Hola mis amigos! That is a traditional Spanish greeting from around here and I just wanted you all to be a part of things here since you already are. Last week we moved from the Bible college that we were staying at and four teams moved into the city and onto the lawn of a small church here in Palenque.
It is a crazy sight to see all the tents on the lawn and these weird foreigners walking around town. Needless to say, there is only one bathroom for all 27 people staying here (there is no beauty in that brokenness!) and a shower that consists of a bucket and a shower curtain to keep bugs and people out. It may seem too much, but it is actually pretty fun. The other night, some of the guys grabbed our swim trunks and turned the hose on each other for a shower. Not pretty but effective. Also, we have been so tremendously blessed to have the pastor´s wife cooking for all of us, so that we can get a taste of Chiapas Mexico in its authentic flavor. And what flavors there are! There is a scarcity of the things we expect of Mexican food here, like enchiladas, or chimichangas but they make up for it with their own style of food. Empanadas (little slices of heaven deep fried), tacos and horchata have been so tastey that I am amazed each time I eat. Praise be to God for the small things like authentic food and tents to call our own!
Last Tuesday, me and some of the others on our team went back to the Bible college to do some manual labor work there. It was amazing and tiring at the same time. The work had come to a standstill for a year and a half, until a blessing of money was poured out on Eliazar and his wife Marta top finish the work there.
So we got started and didn´t get that far in one day but it helped. It is amazing to see people like Eliazar and Marta who have such a great vision for Mexico and its revival and renewal. Praise be to God for workers like them! So we worked hard and you know, the funny thing is that somehow, manual labor always makes me feel like I have accomplished so much. There is something special in building something up. And so, with each sweep of the broom there was also a sweeping prayer for the school, that within its walls, lives would be changed and the nation of Mexico would be benefitted. Each brick that was lifted was lifted to the Lord in a humble offering that this would be His altar, and our meager sacrifice. Eliazar and the students will pray at that altar, study and become mesmerized by God and Jesus and the Holy SPirit and that is so encouraging. Please pray for all the students at the Shekinah Bible College as well as for Eliazar and his wife Marta. Praise be to God for the workers that He has all over.
In addition to that work, we have been able to have lots of sports ministries this week. We have gotten schooled by many young locals, but we did beat a team of twelve year olds so whoohoo! Represent! But it has been great to meet all the youths and kids and just love on them. We are able to talk somewhat since Eric is pretty much fluent and it is amazing to see how they interact with us. They are kind and usually very polite. We were able to invite some to a movie night evangelism event last night but most couldn´t make it. We passed out fliers and prayed and prayed for the Spirit to bless that evening. We were a little disappointed when the time started and almost no one was there, but as the pastor of the church Noe and his friend
pierced the Mexican air with their guitar music, it was evident that God had come and was listening so we began to not worry and just enjoy the evening. By the time the movie, an 80´s Christian video dubbed into Spanish, finished, most of the seats were filled with families or youths. Eric spoke in Spanish and 5 people accepted Christ! Amazing how He works. One of the new Christians was a young man named Carlos that we had played football (soccer) with before. I was so glad to see him and I know that God will do mighty things in his life if he allows Him. PLease continue to pray for Carlos and the others who made decisions. It is not about the numbers as much as it is about the lives being changed and transformed.
Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus that you may be able to discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
One thing I was thinking about recently was how I viewed God this trip. When I was packing I put God into a nice neat package and put Him into my backpack, expecting to carry Him around and pull Him out like some magic trick. But He has had other plans. I found that I have been stretched and pulled in how He works and He has had to carry me thus far. Funny, but I think that is how it is going to be this next year- me being carried. How arrogant of me to think that I could pack Him into my pack and use Him when I needed Him. My strength has been low, my anxiety at times very high, and yet He has never wavered like I have. No more putting Him in a nice box- I don´t have the room in my pack and I don´t want that God. I want the big One, the God that tells me when I screw up and then loves on me. I want the God that is bigger than my culture, bigger than my mind and defintely bigger than my pack. I think Jesus wants us to keep on finding Him over and over and each meeting is new because an element of who He is becomes uncovered and is revealed to us. What sweet release! Praise be to God for His immeasurable glory! Thanks be to all who have prayed for me and in doing so, have released me to be the man that God is desiring me to be. Love you all!
PS- I have seen so many spiders and tarantulas that I don´t care anymore. Lizards, spiders and the like need a home like everything else right?
