Broken Vessels: October 2013

We are in!!! Yes we have officially moved and are now (as much as we are able to be) settled into our new home! Although the wait was hard, we know and trust God that His timing is perfect! Being in the "waiting room" is difficult, mostly because it is the place you are least in control. It is a place I am most uncomfortable but a place I learn to depend upon the sufficiency of God's grace. I am recognizing that the amount of time it takes me to trust God in the "waiting room" is an indicator of my growth in grace. So anxious I can be for that "next step", it is easy to grow weary and lose heart. But God reminds me of James 1:4 to "let patience have her perfect work". Out of our four heart desires for a home, God met them all and more! Not to mention, it was the only home our entire family loved! It was definitely worth the wait!!!

We live in a gated community which means the only entrance is through a security station. The location is slightly out of the center city and close to school and the Mullinax family (other missionaries from the states). Our home has lots of natural light (instead of being so dark and dreary) which also helps with the electricity bill (extremely expensive). Lastly, a small backyard and community area where the kids can be kids! Some added perks are that most (not all) windows have screens (most homes have none) and hot water is available but not always working. So grateful for God's provision for our family and the blessing this wait in the "waiting room" has brought to us!

A Piece of My Heart

God is teaching me through this circumstance that patience (long-suffering) is more than putting up with something I may not be able to change (waiting); it entails having a Christ-like submission, living out a peace and a joy that only comes through utter dependence on Christ while in the "waiting room". Why? Because God is more concerned about what I do in the "waiting room" (how I reflect him, the depths of my trust, the sufficiency of His grace...spending time seeking Him) than he is my comfort. So patience can have her full effect or perfect result! In this case, yes, we were blessed with the perfect place to call home, but more importantly, God was concerned about my heart attitude, my ability to seek and trust Him by faith in the "waiting room" so that my faith may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. So many times I want patience, I want growth in Christ, but I am unwilling to endure the process of growing it. I am unwilling to suffer for a season in order to be perfected in Christ. If you are like me, I resist waiting. I resist interferences and inconveniences. I resist burdens, conflict, difficulties. I resist anything that threatens my will. But if I am going to allow patience to work, I must allow temptation. I must allow God to work his will - even at the expense of my own.

Losing all is difficult (laying down your will). But gaining Christ is greater. I would rather lose everything and gain Christ than to keep all and lose him. I would rather lose all and be made like him than keep all and remain who I am.

Let patience have her perfect work!

What We've Been Up To:

participated last month in the "Call to Prayer" held by John Stumbo, President of the C&MA, where over 300 sites from around the world connected online live asking God to intercede for the nations. It was a two-day prayer event filled with a powerful time of connecting with God.
started our spanish tutoring with two different tutors, homework and practice
getting settled into our new home and working on establishing a routine
an EMI (Engineering Ministries International) group came down from the states and spent three days surveying the potential land site for the Broken Ministry. By the end of the week, they produced a 4-phase plan including building plans! It was so exciting to see what the team has been dreaming of concretely on paper! The comprehensive evaluation of soil, water, and electricity results were challenging. At present, they are commending to look at other options to see if another piece of land can be obtained with similar advantages but less challenges. Also exploring a multi-campus approach by de-centralizing the various ministries.
new coffee development and packaging for Broken Ministry fundraising, observed the process from the sidelines until taste testing coffee with different kinds of roasts as well as voting on different packaging options
James has officially taken over the intern development/discipling position at Wired (Elijah, who originally holds that position has returned to the states with his wife for a 6 month fundraising/sharing the Broken Ministry vision with other churches)
James and I have participated in coaching with the Envision Wired staff on a weekly basis
Participating on a team to begin first steps in the possible development of a children's ministry.

Unique Experiences:

had our first fumigation at the Envision site before we moved out. We had to exit the building for one day due to the fumes. This is to get rid of all the cockroaches and other creatures that make their way in and become very pesty :)
sighting of two rats in the building until after the fumigation when a terrible stench in the shower area was noticed and after a few days, one of the furry creatures was laid to rest.
two cats entered the site from the roof upstairs during the night...a cat fight was heard and in the morning a squirrels tail was found in the hallway. The girls were the fortunate ones to find the surprise left behind.
experienced our first earthquake shaking felt from a 6.0 earthquake in Guatemala.
had our first Wisconsin visitor, Elmer Guevara, whose family we know from Appleton Alliance church. He is from El Salvador and was traveling down to visit family and offered to bring one of our suitcases we had to leave behind. Received some from surprises from friends back home! Thank you Elmer! Spent time catching up, gave him a tour of the site and introduced him to some of the staff. What a blessing and comfort it was to see a familiar face in person from home!
attended our first service from the Spanish Alliance church and reconnected with Pastor Carlos whom we met on our mission trip here last year.
attended our first bridal shower and El Salvadorian Christian wedding
James and Makai shared the Gospel with the worker next door to us who has just come back to El Salvador from the states...wife left him after getting involved in drugs. Makai gave him a wordless book bracelet and they explained its meaning! He wants to come to the church we go to on Sunday!
was invited to an El Salvadorian soccer game where some of the team didn't show up and James was recruited as goalie (in jeans and dress shoes)! Quite the cultural connection!
James and Makai had their first experience going to the doctor in El Salvador. Both suffered from bronchitis...respiratory diseases are common down here with lack of air quality and weather humidity and dampness.

Praise & Prayer:

Praise for God's provision of our new home and getting settled in!
Praise God for our faithful supporters who make all this possible!
Pray for safety and security of our family, our home, the kids school and ministry site
Protection from further illness (currently James is suffering from a parasite), good health and solid rest (lots of noises in the night)
Balance in schedule and stewardship of our time when everything seems a priority
Trust and acceptance of God's plan in and out of the "waiting room"
Teachable hearts to embrace God's work in redefining church/ministry as we know it, not to miss ministry opportunities God places right before us (more on the next blog post)
Pray for strength as we fight against oppression, a heaviness, battling spiritual warfare
Pray Envision Wired and the Alliance Church in San Salvador would produce much fruit and reach many for the sake of the gospel of Christ
Broken Ministry: clear direction/provision on the specific piece of land God has for the start of phase 1 of this ministry, successful fundraising efforts to be able to purchase the current building and begin taking in single mothers/children in need
Pray for the leading of God's hand if and when a church plant is in our future
Pray James and I would learn to understand and speak the Spanish language quickly
Pray our VISA process would go quickly and smoothly
Praise/Pray for the relationships being built on staff and in school
Pray for strong, godly friendships for the kids, a rock solid faith, the strength to endure when the battle gets tough
Skyler struggling with math - pray for perseverance and that she receives the extra help she needs
Pray for a unified spirit in our marriage, our family, in the ministry
God would minister to our hearts individually as we each grieve our friends and family back home differently