different way that I wanted to learn more about them. They wanted to do s things better. They wanted to to commit to God. They wanted to serve God with excellence. And that was the place, you know. I was not I you know I didn't have to I don't know, I guess that the Bible translation, even though it is a different world. It is the perfect world to serve God, at least from my perspective. Maybe others would not think the same, you know, but from my perspective that's the perfect world to serve in b in to serve God. Woody McLendon: So how did your how did you see your training and experience outside apply in unique ways that that others came to appreciate but perhaps didn't understand initially? Maria Vega: Yes, yes. as I was serving in Bible translation, as I started to serve even, you know, from the beginning, serving Bible translation, and I just I immediately I realized that everything that I did in the past with economical development, community development, what I have done, you know, in terms of poverty reduction and job creation and all of these tools that I you know you know we were working together, not even, you know, at the Washington level, but also, you know, on the field. These t these people, you know, microentrepreneurs, they didn't know anything about anything about organizational development, anything about managing. But they wanted to, you know, to grow, they wanted to expand. So we had to develop tools, very simple tools, you know, for them to move on. And then all of the sudden when I started to, you know, look at this new endeavor that I wa I was requested to serve with Bible translation, I realized that that was it. It was very simple for me, right? It's kind of a it is kind of the same of what I have done in the past, but serving God. So I found passionate people to serve God, passionate to set with excellence and better. They just needed to learn more, that's all. Woody McLendon: That's wonderful. Well, I think, Maria Vega: That was amazing. Woody McLendon: yeah, no, it sounds exciting. So, so explain then as you were coming in the kind of work you were doing. It was helping leaders and organizations develop their capacity so they w to learn and grow. Because you weren't exact you weren't directly doing Bible translation, learning languages and translating Scripture I I understand that, but your contribution Maria Vega: No, no, yeah, yeah. Woody McLendon: was with at the organizational level. So describe a bit about what what you were doing in a day to day basis in those days. Maria Vega: Well that's another testimony. the Faras came for my my son's wedding to Costa Rica and they they wanted to go and visit José de Dios in Wycliffe America. He was the director of Wycliffe America back then. And you know, David called me and said, Can you come and pick me up? you know, from the office. that's how I met José de Dios. He asked me about my work. And then he asked for a few minutes of my time. He had received a comprehensive project for the Americas and was struggling to figure out how to carry it out. He thought my experience could help. We talked for about not a few minutes, three hours. I understood more clearly than ever the real challenges they were facing. And he he asked if I could help, but he needed approval from his supervisor first. That is when I was told no, because I was not an official Wycliffe member. That conversations is good example, you know, that type of conversations are good examples of what I faced that year. Real need, real willingness on my part, and it's still a closed door, because I was not yet seen as one of them. That was very, very painful, but you know, this this this process, you know, I I I saw that comprehensive planning, comprehensive project and and then I saw this kind of yes I know I know the roadmap for this, but maybe I was not qualified for them. That th they thought I was not qualified for them. Yes. Woody McLendon: Well, eventually you were able, obviously, and to get involved and and praise Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: God for that, for your patience and perseverance, because it it isn't always easy. Maria Vega: Yes. No, it's not. Woody McLendon: And and I feel like God's blessed his people in different ways with different capacities and experiences. And it's always a joy to see when those connections can happen. But Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: sometimes it can be a little challenging to see them unfold. So thank you for Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: sharing that. So so you went you worked for the Alliance. And then you've had other experiences in your involvement in Bible translation, including now being at Seed Company. So explain that journey, you know, some highlights along the way there and particularly how God showed up in special ways as you were serving. Maria Vega: That specific project you know, needed to expand to the, you know, to the whole Americas. And you know, the Wycliffe Americas and SIL Americas were, you know, interacting with a lot of partners. And one of the questions is, you know, where are your partners and how many you have of them? And then we we just realized that, you know, there were about, I don't know, dozens of them, you know, that they were interacting with. And the other question is is kind of how you know how prepared they are, you know, for them to this, you know, to to implement this project. And the huge question was is that they needed organizational development. They needed to grow, they needed to learn more. So that's when, you know, we started, you know, tremendous work with Wycliffe Americas and SIL America you know, working together in you know preparing all our partners for them to go through an organizational development process, you know, training in all the areas of organizational development and see if they can expand more, you know, Bible translation. Not only in America, but you know, sending missionaries to the other parts of the world. And they sent I think that SIL International sent an evaluators from Canada, and they did they did the evaluation and they found out that this was a very remarkable model, that it was very successful. So you know, one of one of the meetings that I was invited to in that it was in Seed Company. But there were many or leaders of other organizations that I didn't know much about them. but you know, SIL, back then Wycliffe Associates, Seed Company. And and they asked me, said, Maria, you know, can you share what you're what are you doing with gl in organizational development in America? I was not prepared for that. Really. I mean they told me that I was not I mean I was not going to talk. I mean I was going to be, I don't know, there substituting Nydia Garcia. And and then I said, God please give me, help me here. I used a presentation that I used a week before. And I was just presenting what I was d doing and then Dal Anderson, you know, stopped me in the middle of it and then I thought, this is it, you know, I have ruined it. And they said, We don't need to talk tal talk more about this. This is what we need. And then they said they stay the whole day discussing on how to do it, setting criteria or selection c countries on where to do a pilot of what has been implemented in America. So they choose the different countries like Ghana, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and you know, to do that. And the next question is, you know, can you train our people in doing this? That that was another challenge, you know. It's kind of you usually you want to get together with your peers, with the same professionals, but now we have these missionaries, who we need to train them, you know, we need to train them in, you know, applying this model in different in different other countries so they could become consultants also. A huge experience. A huge experience. You know, it's I I don't know. Woody McLendon: Wonderful. No, I think it's great because you're, you know, you were walking in obedience, doing your best, and others noticed and invited you to serve at a larger scope. So and then there was a a Maria Vega: Yeah. thank you, Lord. Woody McLendon: learning process. How do I do this next level? But it sounds like God blessed. Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: Yeah, yeah. That's wonderful. Well, as I think about your, you know, what you've observed in the growth of the movement of the organizations through these years, you've been in involved now for more than a decade, and watched a lot of development. What are what are you seeing that really encourages you as you in terms of the development of leaders and organizations around the world? Maria Vega: You know, th they they are constantly trying to do their best. They are constantly trying to to learn more about you know, how to continuously improving and then you know serve God. I guess that after f seventeen years serving Bible translation organizations, you know, I can see clearly now how God is preparing all of us to what you know he is his plans are in the future. No matter the country or the language, you know. It's it's really amazing what what he's doing in in terms of what his plans are for Bible translation, in terms of people to receive the the the Scripture in their own language. Woody McLendon: That's great. And I thank you for sharing it. It is hugely encouraging to see how God's raising up believers from around the world who are committed and passionate and growing and learning and contributing in really amazing ways. It is truly a global movement of believers from everywhere. So that's that's huge. Maria Vega: Yeah, yeah, indeed, indeed. Woody McLendon: So thank you, Maria. That was really fascinating. So I'd like to shift a bit and just take a a moment for some fun questions just to get to know you better as a person and hopefully generate a few smiles along the way. So first I'd like to ask, what fun tradition or silly tradition do you have as a family? Maria Vega: Doing puzzles together. I did that with my children. And it was so much fun. I love them. I I I love doing puzzles, but you know, you know, having my children doing with me was it was, you know, a blast. Not is it now it is building Legos. I I don't have the the I am old I I don't have the age to do puzzles anymore because my my sight's in. But you know, we are building Legos. And my son is a Lego collector and the other one is a Lego collector and I am a Lego collector. You see in back in the back? That's the world. That's a Lego. That's also a Lego. So yes. Yes. Woody McLendon: That that map is a Lego map. That's great. That's great. Maria Vega: So we're always talking about, you know, what next are we going to do? Yeah. Yeah. Woody McLendon: that's so much fun. That's great. So you may have already answered my question, but as you look around your home office there, what name one thing that you see that when you look at it just makes you smile. Maria Vega: The family photos behind me. Yeah, look at them, you know, all of them. Yeah. Yeah. Woody McLendon: Yes, beautiful family. That's wonderful. Maria Vega: They remind me that I am loved that I am loved and I am not alone. Yes, yeah. Woody McLendon: Amen. Maria Vega: So I I would stand there and then look at them, I don't know, and smile at them. Most of all, my granddaughter. Yeah. Yeah. There we go. Yes, yes. Woody McLendon: Huh. Yeah. Grandchildren are a huge and precious gift. Yes, that's wonderful. Well thank you. So well here's another question. Tell me s something that most people wouldn't know about you, besides Legos. That was great. Maria Vega: That's a tricky question, Woody. My hobbies. I usually keep them private. I love art, same as my father, in every form. Painting, music, dancing, and more. That's you know, I don't share that much with with my colleagues. I do share it definitely with my with with my friends. But I really love art. Really love art. Yes. Woody McLendon: That's wonderful. Do you do you do art yourself or or okay. Just appreciate. Maria Vega: No, no, no, no, no. I used to be back when I was w when when I was not a Christian, I I used to be an art collector. My family w became an art collector. My my my brothers were art collectors. And I, you know, I also was an art collector. But then, you know, I realized that I can enjoy it but not become an art collector, you know, fanatic about it. Yeah. Woody McLendon: Yeah, that's wonderful. So Maria Vega: Yeah. Woody McLendon: you may have already touched on this, but when it comes to something you do to relax, is it Legos and things like that, or is there something else that you also enjoy? Maria Vega: No. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It depends on the moment. But most often I listen to music or read. And then sometimes I would like to cook and then also listen to music. by the way, I'm not a chef, I'm not a cooking fan, but you know I love to cook and then listen to music and enjoy the food and invite friends and enjoy the food with them. Woody McLendon: Sounds wonderful. That's great. So Maria, Maria Vega: Yeah, yeah. Woody McLendon: how many languages do you speak? Maria Vega: I wish I could say all of them. You know, but Spanish and English Woody McLendon: Although that's a great inspection. Maria Vega: Spanish and English are my my my worst you know, the the best efforts that I do to to express myself. I also understand some French and Portuguese, yes. But I have to tell you that I am I'm continually learning about Spanish and definitely about English. Yeah. Woody McLendon: Well, thank you for for that. So I'm curious when you read the Bible or listen to the Scriptures, is there a language that you prefer and why? Maria Vega: Definitely Spanish. That is my mother tongue. When I read the Bible in Spanish, my heart truly receives God's Word. And that was one of the reasons, right? You know, one of the, you know, the rationales on why is that we're doing Bible translation. When I was young, I would go to church and I would hear the priests speaking in Latin. I didn't understand anything about it. But when I read the Bible in Spanish, wow. It was an open door to get to know God and then to follow him. Yes. Yeah. Woody McLendon: that's praise God. Yes. And it that is the the heart of what we do so that each Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: person can hear and understand, hear, read and understand in the language that best speaks to their heart and that God uses Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: that. So thanks for that that testimony. I have a few more questions, a little more serious, but not too, I hope, before we finish up. This has been delight. So as you look at the movement at large today, you're seeing God work Maria Vega: Uh-huh. Woody McLendon: and you're seeing leaders and organizations, what encouragement do you have for leaders today and in terms of how to focus and how to grow as leaders in Bible translation, what do you what do you see? Maria Vega: What do I see? The effort that leaders are making to reach people who still do not have the Scripture in their language. A movement is happening in many places, a national vision is taking place, aligning with a call to bring God's Word to every language community. A new generation of Indonesian Christians, I'm saying because I'm serving Indonesia now, but in Indonesian Christians are increasingly mission-minded, capable, and eager to embrace this calling. The tools and technology available now that now exists to make this possible. I mean early examples already exist. Pioneering organizations are demonstrating what church owned, locally funded, Spirit-led Bible translation looks like. The proof is already there. So it this is a kind of a, I feel like this is kind of a table served by God in terms of, you know, that we should be moving forward. This is a hope and encouragement encouragement for me for me. Sorry. Woody McLendon: That's great. Thank you. And I wholeheartedly agree. And as I and I hear your story, I reflect on the people that spoke into your life and encouraged you as you were growing in your leadership and ministry. How would you encourage leaders today in the world of Bible translation to prepare and encourage and come alongside the next generation of leaders that are going to rise up in these years to come? Maria Vega: Mm. If I would have to speak to them, I would say the moment is now. This generation has an opportunity no previous generation has had. The question is not whether it is possible. The question is whether we will be faithful and follow his direction. That's it. It's very simple. Yes. Woody McLendon: And and what does that mean to you practically if you think about what kinds of practices or or things a leader could do to help or encourage and take this seize this moment? Maria Vega: So what it would be one one of the recommendations that I would go give to leaders, is that what you're saying? Yes. Woody McLendon: Yes. Yeah. How would how would you recommend leaders behave today or or take initiative to prepare the next generation? Maria Vega: yes, yes, yes, yes. With lots of respect, Woody, with lots of respect, I would you know, I would tell them step back as you grow. You're not indispensable. Your goal is not to remain essential but to become unnecessary. As you experience growth, your role should naturally shift. Let God guide you to what comes next. He has plans for you. Not the same plans plans, but different ones, often bigger. You know, I remember Matthew 9:17, No one pours new wine into old wineskins. New wine is poured into new skins. Yeah. Woody McLendon: Amen. Well, and I think that Maria Vega: Amen. Woody McLendon: I appreciate your point that our job is to prepare others and step out of the way because God is preparing us for something else too. You know, the Maria Vega: Yes, yes. Woody McLendon: the the opportunity for us to serve in new ways, perhaps bigger or other ways, comes with us releasing responsibility. And that's a a really healthy thing. I think I appreciate you sharing. Now you had a your your own story was God getting a hold of your heart and you struggled with that. You spoke a little bit about this at the beginning, but when you what would you say to a younger person who senses God calling them in ministry to a a greater level of leadership engagement? What would you say to them for how to respond to that calling on their lives? Maria Vega: Pray. Spend a long time with Him. Maybe younger generations don't do that often, you know, having a solitude time with Him. Seek advice and mentorship. Remember leadership is a practice, not a title. Start leading right where you are. While you wait for a formal opportunity, keep training your leadership muscles. It is up to you. You know that study suggests that seventy percent of leadership comes from learned behaviour and life experience, not natural talent alone. We all can become leaders, yes. But submit to God. Woody McLendon: Thank you. So I think you've actually covered some very significant principles there. Is there anything else that you feel like has been influential for you as you reflect on God's call on your life and your service in ministry and in leadership? There are any other principles that you feel like have guided you that you'd like to share? Maria Vega: I guess that one of them is it would be Isaiah 43:19, says, "See, I'm doing a new thing. Now it springs up. You do not perceive it." We perceive it. We are honored to walk this road serving Him Every village, every language, every generation. That's that is what we are building, all of us together. Woody. All of us together. Yes. Yes. Yes. Definitely. Yes. Woody McLendon: Amen. Amen. And what a joy and privilege. I mean, who would have imagined that we would, as as followers of Jesus, get to be involved with Maria Vega: Yes. Woody McLendon: others around the world? So what a joy. Well, Maria, thank you. Is there any last comments Maria Vega: Thank you. Woody McLendon: or thoughts? You've you've been a wonderful guest. I delighted and enjoyed this opportunity to share together. Anything else you'd like to share before we close? Maria Vega: No, thank you very much. Thank you so much for the invitation. Thank you so much for your patience and thank you so much for the opportunity, you know. It is an honor to continue serving God through Bible translation. It is an honor to continue serving well in Indonesia this time. And yeah I enjoy every day, really, every day. Thank you so much, Woody. Woody McLendon: Maria, thank you so much. And and thanks to you all for listening and taking part in this episode. If what Maria shared was an encouragement to you, I ask you to share this and send a link to someone else and share this message with them that they also could be encouraged. Then I pray for God's richest blessing on you and thank you and come back for the next episode. And thank you.