I'm leaving for Nogales in three days to help Brian Donohue deliver the Christmas shoe boxes that we've been collecting since November. To get more information about the shoe boxes, click here to go to the Cuirim House website. We will be in Nogales for a few days and then drive down to Navajoa for a few days, delivering Christmas boxes to the kids there. Navajoa is where I visited with leaders from the Mexican church back in March 2008. Click here to be directed to that posting.
I have an application for my phone that I hope will allow me to update the website from Mexico and, of course, I'll be updating my Facebook page with status updates (you gotta friend me for those :)
Later!!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Praises from everyone tongue, tribe and nation
When I returned from Mexico in late 2008, I wondered how long I would be in the U.S. and what would I do while I'm here. As you might remember, I couldn't find gainful employment so I used the time to volunteer in a couple of capacities. One was helping a Hispanic student with reading English at a local elementary school. The other way was being available to Hispanics in Lynchburg to assist in translation, completion of forms that are in English, explaining the legal process for those with traffic tickets and the like. God really opened doors for me and I used the 8 months of unemployment by employing myself in serving the Hispanic community as God gave me opportunities.
I had spoken to the leadership at my home church about developing a Hispanic outreach. After praying and considering this step, it seemed that I should join an existing Hispanic outreach that was run by Hispanics. I visited a couple of Hispanic churches and spoke to the pastors to get a sense about what is important to them and what was their motivation for reaching out. I kept sensing that I should visit the Hispanic ministry at Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC). I dismissed the idea out of hand because of my own personal chip on the shoulder with TRBC that I've had since graduating from Liberty University. But the Holy Spirit continued to move my thinking toward TRBC. I attended a Bible study attended by believers from the TRBC Hispanic ministry and felt even more strongly the I should visit the church but I dragged my feet.
I obtained gainful employment in July 2009 and at the same time decided to visit the Hispanic ministry at TRBC. WOW!!! Within three Sundays, God confirmed to me that the ministry was teaching Scripture, not someone's interpretation of Scripture. At one service the pastor was very clear that we are called to serve others and suffer with them. WOW again!! The name of the Hispanic ministry is Nuevo Amanecer (it means a new dawn) and it is really a church within a church. There are Bible studies throughout the week and visitation on Fridays. Most of what I do is transport folks to church on Sundays and to one of the weekly Bible studies. I recently approached one man from Honduras who is a newish believer to meet weekly and pray/study Scripture. God has blessed me greatly and I have great joy in serving and worshiping Jesus Christ with my Hispanic brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ is lifted up to the highest place at Nuevo Amanecer and his spirit is present with us.
Now, the icing on the cake is that the church believes strongly in discipleship and this new year is dedicated to establishing discipling relationships within the church. I love it!! I studied and meditated about discipleship for the entire time I was in Nogales. How wonderful of God to put me in a place where I can disciple and be discipled.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Mea culpa
I have been feeling bad lately about being so lax about updating the blog. Now that the website for Cuirim Outreach is up and running, I have really gotten lazy. The blog was originally meant as a way to keep everyone updated with the latest in Nogales, Mexico and when I returned to the U.S., I was not actively engaged in ministry in Mexico and therefore didn't think to continue to blog.
Friends in the U.S. who eagerly followed the blog and email updates of Cuirim Outreach have asked me repeatedly to share about the ministry with Hispanics that has blossomed since I have returned to Lynchburg. I think that it is a good idea but I haven't been intentional in this. If you have been following the blog over the last two years, you know that I returned to Virginia 13 months ago. In that time, God has made Himself more and more precious to me, showing me mercy and grace in a way that I could not have understood or believed was possible had I remained in Mexico. He has also shown me that I am more undisciplined than I had previously thought. In an effort to conform to the image of Christ and believing that Jesus was a disciplined person, I will commit to you to update the blog at least once per month. God is at work in Lynchburg as well as Nogales and we will bless His name in all things.
Friends in the U.S. who eagerly followed the blog and email updates of Cuirim Outreach have asked me repeatedly to share about the ministry with Hispanics that has blossomed since I have returned to Lynchburg. I think that it is a good idea but I haven't been intentional in this. If you have been following the blog over the last two years, you know that I returned to Virginia 13 months ago. In that time, God has made Himself more and more precious to me, showing me mercy and grace in a way that I could not have understood or believed was possible had I remained in Mexico. He has also shown me that I am more undisciplined than I had previously thought. In an effort to conform to the image of Christ and believing that Jesus was a disciplined person, I will commit to you to update the blog at least once per month. God is at work in Lynchburg as well as Nogales and we will bless His name in all things.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Behold, it cometh!
Cuirim Outreach is developing a website. Our hope is that the website will allow all past and future visitors to stay "in the know" with what is happening in Nogales. We plan to upload current stories of individuals and families in the neighborhood along with pictures so everyone in the U.S. can feel more connected with Mexico and each other.
Brian Morykon, a friend in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been building the site in his spare time and will soon teach me how to maintain the site. Hopefully, the website will be up by the end of this month. Once it is up and running, this blog will be incorporated into the website.
Stay tuned....
Brian Morykon, a friend in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been building the site in his spare time and will soon teach me how to maintain the site. Hopefully, the website will be up by the end of this month. Once it is up and running, this blog will be incorporated into the website.
Stay tuned....
Christmas in January
Hi folks -
This is going to be a quick update on my trip to the Cuirim House in January. I went to deliver Christmas shoe boxes for the children who eat at the Kid's Cafe. It was great to be back and I found that I easily got back into speaking Spanish. The weather was great, the food was fantastic and the fellowship was sweet. I really do miss my friends in Mexico.
We had about 200 shoe boxes filled with toys, crayons, little toys, candies and other goodies. We were especially happy that so many people made boxes for teens. Miguel, the cook for the Kid's Cafe, took a break for a picture as the Christmas shoe boxes began to pile up inside the Kid's Cafe.
The kids lined up who had just finished eating and participating in a Bible story.
They lined up boys in one line and girls in another. We had already arranged the boxes by gender and age group so they could be more smoothly distributed. The kids eagerly accepted their boxes with a thank you. The children arrayed themselves all over the property as they opened their boxes to enjoy the gifts inside.
The 3 week trip was primarily to deliver the Christmas boxes and to help the ministry plan for the summer work projects. However, another reason that I went was to listen intently to God as to whether I should return to the work in Nogales after the job I was offered in Virginia did not materialize. To be completely honest, I arrived in Nogales expecting God to be very clear with me that I should return to Nogales. In my mind, I had already been figuring how to tie up loose ends back in Virginia and had a tentative renter for my house. While in Nogales, Ramon, the pastor of the Mexican church, officially requested by letter that I work with them again. All external signs seem to point to Nogales. However, to my surprise, the answer from God was to wait some more. So, that is what I will do.
This is going to be a quick update on my trip to the Cuirim House in January. I went to deliver Christmas shoe boxes for the children who eat at the Kid's Cafe. It was great to be back and I found that I easily got back into speaking Spanish. The weather was great, the food was fantastic and the fellowship was sweet. I really do miss my friends in Mexico.
We had about 200 shoe boxes filled with toys, crayons, little toys, candies and other goodies. We were especially happy that so many people made boxes for teens. Miguel, the cook for the Kid's Cafe, took a break for a picture as the Christmas shoe boxes began to pile up inside the Kid's Cafe.
The kids lined up who had just finished eating and participating in a Bible story.
They lined up boys in one line and girls in another. We had already arranged the boxes by gender and age group so they could be more smoothly distributed. The kids eagerly accepted their boxes with a thank you. The children arrayed themselves all over the property as they opened their boxes to enjoy the gifts inside.
The 3 week trip was primarily to deliver the Christmas boxes and to help the ministry plan for the summer work projects. However, another reason that I went was to listen intently to God as to whether I should return to the work in Nogales after the job I was offered in Virginia did not materialize. To be completely honest, I arrived in Nogales expecting God to be very clear with me that I should return to Nogales. In my mind, I had already been figuring how to tie up loose ends back in Virginia and had a tentative renter for my house. While in Nogales, Ramon, the pastor of the Mexican church, officially requested by letter that I work with them again. All external signs seem to point to Nogales. However, to my surprise, the answer from God was to wait some more. So, that is what I will do.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A door opening to reach out to Hispanics in Lynchburg
The last post mentioned that I have been getting connected to local Spanish-speaking people in Lynchburg. I see this as a direct result of a desire in my heart even before I left for Mexico in June 2007. I have known that when I return to Lynchburg, I wanted to use my newly acquired Spanish language and awareness of Mexican culture to tell people about Jesus and to help them adjust to living in the U.S.
God has been opening doors for me to get connected with families here who are having trouble speaking English and navigating our culture. Not a day goes by without a phone conversation or a personal meeting with local Latinos asking for help. I have helped families figure out medical forms and accompanied a family to the local health department and I translated for them. Mostly, I seem to be going to court with Latinos who have been charged with driving without a license and translating for them with their attorneys. Given that going to court can be scary when you understand English, I think it is terrifying for Latinos. You need to understand that the justice system in Mexico is not particularly just (but it is changing for the better). Mexico's system of law clearly states that the accused is guilty until proven innocent. This is directly the opposite of what we have in the United States: Here, you are innocent until proven guilty. Historically, Mexicans have been abused by the courts and police and so they carry this fear and thinking with them to the U.S.
Lately, I have helped two families figure out excessive charges on phone bills and was able to save one family $387 due to an error by the phone company. They don't know that they have rights as consumers. In Mexico, they are frequently taken advantage of by government or corporations and they don't know that they have other options. I have helped to explain how DMV works and to point out where they are in violation of Virginia traffic law. When I return from Mexico in early February, I will offer to show people how to use the local bus system.
My church was able to pay the rent for one family who have no income after the father was laid off from his job. This family was also helped with food and milks and diapers for their newborn and toddler by two individuals in my church.
After having known and helped different Latino families or individuals, I have started to be invited into their trailers and apartments to visit. This is huge and a privilege and I believe it is a result of a growing trust that they have in me. God has opened the door to share new life in Jesus Christ several times. I was actually invited to have dinner with one family and I felt like I was back in Nogales, supping with friends! The father, Lucas, was very interested in my church and that opened the door for a great conversation that one doesn't have to "clean up" one's life before God will have anything to do with you. This is a common misconception about God. When we respond to God's love, he will show us what we need to submit to him to be changed or cleaned by him. Our job is to obey and give up what he says to give up. God's job is to make us into new people with his heart. Remember that all of our right acting to make God happy is like soiled, dirty rags to him. You just can't be clean enough; it's impossible. BUT, he will do the cleaning and changing and re-making of our lives if we let him.
Thank God for this opportunity to commune with Latinos and to help them adjust to the U.S. Thank God for reaching out to them through us. Often the families have offered money to pay for gasoline or my time. I refuse the money because I want a wide open door to develop relationships with these families and I am aware of some Americans who help but at a high financial price. Pray that the doors keep opening.
God has been opening doors for me to get connected with families here who are having trouble speaking English and navigating our culture. Not a day goes by without a phone conversation or a personal meeting with local Latinos asking for help. I have helped families figure out medical forms and accompanied a family to the local health department and I translated for them. Mostly, I seem to be going to court with Latinos who have been charged with driving without a license and translating for them with their attorneys. Given that going to court can be scary when you understand English, I think it is terrifying for Latinos. You need to understand that the justice system in Mexico is not particularly just (but it is changing for the better). Mexico's system of law clearly states that the accused is guilty until proven innocent. This is directly the opposite of what we have in the United States: Here, you are innocent until proven guilty. Historically, Mexicans have been abused by the courts and police and so they carry this fear and thinking with them to the U.S.
Lately, I have helped two families figure out excessive charges on phone bills and was able to save one family $387 due to an error by the phone company. They don't know that they have rights as consumers. In Mexico, they are frequently taken advantage of by government or corporations and they don't know that they have other options. I have helped to explain how DMV works and to point out where they are in violation of Virginia traffic law. When I return from Mexico in early February, I will offer to show people how to use the local bus system.
My church was able to pay the rent for one family who have no income after the father was laid off from his job. This family was also helped with food and milks and diapers for their newborn and toddler by two individuals in my church.
After having known and helped different Latino families or individuals, I have started to be invited into their trailers and apartments to visit. This is huge and a privilege and I believe it is a result of a growing trust that they have in me. God has opened the door to share new life in Jesus Christ several times. I was actually invited to have dinner with one family and I felt like I was back in Nogales, supping with friends! The father, Lucas, was very interested in my church and that opened the door for a great conversation that one doesn't have to "clean up" one's life before God will have anything to do with you. This is a common misconception about God. When we respond to God's love, he will show us what we need to submit to him to be changed or cleaned by him. Our job is to obey and give up what he says to give up. God's job is to make us into new people with his heart. Remember that all of our right acting to make God happy is like soiled, dirty rags to him. You just can't be clean enough; it's impossible. BUT, he will do the cleaning and changing and re-making of our lives if we let him.
Thank God for this opportunity to commune with Latinos and to help them adjust to the U.S. Thank God for reaching out to them through us. Often the families have offered money to pay for gasoline or my time. I refuse the money because I want a wide open door to develop relationships with these families and I am aware of some Americans who help but at a high financial price. Pray that the doors keep opening.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
What I've been up to and what's around the corner
I have been home for about three months now. I think I have made as good an adjustment as is possible. I was asked by a friend recently to post about my time at home so everyone stay in the know. Here is the Cliff notes version:
Upon returning home, it looked like I had a job lined up with my previous employer. I interviewed for a position as a probation officer and was offered the position at the end of the interview. I accepted and my hire packet was forwarded to Richmond for final approval. While waiting for all the approval signatures, the Governor of Virginia instructed all state offices to suspend all hiring in process due to the current financial problems that state is experiencing. What seemed like a sure thing from God was removed as an option for work. So, I continued to look for employment. I have applied at a number of places with no success. I am now pursuing the option of substitute teaching for the Lynchburg City School system and that seems promising.
In the meantime, I have been volunteering at a local elementary school with ESL students, helping local Mexican immigrants with reading/speaking English and translating for them in various settings. I have also been doing some computer work for Cuirim Outreach and am working with another person to develop a website for Cuirim Outreach. I have been annoyed and then accepting of the uncertain situation I am in currently. It is very much a time of learning for me and I believe that God is using this time to refine my character. Even with the uncertainty, it seems to me that God wants me to wait and be patient for what he is doing with my life. And, instead of being pushy like I usually am, I am getting a little better at waiting.
To that end, it seems like a good idea to make a return visit to Nogales from January 14 through February 4. I will be helping to distribute the Christmas shoe boxes to the kids in Nogales as well as working a bit on the drug rehab center and watching for ministry opportunities to our neighbors in Nogales. I also hope to visit an orphanage south of Nogales.
Please pray for my time in Nogales. I am still trying to figure out what God is doing specifically with me and I believe that my trip to Nogales will move me toward a better understanding of what I should be doing in 2009. If you want to donate any money toward the costs of this trip, you can make a check payable to Cuirim Outreach, Inc. with my name in the memo line.
Thanks for praying for me and for caring about Nogales.
Upon returning home, it looked like I had a job lined up with my previous employer. I interviewed for a position as a probation officer and was offered the position at the end of the interview. I accepted and my hire packet was forwarded to Richmond for final approval. While waiting for all the approval signatures, the Governor of Virginia instructed all state offices to suspend all hiring in process due to the current financial problems that state is experiencing. What seemed like a sure thing from God was removed as an option for work. So, I continued to look for employment. I have applied at a number of places with no success. I am now pursuing the option of substitute teaching for the Lynchburg City School system and that seems promising.
In the meantime, I have been volunteering at a local elementary school with ESL students, helping local Mexican immigrants with reading/speaking English and translating for them in various settings. I have also been doing some computer work for Cuirim Outreach and am working with another person to develop a website for Cuirim Outreach. I have been annoyed and then accepting of the uncertain situation I am in currently. It is very much a time of learning for me and I believe that God is using this time to refine my character. Even with the uncertainty, it seems to me that God wants me to wait and be patient for what he is doing with my life. And, instead of being pushy like I usually am, I am getting a little better at waiting.
To that end, it seems like a good idea to make a return visit to Nogales from January 14 through February 4. I will be helping to distribute the Christmas shoe boxes to the kids in Nogales as well as working a bit on the drug rehab center and watching for ministry opportunities to our neighbors in Nogales. I also hope to visit an orphanage south of Nogales.
Please pray for my time in Nogales. I am still trying to figure out what God is doing specifically with me and I believe that my trip to Nogales will move me toward a better understanding of what I should be doing in 2009. If you want to donate any money toward the costs of this trip, you can make a check payable to Cuirim Outreach, Inc. with my name in the memo line.
Thanks for praying for me and for caring about Nogales.
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