Saturday, June 9, 2012

The Well

Scott and Tim are missionaries here at ILE that are in their final trimester of study before heading to serve in Peru.  A few weeks ago, they were blessed to get to attend and share at a missions conference in Montana (State motto: Well, we're not quite Wyoming, but at least we're not Colorado!).  While they were there, they heard an analogy that really stuck with me when Tim shared it with me upon his return, that I'd like to share with all of you this week as well. (I've expanded the analogy some for the sake of this blog):

"When a missionary goes out to share the Gospel, it's like a rescue mission in a well.  The rescuer grabs onto the rope, and holds on tightly as he lowers himself into the well.  Up above, however, they must be a team of workers that are also holding the rope as he begins his work.  The rescuer is bearing his own weight; however, the team up above is bearing his whole weight as well!  So, as the rescuer goes out, both the worker and the supporter bear the same weight, and both bear the scars on their hands from the endeavor.  In the same way, both the missionary (or missionary family) and the support team back home bear the weight of the ministry.  The missionary leaves behind home, comforts, friends, family, and puts themselves into situations that aren't comfortable, that aren't always safe, and that are incredibly trying.  Meanwhile, those at home also bear the weight: they miss their loved ones who have gone out to serve, they bear the weight of praying for the missionaries, of supporting the ministry financially and in other ways, and of not forgetting those who have gone out from them, even those who have gone out years before.  And, both sides bear the scars from the endeavor, but both bear them gladly, because they know that the mission, the need to share the Gospel around the world, is more important than any other."


I love this analogy!  Too often, some missionaries and some churches look at missionaries as lone rangers, living the solitary life, separating themselves from everyone to take on themselves a mission that has been given by God to them and them alone.  But nothing could be further from the truth!  As Sara and I have left Casper and come here to Costa Rica, we have felt even more deeply the need that we have for the church back home than ever before.  We can't tell you how much every little message on facebook means, or the occasional letter or package, or when the phone rings.  We can't explain how it feels to be prayed for, and to know that people are remembering us before God from 3400 miles away.  We can't explain how humbling it is to see people support us financially every month.  We can't describe how it pierces our hearts to hear people talk about missing us, about wishing we were still at the church, about wanting us back in the States.  We see first hand that we need YOU!  We need those back home, the family, the friends, the other believers, the churches, who are helping to make what we are doing possible.  Thank you, all of you who are pouring yourselves into our ministry just as we are, in different ways, so that we might go forth!


And we bear the scars at times, too.  It can be hard to be away from home.  We miss our family and friends.  We miss being in a culture where we can understand everything and make ourselves understood easily.  We miss the feeling that we're able to more easily reach people and share the Gospel because we can communicate in the right language.  We struggle with battles of the mind as we try to learn Spanish; we struggle with battles of the heart as we miss our homes and families and friends; we struggle with battles of the spirit as we fight against spiritual warfare that feels more prevalent here than it was back home.  But, as the Bible assures us, these are 'light and momentary troubles,' compared to Christ!  We do this, and you send and support us, because we know that it's worth it, and in light of the need for the Gospel of Christ around the world, what else could we possibly do??



Finally, we do this because we know it's not about us.  As Paul Washer says, "Missions is not about sending missionaries.  Missions is about sending the truth of God through missionaries."  We go because of this truth, and we trust that you send us and support us because of this truth as well.  If this rescue mission that we're on is about us, then please, let go of the rope!  But, if you believe in this because of the power of the Gospel, and the need for God to be heard about and glorified around the world, then continue with us in this mission.  Thank you for being WITH us in this endeavor, striving with us, working with us, praying for us, bear our weight in your own way, as we seek to see the King of Glory (Ps 24) pour out His Spirit in Mexico and across this world.  We love you all, and God bless!


Monday, June 4, 2012

Meet our Friends: The Steeles

One of the biggest blessings about attending language school at ILE (Instituto de lengua espaƱola) is that we have been blessed to meet some AMAZING missionaries.  God has given us amazing friends here at ILE, and when we leave in August, we will leave knowing missionaries in almost every Spanish speaking country on earth!  What an incredibly blessing to not only have the ministry in Mexico that God has given us, but to also be a part (in prayer and encouragement) of God's missions across the Spanish-speaking world to see His name glorified!

Because of this, I was thinking: we are so blessed to have you all praying for us and supporting us!  But, if we're the only missionaries that you know and pray for, then you are really missing out!  So, about once a month, I'm going to try to very briefly introduce you to some of our friends, so that you can be praying for them, as well!  Praying for each other is one of the greatest blessings that we have in our walk with Christ, and praying for missionaries?  Well, that's even better! (at least, in THIS missionary's opinion ;)  )

That being said, we'd like you to introduce you to Tony and Beverly Steele.  Tony and Beverly were 3rd trimester students at ILE when we started back in January, but, we already knew them (a little).  You see, Tony and Beverly are the only other missionaries to Mexico from Global Outreach (our mission's organization).  We knew they were working towards getting to Mexico, too, and we have been praying for them.  So, we were incredibly excited to get to meet them and start to talk about ministry in Mexico with them.  When you take into account the size of the language school and the size of Mexico, there really aren't that many missionaries at ILE going to Mexico, and it was such a blessing to get to share what God has put on our hearts for that amazing nation.


We got to spend some time with Tony and Beverly last semester while we were at ILE, especially one night before the end of the Trimester when they came over to our house for dinner.  In one of those 'small world' moments, we found out that, even though they are being sent out of the Kentucky/Tennessee area, they lived in Casper, Wyoming for a few years, and even attended College Heights (our home church) for a while.  While this was a while ago (before Sara or I were born!), it's still crazy to see how paths can cross in this world!

Beverly holding Gabe when we went to visit Courtenay and Jacob Folk in Cartago.

Tony and Beverly finished up their time at language school at the end of April, then spent a few weeks in the States before driving down into Mexico over Memorial Day Weekend.  They are ministering in the state of Zacatecas in Mexico, about 4 1/2 hours north of Ciudad Guzman, where we'll be living and ministering.  They have a great heart to partner with pastors in southern Zacatecas to see more churches planted across the area, and see the Gospel go forth into one of the more spiritually dark areas of Mexico.  Would you pray for them this week as they begin their ministry there?  There are so many things to do when moving to a new country, and many things to figure out.  Plus, now that they've left language school, this is the first time that they've been in a Spanish speaking country without the benefit of other missionaries around to lean on for support; would you ask that God would be their strength and support during this time?  Pray that God will be glorified through them in Zacatecas, that they would have numerous opportunities to share the Gospel, and that many would be saved through their ministry.  You can also keep up with them and their ministry on their blog: http://www.gozacmission.blogspot.com/

Go ye therefore, into all the world, but start with Mexico! ;)

We are so blessed to know the Steeles, and we can't wait to be a few hours from them in Mexico, sharing the Gospel with that great and needy country!
}, 10);