.:. The Harer's live journal

Post Script

2009-07-03T23:50:00.003-04:00

P.S. – Here are some additional thoughts from last week’s journal On the Move Again.

She was more than a Spanish teacher. She was a cultural informant, an encouragement, an advisor and a friend. We laughed together, read the Bible together, discussed religion, politics and customs. We prayed together, had tea, and wrote Bible studies together. She was kind, patient and understanding. We will miss Claudia.

We now live in Momoxpan. It means the town of Momox. From our house you can see the bridge that crosses the periferico (6 lanes of belt-way traffic). This bridge wasn’t built for cars; it was built for people. Near the end of every July, the residents of Momoxpan form a procession to march their patron saint (San Diego) to the neighboring town of Cholula. San Diego stays in Cholula for a week with the Virgin of the Remedies; then they are both marched back to Momoxpan where they stay together for another week. Then the Virgin of the Remedies in finally marched back to her home in Cholula. In the past the procession stopped traffic on the periferico. Finally after eight years of strong lobbying from the priest in Momoxpan, the local government agreed to build the bridge for the procession.

A few pictures of the home we are renting over the next year:

On The Move Again

2009-06-26T11:02:00.001-04:00

It’s 12:25am Thursday night or Friday morning, whichever you wish. I’m listening to “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” and banging away at this old computer to meet a self imposed deadline of a Friday post. We have spent the day packing, transporting, and unpacking with the next two days promising to be more of the same. So, I’m thinking when will there ever be a good chance to write something if not now.

We are on the move again. For two homebodies the first forty or so years of our lives, we certainly have thrown caution to the wind. We are in the middle of our third move in as many years, and the future promises to be more of the same. What’s going on here? Isn’t this supposed to be the time of life to settle down, raise the kids, and get them off to a good start in life?

And here are a couple of interesting items:
Did you realize that the United States is playing against Brazil for the Confederation Cup this Sunday? It’s hardly on the sports radar scene in the US, but in Mexico broadcasting Cup games preempts regularly scheduled programming. On Wednesday we beat Spain who is the number one team in the world and finished ahead of Italy who won the last World Cup. Maybe US soccer is on the rise.

What a crazy night it was! I finally got in bed after 1:00am only to be awakened at 5:15 by a horrendous storm. Fearing that our things were getting wet in the carport I dashed across town to check it out. Outrunning the storm I decided to wait before waking anyone up, and Diana wondering what had happened to me called out the search party.

Preparing Your Heart

2009-06-19T15:45:00.003-04:00

Over the last few weeks I have been writing short challenges for worship at El Puente. It gives us a few days to begin to ponder His vastness and prepare our hearts for worship. Here’s a sampling:

Pastor Steve recently told us of a church whose focus is worship. They have no outreach programs but have grown from 17 to 4000 people. The pastor of the church explains it this way, "If 17 people go into the street and look up, what do those who are around them do?"

I can't help believe that if we let the Spirit examine our lives, worship God in holiness and lift Christ up, then He will draw others to Himself. Let the worship begin.....and with passion!

There are many creative ways to give expression to your worship. Just take a look at the songbook Jesus used (the Psalms):
Bow down 66:4; Play skillfully 33:3; Clap your hands 47:1; Lift your hands 63:4; Speak 40:10; Burst into jubilant song 98:4; Celebrate 145:7; Kneel 95:6; Make music 57:7; Meditate 77:12; Say "Amen" 106:48; Sing Praise 7:17; Shout aloud 95:1; Sing a new song 33:3

None are required, and none are a measuring stick of spirituality, but each can be another avenue to express your adoration to the Lord.

Want to receive this end of the week worship challenge to help prepare your heart? If so contact us at ken@kneelingwetriumph.com or though Rope-Holders and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Questions, Questions, Questions

2009-06-12T14:10:00.003-04:00

I hear you are moving, what’s up with that? Yes, and we are really excited about it. We will have twice as much room, be within 10 minutes of work and be able to give more hospitality. There’s the added benefit of having a trampoline in the back yard and a cheerful garden area with plants and flowers!

What are your responsibilities at El Puente? When we came to El Puente six months ago, we were welcomed with open arms. We began to attend team meetings, schedule Sunday services, teach, and disciple the young man who is our worship leader. While Pastor Steve is in Canada for the summer, I have been handed his responsibilities.

What is El Puente like? El Puente is a multicultural, international, bilingual ministry. We meet in Hotel del Molino on Sunday mornings and are currently looking for a more permanent place. It is a gracious community of believers that values team, the process of the Christian life, and Biblical teaching that makes life application.

How’s your Spanish? Well, we’ve come a long way and it’s encouraging, but when we think about how far there is to go it can be discouraging. Carrying on a conversation is one thing; speaking fluently is quite another. Being in a bilingual work doesn’t help, but we rest in knowing God has us here for a reason.

What’s going on this summer? The big event of the summer is the youth group from our home church coming in July. We know most of them already, and it will be fun to reconnect and introduce them to our world. There’s a possibility I’ll make a quick trip to Tennessee at the end of summer, but we’ll see how that goes.

What are your kids up to? They are looking forward to the group coming for sure. Maria and Christina take an art class on Thursday and a craft class on Friday. A big upside is that being at El Puente has opened new doors of friendship for them. It has been a long dry season on friendships.

Daniel continues to play futbol on the cancha most evenings and is preparing to be away for a month this summer. He leaves for Houston to attend Student Life camp then a week with Diana’s family. After that he will be in Kenya and Burundi for two weeks. Thanks for all your letters, encouragement and involvement in his life.

How did you survive the flu? Fine, thank the Lord. We do not know anyone personally who came down with the flu, and life seems to be back to normal. We have heard a lot of conspiracy theories along the way though.

When do you return home? We have less than a year now before we return to the land of the free and the home of the brave. Maria is really hoping to celebrate her 15th birthday on May 3rd in Houston. We are thinking of visiting a Christian college in Colorado, spending time in Tennessee with my parents, and making other stops along the way. West Virginia looks like it will come into sight around the end of May.

Our Anniversary in Cholula – A Photo Journal

2009-06-06T00:30:00.003-04:00

A beautiful June bride celebrates her 21st

Solitude – finding a quiet place to read is an anniversary tradition

Cholula is rich in color and history

Juan José asked us to help him repair his bike

Is the timer set on this camera or not?

Shopping was part of the total experience

A private dinner for two at Hotel Real Naturales

Delicious

Sweeter as the years go by

This Week's Musings

2009-06-01T18:12:00.004-04:00

Colombian missionaries, Phil and Deene, spent the week here encouraging us all. They are an insightful and anointed couple (while I don't use that word often, but it sums up their lives well). On Saturday they led a communal prayer meeting – praying in community. Normally when a group prays together, each individual prayer stands alone. In communal prayer we are building our prayers one upon another, praying in continuity with what the previous person prayed, expanding a prayer on the same subject. In a communal prayer we listen and follow the conversation with God. We keep the prayers brief allowing others to always be joining in. It was a truly amazing prayer time as a group of 20 people opened their lives in confession, vulnerability and weeping. We had a taste of God working, and it left us longing for more.

We said good-bye to our friends and partners in ministry on Saturday. Keith and Dawn have probably just crossed the border on their way to Pennsylvania. We will miss their love and support for us, as well as the weekly fellowship at Italian Coffee Company. We actually began our friendship in Portland and continued it with many good memories here in Mexico. Keith and I met weekly for over a year for morning prayer, but we also had campfires, made late night runs to the bus station, and played the ancient Mayan number game together. Blessings, Goodlings!

Diana and I were hitched twenty-one years ago on June, 4th. She was a beautiful June bride whose beauty has only grown through the years. While her new hair style is attractive and suits her well, it is really the inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that radiates from her. As for me, I am blessed to have married the wife of my youth. As a friend friend from West Virgina often reminds me, “Son, you married way over your head.”

In preparation for the baptism of eleven people this Sunday, pastor Steve told the story of Bob. Bob decided to take some of the poorest of the poor from his ministry in Venezuela to Israel. While there some of the group decided they wanted to be baptized in the Jordan. Since Bob was not of an immersion tradition, he put them off for a while so that he could watch how other groups did it. Finally confident enough that he knew what to do he entered the water with the first person. As he walked in to his surprise the others on the bank began yelling, “Good-bye, goodbye, goodbye”. Then as the person came up out of the water they yelled, “Hello, hello, welcome back.” What a great picture of dying to the old life, being buried, and rising again to new life.

Three Birthday Party Celebrations – A Photo Journal

2009-05-24T21:32:00.004-04:00

Christina is becoming a young lady as she celebrates birthday 11

Maddie, Julia, Katelyn, Azrielle and Katie join in for the friend party

Yipeeeee, just what I wanted a Pet Shop pet

Playing a round of squirt, squirt, splash

The girls’ and mom’s homemade Pet Shop cake

Sarah joins the family for the second birthday celebration

Daniel took the girls on a boat ride

Candy and decorations – loving it

Our third party was at Hotel Real Naturales with the Church

Christina, we love your cheerful smile and sunny personality – blessings our daughter

From Roots to Leaders

2009-05-15T15:48:00.003-04:00

As a youth pastor one of the things that I was constantly on the lookout for was good Bible study material for various spiritual levels. My problem was it was never exactly what I wanted. That led to the writing of Roots, a study booklet to help establish spiritual growth. Roots was followed by Deeper, Encounter, Disciplines and Study. By the time we came to Mexico, I was completely out of control with a four booklet series in Spanish entitled Mateo – with a little help from Claudia, Manuel and Debbie. Okay, a lot of help! Now that we are at El Puente (a bilingual, international, multicultural fellowship) what better time to write Leaders? The following is a sample chapter on one characteristic of a leader:

Lives Their Position in Christ

“When we have believed lies about ourselves that have caused deep wounds, it is always beneficial to remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. Nothing is more foundational than understanding who we are in Christ and affirming what God has done for us in Christ.” Charles Richardson

Day 1 - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - What are you in Christ? What difference does this make in your view of yourself?

Day 2 - Ephesians 1:3-10 - What spiritual blessings have you received in Christ? How do these blessings affect your view of God?

Day 3 - Ephesians 2:6-10 - In Christ, what has God done for us in the heavenly realms? Why did He do it?

Day 4 - Colossians 2:9-12 - What have you been given in Christ? What does that mean? What difference does this make in your life from day to day?

Day 5 - Philippians 3:7-11 - What was Paul’s view of his former way of life? In Christ, what have you received that is not your own? How are you the righteousness of Christ?

Day 6 - Galatians 3:26-29

Day 7 - Ephesians 3:2-6

Making It Practical
1. Is your identity, acceptance, security, and significance found in your position in Christ? How?2. How does your position in Christ affect the way you approach life?3. Renounce any lie about yourself that makes you feel rejected, unloved, abandoned, worthless, helpless, or hopeless. Give thanks to God for who you are in Christ.

(You can find the entire Leader study at KWT as well as all the other studies from Roots to Leaders.)

Quarantine Fourteen – A Photo Journal

2009-05-08T13:57:00.003-04:00

So what does a budding young lady of fourteen do on her birthday when the country is quarantined to avoid spreading the flu?

Open gifts and cards throughout the day from family and friends including jewelry, books, phone card, money…

Take the puppy on an early morning car ride so she can hang out the window and feel the wind. Do it again in the afternoon.

Have a tasty meal of grilled chicken at which time family shares with you the characteristics they see exhibited in your life that they appreciate.

Spend a lot of time talking to friends back in the States on the telephone and on Facebook.

Enjoy a late evening pizza while you watch a favorite video.

Stay away from little sister who seems to have some sort of fascination with fire.

Enjoy a birthday cake along with homemade ice cream and a fresh cup of coffee.

Happy Birthday, Maria….you are a special young lady, and we are so blessed to have you as our daughter.

Precarious Position

2009-05-01T11:30:00.004-04:00

The health of missionaries has always been in a precarious position. William Borden of Yale stopped in Egypt to study Arabic on his way to work with Muslims in China. There he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of twenty-five. Then there are those who have put themselves in unhealthy environments over a period of years and have paid with broken health. Brave men and women have considered the cost and have been willing to pay this price. As for me when it comes to the health of our family, I don’t feel so brave and can find myself doing the unthinkable – worrying. Not much of a missionary, huh?

I remember the first time health was an issue for us here in Mexico. It was during the Christmas season and we were sitting in a lab waiting for the results of a friend who was very sick. Two naked bulbs lit the dingy concrete walls. The front door stood open to the dusty noisy street traffic only a few feet away. Worn out, broken down chairs littered the waiting room as the receptionist watched a small portable TV. The walk back to the lab itself was long…and dark. My mind began to wonder.

Later we had our own brush with health issues. When our son was diagnosed with giardia, e. coli, and e. histolytica, we felt relieved to know what was wrong but wondered what it all meant. The doctor recommended he take three different medicines. At home Diana researched them in a book entitled Where There Is No Doctor and we read, “…known to sometimes cause permanent paralysis, blindness, and even death. Do not use these dangerous medicines.” So what did we do? We gave him the medicine.

Now here we are sitting in the middle of a storm called the influenza A(N1H1) virus. Following the news…waiting……wondering. Wondering what will happen next. Wondering what it would mean if one of us did come down with it. Wondering if we have been idiots to put our family in this unhealthy situation in the first place.

If that isn’t complicated enough, I also have to live with myself and what I know. Knowing that God is in control. Knowing that all things work together for good to those who love Him. Knowing that we are safer in the storm with Him than outside of it without Him.

So what do we do now? Maybe we should pray. “Lord Jesus, we find ourselves in a precarious position and ask for Your mercy to our family, the Church and this country. Turn our wondering into trusting and our worry into worship. In Your Name we pray. Amen.”

Good Fruit - A Photo Jounral

2009-04-24T22:36:00.003-04:00

Pomegranate

Litches

Tuna (from the cactus)

Vaina - Genecuitl

Pitaya

Guayaba

Granada China

Grape inside a hairy strawberry

Dragon Fruit

Love, Joy, Peace,

Patience, Kindness, Goodness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

The Gran Café de la Parroquia Experience

2009-04-17T23:35:00.005-04:00

Some experiences are just so rich in culture that they beg to be experienced. For example going to the market to see the hog heads and skinned chickens. Or taking the early morning bus downtown and being squeezed in like sardines. Or going for cemitas at Carmen’s to watch hundreds of sandwiches being made assemble line style. The girls, Diana and I had just one such experience when we stopped by the Gran Café de la Parroquia for a coffee.

We didn’t just go to any Café de la Parroquia but to the Orginal Café established in 1808. Let me tell you just finding a table was a challenge. We fought our way into the mob, craned our necks for a place to sit, and finally staked our claim on a sidewalk table near the marimba band. The place was crowded with patrons, passersby, venders and musicians. We placed our order, four lecheros (coffee and milk), and sat back to take it all in.

The marimba players were camped out on the corner wailing on their instruments. They were loud; we could hardly here each other talk; it was great. While we waited and listened, there was an endless parade of venders coming by our table.

In Mexico sidewalk vending is the norm, but it took some getting used to for us. Funny thing is the establishments don’t seem to mind. Could you imagine eating at a restaurant in the States, and someone off the streets trying to sell you a desert? Anyway, we persisted, saying “no” to candy, shirts, watches, cigars, sunglasses and even a check of our blood pressure. But we broke down when it came to the carved and painted bookmarks. Hey, it’s all part of the experience.

Presently the waiter came with our coffee. About an inch of strong black coffee served in a glass. Then a second waiter brought a pot of hot milk. Starting at glass level he poured gradually lifting it until he was pouring from a foot above the glass. It was quite a show, a great glass of coffee, and a grand experience at the Gran Café de la Parroquia.

Doors And Angels

2009-04-10T15:11:00.002-04:00

It’s a swirl of activity here as most celebrate Holy Week in one way or another. One special activity during this time is the welcoming of Víctor Sánchez Espinosa as the new bishop to Puebla. To commemorate his appointment the huge doors at the cathedral which remain closed for years at time are opened for the week. Any who pass through these doors, make confession to a priest, and take the wafer of Christ’s body are forgiven of all their past sins.

We on the other hand will take a more low key approach to Resurrection Day. Our Passover was scrubbed due to colds and stomach bugs, but we do plan on meeting with the Church and observing the Lord’s Table. For us that means an opportunity to remember the body of Christ given up to the cross and the shedding of His blood. It also means an opportunity to examine our own lives to make sure we are entering into all the riches He gave us when we were rescued from the empty way of life handed down to us from our forefathers. It’s a time of reflection, but also definitely a time of celebration.

Did you ever consider the events of the cross and resurrection from the perspective of the angels? Randy Alcorn does that in his fiction Deadline. It’s well worth the read and consideration. Here’s a small portion as one of the angels describes it:

“And just when we thought Elyon (a Hebrew name for God) could not surpass this greatest miracle with another, there came the greater one…That little hill, where little men were permitted to do unspeakable things to Elyon’s Son. My comrades and I jammed against the portal, begging permission to break through and strike down the cowards, to unleash the relentless wrath of heaven’s army. We longed to raise our swords as one, to destroy every atom of the dark world. All that was in us thirsted for revenge. We ached to once and for all obliterate that cancer of rebellion against the Most High God.

“Here were these puny men obsessed with the offenses of others against them, while themselves committing the ultimate offense of the universe, driving nails through the flesh of God. We longed to make them eat the dust of the ground and vomit clay. Any one of us could have struck them all down, and we yearned to do it. Millions of us, legion upon legion, crowded forward, from every corner of heaven, pressing and pushing, crying out and begging leave to destroy those who would dare to curse and mock and savage the holy Lamb of God.

“But Michael would not permit us…For Elyon would not permit him…We writhed in agony…We had never thought such pain possible here in the perfect realm. And yet we grew to know- though not completely understand – that all this was necessary to meet the demands of Elyon’s justice and His love. He did not need us to rescue Him. With a single word, with merely a thought He could have unmade all men, destroyed the universe, purged all creation of the ugliness that nailed him to that cross. But He did not. He would not. He did not go there to be rescued. He went there to rescue.”

Kenya: Take It From Someone Who’s Been There

2009-04-03T00:17:00.004-04:00

As most of you know Daniel is planning a mission trip into Kenya this summer. What most of you don’t know is that his cousin Josiah has been there for the last two summers. Last year when Josiah posted during his trip I thought to myself, “This is good stuff, I’ve got to get this on my blog”, little knowing that Daniel would want to be in the middle of it one year later. Here is Josiah’s perspective:

“I think probably the most impactful thing about this trip so far has just been seeing all the injustice going on in Kenya. This trip has really opened my eyes to some very horrible and grotesque things going on in this world. Things that I know most of America is completely unaware of. Things that I don’t really like to think about much less write about, but nevertheless they are happening in the world that you and I live in. And that has been a huge wake up call to me personally.

“But yet, then I look around after hearing about these things and these people do have hope....and these people do have joy. I don’t pretend to know these people’s hearts, but I would argue that these people have 10x more joy than most of us living in America. And I’m not talking about a cheap fake joy either. The kind that simply embraces the good and ignores the bad (there is plenty of that in America). I am talking about a real joy that only comes from God. A joy not based on circumstances. A joy that only comes from trusting God in whatever trials that occur. I don’t pretend to understand this joy, but nevertheless I know I am not making it up because this joy is very, very evident in these people’s lives.

“We are going to see Kibera on Saturday. Approx. 1 million people live there and it is only 600 acres big. That is approx 1,700 people per acre. Most of these people have HIV/AIDS and there is absolutely no one who is not affected by it. Needless to say, people there live in extreme poverty. But one thing that is amazing is that after we walk through there, and all of us feel so helpless and so discouraged, the Kenyan ladies from church who are guiding us through can always turn around with hope in their eyes and say "But God is so much bigger than all of this."

“The Kenyan people we work with are really amazing in that they can look at something like Kibera, and yet still have hope, because they know who they trust in....and they understand how big their God is...”

There you have it from someone who has been there. It sounds life changing to me.

Prayerwalking Rekindled

2009-03-28T02:10:00.003-04:00

I long for the days of walks at Little Beaver State Park. Those times were filled with solitude and intimate conversations with God. These days it’s really hard to find that same refuge in the midst of three million and a concrete jungle. Being at the beach recently rekindled my desire to walk, pray and connect with God in nature’s peaceful setting.

I think it’s interesting that some others who have faithfully gone before us have found the same.

Hudson Taylor – “Regarding a wandering mind in prayer; I have found more help in praying aloud, and praying while walking about – talking as to a present Lord – than any other way.”

D.E. Hoste – “He usually prayed aloud, but in a very low tone, and would pace up and down the room while he was in prayer…somehow he seemed to have more freedom in prayer while walking; that prayer seemed more free and unrestrained.”

J.O. Fraser – “A habit he formed early was to walk up and down, praying aloud, talking as a man talks to his friend.”

George Muller – “Muller also took to walking and praying – with his New Testament in his hand – when conditions were suitable.”

Francis Shaeffer – “I walked in the mountains when it was clear and when it was rainy. I walked backward and forward in the hayloft of the old chalet in which we lived. I walked, prayed and thought through what the Scriptures taught…”

So, where is your favorite spot to get away – the Appalachian Trial, Sea of Galilee’s shore, a local park or out your front door and down the road? Any quiet place will do to walk, pray and connect with the Creator of it all.

Okay, Last Word On Colombia

2009-03-20T14:56:00.005-04:00

First Impressions of Colombia: It’s very green, very green and clean - great for growing flowers and coffee.

We visited El Peñol (the big rock). It is the biggest rock in the northern hemisphere. Until five years ago the road to this tourist attraction was controlled by guerillas making it impossible for foreigners and the middle/upper class to travel lest they be kidnapped for ransom.

Speaking of security the airport takes it very seriously. For us it all began with passing a number of checkpoints on the way to the airport. Once in the airport military personal looked over all our luggage and singled out Diana’s as needing further inspection (she has the face of a smuggler). Further inspection meant that everything from her luggage was taken out, opened, unwrapped and sorted though, including dirty laundry. On we went to the next security check where all carry-ons were x-rayed and books were opened and sniffed before we were patted down by other military personnel. Then to the third security check where carry-ons were again x-rayed and where baggage was randomly searched. Finally before boarding we passed military with their trained dog.

Four things we saw on this trip we have never seen before: the coast of Cuba; a cat on a leash going for a walk in the mall; major streets closed in the city on Sunday for walking and bike riding; the shuttle launch as we sat in the plane at the Miami airport.

The ministry we worked with while in Colombia is called El Redil (the Fold). The main church meets on the grounds of what was once owned by one of the most powerful drug cartels in Colombia. It’s a huge complex that includes soccer field, basketball court, swimming pool and a huge Greek style bathroom. Plexiglas covers part of a walkway over an aquarium to give the illusion of walking on water. Horse stables have been converted into church offices, and the morning service is in the room that was a private disco. How’s that for a twist of irony? A facility that was once used by a drug lord is now used to honor the Lord of lords.

Medellin, Colombia – A Photo Journal

2009-03-13T00:48:00.004-04:00

You’ve got to love the buses

Can’t miss the downtown government building

Typical Colombian meal

Medellin from the Metro Cable car

Just waiting for a book and a glass of iced tea

On the streets for an afternoon

Fat Cat by artist Fernando Botero

Invasion Housing

At Café Juan Valdez

Enjoying a little Colombian social hour

$100,000 in hand (About $50 U.S.)

Retreating In Colombia

2009-03-05T19:54:00.002-05:00

Here we are at the Retreat Center, and it is early morning. Many of us are gathered around the bay windows watching brilliantly colored exotic birds at the feeder. It’s a scene that’s only a snapshot of the beauty that dots the grounds and provides surprising delights at every turn. Phil and Dean, career missionaries in Colombia, have landscaped and decorated their home into a retreat where others can be led beside quiet waters and where the Lord restores the soul.

The birds are not the only ones being fed. National pastors and missionaries from Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico are being challenged and transformed during these two weeks together. Here is a taste of what we are hearing:

*Worship is a lifestyle.

*I should not only ask God to use me how He wants but that he also use who He wants to use for my best.

*Wounds are caused when lies are accepted in the mind…the Lord will restore us if we invite Him to come into that difficult moment and apply His truth to our hearts and minds.

* The worldview of an individual is his big picture, the culmination of his beliefs about the world; his formula to understand the world. A worldview is the basis for his daily decisions and therefore is so important.

*Many times we are confessing our acts and not our heart.

*As parents we should give our children blessings at different stages of their lives (births, preparation for adulthood, baptism, marriage…). A blessing is an occasion or a ceremony where an individual is specifically honored with truthful, sincere and upbuilding words.

Meanwhile back at “the ranch” in Houston our children are enjoying a variety of activities with their cousins. Whether it’s a water fight, going to a teen worship time called Reverb, celebrating “Gotcha Day” with their newest cousins or staying up way too late talking, they are making the most of the opportunity.

You can look forward to a photo journal of Medellin next week since we are visiting the city Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take in the local culture and meet with our Colombian brothers and sisters.

Travel Plans Galore

2009-02-27T12:13:00.005-05:00

As I sit to write this post our family is in varied arrays of emotional excitement over the travel plans that are coming our way the next few months. As for me, well, I’ve been going from one “to do” item to the next for the last week. You know the routine – fill out FM3’s…make arrangements for the dog…contact notary pubic for medical release form… purchase bus tickets…write a note to Billy Bob… post this journal…

Diana and I leave Sunday for Columbia, to the city of Medellin. Columbia is known for its coffee exports as well as some of its other “horticulture.” We will spend a couple of weeks training with national pastors and of course seeing a bit of the country.

While we are in Columbia our children are overjoyed to be visiting with their cousins in Houston. And we are pretty excited for them too. It sounds as though they already have lots of plans in the works and will probably arrive home on the 16th a “good” exhausted.

Another plan on the horizon is a mission trip that Daniel hopes to take to Kenya this summer. I can’t express how encouraging it is, not just to see him interested in Africa, but seeking and open to God's leading. You’ve probably read his letter already, but I’ll just conclude these coming travel plans with a portion of his letter:

“I'm excited to see a new place, to watch God's hand at work in a totally different way, and I hope to be challenged to a deeper walk with Christ.

“Kenya is full of poverty, starvation and hopelessness. Orphans suffer all these things… Through a summer Bible camp, orphan children are given relief from the difficulties of everyday life. They receive regular meals, and enjoy laughter and games. Most importantly, throughout the camp, the children hear about, and are shown, Christ's love. They learn that He has a plan for their lives. Many find hope.

“Recently I have been feeling God calling me to people who have no hope, and this trip seems to reaffirm it. I would love for those who read this to pray for the mission trip, for clarity, and for God's hand to lead my life.”

PRAY HARD!

On The Bus Again

2009-02-20T14:00:00.006-05:00

There are so many cultural and strange things that happen when you are on the bus again that it begs to be written. The other day I saw a sign posted in the front that read, “Import Drag Racing Circuit”. Let me tell you, the driver took that sign seriously. I’ve had a lot of crazy rides before, but this was one of the wildest as we passed three busses from our same route on the way home.

Then there was the teenager who looked to be about 19. He was wearing nice jeans, leather jacket, sunglasses and had his hair mussed – very cool. He stepped on the bus caring a small basket. Interesting I thought, maybe he was taking it on a picnic. As he walked by, to my amazement he was carrying a small baby doll. Now it’s not that I haven’t seen people carrying dolls before but never by such a cool teenager. I thought of how merciless he would have been treated back in the U.S., but here no one batted an eyelash. (I learned later that February 2nd represents the day that Jesus was presented at the temple as a child, so baby dolls from the home are brought to the church for mass and to be blessed.)

Did I tell you about the robbery on the bus? I was standing in the back of the bus and noticed a thick wallet on the floor. I asked a young guy standing beside of me if it was his; he shook his head “no.” The next thing I knew he had scooped it up and was making a beeline for the exit. At that very moment a middle aged man realized it was his. Frantically he shouted, “It’s mine! It’s mine! Let me down from the bus!” He hit the ground running continuing to shout, “It’s mine! It’s mine!” Then the funniest thing happened; the young guy realizing he wasn’t going to get away with it stopped and held up the billfold as if to say, “Oh, is this yours? Here you go.” With wallet in hand the would be victim re-boarded the bus, and we were off again as if nothing had happened.

Of course there is always somebody getting on the bus to hack their wares whether it’s ice bars, fruit drinks or candy. I’ve seen people play and sing for a handout, charitable organizations make a pitch and the blind ask for donations. Then there are those who get on with their boom box and crank up the sound for the sale of a $1 CD. You can always expect something out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, it’s good to be on the bus again.

Bonus Feature – Three Great Kids

Daniel on the trip to Veracruz

Maria at the Gran Café de la Parroquia

Christina enjoys a caramel frappuccino

Christina’s work from the girl’s new painting class

Maria’s painting

“See My Shells!”

2009-02-13T09:50:00.002-05:00

One of the early morning rituals we had in Veracruz was to go out looking for seashells. We spent a morning throwing starfish back into the Gulf, and another morning we found a sea turtle. There weren’t any amazing discoveries, but we did find some pretty cool sand dollars, driftwood and shells. I couldn’t help but be reminded of what John Piper said about seashells in his book, Don’t Waste Your Life.

“I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells. . . . Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy.

“God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives.”

What then does it mean for us to live with a single passion for God? Over time I’m becoming more and more convinced of what it is and what it is not. What it isn’t - it isn’t finally hitting the ministry jackpot. You know, where the big payoff comes, amazing things happen and everyone recognizes your value in it all. What it is - it is walking faithfully with God, enjoying Him in the moment and being content to be His instrument as He so chooses.

Easy enough said. Now to live this unwasted, non-seashelled life.

Veracruz Vacation – A Photo Journal

2009-02-06T12:09:00.005-05:00

Our place was near a fishing village

Enter Veracruz by way of the lamppost

At Italian Coffee Company on the way

How cool is this?

Coffee at the Gran Café de la Parroquia

It was all about rest, relaxation and reading

Pelican party

Early morning reflection

Hanging our feet over the tailgate on the beach drive

Family Memory For A Lifetime

2009-01-30T15:12:00.006-05:00

I’m unsure who had the original inspiration to have a campfire on the beach, but it was ingenious and a family memory that will last a life time. Daniel and I arrived just as the sun was setting against a pink sky and began collecting from the abundance of driftwood that soon became a blazing fire.

Before long Diana and the girls had joined us, and we were sitting around the fire munching on sandwiches, grilled chicken and a super size bag of Doritos. What a mesmerizing, peaceful moment we enjoyed as we watched the flames leap high into the air. Above us the heavenly lights filled the sky, while the lights of Veracruz stretched out in the distance, and the lights of various ships filled the horizon.

The seclusion of the lonely beach gave way only to waves breaking, the fire crackling, and crickets chirping. Quietness. Family. Conversation. The conversation turned to everything and nothing in particular. We talked about some of the books we have been reading on this trip, the likes of Deadline by Randy Alcorn and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. We talked about what we were going to do when we got home…and we talked some more. And then around the campfire we made some sand castles before packing it all up. Peace. Solitude. Contentment.

If that wasn’t enough, we put an exclamation point to things by going home and making homemade ice cream – vanilla with chocolate syrup. It all added up to a memory for a lifetime for this family.

Insider Information

2009-01-26T22:10:00.003-05:00

I find it particularly intriguing when an insider speaks. The Monk Who Lived Again is the story of Walter Manuel Montaño, a Peruvian monk who fled the monastery and found new life in Christ. While his story took place in the 1930’s, the description he gives us of Latin American Catholicism remains uncannily accurate and insightful for those of you who keep up with us.

“Religion in Latin America, like ancient Gaul, may be divided into three parts. There is the Roman Catholic Church, with its endless hordes of nuncios, archbishops, bishops, parish priests, acolytes, sacristans, monks, nuns, pertaining to a bewildering array of separate orders such as the Jesuits, Franciscanos, Dominicanos, Mercedarios, Corazonistas, Carmelites, Pasionistas, forming ecclesiastical hierarchy, a religious ruling class, with an army of dependents whose living and continued influence depend upon the worship of the ‘God-of-things-as-they-are.’

“Then there is an ever-growing company of intellectuals recruited from the student classes whose revolt at what they have seen pass for Christianity has driven them not only into frank, and sometimes violent criticism of the church, but into atheism.

“And between these two extremes may be found the women and children who appreciate the beauty of the churches, the richness of the ceremonies, the dogmatic authority of the priests, and who fear their power. As for the men in this latter group, for the most part they find it more convenient to compromise conscience, mind and religion and so while giving nominal support can be depended upon to appear only four times at the church – to be christened, to be confirmed, to be married, and to be buried.

“And then on the periphery of South American life is the sea of Indians whose life is still largely guided by their ancient gods, though they may call them by Christian names.”

Insider information; what exactly does one do with such information? We use it to our advantage of course – to understand, to respond with compassion, to pray.

Holiday Wrappings

2009-01-16T12:08:00.004-05:00

With Christmas, New Year’s and Three Kings’ Day over, it’s a good time to wrap up this holiday season with some news worthy reflections.

The candle light service during the holidays was memorable. It started out with cookie decorating for the children as well as an inflatable. Renting inflatables for children to jump on during a special event is the norm. A special highlight for me was Diana having the opportunity to use her musical gifts to play the piano as we all joined in singing Christmas carols. And then for people to express their appreciation afterwards was a special treat. The evening was complete as our van became a taxi stuffed with eleven people for the ride home.

Maria had the idea of putting together some of our traditional shoebox gifts. The difference being we didn’t need to ship them off to another country to make the day of some needy child. Instead Maria, Christina and I packed up the van and headed downtown. Our first encounter was the most difficult as the lady’s lifeless eyes looked back into ours revealing the pain of a hopeless life. But, all in all there was a sparkle in their eyes and appreciation on their lips as we handed them a shoebox filled with goodies and prayed with them.

For us the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without giving away cookies. Back in the day, dozens of them were made at home and given to neighbors, Sunday School teachers, family and friends. This year we made up plastic bags of store bought ones and tied them up with Christmas ribbon. Some went to neighbors, but most were given at the market and San Francisco, a local community where we have been reaching out over the last few months. It’s another way to “show the love of Jesus in a practical way” and a joy to see the quizzical looks turn into beaming faces.

2009 brings a shift in focus for us. While we continue many of the same ministries, we are shifting our focus to El Puente. El Puente (the Bridge) meets in a hotel across town from where we live. It is a forming church that is ministering to career bilingual Mexicans. It’s definitely a community marked by grace and led by Steve, a retired pastor from Canada. He and his wife Blanche came here a few years ago to be with family. We are looking forward to our continued ministry here in Puebla as well as to the new opportunities this change opens up to us.

Hotel El Molino where El Puente meets for Sunday services.

(Candle display above was made by Christina in her Friday craft class.)