Following the Leader: July 2016

Now before the Feast of Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour has come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

John 13:1

Jesus had been living on earth for around 33 years. I wonder how it felt to be constrained by time for the first time ever. But Jesus knew without a doubt what was coming. And in a sense, so do we. I know this world is not my home. Every day is a step closer to abandoning this world and going home to be with my Father. The question is, can I say what Jesus said? Can I say that, “I loved to the end”? Ministry gets hard. Not just difficult, but hard. Stale. Mechanical. It can become this if you don't have love. So many Christians focus on how our lives should be lived, what we should do, where we should go, how we should talk, how to be more relatable to the world, and the list goes on. But how is it that our highest calling of LOVE has been neglected and ignored? It is usually an afterthought, “Oh yeah, and let it be done with love.” But that isn't what the bible teaches. Without love we have nothing. Nothing. But what is this love that Jesus had until the end? It is Galatians 5 love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love…” Only through the Spirit can I live in this love. Am I lacking love? I can have a free filling of the Spirit and be filled with His love.

I want to be able to say like Jesus that I have loved to the end. The end of my time here on earth? Yes. But even in smaller segments too. Can I say that I loved my students to the end of the school year? Can I say I loved the Guatemalan people to the end of my time here? I don't know what’s next. I don’t know what God has for me here on earth, but every season I want to look back and be able to say that I gave my all and loved to the end. I want to look back on my life and be able to say that by the grace of God, I loved to the end. Not my love, but His love through the Spirit. That is the only way. It is impossible to love in my own strength. IMPOSSIBLE. But the bible tells me that with God nothing will be impossible, that His strength is perfect and available for those who recognize they can’t do it.

Jesus came to earth as a baby, a human being. He grew up, He knew why He had come. But He didn't take a step into ministry until He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember? He was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, He was driven into the wilderness, and then started His earthly ministry. He was a man of many sorrows, yes. But He was a man who LOVED. That is what I have been seeing as I read through the gospel of John. Religion uses people. Jesus loves people. Religion sets up traps and makes people stumble. Jesus loves people and laid down His own life for sinners. And the bible says that His Spirit has poured this love out on our hearts (Romans 5:5), we have it! We need to walk in it! Time is running out! We are one day going to leave this earth and go to the Father. I want to be able to say that I loved like Jesus through the power of the Spirit to the end. Are we lacking love? Be filled with the Spirit.

June! How did it go by so fast. Seriously though.
The first half of the month was spent in Antigua doing the normal things in ministry. Exciting things happened too! My sister in Christ, roomie, and friend Lydia got engaged! It so such a blessing to be here with them both to see the Lord work in their relationship. I am so excited for what is to come! God has so great things in store for them.
Everything is going really well. In the schools we gave exams and did all of the grading for the quarter. My classes all did really well this past quarter and on all their tests. We started the new quarter off with a whole new memory verse and we are learning all new information. The first two quarters were all review and now the last two will be new things in english and the kids are really excited (so am I!). All the schools have their mid-year vacation break so that's when I left to renew my visa and take advantage of the time with no classes.
So I started my 19 hours of travel to get from Guatemala to Maui. It was such an incredible gift that God provided for me to be able to go to Maui to spend 10 days with my family. It was busy with my family, but the good kind of busy. I got to meet my new niece and nephew for the first time! I was able to spend time with all four of my nieces and nephews, my siblings, parents, grandparents, and even my aunt who was visiting! It was so much fun and the beach was beautiful with warm water (: And of course, I fellowshipped with Calvary Chapel Central Maui. I was able to be there for 2 midweek studies and one Sunday service. Pastor Sean is going through Psalms on Wednesday nights and it was really a great message for me personally. It convicted me and spurred me on to continue going deeper in my relationship with the Lord. My 10 days came to an end and I boarded a plan, starting my 28 hours of travel. I had a layover in Texas and got to see my grandma, aunt and cousin for the first time in over 5 years! They picked me up and we got to go to lunch and just catch up. It was a blessing for sure.
I made it back to Guatemala safely! It feels good to be back. I have 4 more months left until school is out and I go home. I am ready to finish out strong and I feel more focused than ever to be bold for the Lord and the gospel. I pray for opportunities, and God gives them to me everyday. And as I said, I have freedom to make my own schedule and choose what to do with my time. Lydia and I are official volunteers at the local hospital and we go once a week to play with the kids, show them love, help feed them, or whatever is needed. We have been helping out with another ministry that goes to a school about 30 minutes away and has a feeding program and after school program where the kids get english class, help with homework, play, and, most importantly, a bible study. This group of kids have become so dear to me. I love going and helping and seeing that they truly do have a relationship with Jesus and are hungry to know more. I have also been helping more with Building Guate, the ministry at the dump in Escuintla. I was able to go 2 times in June and help out. I can't explain how much I love it. I am getting to know the kids better, and they know me too which is super cool.
God continues to show me that He cares about the minister more than the ministry. He shows me His love and care in such personal ways. I know the work I does pleases Him, and that I don't have to do what I do for His acceptance. It has been a season of growing for me I feel like. He has taught me so much and I have a lot more to learn!
Prayer requests:
- I always ask for prayer for my students, the request remains the same, for their salvation. That's the reason I am in those schools, to share the gospel. Pray that His Word would fall on hearts that are ready and that these kids would bear fruit and know the Lord as their Savior.
- Please pray for the youth group! In July they will be going on a youth retreat with other churches in the area and a church from Florida is coming down to help serve. God willing, I will be going as a leader and helping with all the food for the weekend! I am really excited about that.
- Ignite class 11 will be arriving early July, so please keep them in your prayers!
- Pray for me that I would continue to rely on the Lord and not get distracted or discouraged that my time is kind of winding down. It's a weird reality, but God is good and He never leaves me.
To God be the glory now and forever