Working for just and honest relationships in a world filled with distrust, abuse, and pain is a task that can often bring discouragement and loneliness. \u00a0It can also bring confusion as we seek to discern how God is calling us to live, speak and act in the midst of it all. \u00a0As I reflect on our four years in Oaxaca, sometimes I struggle to see the light in the midst of darkness and to trust God to bring fruit from the seeds we and so many others have worked hard to plant.<\/p>\n
Sometimes I feel like the Servant Jesus from Isaiah, \u201c\u2018I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord\u2019s hand, and my reward is with God\u201d (Isaiah 49:4). \u00a0I can imagine Jesus feeling discouraged, lonely, confused and hurt as his closest friends abandoned him, betrayed him and denied him. \u00a0Yet, in spite of how he felt, he put his hope and trust in His Father.<\/p>\n
During this Holy week, I\u2019ve been reflecting on Isaiah 42, another one of the Servant Songs, and I\u2019d like to share a few verses here and my comments in italics:<\/p>\n
V. 4 – He will not falter or be discouraged until he establishes justice on earth. \u00a0In his teaching the islands will put their hope. \u00a0The Lord brings me hope as I am\u00a0reminded me that bringing justice to this earth isn\u2019t dependent upon us, but rather God has invited us to walk with Him and His church in extending His Kingdom of justice, love and hope.<\/i><\/p>\n
VV. 6-7 – I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand, I will keep you and will make you a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. \u00a0Verse 7 describes what\u00a0our ministry feels likes sometimes, but Christ\u00a0also must\u00a0open my eyes as he holds\u00a0my\u00a0hand and walks with me\u00a0into my own\u00a0darkness and that of the world.<\/i><\/p>\n
V. 8a – I am the Lord; that is my name! \u00a0I will not yield my glory to another. \u00a0That includes me! \u00a0Lord, may I never seek the glory that belongs only to you.<\/i><\/p>\n
V. 9 – See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. \u00a0This fills me with great hope that God indeed is doing new things here even though we struggle to see them spring into being.<\/i><\/p>\n
God certainly is at work here and one of the rays of light and hope that we see is MAEM, Ministering to the Abused and Exploited in Mexico, and the new group of church leaders we have started to train in this ministry. \u00a0We invited each Covenant Church from the valley as well as a few other denominations and non-profits to send one or two leaders from their church or organization to come and seek healing and training together, and the response was greater than we expected. \u00a040 people are attending the training! \u00a0We are also excited to have 6 men participating in the training, as well as many young people! \u00a0What joy and hope we experience in seeing so many leaders with a desire to seek God\u2019s healing in their own lives in order to help bring healing to others. \u00a0May God use this ministry to bring about just and healthy relationships in our families, churches and communities.<\/p>\n
Would you join me in prayer today for the Covenant church in Oaxaca and Mexico? Please pray for God to continue His work of bringing justice, healing and love to the church so that they may be a beacon of hope and light to the world around them? \u00a0Would you also pray for the missionaries here that we may have the same hope and trust in our Father as Jesus did\u00a0in spite of the circumstances around us and that we would model healthy, just relationships with each other and those with whom we minister?\u00a0Finally, please pray for our family as we come to the end of our 4 year term and get ready to leave for\u00a0home assignment. \u00a0Pray that we have God\u2019s eyes to see the ministry here as He does, so that we may be able to communicate with our partners in the U.S the struggles of ministry and the signs of God\u2019s work with joy, truth\u00a0and hope. \u00a0Gracias!<\/p>\n
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