What I Didn't Know I Needed

The other day I had an epiphany.  A moment in time where I realize there was a deep need in my life that was being filled that I had no idea needed to be filled before that exact moment.  Something I didn't know I needed.

Let me back up and state the obvious.  If you KNOW me, you know I HATE asking for help, HATE feeling like I am inconveniencing someone, and HATE feeling like someone has taken on something that I should be responsible for.  Yeah yeah, sounds like pride to me, too.

That being said, our teammates and our situation sometimes give us no choice but to rely on one another and live life in community in a way I can honestly say I have never experienced.  It's humbling and beautiful.  It's a picture of the body of Christ functioning the way I believe He intended it to function.  I didn't know I needed a life lived together.

It's a steep learning curve.  Learning to ask for help.  Learning to accept help when it's offered. Learning to offer help and invite people in. Learning to be vulnerable and show your faults.
Learning to love and show grace to others regardless of theirs.  Learning to truly live together in a true sense of community.  Not always easy but so necessary.  So necessary I didn't know I needed it until it was being fulfilled by my brothers and sisters in Christ whom I also call my teammates.

Who do you live life with?  Christ died so that we may one day live with Him again in Heaven.  I feel blessed that I already have a taste of that here on earth now!  

“God has prepared for Himself one great song of praise throughout eternity, and those who enter the community of God join in this song. It is the song that the “morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” at the creation of the world. (Job 38:7). It is the victory song of the children of Israel after passing through the Red Sea, the Magnificat of Mary after the annunciation, the song of Paul and Silas in the night of prison, the song of the singers on the sea of glass after their rescue, the “song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:3) It is the song of the heavenly fellowship.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

Global Church Advancement

For the week of January 27 through January 31st, Adam will be in Orlando, Florida for the Global Church Advancement Conference.  The week is spent attending workshops and seminars to train up church leaders from multiple organizations and denominations in church planting.  The goal is to learn how to start, grow, and multiply Gospel-centered churches.  Since our role as missionaries with Mission to the World is to be church planters, this is the perfect conference for Adam to attend.  

For a quick (3 minute) peek at last year's conference, click here.  

The GCA training curriculum is characterized by being:

1.  Biblically-Sound (integration of biblical and theological truth into practical training)

2.  Missiologically-Contextualized to the focused culture (one size does not fit all)

3.  Educationally-Effective (adult learner-centered VS teacher(ing)-centered methods)

4.  Competency-Based (training based on knowledge, skill and character competencies)

5.  Character-Focused (primacy of developing character over mere knowledge & skills)

6.  Outcome-Based (training accountability through objectively measurable results

From http://www.gca.cc/

Building Site

Since mid-December, we have held three mobile medical clinics in a tiny 150 square foot, single room, kindergarten schoolhouse in Las Delicias.  This building and surrounding area have been offered by the people of the community for use by our ministry.  The Honduran school year starts in February, so our use of the building will end soon.

The one room kindergarten

With the help and knowledge of our teammate, John Clow, or as we call him "the construction guy," plans are underway for a possible covered area beside the kindergarten for community and ministry purposes.  Here we will be able to conduct future clinics, ESL classes, kids club, Bible Studies, and church services.

We are currently looking at estimates of the cost of supplies as well as meeting with the "patronato" (think city council) of Las Delicias in order to take the next steps correctly and with their blessing.  The people of Las Delicias have expressed their desire for this area to be well used!

John doing what he does best: Measuring. Planning. Building.

A bigger glance of the area

Nice to Meet You

Or as we say, "¡Mucho gusto!"

We are settling into our days here in La Ceiba, Honduras and finding our rhythm with the tasks of daily life, starting a new ministry and making our new house a home.  We are more than thrilled that the Lord lead us to work in the community of Las Delicias and we are enjoying the time we are spending there. We have hosted three clinics, played multiple games of soccer, hung out with women at the river as they wash clothes and dishes, and been invited into homes for coffee and conversation.

We are motivated to build relationships and share the love of Christ.  That is our focus every day we are in Las Delicias.  We won't lie.  Being immersed in a culture and a language that isn't our own creates some awkward moments but we love the people and we love how the Lord uses our inabilities and imperfect Spanish to make Himself known.

Pray for our time in Las Delicias and that there would be community!

 Adam doing intake at the mobile clinic (held in a small building that serves as a Kindergarten classroom)

Michelle explaining dosages and the purpose behind medications

Asher being swooned over

We've discerningly been sharing these Manna Packs with the neediest in Las Delicias 

(read more here about a whole TON of food being donated)

Some of the beautiful faces we are hanging out with

Some kids washing themselves, dishes, shoes and collecting containers of water in the river

Adam making friends through soccer

Asher hanging with Mom by the river talking to some kids and women.

His sweet face shows the joy we all have when we are there making new friends!