I left the house a little frustrated. It may have been the unseen stress of the long trip ahead, the unknowns, dangers, discomfort or even just simply the spiritual load of responsibility that I was feeling ahead of me. Nevertheless, Robin and I were both at peace and confident that my path had been prepared by our Lord to walk in, so ready or not off I went.
I had been praying about the purpose of going and what the Lord may have for me to speak or do with the P’s. I knew that they would be anticipating preaching, teaching and personal conversations. These things I do very much enjoy, but I was open to anything. Maybe it would be them that would minister to me? I could surely use it. I was open. I didn’t have any clear theme or thought in my heart to teach on, but it was early. The P’s had asked me a month or so previous, “what will the theme be of the conference?” I had replied, “I don’t know, I haven’t even asked the Lord yet.”
So with some frustration, temptations, weakness and emptiness, I took off simply with nothing in my hand, but trusting and obeying our Lord. Aeromexico was unfortunately another “gong show” as we say in Canada. As in the year previous, they were late on my first flight which caused me to miss my connection to Bogota. I waited some 8 hours more in the airport at Mexico City and then took a red eye flight to Bogota. Unfortunately when we approached Bogota, it couldn’t land due to fog. We had to go to a nearby airport and wait on the plane for another 4 hours. Long story short, I was up for about 35 hours arriving into Bogota and then off at 3am the next morning to the border where we then had a 4 hour truck ride down an off road sandy ‘highway’ into the outback of the hot, dry savannah of south eastern Colombia on the border of Venezuela. These roads were at times more like trails. Once we arrived at the farm, it was nice that I had some days to rest and prepare before the crowd of 408 P’s arrived. We set up our hammocks under a common roof structure and I slept amidst the snoring and roosters crowing through the night. The next day, I spent most of the day in my hammock trying to stay cool in the 100 degree dusty wind that blew through the open walled structure. I think I slept another 6 hours that day.
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Since the trucking system for the P’s transportation was rather incompetent (the old trucks broke down, got lost and started a day late) we lost 2 days of time with the P’s. But during this time the Lord began to speak to my own heart. It was good. I spent some time praying, “What do you want me to speak on?”… “What do you want me to do while here?” The answer to those prayers became clear, clearer than if I had an audible conversation with the Lord because I could see and feel the answers personally. The answers were this, “Study, value and teach on the power of the gospel not merely for the unbeliever but also for the believer.” and “Love, these people. There is no efficacy in teaching when there is no love through personal relationship“. In summary, truth and love.
TRUTH:
I think every believer subconsciously slips into self righteousness all the time. We may at times think that the gospel is only for unbelievers, but now that we are saved we are somehow now giving back to God through our good Christian behavior. Actually it’s good to stop and realize that this is not the teaching of Paul. Rather he teaches that just as when we were dead in our trespasses and sins we needed the gospel to be justified, even so, now also we need the gospel to walk day by day in newness of life as His children. With this thought burning in my heart I opened my Bible and began reading in Romans. As I read chapters 1-8, the living thought of the Holy Spirit filled my mind and heart with the fundamental truths of the gospel of grace not only for my past, but also for my future. The gospel is God’s unmerited favor, inexhaustible, infinite and eternal blessing, freely lavished upon us, through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. This one time act of the Son of God is something He did for us, but also something, (through the timeless working of the Father), He did together with us and to us. By this everlasting work which the only true high priest of God did once for all (all time and all people), we are not only justified forever, but we are also sanctified day by day as we walk by faith in the gospel. What joy fills the heart which believes that every day is new! Every moment a clean slate is set before us. How we need to be reminded that the old sinful tendencies we all carry about with us in our body, Paul says, is no longer us that do it but sin that dwells in us. His mercies are new every morning. We have peace with God and this is through the gospel alone! Don’t ever kid yourself, we have nothing in ourselves at all which is good. If we are standing in a dark space and are asked to shine light, 100% of the light we have to shine is Christ alone. As we renew our minds daily with our death, burial and resurrection in Christ, we are experientially sanctified. We were united to Christ in his death, but also in his resurrection. We live indeed… but only in him. He is the life that we have to live. He is the light that we have to shine. There is no other. As believers, the only way to experience this is through faith in the gospel. The gospel is the power of God. Paul said this in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Just as we were saved once for all from the judgement and condemnation of our sin, so now we are saved daily from the power of our sin. The righteousness of God is revealed through the gospel every time we take a step of faith in it.
The P’s sat studious and attentive. Many recorded each session with their cell phones.
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
I felt the living power of the Holy Spirit working through me as I taught through these powerful truths in Romans. My own heart was receiving the message too. The cool thing was that even though naturally speaking I should have been tired, I rather felt the love and truth of God energizing me. It didn’t matter the wind, the dust, the heat, the lack of sleep… divine energy carried me not only with spiritual understanding and motive, but also with physical strength and language ability. I thought often of your prayers. We were working together as a team. I would glance up occasionally to check the attentiveness of the P’s. They blessed me as I saw them taking notes, marking their Bibles or sitting up attentive to hear every word. On a few occasions my eyes caught a glimpse of G. His look was so alert, serious and hungry. He blessed me. I would smile inside. They desire to know God. What a blessing. I taught from 8-11:30am and 7:30-9pm each day. The time was rich and I trust that by the grace of God, his purposes were being fulfilled.
LOVE:
As a young missionary I had the concept that the main point of missions was to share the information of the gospel. However over time I have been realizing that it’s not just information that we are to share. As Paul said that even if we have all understanding and knowledge, and yet don’t have love, we are nothing. It was not only “truth” that came by Jesus Christ, it was also “grace“. We are all in God’s classroom, learning from the Teacher. He teaches me through these people and he is teaching me to love. I think I connected more on a personal and friendship level with the P’s on this trip than I ever have before. I thank God for working his love in me to be friends. Laughing, visiting, hugging, touching, caring, listening, giving are physical manifestations of the invisible love of God. I’m embarrassed to say it, but when I first lived among the P’s I was jaded with this thought that they were full of diseases. Scabies, lice, parasites, dysentery, viruses, odors, bacteria etc… were common among these jungle dwellers and I didn’t want any of it. I don’t think I realized that this fear of germs affected my friendships with them. I marvel every time I watch in a movie when there is some epidemic and a nursing or loving doctor labors to save the sick, being with them, touching them, helping them. I think of Jesus and the lepers. I don’t think there is that much disease among the P’s anymore like there used to be other than colds. Nonetheless God is breaking habits in me which are rooted in selfishness and I see that the fruit of love and friendship is powerful. This verse comes to mind: “…whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” How good it is to grow and to see the goodness of God as we do.
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
After the conference was over I was visiting with G. It was his chance to connect and ask a few questions. There had been so many people wanting to talk to me, that he never did get a chance to visit. I asked him, “In your opinion, how was this conference?” He shook his head expressing great satisfaction and said, “Soooooooo good!” He reached his hand out and placed it on my shoulder and said, “it was like God was saying to us… (he placed his hand on my shoulder and gently shook it) – ‘wake up‘”. That really touched me.
Later in the day, as I was about to get in the truck, there were only a few P’s left. I took a selfie with them (photo attached). They hugged and said teary eyed goodbyes. As we drove away across the savannah my eyes teared up as I felt the presence of God’s love. How rich it is to know God and to experience him. For me (and I’m sure for you too) there is no greater feeling than to experience God. I could feel your prayers. It was emotional to be leaving them behind, but it also felt right. I felt a feeling of unworthiness and gratitude. They humble me with their honor and hunger. I felt the great privilege it is to have been chosen by Jesus to represent him to this hungry and growing nation and to share with them his word through the gift of teaching, even though I myself am unworthy to do this ministry. They equally represent Jesus to me. We encourage each other by our mutual faith. I teach them, but they also teach me. At the beginning of this trip I was not looking forward to going. Having gone and as I traveled home and even now, I can’t wait to get back to see them again.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established — that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
Romans 1:11-12
In the next few weeks I hope to share some stories on some individuals.
All for now. Thank you so much,
t.
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here
Click photo to expand; use back arrow to return here