For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)
It was a cold rainy day today, and us teachers sat down below in a classroom huddled in a close circle for our first devotion together. Enma, a missionary from Guatemala City who teaches the Bible at the school, led us in this verse from Esther. At this point in the story, Esther the Jew had become queen over 127 provinces. The Jews were in exile and the King's right hand man Haman had written an edict that on a certain day, all the people of the provinces were to destroy, kill, and annihilate every single Jew. Esther's Uncle discovers the plot and tells her. Esther at first is hesitant to do anything becuase to go into the inner court without being called by the King could mean her death. Mordecai then delivers this line.
Enma then challenged us teachers in our context. Who knows whether you have not come to teach at Colegio HOREB, in the year 2013, for just such a time as this? We have been put in a position to lead these specific children in the right direction. If we do not obey, help will come from another place. But God has placed us there to fulfill His purposes.
The fifth grade teacher, Marvin, told of students he had talked with who don't experience love in their home. They come from spiritually impoverished families. It is at HOREB that they first experience God's love and seek to follow Jesus. Enma emphasized that every single child has God given intelligence. But some are not motivated. Some can not concentrate well because they are hungry. Others lack confidence. Who knows whether you have not come to this place for such a time as this?
I think about my role, and WIND's role, in the community of Cotzal. I am close to moving in to a house near the center of the village. God has provided me with a tremendous support system. So many people are rallying around this tiny school in the middle of nowhere. I think about the peopl, the teachers, and the children God has placed before me. I think about the needs, both spiritually and materially. Who knows whether we have not come to this place for such a time as this?
I hope by sharing this, that a few of you will also think about the position God has put you in, the responsibilities he has placed in your hands, the people you have an influence over in your daily life, and be challenged. Who knows whether you have not come to that positon for such a time as this?
And Esther replied to Mordecai: Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.
This is Guatemala: 1
I said goodbye to my new friend and then waited where the busses pick people up to go to Nebaj. It was 4:15 with plenty of daylight to spare. The busses leave every half hour and the last one leaves at 6:00. My chances of getting stranded seemed pretty low. But this is Guatemala.
I sat next to a boy with a box of a dozen little chickens on the sidewalk. We waited. A microbus came by and we were stoked that we would get to leave soon. Except, they would not leave unless we had eight people. So we waited. A man with his little son showed up and waited with us, he was looking for a ride to the intersection that went to Chajul. Another guy came as well with his wheelbarrow. But four people were not enough people, and it was getting later. So we started to walk.
We ran into another seeking a ride out of Cotzal. We planned with him, and another came toward us in the same predicament. Alas, six people did not a ride to Nebaj make. We found a good deal with a tuc-tuc driver to drive us to the intersection. A tuc-tuc is basically like a golf cart. Including the driver there were 7 grown men, 1 little kid, 12 little chickens, and one wheel barrow strapped to the top. A couple of the guys got out and pushed it along on the up hills to keep it going. We made it to the intersection where we watched the man with his son get a ride to Chajul fairly quickly. But the four of us going to Nebaj waited. And waited. But no micro bus from Chajul was going to come. No micro bus from Cotzal was going to come. After one hour of waiting in the chilly mountain air, we began to walk.
After walking only a hundred meters, a truck came by. They let us travel in the back under their covered bed. So in we went, us four guys, a dozen chickens, and a wheel barrow. Not being able to see anything in the pitch black night, I sat on the chicken box. Oops. But we were able to finagle things in the back to all fit in without any more mishaps.
We arrived to Nebaj at 7:30. It was only three hours, but quite an adventurous commute nonetheless.
I sat next to a boy with a box of a dozen little chickens on the sidewalk. We waited. A microbus came by and we were stoked that we would get to leave soon. Except, they would not leave unless we had eight people. So we waited. A man with his little son showed up and waited with us, he was looking for a ride to the intersection that went to Chajul. Another guy came as well with his wheelbarrow. But four people were not enough people, and it was getting later. So we started to walk.
We ran into another seeking a ride out of Cotzal. We planned with him, and another came toward us in the same predicament. Alas, six people did not a ride to Nebaj make. We found a good deal with a tuc-tuc driver to drive us to the intersection. A tuc-tuc is basically like a golf cart. Including the driver there were 7 grown men, 1 little kid, 12 little chickens, and one wheel barrow strapped to the top. A couple of the guys got out and pushed it along on the up hills to keep it going. We made it to the intersection where we watched the man with his son get a ride to Chajul fairly quickly. But the four of us going to Nebaj waited. And waited. But no micro bus from Chajul was going to come. No micro bus from Cotzal was going to come. After one hour of waiting in the chilly mountain air, we began to walk.
After walking only a hundred meters, a truck came by. They let us travel in the back under their covered bed. So in we went, us four guys, a dozen chickens, and a wheel barrow. Not being able to see anything in the pitch black night, I sat on the chicken box. Oops. But we were able to finagle things in the back to all fit in without any more mishaps.
We arrived to Nebaj at 7:30. It was only three hours, but quite an adventurous commute nonetheless.
Reconnecting
Last year at this time, I was just a stranger in a strange land. My Spanish was passable but awful, I felt completely unversed in the culture, and I probably spent more time lost than not. What a difference a year makes. My Spanish is still wanting but definitely improved. The culture feels familiar and dare I say comfortable. I was not sure how being away for 9 months would affect me, but it feels like I was only gone a week. Everything came back to me upon arrival and I was ready to hit the ground running, after catching up on sleep of course.
Upon arriving in Cotzal, I went into the Colegio to say hello to the teachers, who were there preparing for classes to start. A few of the children were there and immediately swarmed and embraced me. The teachers were happy to see me and it didn't feel like we missed a beat. While I was gone one of the teachers had a baby and named him ¨Jordan Richard.¨ I am not sure yet how I feel to have a little Jordan Richard walking the streets of Cotzal, it definitely is humbling. He is 6 months with a full head of hair. (But dad, I heard the teachers calling him Rich so your name may end up being the one that sticks!)
I visited several hours with Tabita, first eating lunch in her home, and later visiting her other place of work. At her home lives a missionary from El Salvador named Myrna and her adopted daughter Bertita. Bertita has grown so much since my last trip and is definitely a talker! She will be turning two very soon.
My second day in Cotzal, I was like a hobbit and had two lunches. We had a teachers meeting in the Colegio and Myrna led us in a Bible study of Colossians 3. Maybe I will blog a devotion using those verses soon because it definitely spoke to me in that moment. Mathias, the 6th grade teacher, invited me into his home for lunch. This was my first time in his home and while this culture feels more familiar, the relative poverty of how people live here still strikes me and wakes me up. He showed me many photos of him, his girlfriend, and children he has taught. We talked about cultural differences, places we wanted to go, and about how God is leading us. I appreciate how patient he is with me as I make an effort to communicate. I enjoy my rich conversations with him.
After eating lunch with him, I went to Josue's house to visit with his family. I was serenaded with "Jordan! Jordan!" Josue has so much energy, he cracks me up. I can't simply walk into that home without eating. They are the most hospitable people you will ever meet and although I was not hungry and resisted, they still made me good food. It was a good day.
As I was waiting for the bus to return to Nebaj, I was thrilled to see recent 6th grade graduate Rosy heading toward me. She gave me a big hug and of course I checked her English skills. She is continuing on in her education going to Colegio Bethania, a Christian school in Nebaj. Her smile was the perfect end to my time in Cotzal that day.
I am currently staying with my friends: Domingo, Kara, and Jaden. Café Mingo has changed locations but their restaurant is doing well. We celebrated Jaden's 2nd birthday yesterday with cake followed by pancakes. He is one lucky boy.
I have been in contact with a fellow who is teaching English at another Christian school in nearby Santa Avelina. We have talked about finding a place in Cotzal together and we will meet up tomorrow.
Upon arriving in Cotzal, I went into the Colegio to say hello to the teachers, who were there preparing for classes to start. A few of the children were there and immediately swarmed and embraced me. The teachers were happy to see me and it didn't feel like we missed a beat. While I was gone one of the teachers had a baby and named him ¨Jordan Richard.¨ I am not sure yet how I feel to have a little Jordan Richard walking the streets of Cotzal, it definitely is humbling. He is 6 months with a full head of hair. (But dad, I heard the teachers calling him Rich so your name may end up being the one that sticks!)
I visited several hours with Tabita, first eating lunch in her home, and later visiting her other place of work. At her home lives a missionary from El Salvador named Myrna and her adopted daughter Bertita. Bertita has grown so much since my last trip and is definitely a talker! She will be turning two very soon.
My second day in Cotzal, I was like a hobbit and had two lunches. We had a teachers meeting in the Colegio and Myrna led us in a Bible study of Colossians 3. Maybe I will blog a devotion using those verses soon because it definitely spoke to me in that moment. Mathias, the 6th grade teacher, invited me into his home for lunch. This was my first time in his home and while this culture feels more familiar, the relative poverty of how people live here still strikes me and wakes me up. He showed me many photos of him, his girlfriend, and children he has taught. We talked about cultural differences, places we wanted to go, and about how God is leading us. I appreciate how patient he is with me as I make an effort to communicate. I enjoy my rich conversations with him.
After eating lunch with him, I went to Josue's house to visit with his family. I was serenaded with "Jordan! Jordan!" Josue has so much energy, he cracks me up. I can't simply walk into that home without eating. They are the most hospitable people you will ever meet and although I was not hungry and resisted, they still made me good food. It was a good day.
As I was waiting for the bus to return to Nebaj, I was thrilled to see recent 6th grade graduate Rosy heading toward me. She gave me a big hug and of course I checked her English skills. She is continuing on in her education going to Colegio Bethania, a Christian school in Nebaj. Her smile was the perfect end to my time in Cotzal that day.
I am currently staying with my friends: Domingo, Kara, and Jaden. Café Mingo has changed locations but their restaurant is doing well. We celebrated Jaden's 2nd birthday yesterday with cake followed by pancakes. He is one lucky boy.
I have been in contact with a fellow who is teaching English at another Christian school in nearby Santa Avelina. We have talked about finding a place in Cotzal together and we will meet up tomorrow.
It has Begun
It has been a whirlwind 48 hours. I took a red eye flight from Seattle to Miami, waited 3 hours, and then flew into Guatemala City. I had arranged for friends to come pick me up at the airport but something had come up, and they could not make it there. My family is blessed to know such wonderful people in Guatemala, and all it took was one simple phone call to remedy the situation. Before I knew it I was in the back of a pick up heading over to a friends house. There were workers from Agros heading to Nebaj later that day and so I rode in their crowded truck, arriving at 11:00 at night. Having left my parents house at 6:00 the night before, that made for one long travel day (27 hours to be exact and 38 hours without a bed).
Today, I am recovering here in Nebaj before beginning my work in Cotzal tomorrow. While still crazy, it feels much more familiar and comfortable here than it did a year ago. I am looking forward to seeing Tabita and some of the HOREB teachers tomorrow.
Today, I am recovering here in Nebaj before beginning my work in Cotzal tomorrow. While still crazy, it feels much more familiar and comfortable here than it did a year ago. I am looking forward to seeing Tabita and some of the HOREB teachers tomorrow.
Piecing Together the Body of Christ
As I spent my last days on Lopez Island, there was a one thousand piece lighthouse puzzle sitting on the table. My dad had gotten it out, finished almost the whole border, and left the rest of the pieces there, and left. I have never been a puzzle person and never understood people's fascination with them. I absent mindedly started to fit pieces together the next morning while my coffee brewed. I got my coffee and decided to put in just a few more pieces. All of a sudden I looked up and four hours had passed. What just happened to my day!? At that point I was committed and finished it before I left the island. God speaks to us in weird ways and I felt God teach me a lesson through a lighthouse puzzle of all things. It blew my mind.
One individual piece of the puzzle tells me nothing about the entire picture. In my case, I knew I was making a lighthouse, just like God knows what picture He is making as he fits all of His body together. But if I didn't know what the picture looked like and I stared at one piece of the puzzle and tried to make sense of it, I would fail miserably. I would fail to see the lighthouse in the midst of a beautiful sunset. I would just see an odd shaped piece of cardboard that was dark green with a white spot at the end. Likewise if we use the analogy of one piece of the puzzle being one of us in the Body of Christ, and we look at ourselves and can't make sense of how we fit, or don't think we are making much of a difference for His kingdom, assuredly if you are one of His, you are! You just can't see the whole picture, as God can. But we also shouldn't think too highly of ourselves either because we are just like one of those odd shaped puzzle pieces that mean nothing in and of itself.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another (Romans 12:4-5).
Furthering the analogy, I spent a lot of time piecing together that lighthouse and when it was done, the picture was beautiful. But it consisted of only one thousand pieces. Only God knows, but I am assuming the Body of Christ is much, much, much, much bigger than that. If the Body of Christ consisted of one million people, then that entire lighthouse picture itself would only be one piece of another one thousand piece puzzle. This is where my mind gets blown. Can you imagine? The lighthouse picture is only one piece, with 999 other pieces consisting of pictures of mountain ranges, deserts, children playing, the vast ocean expanse, etc, etc. Can you imagine how beautiful that must look to God? For us, to take it in would be completely overwhelming. It is as if the lighthouse picture represented a whole community of believers, which represented one piece of one thousand communities working together.
However, there are probably more than one million believers in the world. Lets say (and only God knows) that there are one billion members of the Body of Christ. Well that entire puzzle consisting of one thousand pieces of one thousand piece puzzles would only be one piece in another one thousand piece puzzle. This is the point where my mind explodes. The beauty of that must be just unbelievable, so unbelievable that no human being could ever begin to fathom it. It is as if the one thousand communities puzzle represented a nation of believers, and was only one piece of a puzzle consisting of one thousand nations working together. To recap, as a member of the Body of Christ, you are like a puzzle piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of a community. That community is like a piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of a nation. That nation is like a piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of the entirety of the Body of Christ.
Lets imagine God taking in that beautiful picture, what do you think stands out to Him? I will tell you what would stand out to me (if I had the capacity to take all of it in): the missing pieces. I think that to Him that those missing pieces are a glaring hole in this amazing, breathtaking, beautiful picture and He is not resting until He fills the holes. He knows what the entire picture will look like in the end, but it is not complete yet. Just like finding missing puzzle pieces brings us more joy than the pieces that are already there, so it is in heaven:
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them ´Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that is lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:3-7)
One individual piece of the puzzle tells me nothing about the entire picture. In my case, I knew I was making a lighthouse, just like God knows what picture He is making as he fits all of His body together. But if I didn't know what the picture looked like and I stared at one piece of the puzzle and tried to make sense of it, I would fail miserably. I would fail to see the lighthouse in the midst of a beautiful sunset. I would just see an odd shaped piece of cardboard that was dark green with a white spot at the end. Likewise if we use the analogy of one piece of the puzzle being one of us in the Body of Christ, and we look at ourselves and can't make sense of how we fit, or don't think we are making much of a difference for His kingdom, assuredly if you are one of His, you are! You just can't see the whole picture, as God can. But we also shouldn't think too highly of ourselves either because we are just like one of those odd shaped puzzle pieces that mean nothing in and of itself.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another (Romans 12:4-5).
Furthering the analogy, I spent a lot of time piecing together that lighthouse and when it was done, the picture was beautiful. But it consisted of only one thousand pieces. Only God knows, but I am assuming the Body of Christ is much, much, much, much bigger than that. If the Body of Christ consisted of one million people, then that entire lighthouse picture itself would only be one piece of another one thousand piece puzzle. This is where my mind gets blown. Can you imagine? The lighthouse picture is only one piece, with 999 other pieces consisting of pictures of mountain ranges, deserts, children playing, the vast ocean expanse, etc, etc. Can you imagine how beautiful that must look to God? For us, to take it in would be completely overwhelming. It is as if the lighthouse picture represented a whole community of believers, which represented one piece of one thousand communities working together.
However, there are probably more than one million believers in the world. Lets say (and only God knows) that there are one billion members of the Body of Christ. Well that entire puzzle consisting of one thousand pieces of one thousand piece puzzles would only be one piece in another one thousand piece puzzle. This is the point where my mind explodes. The beauty of that must be just unbelievable, so unbelievable that no human being could ever begin to fathom it. It is as if the one thousand communities puzzle represented a nation of believers, and was only one piece of a puzzle consisting of one thousand nations working together. To recap, as a member of the Body of Christ, you are like a puzzle piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of a community. That community is like a piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of a nation. That nation is like a piece of a one thousand piece puzzle consisting of the entirety of the Body of Christ.
Lets imagine God taking in that beautiful picture, what do you think stands out to Him? I will tell you what would stand out to me (if I had the capacity to take all of it in): the missing pieces. I think that to Him that those missing pieces are a glaring hole in this amazing, breathtaking, beautiful picture and He is not resting until He fills the holes. He knows what the entire picture will look like in the end, but it is not complete yet. Just like finding missing puzzle pieces brings us more joy than the pieces that are already there, so it is in heaven:
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them ´Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that is lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:3-7)
7 Wonders and Life
I have played a lot of games lately, I would go so far to say that some in my family are gameaholics.. One game we played a lot of was a game called 7 Wonders. There are many ways to win. You can invest in science, you can build buildings, you can make a great army, you can build wonders, you can stockpile resources, you can stockpile money in your treasury, or build guilds. The winner generally has a combination of all those things or does really well at one or two of them. Any number of strategies would work in bringing you victory.
One thing I personally struggle a lot with is making decisions, more specifically, making a decision when there is more than one great option in front of me. I want to honor God in all I do and I pray about all of my big decisions. Sometimes though, I spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about them and I get stuck with my feet in the mud. I pray and pray and pray (or worry, and worry, and worry) and waste a lot of time. Anybody that has played a strategy game with me probably understands. I am usually the slow one, spending a lot of time plotting my next move, and usually over thinking it. When there are two equally good options, what route should I take? Should I take the science card or the building card? They each will probably give me the same amount of victory points in the end, but...you just never know! You know!
Sometimes I get caught into the "finding a call for my life" trap (which is really just a selfish way of trying to find the "thing" that will make me self-fulfilled apart from God). He gives me great options to choose from and I think in general He is usually waiting for me just to pick one, and dedicate that path to Him. In choosing between good or evil, the path is clear. In choosing between good or good, it gets harder but I should step out into one of the good paths without over worrying or over thinking, and just put my faith in Him, and use it to bring glory to God and not myself. He gave you and me our passions, our talents, our resources, our family, and the people that are in our life. No matter what good path we follow, don't you think God has something to do with it anyway?!
The great thing is that unlike a game, we won already. We may be in the midst of the game but Jesus has already declared our victory. All we have to do is take it and then in our spirit of gratitude choose one of the good paths before us. I know for one that if I were playing 7 wonders and I was guaranteed victory in the end, I would play a lot differently. I would not agonize over which cards to play, would make decisions a lot faster, and would joyfully play for the love of the game and for the love of the people I was playing with.
That begs the question, why do I worry so much about my path in life when I have already won? Why am I not living my life with joyful abandon? Where is my faith? Life is not a problem to be solved but an adventure to be lived. Lets not get caught behaving as if our salvation hangs in the balance over every decision. WE CAN NOT LOSE! Lets live wide open. Lets take chances. Lets build without worrying if it will get torn down. Lets run without worrying about getting hurt. Lets love without worrying if we are loved back. Lets live as if we can not lose. I mean, that's what we believe right?
One thing I personally struggle a lot with is making decisions, more specifically, making a decision when there is more than one great option in front of me. I want to honor God in all I do and I pray about all of my big decisions. Sometimes though, I spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about them and I get stuck with my feet in the mud. I pray and pray and pray (or worry, and worry, and worry) and waste a lot of time. Anybody that has played a strategy game with me probably understands. I am usually the slow one, spending a lot of time plotting my next move, and usually over thinking it. When there are two equally good options, what route should I take? Should I take the science card or the building card? They each will probably give me the same amount of victory points in the end, but...you just never know! You know!
Sometimes I get caught into the "finding a call for my life" trap (which is really just a selfish way of trying to find the "thing" that will make me self-fulfilled apart from God). He gives me great options to choose from and I think in general He is usually waiting for me just to pick one, and dedicate that path to Him. In choosing between good or evil, the path is clear. In choosing between good or good, it gets harder but I should step out into one of the good paths without over worrying or over thinking, and just put my faith in Him, and use it to bring glory to God and not myself. He gave you and me our passions, our talents, our resources, our family, and the people that are in our life. No matter what good path we follow, don't you think God has something to do with it anyway?!
The great thing is that unlike a game, we won already. We may be in the midst of the game but Jesus has already declared our victory. All we have to do is take it and then in our spirit of gratitude choose one of the good paths before us. I know for one that if I were playing 7 wonders and I was guaranteed victory in the end, I would play a lot differently. I would not agonize over which cards to play, would make decisions a lot faster, and would joyfully play for the love of the game and for the love of the people I was playing with.
That begs the question, why do I worry so much about my path in life when I have already won? Why am I not living my life with joyful abandon? Where is my faith? Life is not a problem to be solved but an adventure to be lived. Lets not get caught behaving as if our salvation hangs in the balance over every decision. WE CAN NOT LOSE! Lets live wide open. Lets take chances. Lets build without worrying if it will get torn down. Lets run without worrying about getting hurt. Lets love without worrying if we are loved back. Lets live as if we can not lose. I mean, that's what we believe right?
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