Wrote this today and thought I may as well put it on my blog as well. It is my support letter.
Life in Costa Rica has been conflicting
in ways, difficult in a different sort of way, but overall wonderful
for me. I’ve been exploring my relationship with God more… what it
ought to look like. It’s been hard because I haven’t really been
doing much. I haven’t been too active as far as ministry goes
– changing lives and all. I feel like I should be meeting people and
praying for them or healing sick people or something. But it’s been a
lot of sitting down and reading, walking and praying, and that sort
of thing.
When I lay down at night, I think about
what I’ve done and measure my day, and ultimately my worth, based on
my production. If I’ve met with five people and built a house I’ve
done pretty well… I am a decent person. But if I’ve just been
sitting in the park watching the ducks, countered with a book and
some prayer here and there, I really need to work on something. God
has been working on my heart, trying to get me to love him more and
spend myself in conversation and relationship with him throughout the
day, regardless of what I’m doing. And he’s taken me to the extreme
of being to help me. It’s hard, especially when people ask me
what I’ve done. I’d feel much better if I could tell them I met with
a family and saved their baby’s life. But I guess there’s a time for
everything.
This month has been about freedom for
my squad. About choosing into a lifestyle of ministry and prayer
rather than having a schedule for the month set before you. We’ve
been on 8 short term mission trips the past 8 months. They’ve been
incredible! God’s worked in amazing ways thru me and my teammates.
He’s revealed himself to us thru the poor, the orphans, the widows,
the hungry, the naked, the needy and the dying. We found him in these
people and found ourselves there too. The fullness of God’s calling
on our lives is being realized.
But it was easy to do ministry when
everything was set before us. It’s easy when there are no unknowns.
God showed us this month that we need to make it about a lifestyle
within our freedom, when there is nothing set before us. I have
struggled with it, as I said before. I don’t notice what’s going on
inside of me when it’s happening. It’s only afterwards that I realize
that God knew all along what he was doing and is making everything
beautiful in its time.
I suspect it’ll be difficult to
transition into life back home in two months, but it will probably be
easier
after this month.
Speaking of transition,
I’ve decided to move to Colorado after the race. There is a community
starting up in Colorado Springs under G-42’s direction (Read about Generation 42 more on my dad’s blog here.). Andrew Shearman, my father and
Gary Black are the figureheads of G-42 and will all be starting
various communities around the world. They want to live life in
community and raise up a generation of leaders, bringing out the
gifts of God on their lives. I feel privileged to be a part of it and
am really looking forward to this next step.
Of course, there are a lot
of uncertainties, but I am trying to be faithful with what God gives
me and live more completely for him each day.
As for the rest of the
World Race…
There are 2 months left
and, so far, this is what it’s looking like:
2 weeks in Panama with my
team (ignite) followed by 2 weeks of “manistry” in Guatemala with
the other 4 guys on the squad. Then the final month will be with team
ignite in Nicaragua. The race officially ends on July 23rd
and everyone leaves the following day. I’ll be spending a week with
one of my best friends and college roommate, Matt Larson, in
Guatemala for a week before heading home on the 31st. He’s
been there for about 9 months as well doing work with the Peace
Corps.
So that’s where I’ll be,
but I still don’t know what exactly I’ll be doing. Please keep us in
your prayers. It’ll be difficult to leave everyone I’ve been living
and dying with every day for these past 9 months. They have become
more than dear friends, they have become my family. I love them all.
I am very close to raising
my full support. Thank you all very much for your money and your
prayers. I was just telling some of my friends yesterday that it has
been encouraging to me that I haven’t had to worry so much about
support raising during this trip. You have given generously and I
appreciate it. Thank you all so much.
I still need $1,300, which
includes reimbursements to me for a plane ticket, travel insurance
and medical shots. Please consider being a part of this (all
contributions are tax-deductible). You may contribute online here or you may mail a check into Adventures in Missions at 6000
Wellspring Trail — Gainesville, GA 30506. Should you choose the latter, be sure to note that the check is to support Seth Barnes Jr.
Again, thank you for your
prayers, emails, comments on my blogs, money, facebook messages, and
everything else I forgot. I couldn’t do this without you. I hope to
speak with many of you about this year when I get back.
Live well,
Seth Barnes Jr.
