Even in the middle of suffering

A blog entry from Julio!

After a great few days of vacation with my family, I was ready to visit some of the churches on the coast of Colombia (an area where the Covenant Churches are economically poor) with renewed energy. My plans were to visit 5 pastors and spend time with them, to talk about how we could serve alongside of them in ministry. However, I quickly learned my plans were not God’s plans. I was visiting my second church and had just laid down to sleep when my phone ran at 11pm. It was one of those phone calls you dread receiving – one of my cousins had been killed in an accident in my hometown. The next morning, first thing I left immediately by bus to be with my family to give and receive comfort.

This painful event created a space for our family to reflect, to experience unity and above all a time when Jesus was made known. God gave me the tremendous gift to be able to spend 2 nights with my family, as well as be there for the funeral service. The majority of people who were with us in this time of grieving would not consider themselves to be followers of Jesus. I had the opportunity to share about the fragility of life and how we are here today, but don’t know what tomorrow will bring. That Jesus invites us to come to him and rest to enjoy the gift of life that has been given to us, because we never know when God will call us home. Two nights I was able to share the Gospel of Jesus in the midst of pain and grief and I know that a seed was planted in the hearts of many. It was amazing to be able to pray and lead others in prayer.

On my third day in El Bagre (my hometown), fellow missionary Gary Sander, as well as two visitors from the States, Pastor Bob and Paul, came to visit the Covenant Church. God in a very special way gave me the opportunity to go and talk with the director of my high school and we were able to talk about the possibility of partnering with the school in the future to help train English teachers. We were also able to visit with the Director of Planning for the town (who was a classmate of mine) and he shared about the needs of the town and the areas he sees that collaboration is possible. We were able to pray for him and the town. We were also able to meet with the newly elected mayor (also a friend of mine from high school). We talked about the different ways that the church could partner with the various projects in the city. It was a great discussion and we finished our time together praying.

 

Julio with the mayor of his hometown

 

Julio with Bob and Paul outside his high school

 

In the middle of a difficult time for my family, God opened the doors for the Gospel to be shared and also for a connection to be made between government officials in the town and the church to explore ways of collaborating together for the good of the community. How exciting to see the doors opening to be able to bring groups and people from North America to serve in this community of 65,000 people where there is so much economic and spiritual need. Please communicate with us if you would be interested in helping to train English teachers!

Spanish Version –

Jesús se da a conocer en medio del dolor

Después de unas buenas vacaciones con la familia,  visitar algunos pastores y líderes de las iglesias del Pacto en la Costa Sur (área donde están las iglesias del Pacto más pobre económicamente hablando)  sería un buen tiempo para comenzar en nuevas fuerzas. Mis planes era visitar unos cinco pastores, compartir tiempo con ellos  y ver como servir mejor juntos en el ministerio. Sin embargo en mis planes no eran los planes del Señor y en la segunda visita cuando ya estaba en mi cama a las 11 de la noche recibí una  llamada de esas que uno no desea recibir. Un primo había muerto en un accidente traigo en mi pueblo natal.  A primera hora del otro día salí inmediatamente a estar con mi familia y poder ser consolado y consolar con el consuelo que el señor nos da.

Este doloroso momento se convirtió en un momento de reflexión familiar, unidad y sobre todo un momento en que el señor fue dado a conocer. Dios me regalo la gran oportunidad de compartir dos noches durante el servicio funeral. La mayoría de los que hicieron parte de este tiempo no eran seguidores de Jesús.  Compartir sobre la fragilidad de la vida y como hoy la tenemos y mañana tal vez no. Que Jesús nos invita a venir a él y descansar él en porque nunca sabemos el momento en el que el don de la Vida que fue dado por Dios sea nuevamente tomado por él.  Dos noches compartí eso y el evangelio de Jesús fue proclamado en medio del dolor y siento que la semilla el evangelio fue sembrada.

Por otro lado, el tercer día de estar con familia y amigos en mi pueblo natal, Gary Sander, Bob y Paul  llegaron para estar conmigo y visitar las iglesias del Pacto en el bagre. Dios de una forma especial me llevo a hablar en el director de la escuela donde estudie y compartir la posibilidad de trabajar con ellos en la capacitación de profesores de ingles para el municipio. También nos reunimos con el director de planeación y desarrollo del pueblo (el cual fue mi compañero de estudio) y compartirnos sobre las grandes necesidades del pueblo y al final oramos juntos. De Igual forma nos ruñimos con el alcalde del pueblo (un buen amigo mío) y también mostro su interés en servir juntos por el bienestar de toda la comunidad del pueblo. Al final de la conversación también oramos juntos.

En medio del dolor Dios abrió puertas para que el evangelio fuera proclamado y también posibilidades para que personas que están en posición de alto poder en el Municipio abrieran sus corazones  a las posibilidades de que la iglesia del Pacto por medio de quipos misioneros pueda servir a una comunidad de 65.000 habitantes que es la población del Municipio y donde hay mucha necesidad económica y espiritual. Gloria a Dios

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3 thoughts on “Even in the middle of suffering

  1. Qué agradable es oir informes positivos como este a pesar de la pena de haber perdido un ser querido. Me hizo recordar lo que nuestro Dios nos dice en Romanos 8:28 que El dispone las cosas para que todo funcione para el bien de los que lo aman…Bendiciones mi hermano Julio para ti y la famia!!

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  2. What a beautiful testimony to God’s abundant grace — even or perhaps especially in times of deep pain and suffering. Julio, your openness to being used by God in such ways is an inspiration to me. May we all continue to be surprised by grace at every turn. Grace and peace and hope and continued courage to speak and live the good news of Jesus be yours today and always.

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