I just received a Facebook messenger video from a parent who belongs to one of the house churches in the San Andres network. It was taken by her child. They were celebrating Easter together and it absolutely warmed my heart. The video is grainy and dark, but I think you can still appreciate and enjoy it. I miss our brothers and sisters on the island!
The Sojourners Life...
Mobile living. Sometimes known as living out of a suitcase. Transient. Pilgrim. Or the word our family loves to use - sojourning. We really are temporary residents wherever we go and this current Home Assignment is no different from past ones. Some people offer up consolation saying they know what we're going through because they've moved many different places. Other missionaries say they understand because they do the same sort of thing when they go on furlough. It somehow helps to know there are people like us.
Hebrews 11:16
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
This is a picture of Amy in our warehouse loft in New Orleans. We were in the midst of packing, finishing up admin assignments, and keeping final appointments when I took it.
We don't have a hometown. Amy is from Natchez, Mississippi and that's currently where her parents are based out of. But she really didn't grow up there nor does she have an endearing affinity for the place. We don't have many peers or people that we can truly consider bffs there as well. They exist, but for me, most of those relationships are fairly new. The grandparents are "Natchezians" and so are several supporting churches which is the real reason why I love visiting that small town. Then again, it's so temporary. As for me, I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area. I was born at Saint Mary's Medical Center, right next to Golden Gate Park. The California Academy of Sciences was a good view for my mom to recover with in her hospital room. My family lived in surrounding cities until I joined the Navy, so had I stayed, I would truly be considered a native born San Franciscan. But my parents and brother no longer live where I grew up. When I visit, I never feel like I'm actually from there, not just because I have no memories of those new neighborhoods, but because I feel like I'm different than the average NorCal'er. I'm still proud however to say that I'm from the Bay.
In a few days we'll be leaving New Orleans. We've fallen in love with this city. For me, it's the best combination of Southern living and metropolitan diversity. It's the most unique city in America and I would love to live here and do ministry serving with our partner churches. We have a number of supporters who are behind our work in the Philippines too. Many people have asked if I'm originally from the Big Easy. No one ever asks that in Mississippi. Harbor Church has taken care of us, providing a very chique warehouse loft to live in. The Asian influence in that area, particularly the Filipino heritage in the bayou, is attractive to me. But we have no family in Nola. That makes a big difference. Nonetheless, I'm thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who have taken us in! Unfortunately, like I said, we leave in a few days.
We're headed to Southern California, mainly north San Diego County. Oceanside is where I became a Christian and lived and worked at for most of my adult life. New Song Community Church is our main sending church and we have a number of friends there. If God allowed us to pick a place to call home, apart from ministry purposes, Oceanside would be it. Amy and I met there. We absolutely adore that city and call it paradise on earth. But, no family. That makes it difficult for missionaries on a tight budget, especially with a salary designed for Philippines life. We are very blessed to be able to stay with our mentors, the Kelley's, who are also leaders in our organization. Our friends, the Scotts, will also house us for a week. And the entire 6-7 weeks our buddy, Douglas, has provided us with a truck. As in every town we stay in, there are a lot of meetings and speaking engagements. Hopefully there will also be a lot of fellowship and fun.
We still have schedules in Nevada, Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, Idaho, and Northern California. Our experience has helped us learn how to live with people. Since October 2017 we haven't been on our own, alone as a family, except for our time in New Orleans. And we won't be in our own home until probably July. We're thankful for computers and mobile devices that help us stay connected wherever we are. We can work on the go, in our car, at a table in a coffee shop, walking around at a park while the kids play, or in any church lobby. It's the life we've signed up for, but I'll tell you, 8 years of doing this doesn't make things easier. You get calloused enough to bear the weight and the Holy Spirit fills you with joy to see that such a life can be exciting and adventure filled.
Fishers of Men
The video is of a poem Edwin wrote inspired by the fishermen in our ministry. The footage was taken the day that they set sail with them to experience life in their realm. Below is the transcript of the poem. To download the full video file, click here.
I set off on a journey to discover the treasures beheld by men…fishermen of the deep
I sought the secret to contentment, to simplicity, to purpose
But most importantly, I longed to unite those truths for ministry
How better to serve and to love than to understand?
What more exquisite display of power than to traverse the deep ocean in search…
…of food, of livelihood, subsistence, fulfilling the role of provider
To burn and sweat shoulder to shoulder with men you love and seek
And hope to earn the right to preach the truth of Christ’s everlasting love
In my quest to obey as a bondservant willing to go great lengths for the message
I forgot that I was a disciple still…always learning at the feet of my rabbi
Constantly postured, a student receiving grace, learning to follow ever more faithfully
That the men I hoped to disciple would teach me yet.
God spoke to Elijah and…said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him…
As did the gentle whisper come to me, not in wrestling the jagged beasts of the sea
Nor the feats of strength upon diving free, one breath into the dark blue
And coming up for air, having bested the sinewy fishermen in competing for pride
But in the still flowing ocean water and sea breeze void of our own friendly dialogue
That’s when God spoke to me.
And that’s when I learned to listen and understand that it was indeed important to get away
In this vast ocean with these men, I recalled Holy Scripture…God’s Word
And responded in humility, compelled to obey the commands of my King.
God listens and speaks to those whose ears are open, whose hearts are bowed
His love and forgiveness extends even to the worker too busy to just be
Our Father in Heaven will use those still outside the fold to sharpen
The iron being forged as a blade, an instrument of war to bring down enemy gates.
This is the treasure I discovered as I set off with the fishermen of the deep.
Why do we do what we do.
Amy explains in this video shot on the island of Catanduanes the reason why we conduct community development projects even though we are church planting missionaries. Though ultimately one can say that our commitment to serving people is a strategy for building relationships and is therefore effective for planting churches. Truthfully however, we believe that as long as Christians are living out their faith, their hearts compel them to love people in very tangible and sacrificial acts of kindness. In the end, when a church is planted or Bible study started because of a class we've offered or a feeding program we've provided, service projects do not cease. They grow in frequency and size because more and more people are empowered by the Holy Spirit and driven to love others as Christ loved them first.
