A glimpse into Language Learning

This has been a tough subject for me. Honestly it has seemed too hard, and I hate the thought of failing at something. Most of you also know where I am aiming for long-term service, and those people speak a language far from spanish, well, most of them. So, because Mexico is not the goal country, initially, I was kind of thinking and planning that I wouldn't really need to learn Spanish. I thought I would just be able to get by with the basic phrases and questions. Then just encourage through translators. I also didn't really think I would have the opportunity to learn. 

Then I went to the village of ML for 3 days and realized I didn't want to just get by at all! I realized the opportunity of peoples set before me, and I want to be able to talk through scriptures communicating with my heart to these women in their heart language. They need fellowship and discipleship, and to really be able to do that well I need to try and learn as much Spanish as possible! It is an urgent matter.

Thankfully The Lord gave me the blessing of a tutor for 1.5 hours today. A sweet girl I met at church told me she could come help me yesterday. I'm sure you have all been praying because He has also given me another for Saturday. He truly provides what we need to fulfill His purposes for us. He must know that I can learn. However, we all know that it will only be through His provisions. 

Village ML

Village ML

Imagine being in a small fishing village of about 120 people, and 3 members of your family being the only believers. There is no other fellowship with the body, and no church to attend to worship the one and only true God, no community groups, no worship times, and no Bible studies. The believers were so excited to see us when we arrived in ML after having a long absence of fellowship over the summer. They were so excited to sit down with us and be taught from the scriptures. Two of our guys shared with them. The first night they shared from Hebrews 12 about running the race, and the second night from 2 Corinthians 3 about the freedom in looking to Jesus constantly in every area of our life. You must know the only way to run the race and finish it is to look to Jesus! Below are the Scriptures we walked through with them. May they encourage your souls as they did ours. 

Hebrews 12

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

2Corinthians 3

12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16But when one^c turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord^d is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,^e are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

A glimpse into Team Dynamics

This week we talked through the important concepts of team dynamics. We also did some practical exercises by reading some shocking real life cases from the field. We learned a lot about effective and ineffective communication. I have about 25 pages of notes, and it is all so important! Team dynamics are extremely important concepts, and can be detrimental to those committed to long-term service. The attrition rate is high right now, and team conflict is often an issue that sends people home. Please pray for missionaries across the world! Pray for protection, understanding among teammates, and for strength to endure for the Glory of God. 

A Glimpse of Training in 1 Thessalonians

Over the past week. We have walked verse by verse through the book of 1st Thessalonians. Have you ever really spent a lot of time in this book? Well, I had not, but now I want to spend time in it more and more. It is truly rich with deep truths of encouragement for the souls of those who believe, especially if in the midst of affliction. 

On the first day we were taught a lot of fancy Bible words that I don’t really know yet. They did say that the words were not important only the concepts. Which I do think I kind of understand, but have in no way have I mastered. They we will talking through them more as the weeks continue. So, that is good. Then we read through Acts. On Tuesday we read through 1 Thessalonians about 8 times in several different ways including praying, and then we were given our assigned text.We had Wednesday morning to prepare. Wednesday afternoon the Expositions began. It was very humbling to have the privilege of teaching through 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for about 10-15 minutes. It was most exciting to hear the second year trainees share with such heart and soul, as well as, expositional skill. I am thrilled to get to grow in learning how to expositionally communicate the truth to unreached peoples. 

Here is a glimpse of what I learned.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This passage repeats the concepts of those who have fallen asleep, because the 1st Thessalonians church is suffering great affliction and persecution, and fellow brothers and sisters in the faith were dying. In America we don’t get much of this, but just imagine. As you meet to worship with your local body of believers each week more and more faces are missing because of death from persecution. We understand grief and loss of loved ones, but not near to the same capacity of what happens in the midst of persecution. A lot of the church across the world really experiences this, yet we can barely relate to it. Much less think about it, and connect to it. However, it is a huge characteristic for many faith communities. So, Paul leaves the Thessalonians with the greatest moment that will ever come to them. He shares with them the great Hope. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then later a huge promise. 

SO WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. 

And that is the greatest place.. Being with the Lord. We are with Him now! As a believer you can seek the Lord, and He is there. One day you will be with the Lord in perfect peace, communication, and harmony. Until then continue to connect and 

be with the Lord.