So I want to give a shoutout to all my relatives back in Texas. Sorry I can’t spend Thanksgiving with the family; I miss you and love you all!
So this past week we’ve been in Mendoza, Argentina at a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) base. It’s basically a summer camp. We’ve evangelized in town, played with kids, supervised rope courses, cooked meals, and become close with the young staff (who thankfully speak fantastic English)!! It’s been amazing
This last weekend was extra special. My team and team Ablaze ventured off into the desert region Secano del Valle. We were expecting to evangelize, or perhaps a weekend of manual labor, but we soon realized that our mission was to allow our hosts (a wonderful indigenous couple named Herman and Teresa) to love and serve us. And serve us they did. They slaughtered a sheep in front of us, and I finally got to utilize one of the few practical skills I have to offer when I gutted and processed it. This fed us for two days. But while we waited for the meals, we simply enjoyed the beauty around us, read our Bibles, journaled, fellowshipped, and drank Mate (a native herbal tea). This sublime atmosphere made this Saturday arguably one of the best days of my life. We ended it by watching the sunset, stargazing, and eating beef empanadas.
So that’s what we’ve been doing this past week. But now let me tell you what’s been on my heart. I feel during this past month, my relationship with God became much more intimate. But Intimacy is only one of three avenues the World Race emphasizes, the other two being Community and Missions. This being All Squad Month (where all 50 of us are together), I thought this month would be a great opportunity to invest in community. This entails operating outside of my comfort zone; probably giving more hugs, asking “Why” more so than “What”, and demonstrating more tolerance and patience. Much of my community living so far has been about how other people can speak life into me. But relationships are a two-way street, and I pray every day that the Lord would soften my heart into that of a servant, so that I mIshtar encourage and speak life into others.
My team was going around our little campfire circle the other day, saying which fruit of the spirit was most evident in each other’s lives. It was difficult for me to describe which fruit I saw in my teammates, likely because I more commonly focus on people’s flaws or ways in which they differ from me. But I was also surprised when they spoke of the fruit they saw in me. It dawned on me how little I often think of myself.
So I pray that God would give me His eyes, in that I want to see people the way Christ sees us. To Him, we are treasures of unquantifiable value. I want to see others as such; for what they have to offer the Kingdom of God, not what they have to offer me, or my relationship with Christ. I want to see the beautiful love of God and the Holy Spirit in others. So I pray for compassion, and a genuine heart for others. I have so much to learn, and every day I have to remind myself that it’s not about me. Sometimes I fail, but I know Christ loves me despite my failures, and His grace outweighs any and all doubts. I rest in Him, knowing that one day I will look back on this as a wonderful growing experience.
P.S. Just as an added encouragement; I had been praying that God would reveal himself to me in a very tangible way. Get this- two weeks ago, when the Squad was still stationed in Chile, during a prayer session, I kept seeing these images of circles multiplying. First there were two, then four, then eight. I thought of meiosis, and deduced that my group should pray for a pregnant lady. I doubted at first, and thought it was silly, but then one of the first people we saw was a pregnant lady and her family. Then we saw another! We got to pray for them, and they were both receptive! It was awesome, as if God Himself was anointing the journey before me, as if He were blessing my endeavor to invest more in others, and to be more like Him. It was amazing! So in case you had any doubt, know that God answers prayers, and is always for you.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Prayers to all! Subscribe, Donate and God Bless!!
-Matt
