Identity can be a powerful thing. What we believe about ourselves can steer our beliefs & actions in life. Some of these things I can change; some of them I cannot. Some are simple, some funny, and some hard and deep.
So who am I?
1. I am an American.
I can’t change this without a ton of paperwork and hassle. In Trujillo, being an American means people are interested in you. It means when we invite people to church or English class, they come even just for curiosity sake. It means I am target to get ripped off but also a gateway for the gospel.
2. I am white.
I can’t change this ever. God could work a miracle if we wanted to. I don’t anticipate it but it’s possible.
Either way this brings up some fun moments. One in particular happened with Mili. She is standing next to me in the floral dress in the picture. In the taxi on the way to the restaurant Mili put her arm up next to mine and started laughing. I had been wondering how long it would take for someone to find humor in my pale skin. 🙂 Only a week!
This moment might seem painful to you. It wasn’t. I was glad it happened. I laughed too. I AM WHITE! Like really white. 🙂
This silly moment broke down barriers between Mili & I. It also was the final moment before Mili’s son Dayron decided we were ok. As soon as he heard his mom laughing he started talking and hasn’t stopped since. His laugh is infectious and I am so glad that God used me to enable friendship with this family.
3. I live in the ghetto and love it!
I have no choice over where I’m staying since I didn’t pick my ministry site. I did have a big choice in how I would react to my new home. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this place has become another home to me.
The actual place is good but it’s the people who really caused me to love it. I don’t have any pictures of my neighbors right now so you are getting a view from my rooftop as consolation.
As you can probably tell, I don’t live in the richest neighborhood. Most of these people are poor. Many of them are involved in criminal or gang activity. Some of them cannot think about tomorrow because getting through today is too much. But ALL of them need Jesus.
4. I am creative.
God gave me the ability to see the world in different ways and the ability to recreate certain aspects of His creation. This is my recreation of the Central Plaza in Trujillo. The buildings are big, bold, beautiful blocks of color with small, interesting details worked in. The plaza itself is open and always filled with people sitting and moving around the central monument. It is a place where people meet, relax, and live.
Many people might be able to see the colors and movement in the plaza but I’m not sure how many would see it as a microcosm of what the church should be. If the church worked like the plaza maybe we would have more impact.
The central monument, the cornerstone, is Jesus. All the people are members of the church or curious onlookers. Church is a place to meet Jesus & other, rest together in the Truth, and live life together in the easy & hard times. People don’t stay in the plaza just like we shouldn’t stay in the church. We have to go out every day. As we are going we are called to make disciples. I want the Church to work like the plaza.
5. I am loved.
I am deeply, purely, determinedly, intimately loved by the Creator of the universe, my Abba Father, my most faithful Friend, my heavenly Bridegroom. He loves me in ways and measures that I will never be able to understand fully. His love is bigger and better than my little human brain will ever be able to comprehend. That is so cool!
I am also loved by SO MANY people: my team, my squad, my family, my friends, my church. This photo is an example of how my church loves me. They are teaching the AWANAs kids about missionaries and featured me. When I saw this photo I felt well loved.
Side note: I don’t know who picked the photo of me but I love it! Snowball is my companion on this trip so it’s appropriate. 🙂
6. I am a powerhouse!
This is a truth that has been spoken over me several times in the last few months. It has taken at least that long to sink in. (I’m not sure it has fully sunk in yet.)
I am a powerhouse. I house the power of God. I have the ability and authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, preach the gospel and proclaim the kingdom of God.
Many times I believed that the power in me wasn’t actually big enough to do crazy things like raise the dead, heal the sick, or cast out demons. I believed I could preach but that’s about it. I didn’t even believe that I could bring the kingdom of God but just see it occur around me.
I have accepted the truth of who I am. I am a powerhouse of heavenly proportions. Christ declared that His disciples would do even greater things than He did. That breaks my brain to think about it. How could I do more than Jesus?
I’m still not sure how to answer that question but I’ve learned a few things. If I don’t believe I have power I will never use it. If I don’t use the power God has given me I can’t do God-sized tasks. Also the Church was called to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth, not one disciple. It takes all of us working together in the power and authority of Christ to cause change in this world.
So, here’s the sum up.
–What will you base your identity in: Christ or something else?
–Will you believe the Truth or lies of the world?
–Will you tap into the power of Christ inside every Christian or continue to live a powerless life?
