Life is Like a Jog...

The other morning I went running with a friend from here in Choix (I'll use Bob in place of the guy's real name). As we were nearing the end of our run and starting to get really tired, we begin encouraging each other and motivating each other to go hard until the end, saying things like, "only two more laps!", and "Come on! We got this!" We were both thinking about how bad we wanted to stop a couple laps short, but yet, with the help of motivation from each other, we knew we could finish strong to the end.

 

As we sprinted the last 100 meters or so, my muscles were aching, lungs were burning, but the finish line was in view, and there wasn't anything that was going to stop me from reaching that point. If you have ever going running before, you most likely know exactly what I am talking about. Crossing the finish line, and slowing down to walk a cool down lap around the track, we bumped fists and congratulated each other saying things like, "Yes, we did it!" and "Waita go man!" We also talked about how all the "suffering" was so worth it in exchange for the feeling of accomplishment and for the way the body feels after a good run.

 

I got to thinking while we were talking, and I asked him, "Bob, wouldn't you like to be able to say that at the end of your life as you stand at the gates of Heaven, ready to enter eternal life?" Just like running, in life there is going to be pain, there is going to be exhaustion, there is going to be a temptation to stop short of the goal. We might get mocked, we might even be killed because of our faith. But, "if we die with him, we will also live with him; If we endure, we will also reign with him!" (2 Timothy 2:11-12) What an awesome promise from the Creator of the World. No matter what kind of suffering or pain we go through in this life, IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

 

So if you ask, "what are you doing in Mexico lately?" The best response that I can think of would probably be that I am just living here. I am simply living here, trying to build relationships with young guys, and praying that through our relationship, they would come to know Jesus, or if they are already believers, that they would grow closer in their relationship with their Heavenly Father. Isn't that what we should all be doing as followers of Jesus Christ? No matter if we are in Mexico, Africa, or Lancaster County Pennsylvania, that should be the goal of every single on of our relationships.

 

Here are some pictures of a Saturday night singing time we had out in front of the house. It was a fun night of praising our Father in song and being in fellowship with young people from other churches. There were also unbelievers there, giving us a chance to share the gospel through song.

 



 

 

 

Our guitar amp wasn't working at the time, so we hooked up 2 guitars to car speakers using 1 AUX chord and one guitar chord. It was a pretty cool setup. :)

 

This is most of the group that was at the house that night. 

Basic Weekly Schedule

Wow where do I start? So much has happened since the last time I posted on this blog. Mexico has become more like home, making it feel weird to update on stuff that is starting to feel "normal." But I heard that a lot of people are asking what I do in a week. I am still trying to figure that out as more of the responsibilities are being handed over to me from Tim, the young man whose place I will be taking. Every week is different, but I will try to do my best to explain what exactly it is that I do here.

 

First of all my main goal is to spread the gospel of Christ with whoever I come in contact with, whether on a bus, while hitchhiking to a village, or just walking the streets here in town (and that should be your goal also, no matter where you are or what you are doing). Also, to help the brothers in the church however I can. So pretty much all the things that I will list here in this "Schedule" for the week are based off of those two goals.

 

So here is the basic schedule for the week. There are lot of other things that go on in a weeks time but hopefully this will give you a small picture of what I am doing.

 

Sunday - Sunday is actually one of the busier days for us here. In the morning we have a church service here in town and then in the afternoon we have another service in the village of San Pedro. So we usually come back pretty physically tired, but most times spiritually energized.

 

Monday - Probably the least busy day. Normally will take time to do some studying for Bible studies that I might have during the week and also to take care of some church finances.

 

Tuesday - Most of the day is spent in the village of Guadalupe. I will be normally be going out there early afternoon to visit different families and also to give guitar lessons and a have bible study with a young guy out there. In the evening there is a Bible study in the village for whoever wants to come, at the house of a family from the church.

 

Wednesday - In the afternoon and evening there is a children's class and a Bible study in a different village.

 

Thursday - Sometimes I will be visiting a family in a village who are members of the church in San Pedro. Then from there, walking to San Pedro for the Bible study that evening.

 

Friday - Most Friday evening there is some kind of Church activity here in Choix. Whether it is a youth group activity, church singing night, or something else.

 

Saturday - Saturday mornings we have a children's class in the village of Guadalupe. Then some Saturday afternoons we hand out Antorches (a Christian magazine) here in town and also in some other villages.

 

So that is pretty much my basic weekly schedule as of now. I hope that gives you all a better picture of what I do here. Here are a couple pictures from the last month or so.

 

 

  Special activity that we had for the children's class in Guadalupe. It was a fun night of playing games, giving out some prizes, and enjoying a meal together.

Doctoring up a cut that one of the boys had on his leg.

 This is what they call a "mono" of "ajonjoli." After cutting them and tying them into bundles, they stack them up like this to dry out. We have spent a couple days the last few weeks helping some brothers in the church with their harvest.

 

 Just another day out in the field harvesting sesame seed in the beautiful Sinaloa Mexico. :)

Change

Wow it is so hard to believe I've actually been here for over a month already and that my time in Guadalupe is already up. I thank God for the time that i got to spend living with the Verduzco family in Guadalupe and for the many great memories that were made there. I also thank God that my work in that village is not over yet. Working with the church gives me many oppurtunites to go out there and play soccer with the children, give guitar lessons, have Bible studies and childrens classes, and follow up on relationships that were built while living there.

 

So yes, I am now moved into town here in Choix and am beginning my work with the church. It definitely is taking some adjusting going from having days when i could just relax, read, or study and not  have to worry about any responsibilities to having the responsibilities I have now. But God is sufficiant and gives me the energy I need to get through the busy days.

 

So what do I do now that I am living here in Choix? Well that is still something I am trying to figure out day by day. Here are just a few things that I will either be responsible for or will be helping with in the days to come.

 

- Helping a brother in the church, that will be staying here in Choix a couple days a week, with frying potatoe chips to try to get a steady income for him.

- Helping with Bible studies and childrens classes in different villages.

- Walking the streets here in Choix, practicing the language and forming relationships with the people.

- Giving guitar lessons to some young people in a village.

- Trying to build relationships with young people here in Choix. Please pray for guidance and direction specifically in this area. 

 

So thanks again for all the prayers and support! You guys are awesome! :) 

 

Here are a few pictures from the last couple weeks. Enjoy!

 



This is my new living quarters. I will be living here with Tim Reitz until he leaves.

 

An awesome place to take a break from studying in Guadalupe.

The dog pulled off a pretty good photo bomb too. :)

A snake that was killed in Guadalupe. It was over 6 ft long!



A little friend that I found in my pant pocket one time.

Thankfully it was dead and didn't sting me. 

 

Yeah we have these things around too. :)

As Dreams Become Reality

Ever since I was a young teenager, I had a dream to take the news and the Love of Jesus to a foreign country. To live among a people of a different culture than that of my own. To live like them, to eat like them, and to talk like them. Slowly but surely that dream is becoming a reality. Currently I am living with a family from the church here in Mexico, practicing my Spanish and learning more about the culture. They are a tremendously hospitable family and are incredibly patient with me as I learn the language.

A normal day consists of waking up, having my devotions and eating breakfast around 9 30 or 10. Between breakfast and lunch, which is usually around 3 o’clock, is when I do most of my studying. Sometimes that consists of doing flashcards, pages in a workbook, or just talking with someone here at the house. After lunch is not quite as consistent. Sometimes I will take a nap, do more studying, read, or play with the children here at the house. We usually don’t eat supper until after it is dark, which is somewhere around 8 30. The meal schedule took a little bit to get used to, but just like other things I learn to adjust and let it become the new normal.

So how am I doing? That is a hard question to answer. Some days are great and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but then there are others that aren’t so great. It’s in those days that sometimes I question and doubt. But it is amazing how God finds ways to lift up my spirit in those hard times. Sometimes it’s a good chat with a friend. Other times it’s a starry night sky, or a sunset over the mountains that just takes my breath away. His love is sufficient. Here is a journal entry from one night last week that kind of explains better what those hard days can feel like. 

"As I sit here, I can’t help but think about what is going on at home. It is almost 11 oclock P.M. there, and normally I would either be getting ready to go to bed, watching tv with Jay, or hanging out with the family or with friends. But because I surrendered my life to Christ, my life is not quite as normal as sometimes I am tempted to wish it would be. Instead, I am sitting here in an adobe house in Mexico, listening to the beautiful voices of Hermano Martin and Hermana Reina sing Ranchero style worship songs.

Yeah it is not quite the same as hanging out with Jay in our air-conditioned basement, or as a warm summer night in Intercourse watching the playoffs with friends, but it is exactly where my Father wants me to be, and therefore, where I want to be.

Of course that doesn’t mean that everything is going to be all perfect and bright all the time. There are times when all I want to do is just fly home and put on that orange jersey, get on that ball field, and play under the lights on a beautiful August night. There are times when I want to be able to tease my sisters and hear them laugh, or hear that annoying, teasing tone from my brother that I miss so much. Times when I want to wrap my Mom up in a big hug, or talk with my Dad about market. Yeah, those times are incredibly hard.

As hard as those times might be though, deep down inside, at the foundation of my desires, is the yearning to live out the plan that my Heavenly Father has laid out for me. And no, that foundational desire did NOT come from me. It did not come from going to church enough of times, or reading enough of chapters in the Bible, It came from Jesus. The same Jesus who rose from the dead three days after being beaten, spat upon, and eventually hung a cross to die. And he did all that for me (and you). As hard as it might be at times, I should count it a PLEASURE to serve THAT Jesus, no matter what the cost."

Just a quick thought here following the journal entry. Do I, do you, count it a pleasure to serve Jesus, even if it means that it’s going to cost you your life? Do we really know who this is that is giving us this invitation to follow Him? Sometimes I wonder. I mean look at those who really knew Him in person. His first disciples paid great prices to spread the news of the Gospel of Christ, and they still counted it a pleasure to serve Him. Do I, do you, count it a pleasure to serve the Creator of the World?

Thank you all so much for all your prayers and the words of encouragement that I got through email and facebook messages. Here are a few things that you can specifically pray for.

          - My body would continue to adjust to the new foods and weather conditions.
          - I would have persistence in studying and learning the language.
          - I could see the people through the eyes of Jesus with love and compassion.

 

                                          This is the view from the road above Guadalupe.

                 
                         This is overlooking Guadalupe (The village I am living in right now)

                         These are 2 of the children of the family that I am living with right now.

                                                                  This is the house

                                                 One morning I helped make tortillas. :)

 
                                                     Having fun on my off time at the house.

I am not Qualified, But I am Thankful That I Serve a God Who is!

The moment i walked in the door of my room, i thought that these two months were going to be the longest two months of my life. But it turns out I was wrong. This is exactly what i needed before i headed off for Mexico. If i thought i was capable on my own stregnth of serving Jesus on the mission field, i didnt anymore. If I thought i could easily go out onto the streets and talk to people about Someone who changed my life, I didn't anymore. I am not capable of leaving my family and friends and going to Mexico to tell people about Jesus. But thank God that He is stregnth in my weekness. And when i am insecure and afraid, He is my boldness. When I am lonely, He is my company. He is everthing to me. My Joy. My Peace. My Patience. My Love. My Persistance. My Boldness.  And shame on me when i think that my plans are greater than His. That my comfort and security is more important than the spreading of the Name of Jesus Christ. People need to hear that there is a God out there who loves them, who cares for them, and who has a great plan for their lives!

So I feel kind of like Moses did when God came to him in the burning bush, and gave him a specific calling to go to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. When Moses first heard what God was asking him to do, he started listing all the reasons why he was not the one for the job. Moses actually told God, "No, I can't do that." Do you know how God answered? "But I will go with you!" So no matter how disqualified Moses felt, he knew that if God would go with him, he would try. That is the promise I am leaning on today. That no matter how disqualified i might feel, my God is going to be with me! So I tell God, "No, I can't go to Mexico, becuase I have a family and group of friends back home that I love so much, and theres no way I could spend two years away from them. Plus I'm not spiritually ready. I'm too young. The list could go on and on. But you know what God, if You go with me, I will try!" Becuase this life is not about me! This life is all about bringing honor and glory to You!

So the question is, how can we honor the Father? By "letting our light shine" at home and at work, without even mentioning the name of Jesus to anyone? I dont think so. We need to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! How are people going to hear about the Father if we are too scared to even mention His Name to a stranger or a friend? We need to step up, and glorify and lift up the Name of Jesus by telling people about what He has done in our lives. And if you don't think He has done anything in your life that is worth sharing, then maybe you should take some time to check yourself. Yeah thats right, actually take an hour out of your day to spend with the One who died on a cross for you. Who gives you the very things you need to wake up every day. You dont think you have time? Try getting rid of your smart phone for a couple days and see how much time you have on your hands then.

 "God loves His Son and has a wonderful plan for Him, to bring all the Nations to His feet as Lord of All, and He loves you and me enough to give us a place in it."   

                                                                                 - David Bryant