Seeing the Wind

As our family engaged in the discernment process of trying to determine if God really was/is calling our family into missionary service, there were several experiences that really helped us. One was meeting with career missionaries, Rodolph & May Dixon, and another was reading John Ortberg's book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat!

The Dixons really encouraged us to take steps forward, trusting that God would open doors or close them, depending on God's calling for our lives. The "boat book" reminded us that we, like Paul, could anticipate that taking major leaps of faith isn't without fear and moments of great anxiety. You may recall from the story in which Peter gets out of the boat to walk out to Jesus, he's doing pretty well --- until he "sees the wind." When Peter saw the wind and the storm swells around him, he got afraid and took his eyes off Jesus ---- and promptly begin to sink!

This week, we have experienced some obstacles and reasons to be afraid. It's so incredibly hard to know if these are God's sent obstacles and door-closings OR if they are the predictable challenges that are certain with any major leap of faith that simply MUST be overcome by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

We could fall back on our belief in the character of God...that God wouldn't ask more of us that we can bear and that God is working together for good (Romans 8:28). John has found comfort in 1 Peter 5:6-7, reminding us that God knows all about our worries and that we need to humble ourselves before God who will, in God's own time, lift us up. I keep saying to myself over and over again, "I know God is in control and knows the bigger picture," but I confess that I really want God to give us some signs now to reassure us that He hasn't redefined our calling or that we didn't read it wrong to begin with!

I received an inspirational email today that quotes Julie Ackerman Link and her reminder that:

"Instead of waiting in doubt and disappointment for God to do the one thing we demand of Him, let’s take the time to look at everything God has already done."

Clearly God has opened so many doors for us and has paved the way for us to serve him in Southern Mexico, so I guess we're just "seeing the wind." We ask that you pray some extra prayers for us as we continue to seek God's will and calling in our lives, and pray that we can keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting in him as we continue stepping forward.

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day in Mexico was on Wednesday May 10. It began early when family and friends serenade their mothers. So from 1am until 5:30 am, I heard singing and music all over the neighborhood. Good thing I have heavy duty earplugs! At 5:30 am students from the Bible School and Jan’s family came in to serenade her. She really enjoyed it, but then she served them cake and coffee, so there was some work involved for her too. Later in the day we all went to a restaurant for Mother's Day lunch. Jan was given a pink cowboy hat by the restaurant which she proudly wore the rest of the day.

I will miss Mother’s Day this year for the first time. Ginny will probably go to Southern Pines to spend the day with her mother, while I will be in the jungles of Chiapas helping to conduct a spiritual retreat for pastors. I pray this will be the last Mother’s Day that I will be separated from Ginny and the girls.

Back in the Saddle

I returned to Mexico on May 3 after spending the month of April in NC. It was wonderful to reconnect with my family, friends and church. I made several presentations to groups about our mission and the clinic project. Hopefully the seeds I planted will bear fruit this summer in financial support for the project.

I arrived in Villahermosa to stifling heat and was really looking forward to the mountains of Chiapas, but returned to find not only heat, but smoke. May is the month that farmers burn their fields, which here means the side of the mountain! They burn away vegetation before late May planting of corn. The smoke obscured the beautiful views on the drive up from Villahermosa, and ashes routinely blew in the windows of the house. Rain is the only cure, but there has been little of it here recently. At night it looks like the entire mountain is on fire with its orange glow creeping ever closer to town.

On Monday morning, my first day back at the Bible School offices of Hebron Foundation, we were surprised when seven trucks loaded with over 80 people arrived without advanced warning. The folks in the trucks were representatives from a large Presbyterian church 3 hours NW of Ocosingo. This church has 46 congregations under its wing. Each congregation was represented and most of the 37 Elders from the “Mother church” came also. They were at the school to talk with Pablo about an issue they had with their Presbytery, or governing church body.

I quickly left to go get Kool-aid, 5 gallons of bottled water and cookies for 80 people because in this culture, when 2 or more (much less 80) are together, there must be food. I returned, and Sara and I made the Kool-aid and she served the men as they talked about their problem. The talking continued almost all day and around 4 pm I was called to join the meeting and immediately handed a 16 oz bottle of hot Coca-Cola. The group had reached a decision and were ready to “seal the deal” with a coke. 80 people drank coke and I didn’t hear one belch. Their mothers must have trained them well. Where did all that gas go?

I am continually amazed by the dedication of the Tzeltal people. This church got 80 lay leaders to agree to ride standing up in the back of pick-ups for 3 hours to attend a meeting. Churches back home struggle to get an Elder to agree to attend a Presbytery meeting!