Everlasting to Everlasting

Our trip ended a bit prematurely and now we are resting well in Sucre waiting for Navidad to arrive. This was my last trip to the communities but I am blessed to say it was probably the best of trips I could have hoped for.

We arrived in Quchumi the 11th of November with the hope of telling stories to Santo Filipe with whom we had the pleasure of telling the first day of creation the last day of the last trip. It was his interest in the stories that gave us reason to return to Quchumi without having to wipe the dust from our feet.

We still stayed with Don, the man of peace with whom we had much trouble on the last trip and as always were promised with much work. ¨Siempre hay trabajo.¨ After a day or two getting into the routine (as much as one can hope for a routine that is) we visited Santo Filipe and set a date to learn the stories, which was only a day or two away. When the date arrived Santo did not show up. Disappointed we continued with the order of the day which was working on an Adobe with Don.

During the last trip we had more or less given up hope on Don learning the stories or even having interest. We found him much more agreeable from the first day of our arrival. On the same day we were supposed to meet with Santo Filipe, we finally finished work around three. To my great joy and surprise Don asked if we were going to study the story. I was more shocked than anything that my partner had to respond and say that we would be happy to teach the story.

That day I told the first two days of creation. Don kept saying he wanted to learn and was actually very adamant about it. It is amazing how the LORD orders things, this life, and all that we experience. It is always in His timing, His way; we had done nothing to spur this man’s interest and desire. It was clear that the Holy Spirit was moving in him.

From then on until we left we taught stories usually at the request of Don. Starting from the creation we made it as far as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Throughout this time we could see a real change in our man of peace. There was more of a willingness and trust between us. Don was comfortable enough to ask questions like if the sun was a god. Through our stories and discussions we were able to see more barriers and bridges to the Gospel.

There was a change in Don’s son, Philemon, as well. The same kid that mocked us last time during the stories we found sitting at first in the background seemingly disinterested to later participating in all of our stories. He even asked if he could copy the story of Cain and Abel.

After the first few days we rarely saw Santo Filipe much to our disappointment. Though one of the best moments during the whole trip was when we were called to one of the village meetings. They were passing out seeds for their crops and when they were done asked if we could give an orientation of our work. I explained briefly our purpose to which they asked for a story. I then told the first two days of creation. Being a long story I wasn’t sure if they wanted to hear the whole thing. They asked Don if that was all and he responded, ¨No, there is way more than that!¨ I then completed the whole story of the creation in Quechua to the whole community of Quchumi. It is overwhelming to think that God would use someone like me in such a way. One of the greatest moments I have had in South America. After my story they asked Efrain for the story of the fall of man.

During this trip we helped build a meeting house for the community. I asked if we could later tell stories there and all were more than happy to agree.

Throughout this time I was keenly aware that God was moving. Quchumi is a beautiful place that sits on the side of a mountain leading down to a river separating the mountains opposing the community. It was as if the mountains stood as a testimony of the power, the majesty of God. I was reminded of the prayer of Moses, the man of God, ¨Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.¨ God, the Everlasting God, had formed these mountains with the hearts of these men in mind. It was beautiful to see how God worked in Quchumi and to see it was all Him. May I never doubt the power and glory of God who is from everlasting to everlasting.

My Portion Forever

We got back recently from a very difficult trip though it was only two weeks. It was the first trip for Efrain, my new partner, and we were joined by the Director of Prayer for the IMB, Ed Cox.

On the promise of Don, our man of peace, we came back to Quchumi in order to start the work teaching stories. We were faced with many difficulties mostly from our man of peace. He showed up a few days after we arrived and seemed distant even from the beginning. We were able to work a couple of days but after awhile the man of peace appeared to not appreciate us only working half of the day (leaving the rest to study Quechua and stories as well as rest). This was later only exacerbated as each day went on.

I attempted to teach Don the first day of Creation, which is relatively short but his idea of learning the story was to write it down. Laboriously he copied each word after I spoke it but in the end it was as if he just did not want to put the mental effort to actually memorize it. (During the whole time I told the story the son stood behind mockingly smirking at the event). The next day I tried to work on the story with him but to no avail. He only repeated that he could not do it. We even felt that he only indulged the idea of the story so we could keep working. I brought up the idea of a group meeting and teaching the story to many people, which he excitedly agreed and we planned to do it on Sunday in the afternoon. After a day or two I reminded him of the commitment of which he was supposed to invite people but he said that no one would come because of work. During this same day he decided to work without us, though we know he could have used the help (he just told us to watch wheat, which we are still trying to figure out what that meant – though probably nothing positive) and we received no food in the morning.

We thought all was lost or at least our connection to the community. We had no desire to keep pressuring him with the story because that was getting nowhere and did not want it to become a source of contempt. Later, thinking that three people had to be a burden to feed we decided to buy food in order to help out a bit and during this time we apologize and made sure that we were still right with Don. He said it was fine and no worries but if we wanted to do anything about Sunday (the next day), we would have to invite people.

I invited six people in the community but I only had hope in one. His name is Santo Filipe (Saint Phillip in English), a man in Quchumi that we had met even in the first trip. He speaks the best Spanish and we found him to be the best mannered and the most sincere. I had prayed about this man during previous trips but nothing came of it and we would rarely see him after the first day. This trip, however, he showed great interest to begin with and we had a chance to talk much about God. I decided to risk being culturally insensitive and went to his house uninvited to which he allowed me to come into their kitchen (a very rare thing among the Quechua but a sign of respect). I invited him to the meeting the next day to which he said, ¨all would come.¨

As Santo Filipe was my only hope he far exceeded my expectations. The next morning he brought his whole family to learn the story. They were even dressed up as if they were going to morning mass! It was obviously something important to them. I had a chance to teach the first day of the creation of which he learned rather well and during the time (of which I did not realize until later) was that his wife, who only speaks Quechua, mouthed the words the whole time learning it right alongside her husband. Santo even got upset with himself when he got something out of order and in this sincerely showed that he had interest in what we were telling and had a desire to learn. I then moved to the questions after it was apparent he had the story and though he speaks Spanish very well he answered all the questions in Quechua. I took this to mean that it was something so serious to him that he wanted to answer in such a profound way that only his heart language could explain. We were more than excited with this. Shortly after we left for a seven hour hike back to Pocoata to get some rest.

I do not think I can sufficiently describe the emotions and even the physical difficulties. It felt every day we were in a spiritual battle but that the Enemy had the upper hand on us. Almost as if an undercurrent of evil was undermining all of our attempts. I can say that only the sustaining grace of God and all of your prayers enabled us to keep in good spirits and see it to the end. We were forced to seek His mercies and found them anew with the beginning of each day.

It was as if we were constantly surrounded by darkness everyday but at the end the light broke through shining His glory and sovereignty. I am thankful for what I learned during this difficult time. I found that even in the face of failure after failure mixed with overwhelming disappointment I had confidence that I was still faithful in my duty to God and in this I could feel His daily pleasure in me. He is sufficient in all things and no matter what the circumstance dictates He is my portion; He holds my cup. He is just that good that he gave us such a victory in the face of overwhelming odds.

I just realized that God was asking for the impossible. We fail as men as our hearts our weak, but when God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever we are truly Sons of God who can rise above the impossible.

¨My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.¨ - Psalm 73:26

Anthem of a Dying Man

I had quite an experience last summer when I was with the Chayahuita. There were two men that died from Malaria during our time there. A day after my partner got Malaria which I was then just recovering from Typhoid.

One of the people that died was a child of about twelve. It was truly tragic and I remember seeing the child laying there and the mother weeping over him. What shocked me was when they buried the child and the other man. There was no service, no words of remembrance, no ceremony, no one wore black. In fact I heard laughing when they put the body in the ground, and I remember thinking ¨how cold.¨

After talking with J, the boss of Xtreme Team, he made me realize that death in this village was just a part of life. It was something common and almost could be expected especially with a disease like Malaria. And so it made me think more and more about death.

Death is a part of life.

One can mostly see in the United States but hints and shadows can be found in all cultures the idea of maintaining life, of holding onto it until the very last breath. With more and more technology we are able to prolong life and stall the inevitable death a few more years. And though life is very precious how many of our decisions are made in order to avoid the risk of losing this life? We make our lives as comfortable as we can as if we were taking some journey whose end was so undesirable that we lose the true joy of the journey.

But what is this life that He has given us? A most precious gift He has given us but also the very thing that He wants from us; that He demands from us. ¨If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel´s will save it.¨[1] (Mark 8:35, 36)

God has called us to die and yet we still try to hang on.

I believe that the LORD has taught us contrary to this idea of holding onto this life. He not only taught this but lived death everyday as He gave up His own will to the will of the Father. This eventually culminated in His death on the Cross.

It is through this act that Jesus shows us how we can have life. Paul says that we are ¨always carrying in the body the Death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.¨[2] It is in the power of His death and of His resurrection that we can experience both and become more like Him. Paul continues, ¨For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus´ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.¨[3] We cannot have life without death.

On this journey to be more like Him He has called us to carry our crosses. This sanctification is not a one time affair but a continual dying to ourselves; choosing His will above ours.

Death can manifest itself in manys whether it is to our pride, desire for glory, lusts of the flesh, unfaithfulness, impatience, or just our general indifference. Whatever part of us that is not wholly devoted to Christ must die. It is a daily war within.

We fear death, but it is only in this death to ourselves that we can be free, that we can truly live. O how a painful process it is. Our flesh fights to hold on, and makes us believe that it holds life and in this delusion we do all in order to keep our identity, to keep our comfort, to keep our lifestyle of health and wealth. To use a line from Tyler Durden, we are ¨just polishing brass on the Titanic.¨

But once we finally let go, we put the sword to our flesh, and just die to ourself the beauty of Grace reveals itself in the purest way to life unimaginable. For Christ said, ¨I am the Resurrection and the Life.¨[4] These powerful words hold the greatest promise. In every death, from the time we acknowledge our sinfulness and allow the Lord to take over, through every monotonous day that we must overcome all depravity that plagues our souls, to the very end of this temporal physical life, the Lord becomes our Resurrection. We rise from the ashes everytime anew, and a little less like us and a little more like Him. It is only through death that we can truly become one with Christ identifying with Him we finally have an identity that gives us life.

And so this is my anthem, sung to the Glory of God. I am a dying man, and not in the sense of slowly dying a physical death from failing health, but that I die over and over again to myself in the spiritual realms to receive life through my Resurrection, Jesus Christ.

[1] Mark 8:35, 36 (ESV)
[2] 1 Corinthians 4:10 (ESV)
[3] 1 Corinthians 4:11 (ESV)
[4] John 11:25 (ESV)

Qallariypi Diospa Ruwasqan

This is the story of creation in Quechua that we have to learn. It will be the first story we tell in the communities as part of a evangelism track. It has been mighty slow here in Sucre recently and at times it is hard to remain focused. Please pray for us as we continue to learn stories in Quechua in the hope of telling them soon enough.

Tata Diosqa qallarpi janaqpachatawan kay pachatawan ruwarqa. Kay pachaqa mana pijtulla kasharqachu. Yakukuna laqhawan qhatasqu kasqa. Chanta Diospa Espiritun yaku patapi kasharqa. Chanta Tata Diosqa nirqa: ¨k`anchay kachun¨ ajina karqa. Tata Diosqa k´anchayta sumaq kasqanta rikhurqa. Tata Diosqa k`anchayta laqhamanta t`aqarqa. Chanta Payqa k`anchayman ¨p`unchayta¨ suticharqa, laqhamantaj ¨tutata¨ suticharqa. Ajinamanta ñawpaq kaq p`unchay tukuchasqa karqa.
Chanta Tata Diosqa nirqa: ¨yaku uj cheqallapi kananta.¨ Chanta ajina karqa. Tata Diosqa yakumanta t´aqasqata janaqpachata suticharqa. Wakin yaku janaqpachapi karqa chanta wakin yaku kay pachapi karqa. Ajinamanta iskay kaq p`unchay tukuchasqa karqa.
Chanta Tata Dios nirqa ¨yaku kay pachapi uj cheqallapi tantasqa kananta ch´aki rikhurinampaq.¨ Ajina karqa. Tata Dios ch´aki kajta jallp´ata suticharqa. Yakuta uj cheqallapi tantaykusqa chayta mama qochata suticharqa. Tata Dios nirqa ¨jallp´api tukuy laya q´omerkuna poqochun chanta qhorakuna poqochun sach´akunapis poqollachuntaj.¨ Chanta jallp`api tukuy layakunamanta sach´akuna wiñarqa chanta q´omerkuna, sach´akunapis poqorqanku. Chayta Tata Dios sumaj kasqanta rikhorqa. Ajinamanta kinsa kaj p´unchay tukuchasqa karqa.
Chanta Tata Diosqa nirqa: ¨k´anchaykuna janaq pachapi kachun kay pachapipis k´anchanapaq chanta t´aqanapaq p´unchayta tutatawan. Chanta ajina karqa. Tata Diosqa iskay k´anchayta ruwarqa. Uj jatun k´anchayta p`unchaypi k´anchanapaq chanta uj aswan juchuy k`anchaytataj tutapi k`anchanapaq. Chanta Tata Diosqa ch´askakunata janaq pachapi churarqa p´unchaykunata, watakunata, jatuchej p`unchaykunata ima churanapaj. Tata Diosqa sumaj kasqanta rikhorqa. Ajinamanta tawa kaj p´unchay tukuchasqa karqa.
Chanta Tata Diosqa nirqa, ¨yakupi tukuy laya challwakuna miranchu¨ jillanataj phawaj p´isqokuna kay pachapi kachun. Ajinataj karqa. Tata Diosqa tukuy challwakunata mama qochapi ruwarqa tukuy p`isqokunatapis chanta Tata Diosqa sumaj kasqanta rikhorqa. Chanta paykunata bendispa, nirqa, ¨ashqha mirayninku kapuchun jillanataj mama qochaman junt´achun jinamanta ashqha p´isqokuna kay pachapi kachun. Ajinamanta phisqha kaq p`unchay tukuchasqa karqa.
Chanta Tata Dios nirqa, ¨jallp´api kawsachunku tukuy laya uywakuna: runawan kawsakuj uywakuna, k´ita uywakuna, chanta pampapatapi qhatatakoj uywakuna ima, layankuman jina.¨ Ajinataj karqa. Tata Diosqa ruwarqa chay uywakunata rikuspa sumaj kasqanta nirqa. Chanta Tata Dios nirqa, ¨kunan runata ruwasuncheq noqacheqman rijch`akojta. Pay atiyniyoq kanampaj challwakuna, p´isqokuna, chanta runawan kawsakuj uywakuna, k´ita uywakuna, chanta pampapatapi qhatatakoj uywakuna ima. Chanta Tata Diosqa runata jallp´amanta ruwarqa, sinqampi samaykuspataj, payman kawsayta qorqa. Ajinamanta runaqa kawsayta qhallerqa. Chanta Tata Dios Edén nisqa huertata ruwarqa. Chaymantaj runata churarqa. Tata Diosqa iskay sach´akunata huerta chaupiman churarqa. Uj kawsay sach´ata chanta jinallataj allin kajta mana allin kajta yachanamanta sach´atapis. Tata Diosqa runaman uj kamachiyta qorqa, ¨tukuy sach´amanta huertapi mikhuyta atinki. Mana mikhuyta atinkichu allin kaj chanta mana allin kaj yachay sach´amanta. Chay poqoyta mikhunki chayqa cheqamanta wañunki. Chanta Tata Diosqa nirqa, ¨Mana allinchu runaqa sapallan kanan. Paywan kanampaj, uj yanapajta ruwapusaj,¨ nispa. Chanta Tata Dios tukuy uywakunata runa sutichanampaq aparqa. Chaywampis mana karqachu runata yanapajqa. Jinapi Tat Diosqa runata sinch´ita puñurpayacherqa, chaykamataj ujnin wajtanninta orqhorqa. Jinaspari, aychallanwantaj k´askaykuchiporqa. Chanta Tata Diosqa runaj wajtanninta orqhosqanmanta uj warmita ruwarqa jinaspataj runaman pusamorqa. Runataj warmita rikuspa nirqa: ¨Kayqa aychaymanta ruwasqa,¨ nispa. Chayrayku qhareqa tatanta mamantawan saqenqa, warminwantaj ujchakonqa, iskayninkutaj uj runa jinalla kanqanku. Tata Diosqa runata payman rijch`akojta ruwarqa. Qharita warmita ruwarqa chanta paykunata bendispa, nirqa, ¨ ashqha wawankuna kapuchun, kay pachamantaj junt´achun chanta kay pachata kamachichun. Adán, warmin Evawan, huertapi kasharqanku mana p´achayojlla, paykunkaqa p`enqa karqanku mana pachayoj qasqankumanta. Tata Diosqa sumaj kasqanta rikhorqa chay tukuy imata.
Qanchis Kaj P`unchaypi Tata Diosqa tukuy llank´ayninta tukuytawan samarkorqa. Chayrayku Tata Diosqa bendirsqa qanchis kaj p´unchayta. Kay kasahan willay janaqpachamanta kay pachamantawan Diospa ruwasqan.

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¨Qallariypi Diospa Ruwasqan¨ means the ¨Works of God in the Beginning.¨

The Good Fight

I have not yet introduced my new partner from Columbia, Efrain Mosquera. He is twenty-five years old and has been on the Xtreme Team for quite some time. He is rather quiet and usually does not say something if he truly does not mean it. In many ways he has no fear by what he says and has told me many times that I am fat. But even more importantly he is fearless with the Gospel and I have not met anyone else in my life with a better relationship with Christ. Efrain spends hours and hours with the Father and is always trying to be closer to His presence and this has greatly challenged my walk.

This time of waiting and anticipation has been somewhat tough on Efrain. Though as usual he has found a way to grow through it. He wrote this on our computer almost as open journal blog and shared it with me. I deeply moved me and I hope that it will inspire in you in the same way.

¨This is a letter that I am writing no with my own hand or fingers but it is through a keyboard.

I am in my last days of this year and it started to become very slow; the difference is that every day we or really I am a little different inside, and have more become intense in my prayers for these days the spiritual battle is growing in me, I feel that I am in a war without quarter, many times, the arrows of the enemy has harmed me. However, I recognized who God is and has raised me to continue the good fight of faith, not in my strength but in Christ´s, and die every day taking the hard and heavy cross. This part has been the most difficult because I am found with two sides inside: the Spirit and the Flesh. The Bible says that these two are in opposition, the point is that GOD has given me the capability to choose good or evil. But at times I do not choose the good, always aksing God to please help me be crucified just like Jesus did...once and forever. The small struggles will prepare me for the greater battles and of course continue in God with His Word.

The date to leave the community has passed but we keep praying because we have the hope of going and sharing the Gospel. Now we are here in the house and personally I am bored. This time I have used to learn a story, the story of disobedience of man in Quechua. This is a serious thing to learn. The thing is that God has given me the ability to do this because he knows that this is for His Glory, and Miguel°, my new partner already knows the story of creation in Quechua, and told me that he feels a peace waiting for the moment to leave. We think that this time God is using to protect us from some danger or is preparing the hearts of those who will hear the Gospel of Christ, or even working in our hearts.

I dreamed about my old friend from High School, and the made me pray for him, and for all of my friends from my High School. I don´t know if they are living, but it is my desire and the desire of God that they receive salvation like God has had mercy on me. It is something so beautiful to wake every morning and know that it is for the goodness of God that I can or we can enjoy one day more and know that this day we will have the opportunity to give glory to God. In my Study Bible I am in Ezekiel. It is a serious thing to be a prophet of God, but also, is even more serious to be far from God and not know that God is God and always wants the best for his chosen people.

I miss my family, but this morning I learned one more time that if you don´t hate your most beloved and totally give your obedience to God, you simply cannot be his Disciple. LORD, this is my prayer I give to you every day, without reservations or conditions, in the middle of society that every time I am in sin, LORD, I need you deeply to help me walk in this world with your light and your truth and in this way be light and truth to many people that know nothing of you. Only for your Glory. Thanks for your faithfulness and your forgiveness in Jesus, Amen.¨

- Efrain Mosquera

°¨Miguel¨ is my name in Spanish and the name all the Latinos use for me.

I translated the letter so I know there are many errors. I just hope that his message was a clear picture of a man after God´s own heart. Please pray for us as we try to stay sharp and find our satisfaction in the Lord everyday.

All Things and Donkeys

I used to love to write in my journal. I could express all the joy that lived in me always impossible to contain. I lost a lot of love for many things in my life. This did not result because of my lack of love for the things of the world but rather a lack of love for The Savior. Interestingly how it works: The more love I had for my LORD the more I was able to love all things. It is like my love for Him only enabled me to love more and more. But as time passes and as we finite, fallible creatures succumb to our own weakness we start looking to the result instead of the source. And as that happens we lose all. Of course it would be wrong to look at the Savior only for His benefits, but I believe that is what is so beautiful about our relationship with Him. That as we make Him our all, our everything, when we truly abide in Him and our joy rests in Him we are able to even enjoy those things that we might find otherwise boring or irrelevant. With God at the center of our heart, our True joy, it is as if we see the world through a different lens. I can enjoy all things because in all things He is my joy.

This was an excerpt from my journal while I was in the community. Some things are just that much clearer away from all the hustle and demands of the city. I believe that same day we had to round up some donkeys and they ended up running away from us making it to the well (the same one we drank out of). After many amusing attempts by the two gringos and the whole village getting a front seat at the very new and very ineffective techniques of rounding up donkeys we finally managed to bring them home. I used to think Donkeys were interesting creatures but after that experience I understood why their name became a pejorative term.

Either way, I have found that when we simplify things in life much of our worries fade into the background and we can have a better picture of the Savior.

Greatest Day of Eleanor

I apologize for the delay in writing. I know there is much time that elapses between blogs but I do appreciate your visits. The delay comes from an overall apathy mixed with indifference. My partner and I were supposed to be in the communities over a week ago but due to political unrest we have had to wait.

It has been as if I have been sleep walking these past few days waiting for life to wake me up. I feel as if I need to confront God and just come to His burning presence.

In that burning I have found that I have placed my significance on the conditional, various circumstances, the changing of the season. I am left wanting because I don´t find myself in the Unconditional. But here is the grind: When I am not ¨serving¨ God or in a sense doing my work I find my life without meaning as if I am drifting. This begs to imply that my significance depends on my work, my actions instead of God Himself. Another form of idolatry that is very subtle as it stands in the high places far away from the throne. I believe if I cannot find my meaning, my worth in Him right now when all I can do is be then all my work and service in His Name is shallow and in a sense defiled.

Maybe e that is what I am finally learning. This could be the lesson that I must learn before I move on or at least just face the day given to me. That who I am is not based on what I do as much as my position before Christ. The nearer I am to His Presence the more I am capable to do His work and the purer the work will be. My significance lies within the Heart of God.

I named the title of this blog after the Smashing Pumpkins´ song, ¨Today.¨ When I was in High School I used to blare this song before school everyday and claim the lyrics for myself: ¨Today is the greatest day I have ever known.¨ Though of course the first time I heard this song with my boy, Dino, I thought ole Billy was saying, ¨Today is the greatest day of Eleanor.¨ I thought, ¨Who is Eleanor and why is the day so great to her?¨ I always thought this would be a great name of a book or something.

Either way I am learning the preciousness of each day because I am finding that preciousness in Christ. The days and seasons are just waves breaking against the immovable rock. I find that the greatness in the day is because of the greatness of the Savior.

So celebrate with Eleanor and me in the greatest day we´ve ever known.