Normal life around here isn't as exciting as some missionaries, we get that. We have even been told by some in our travels "Oh, you teach, you're not real missionaries." (And we nicely smiled and moved on.) But what we do is really important too. We recently were discussing the importance of hope in someone's life in our Sunday school class and one of the other members sent us a note the next day. In it she thanked us for bringing hope to our students every day. We help them discover gifts and talents they never knew they had, and challenge them to do their best and to use those gifts and talents to not only glorify God but to make the world better. I often say to parents "your child was born to do" xyz, and this is what we were born to do. So, to all of you who believe in the importance of our ministry here - thank you. (For those of you who have no idea what we do, or why we need money all the time, see the links on the right of the screen.)
I feel it is important to remind you readers who send us financial or prayer support, that when we talk about "our" ministry we are including you in that. We could not be here to do what we do without you. You are working in this crazy world of Guatemala with us!
We have often been asked by people why we do any of this, and my typical response is "why not?" We have been given everything, we have been immensely blessed, we have the gift of salvation, God loved us enough to humble himself and come to earth as a baby to be born in a nasty stinky cattle stall - in light of that "why not?" After a while, when you live in a community like this, you say yes to things without a second thought that most people would think are crazy. Yup, that's us. We have lots of opportunities to do "crazy" things but are normally too busy, so we do them during our vacation weeks. Here is a snapshot of what we (and you) are going to do today.
We have friends here whose children are all part of the Creative Arts Program, and immensely talented. (I honestly think all of them could have a future in theater if they choose to.) These friends have been some of our biggest encouragers over the last two years. We know that our working with their kids is part of what allows them to do the things that they do every day. Those things fit the "normal missionary" mold much better than our teaching. So, when they asked us (yesterday) if we want to go with them today to help in their ministry, I had one of those say yes without thinking moments. This was not an uniformed decision, I know exactly what their ministry is, but I think you should know too.
Please....read this blog post to find out more about them. The rest of our day won't make any sense to you if you don't.
Did you read it? I mean it? It might challenge you, and it should. Please if you didn't read it, go back and do so. And I highly suggest reading everything my lovely British friend writes, she's brilliant and honest.
If you read any other of her posts you would see that there is going to be a big party. That's right, a party for prostitutes and their children. Women who have a life that I would guess all of our readers could only imagine. Children who spend their day locked up in their house so Mom can work. And why are we going to do this, you ask? Because it is EXACTLY what Jesus would have done. It turns out Jesus wasn't known for hanging out with people who had it all together, people who gave lots of money to the church, people who were accepted by society. If that is what you think of when you think of Jesus, then please read or reread the gospels. If you call yourself a Christ follower and that is all you do, then please rethink what it means to actually follow Christ. Find opportunities near you this season to serve the people Christ would have chosen to serve.
I am really proud to know Natalie and Shawn, and be part of supporting their ministry. I am really excited to go and see that first hand today. I am also really excited to be taking my sister-in-law and niece with me. I am proud to have family that are willing to lay down their ability to sleep in on vacation, and go and do things like this with a willing heart. I am proud to be able to be a little more like Jesus today, and allow our supporters to do the same.
(If we have opportunity to take pictures today, I will post them later...)
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