Kristina and I have said many times that we want people (you) to feel welcome in our home. More so, we want people (you) to simply feel welcome. Welcome to just stop by (even without calling). Welcome to open our fridge without asking. Welcome to... you get the picture. But, how will we know whether we are in fact making people feel welcome if you guys don't tell us.
Well...
Our new friend Tammy just stopped by unannounced to sit and chat for while until it was time to pick up her daughter from school.
This may not seem like a big deal to you, but we are strangers here and for someone to trust us enough or feel safe enough to just stop by is pretty encouraging. We've only been here a short time and Tammy's visit today lets us know we are on the right track here.
Lord, we thank you for uninvited guests. May we never be too busy, too distracted, or too selfish to cherish every moment you give us to share with others. May we always be available to listen, serve, or whatever else you may need us to do.
To everyone:
In case you don't already know this, consider yourself informed - you are always welcome in our home, at our table, on our couch, in my office, to use our bathroom.
Wait, do I really mean everyone?
Perhaps in my next post I should give a comprehensive list of everyone who is and who is not welcome at our table.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Guatemala or Bust!
As most of you are aware, our little mission field here is heavily saturated with folks from Guatemala. We have been seeking ways to understand and embrace this culture. Part of our goal is to help build bridges here between two diametrically opposed cultures.
Rural Southerners and Unwelcome foreigners.
Recently I became aware of who the person of peace (the kingpin) was amongst the Guatemalans. Great! The only problem is I have no way in - no common ground. That is until now.
A couple of weeks ago Kristina and I were asked to join a group of missionaries and business leaders from around the world to meet with some major heavy hitter business folks in Guatemala City. I am actually now the main speaker at a gathering of about 2000 College students that will coincide with the business folks conference. Anyway, since I will have face time with people like the ex president of Exxon, and 3000 other leaders of that caliper, I think I may have an "in" with my person of peace here.
This week I am setting up a meeting with him to introduce myself, offer to help/serve him in anyway possible during my trip to his homeland(establish networking contacts, etc), and also to seek his input on what kinds of things young college students in Guatemala are faced with as they begin to chart out their future.
Please pray for my conversations here. Please also pray for our trip to Guatemala - for God to speak through me to those students and to use me in the lives of the business leaders that will be attending.
link to the organization that is putting this event together
www.amistadfoundation.org
The last 10%...
Kristina and I are also praying for God to provide the remaining resources needed to make this trip happen. Although the folks in Guatemala are taking care of most of our expenses, it is still going to end up costing us about 800 to 1000 dollars to go. Should you feel led to help with this trip or to support our ministry here in general you can send/make tax deductible gifts out to our sponsor church: (they bless us by handling our support and book keeping)
The River Community Church
PO Box 1012
Cookeville, TN 38503
MEMO: The Catalyst
Rural Southerners and Unwelcome foreigners.
Recently I became aware of who the person of peace (the kingpin) was amongst the Guatemalans. Great! The only problem is I have no way in - no common ground. That is until now.
A couple of weeks ago Kristina and I were asked to join a group of missionaries and business leaders from around the world to meet with some major heavy hitter business folks in Guatemala City. I am actually now the main speaker at a gathering of about 2000 College students that will coincide with the business folks conference. Anyway, since I will have face time with people like the ex president of Exxon, and 3000 other leaders of that caliper, I think I may have an "in" with my person of peace here.
This week I am setting up a meeting with him to introduce myself, offer to help/serve him in anyway possible during my trip to his homeland(establish networking contacts, etc), and also to seek his input on what kinds of things young college students in Guatemala are faced with as they begin to chart out their future.
Please pray for my conversations here. Please also pray for our trip to Guatemala - for God to speak through me to those students and to use me in the lives of the business leaders that will be attending.
link to the organization that is putting this event together
www.amistadfoundation.org
The last 10%...
Kristina and I are also praying for God to provide the remaining resources needed to make this trip happen. Although the folks in Guatemala are taking care of most of our expenses, it is still going to end up costing us about 800 to 1000 dollars to go. Should you feel led to help with this trip or to support our ministry here in general you can send/make tax deductible gifts out to our sponsor church: (they bless us by handling our support and book keeping)
The River Community Church
PO Box 1012
Cookeville, TN 38503
MEMO: The Catalyst
and now it begins...
On Saturday night at 6pm we will have our first "community" gathering. Technically my B'day was our first gathering, but that was about me. This gathering will be with folks we have met in the area that are interested in learning about what it means to do life "together" - with each other and with God. Please keep us in your prayers.
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