Plug into Relationships

I remember, not so long ago, putting on a CD on Saturday mornings as our family went about our household chores. We all listened together, in community. Today, we all have our own Ipods, so we can listen to what we want, and we plug in our earphones and plug each other out! I remember, not so long ago, actually going into the bank and knowing the tellers by name and visiting with them a little as I did my banking business. Now, rarely do I ever actually go to a bank. I do all my banking online and if I have to make a deposit, I use an ATM. I remember, not so long ago, not having cell phones and actually having to talk to others. Now, I do more texting than talking. I even remember, not so long ago, when someone came to the car and pumped your gas, cleaned your windshield and checked your oil and tire pressure! Now, I simply swipe my credit card and "pay at the pump." Not contact required! The last time we returned to Canada, the grocery store and hardware store had automated checkouts. We could choose whether or not we wanted to speak to anyone or simply stay in our own little world, isolated and alone.


The modern world is becoming less and less connected, relationally. Yet, we serve a God who sent His Son, to connect with the world, relationally. This Son gave us a relational ministry - that of reconciliation - as though we were His "ambassadors, making His appeal through us!" 2 Corinthians 5.


How, as believers, can we live in this modern world and enjoy the technology that has simplified our lives, but at the same time, not get so plugged into ourselves that we are plugged out of the world around us? It is a challenging question.



Living in rural Guatemala, has helped us take a step back and see what is happening in our home culture so much more clearly than if we never would have left. Here, our world is relational. Relationships always superceed tasks and people are always more important than things.



This is not so, when we go back to Canada. Yet, Jesus called us, as believers, to be fishers of men - "to go and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19. That takes time; it takes energy; it takes heart; it takes committment; it takes relationship!


We are coming home for a visit in June. I didn't think I was going to be able to join Rocky and Hope, but thanks to my parents' generosity, I can! One thing I am going to try to focus on, while in Canada, is to engage in relationship, wherever I am. If I am at the grocery store, I am going to choose the checkout with a person working the cash register so that I can, in some small way, build relationship and be a blessing. I am going to take the time to talk to the people I encounter along the way, because this is what Jesus would do and because He lives in me, this is what I am to do!


Will this make errands take longer? Absolutely! But I really believe it is worth it. You see, the only way we, as the body of Christ, are going to reach the lost in our culture, is by building relationships one person at a time. Jesus took the time with me, and it radically transformed my life. Now, because I no longer live for myself, but for Him who died for me and was raised again, this ministry is mine! Wow! Challenging, hey?


The Lord is speaking to me about unplugging from my own isolated world and plugging into those around me, speaking words of life to all I encounter, being salt and light in the mission field where God has planted me as His ambassador, so that the lost in my community can be found! I challenge you to do the same!


Blessings on you,

Karren

Gifts from the Lord

This morning, at about 5am, we said goodbye to the Foothills Alliance team from Calgary, Alberta, as well as our friends, John & Bev Crozier, Howard Giesbrecht and Gord Wiens, from Kamloops.

We have the privilege of sharing time with some pretty awesome people here in Guatemala! I get to go with teams to do children's ministry and just hang out with kids and play! This last group work with a church in Chakalte, a village about 30 minutes from Tactic in the moutains.

Rocky does what Rocky does best - work! He organizes the work projects and makes sure the teams work hard and feel like they are accomplishing something.

Together, we get to share times with teams where we talk about the things of the Lord and help groups process some of what the Lord is teaching them through their experiences here in Guatemala. This work is very rewarding...very tiring at times, but always rewarding.

I think, although, the most rewarding thing we have the honour of participating in is connecting sponsors with their sponsor children. There is something divine that transpires when a sponsor meets the child they are sponsoring and it is an honour to witness this union.

Our family started sponsoring Anayeli 4 1/2 years ago and I never tire of seeing her and spending time with her. Being able to watch her grow, pray for her and simply be a part of her life is so amazing.

Anayeli lives with her mom and brother - her dad has never been in the picture. She is blessed to live beside her grandmother and 2 aunties, so although her mom is often away from home, she is rarely all alone. She has, from a very early age, taken the responsibiliy for her little brother, Adalberto - Alberto for short. Anayeli will be 10 this year and her brother 8.

When Arryn was here in March/April, we went to visit their home. We spent some time just playing catch with them outside of their house. Anayeli hasn't had much time for play in her life. It was such a simple thing, tossing a ball around, yet it brought such joy, not only to Anayeli, her brother, and a few of their cousins, but also to us. Knowing that for that window of time they knew that we cared enough about them to spend some time with them and just play with them.

I remember when we were deciding if we could commit to sponsoring a child and some of the arguments we had against doing it. Now looking back, it is hard to believe we hesitated. If you are reading this and you don't have a child that you are sponsoring in a developing country, do it! For the cost of a Starbuck's a week, you can make a difference in a child's life. The cost is nothing in comparison to the reward, both for you and the child! When we give to others, our hearts are softened and we are blessed. Sponsoring Anayeli has never been a duty or a hardship; it has been a gift from the Lord for our entire family.

Why am I here today?

From time to time I ask myself this question. It usually comes after being frustrated with a situation or set of circumstances that are out of my control. Since I am not a confrontational person, I suck it up and try to remember I am in another culture, I don't speak the language, and they do things differently here.

One of the things I tried to do back home when I was working on a particular construction job was to think of how to make the job as easy as possible for the others trades I was working with - bringing them in at the right time, leaving space for them to work, etc. For some reason, I keep hitting a wall on this here. They seem okay about moving the same pile of dirt twice or not thinking about how their work might affect others. Maybe it is just my inability to communicate; I don't know. All I know is if I was doing the job, I would do it differently. So, it is then that I take a deep breath and ask myself, "Why am I here today?"

I love these Guatemalan people and I know God loves them, too! I think back to the verse in 2 Corinthians 5:14, that talks about the finished work of the cross and that it is His love that compels us not to live for ourselves, but for Him. I am here to serve and be a part of the body of Christ and it is His love that compels me to do so. I would not be here if it was not for the overwhelming love and grace He has poured out into my life. So, in view of God's love, I can help support and walk alongside my brothers in Christ, as they move the vision here in Tactic towards fulfilment. That includes empowering them to see themselves as valuable in moving ahead in the things of the Lord and helping them complete projects that will facilitate growth in the Kingdom of God.

This week a significant portion of the bridge was completed and now we will have access to the new property! The two 48 foot truck decks were put in place and soon we will be able to drive across and begin building the road. I look forward to this next phase with anticipation and even though I know I will ask myself a few more times, "why am I here?" I know the answer will always be the same...it is the love of Christ that compels me.

Blessings,

Rocky