Sometimes we question if God loves us. But something profound happens when we reach beyond ourselves and choose to love someone else. In that moment of service we know and experience God’s powerful and intimate love for us. Striving to find love comes through showing love.
The families in the mentoring program have found connection and hope in their Saturday activities two times a month. These times together on Saturday are always at the end of a busy week dealing with the challenges of working, going to school, etc. but the families chose to come together for fellowship and fun. May God continue to bless these families.
Incarnational ministry is a fancy way of saying being present and in person. Joel Van Dyke and Kris Rocke break down Jesus as an example of being present. “If Jesus sends us as the Father sent him, exactly how did the Father send Jesus? The answer sings out from the beginning of the Gospel (of John), ‘And the word became flesh and lived among us’. God sent Jesus in the flesh, and that is how Jesus sends us – in the flesh.”
Dave Hillis writes this in his book, Playgrounds or Battlegrounds, “How we see and hope for our cities greatly affects how we behave in them, individually and collectively. We will argue that seeing our cities as God’s playgrounds, where we can see God’s redemptive Spirit already at work inviting us to join in and share our gifts, rather than as battlegrounds where divisions create rivalry and there is dissipation and discord, is the perspective required to bring us and our cities closer to God’s peace. That is, a place in which we see God as our friend, neighbors as co-laborers, resources as abundant, and mercy and grace available to all.”
In Popabaj, the eldest woman is know by all as Abuelita. “Little Grandma”. On a recent trip, we showed her a picture taken of her a few years ago. She was obviously entertained at the sight.
“Having a heart for the poor is easy. Having a mind for the poor is the challenge.”
-Michael Fairbanks-
The heart gives you the compassion to do something the mind secures the actions needed.
Yesterday in Guatemala our team brought all of the children and families from the tiny little village, Papa baj to the movies and for a happy meal. These kids have NEVER experienced anything like this. The area they live in is so remote and isolated. Praying their eyes, hearts and minds are wide open and that this inspires big dreams and possibilities.
