Pacaya Volcano

If you haven’t already, please read Rebekah’s blog “Drink Deeply”.

One of the hardest things as believers
in Christ is to actually live as believers in Christ…together. The
Church. The Body. We really do get to do this together. Strengths
covering weaknesses. Grace covering faults. Love covering all. The
challenge I’ve seen in the states though is that in most circumstances
we allow ourselves to have an escape. We have our own cars. Own rooms,
houses, jobs, and space to run to when other people are bugging the junk
out of us. We’ve got that freedom…when really it’s a trap. You’re not
challenged. You don’t grow. You’re not encouraged. You can’t see or
practice unconditional love if you’re prone to the easy escape route –
ditch when things get hard. We need others around us. I think a lot of how we’re shaped
throughout life is by the things/people we choose into and stay
committed to. No matter what.

I was a part of the World Race last year. People told me that that hardest thing on the World Race would be
the community. I didn’t understand that at first but you learn to love
and hate it. But the love always wins even in the bad days. True solid
community is a nutrient our spirit hungers for. Whether broccoli or
chocolate flavored. Whether midnight meetings or afternoon lunch.
Whether hard truth or slap-happy laughter. Whether in a bar or in a
church building. Community is the people around you all working and living and
loving for the same God no matter how broken and human we are.

Like Rebekah’s blog was
saying…the most productive of all ministries has been that of our own
team. Learning how to work when you don’t have an easy escape route.
Choosing in when you’d rather serve yourself by choosing out. We are
all growing and being stretched and challenged in different ways just
by living and serving together.

This past Sunday we climbed Pacaya Volcano here in Guatemala.
These girls are amazingly strong and love finishing difficult tasks.
They were determined and, I think, quite encouraged by the end to have
finished the 4 hour hike. It was memorable. Their attitudes glowed with
praise for each other as we nearly passed out on the ride home. Oh, God
thank You for those moments spent together! Check out our day in
pictures…