Back To Square One

Submitted by Jason

     Thursday night I visited the same small church that I mentioned in a previous post. Once again, I was delighted in, inspired by and convicted by their hunger and how a group of people that collectively have so little, (material possessions), give so much of themselves to the Lord in worship.
     The pastor shared a powerful message in James 4 while graciously translating throughout it's entirety in recognition of my attendance. Seemingly, every one of the adults took the time to shake my hand and welcome me following the service. Some struggled in conversation with me in that place where you step out of your comfort zone, fearlessly risking the discomfort and potential embarrassment of trying to communicate with someone in a language which is secondary to you. Others just smiled and blessed me in Spanish.
      Nothing blessed me more than the short conversation that I had with the pastor after the service. It was about 9:30 pm as the service ended. The pastor apologized for having to end our conversation abruptly because many of the congregation were climbing into the back of a box truck that he uses to drive them home. Gesturing in a general direction unfamiliar to me, he told me that some of them live up in those mountains and that he picks them up and drives them home. He also told me that the ones that live in the mountains have to walk a little over a mile from their homes to get to the point where he can pick them up. He told me with a smile that they walk through the mud in the dark to get to me.       I'm still not sure whose sacrifice has impacted me more; the believers that go to great lengths just to assemble in His presence, or the pastor whose Thursday evening consists of picking up, preaching to and then dropping off the body.

     There is a price to be paid for following Him. We knew that when we made our decision to leave everything that we have to follow His call on our lives. The price that believers pay worldwide vary in many ways. Obviously, some more extreme than others. I'd like to preface what I'm about to say by acknowledging that I fully understand that many believers worldwide experience torture, imprisonment and even death as their cost and my price pales in comparison to believers that have suffered in these ways for His name.
     One of the prices that we have paid in the recent past is the price of friends, family and acquaintances not understanding how we make seemingly major decisions based on a word from the Lord without a clear understanding of what the next step is. We have learned, and continue to learn, to entrust our lives, the lives of our children and our welfare into the ever capable hands of an indescribable God.
   
     Earlier this week I was "welcomed" into "the ministry" with the task of meeting with the facilitators of the property in which we had agreed to rent to inform them that the Lord has instructed us to go in a different direction and that we would not be renting the property from them. This was a difficult conversation to have with someone who has stepped out in faith, believed in and trusted us by working out our original agreement.
     With no explanation other than the Lord's instruction to go in a different direction, I sat at a table before them with a heavy heart as I shared this word with them. My heart was heavy due to the love and trust that we received from this couple and the fact that I was there to break the agreement that we entered into, but at the same time, I understand that I have no business apologizing to any man for obeying what I believe to be the Lord's direction. The meeting went as well as can be expected for such a serious moment. I'm thankful to the Lord for the grace and understanding in which they conveyed toward me.
     So, we're back to square one, waiting patiently for the Lord's instruction for the next step in our journey. We have complete confidence in Him that he'll make the way known to us. Until then, we'll live each day looking for opportunities to share the love of Christ with others in our pursuit of His will for us.

     Today, I will be going to pick up our "stuff" which arrived yesterday from the states. I have to go to the location that the trucking company uses for pick up and investigate the duty that the customs officials have placed on it.
     As always, thank you to those who continue to stand with us financially and in prayer. Please pray for us to have favor with the government here and honesty among the people handling this transaction.