It is 91 degrees in the shade, and every pore on my body is dumping moisture as fast as possible. It wasn’t this hot it in the deserts of Peru; the green foliage and the trees are deceiving. I’m convinced that the locals think there is something wrong with me; they keep putting fans by me. The water I’m drinking is more, I think, a symbolic gesture than anything else.
Welcome to Planeta Rica, Colombia.
Highlights of the day:
I was greeted by our host, Dominga, with a cup of Colombian coffee upon waking up this morning; while I am fasting caffeine for Lent, I did not wish to appear rude our first morning in the house. Forgive me Lord, but it was delicious.
I learned to do a cartwheel (correction, half a cartwheel. The landing we didn’t cover so much, which led to “oh dear” followed by a thud. Believe it or not, this is progress.)
I got to see a picture of my dad in a Doctor Who shirt. Wonders never cease.
We went to the bread shop with Pastor Amaure, our ministry host, and we learned that Colombian bread is some of the most delicious on the planet.
We did worship team practice. We will need to practice some more before church on Sunday. They schooled us.
Today we went through the schedule for the next few weeks after spending the morning discussing our backgrounds and abilities with Pastor Amaure.
The church, Centro Cristiano Amor y Fe – that’s Love and Faith Christian Center for those who don’t speak Spanish- operates a feeding program here in Planeta Rica that receives funds from Times Square Church in New York. They also have two satellite churches and plans for three more underway.
We will be working doing home visits, evangelism, and working with the youth group and small groups at the center and the satellite churches.
The church has affiliation here in Colombia with Fondacion Ciudad Refugio -Refugee City Foundation- in Medellin, about 7 hours away. They were started as an offshoot of Times Square Church, which was founded by Dave Wilkerson, author of “The Cross and the Switchblade.” I had an opportunity to read the book while we were in Medellin before coming here. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I found it an interesting read, and though it was written in 1962, it had some amazing stories with insights for today. The compassion and love he felt for the teens of New York is readily apparent in his writing. I was impressed by Wilkerson’s stories of God’s provision in the midst of difficult situations, and the ways in which they were protected during extremely violent circumstances.
Reading the book put into stark relief some of the personal battles that have been unfolding in my mind during the past month. While access to money was limited in Peru, I had more in Ecuador. My tax returns and 401(k) came in, and I was glad to have the cushion: when I left in January, I had $14 in the bank. I tend to keep a tight rein on my pocket book. I cling pretty tightly to my financial security (which is itself a long story, but there are some reasons for that, and I’m realizing more and more what they are. But I digress.)
I was challenged by Wilkerson’s book to reevaluate my attitude toward God with regard to money. I received lots of help with fundraising, and put it money of my own as well. By His grace and provision, the deadlines were met.
Somehow though, I never fully gave Him control. I always had a little of my own to fall back on, just in case He didn’t come through in the way I expected Him to. And it worked. Between the wonderful, loving people who supported me and my last few dollars, the deadlines were met. I knew He would provide, but always had a backup plan, just in case. Always a little more, just in case I needed to lose some cushion and close the gap.
Frankly, that doesn’t glorify God. It puts Him in the position of being the unreliable friend, who may or may not come through in a pinch. And honestly, He is better than that.
Wilkerson was a reminder to me that God provides. Sitting in the church with Pastor Amaure this morning, I got another. He shared his vision for the church, and told us how as they were building it- having no idea how they would pay for it in the end – people would stop in the street, ask for the pastor, and put money in his hand. And so on and so forth, in much the same fashion, for about ten years.
Wow. Just… wow.
I asked the Lord toward the end of February to show me what to do for my next fundraiser, and I felt the need to wait a few days. I didn’t understand, and then I found myself in Medellin, reading “The Cross and the Switchblade.” Clarity started to seep in; there was a line from the book which struck me. “The day you learn to be publicly specific in your prayer, that is the day you will discover power.”
The refrain in my prayer time last month was “let me work.” Any time I was frustrated or coming up against something that was bothering me, the admonition was constant. “Let me work.”
I have prayed for provision, but always with a backup plan. I have no more plans. I wish I did, but I don’t. For anyone who has known me any length of time, you will understand what an insane leap in non-logic that is for me.
At this point, I am relying completely on Him. I shared with my team and I am sharing with you: I am praying to be fully funded by the end of this month. I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I know a big God, and I think it’s high time I let Him work.
