reflections on mexico 2007
Third on my list after I got home today was to write out my thoughts about this trip, before reading my emails and catching up with friends. This is not to say that I would rather avoid them, but I feel it is necessary in order to clearly express my raw impressions, without the "buffer" (for lack of a better word) of my current realities. So I will try to make this quick so that I can talk to some people I haven't seen in a while.
The trip this year was wonderful, memorable, and most definitely final. I enjoyed my time, grew in my relationships with many people, and experienced the power of God as He continues to grow and bless the ministry at Rancho De Sus Niños. But while God was showing me His power, His ability to reach through the bleakest of circumstances, and His faithfulness to even those who lack faith (*cough cough*me*cough cough*), I strongly felt that I would not be returning. God has shown me great things in Mexico, and I believe that he will continue to do so elsewhere.
There were discouraging things about this trip that contributed to my feelings of conclusiveness. For one, we do the same thing every year--that is, we have the same effect when it comes to evangelism, which I would compare to the effectiveness of a door-to-door salesman advertising something one has little interest in. This comparison, however, may not be adequate, as even door-to-door salesmen share the same culture with their victims. To be certain, a Spanish-speaking salesman with an extremely limited knowledge of the English language (i.e. A few basic phrases) would be far less impacting than a salesman who speaks English natively and can actually articulate the product in a more personal, relevant sense.
This year, and in previous years, we have walked through the neighborhoods surrounding churches (often exploring far beyond the vicinity of the building), knowing nothing of the people who live there, or even the direction we are headed. While some might point out that I am a native Spanish speaker, I cannot be expected to personally and culturally bond with those we encounter as we attempt to invite them to church. For one thing, few people had any knowledge of what was on the waivers that were handed out. No one knew how to give directions to the actual church building, and often the directions on the waiver were vague and inadequate. One man, after receiving the invitation from me, asked me where said building was located (with sort of a joking air, which I sensed). He knew that we had no idea, and I was honest with him. "I don't know, it's somewhere in that direction," I said. "Then why are they sending you out if you don't even know where the place is?" [This exchange was in Spanish, of course]. All I could do was laugh politely and shrug, and encourage him to look at the directions and bring his whole family.
The impersonal "Hola", handing them the invitation, and "Adios" were not very convincing, and I could never imagine being enticed to come to any church service that was advertised in such a way. Most of the church attendees were regulars, and those who hadn't been previously were there because they were brought BY the regulars. And praise God for that! Building on relationships with people is the best way to evangelize, and this was certainly accomplished by those who live there.
On Sunday, each group had a native resident accompany them, and it was a HUGE factor. Our guide not only gave a paper to the natives, but was able to accurately describe what they could expect when they went there, where the church was located, and even began conversations with people regarding their personal needs. This really opened my eyes to the importance of relationships, cultural relevance, and effective ministry.
As foreigners, we should not be pushed to the forefront of any representative body, but rather work behind the scenes to aid the ministry of RDSN and the churches as effectively as possible. There was quite a bit of that, to be certain: the construction projects we helped with were difficult and exhausting, but extremely rewarding, as this year we were able to see the impact of our contruction last year: buildings we had laid the foundations for had nearly reached completion. Also playing with the children, praying for them, sponsoring them, and in so doing, sharing our love for them, was a wonderful witness and worthwhile use of time.
There are tons of strong points in RDSN's ministry strategy, and to be certain, the greatest is their abundance of faith and prayer. Much of what they have received has been through miraculous donation or last-minute provision that could never have been planned or foreseen. The faith and perseverance of Steve Horner, the founder, and the entire staff, as well as the pastors of its various church plants, is truly an inspiration and source of great hope for me and all who came.
I learned a few things on this trip. I learned to see that, though our ministry strategies may not be perfect, and though everything might not be just the way we would plan it, God works through all lacking and failings. Proverbs 16:3 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This, I think, can be applied to the large scale, in that we can make huge plans for evangelistic undertakings, but the Lord will be the one who makes it a success.
Overall, the trip to Mexico was a positive, unforgettable experience. I will treasure the time of fellowship I shared with all who went, and will certainly have some stories to tell later on (Jesus died for DICKS, kids!). Thanks to all who came for making it a great adventure. For now, it's time to turn the page to a new chapter, and await whatever other foreign missions God might have in store for me.
The trip this year was wonderful, memorable, and most definitely final. I enjoyed my time, grew in my relationships with many people, and experienced the power of God as He continues to grow and bless the ministry at Rancho De Sus Niños. But while God was showing me His power, His ability to reach through the bleakest of circumstances, and His faithfulness to even those who lack faith (*cough cough*me*cough cough*), I strongly felt that I would not be returning. God has shown me great things in Mexico, and I believe that he will continue to do so elsewhere.
There were discouraging things about this trip that contributed to my feelings of conclusiveness. For one, we do the same thing every year--that is, we have the same effect when it comes to evangelism, which I would compare to the effectiveness of a door-to-door salesman advertising something one has little interest in. This comparison, however, may not be adequate, as even door-to-door salesmen share the same culture with their victims. To be certain, a Spanish-speaking salesman with an extremely limited knowledge of the English language (i.e. A few basic phrases) would be far less impacting than a salesman who speaks English natively and can actually articulate the product in a more personal, relevant sense.
This year, and in previous years, we have walked through the neighborhoods surrounding churches (often exploring far beyond the vicinity of the building), knowing nothing of the people who live there, or even the direction we are headed. While some might point out that I am a native Spanish speaker, I cannot be expected to personally and culturally bond with those we encounter as we attempt to invite them to church. For one thing, few people had any knowledge of what was on the waivers that were handed out. No one knew how to give directions to the actual church building, and often the directions on the waiver were vague and inadequate. One man, after receiving the invitation from me, asked me where said building was located (with sort of a joking air, which I sensed). He knew that we had no idea, and I was honest with him. "I don't know, it's somewhere in that direction," I said. "Then why are they sending you out if you don't even know where the place is?" [This exchange was in Spanish, of course]. All I could do was laugh politely and shrug, and encourage him to look at the directions and bring his whole family.
The impersonal "Hola", handing them the invitation, and "Adios" were not very convincing, and I could never imagine being enticed to come to any church service that was advertised in such a way. Most of the church attendees were regulars, and those who hadn't been previously were there because they were brought BY the regulars. And praise God for that! Building on relationships with people is the best way to evangelize, and this was certainly accomplished by those who live there.
On Sunday, each group had a native resident accompany them, and it was a HUGE factor. Our guide not only gave a paper to the natives, but was able to accurately describe what they could expect when they went there, where the church was located, and even began conversations with people regarding their personal needs. This really opened my eyes to the importance of relationships, cultural relevance, and effective ministry.
As foreigners, we should not be pushed to the forefront of any representative body, but rather work behind the scenes to aid the ministry of RDSN and the churches as effectively as possible. There was quite a bit of that, to be certain: the construction projects we helped with were difficult and exhausting, but extremely rewarding, as this year we were able to see the impact of our contruction last year: buildings we had laid the foundations for had nearly reached completion. Also playing with the children, praying for them, sponsoring them, and in so doing, sharing our love for them, was a wonderful witness and worthwhile use of time.
There are tons of strong points in RDSN's ministry strategy, and to be certain, the greatest is their abundance of faith and prayer. Much of what they have received has been through miraculous donation or last-minute provision that could never have been planned or foreseen. The faith and perseverance of Steve Horner, the founder, and the entire staff, as well as the pastors of its various church plants, is truly an inspiration and source of great hope for me and all who came.
I learned a few things on this trip. I learned to see that, though our ministry strategies may not be perfect, and though everything might not be just the way we would plan it, God works through all lacking and failings. Proverbs 16:3 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This, I think, can be applied to the large scale, in that we can make huge plans for evangelistic undertakings, but the Lord will be the one who makes it a success.
Overall, the trip to Mexico was a positive, unforgettable experience. I will treasure the time of fellowship I shared with all who went, and will certainly have some stories to tell later on (Jesus died for DICKS, kids!). Thanks to all who came for making it a great adventure. For now, it's time to turn the page to a new chapter, and await whatever other foreign missions God might have in store for me.
posted by John Mark at 9:02 PM
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