I have been going with my oldest little one to his classes here in Argentina. He was struggling to grasp the language, keep up in school, and was shutting down, not doing any work, falling behind and worse yet, acting out, getting in trouble and being sent to the office or home. (That was one amazing run-on sentence! : )
Now, I know it can be hard to understand little kids, even in your own language. I often have had to have parents "translate" for me when talking to their little ones. Well, sometimes I even need Heather to give me the interpretation for what my own little ones are saying! lol. But, it is really humbling to know that a 2nd grader can blow you away with their grasp of the language in comparison to yourself. : )
Sure, I know a lot of really big words that they don't know yet. But the reality is, they are WAY more fluent in Spanish than I am. And they can understand each other! Often the kids in the class come over to talk to Nate or to myself. Often, I can barely understand what they are saying. It is FAR easier to speak with an adult. They have much clearer pronunciation, diction, etc. They also have a much broader vocabulary. If I don't understand a word or phrase, they can think of another way to get their point across.
Kids can't do that. In fact, when you don't understand them and ask them to repeat themselves, they look at you kind of funny. Sort of like, "What? You don't understand me? I am just a 2nd grader. Are you dumb or something?" Then they make that funny face that conveys exactly that point without having to say a word...Awesome. : )
So, I am helping my son by leaps and bounds, helping the class to be more calm and collected, helping the teachers to connect with my son, helping him to ramp up his education, learning a ton myself, making lots and lots of new connections in the community, etc, etc. - What is a little humiliation compared to all that? lol. (By the way, I think that run-on sentence was even better than the first one.)
If you're going through a humiliating time, hang in there. God wants to teach you lots and use you greatly in the middle of your embarrassing moments. It won't kill you. And good things really could come of it, if you press through your emotional discomfort. : )
God bless & Good Night -
Paz & Fuerzas Nuevas -
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Things Always Have To Be Adjusted
When I first moved to Argentina, I did not think things would have gone the way they have. That is not a bad thing. We have experienced so many amazing, powerful, impacting things that I never imagined. Also, we have fought through more than a few unexpected trials & difficulties. I suppose it just comes with the job. You roll with the punches. : )
I made some very important decisions several years ago to help properly prioritize and order my life. I had seen and heard of way too many people who had their priorities out of wack and how it wrecked their life. I wanted to make sure that I did not fall into the same traps.
My order of priorities are simple and straight from Scripture -
1. God, the creator & sustainer of all, is 1st.
2. My Family is always 2nd. They are the most important human relationships I will ever have. They are precious to me, and they need me to be there for them.
3. Ministry - in all of it's various possible forms.
4. Myself.
Lots of people put themselves 1st. It's just basic sinful human nature.
Many people in ministry put ministry 1st. They think it makes them more "successful" in ministry. It surely gives you more time and boosts some potential numbers, etc - but it is Short-Sighted, anti-God ordained order, and always ends up being destructive - terrible example for all who follow you in your example.
Where is all this coming from - well, my oldest little guy, Nate, age 7, has been struggling in his school here. It is his first time to do all-Spanish schooling. He is the only gringo in his entire school and he is way behind the rest of his grade in his Spanish comprehension. Go figure. : )
Anyways, he has been shutting down and not doing any work in class. (Hard to help him with his homework when you don't even know what it is since he took no notes, etc.) And worse he has been acting out, getting in trouble and having to be sent home from school.
I am not just a single missionary in Argentina. I am the head of a family of missionaries. My first responsibility is to God. My second responsibility is to my little family of missionaries. If one of them is sinking, I can't just let him drown because "I am busy." So, I made a conscious decision and the school is backing me on it and allowing it - I am going to school with him.
Every day that I am in town, that I don't have a major appointment - I am with him in class. We are on day 3 now - 8 am to 12:30 pm. I sit behind Nate in class. I translate for him so he better understands what is going on in the class. I also spur him on to take notes, stay on task, and behave himself. So far, it seems to be going good. It has had it's rough moments, but overall - he is doing what we were shooting for:
1. Not acting out and being a discipline problem in class
2. Learning more and learning faster to help him get better adjusted.
It is tough from the viewpoint of not having the freedom to do what I want to in the mornings. It is tough from the viewpoint of having to sit through a 2nd grade class everyday...full of...2nd graders...: )
BUT, it is also a great opportunity to get to know all the teachers and staff, to know and better understand little kids in Argentina, to be completely immersed in Spanish and have the time to do lots of studying Spanish, and most importantly - it is a tremendous opportunity to grow my son and help him thrive in life.
This is definitely not what I thought I would be doing when I got to Argentina. It certainly is not all of what I am doing. Not even close. But it is a great thing! I am learning a lot, making loads of connections I would not have made otherwise, and making a difference in my little missionary's life.
Good Night All
God bless & help you to flow with the punches and make the most of unforeseen adjustments in life : )
Paz y Poder del Espiritu Santo -
I made some very important decisions several years ago to help properly prioritize and order my life. I had seen and heard of way too many people who had their priorities out of wack and how it wrecked their life. I wanted to make sure that I did not fall into the same traps.
My order of priorities are simple and straight from Scripture -
1. God, the creator & sustainer of all, is 1st.
2. My Family is always 2nd. They are the most important human relationships I will ever have. They are precious to me, and they need me to be there for them.
3. Ministry - in all of it's various possible forms.
4. Myself.
Lots of people put themselves 1st. It's just basic sinful human nature.
Many people in ministry put ministry 1st. They think it makes them more "successful" in ministry. It surely gives you more time and boosts some potential numbers, etc - but it is Short-Sighted, anti-God ordained order, and always ends up being destructive - terrible example for all who follow you in your example.
Where is all this coming from - well, my oldest little guy, Nate, age 7, has been struggling in his school here. It is his first time to do all-Spanish schooling. He is the only gringo in his entire school and he is way behind the rest of his grade in his Spanish comprehension. Go figure. : )
Anyways, he has been shutting down and not doing any work in class. (Hard to help him with his homework when you don't even know what it is since he took no notes, etc.) And worse he has been acting out, getting in trouble and having to be sent home from school.
I am not just a single missionary in Argentina. I am the head of a family of missionaries. My first responsibility is to God. My second responsibility is to my little family of missionaries. If one of them is sinking, I can't just let him drown because "I am busy." So, I made a conscious decision and the school is backing me on it and allowing it - I am going to school with him.
Every day that I am in town, that I don't have a major appointment - I am with him in class. We are on day 3 now - 8 am to 12:30 pm. I sit behind Nate in class. I translate for him so he better understands what is going on in the class. I also spur him on to take notes, stay on task, and behave himself. So far, it seems to be going good. It has had it's rough moments, but overall - he is doing what we were shooting for:
1. Not acting out and being a discipline problem in class
2. Learning more and learning faster to help him get better adjusted.
It is tough from the viewpoint of not having the freedom to do what I want to in the mornings. It is tough from the viewpoint of having to sit through a 2nd grade class everyday...full of...2nd graders...: )
BUT, it is also a great opportunity to get to know all the teachers and staff, to know and better understand little kids in Argentina, to be completely immersed in Spanish and have the time to do lots of studying Spanish, and most importantly - it is a tremendous opportunity to grow my son and help him thrive in life.
This is definitely not what I thought I would be doing when I got to Argentina. It certainly is not all of what I am doing. Not even close. But it is a great thing! I am learning a lot, making loads of connections I would not have made otherwise, and making a difference in my little missionary's life.
Good Night All
God bless & help you to flow with the punches and make the most of unforeseen adjustments in life : )
Paz y Poder del Espiritu Santo -
Monday, July 25, 2011
Funny What You Can Get Used To ...
If you have ever traveled in different Latin American countries (I imagine that much of the rest of the world is the same) you will notice something strange in the bathroom - no toilets lids or seats. The first time I experienced having to sit on the lip of the toilet bowl itself, well, let's just say that I was not too excited about it. It seemed like it was so dirty and wrong. I guess that when you have grown up your whole life with a working toilet seat and lid, it seems so...wierd...to not have one on the toilet you are using.
It did not even matter that in many public restrooms in Latin America, the toilets were quite literally - cleaner than anything I had ever used before in the states. Yes, literally. They had a paid attendant who cleaned, scrubbed, and sanitized the toilet after every single use! You could clearly see and smell how clean it was...yet, I was hesitant to sit down on that toilet bowl lip.
Reality check - many places (poorer or more remote) did not have a toilet. They merely had a hole to go in. THAT was very intriguing the first time I tried to figure out how to use it. lol. : )
Anyways, here is where the adjustment comes in. When we first moved into our little home here in Jujuy it had a brand spanking new toilet - never before used. But, as I am sure you guessed it - no toilet seat or lid. I suppose it is more economical. Kind of like how pick-ups in the states don't come with rear bumpers. What!?
Well, out of necessity, we were "forced" to use the toilet "as is" until we could locate and purchase a seat for it. We had no trouble locating a seat, it is just that they were very cheap and inexpensive - translation - basically junk. They were made out of a very thin, light-weight plastic that easily broke - the screw on bases separating from the rest of the lid and seat. After repairing ours 4 different times I had had enough and threw it out. I knew where we could find a very quality seat and lid, but it was in a city about 10 hours away. It would have to wait until we could travel there on business and pick one up - about a month later.
Needless to say, we were not excited about that, especially not my wife, but we would have to tough it out until we could travel to Cordoba. Over the next few weeks though, a strange thing happened...I got used to the seatless toilet!
I quickly realized a very indisputable fact - the toilet had to stay cleaner (by necessity - you're not going to sit on that thing if it is dirty!) and it was far easier to maintain clean. Think about it. You only have 1 part to clean! The other way, you have to clean the top of the lid, then the bottom of the lid, then the top of the seat, then the underside of the seat, then you finally have to clean the 1 part you were having to clean anyway + you have to clean the parts that connect the seat and lid to the toilet! Not easy. Lots of 90 degree angles, areas where the gunk is hard to reach, can hide, and begin to "grow."
As I spend 10 x's as much work now cleaning the toilet (and was less happy with the results) than before we had a "good" seat and lid, I am amazed at how much I missed the days before we had it! Seriously, I wish we did not have the toilet seat and lid. What is supposed to be more comfortable and more sanitary, now strikes me as actually being LESS. : )
I know. I know. Judge me all you want. You who so proudly sit upon your toilet seat feeling superior to the rest of the world...you just might not be superior after all. Your pride may be poorly placed. It might be, in fact, that those too poor to afford the nearly uncleanable seat/ lid configuration, are correct and should be prideful of their "low position."
Just something to think about...in our technologically "advanced" world.
Perhaps you don't have it as right as you think you do. : )
Let us not be so fast to feel superior or prideful in the things we have.
Let us be open to whatever circumstances God may want to put us into.
They may not be so terrible as you imagine. : )
Good night and God bless you all -
Be used of Him wherever He places you
Paz : )
It did not even matter that in many public restrooms in Latin America, the toilets were quite literally - cleaner than anything I had ever used before in the states. Yes, literally. They had a paid attendant who cleaned, scrubbed, and sanitized the toilet after every single use! You could clearly see and smell how clean it was...yet, I was hesitant to sit down on that toilet bowl lip.
Reality check - many places (poorer or more remote) did not have a toilet. They merely had a hole to go in. THAT was very intriguing the first time I tried to figure out how to use it. lol. : )
Anyways, here is where the adjustment comes in. When we first moved into our little home here in Jujuy it had a brand spanking new toilet - never before used. But, as I am sure you guessed it - no toilet seat or lid. I suppose it is more economical. Kind of like how pick-ups in the states don't come with rear bumpers. What!?
Well, out of necessity, we were "forced" to use the toilet "as is" until we could locate and purchase a seat for it. We had no trouble locating a seat, it is just that they were very cheap and inexpensive - translation - basically junk. They were made out of a very thin, light-weight plastic that easily broke - the screw on bases separating from the rest of the lid and seat. After repairing ours 4 different times I had had enough and threw it out. I knew where we could find a very quality seat and lid, but it was in a city about 10 hours away. It would have to wait until we could travel there on business and pick one up - about a month later.
Needless to say, we were not excited about that, especially not my wife, but we would have to tough it out until we could travel to Cordoba. Over the next few weeks though, a strange thing happened...I got used to the seatless toilet!
I quickly realized a very indisputable fact - the toilet had to stay cleaner (by necessity - you're not going to sit on that thing if it is dirty!) and it was far easier to maintain clean. Think about it. You only have 1 part to clean! The other way, you have to clean the top of the lid, then the bottom of the lid, then the top of the seat, then the underside of the seat, then you finally have to clean the 1 part you were having to clean anyway + you have to clean the parts that connect the seat and lid to the toilet! Not easy. Lots of 90 degree angles, areas where the gunk is hard to reach, can hide, and begin to "grow."
As I spend 10 x's as much work now cleaning the toilet (and was less happy with the results) than before we had a "good" seat and lid, I am amazed at how much I missed the days before we had it! Seriously, I wish we did not have the toilet seat and lid. What is supposed to be more comfortable and more sanitary, now strikes me as actually being LESS. : )
I know. I know. Judge me all you want. You who so proudly sit upon your toilet seat feeling superior to the rest of the world...you just might not be superior after all. Your pride may be poorly placed. It might be, in fact, that those too poor to afford the nearly uncleanable seat/ lid configuration, are correct and should be prideful of their "low position."
Just something to think about...in our technologically "advanced" world.
Perhaps you don't have it as right as you think you do. : )
Let us not be so fast to feel superior or prideful in the things we have.
Let us be open to whatever circumstances God may want to put us into.
They may not be so terrible as you imagine. : )
Good night and God bless you all -
Be used of Him wherever He places you
Paz : )
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Friendship Day (?)
I might just be way out of the loop on this, but I don't think we celebrate this day in the US. - Friendship Day, or as it is called in Argentina (and I suppose all of Latin America) "Dia del Amigo" is a pretty big deal here. I had never heard of it and did not know anything about it, but a few days ago when I started seeing a signs for it in store windows. (Commercialism never misses an opportunity to make a buck, no matter which culture it is in : )
Today I saw all sorts of comments on line - one friend wishing another "Feliz Dia del Amigo" - Happy Day of the Friend - literal translation, Happy Friendship Day - probably the better translation. I noticed that shops all over the city had displays in their windows of cool little gifts that you could buy to give to your friend(s) on Friendship Day. [I stopped by a little shop that a lady in our church just opened in a strip mall - to greet her, well-wish her on the new venture, oogle over the store, etc - She gave me a friendship gift to take home to Heather! Wow! How cool is that?] I even received texts from several friends here in Argentina wishing me a happy friendship day, some of them being incredibly warm and gracious in their comments on the value of our friendship. - I replied by sending out my own batch. : )
I don't believe the full value of this day, to this culture, has sunk in yet. I mean, I did not even know it existed until a few days ago and this is my first time going through it here. I hope to more fully grasp it the next time around and be a better friend to our new Argentine family here. I hope that one day we "get it" so well, that nationals are proud of us and even extol others in how they have learned about friendship and how to honor/ celebrate it - from us. That would be a cool thing!
Have a great night all.
Pray and let your mind go wild with ways to be a better friend to those around you. Why? Well, for starters, people need it (so do you!) and it makes the world a much better place to live. But most importantly because -
Jesus said "De este modo, todos sabrán que son mis discípulos, si se aman los unos a los otros." - Literal translation: "By this means/ in this way - All WILL Know - that you are MY disciples, IF you love One Another."
Let's really excel in being the best friend possible. At loving people deeply and doing lots to demonstrate it. Let's make it so that people Know, beyond the shadow of a doubt - that we are His followers : )
Good Night All & God bless you all
Paz : )
Today I saw all sorts of comments on line - one friend wishing another "Feliz Dia del Amigo" - Happy Day of the Friend - literal translation, Happy Friendship Day - probably the better translation. I noticed that shops all over the city had displays in their windows of cool little gifts that you could buy to give to your friend(s) on Friendship Day. [I stopped by a little shop that a lady in our church just opened in a strip mall - to greet her, well-wish her on the new venture, oogle over the store, etc - She gave me a friendship gift to take home to Heather! Wow! How cool is that?] I even received texts from several friends here in Argentina wishing me a happy friendship day, some of them being incredibly warm and gracious in their comments on the value of our friendship. - I replied by sending out my own batch. : )
I don't believe the full value of this day, to this culture, has sunk in yet. I mean, I did not even know it existed until a few days ago and this is my first time going through it here. I hope to more fully grasp it the next time around and be a better friend to our new Argentine family here. I hope that one day we "get it" so well, that nationals are proud of us and even extol others in how they have learned about friendship and how to honor/ celebrate it - from us. That would be a cool thing!
Have a great night all.
Pray and let your mind go wild with ways to be a better friend to those around you. Why? Well, for starters, people need it (so do you!) and it makes the world a much better place to live. But most importantly because -
Jesus said "De este modo, todos sabrán que son mis discípulos, si se aman los unos a los otros." - Literal translation: "By this means/ in this way - All WILL Know - that you are MY disciples, IF you love One Another."
Let's really excel in being the best friend possible. At loving people deeply and doing lots to demonstrate it. Let's make it so that people Know, beyond the shadow of a doubt - that we are His followers : )
Good Night All & God bless you all
Paz : )
Monday, July 18, 2011
Burning Inside
I don't know what to do with myself. There is such a burning going on inside of me.
There have been times like this in my life in the past, when I was so desirous for something to happen that it made me physically feel upset to my stomach. Mind you, it was not a bad feeling. It was just that I was so excited for something that was coming up or that I wanted to happen, that it quite literally took on physical characteristics. This is the same.
God's Spirit is burning such a passion into my heart to see people here in NW Argentina come to Him, that it has a physiological affect on me! I feel tense, driven, energized, nervous, at times it even upsets my stomach, gives me butterflies - sort of like how I felt on my wedding day, waiting for the ceremony to start.
Most of the time it is great - it gives me energy, makes me go, keeps me moving forward, prevents me from being bored or distracted, etc. But there are times when it is closer to impeding because of the butterflies in the stomach, the nervousness that I am not doing enough in the moment, need to prepare better, etc. .
You see, the are only 2 Assembly of God churches here in the capital city of San Salvador de Jujuy where we are living. It is a massive city of 300,000 +, and is growing. It has 31 different neighborhoods (barrios), 31! each with approximately 10,000 people living in them - and only 2 of them have an A/G Church. The first one was planted 34 years ago. The 2nd one, the one we are mostly closely associated with, was planted 22 years ago. That means that for the last 22 years! Years! - not a single other A/G church has been planted in the city. Incredible.
I am praying every day for people to respond to God's call to come to Jujuy to plant a church. We desire to work along side of nationals as a Team, and not just be lone rangers or do our own thing. For starters, being a Team has power and is as Scriptural as things get. To do your own thing is egotistical, short-sighted, weak, and foolhardy.
Also, we know that our understanding of the language is still very limited. Depending on who we are talking to and what the topic is, we may understand almost everything, or maybe almost nothing. If someone had a serious issue that they really needed help with, I would want to make sure that they were truly being understood and visa versa. A national would be much less likely to have problems with this.
Culturally it is the same. We do understand a great deal of the culture here, but lets face it - it is possible to live here for our entire lives and still not truly "get it" at times. A national "gets it" almost intrinsically.
Additionally, as foreigners, we will have to leave from time to time in the future. At some point, we will have to go back to the states to raise more support, etc. In order for the church to survive and thrive while we are gone, they need local leadership. And I don't mean "band-aide" "fill-in-the-gap" leadership that is just a place holder. We want true leadership that has always been in place. Our departure may have an effect, but they are still the leader and things will continue well.
At this point though, we have not heard of ANYONE wanting to move here to plant a church. In fact, there has not been anyone for many years. When we talk about it and ask people about it, they make kind of a funny face that says, "Please don't get your hopes up. No one does that here."
Now, just like God can overcome all of the above listed issues of language, culture, and continued leadership - we know that God can overcome this one as well. In fact, we are sure of it. I KNOW, it is burning in my heart, it is total and completely assured faith - that God has ALREADY been moving on peoples' hearts to move to NW Argentina to plant a church. Just as He called us to come here, we know that we are a part of the team that God is sending. We KNOW, deep within our hearts, that we are but the 1st part of the team and that God will move in more pieces of the team - many more, I pray.
I suppose that it seems a bit like foolishness to those who have been here for so long and have never seen it happen. But to us, whom God changed our life's direction to call us here and get us here - it is totally realistic. After all, He sent us. Why couldn't He send others?
In fact, He is so burning it into our hearts to PRAY for this so often, that we KNOW it is going to happen - BECAUSE we are praying for it. God answers prayer! Simple. Direct. Fact. Seen it happen a thousand (literally) times. I have experienced His Spirit's leading so often in my life over the years that I know this feeling, from experience. And I know what God does. He IS answering this prayer. : )
I'll gush more about it in the near future, but for now I need to get some sleep.
I have to get up early, give God the first part of my day in close worship and painful intercession.
I require sleep to do that. : )
Good night all and God bless -
* Please pray for Jujuy - for God to send church planters to the capital!
Pray for God to save THOUSANDS. - Why not? If you are going to pray...Pray Big. : )
There have been times like this in my life in the past, when I was so desirous for something to happen that it made me physically feel upset to my stomach. Mind you, it was not a bad feeling. It was just that I was so excited for something that was coming up or that I wanted to happen, that it quite literally took on physical characteristics. This is the same.
God's Spirit is burning such a passion into my heart to see people here in NW Argentina come to Him, that it has a physiological affect on me! I feel tense, driven, energized, nervous, at times it even upsets my stomach, gives me butterflies - sort of like how I felt on my wedding day, waiting for the ceremony to start.
Most of the time it is great - it gives me energy, makes me go, keeps me moving forward, prevents me from being bored or distracted, etc. But there are times when it is closer to impeding because of the butterflies in the stomach, the nervousness that I am not doing enough in the moment, need to prepare better, etc. .
You see, the are only 2 Assembly of God churches here in the capital city of San Salvador de Jujuy where we are living. It is a massive city of 300,000 +, and is growing. It has 31 different neighborhoods (barrios), 31! each with approximately 10,000 people living in them - and only 2 of them have an A/G Church. The first one was planted 34 years ago. The 2nd one, the one we are mostly closely associated with, was planted 22 years ago. That means that for the last 22 years! Years! - not a single other A/G church has been planted in the city. Incredible.
I am praying every day for people to respond to God's call to come to Jujuy to plant a church. We desire to work along side of nationals as a Team, and not just be lone rangers or do our own thing. For starters, being a Team has power and is as Scriptural as things get. To do your own thing is egotistical, short-sighted, weak, and foolhardy.
Also, we know that our understanding of the language is still very limited. Depending on who we are talking to and what the topic is, we may understand almost everything, or maybe almost nothing. If someone had a serious issue that they really needed help with, I would want to make sure that they were truly being understood and visa versa. A national would be much less likely to have problems with this.
Culturally it is the same. We do understand a great deal of the culture here, but lets face it - it is possible to live here for our entire lives and still not truly "get it" at times. A national "gets it" almost intrinsically.
Additionally, as foreigners, we will have to leave from time to time in the future. At some point, we will have to go back to the states to raise more support, etc. In order for the church to survive and thrive while we are gone, they need local leadership. And I don't mean "band-aide" "fill-in-the-gap" leadership that is just a place holder. We want true leadership that has always been in place. Our departure may have an effect, but they are still the leader and things will continue well.
At this point though, we have not heard of ANYONE wanting to move here to plant a church. In fact, there has not been anyone for many years. When we talk about it and ask people about it, they make kind of a funny face that says, "Please don't get your hopes up. No one does that here."
Now, just like God can overcome all of the above listed issues of language, culture, and continued leadership - we know that God can overcome this one as well. In fact, we are sure of it. I KNOW, it is burning in my heart, it is total and completely assured faith - that God has ALREADY been moving on peoples' hearts to move to NW Argentina to plant a church. Just as He called us to come here, we know that we are a part of the team that God is sending. We KNOW, deep within our hearts, that we are but the 1st part of the team and that God will move in more pieces of the team - many more, I pray.
I suppose that it seems a bit like foolishness to those who have been here for so long and have never seen it happen. But to us, whom God changed our life's direction to call us here and get us here - it is totally realistic. After all, He sent us. Why couldn't He send others?
In fact, He is so burning it into our hearts to PRAY for this so often, that we KNOW it is going to happen - BECAUSE we are praying for it. God answers prayer! Simple. Direct. Fact. Seen it happen a thousand (literally) times. I have experienced His Spirit's leading so often in my life over the years that I know this feeling, from experience. And I know what God does. He IS answering this prayer. : )
I'll gush more about it in the near future, but for now I need to get some sleep.
I have to get up early, give God the first part of my day in close worship and painful intercession.
I require sleep to do that. : )
Good night all and God bless -
* Please pray for Jujuy - for God to send church planters to the capital!
Pray for God to save THOUSANDS. - Why not? If you are going to pray...Pray Big. : )
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Paperwork, Paperwork
Wow! All those years ago when God called me to follow His leading to go into full-time ministry, I would never have guessed how much paperwork I would be doing. And let's get real, I really should be doing more!
You have to keep track of EVERYTHING as a missionary - important personal documents for you and the entire family. You have to track every single penny of ministry money and account for it. (Which is cool by the way. Accountability leads to credibility.) You have all of your ministry things you have to keep track of, names, places, dates you have agreed to and times, how many people were there, how many responded, how are you following up on them, what are you using to teach them, what have learned and what do they still need to learn, what is God teaching to you & what do you still need to study, etc, etc, etc. - And don't even get me started on the IRS stuff.
Office work is not my strength. In fact, it is my weakness. Really, I hate it. I mean, I really loathe it! It sucks the life/ energy out of me. When I know I need to do a lot of office work, it is so demotivating. I avoid it as long as I can, until it reaches the point that I know I must get it done or dire things will happen. I can't help it. It is just how God put me together.
I am much better with people and would rather be with them. But, the office work HAS to happen or the people time won't be as effective and pretty soon it won't even be happening without it.
We have been on the move almost non-stop for the last 6 months: from Costa Rica, to the US, all over the NW, to Argentina, to different parts of it, and finally to settling down in San Salvador de Jujuy. Of course, "settling in" is a relative term. I still need to buy a file cabinet. I still have a ton of filing to do. I had receipts overflowing from envelopes and drawers. I have been pulling things from every different place and trying to go through them, sort them, compile them, file them, report on them, etc. Not my strength. Did I mention that?
But, as badly as I dread it, I MADE myself sit down and really crank out the paperwork this week. It has taken hours and hours, my back is killing me from sitting so much and being hunched over receipts, and I am more cranky than I should be for all of the strain, but it is getting done!
I e-mailed off a huge report this morning. Yea! I made great progress on a second one and should finish it at the start of the week. I made lots of progress on all my IRS stuff, both for last year and for this one. I still have a long ways to go, will need to make lots of phone calls to my financial experts to figure out how to properly account things, and I really want to move on with MINISTRY - but, I have made GREAT progress and it feels, well, GREAT!
I already can't wait to go out and buy a filing cabinet so that I can get more organized in my ministry side of things and better be on top of what we have done, what we are doing, and what still needs to be done. Yes, I did say it. I can't wait to buy a file cabinet and get to filing! Amazing how progress in a difficult area can invigorate you. : )
The first pastor I worked under when I came right out of bible college was one of the most organized men I have ever known. One time I had to go back to him and ask him for a form that he had given to me, but I had "misplaced" somehow. He looked right at me from behind his desk with a funny smile and said (and I have never forgotten this exact conversation)
"You want to know if I have another copy of a form that I gave to you?"
- Yes, I am sorry. I lost it somehow. Do you have another copy of it?
"Let me get this straight. You want to know if I have a copy of a form that I gave to you?"
- Yes, I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what I did with it. Do you have another copy?
(With a much bigger smile.) "YOU...want to know if I...have a COPY...of something that I...gave to...YOU?"
- Yes. I know. I know! I'm so sorry. I don't know what in the world happened to it. I can't find it anywhere.
(With a huge grin and a laugh) "OF COURSE I HAVE A COPY OF IT! I GAVE SOMETHING TO YOU. I KNEW YOU WOULD NEED ME TO HAVE A COPY OF IT. : "
> Thank you Pastor/ Mentor/ Figure/ Friend - Wendell Kruger : )
...It was a pivotal moment in my life. I was so embarrassed, but I knew he was right.
I have worked and worked and worked on being more organized over the years. I still hate it, but I still see how far I still have to go in this area. Sometimes I have friends who "think" I am soooooo organized. Rookies! I guess they are still even more unorganized than me.: )
Reality - I am WAY more organized than I used to be. I am so much better at it. Yet, it does not come naturally to me. I will always have to WORK at it, while other areas of life and ministry just flow so naturally. I hope that one day it will be natural. I just don't think I can count on it. Lol.
You always play to your strengths. It is what makes you successful.
But you must always build up the weak areas in your life. It is what will keep your success from tumbling down. "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine."
Go get organized people, or whatever "little fox" you have to deal with before it "spoils the vine."
God bless you all -
Have a great night. Love you-
Paz : )
You have to keep track of EVERYTHING as a missionary - important personal documents for you and the entire family. You have to track every single penny of ministry money and account for it. (Which is cool by the way. Accountability leads to credibility.) You have all of your ministry things you have to keep track of, names, places, dates you have agreed to and times, how many people were there, how many responded, how are you following up on them, what are you using to teach them, what have learned and what do they still need to learn, what is God teaching to you & what do you still need to study, etc, etc, etc. - And don't even get me started on the IRS stuff.
Office work is not my strength. In fact, it is my weakness. Really, I hate it. I mean, I really loathe it! It sucks the life/ energy out of me. When I know I need to do a lot of office work, it is so demotivating. I avoid it as long as I can, until it reaches the point that I know I must get it done or dire things will happen. I can't help it. It is just how God put me together.
I am much better with people and would rather be with them. But, the office work HAS to happen or the people time won't be as effective and pretty soon it won't even be happening without it.
We have been on the move almost non-stop for the last 6 months: from Costa Rica, to the US, all over the NW, to Argentina, to different parts of it, and finally to settling down in San Salvador de Jujuy. Of course, "settling in" is a relative term. I still need to buy a file cabinet. I still have a ton of filing to do. I had receipts overflowing from envelopes and drawers. I have been pulling things from every different place and trying to go through them, sort them, compile them, file them, report on them, etc. Not my strength. Did I mention that?
But, as badly as I dread it, I MADE myself sit down and really crank out the paperwork this week. It has taken hours and hours, my back is killing me from sitting so much and being hunched over receipts, and I am more cranky than I should be for all of the strain, but it is getting done!
I e-mailed off a huge report this morning. Yea! I made great progress on a second one and should finish it at the start of the week. I made lots of progress on all my IRS stuff, both for last year and for this one. I still have a long ways to go, will need to make lots of phone calls to my financial experts to figure out how to properly account things, and I really want to move on with MINISTRY - but, I have made GREAT progress and it feels, well, GREAT!
I already can't wait to go out and buy a filing cabinet so that I can get more organized in my ministry side of things and better be on top of what we have done, what we are doing, and what still needs to be done. Yes, I did say it. I can't wait to buy a file cabinet and get to filing! Amazing how progress in a difficult area can invigorate you. : )
The first pastor I worked under when I came right out of bible college was one of the most organized men I have ever known. One time I had to go back to him and ask him for a form that he had given to me, but I had "misplaced" somehow. He looked right at me from behind his desk with a funny smile and said (and I have never forgotten this exact conversation)
"You want to know if I have another copy of a form that I gave to you?"
- Yes, I am sorry. I lost it somehow. Do you have another copy of it?
"Let me get this straight. You want to know if I have a copy of a form that I gave to you?"
- Yes, I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what I did with it. Do you have another copy?
(With a much bigger smile.) "YOU...want to know if I...have a COPY...of something that I...gave to...YOU?"
- Yes. I know. I know! I'm so sorry. I don't know what in the world happened to it. I can't find it anywhere.
(With a huge grin and a laugh) "OF COURSE I HAVE A COPY OF IT! I GAVE SOMETHING TO YOU. I KNEW YOU WOULD NEED ME TO HAVE A COPY OF IT. : "
> Thank you Pastor/ Mentor/ Figure/ Friend - Wendell Kruger : )
...It was a pivotal moment in my life. I was so embarrassed, but I knew he was right.
I have worked and worked and worked on being more organized over the years. I still hate it, but I still see how far I still have to go in this area. Sometimes I have friends who "think" I am soooooo organized. Rookies! I guess they are still even more unorganized than me.: )
Reality - I am WAY more organized than I used to be. I am so much better at it. Yet, it does not come naturally to me. I will always have to WORK at it, while other areas of life and ministry just flow so naturally. I hope that one day it will be natural. I just don't think I can count on it. Lol.
You always play to your strengths. It is what makes you successful.
But you must always build up the weak areas in your life. It is what will keep your success from tumbling down. "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine."
Go get organized people, or whatever "little fox" you have to deal with before it "spoils the vine."
God bless you all -
Have a great night. Love you-
Paz : )
Thursday, July 14, 2011
It's Getting There Bit by Bit : )
Today was a great day. There was a pastor's meeting in Guemes. I both love and hate these events. I love seeing friends and reconnecting, spending time with them. But I tend to be timid when it comes to meeting new people. There are always more people that I don't know, than those that I do know, at an event like today.
But today was better than I expected. When I first meet people, almost always, I have a hard time understanding them. It takes me time to "dial in" to their voice and understand more and more of what they are saying. This can be unnerving since a typical conversation requires 2-way communication, and 2-way communication works best when you understand what the other person is saying and can ask questions or make comments that relate to what they are saying. When you don't know what they are saying...this is hard. ha!
I still experienced a great deal of this pattern today, but I realized that I was understanding much more than normal! Let me tell you - THAT ROCKS! : )
I still had to focus like crazy - not easy when you are ADD - any little thing you see or hear can make your mind jump on to a rabbit trail and before you become aware of it and refocus, usually you have missed a lot of conversation and have to try to "catch up" as best as you can from the context, peoples' reactions, etc. ADD is such a double-edged sword - lots of thinking, ideas, energy, etc - hard to stay on target. lol.
I was very happy to talk with several pastors I have been meeting, and to meet several new pastors. It is my 2nd time to be with this group of fine people and I noticed that I seemed to be much more accepted by many of them. I expect that this will grow over time with more contact & time together, both in meetings as well as in ministry settings.
There were still so many things that I did not fully follow, although I think I had the main idea (just lingering doubt that MAYBE I didn't follow it as well as I think I do : ), and a few things that I did not follow at all. That is life in a new language and culture, BUT, it was a marked improvement over what it has been! Yeah!
Every day it gets a little bit easier to understand people. There has been a ton of work to get it to this point, and it continues every day, but it is getting better. : )
I am psyched about that!
Good night and God bless you all -
Paz y Poder en el Espíritu de Dios
But today was better than I expected. When I first meet people, almost always, I have a hard time understanding them. It takes me time to "dial in" to their voice and understand more and more of what they are saying. This can be unnerving since a typical conversation requires 2-way communication, and 2-way communication works best when you understand what the other person is saying and can ask questions or make comments that relate to what they are saying. When you don't know what they are saying...this is hard. ha!
I still experienced a great deal of this pattern today, but I realized that I was understanding much more than normal! Let me tell you - THAT ROCKS! : )
I still had to focus like crazy - not easy when you are ADD - any little thing you see or hear can make your mind jump on to a rabbit trail and before you become aware of it and refocus, usually you have missed a lot of conversation and have to try to "catch up" as best as you can from the context, peoples' reactions, etc. ADD is such a double-edged sword - lots of thinking, ideas, energy, etc - hard to stay on target. lol.
I was very happy to talk with several pastors I have been meeting, and to meet several new pastors. It is my 2nd time to be with this group of fine people and I noticed that I seemed to be much more accepted by many of them. I expect that this will grow over time with more contact & time together, both in meetings as well as in ministry settings.
There were still so many things that I did not fully follow, although I think I had the main idea (just lingering doubt that MAYBE I didn't follow it as well as I think I do : ), and a few things that I did not follow at all. That is life in a new language and culture, BUT, it was a marked improvement over what it has been! Yeah!
Every day it gets a little bit easier to understand people. There has been a ton of work to get it to this point, and it continues every day, but it is getting better. : )
I am psyched about that!
Good night and God bless you all -
Paz y Poder en el Espíritu de Dios
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