Community

What a blessing it is to live life in Christian community! I have been incredibly blessed to be a part of a mission team with eight other adults and six children (and counting…). For the last three weeks, we have been training for our future mission work in Lima, Peru. We have been learning the basics of Spanish, studying Peruvian culture, planning mission strategies, and strengthening our relationship with God and one another. They have been three wonderful weeks, filled with much joy and growth. Through this time, I have been reminded of the importance of community in the Christian life. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to an individualistic faith journey. Living together with other Christians teaches us to love, serve, forgive, and be selfless. In addition, our individual faiths strengthen our collective faith, which helps us all during times of trial. God did not give us the church as a suggestion. Rather, it is an integral part of our Christian existence. While you are here, check out some of the pictures of my Peruvian community, whom I am growing to love and appreciate more and more everyday.

Too much to mention

Well, there have been lots of things going on as of late, so I will try to give a brief summary. Mission training for our team started last Monday (9/3), and the following days have been filled with excitement, relationship building, Spanish training, and spiritual growth – in short, two amazing weeks! Today, I officiated my first funeral service of a dear friend from my church family in Colorado City. Mildred and her family have developed a special place in my heart over the last three years, and it was sad to say goodbye. I was thankful, though, to be able to provide love and support to her husband, children, and grandchildren. I pray that God brings good things out of such difficult times. I head back to Houston on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my home church. Praise God for faith communities that shape us before we even know what discipleship and spiritual formation are! This also means that I will spend the weekend with my parents, which will make the weekend 10 times better. My brother gets home from Iraq in one week (ish). My whole family will be thankful for his safe return. I am auditing a graduate course over New Testament theology for the fun of it…yes, graduate school has made me a theological dork. So that is my life recently. God bless you in whatever you are doing!