Watch, Pray, Act, Give: Teen Challenge Mexico City

Watch: Three Teen Challenge residents share their testimony in this video. Although it is all in Spanish even if you don't speak the language I think you can understand their story as they share through art. Enjoy and please pray for Teen Challenge Mexico City/Reto a la Juventud and its directors Gamaliel and Alejandra.

Pray: Blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen. (BCP)

Act: “This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Isaiah 58.6-7

Give: Every heartfelt gift or monthly commitment (no matter the amount) brings us closer to our return to Mexico City (and we are very close). Thank you for your support.

A Missionary Monday Confession

I am a dork.

More specifically, I am a forgetful dork.

I consistently forget to take pictures at the churches we visit almost every week. So then I spend Monday morning searching Facebook to "borrow" a couple of  photos to share with you. 

My secret is out. My burden feels lighter.

Let's move on.

Today's photos are courtesy of Cindy Smith, part of the dynamic duo of Pastor Dick and Cindy Smith (pictured below) at Shiloh Assembly of God in Hymera, IN. 

And here is the rest of the crew that call Shiloh Assembly home.

Thank you Pastor Dick, Cindy, and Shiloh Assembly for your kind invitation to come and preach. For your gracious hospitality and lively conversation at lunch. And for your prayerful and financial support.

We were blessed to be with you.

Every heartfelt gift or monthly commitment (no matter the amount) brings us closer to our return to Mexico City (and we are very close). Thank you!

The Practice of Giving Up (and leaning in to God)

“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.” Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

Many of the spiritual disciplines I practice today, I learned as a child. For example, every year during the 40 days before Easter, my family and I fasted. But as kids, we didn't call it fasting, we called it “giving up something for Lent.” And while we may have given up simple pleasures like candy or gum, it still afforded us the opportunity to identify with Jesus and his time in the wilderness.

However, long before Jesus entered the desert, the Lord has been teaching his people about fasting. The people of Isaiah’s day also fasted and anticipated God’s appropriate response to their self-denial. Yet, the Lord seemed ambivalent and inattentive to their actions: “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?” Isaiah 58.3a

Contrary to their belief, though, God had noticed their displays, he just wasn't impressed by them: “On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers ... your fasting ends in quarreling and strife ... is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?” Isaiah 58.3b-4 

Fortunately, the Lord set his people straight about what he expected: “This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Isaiah 58.6-7

When we humble ourselves in a fast dedicated to the Lord, we not only recognize our utter dependence on God, it also enables us to empathize with those who are suffering. As we do so, our softened hearts will desire justice for the mistreated and prompt us to act on their behalf. This idea however, is not unique to the Old Testament but manifests itself in the life and ministry of Jesus.

After his 40 day fast, Jesus left the wilderness, entered the synagogue and declared, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.” Luke 4.18.19

The older I get, the more I realize, fasting is a more profound and complex practice than I ever imagined. Fasting opens my eyes to see God and the people around me from his perspective. It allows me to identify with the suffering of Jesus and with the marginalized. Fasting revitalizes my faith and inspires me to connect it to my works. 

Stuart and I will be “giving up something for Lent” this year and we encourage you to join us. We trust that as Jesus prepared for ministry by entering into an intense season of prayer and fasting, so likewise God will prepare us for ministry in Mexico City. Please pray that we raise the last 10% of our financial budget by Easter so that we will be sent to proclaim release to the captives of drug addiction and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade.

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Every heartfelt gift or monthly commitment (no matter the amount) brings us closer to our return to Mexico City. Thank you!

An Epic Valentine's Day at Area 51

We had a service scheduled on Sunday in French Lick, IN at Living Waters Assemblies of God. So on Saturday, we headed out to enjoy a Valentine's Day lunch in Nashville, IN before stopping at our final destination for the evening.

About an hour and fifteen minutes into our drive I asked Stuart to stop at the next rest area. The place was all abuzz about an accident that just occurred minutes before. High winds caused white-out conditions and a thirty car pile up just a few miles south of where we stopped. Truckers kept us apprised of the situation and told us it would be hours before authorities could clear up all the vehicles.

Well, they weren't exaggerating. We spent 5 hours at the Gaston, IN rest stop (officially known as Rest Area 51) before making our unconventional escape. (I'll tell you about it sometime when the statute of limitations runs out.)

The hours slowly drifted by as our stomachs grumbled with the lost hope of having a Valentine lunch in a romantic spot. However, a stranded trucker took pity on all of us and brought in his own stash of apples, oranges, and water. (Much better than vending machine food!) Thank you, kind sir, for your generosity.

Pastor Patty Rottet, since we couldn't make it to French Lick, here's a special greeting for Living Waters Assembly of God.



As you can see, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes of making a video. Between our giggling camera operator, and the dog and cat trying to get in on the act, it's a wonder we can get anything done!

Hope your Valentine's Day was as epic and memorable as ours :)

Your one-time gift or monthly commitment to help us proclaim freedom to the captive of drug addiction and set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade is much appreciated.

We interrupt this program ...

Because of a little scheduling mishap, we remained in town this weekend. So we did what we normally do, we joined our home church on Saturday evening for worship and then chose a different place of worship on Sunday morning.

We've had a few opportunities to share fellowship with a variety of churches this year: Alliance, United Methodist, Missionary, and yesterday an Episcopal church. 

As many of you already know, I grew up in the Episcopal church, specifically St Peter's Episcopal Church in Hamden, CT. So I felt quite at home at St Alban's Episcopal surrounded by the stained glass, the acolytes, the familiar liturgy, and the common cup. Yesterday also happened to be a special day because it was Confirmation Sunday. Therefore, Stuart was able to witness the same ceremony I participated in as a 12 year old.

Yep, there I am in my cousin Tracy's First Communion dress for my Confirmation ceremony.

Bishop Ed Little preached a great message from the Gospel of Mark (1.29-39). Three simple points concerning the priorities of Jesus: People, Prayer, and Practice. After the service, both Stuart and I remarked on a particular comment the Bishop made during his first point - how often we think the interruptions in our lives are nuisances when in reality they may be God's way of reminding us of what is truly important. Jesus was often interrupted (in prayer and ministry), yet he never neglected the people who were his priority. 

Stuart mentioned that this is something we need to remind teams on short-term missions trips. It's not about getting as much done as possible, it's about making people our priority. It's about building community. If you've ever been on a short-term missions trip, you know they can be plagued with interruptions. But interruptions can be God-given opportunities to make time for what is really important - people.

My take-away from the sermon had more to do with our life right now. As missionaries, coming back to the States for itineration can seem like a very inconvenient interruption. Itineration interrupts our life, our ministry, our family, and the relationships we've formed over the years. But this interruption has also allowed us to connect with some really great people and proclaim a message of hope and compassion as well as our shared responsibility in the great commission. 

So by all means, feel free to interrupt our day with a prayer request, praise report, or offering to our ministry :) Let's make a difference together to proclaim release to the captives of drug addiction and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade! 

Thank you for your one-time offering or monthly commitment.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

A Super Sunday in Granite City

Pastor Rich and Laura Smallie of Granite City First Assembly were missionaries in Curacao when we first met. In fact, Rich brought a super team of college students and colleagues from Curacao to our children's home in Jamaica. 

 But yesterday, we had the chance to enjoy ministry, fellowship, and some super St Louis pizza after service. 

Super-Pastor Stacey Wilson raised awareness about human trafficking and encouraged team GCFirst to partner with F.R.E.E. International at their Game Day celebration. Pastor Stacey is also headed to Guatemala for a short term missions trip hosted by Assemblies of God missionaries Karla and Paul Weis. I'm sure she would appreciate your prayers!

Since the weather turned super bad yesterday, we only traveled as far as Indianapolis, but it gave us a chance to hunker down and watch a super game ;)

Know what else would be super? If you would partner with us to proclaim release to the captives of drug addiction and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade. 

Please help us raise the last 10% of our budget with your super one-time offering or even more super monthly commitment.