Mission to the Americas

Serving Ministries and Missions in Latin America

Archives for September 2007

Adapting to a New Land

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Now that the Nashville trip is over, it’s time to start the process of immigration.

 

I’ve been reading that this will take anywhere between 3 months to 2 years to complete the process, depending on how agressive the government clerk is in getting my file approved. That will remain a prayer item during the next few weeks.
Besides Immigration, I will be in enrolling in a local language school to keep sharpening the language skills. First class will be on friday to help figure out where I am placed.
Ongoing Prayer

We continue to pray for the city and its people. As we settle down and set up our new rhythm of life, we have plenty of opportunity to pray.

Here are some examples:

1. Brenda and I have the time to sit in our apartment or go to the building rooftop where we can see the buildings and we spend time praying for the city.
2. Public transportation — we use buses to get around (only .25 a person, .50 for the whole family). They can get crowded and some journeys can last up to 45 minutes or so during rush hour. That gives us plenty of down time to pray for the city as we ride through it. Plenty of time to pray for the other passengers on the bus.

While the Apostle Paul waited in Athens, he spent time playing tourist, getting to know the city and it’s rhythms.

Before Nehemiah started work in Jerusalem, he spent time in the city praying.
We continue to pray before actively starting intentional ministry, asking God to give us His vision and heart for the city and it’s people.

Leaving our Nets

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fishing nets While in Nashville for an evangelism conference, I listened to a dramatic sermon about Andrew and Peter leaving their nets.

In the drama, Peter was ready to go “at once,” but Andrew was hesitant, trying to talk Peter out of it. As the drama continued, Peter turned reluctant to leave the nets.

What might have happened had they not left their nets that day?

What’s the worst that could happen?

The scene shifts to end of the John’s gospel, with Peter jumping out of the boat, racing to the shore after catching a large number of fish.

What foolishness to jump out of a boat and run to shore. . . . . . propelled by a deep love for the risen Jesus.

If they had not left their net, Peter would not have known this irresponsible reckless abandon of jumping out of a boat in a deep love for Jesus and appreciation for his offer of grace. He would never have known that restoration to ministry. He would not have known of Christ’s deep love for him.

That’s the worst that could happen — to miss out on stepping into God’s call for your life.

Our Family
Our family has made that step – to leave our nets behind because of our love and desire to serve Jesus.

Some may think this was foolishly irresponsible of us – to uproot our family, leave our jobs, sell our stuff and start over again.

Some may think that this was reckless stupidity – to cancel the predictable income from a stable job, give up our corporate insurance benefits and 401k matching funds, to leave the American education system. To sell our house, sell our cars, and leave our local church.

Some may think it was lacking judgment to start all over in a foreign country on the basis of a letter of invitation from a ministry to join their team in a non-paying position. No salary, and no money promised. No health benefits, and no 401k.

Perhaps this is what it seems.

Our choice of where we live will impact who our kids will marry, what friends will be in our life, and what support group we have in our life. How we generate money now will impact our ability to pay for college, give to the Kingdom, and provide an inheritance for the future.

Irresponsible. Reckless. Foolish. Stupid. Lacking in Judgment.

Adjectives used to describe both bad decisions, and the wondrous abandonment of someone in love.

When Peter jumped out of the boat, I can imagine the impulse propelled by seeing Him there after the resurrection – to see his friend again, a friend that he had grown to love and cherish.

We’ve been transformed by grace. My life is different because God revealed His grace to me in Jesus Christ. Our family is who they are because of the undeserved grace of Christ. Because of that grace, we have a profoundly deep relationship with God through Christ, a vibrant relationship with Him.

We are willing to jump out of the boat. Had I not left my nets several years ago to follow Christ, I would never have left these nets in America and stepped into a dream because of our love for Christ. I would have missed out on what God has designed us for and created us for.

What does the future hold? Of course, we don’t know. But we eagerly await what God will unfold for us.

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