when i was home there were so many days that i just didn’t want to get out of bed to go to church. when i was on the mission field i needed the time to sleep and catch up with chores and personal time, plus if i was worshipping and praying everyday did i really need to go to church sunday morning too?
the last couple of months has really made me feel like a slacker when it came to church… we have been having ‘church’ six days a week – and that’s only because we take one day off a week from ministry. a service can last over three hours, forget the nice schedule of starting on time and ending an hour and a half later. there are no walls even when you have a roof, so if it is cold and windy outside, you are too. then there is getting to church… on a good day it is just a really bumpy ride for about twenty minutes. unfortunetly that was mexico. now it is standing in the back of a pick-up truck that you pray will make it the whole way, on skiny bumpy roads. and lets not forget that they have to have gas to get there. then there is the walk up the steep hill to get to the church from where the truck dropped you off.
and all of this travel and hassel is to go to a church where the worship is in a language that i don’t understand! we have to sing a song in which the key is changed to much to high and preach… translated twice – not an easy task to do or pay attention to.
is it worth it? most definetly! watching god move and people draw closer to him is amazing! i may not be the one preaching but i know that god is using me as i sit and pray for my brothers and sisters. and although i don’t speak spanish or tz’utujil i can understand the spirit behind what they are saying and have been able to figure out the scriptures that are being read to follow along.
i only hope that when this crazy adventure is over i remember the dedication of my team as we minister to these little churchs and the dedication of the members to be able to make it to church… that i will force myself out of my bed away from the things that will steal my time and energy and make the commitment to go to church, if only once a week if not more.
