1. I saw God Almighty in the Jahango Fair in a very curious way! How everyone in this world form part of God’s plan and how even the cultures can worship God in their own cultural songs and dances. At the fair, they were showing some of the traditional dances of the Jahango culture. But I really imagine how humans in terms of their own culture can worship God. The creation worships the Creator.
2. That both cultures have the very alike cultural laws in terms of religion, the poor Christianity in there, I mean, less than 5% of the population are Christian, so it’s interesting how Jahango and Kenyans are so alike in cultural terms, they have both African influences, so I think that maybe the reason for it.
3. First of all, I think that the Galvez will face a language challenge. As they have to learn the language of the place they will go in Guinea. Also, the food may be a challenge as well, at the Jahango Fair there was this food that was typical from that culture, I didn’t taste it though, but for me it didn’t look very tasty, weird aspect...weird smell! So, the Galvez need to get used to this kinda food. Also I think that a challenge for them may be the clothes that they used in there, not for them but for their kids! They have small children and as they are growing this is the medium that they will be involved too.
sábado, 30 de mayo de 2009
sábado, 23 de mayo de 2009
A Community of the Broken
1. For us to be a step in the right direction, we need to understand really what the “church” is. This word means literally “assembly”, in which we can infer that requires a group of people reunited for the Lord. Church is people; Paul talks about in the Bible of the church as a metaphor of a human body: different parts, but all working together for the same goal. We are the head of the body in this mission trip, there are different parts of it, but all of them work together for the same. If people stop thinking about themselves, if WE stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking as a group, as individual parts, all of us will be collaborating for the goal to be accomplished.
2. It’s very important because in the case of this trip becoming a “sanctified tourism”, we would be people that are going to serve rather than servants. Sanctified tourism means that this is a temporary trip; literally it is a short-term mission trip, but not a mission that will not last on our lives or in their lives and this is what sanctified tourism will turn our trip into. We really need to avoid this by our preparation for this trip, knowing all the context of what missions are and most important, feed ourselves with the Bible in which we will find all truth especially in Paul’s life.
3. Other ideas that struck in this article were:
• WMF strives to cultivate a mosaic of diverse Christian community--> not only this organization but ALL of us need to have this principle in our lives instead of living by prejudice.
• And it is only when women and men work together that we demonstrate the wholeness of Christ’s body-->Galatians 3:28, I didn’t realize that we demonstrate the wholeness of Christ’s body this way, but as I read this verse, it just got clear to me. We as a team of men and women need to work together for this principle to be true in our lives and work. We are committed to show the wholeness of Christ’s body.
2. It’s very important because in the case of this trip becoming a “sanctified tourism”, we would be people that are going to serve rather than servants. Sanctified tourism means that this is a temporary trip; literally it is a short-term mission trip, but not a mission that will not last on our lives or in their lives and this is what sanctified tourism will turn our trip into. We really need to avoid this by our preparation for this trip, knowing all the context of what missions are and most important, feed ourselves with the Bible in which we will find all truth especially in Paul’s life.
3. Other ideas that struck in this article were:
• WMF strives to cultivate a mosaic of diverse Christian community--> not only this organization but ALL of us need to have this principle in our lives instead of living by prejudice.
• And it is only when women and men work together that we demonstrate the wholeness of Christ’s body-->Galatians 3:28, I didn’t realize that we demonstrate the wholeness of Christ’s body this way, but as I read this verse, it just got clear to me. We as a team of men and women need to work together for this principle to be true in our lives and work. We are committed to show the wholeness of Christ’s body.
Aligning with God's 21st century moves
I’ll get the record straight here, I really couldn’t listen all of Rev. Gary Edmonds message! It was a lil bit late when I got to the church and I seated all the way back in the fellowship hall, so I couldn’t listen very well there, but, I did listen what I think it was the main point of the message about Aligning with God’s 21st century moves and his point will definitely be useful as we prepare for our trip. Reverend spoke about a very important point about Matthew 28: 19, here Jesus told us to go to all peoples everywhere and make them disciples, but some Christians have seriously grabbed this verse to do this instead of a main thing that Jesus told us to do ever more times in the Scriptures. I wanna highlight that is not incorrect that the Christians grab this verse to make disciples, but is not the only thing: Jesus told us more times in the Bible to go and follow Him. Both are really important and they complement each other, but the contrast here is that one represents doing something and the other one represent being something, just like the paradigm shift between servants vs. people that serve. To follow Jesus states who we are as persons, and then we act in order from who we are, instead of making disciples only. In other words is not all about making disciples only, but to follow Jesuschrist; that will form us, fill us and determine our character as Christians and will definitely align us with God so much better: the truest preparation we need (It’s nothing against the sessions of preparation Jeff, they are cool and necessary, but indeed the only One who can change our mindset and can prepare ourselves is God!). Let’s remember that the only thing that Jesus wants from us is our hearts. I speak for the team by saying that we are definitely committed to follow Him!
miércoles, 20 de mayo de 2009
Part I: Jeff's Challenge
1. About the statement that we are going to Mancora because we are servants rather than to only serve, I can see it very clearly now. WE are servants, which mean that our duty as servants is to serve always, because that’s what we are. But we if we are going to Peru only to serve, means that is like we are going there to serve for a week and that’s it, we come back to Panama and we keep going with our lives. That’s not the point of this trip. We as servants, serve is our duty. If you can’t notice the difference, I got a great example: is not the same someone that talks about God, than someone that’s a Christian. Someone that talks about God, maybe is a person that know something very superficially about It, maybe between friends that subject arose and He knew a little bit about It, but someone that’s a Christian talks about God because that’s who he is, a newborn person in Christ that is going to do what God told us Christians to do..It’s the same as servants vs. people that is going to serve; we are doers instead of people that are going to do something. This can be connected to “We cannot truly serve those who we don’t know and love” because as servants we must be fully capacitated and willing to truly serve. If we are going to serve only, we can do it without knowing or even loving someone, but if we are going to TRULY serve (as servants do) we must do it with all the qualities of a servant : establishing relationships with people, being with them, loving them..THEN we are TRULY serving.
2. I’ll have to choose three questions that I hope this trip gives me more insight to: What’s the impact of culture on faith? What’s wrong with this world? Where am I going?
I know that God teaches us through experiences, vivid experiences; the Bible is full of those experiences in the lives of Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Job and a lot more. Our prayer should be like to be more like Jesus, simple, but it should also requires that we have to die everyday, to be less like us every single day to be more like Jesus. What we are going to see in this trip may change our lives forever, God indeed is going to teach us through His church over there, but our heart needs to be willing and open to be able to be transformed by Him. I have no idea what I’m going to see over there, but I do wanna see life and the gospel different because of what I’ve experienced: I do want to change more. Why? Because I know I struggle in some parts of life that I need to change, and most important, God knows me so much more than I do, and I know He wants to show me the areas of my life that He dislikes. I want to open my heart to God for Him to transform me more.
All of us are Christians, some of us maybe know much than others, but still we are able to learn so much more. Some subjects are so complex that maybe we’ll not know the whole complexity of them such like: poverty, justice, and the causes of suffering. When God brings us to a place like Mancora, when we are obedient to His word, the Holy Spirit shows us a lot of things that makes us better as Christians, as we know more of His Word, His purpose for His church: the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about God (John 16: 13). So it’s biblical that the Holy Spirit leads us to all truth. What I’m going to see on this trip, I hope that God reveals to me and show me all these themes that seem so bad for the world, honestly I think that’s our sinful nature that make this world go rotten, and it’s because of sin that all of these horrible things developed, but indeed there’s a purpose for them. Why? I’d really like to be full-extras Christian, even the wiser man knows nothing compared to God, but still, learning about this stuff will make my faith go stronger, and all the seeds of doubt that the devil wants to put in my mind, will be worthless as my faith and spirit goes stronger and mature. Also, learning about this make our testimony more effective, it’s very difficult to talk about this stuff to the non-believers, they immediately question that if there’s a God that loves us, why are so many things as wars, poverty, world hunger, etc.? WE CAN’T BE QUIET AS CHRISTIANS HERE! These are things we need to know, not only to make ourselves stronger, but to be a truthful testimony.
There’s a purpose for all of the members of this team going to Mancora. As God reveals to us, He will teach us not only about His church over there, but ourselves too! Indeed, He is going to call us specifically in our lives, in which way does He wants us to be, to do, to go, etc. Maybe some of us will learn much more about the stronger points of there vocation and the reason of this is because we are going to be obedient to the Word of God as the servants we are, God loves us so much, that He will show us to way of the calling in our lives. Sooner or later, everyone will face God and, as we face Him right now in obedience, He’ll lead of to His way. Maybe some missionaries are going to be born in this trip. I’d really want God to show me where am going, because as a Christian, I’d really want to know where am going, am a student of industrial engineering and I feel very comfortable with that, but I know, that God wants to use me someway and use my skills for His Kingdom, but I don’t know where and when or in which way! I wanna stand still in the everlasting rock and this trip will show me fully or a glimpse of where am I going.
2. I’ll have to choose three questions that I hope this trip gives me more insight to: What’s the impact of culture on faith? What’s wrong with this world? Where am I going?
I know that God teaches us through experiences, vivid experiences; the Bible is full of those experiences in the lives of Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Job and a lot more. Our prayer should be like to be more like Jesus, simple, but it should also requires that we have to die everyday, to be less like us every single day to be more like Jesus. What we are going to see in this trip may change our lives forever, God indeed is going to teach us through His church over there, but our heart needs to be willing and open to be able to be transformed by Him. I have no idea what I’m going to see over there, but I do wanna see life and the gospel different because of what I’ve experienced: I do want to change more. Why? Because I know I struggle in some parts of life that I need to change, and most important, God knows me so much more than I do, and I know He wants to show me the areas of my life that He dislikes. I want to open my heart to God for Him to transform me more.
All of us are Christians, some of us maybe know much than others, but still we are able to learn so much more. Some subjects are so complex that maybe we’ll not know the whole complexity of them such like: poverty, justice, and the causes of suffering. When God brings us to a place like Mancora, when we are obedient to His word, the Holy Spirit shows us a lot of things that makes us better as Christians, as we know more of His Word, His purpose for His church: the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about God (John 16: 13). So it’s biblical that the Holy Spirit leads us to all truth. What I’m going to see on this trip, I hope that God reveals to me and show me all these themes that seem so bad for the world, honestly I think that’s our sinful nature that make this world go rotten, and it’s because of sin that all of these horrible things developed, but indeed there’s a purpose for them. Why? I’d really like to be full-extras Christian, even the wiser man knows nothing compared to God, but still, learning about this stuff will make my faith go stronger, and all the seeds of doubt that the devil wants to put in my mind, will be worthless as my faith and spirit goes stronger and mature. Also, learning about this make our testimony more effective, it’s very difficult to talk about this stuff to the non-believers, they immediately question that if there’s a God that loves us, why are so many things as wars, poverty, world hunger, etc.? WE CAN’T BE QUIET AS CHRISTIANS HERE! These are things we need to know, not only to make ourselves stronger, but to be a truthful testimony.
There’s a purpose for all of the members of this team going to Mancora. As God reveals to us, He will teach us not only about His church over there, but ourselves too! Indeed, He is going to call us specifically in our lives, in which way does He wants us to be, to do, to go, etc. Maybe some of us will learn much more about the stronger points of there vocation and the reason of this is because we are going to be obedient to the Word of God as the servants we are, God loves us so much, that He will show us to way of the calling in our lives. Sooner or later, everyone will face God and, as we face Him right now in obedience, He’ll lead of to His way. Maybe some missionaries are going to be born in this trip. I’d really want God to show me where am going, because as a Christian, I’d really want to know where am going, am a student of industrial engineering and I feel very comfortable with that, but I know, that God wants to use me someway and use my skills for His Kingdom, but I don’t know where and when or in which way! I wanna stand still in the everlasting rock and this trip will show me fully or a glimpse of where am I going.
sábado, 16 de mayo de 2009
Part Two..Experiencing Life At The Margins
1- There were three principal ideas that caught my mind a lot. Avoiding being at the center. We may go to Peru and I remember Jeff told us once that we would prefer not being seen as rockstars or something, because we are people, the same as them. Maybe unconsciously we would out ourselves at the center, cuz we are kinda like the guests in Peru, and we are going to do do and do, BUT we may avoid this, because we are just people as they are, and we both are instruments to the Kingdom of God, so let's put the pride away! Relationships. Peru mission trip 101, this is what this trip is founded on, relationships! The interesting point here is the humbleness behind the relationships, let's just be in Peru to be with them, that's what's going to make flow the Holy Spirit over them so they can be helpful to other churches as well. Jesus came here to die for us so we can be saved..it's true, but even during his ministry He wasn't just making disciples in everywhere He went, He was with His people, healing the sick, visiting the poor..taking care of His sheep. 2- Let us follow The example and THIS is what is going to aplly to us in Mancora, RELATIONSHIPS!. Maybe the point that talks about Americans understanding the main challenge facing Africa is not going to apply to us, but we as Panamenians can know the main challenge facing Peru! So we can be prepared and ready to help there as servants of The Lord. :)!
Part One..Commitments
I have no disagreements with the commitments on the list, each one is very truthful. Indeed, I have inclinations for some of these like for example the one that says !WE WILL stop thinking of short-term mission trips as a service to perform and see them as another expression of a seamless life of missional living that includes giving and receiving. It's a time to learn..." VERY accurate, we are not performing here, we form part of the body if Christ as instruments to serve, to contribute for the Kingdom, we will go to Peru to be teached by God ans His church over there. There's also another commitment that says this "WE WILL humble ourselves before God as His servants, and humble ourselves towards those we are serving as their servants, too." Let's be humble putting the pride away, maybe for some people is harder than others, but let us think this way: God, being the KING OF KINGS, living in His BIG KINGDOM, came here to this rotten world,to be..human! To feel pain, suffering, being tired, feel hunger, etc. And to die the way He die, hanging on a cross..for love? What a great example of being humble, for God and for His people.
"Our individual and team preparation will be characterized by putting God at the beggining, middle and end of everything we do"
"Our individual and team preparation will be characterized by putting God at the beggining, middle and end of everything we do"
sábado, 9 de mayo de 2009
O&O Summary
I would really like that these mission trip mold my life in every aspect: personal character, spiritual life, commitment to Jesus and preparation for his work. I already have a life changing experience, but indeed I would like that it could just grow more. I have no idea what I’m going to see or experience, but certainly I want that this trip mold extremely my spiritual life, so I can be stronger and mature in spirit: It’s never enough :). I’m sure that I’m not the only one that is expecting for this, I hope that every member of this team want to be more mature in spirit. At least in me, I know that will be great for the future tribulations and blessings!
Outcomes&Objectives :)
Outcomes: I absolutely agree with outcome number five that says: “The world is hungry for Jesus, and there are many ways we can be Jesus to the world.” The earth is yelling out loud for a Savior, but for some people in this world, they think they don’t need One, for others; they don’t know where or how to look and place their biggest needs; pleasures, security, treasures, their heart and soul in this world.. that’s rotten. And there are others, who know the Absolute Truth, and several sit on their faith by doing nothing about It, the rest do something to show everyone the Truth, but all these facts are surrounded by one: The world is starving for Jesus. As the Bible says, WE are the ambassadors of Jesus in this earth; He was the period to the pact between God and mankind: we can be saved and be healed by his wounds. God is so patient that He is waiting for everyone to know about this and even though that God can just make trees and stones talk about Him to others, He is so merciful that He uses us, so that our spirit can be in touch with the Holy Spirit, and we can feel reunited with the God that created us, just by doing his Word for Kingdom. If God make a stone yell: “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life”, that’ll be sure an amazing thing! But He wisely does the miracles that’ll be so much worth for the Kingdom; by flipping one person’s life 180 degrees and using the gifts that God himself gave to that person, so he can share to others about Him. Reading the Bible and having a great desire to be more like Jesus is a way that we can be Jesus to the world; He can do an amazing miracle by making the Mount Rushmore do this, but He uses a biggest miracle, I’ll say that’s the truest miracle: our lives.
I feel strong about objective number 2.5: I’m a rookie in missions so I really hope that I could learn more about the missions’ strategies. Objective number 4.2: I would really expect that through this trip God motivate me more about Christian world missions; I’m not saying that I’d turn in a missionary, but I can be part someway or somehow into missions. Objective number 4.5: I would really like that all this characteristics could be involved in intercultural missionary service, but specially I would like that our preparation could just make stronger all these other (personal character, spiritual life, commitment) so that we can be spiritually stronger for this mission trip.
I feel strong about objective number 2.5: I’m a rookie in missions so I really hope that I could learn more about the missions’ strategies. Objective number 4.2: I would really expect that through this trip God motivate me more about Christian world missions; I’m not saying that I’d turn in a missionary, but I can be part someway or somehow into missions. Objective number 4.5: I would really like that all this characteristics could be involved in intercultural missionary service, but specially I would like that our preparation could just make stronger all these other (personal character, spiritual life, commitment) so that we can be spiritually stronger for this mission trip.
viernes, 8 de mayo de 2009
Say Your Prayers..
Hey Guys
I just wanna post a lil something here. Hillsong United, Pillar, and other bands have influenced in my life with their lyrics, and I think that's a great way God can talk to us: through music. I bought a CD a while ago called "Polarity" of a punk rock christian band that's called "The Wedding" and there's this song called "say your prayers" that honestly..it just pierce my soul!! Very regular punk rock band, good rythyms and a classic drumming style of punk, BUT..the lyrics of this song was like God himself took me, sat me on a chair and just spoke to me through this lyrics. This song is like a letter from God, a letter that many of us never thought that He could send us, or maybe some of us didn't even care about it. The chorus of this song I think that is a call from God to HIS CHURCH..I felt very identified with the chorus, maybe some of you will feel identified with some of the verses, but I just wanted to post the lyrics of this song because I think that this "letter" it's something that we as christians should remember always.
Imagine God saying you this...
Look at you now, just standing there like you think you’re something.
The lights are up and the crowd is looking your way.
Waiting for what you have to say.
Go ahead boy give them a little taste of hypocrisy, maybe a hint of blasphemy.
Whatever you’re preaching it isn’t Me.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let Me see how serious you are.
These people don’t look to me no more they’ve got their idols in various forms.
With lust in their eyes they crave for more.
Take their place with the corporate carnivores.
Oh, keep your focus for the day will come when everyone will give account for what they’ve done; make Me proud.
Make Me proud my son.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let Me see how serious you are.
Look at this broken world; look at my children.
Get ready go; sing to me the right song.
Look up say your prayers on the steps of the capitol.
Look up say your prayers, on your knees.
Look up say your prayers.
Look up say your prayers.
You wanted it to be like you always thought it would but all you seem to accomplish is the opposite.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let me see how serious YOU ARE!!
I just wanna post a lil something here. Hillsong United, Pillar, and other bands have influenced in my life with their lyrics, and I think that's a great way God can talk to us: through music. I bought a CD a while ago called "Polarity" of a punk rock christian band that's called "The Wedding" and there's this song called "say your prayers" that honestly..it just pierce my soul!! Very regular punk rock band, good rythyms and a classic drumming style of punk, BUT..the lyrics of this song was like God himself took me, sat me on a chair and just spoke to me through this lyrics. This song is like a letter from God, a letter that many of us never thought that He could send us, or maybe some of us didn't even care about it. The chorus of this song I think that is a call from God to HIS CHURCH..I felt very identified with the chorus, maybe some of you will feel identified with some of the verses, but I just wanted to post the lyrics of this song because I think that this "letter" it's something that we as christians should remember always.
Imagine God saying you this...
Look at you now, just standing there like you think you’re something.
The lights are up and the crowd is looking your way.
Waiting for what you have to say.
Go ahead boy give them a little taste of hypocrisy, maybe a hint of blasphemy.
Whatever you’re preaching it isn’t Me.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let Me see how serious you are.
These people don’t look to me no more they’ve got their idols in various forms.
With lust in their eyes they crave for more.
Take their place with the corporate carnivores.
Oh, keep your focus for the day will come when everyone will give account for what they’ve done; make Me proud.
Make Me proud my son.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let Me see how serious you are.
Look at this broken world; look at my children.
Get ready go; sing to me the right song.
Look up say your prayers on the steps of the capitol.
Look up say your prayers, on your knees.
Look up say your prayers.
Look up say your prayers.
You wanted it to be like you always thought it would but all you seem to accomplish is the opposite.
You wanna walk with Me, do ya?
You wanna walk with Me.
If you love Me then just love Me, don’t you give Me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let me see how serious YOU ARE!!
sábado, 2 de mayo de 2009
Assumptions!
I have to disagree with “We cannot truly serve those we do not know and love”, because I think as serving like not for people, but the souls of the people. The main goal of serving for God’s kingdom it’s to win more souls to Jesus, and for the souls that are already of Jesus, the goal will be like to mold them making their faith stronger. Of course I think it we need to know and love for serving, but I don’t think we can’t truly serve if we don’t have those. The principles of serving are surrounded by love, so we can perfectly serve to people we don’t know, and sometimes it’s easier, because we won’t fear total rejection and confronting them again. WE are disciples of Jesus, and we are called to do as the Bible describes the mission of the apostles: “Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near!’ Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.” “And if some home or town will not welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place and shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10: 7-8, 14). God gave us a way to serve with our gifts, and we didn’t have to pay for them, so we can truly serve always even if we don’t know people, because of what God gave us, LET’S DO THIS!
Assumption 2: BIG TRUTH. I’ll replace the word ‘neighborhood’ for ‘house’. We must be a team of our word through our actions, not just listeners but practicing the Word in our lives.
Assumption 7: I could learn in past experiences that we can learn even more that we can imagine by giving just a little, I can’t figure out right now what we could learn, by giving so much more. One of the reasons that I’m excited for going into this mission’s trip: As we serve, GOD WILL TEACH US A LOT ABOUT OURSELVES, OUR FAITH, ABOUT HIS CHURCH, and ABOUT LIFE.
Assumption 16: There’s a fact: we need to learn more and more through life about the Bible. Is not an exception to learn more for missions and this assumption develops a big truth that I learned reading a book called: “Hermeneutica Biblica” which means “Biblical Hermeneutics” that develops the way how we can study the Bible, the meaning and context of some words and also show the readers that we can’t be anachronistic studying It. Learning the cultural context of the biblical times, will teach us more not only about that culture, but what we can learn right now in the present, understanding better that past cultural context. =)
Assumption 2: BIG TRUTH. I’ll replace the word ‘neighborhood’ for ‘house’. We must be a team of our word through our actions, not just listeners but practicing the Word in our lives.
Assumption 7: I could learn in past experiences that we can learn even more that we can imagine by giving just a little, I can’t figure out right now what we could learn, by giving so much more. One of the reasons that I’m excited for going into this mission’s trip: As we serve, GOD WILL TEACH US A LOT ABOUT OURSELVES, OUR FAITH, ABOUT HIS CHURCH, and ABOUT LIFE.
Assumption 16: There’s a fact: we need to learn more and more through life about the Bible. Is not an exception to learn more for missions and this assumption develops a big truth that I learned reading a book called: “Hermeneutica Biblica” which means “Biblical Hermeneutics” that develops the way how we can study the Bible, the meaning and context of some words and also show the readers that we can’t be anachronistic studying It. Learning the cultural context of the biblical times, will teach us more not only about that culture, but what we can learn right now in the present, understanding better that past cultural context. =)
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