Final Day

THIS WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN ON TUESDAY BUT WE HAD NO INTERNET TO UPLOAD....

As I write this it is our last day on the work site. I am sitting in the "tree house" with Pastor Dori and her husband. She is cooking our morning snack while I write. She and I have grown close during these 2 weeks, even though we do not understand each others spoken language. Honestly, that has made little difference.

She is the Pastor of this small, country church where we have been working. She walks miles up and down the mountain, on the dirt roads we have been traversing, hosting bible studies for the people who live here. She preaches the word of God with fervor, and when she prays out loud, I can imagine God leaning forward on His throne to hear her more clearly and then sending His angels to answer her prayers... I perceive this, and know that it is true, even though I cannot understand what she is saying. The spirit of God surrounds this place like nowhere else I have been, and He is clearly working through this amazing woman.

As we close out our trip we will share communion with the folks in this community. We will serve the bread and the juice to each other. There will be no discussion, or debate, about the order of worship or the book of order. There will be no liturgical rules to follow either. We will simply share  and pray with each other, as one body of Christ, united in His love and grace.

The pictures below show the final results of our works, but more importantly, it shows the unity of the Body I have written about throughout this trip. I suspect you can see the love shared almost as much as we felt it on the Mountain, outside of Cali, Colombia.

Pastor Dori at her surprise birthday party.

Mike cleaning brick after Tony laid them.

Tony and Leanard finishing up one side of the wall.

Juan Pablo, our mascot.

Me mixing concrete.

Children at bible school.

Debbie with baby Samuel.

The bricks are done! At least on that side. :)

Mike and the local boys.

Tony and John determining the work for the final day.

The whole team and the locals who helped us.

Unity

THIS WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN MONDAY BUT WE HAD NO INTERNET ACCESS TO UPLOAD....

When I first started writing today's blog, it was going to be factual, with an outline of what we have accomplished and how we have been spending our time. After typing the first paragraph, I reconsidered and deleted the details. In reality, that doesn't matter.  Yes, we have accomplished some great things. We did build an attractive and functional back wall for the sanctuary and made some other esthetic and functional improvements as planned, but, in the end, that is not what matters.

What I now know matters, really matters, is the unity of believers and the building of relationships based on the love of Christ. This is true of the team in and of itself, but even more so between the worshipers of Cali and our team. The strong connecting bond created by a common belief is strong, but the connecting bond created by the cross of Jesus is the ultimate in strength and unity.

Leaving the work site tomorrow for the final time will be extremely difficult for me. I feel at home here and I know I have been right where God has wanted me to be. He has taught me much in the past 2 weeks, about myself, about what matters and about how He would have me live my life.

In my first blog I wrote about the strong call I felt to come on this particular trip. I felt that I was being beckoned by God himself to "come away" with Him. He has indeed met me here and, when I return home, I must adjust my life so that I can be open to His leading day by day, minute by minute. I suspect that will be difficult, but I sincerely pray that I won’t lose grasp of this all important lesson.

Below I have pasted some pictures from yesterdays' worship service which was held in the the Mountain church. We returned to work today and made a mess again, but you will see how beautifully they cleaned up the site for the service. Enjoy!

The alter the parishioners erected in the middle of the construction site.

Tony and Pastor Dori serving communion.

Music for the service.

Tony preaching in front of the Wall.

Tony and I singing at the service with the Wall as the backdrop.

Banners on the Wall.

Me with one of the ladies in the community./

 

Worlds Collide

Worlds Collide

The youngest member of our team turned 19 today. Her name is Jessica Jones and she is on this trip with her parents, Jeff and Debbie. She is an amazing young woman with a great sense of humor. She loves the Lord and works hard, and we have all grown to love her like she is our own.

Unfortunately for her she is currently taking an online summer school class and has had two exams and several projects due during our time in Colombia. At her professor's request, I am serving as her proctor for the tests. Technology has made this possible, although it has added significant stress to Jessica's life :)

Today was the day she had to complete her final exam (yes, on her birthday). It had to be turned in by 5pm EST, which is 4pm here. This presented several challenges since our work schedule is 8:30am - 6:00pm, in the mountains far from the city where there is no wifi. We brainstormed several ideas as to how to make this work, and ended up borrowing a "hotspot" from one of the church members in the city.

This actually worked and she was able to take the exam this morning sitting in the "treehouse" which barely has running water. I then emailed the document back to the professor in South Carolina before the deadline.

The  juxtaposition of the hotspot in the treehouse has had me shaking my head all day. This world is so very small technologically, with information instantly disseminated around the world, yet we still live worlds apart from people like those we have grown to love here in Cali.

The homes most of us live in would be considered mansions here, and the thought of owning more than one vehicle would be laughable. We use our technology constantly to stay in touch and stay aware, yet there are millions of people around the globe who have not heard the gospel of Christ.

Jessica is fortunate to live in a time when technology made a simultaneous summer school class and an international mission trip possible. In fact, she doesn't remember a time when something like this wasn't possible, thanks to the internet and personal computing. I pray that her generation will use this technology, in ways we have not, to spread the good news of Jesus without apology, worldwide.

Why? Because Jesus is the one constant, predictable thing in this world. He is our savior and redeemer, healer and comforter. He was fully God and fully Man and chose to die so we could live. His resurrection power is in us and should drive us to share what we have in Him with all the world.

Can we leave our comfortable, safe world to spread His name? Not just worldwide, but around the corner? Are we truly doing all we can? The team has been asking this question since we arrived, and now I ask you. What else can you do in the name of Christ, answering the call to spread the good news?

Settling In

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. With that in mind, most of this blog post will simply be pictures, with captions that will hopefully give you a feel for how we have been spending our time. But first, I had a thought I wanted to share...

We have reached the point in our work here where the end is not quite in sight, but the work is actually getting harder. The adrenalin has worn off and it is now taking true determination and drive to push forward. It is a matter of will to continue with this difficult work, and there have been times when each of us has felt some frustration. But, push forward we will.

This is not so different than our lives as Christians. Sometimes our faith walk can take true determination and drive. Often times walking with Christ is matter of will. Step by step, day by day, Jesus is with us even when we may not "feel" like it. We know He is with us here, and I know He is with you as well... even when the "new" has worn off. Trust Him.... We are!

Enjoy the pics!

Stained glass Bob made for local church.

Jeff and Leonard during Siesta.... I was sleeping :)

Sleeping Pastor during Siesta... He hogs the hammock.

Isabel, our guide and translator, explaining the plan to Debbie.

Jessica, poor girl, preparing for a summer school exam during our break.

Jeff, Al, Ricardo and Roberta mixing concrete.

Leonard and Isabel on the truck heading up the mountain.

Ray and Tony on the bus.

Becky hanging on tight.

Mike, Ray, Tony and John building a concrete form.

Kids playing soccer after bible school.

Work area where we build the steel columns.

Leonard was blessed today with a new grand-babygirl back in SC. We had a birthday party for baby McKenzie.

In the Throne Room

With open hearts, Jesus is glorified in worship, even if there is a language barrier. I have never seen this concept more beautifully proven than at church here in Cali yesterday. We attended church in downtown Cali at the church that planted the Mountain Church where we are working. The members of the Mountain church traveled into the city to worship with us, and the church members in the city welcomed us with open arms and hearts for Christ.

What moved me the most, I think, was the genuineness of the worship. I understood very few of the song lyrics or the spoken words, but both spoke to my heart in a way I have rarely experienced. The worship team consisted of three youngsters, one brother and two sisters, and elderly gentlemen on bongos.  They got lost a couple of times, and played some wrong notes here and there, but that was completely irrelevant.  They lead from their hearts and the congregation did as well.  The people responded as the spirit moved. If I ever wonder in the future what true worship looks like, all I will need to do is remember Cali and I will have my answer.

Ever song was preceded with scripture reading, and every song was a response to the Word. The pastor preached with passion and fervor for Jesus and His people. There was no doubt that these believers live and breathe the Word of God and it guides their every step. I was moved to tears as I realized how very rich these folks are, regardless of the poverty in which they live. They genuinely find their joy and strength in the Lord, and love simply pours out of them.

Today, we are back on the mountain working on the wall, but something has changed. We are now working with teammates and for folks with whom we have worshipped and shared communion. Although we were connected before, as believers, we are now believers who have worshipped together. We have been to the throne room together, and have been changed by the experience.

Today, we pour concrete and bend metal and move rocks, but what we are really doing is becoming the Body of Christ for this time and place. He is so present He may as well be holding a shovel.  I know He is pleased with what has happened, and I believe He will change each of us profoundly because of it.

As I write this we are taking an hour break from the truly backbreaking work. In the background I hear the sound of the waterfall at the bottom of the Mountain, and the sound of children playing in the woods. I hear the amazing ladies who have cooked for us cleaning in the outside kitchen where they cooked our meals. I smell the lemons on the lemon tree right below this balcony where I sit and I hear the birds singing in the banana tress. The view from here is beyond description and I am beginning to wonder how I will live away from this amazing place. My soul simply feels full here.

But, I know in my heart that it is the presence of God I cannot live without. This place has awakened that presence in my heart, and has filled me up. I realize God's presence is not unique to this place,  but I am unique while I am here. I know I am changed and pray for the strength and stamina to continue listening to His voice when we return home.

Me with Lucy and Clemente in the kitchen

Debbie, Jessica and Paula making a steel tower  for concrete.

Jeff, Bob and Tony contemplating...

First We Destroy!

Proof that Tony actually works on these trip!

Bare wall after we destroyed what was there before.

Stack of rocks (boulders) we removed from the wall

First We Destroy!

As it is with many construction projects, the first phase often involves destroying something. The project here in Colombia is no different and we have spent the first day and 1/2 dismantling a rock wall that served as the back wall of the sanctuary, or gathering place. The wall was literally built into the side of a mountain and erosion was making it unstable and unsafe. Thus, we took all the rocks off the wall, cleaned them for later use, and are now digging a trench and flattening the wall to build a more stable structure.  The dirt is hard, very much like Lake Murray clay, and the work is hard. But progress is being made, slowly but surely.

As I watched the wall be dismantled, while scrubbing the rocks that were taken down, I thought of the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4, verse 23 where he said that we should "be made new in the attitude of your minds.  Just as we are renewing this wall, making the space safer, more stable and more beautiful, Christ wants to take a spiritual pick-axe to our hearts and mind and make us new. His desire is to rid us of all things and thoughts that do not bring us closer to Him. He has the perfect design for our live, but we must be willing to have some parts of us destroyed in the process.

He may need to destroy thought patterns or habits. He may need to lead us to eliminate certain relationships in our lives that our not God honoring. He may need to tear down the walls around our hearts so He can show us how much He truly loves us. Bottom-line? There is always something in each of us He needs to destroy before He can begin to rebuild.

It is easy to think these thoughts and be so open to the leading of Christ in this beautiful place. The folks up in the hills above Cali love Jesus and love us because of Him. They live a remarkably simple life focused on surviving day to day, loving each other and worshiping Christ. They live so modestly it doesn't even translate into our culture. Their focus is so different than ours that it seems we may not even be a part of the same world. There is so very much to be learned from these Believers and I pray that I will absorb at least some of their spirit and genuine ability to love in the short time I am blessed to be here.

As is always the case, I am finding that I am being far more blessed by these folks than I even have the capacity to bless. Yes, we are accomplishing something that is needed for this body of believers, but you want to know the truth? Their ability to worship God and grow in Christ has absolutely nothing to do with the space in which they worship. It does not depend on a slick pastor or talented singer leading from up front. It solely depends on the truth in which the live and the genuineness of their belief in and love for Jesus. If I could only learn that on this trip.....

 

34,000 Feet

Well, we made it safe and sound..... tomorrow we visit the worksite but tonight we rest. I wrote the following while en route. I do hope you enjoy it! ________________________ As I write this we are cruising at 34000 just off the coast of Florida between Charlotte and Miami. I always find flying a fascinating experience, especially when I have a window seat and the skies are clear, as they are now. I also typically find flying a time of introspection and consideration. Looking out the window literally gives you a bird's eye view of life, but without the actual "life." You can see the towns and cities, the rivers and lakes and the very tiny cars traveling from one place to another. But, there is nothing personal involved as I look down, and I suspect as anyone down there looks up and catches a glimpse of this aircraft. Its like looking at a painting or a map, and no personal involvement is required. I fear many of us go through our actual lives this same way, particularly as we look around us at the people we don't know. Logically I know that most folks I encounter day to day have issues in their lives that are causing them pain, or at least frustration. I also know, spiritually, that many of them do not know Christ and have never felt the unmistakable touch of HIs healing in their lives. I have felt that touch, and am grateful for it, but I go through life way too often without sharing that knowledge with those who need it. My last blog entry touched on this somewhat, and I continue to think about the implications of this trip on us when we return home. I suspect its early for that, since we haven't even gotten to Colombia yet, but it seems to be where my mind and spirit keep returning. What does this trip mean for me long-term? What does it mean for the folks we will encounter and for my team-mates? What does God want to teach us, show us and work in us? How does He want this to change our lives in the long-run? I don't know the answers yet, and may not get them all in the next 2 weeks, but I do commit to paying attention, listening closely and looking for some clarity. I do believe, however, that clarity is something that comes only as a byproduct of action so I will keep "doing" and watch along the way. Once Jesus started His ministry, He committed to forward movement and to encountering diverse people. He grew his "team" and together they experienced the joys and occasional frustrations of ministry. The Cali team is already on the move, and I have no doubt that He will grow this team. I also know, based on experience, that we will have both joys and frustrations over the next 2 weeks but I have no doubt that our Leader will be with us step by step. Thank you for your prayers and stay tuned!

Almost Time!

We leave in less than 48 hours and I am almost packed! I have gotten all the shots, prescriptions, and tools I need so now we just have to get on the plane. I am quite excited!

For me the hardest part might be getting everything else ready... work stuff caught up, groceries purchased for my husband and kids, banks called, bills paid, email vacation messages typed, etc. It is surprising how much there is to do in order to free up 2 weeks of time to go do what God has called me to do. Pondering this reminded me of something....

Yesterday in church a couple shared their story about a recent decision to go into full-time mission work....locally. No they are not moving to a foreign land, but one of them left a fulltime job so he could work here in our community as a missionary, spreading the gospel with urgency through his actions and his words. This required an extreme sacrifice as they are now living on one salary and making daily sacrifices to do so.

I commend them for this decision and will pray for them as they embark on this journey. As for the Cali team, we all had to make some sacrifices to take this trip and do this work, but in 2 weeks we will return to our lives and pickup where we left off. I do pray, though, that when we return we will see our lives and our sphere of influence as our personal mission field in a way we haven't in the past. I genuinely ask God to break our hearts for what breaks His so we can come home with a new perspective on what he calls us to do every day. I know I need that reminder and I need a new view from my front porch!

Friends, as we make our final preparations, I ask for prayers for safety and stamina, and for our families back home to thrive while we are away. I pray that Jesus will be real to those we encounter, that His work be done and that we experience a "broken heart" for His glory!

View of the Old

Countdown to Cali Part 2: July 6, 2012

 

I moved offices today to make room for some additional staff that has joined my team at Newberry College. This move provides frontline office space for folks who work with our students day in and day out. It also moves me a little out of the way since I am now one of those people who spends most of her time in meetings elsewhere on campus, making decisions that impact those incredibly important frontline people. Alas, I no longer see students on a daily basis so it was best that I move and make room for those who do.

 

I did not move far, literally around the corner and no more than 20 steps away. Not a major move, at least in terms of distance, but still a substantial move in one respect. Although I may not have physically moved far, I do believe I traveled back in time.

 

You see, I was located in the newly renovated, bright and shiny "Learning Commons" where students use computers and tablets, meet together in small groups for project work, and everything is white and clean and new. Things hustle and bustle in the Learning Commons, mimicking our society's incessant sense of urgency.

 

Now, I am located on the other side of the building where actual books are still located in what we used to call the "stacks." Now, when I look out my office door I see books, very old books and there is nowhere to "power up" anything. I can smell the books and see them lined up neatly on the shelves, and that makes me smile.

 

I am always one for progress and new shiny technology. Anyone who know me will attest to that fact. As a matter of fact I am typing this blog on my ipad which is connected via bluetooth to my wireless keyboard. But what I really love is when the two, the old and the new, marry and create something completely original and beautiful. The Newberry College libary is such a creation.

 

While this is not a commercial for Newberry College, at least not an intentional one, it does help me make my point, at least I hope so. Let's see if this makes sense...

 

I suspect our upcoming trip to Cali will be a similar mix of old and new. The team itself is made up of youngsters, the youngest being 19 years old, along with more "seasoned" folks who have seen 80 come and go. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. We come from different backgrounds and will, no doubt, each bring a unique perspective to the work we are being called to do. The differing styles, experiences and expectations are likely to be as interesting as I currently find our library to be.

 

I also expect that the "American" way of doing things, which may be the newest and most efficient, at least in our eyes, is likely to be at odds with the traditional Colombian methods. I have seen this before, and I know that when those differences are put in the hands of God by folks with genuine servant hearts, a beautiful, new thing is created.  

 

I am quite excited to see what "creation" God has in store for us in the hills outside of Cali. I am thrilled to meet new friends, who may not understand a word I say. I am humbled by the opportunity to learn from them, while understanding very little Spanish. And, I am excited to see what God is up to in us, through us and around us.

I pray that we will not get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of our intended progress that we miss the beauty around us. I pray that we will listen more than talk and love more than "do."

 

Anticipating,

Jane

Countdown to Cali


Dear Reader: I decided to start this blog to chronicle the preparation for and completion of a mission trip to Cali, Colombia in July 2012. I am going on this trip with my big brother, Tony Rowell, who is the team leader and a Methodist pastor. I suspect I will continue the blogging when we return, but for now, it is focused on my thoughts and the teams actions as we carry out the call to GO.

Blessings, Jane

COUNTDOWN TO COLOMBIA  - July 25-August 8, 2012

Part 1: July 1, 2012

I am blessed beyond measure and live in the luxury of things, relationships and personal freedom that I too often take for granted. I have served the Lord in the comfort of my large, suburban church in my cozy, upscale community, rarely seeing the poverty and pain that pervades this planet. I sing of His glory and lift my hands in worship knowing full well that, in reality, as an unworthy sinner I have given very little. Where have I truly sacrificed? Have I actually given and served in ways that cost me anything, really?

 

Don't get me wrong, I do realize that serving at the local church is something we are clearly called to do and the scripture in anything but ambiguous on this topic. Hebrews 10:25 is clear:

 

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

But, I do believe that the local church and the body of Christ itself should feel a clear leading to extend beyond the local to the global, as the Spirit works in and around the members of the fellowship of Christ.

I have gone beyond our borders, both state and national, to serve on mission trips, but never alone as a simple participant. I have always been in charge of a group of children or youth, and my focus has been on them, honestly, not on the folks we were serving through the mission work itself. And, if I am completely honest, my actual attention was not on Christ as much as it was on the "growth" and "learning" the particular experience provided the youngsters attending. I believe God used me on these various trips despite my tilted focus, and lukewarm heart. He is God, after all, and can use even the most inconsistent and fuzzy Christians, even me. But, I suspect I did not gain from the experience in the ways I could have if I had chosen to allow Christ to work IN me and not just AROUND me.

 

But this time, I feel He is calling me to something else. Although I know we will be deliberately serving a small community in the hills outside of Cali, Colombia, I believe what God really wants from me this time is my full attention. As I write this I wonder if I have ever actually given that to Him. I clearly suffer from spiritual ADHD, and do honestly struggle with ever achieving a laser focus on God, His Word or His Son. I pray that His strength will enable me to truly focus this time.

 

This is an adults only trip, with no heads to count and no parents to consider. This time I will be working as a member of a team, not leading one, doing what those called to lead this trip tell me to do. This time I feel a call to "go" that is similar to being beckoned away on an intimate trip with a lover. I am excited and anxious, as I know deep in my heart that something profound is likely to happen in me, if I will only allow it.

 

Years ago, after a particularly difficult time in my life, God grabbed my attention with Psalm 18, although it took a whack in the head for me to slow down enough to listen. The following words, specifically, impacted me then, and pulled me out of a very self-centered funk.

 

Psalm 18: 27-30: "You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him."

 

These are the verses I claim as I embark on this journey. I pray that His light will outshine any darkness we encounter from within, as well as from our surroundings. I pray that all obstacles will be demolished by His mighty hand as He goes before us. And for me, I desperately pray that He will allow me to scale the walls that so often surround my heart. His Word and His love are flawless and perfect. In Him I do take refuge.

 

Stay tuned..... More to come.....

 

Seeking Him Fervently,

Jane