The Foot Washing

We are grateful to have John home in NC for awhile, especially during this Holy Week. Last night, our family participated in our first foot washing experience in our Maundy Thursday service at our church in Mount Airy. It really resonated with me as we are preparing our family to be a new missionary family. Our savior, Jesus Christ, set a wonderful example of us in so many ways, but perhaps one of the most poignant was in his washing of the disciples' feet.

As a precursor to the Last Supper, Jesus surprised his disciples by humbling himself as a servant to wash their feet. It was hard for the disciples, especially for Peter, to allow the Messiah to assume this role and allow themselves to be cared for by Jesus in this way. Yet Jesus taught them, "You call me Teacher and Lord ~ and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I say to you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."

Jesus was specific. He's TEACHING the disciples by SHOWING them to allow themselves to both serve and be served, love and to love, and to follow Jesus example by serving and loving one another. When we hear mission group travelers share with others their own stories of missions, these themes are very, very common. Forever afterwards, when we sing "Here I am, Lord," the tears of joy and humility stream down our faces as we sing "Finest bread I will provide," as we remember the people in Mexico who have served us their finest bread, made special preparations for us, and served us in so many ways. And like Peter, it is often really hard to receive those generous meals, to eat as a group while our hosts stand back and allow us to eat it all. We feel uncomfortable being served by them --- because we came to serve them. But we have served them too. We have come to their villages, lived life as they live it, worked with them with the tools and resources they have to build or teach or care for their sick neighbors, and have shown the love of Christ in our serving. Together, we all grow and become stronger in our readiness to serve and love each other like Jesus served and loved his disciples.

Our 14 y/o daughter, Holly, participated in the foot washing service by sharing of her experience on mission trips, then later she assumed the role of one of the foot washers. By chance, she washed her daddy's feet. I'm sure that the experience was even more special for each of them --- to serve and to be served by the other.

We can each be grateful for Jesus for the specific examples he provided for us to know how God wants us to live. We pray that each of you finds ways to serve and love both those you know and those you don't know AND that you can allow yourselves to be served and loved by those who know you and those who do not. This is what Jesus showed us by his example, and by making it part of that last night with his disciples, we know that Jesus must have known that it was one of the most important lessons he would teach us.

As we become a new missionary family, we can be grateful for this beautiful example set by Jesus. Although we have goals and specifics that we hope to accomplish while we're in Mexico, we go with servant hearts --- being ready and willing to assume whatever role is needed --- being willing to do menial tasks at the same time that we share specific knowledge and skills when they're needed --- being willing to listen to hear what is needed --- living in partnership and communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ and seeking out ways to further God's work there --- and to allow others to serve us as well.

Now we move forward in the days between the crucifixion and Easter with the assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ is RISEN INDEED! Thanks be to God.

Going Home

As I pack to return for a family visit to North Carolina after 12 weeks in Ocosingo, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment, but aware of opportunities lost too. I came to Chiapas as a servant to Hebron Foundation with three roles: communications coordinator, work group assistant and facilitator for the construction of the new medical clinic.

I feel very good about the progress made in all three areas. I have particularly enjoyed serving the four groups that have visited this spring, and I feel I have taken a burden off of Pablo both with the groups and with the communications with friends of Hebron. I am glad that we have broken ground on the medical clinic after working with church and government officials to create the new nonprofit organization that is responsible for it.

I leave Mexico knowing scarcely more Spanish than when I arrived. I am frustrated by my difficulty learning the language and seeming inability to remember simple words that I “learned” in January. Before leaving for Mexico, I resisted the idea of attending a language school because I did not think we could afford it. I now understand how wrong I was, and that Ginny was right as usual.

Spiritually, these 12 weeks have been like a roller coaster ride with amazing highs where I knew I was in the presence of the Holy Spirit, to agonizing lows filled with doubt and worry. Seminarian Keith Kaufold encouraged me to turn to Ephesians 6 and read of Paul’s description of putting on the full armor of God. I have found that comforting and encouraging too.

I anxiously await the reunion with my family on Sunday night. The thought of being in their arms has sustained me during my moments of loneliness. We have lots of conversations ahead of us as re reconnect after 3 months apart.

Thank you all for your prayers and support during my time in Mexico. I have felt your presence even though we were separated by thousands of miles.