CREATIVITY AT WORK
from sketches to masterpieces
Trusting God with Every Step: A Survival Tip for the Servant of the Lord.
Our small country made international news this month. There was unrest in several areas of the country due to gang violence, particularly within the jails, in certain cities, and also (what made headlines) young men storming into a live news broadcast station with large guns. The president, thankfully, came down hard on the gang members and leaders calling them terrorists and implementing an internal armed conflict enabling him to use military force to neutralize them. Major stores and malls closed the day this happened and it seemed transportation came to a halt. Many people walked home.
I was at one of the malls at this time running an errand. I was one of those people having to walk home, thankfully a short distance. It was very sad to see so many people in fear and distress, understandably so. Yet for whatever reason, I felt an overwhelming wave of peace. I can’t explain it, nor can I say that I generated it myself.
I suppose that when we began this journey, living in Ecuador and giving up what had been normal and comfortable, we had to deal with many questions and feelings. I, for one, desired to know exactly how things would happen. I wanted to be assured that we would be ok. I did experience a level of understanding that God would be with us and that it would be awesome. And it is awesome! But I was never assured it would be easy and that nothing bad would ever happen. We are called to walk with our Shepherd and to listen to his voice each step of the way, trusting.
It seems crazy that the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians, in an uncertain time, in jail, and not knowing if he would be released said, (and here’s the tip for survival)
“For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
What else can you do? If you have followed Christ to the best of your abilities, wisdom, and understanding, you begin to leave certain things in His hands, like your life, your story, your future, and your family. Don’t get me wrong. I have to lay these down almost daily. I have to confess my faith and doubts often to the Lord. But you know what? When you are truly in a pickle and you have to navigate through that pickle, He is there providing peace and giving you the next step. Even if we start sinking in fear, He can pull us up.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Someone recently asked us if this is it for us in Ecuador. But the political climate has never been a deciding factor. Do governments of any country experience peace and tranquility at all times? Is there no violence in the United States? The Shepherd of our souls, the One who promised that if we have courage we can step into his promises, the One who has called us here - He is faithful to let us know when our work here is finished.
Until then, we will continue. We continue to work with kids in hard situations, we continue to work with women who have limited choices. We continue to look for communities where we can provide educational supplies. We continue to meet with teenagers who want to grow in their faith. We continue to follow our Shepherd. For now, I won’t go into the amazing details and miraculous ways that Christ has led us toward or away from certain situations. But what we can say is, that He is faithful.
A note on the situation here in Ecuador: The following day after the sudden shutdown, stores opened as normal, people came in and out of the country normally, and commuters continued commuting to and from work. It has been peaceful and slow. The government continues its fight against gang and drug activity with daily success. It’s important to note that not all of Ecuador experienced unrest. Ecuador is very small and so, while it may seem the whole country is in a state of unrest, it is only in certain areas, particularly the coast where drugs are smuggled to North America and Europe. However, many schools are still meeting online and most of the ministry outreaches we work with have decided to hit the pause button for a few weeks, as an extra precaution. This is very difficult for some people, kids especially, who rely on encouragement, a safe place to enjoy, and even the food that these outreaches regularly provide. (We have not seen our Carmen Bajo kids since before Christmas!)
In our house and our church, we have had more activity with young people coming to youth group, Bible study, or to see our kids - and just lingering and even spending the night. We are very grateful for this house that can accommodate guests and visitors on short notice. We are praying about how we can continue to host youth ages 16 to 20 on different occasions with meals and fellowship to build a Bible study group of that age.
We praise God:
Kayla found a new best friend, who is also here from Cobb County Georgia! God is so amazing to bless both girls with company.
Our oldest son Joshua was able to fix the car himself when it broke down. Who taught him that?? Only God.
Freedom was able to visit his mom in Puerto Rico and meet other believers and missionaries there.
Provision during a difficult time and provision for next year’s SmartBox events.
We are praying for:
Some paperwork to come quickly in the States for us to finalize Freedom’s permanent status here. We’ve had delays and he is currently on a limited time here so this is a big prayer request.
Our son Jonathan to be guided on his next steps as an adult as it pertains to work and study.
Our small group at home for young adults to begin and flourish.
That our artwork would become a source of income for our family.
Eager Expectation
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been meditating on two words, Eager Expectation. I noticed these two words when I was studying the book of 1 John.
“And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3
The words themselves produced such a deep longing in me that I probably took an audible inhalation when I first noticed them. Truth be told, I take very loud deep breaths. There’s a reason for that.
I suffered for many years trying to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and its effect on my body. My main complaint was, “I can’t breathe!” Many people would kindly encourage me to, “just breathe.” I can’t explain why I just would choke on my own breath. It went on and off like this for over 15 years.
The only thing that finally helped was talking. A circle of women committed to meeting together weekly for a time. It took 2 years. I called this group The Boo-Hoo Club because our main goal was to listen to each other's stories but there were always tears. And we all promised each other that we would just listen and care. We allowed emotions to come up and we gave them a name, a very important thing when you are healing. This was when I learned that phrases like, “I felt like they didn’t care,” aren’t feelings, but “I felt insignificant,” are.
It was a revelation. I discovered a little more about me, about these women. And as we uncovered caves of trapped emotions, we named them and let some light into them. Gave them a new name. It was a very creative process. We could begin to see ourselves and God’s hand more clearly. We were revealed to ourselves and to each other. I’ve heard it said that we are wounded in community and therefore must heal in community.
Here’s the context to that verse I shared:
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
It seems common to me that when you find these words, eager expectation in the Bible, it is referring to understanding more of who we are to him, and what he really is like. A deep revelation that all creation is waiting for.
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” Romans 8:19
During the Apostle Paul’s most trying times, while he was in prison awaiting a trial that might lead to death, he penned a letter to the believers in Philippi. Ironically, the book of Philippians is also known as “The Epistle of Joy.” This is what he had to say about it all:
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
So now also. How I wish I would have learned this sooner. There were days, anxiety sufferers know this, that I felt as though I was going to die just trying so hard to breathe. The simplest and essential of all human acts felt so hard for me. So also now. Even in the moments we are held prisoner. So. Also. Now. He is in that tough moment.
You can confidently trust him. He has a plan that death cannot destroy. You can handle those dark caves in your soul. Name them, let light in, and recreate them. Let God reveal to you who you truly are, what you really feel if you are honest, what makes you afraid and why, and that he wants you to belong deeply.
“As always…” There are things that will not change but only get better. Or at least will get resolved one day. And he will get the glory because he is good, kind, and trustworthy. I no longer struggle to breathe. At least not like I used to. The Lord, through The Boo-Hoo Club and art making, has truly helped me heal. I can spot an emotion trying to turn into a cave and stop it in its tracks. My advice to anyone who feels stuck in any way isn’t “just breathe.” My advice is, to let light shine on it.
Many blessings,
You can comment below or email your thoughts about this post to me directly here.
Living in a Violent World
As usual, we will be honest and vulnerable. I personally wanted to write something sooner but it took me a couple of weeks to get to a point of recovery. Earlier this month, while traveling throughout New York City, in broad day light, I was surprised by a very hard punch in the face. I wasn’t robbed, just assaulted. I fell backward in a sitting position and just thought to myself, “What just happened?” In a bit of shock, I squinted and watched to perpetrator vanish swiftly around the corner.
Shortly before that, I was praying with and for a close friend while sitting on a park bench. I don’t believe there was any connection but it goes to show that the enemy would love to disrupt things. As for my emotions, I wasn’t sure who I was more upset at, the young troubled man who struck me or the several people who just walked by without checking to see if I was okay.
In all honesty, for the last two weeks, I struggled more in my mind with thoughts of how, if given the chance, would’ve retaliated in anger even if in self-protection. I vividly and methodically imagined chasing the man and banging his head on a street pole, slamming him to the ground, and eventually breaking his fingers so he learns a lesson never to do that again. I know, right!? How could I think such a thing? Like I said, I struggled. But with the Lord’s help, I asked for His forgiveness and grace to forgive. Now almost fully recovered, I learned something very valuable. Justice has been met in me. Christ took on the assaults of the world so I don’t have to retaliate in the way I was taught to growing up in NYC. But more so my mind needed to be renewed. Besides, I’m very thankful this didn’t happen to one of my sons who were waiting for me a couple of blocks away. And, life continues. Although, I may need to get a scan of my upper jaw and brain to see if there is long-term damage.
On a Heavier Note
I don’t want to get into where I stand politically. That’s not why I’m posting on this issue. I only want to encourage us as Christ followers to pray earnestly for our very violent and hurting world. There’s no denying it. Wars and rumors of wars are an ongoing, unavoidable issue. We love God’s people and hate the violence that is happening—on both sides. Our hearts go out to all who are surrounded and engulfed in this ongoing war. We pray for peace, healing, restoration, reconciliation, and the revelation of Jesus Christ in the hearts of everyone directly effected in Gaza. During this heavy time we are remembering the words of our Savior:
Matthew 5:43-45
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Luke 6:27-28
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Lord help us.
The Substance of Hope is Christ
Time without courage, And time without fear, Is just wasted, wasted, wasted time.
-”Time” by Hootie and The Blowfish
It’s amazing how quickly things come and go. It seems like just yesterday Freedom and I sat down to plan for our time in the States. Four weeks this time. We found that five weeks was a bit too long to feel like a wanderer, even with much purpose and busyness.
We laid out the plan and it seemed as though we had meetings sprinkled every other day. These gatherings proved to be portals of love and comfort to us, given generously by Christ’s body on the earth - his people, our family. Even though we couldn’t see everyone, the people we did get to see, if but for a moment, made us feel less alone.
All the while, our main task was to help our son find a place to live so that he could go to school and work. It seemed a monumental task for him to relocate and be able to afford to live on his own. I’ll be honest right here and say my anxiety, which has been kept under control for almost a year this time, was through the roof! No matter the tea, supplement, prayers, or meditation; I just could not ease the tension. As though I was holding my breath for a month. Somehow, it seemed nearly impossible. The greater Atlanta map seemed humongous, and the scenarios where it might work seemed minute. We clung to the substance of hope, our faith in Christ.
How can hope have substance? How does it materialize into something we can hold onto? How can this hope help me open my wringed hands so I could confidently hold onto an anchor to my waves? We recount the faithfulness of God, for they are a foretaste of his promise fulfilled. We lean on the faith of our brethren, and we wait even through long watches of the night.
Hebrews 11:1 ~ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
A chance meeting?
In the midst of our search, which wasn’t going anywhere, Freedom noticed that his youth pastor from 25 years ago was now living in Georgia. He decided to meet him for coffee. What was a delightful get-together for catching up was coming to an end when the pastor asked Freedom what brought him to Georgia. When the pastor and his wife heard about the search, he remembered something. A friend of a friend was looking for a young person to rent a room nearby. Calls were made, and right there, in a matter of minutes a meeting was set up with a family looking to rent a room. They were looking for a female, but because of the way God put it together, they were willing to meet. The room came with utilities included, month to month rent, furniture, and a home church for good measure.
It seemed too good to be true, I couldn’t receive the peace yet, and I just knew something must be off. I was still tense and fearful and no other door had opened to even give us a choice. Then one night I awoke to hear the words:
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Here it is in the Message:
Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.
I realized that it was my fear that I was holding onto. I could finally accept this as a good and perfect gift. There was no curveball, nothing to trip on. God was simply taking care of what we could not.
So how’s it going? It’s great! Joshua is comfortable and safe, in a home of a believing family. He interviewed for a valet job and got hired right away. We could return to Ecuador knowing that we had done what we could and God took care of the rest. Thank you so much for your prayers and allowing us to lean on your faith when we grew weary.
Our Hearts Soared
My Head is Spinning!
Yes. Summertime! As your schedule might get a little more leisurely, ours ramps up.
We have been invited by several ministries to serve their communities -in Spanish and in English- through devotional workshops, collage debriefs, kids camps, intern discipleship, hosting, and women’s ministry painting.
And let me tell you, planning the first, second, and third for each project, not to mention supply acquisition, required no small amount of imagination and listmaking! But it was so worth it.
Our hearts soared after each session. And we thought, “this was the dream, was it not?”
We worked side by side, with each other, with the Lord and we expressed his vision, His precious Word integrated with visual art. Did we struggle to understand each other? Did we fuss when we were tired and juggling all the to-do’s? Did we need to spend some time away from each other just to get along? Did we go through a mini depression when our youngest son left to work in the States? Did we watch all the Rocky/Creed movies on our heaviest week, just to rest our brains from organizing each workshop? Yes. Yes we did.
But it was so worth it. This is the dream and vision from the Lord that developed with tid bits for twenty years. God was putting it together as we lived, talked, prayed, and journaled…
I love how the Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, said,
“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”
You know what? It’s so true. The people we serve, young or old, are the letters we’ve been journaling about for years. They are the incarnation of the calling we hoped for and waited for patiently. Lately as we prepare for a session, it’s as if the wind blows and I hear the words, “even if only one person shows up, that is enough.” And what I understand in an instant is, that one person is a deep well and a treasure, a miracle.
Before we moved here, what I dreaded the most were days when Freedom would say, “we should invite people over and cook something.” I feared, I worried, I didn’t think we had enough, were enough to “entertain” people. I compared my hosting abilities to my capable sisters who hosted and entertained without breaking a sweat, whose homes could be in magazines. My heart breaks for the missed opportunities, and the friendships I didn’t deepen because I didn’t think my hosting abilities or our house was enough. It’s funny to think about because hosting, I’m sure of it, is part of our calling. I think I get it now. You are hosting the presence of the Lord and inviting people into it. Wow! Isn’t Christ so precious?
Mindset moment.
But sometimes we have to host his presence in a dark place. I admit that as we prepared for our workshop with End Slavery Ecuador, a ministry that faithfully reaches out to women who are trapped in a life of prostitution, I was shaking in my boots. But you know what? When they arrived at the community center, they were so humble and thankful. Freedom practiced his Spanish and held a baby…he’s so good with the babies. The women painted pots as a sign of new life and I shared, “In the beginning God created,” (Gen 1:1) and “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1) It was a devotional about God creating with His Son and His Spirit, and His desire for the New Creation within us. It was the most peaceful, heartfelt workshop we’ve had.
Even though our heads are spinning with the busyness, our minds are blown by how open people are to receiving His word. We are all His letters, His masterpiece. Even you. Just you is enough for Him to show up.
How Are You, Really?
Recently, we attended a conference that was all about Third Culture Kids, TCKs. What is a TCK? It is a person that has been transplanted into a completely new culture during their formative years due to the parent’s choice or work. They may feel at home and not at home in this culture or that, and so have a unique perspective (and culture) that becomes part of their identity. We learned many things during this conference. Some things began to really come together for us, while other things we took note to be aware of. When it boils down to it, This cross-cultural life is great! …and it’s also painful.
In the book Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids, the author Lauren Wells describes this group of kids by using the Ampersand symbol (&). It’s so much fun and enriching to be in a whole new world & it’s also full of difficulty and grief that must be acknowledged.
When we were in the States a few months ago our family noticed that, while we were so excited to be back, we also felt very untethered. Indeed, we began to fray during our final days until we arrived back in Ecuador. It is a strange feeling not to really know where to feel at home.
Of course, I have had monumental moves in my life since the age of five, so I know the ropes. I know that it’s really lonely. I know that it is so hard to feel like you belong. Anywhere. That you have to find the things you love really quickly in order to stay encouraged. But along with the Hard, there is also the Joy when you find out that there is a new facet to your being, that you now have friends that are so amazing and you would never have met them unless you came to their culture.
I am writing today because I want to answer the question I’ve been asked often:
How are you really?
And it’s easy to see the romance and the passion of being sent to a country to serve and be a witness for Jesus. But in no way do I want anyone to feel as though we’ve arrived at some sort of Christian mountaintop. (I say this chuckling, knowing Quito is one of the highest capital cities in the world) It does feel great to be free to serve ministries, churches, and people without charge - bringing the blessing of time, energy, and resources with us. But I also want you to know the shadowy side of things. Not to glorify it, but so that you, our cloud of witnesses, will know us better and that we would mutually share the comfort from Christ that we receive no matter what our circumstances.
One of the hardest things for us as parents has been to see our kids begin to go slower than their peers in their adult development. This is because there is a shutdown and restart in how you do everything and in how you relate to people. Even our son, Joshua, who stayed in the States, had to restart after feeling a pile-up of emotions once he started University. So he took a step back. For almost two years. He had some dark nights last year when he would call me, a whole country away, and say “I don’t know why I am alive. I don’t believe I have a purpose.”
Our son Jonathan, who is graduating high school this year, has no plans to start college. He also has had to take a step back in order to process how he’s changed throughout his Ecuadorian life.
Our daughter Kayla took big steps back, hiding behind a mask, a hoodie, and a hat for most of last year. While we visited the States she made a few friends pretty quickly and laughed and giggled with one of her besties. In the entire year we have been in Ecuador, she has only made three friends.
Pretty hard stuff.
&
Our son Joshua has visited us twice and has discovered his love for Ecuadorian culture. He has served in the jungle (the rest of us haven’t even been to the jungle), has held children almost everywhere he has visited, and has enjoyed the challenge of trying to speak Spanish with new friends his age. Recently, after he spent several days serving with a short-term team he said, “If only I could do this all the time.” Everyone was amazed at how much Spanish he had learned and how he was able to translate for the Ecuadorians so they could communicate with those that spoke very little Spanish. He is visiting us now, but in the Fall, he will start tech college and he is very excited to study something he loves, motorsports.
Our son Jonathan has discovered his faith. He always believed since he was a child. But now he has experienced God picking him up, dusting him off, and LOVING him. He knows that some more traditional Christians may judge him for his earrings and his interesting fashion statements, and that makes him sad but the word of God is alive to him now. He has never had an easy time making friends, until Ecuador. He is well-connected, has friends his age, and he has adult mentors that he respects. All this was not something we could have imagined and we are so thankful. The hardest thing about being in Ecuador for him is not being able to get a job and make money or be able to drive. He dreams of having a motorcycle, which scares me to death. He says, “being in a big city is a dream come true.” It is very hard to keep him at home, he loves exploring the city with friends.
Our daughter Kayla regressed socially, but then matured really quickly as well. Most people don’t believe she is only 12. Her three friends are ages 15, 16, and 17. This is all very interesting to me. But these girls are great. Two are missionary kids and one is an Ecuadorian who loves similar things and speaks excellent Spanish and English. Not coincidentally, all the girls are artists. Kayla has begun to participate in the Teen Fellowship without needing to be next to me. She has caught herself having fun several times. She is mostly surrounded by English speakers but this is necessary right now as she adjusts. She says, “I would like to stay here for a long time, we can talk about moving back to the States when I am 15.” This is very good news for us.
How about Freedom and I? Well, we have very animated Monday meetings. This is when we plan for the week. Trying to work together has its challenges. Sometimes we don’t even understand the English we both speak to each other. But we also are falling into a groove where we know who’s job is who’s. We have always worked together in some form or another so we have had good training. When we go through hard times getting along, it feels especially lonely so it’s important for us to just keep serving each other. I don’t know how other couples reconcile but for us, it’s always serving. We serve each other sacrificially because that bears truth. Eventually, the emotions settle and we can really be there for each other again sometimes we reach out for prayer and include friends in our situation. For us, Jesus is our foundation but our marriage is the starting point to ministry. We simply cannot be about the Father’s business if we are not submitting to one another in our home.
And so it seems, that for Third Culture Kids it is supremely important to have a close and safe relationship with their parents. Of course, all kids and young adults need this. But when things are hard because God called you to a whole new place, there needs to be a special sensitivity surrounding their faith. A large percentage of them report feeling emotional neglect, perhaps because everyone is being stretched all at once. Spending the time to really hear them and simply being there for them during the tough stuff, is what creates a buffer for them and continually builds resilience. And so we have to make sure that we are continually available for this process.
Also, we are very glad that we made the sacrifice to bring our dog to Ecuador… and to get the cat we never would have allowed in the States. (I don’t have statistics, but I think pets are great therapists)
And there you have a very long answer to how we are doing in Ecuador, really.
The Power of Story is God's Glory
THE POWER OF CHRIST’S STORY
Each year we engage with the origin story of Jesus during the Christmas season and at the start of the year. We love to meditate on the preparations God the Father made for his son to be born. There were miracles, dreams, danger, and signs of glory as the Word of God became flesh. We don’t get tired of reading, retelling, and singing about the way the Messiah came into the world because it shines redemption into our own story. Ordinary and even offensive wooden instruments, a manger, and a cross were to become objects that our Savior needed to lean on at his welcome and departure; the cross in particular embedded itself into our own story.
THE NEED FOR HIS STORY TO BE INFUSED INTO OURS
What can be more important than story? For each one of us, our personal story becomes the most striking because whether or not we are aware of it, we carry our origins with us and it affects almost everything we say or do. Our past becomes the lens through which we reason in the present.
It often becomes necessary to retell our story with God in the midst of the hardest situations we have had to face. In fact, this can become our testimony and be the fuel that we need to let the ministry of God flow through us and touch the lives around us. Our crucibles can become vessels in which he transfigures us into shining mirrors of his character.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are *changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18
*The word “changed” means metamorphose in Greek and is the same as transfigured.
HE MAKES HIS WAY AND IT BECOMES OUR TESTIMONY
We need light sprinkled throughout our story as signs of God’s presence even in places that were once too dark. The affirmation of the Spirit guarantees that we have a right to this light. (Eph 1:14) The core belief that God is good, faithful, and trustworthy must replace the agreements we have made with fear and pain. We need the love of God, flowing like a river into our lives continually promising that we are not alone. Please read this verse slowly:
“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting.
‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves, and smooth the rough places.
The glory of the LORD will be revealed
And all the people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!”
Isaiah 40:3-5
Recently, I read this scripture and I saw it through the lens of healing, it completely changed how I viewed this process that we are in. It was no longer only pointing to Elijah, John the Baptist, the Coming of Christ; now it also includes me, it includes you.
I began to see that the rough, crooked, and high wildernesses and wastelands - the places of hurt and trauma are places the Lord wants to walk upon. This is not a call to perfection. It is a call to being known, seen, and loved; to be made whole. And it is your inheritance. (Eph 1:11)
OUR RESPONSE
Notice, God is not the one clearing, making, filling, straightening, and smoothing. It involves our engagement, agreement, and openness so that the King of glory may come in. We must declare:
“Open up, ancient gates! Open up ancient doors,
And let the King of glory enter. Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of heaven’s armies, He is the King of glory.”
Psalm 24: 7-10
If our faith is founded on this deep connection to God’s goodness, allowing him to engage with our story, then we have moved past the motions of religion and into an active and living reality, despite the brokenness in us. Our experiences begin to involve the Divine Nature and the temporal is not the sole informant of who we are. We can be filled with hope and with desire. We can begin to petition with joy, trust, and longing, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”
Grateful for your partnership,
We Thank God for You!
"Please don't make me host."
This was my usual plea whenever my husband wanted to have people over. I just didn't have the right mindset. I thought it was about the size of my house, or if it was pretty or clean. I was a utilitarian maximalist for some time, which really meant that I couldn't keep after all of us and our mess - creative, distracted, and messy people that we are. I only had useful hand-me-downs rather than unified decor - I was just embarrassed and fearful that guests would be uncomfortable and I would be exhausted trying to "entertain."
And then...
We gave most of our things away. I realized that the things we collected had meaning because they told a bit of our story and now they were gone. We arrived in Ecuador with eight suitcases, mostly clothes, and books. We had to bring books. We didn't even have the basic things for the kitchen and bathroom. But my grandmother wasn't done blessing me with loving gifts. We arrived just three weeks after she passed away. What sorrow to not be able to see her in person again, and yet, we inherited some of her possessions. It's the little things that make a home. And we were thankful for the cutlery and the tea towels, the linens, and the washing machine was received with so much joy and meaning. We lived in my grandparents’ small but efficient apartment for a year, and it was like we were hugged by them daily. What a privilege to care for their place!
Starting from practically zero was something that we did as newlyweds. It was hard but we saw the hand of the Lord through it all.
Now we have been given stewardship of a house that has all that we prayed for...space! We have studios for each of us, a family room, and a hosting room, a patio, a yard, a place for workshops, and a place to put our GOYA Smart Boxes together. It's old and rustic, it's quirky, there are things that don't always work, and sometimes the water doesn't heat up in the sinks. But we are so grateful. We have been here for about a month and we have already hosted several groups from teens to adults for ministry debriefs or creative book sessions.
We have celebrated a young missionary's birthday so she can process a huge milestone in her life. There was no way she could have done it in her tiny apartment. It went exactly as she hoped. We hosted friends who are at the forefront of a prayer movement in Ecuador so that they can be served instead of always serving. We have had open creative studio times and in the near future, we plan to have discipleship groups and Bible studies.
Here's what I learned. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be "you." Your unique home is interesting and a blessing. Most importantly, hosting is a ministry.
Even if you only have water or tea, what people need is someone to listen, to pray, to let them feel at rest, and at home. I am energized by the idea that each mug, throw, or chair is there to make room for Jesus.
We will have many outreach times where we go to homes, churches, or ministry sites, but this feels like "in-reach," where we are opening the door and each person is an honored guest.
This all began as you "adopted" us, welcomed us into your homes, listened to our story, and included us in your prayers. Thank you.
~Nancy Rodriguez
Who’s It For Anyway?
Who’s It For Anyway?
Recently I asked myself the question, “what am I doing, and who’s it for?” These are good questions for me because it causes me to test my heart and align myself with my higher calling. Lately I have also been reflecting on how I carry out the Great Commission. I know that my husband and I are “full time missionaries,” but we still have to reflect and make sure that we are fulfilling the heart of this calling and command.
What is The Great Commission?
These are some of Jesus' final words on earth. It’s amazing. He had two final word moments, when he died in weakness, and then as the Risen Lord who had fulfilled all he set out to do on earth. Ponder that for a moment!
Now here’s what he said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Those words carry so much weight since He has all authority, after all. And so here we are, left with a torch to carry and a command to live out. But this isn’t just for the full time missionary. We all have this special work to do in our own special way. And the great thing is - he is with us.
It means that we all have a sphere of influence that God’s spirit is highlighting for us. And we all can participate in many small ways.
Think about the words, “Go, therefore.”
These words can excite me and scare me to death! Please don’t think that we aren’t sometimes filled with nervous anxiety when we stand in front of people to lead a devotion, a workshop, or a mural. We are often so nervous, even when sharing with small children, hoping to speak the language in a way that reaches them. But he is with us, he is with us!
All Nations? But how?
The following verse reminds me of concentric circles, that is, circles that are inside bigger circles. They are either getting bigger or smaller, depending on how you look at it. Like a ripple effect, having a common center from which to radiate.
Jesus said,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
It tells us how and where to live out the Great Commission, but here’s the great thing, it starts from where you are. Be faithful in that circle. See if God’s Spirit takes you further and further, with Him as the center. For some of us, our circle may feel small. It may hardly feel like “all nations,” and “the ends of the earth.”
When I was a young mother, my circle was within the home on most days. It was challenging to see The Great Commission being fulfilled. For some of us, it may be a challenge just to step outside the house or even to volunteer to greet at church. But be faithful to love extravagantly and give generously, just like Jesus did. Who knows? You might find yourself on a short term missions team one day (wink, wink). It isn’t the size of the circle that counts but the center, very much like the planets orbiting the sun. He is your center center as you challenge yourself a little further to walk out this calling.
Praise and Prayer Requests:
We have space! We have space! Thank you for praying that we would find a bigger space to live, work, and minister. We have moved into a house that is well located and we each have our own studio. There are already interested groups who want to come to us for Bible studies, book clubs, and healing art sessions. We even have a dedicated space for our GOYA Smart Boxes.
Pray for continued financial provision to be able to run this space for creative programs, missionaries, and short term mission teams.
We are currently in the States (from September 21-Oct. 31) connecting and visiting with our sending church and partners. But it is a weird feeling of being home and yet away from home. Please pray for us to be encouraged through the ups and downs, the joy and the grief of returning and yet letting go. Pray for safe travels as we drive to Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida.
Community Art Mural
We are hosting a mini mission in Smyrna, Georgia with hopes of inspiring the youth to be involved in missions in the future. Please pray that we will have a successful time. Our task is to paint four mural panels in one day, benefitting a local public school. Hey, we did a 20ft x 40ft mural at La Roca Skate Ministry in two days, it can be done!
Financial Provision
We are so thankful to you who pray and give. We are a team! Pray that we would continue to have financial provision to live and serve in Ecuador. This upcoming year is already full of many opportunities for us to pour into and we get to do it freely. The work we see ahead of us is long term and we continue to depend on partners who believe in creative Gospel outreach.
Connect
Please reach out to us. If you are in Georgia or in Arkansas (or in any state in between) we would love to spend time with you, find strength in our mutual faith, and share with you about how you can partner with us. Email Freedom at freedom@artserveint.org
Nearly a Year in Review
Time went by so fast! In the beginning everything went so slowly as we had to learn to do daily life here in Ecuador. And yet here we are, wrapping up an entire year.
There have been countless answered prayers and hopes manifesting themselves before our eyes. How much the Lord has provided!
Our initial goals to find a home church, homeschool community, an accountability group, and ministry sites to pour into have all been realized. But even more, we have seen how God is using us alongside our children as well. We have set out to work with ministries bringing huge ideas (and a huge mural or two) and somehow we have known how to carry out our ministry initiatives. Indeed, there have been times when we just have a sense of wisdom and knowledge to do what is needed to lead.
It's impossible to have all the answers ahead of time. Things felt scary when so much was changing. But once we stepped out to follow our calling, we began to see so many things fall into place as if the way had long been prepared.
This is not to say that we haven't felt deep homesickness or that our kids didn't suffer loneliness as they adjusted. But I think we can all agree that this is only the beginning, and we are joyfully looking forward to what's next.
Here are some of the highlights from our first year:
What's next?
We can feel things ramping up already at the start of year two. We think it will look very different because now our attention is shifting to more regular work at ministry sites working with and alongside Ecuadorian leadership. Our ministry sites this year will include an indigenous church, a Christian community center, the women of Esperanzart, and La Roca (a skateboarding ministry).
We are also hoping to create and lead our own short-term teams as well. This will be a catalyst for connecting people and resources to continue the work of the Kingdom of God.
How It Works
Supporting ministry sites has become of great importance to us. Many times the calling of a pastor or youth worker comes at a great cost. In fact, many times you will see that pastors and ministry workers have to have several jobs in order to carry on their ministry.
When short-term and long-term missionaries begin to serve by building, providing for educational needs, or bringing resources the Ecuadorian leadership is able to reach more people in their communities. Not only do two cultures connect in fellowship, service, and discipleship, but the local leaders can begin to focus on the work of the ministry.
The fruit that happens over years blesses families and produces youth that begins to give back with hopes to also become youth leaders, missionaries, or pastors.
This paraclete effort of coming alongside others has become an identity marker for Art Serve. We see what ministries are already doing and find ways to support their communities in creative ways. We couldn't have done it without you!
Also coming up in September!
Were are gearing up and preparing for our GOYA Smart Box that will offer art & educational supplies for children in need. We are scheduled to distribute 60-70 on September 2nd and 3rd. Our only concern is that more kids will show up than we have boxes. In the remote Gualsaqui community, this can especially be the case as word of mouth can spread and bring people from other communities higher up in the mountains.
Consider one or more boxes or becoming a monthly sponsor.
Please pray:
We are still looking for a place that can provide us with enough space to host groups, create art, and prep for our various ministry projects. Pray for a great space, in a great location, that can fit within our limited budget.
Pray for our upcoming family events where we will be distributing the Smart Boxes. The local leaders will be identifying the families with the greatest needs and they hope to gather some new families to love and serve. The two places are the Christian Community Center of Carmen Bajo and the Quechua church in Gualsaqui.
And as always...
Thank You for your care, prayers, and financial support.
Freedom & Nancy Rodriguez