Forty weeks and counting

We have just concluded over forty weeks of Ministry Partnership. This simply means that Tony and I have been raising a team of prayer partners and financial supporters for the last ten months. The number forty has often been associated in the Bible as a time of testing and transformation. For example, Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days in the wilderness (Mark 1:13.) In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were led by God to the desert for forty years in order to test their hearts in light of his commands (Deuteronomy 8:2.) Although we have not been led to the desert or been subjected to relentless temptation by the Devil, we have learned many lessons in these past forty-two weeks.  Tony and I have undoubtedly felt tested and at times even transformed as a result of learning how to walk by faith since embarking on this new season of life.

Here are few lessons I’ve learned in the process:

1) Trust in the One who called you into missions.

Even though some have told us this is not the right financial climate to enter missionary service, we have learned that the Lord has been faithful in putting together a team of prayer and financial supporters in an amazing amount of time. If I lean on Jesus and don't rely on my wits and good intentions, I sense His peace and joy in my heart.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

2) When you have a bad day and doubt the call, count the many times the Lord has kept His promises.

There have been plenty of times where I have lacked confidence in stepping into a new role.  The task of leaving everything behind and setting foot in to the unknown can be a bit disconcerting.  It is in these times where I will go for a walk at a nearby park and think back to the many instances where the Lord has been there to sustain me in my times of weakness. Therefore, I press on because He alone provides me the strength.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

3) Give thanks to the Lord for the way the day turned out.

I have never felt so out of control and yet so at peace at the same time. This new reality has become a new way of life for me. There have been plenty of rejections, cancellations, postponements that would have sent me packing twenty years ago. It has been my experience that many of these negative experiences have turned out for the better. For instance, a canceled appointment opened a time slot that was filled by a pastor who wanted to hear our work. The pastor encouraged by our work with MAF, decided to have us meet the church’s missions board so we may be included in next year’s budget. This is not an every day occurrence but one that reminds me to give thanks to the Lord for He is clearly at work.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29

4)Seek balance and don't forget to smell the daisies.

Ministry life can be all consuming at times. Tony and I have often looked at each other and without a hesitation said across the room, “It’s time for a walk….” And so with that invitation, we’ll leave the pile of work and abandon the emails and go for a long walk around a city park. After strolling in the park and sharing with each other, we’ll then return to the work that was left unattended and realize the Lord was at work even when we are enjoying His creation and resting in His sovereign hand.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

These are only a few of the lessons I have learned along the way. Some of these lessons I had read about in missionary biographies but now they are personal accounts.  There are more lessons yet to be learned in this journey of faith.  Although the road can get weary at times, we are sustained by the prayers of God’s people. Tony and I are encouraged that we are not alone as we step out in faith.

As scripture often reminds us,  And I  pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18

-Laura

**As of this past weekend, we have met our ministry support goal set by MAF. We are thankful to the Lord for His promises. Tony and I are blessed to have such faithful partners. Praise His holy name !

Down memory lane (and pictures too)

The early years

     Thirty-seven years ago this spring, I arrived in LAX from Madrid, Spain. Anxiously waiting for our family were my abuelo and abuela who had emigrated from Cuba to the United States many years before our arrival to California. We were very fortunate to have grandparents waiting for us as we made the transition to learn a new language and call America our new home. The dreams of a better tomorrow were in everyone’s hearts as we envisioned a country full of opportunities as long as we'd worked hard and played by the rules.

     It should not have come to my surprise that while Tony and I began to prepare  for full-time missionary service in the early part of last year, my mother expressed her disappointment in our pursuit. It was over a phone call late in the evening where she reminded me why we came to the ‘land of milk and honey.”  Shortly after our phone conversation, I prayed and asked God to work in the heart of my mother. Our relationship was strained afterward. We stayed away from the topic of missions and any talks of MAF. My mom had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in this country like I did many years prior but asking her to give up the American Dream for her own daughter was something too difficult to imagine.

California Dreamin'

 
        When summer came and it was time to travel to Idaho and be accepted as a career missionary in Latin America, I continued to pray. “Lord, if this is truly your call, I ask that you may grant her your peace about our entrance into missions.”  There were no miraculous signs after we returned home and shared the news that we had given up our jobs as public school teachers to serve cross-culturally in missions. However, the Sunday before Labor Day, my mother addressed the “elephant in the room” and accepted our decision to serve in ministry after nearly twenty years spent in the field of education.

Even though my mom had decided she had no choice in the matter, I sensed I had to lean on the Lord for the months that would be filled with questions and discussions. And so I prayed….and prayed that would orchestrate His will in all our lives.

...but the greatest of these is love

As the days on the calendar always reminds us; time never stands still. Last weekend, we celebrated Easter with my parents and we reminisced over lunch many wonderful memories. I was thankful to God for the gift of a simple meal shared with loved ones around the table. But what was more special was the voice mail message my mother left on the answering machine when I got home. “Laura, I want to tell you how much I admire your courage and love for the Lord. I don’t want to be a burden as you leave and prepare for something the Lord has called you to do. I love you and you have my blessings.” My heart swelled up with gladness in awe of what God had accomplished in over 12 months. I don’t seek self-adulation in anything that has transpired; I can only stand back and watch the wonders that God performs as He asks us to, “…walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthinas 5:7

-Laura

Jehovah Jirah - I am the Lord who provides

Every once in a while, you are granted a sneak peak into the future. Such an occasion occurred to us this week.
Not long after Tony and I began praying several months ago about where we would live in Idaho did the Lord answer our prayer in a most unexpected way. Although our time in the Treasure Valley would be transitional as we make our way to our field assignment of San Jose, Costa Rica, it’s still nerve wracking as the uncertainty and the unpredictability of moving across states can drive anyone to their knees.
It was in a phone conversation with our MAF-Ministry Partnership coach, where the subject of housing came up. “So, have you guys looked into what area you’d like to move to when you come up north?” inquired our beloved coach. “Well, we have been looking at a couple of apartments on the web and we’re just not sure,” I replied. As the conversation progressed, she mentioned the name of a MAF family who lives less than five miles away from MAF-US headquarters. This particular family who we met during candidacy last summer is getting ready to head back to Africa in the summer. On the morning of our phone call, they had mentioned their desire to rent their home to another MAF family to our MP coach. It was within minutes, that Tony and I looked at each other and realized the Lord had answered our prayer. Even though we didn’t know all the particulars about the house, we began to sense the Lord had provided a place for us to live upon completing our season of deputation.
As a result of the answered prayer, we made the long drive on Monday to house sit in what may become our new residence. The timing couldn’t be better. While the family is outside the US, we have the pleasure to stay in the home and “play house.”  It’s a blessing beyond compare. The Lord has once again showed us that He knows our every need and is more than able to supply it. Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Upon reading and memorizing this inspiring verse, I praise God for increasing our faith as we continue to place our trust in Him.

- Laura

The Pastors Behind the Numbers

Quechuan pastor in South America

 If you have heard one of our ministry presentations, you have probably heard Laura and I speak about the percentage of remote and isolated pastors that do not return to their homeland if they are sent to far away seminaries or bible colleges to receive pastoral training. The numbers are astounding, 80%-90% of rural and remote pastors do not return to their homeland to pastor churches after receiving training in another country.  The reasons are many and varied. Better quality of life, safety, and security issues are some of the most common reasons why these isolated and remote pastors stay in their new country.  

Pastor in rural Mexico

Guatemalan church

In the many months that Laura and I have been building up our prayer and support team, we have mentioned this statistic more times than we can remember. At some point over the past few months, 80%-90% became just something that ‘was part of our presentation”. This remained true until last week when we met with a pastor who is also an administrator at an all Hispanic bible seminary in the Los Angeles area. The seminary trains and equips Spanish speaking pastor for church leadership. Many of these pastor come from Latin America to receive their pastoral training. After a wonderful conversation with him in his office, we asked the pastor what percent of his 22 seminary students would be going back to Latin America to pastor churches. He paused for a moment and answered....none, 0%. At that moment, 80%-90% became very real to us. 

As we made our presentation, the faces of these future Hispanic church leaders looked back at us, very focused and attentive to what we were sharing about MAF Learning Technologies. We explained how MAF-LT provides equipping and training to remote pastors who have little to no biblical training by taking the training to them in the places where they live and pastor. After the presentation, one student felt so convicted about returning to Latin America that he decided that he needed to ask God what God wanted for him instead of him asking God what he wanted for himself. 

As the night came to an end, the seminary staff fed us a traditional Mexican tostada meal and it gave us an opportunity to speak further with the men. It was a special night for Laura and I because the Lord revealed to us, through this seminary, how great the need is for pastoral training in Latin America. On this night, 80%-90% was no longer just a statistic in our presentation. It represented real pastors behind the numbers. 

Tony

Can I Get A Witness?

Sister Loretta and Tony

A wonderful surprise during this time of deputation has been visiting a wide range of churches. I am blessed to be able to spend this season of my life visiting different congregations and enjoying a myriad of styles of worship on Sunday mornings.

A recent visit to our first African American supporting church made our family feel like we had arrived in heaven. Pastor M.L. Carter Jr. is the senior pastor of Holy Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, California and his lovely wife, Donnie, along with the rest of the joyful congregation sang with passion and reverence unlike anything I had ever seen. Their love for the Lord was evident as they greeted one another with ample hugs and kisses. Young and old folks clapped and lifted their voices as the organ played old hymns and spirituals. As we took our place in the pew before the 11:00 service began, we unknowingly sat next to Sister Loretta, the spiritual mother of the 41 year old church. Sister Loretta is nearly 80 years old but her ability to confirm the pastor’s message with an “Amen” or “Praise the Lord” could be heard from one end of the pew to another. Reverend Carter’s message from Matthew 28:18-20 challenged the members to boldly share the Gospel because Jesus would never leave them nor forsake them. As the minister sighted the scripture of the last verse of the book of Matthew, he turned to the choir behind him and asked,“Can I get a witness?”  The members of the brightly robed choir all replied, “Oh, yes!” And with that reply, I realized how delightful it was to watch Pastor Carter stand in the pulpit and receive an affirmation to the unrelenting challenge to “Go and make disciples of all nations….”

My prayer that is that I may I learn from the members of Holy Missionary Baptist Church in their demonstrative love for God and for each other. 

-Laura 

It's All About People

 One of the things I was told by fellow MAF missionaries after concluding our training last summer at US headquarters (Nampa, Idaho) was the amount of opportunities that would present themselves to minister and counsel with people. I must confess that I really did not understand what my colleagues were referring to… until now.

With the various times we’ve had to present and discuss our work, there have been even more times to listen and care for people. I have begun to understand that full time ministry even while on deputation is a life revolved around people. It has been eye opening to realize that no matter what your gender, social or marital status is, we all face daily challenges that are painful and at times debilitating. It has been during those times when a friend will call or meet with me at a coffee shop that I feel most inept and powerless in offering any meaningful advice. All I do is listen and come to the conclusion that the most important thing is to offer a listening ear to my dear friend. Life’s burdens are meant to be shared with others. Scripture reminds us, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ- Galatians 6:2.

Little did I know when I ceased being a public school teacher that the Lord would be using this season of my life to be a friend who ministers even when I sense I don’t have life’s answers.

A friend of many years called to confide about a struggle they were experiencing. I was thankful to be there because I was no longer bound by a work schedule that would forbid me to meet and pray with my friend. When we concluded our time together, I asked her to pray for me. She prayed that the Lord would give me the strength to persevere during this season of support raising and that our family’s faith would grow as He provides our every need.

In the following verse of Galatians, the Bible also goes on to say: If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.-Galatians 6:3. Therefore, as I listen and learn to put people above a to-do list, I experience grace from God AND from others.

-Laura

Simply the Story Workshop - Feb 2010

Regina & I

One year ago this month, I flew to Idaho to be part of a Simply The Story story-telling workshop with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF.) The workshop was sponsored by CATCH ministry and held at Castle Hills Church of the Nazarene in Boise. The intent of the workshop was to teach the Nepalese Christian community how to lead interactive discussions on Bible passages as participants grasp truths and apply them to their daily living.

 The workshop was conducted by MAF’s orality specialist, Regina Manley and her team of volunteers. It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by men and women of faith who spoke Nepali and who through a translator where able to discuss the parables of Jesus by discovering the spiritual treasures and personal applications within the different stories.

CATCH & Nepalese Christians

As I participated in the three-day practitioner workshop, I realized what a blessing it was to see the parable of the Good Samaritan apply to any culture. More than thirty people gathered in circles of 5 people per group and listened to the twelve verses carefully. It was followed by the practitioner acting out the role of the priest, the Levite and by the Samaritan according to Luke 10:25-37. Next came the questions and the discussion that make this oral inductive bible study an incredible way to impact those who participate. At the end of the session, I was not only able to memorize the parable verse by verse but most importantly, appreciate the timeless story as my new Nepalese friend and I found the Good Samaritan still relevant in our daily lives.

Group Discussion

Although I was not an MAF missionary when I participated in the eighteen hour training session, I was beginning to sense that this was an area the Lord was preparing me for. The thought that I would be sharing the Word of God with people from different ethnic groups was a dream that I had had for many years. As a result of attending this captivating workshop, I began to ask God in my prayers to make a way for me to share His ageless stories with people groups from diverse places in the world. Since then, the Lord has answered my prayer and beginning this summer, I will have an opportunity to work with Regina Manley and the outstanding MAF-Learning Technologies team. -  Laura