A brief update considering the events of the last two days:
First, on behalf of the Shelter team of leaders, thanks to those of you who have been praying earnestly for us. We serve a Great God, who is able to lead us forward while walking with us, protecting us from behind, and watching over us. How He does it, we'll likely never know. What we do know is that we sense it, even in the midst of difficult circumstance there is Peace.
Today, we were able to go into a different community and build 4 houses!! 4 families lives are changed and 4 more opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
We were also able to start our meetings today, and while I'm sure you excited to hear all about them, I'll share this one story: Pastor Herman, from the Auditorio Cristiano Church in San Salvador, came to share the vision of their church family. He spoke from Acts 2, and the movement of the followers of Jesus into the community, region and outward into the world. It's a message that echoes the heart of Shelter and it echoes the heart of the SEMC.
It's amazing to be caught up in Our God's unfolding story!! I"m blown away every time that comes clear.
One more tidbit: I had the privilege of having a lunch meeting with Pastor Herman and Pastor Ricardo. Pastor Herman was sharing with me how he had been pastoring there for 7 years and it just recently felt as though the church family really understood and were living according to the vision. I then had the privilege to talk about the Lord's work at the SEMC, and shared a similar story...again very amazing what the Lord is doing, uniting communities, churches and leaders across thousands of miles - together for the Glory of Jesus Christ!!
Deve
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Experiencing something new
This trip has been so incredibly eye opening to hear from the lives directly touched and forever changed by the efforts of the compassion organization. To hear them say Thanks be to God I am so blessed. It has been a priveledge to sit and hear their stories of how in desperation they called to God and he answered faithfully and miraculously.
But I must say I do miss the familiar faces, the ones I look forward to seeing. I keep telling myself this is a new and different trip enjoy the newness of it, but I find myself still searching and missing my friends here. With the house building projects we start as strangers but soon we are friends that get to know each other better as the week goes on. This experience the faces are different with each stop we make. Wow there are so many to pray for already and it is only Tuesday. What a neat experience to watch my kids take it all in! Taijah and Shailah I wish you could have come but all the standing and sitting still, would surely have driven you mad!
Looking very much forward to wrapping my arms and my heart around a special boy and girl on Thursday, whose faces I will see on my fridge for many years to come, Lord willing.
Love you all at home tonnes!
P.S. Amanda just in case you were wondering, I am loving the heat and missing sharing it with you:)
Karen
But I must say I do miss the familiar faces, the ones I look forward to seeing. I keep telling myself this is a new and different trip enjoy the newness of it, but I find myself still searching and missing my friends here. With the house building projects we start as strangers but soon we are friends that get to know each other better as the week goes on. This experience the faces are different with each stop we make. Wow there are so many to pray for already and it is only Tuesday. What a neat experience to watch my kids take it all in! Taijah and Shailah I wish you could have come but all the standing and sitting still, would surely have driven you mad!
Looking very much forward to wrapping my arms and my heart around a special boy and girl on Thursday, whose faces I will see on my fridge for many years to come, Lord willing.
Love you all at home tonnes!
P.S. Amanda just in case you were wondering, I am loving the heat and missing sharing it with you:)
Karen
Monday, April 7, 2014
Paradoxology
I just got off a FaceTime call with my friend/brother/co-minister Steve Metcalfe. He's leading the Compassion team this week and had so many exciting stories to share. It's just another reminder of the depth of love that the Lord has given to us for the people of El Salvador. What a privilege to hear about it, pray into it and celebrate with them!!
Aynsley and I also just wrapped up our debrief with our Shelter team tonight. It was more of a somber, reflective time, however, it ended in a resolve to continue what we're called to do and in united song of praise - the Doxology.
Why the somber mood: After the events of yesterday (See Aynsley's post below), we went back out to the community, prepared to build the 8 remaining houses. However, as we arrived that number had dwindled to 6. Why? The shooting we had heard yesterday, sent one man to the hospital (where he remains in serious condition). In fact, it turns out that we saw the gunman leaving on his motorcycle. The result of this activity - the families we were to build for have decided to leave the community. 6 new homes, dwindled to 3...which we built and then made a hasty exit. Later this afternoon, we sent a group of local people in, and they removed 2 of the homes we built. Everyone, but one family, has left that community.
Part of our prayer, everyday is for God to protect us from evil and for God to shine light into the darkness. We need both these powerful acts of God continually. These last two days has been a sober reminder of those realities. We are thankful that this community has been forced to face the reality of the evil that often stays hidden and that they made a choice to leave. We pray that the Lord would provide for them in the days, weeks and months to come. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray for the resolve to (re)build 9 homes over the course of the next couple of days in a different community and to be able to bless 9 families. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray that God would continue to deepen our love for Him, His purposes and the way in which He is coming against the present evil in this country. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray that God would rescue and redeem men, women and children in El Salvador, bringing them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Please join us in that prayer.
The paradox, as Steve and I talked about is this: how could we witness lives being changed by Jesus Christ, and the resultant praise and joy, in a country where such evil and violence exists. This much we know that God is at work here and we're privileged to be a part of it; in different ways - all of which is making a tangible Kingdom difference.
This paradox of God's grace in the midst of evil leads us to doxological praise, knowing that God's purposes will prevail. Please join us in this:
Aynsley and I also just wrapped up our debrief with our Shelter team tonight. It was more of a somber, reflective time, however, it ended in a resolve to continue what we're called to do and in united song of praise - the Doxology.
Why the somber mood: After the events of yesterday (See Aynsley's post below), we went back out to the community, prepared to build the 8 remaining houses. However, as we arrived that number had dwindled to 6. Why? The shooting we had heard yesterday, sent one man to the hospital (where he remains in serious condition). In fact, it turns out that we saw the gunman leaving on his motorcycle. The result of this activity - the families we were to build for have decided to leave the community. 6 new homes, dwindled to 3...which we built and then made a hasty exit. Later this afternoon, we sent a group of local people in, and they removed 2 of the homes we built. Everyone, but one family, has left that community.
Part of our prayer, everyday is for God to protect us from evil and for God to shine light into the darkness. We need both these powerful acts of God continually. These last two days has been a sober reminder of those realities. We are thankful that this community has been forced to face the reality of the evil that often stays hidden and that they made a choice to leave. We pray that the Lord would provide for them in the days, weeks and months to come. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray for the resolve to (re)build 9 homes over the course of the next couple of days in a different community and to be able to bless 9 families. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray that God would continue to deepen our love for Him, His purposes and the way in which He is coming against the present evil in this country. Please join us in that prayer.
We pray that God would rescue and redeem men, women and children in El Salvador, bringing them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Please join us in that prayer.
The paradox, as Steve and I talked about is this: how could we witness lives being changed by Jesus Christ, and the resultant praise and joy, in a country where such evil and violence exists. This much we know that God is at work here and we're privileged to be a part of it; in different ways - all of which is making a tangible Kingdom difference.
This paradox of God's grace in the midst of evil leads us to doxological praise, knowing that God's purposes will prevail. Please join us in this:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen."
Deve
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)