It has been somewhat of a quiet summer - not just with regards to updates on my blogsite, but in general it has been, without doubt, a summer like no other. With that said, though, it has not been without its advantages. About a week ago I got back home to San Carlos after spending an extended time in Canada over the summer "inspired" by changes (for obvious reasons) resulting in no immediate need to be back here in Mexico. Many of our regularly scheduled activities were placed on hold and in their place I was able to take advantage of an extended stay in Manitoba, reconnecting on a deeper level with family, friends, and my church family - something that I had not been able to do to this extent in the thirteen years I've been down here. I appreciated very much being able to meet with people, become a "regular church member" again for a while at my home church, while also having a time to rest, read, reflect, and (p)repare (I couldn't think of another r-word...!) for what comes next.
Speaking of what is coming next, (the question that many of us have quit even trying to ask...) we are excited with the prospect of continuing with CEC's course at the end of January. Lord willing (not something that we say lightly anymore!) the conditions here in Mexico are such that will allow for, with some modifications, the next session of CEC to go forward in the New Year. Of all the years, this one just happens to be one where we have had more interest than ever this "early" in the recruitment season. We have officially received two applications but have been in contact with a number of others who are looking forward to coming. Our teachers as well are mostly lined up with a few still to confirm. Since I've been back here, though, it has been exciting to gear up for whatever is around the corner. Of course none of us know, but then we didn't really know anyways - we just thought we knew! So, Lord willing, we press onward!
Please pray for students! Pray also for us as staff as well as we make the necessary adjustments to ensure, as best we can, the success of the coming school year. Pray for a clear sense of direction and unity as well for us. It is an understatement to say that we live in challenging times, but with these challenges are also opportunities to reconsider our "status quo" and perhaps allow us to hone in on what is truly important. There is lots to do in the coming weeks - preparation for the course in general, recruitment, preparation for classes, some course homework I still have to do, and the other responsibilities, but I am glad to be back here, and also glad that people like you (not only read these updates! ;) but are also praying for me and for the work down here. God bless each one of you! ¡Dios les bendiga!
Day 13 of isolation has kind of blended into the 12 days that have preceded it. What day is it? I have to routinely check my phone to see. I'm sure most of you can identify with this feeling at some point in a state of self-quarantine. Day 13 is special, though, because it means that only 24 hours remain to freedom. (I honestly can't imagine a prison sentence...though this is probably in no ways a fair comparison.) I have enjoyed many "privileges" such as daily walks on the two-acre property where I am staying or access through internet (and limited phone signal) to people "on the outside." Apart from that, I have enjoyed lots of time to work on some homework assignments still due and read. C. S. Lewis, Bonhoeffer, J. I. Packer, and E. M. Bounds have kept me company, not to mention time spent in the Bible; it has made for a physically and spiritually relaxing time. Now all that remains is to find social refreshment!
On July 8th I crossed over into Canada; tomorrow, July 22nd marks the end of mandatory 14-day quarantine where I look forward to getting out and seeing many of you. (I'll be joining my family for several days of camping!) I'm planning on being in the area (Manitoba) for the next month or so. Plans, of course are hard to make these days. Beyond that month, we will see. A number of our regular activies that would take place over summer and fall are proving to be difficult, if no impossible to carry out. Visiting students, making connections with churches across Mexico, a regular missions module, a conference, and also being part of the missions training program Consiervos are all either cancelled, postponed, or under very tentative plans. We are moving forward as well with connecting with students for the coming winter's CEC class of 2021 - Lord willing, all will be back to some sense of "normal" to be able to move forwar. The time that we have now gives us pause to reflect and evaluate what we are doing, how we are accomplishing it, and what we can do better.
In a recent class that I took online, Teaching and Learning we took a look at how Jesus taught and what it might have been like to be one of His disciples. One question among many that rises up is, How does this translate into the Church today? What does it mean to be a disciple today? One of the overwhelming things that jumped out was how discipleship did not only have to do with how one follows Jesus, it was also something that took place within community. I have often thought about the personal aspect of being a disciple, my relationship with God, and what that looks like. But the fact that the disciples were not isolated, neither from Jesus nor from each other, and how they continued beyond His departure to function in community. What did that discipleship community look like? What does community look like today? What should it or could it look like today? This is of course a loaded question, especially when the possibility of "community" in the large-gathering sense, has been significantly limited. What does community look like mid-covid? But I also wonder, What should a community of disciples look like even when we can get back together as we always did? I'm not advertising for CEC here when I say that I (and we as a staff) have seen the power of community when we come together centred around one goal, or maybe better said, centred around one Person, seeking to grow together and learn from each other. There is encouragement and support that one does not find alone. I'm pretty sure God has designed us this way.
For our students, it always is somewhat of a shock to leave the tight-knit community that is formed during the 14 weeks together - this year that was especially the case when things came to a sudden stop and everyone had to go their own way. In talking with some of them, one could see the difficult transition it was for many. For some it took several weeks to find their rhythm again. In a way, this is to be expected. Perhaps CEC is somewhat of a "high" and it takes time and effort to take away from what one has experienced and figure out how to work it into daily life. But this is part of the learning curve as well. One of our students who lives in the middle of Mexico surprisingly just dropped by my house one day for a visit shortly before I left for Canada. He was one of those who really struggled leaving CEC, not being sure what was next for him. Things weren't much clearer as far as future plans go - he was still trying to figure out what the future might look like for him. But there was a renewed sense of peace in his life, a confidence in God, a reminder of what he had found during his time during CEC.
Perhaps the hardest part is trying to figure out what all of this should look like practically, in our lives. There surely is a time to get away and spend time with God alone. There is immense value in that. But there is also a time to do this with others as well. I can attest to that personally after 13 days of quarantine! I look forward to connecting with many of you. Please continue to pray for our students as they serve wherever they are at. Please also pray for us as we make plans as best we can for the future. Thank you as always for your faithful prayers! ¡Dios les bendiga!
I don't have to explain too much what I mean by "uncertainty;" I'm pretty sure we all have a long list of (common) things that come to mind in these days that are no longer as certain as they once were! It is hard to make plans, to think about the future, etc. during these days, but we do the best we can in the midst of it.
Normally we would have already been doing a fair bit of connection and promo work for the coming school season; we probably would have been on the road as I write, travelling to different parts of Mexico connecting with past students and making new connections in different churches for potential students. That was all brought to a halt for this summer and the efforts have taken a new direction (as many things have!) at a safe distance. With that we've launched an online campaign for the coming school season with some videos that talk about what CEC is all about. I made an "English" version with subtitles so that you too can enjoy them as well. For those who haven't seen the videos posted on Facebook, you can view them below. There will be more videos coming in the coming weeks highlighting different aspects of the program.
Being the Church - Two Intertwining Threads
Several things have transpired over the past couple of months that, personally, have really reinforced the vision of CEC and what it is that we desire to see happen in the lives of the students during the 4 months we have together with them. One of those things was the online course that I was able to take in through Briercrest on the topic of Teaching and Learning where we looked at what Christian Education is all about. (I think I mentioned this briefly in a previous post.) What impacted me most about this class was how Jesus' example of teaching (discipleship), though it did include some "classroom" type settings, was more about a journey together with His disciples, in community. This is probably the thing that stood out more than anything else - I have often considered discipleship as my personal walk with Jesus, but the fact is that discipleship for the disciples was also a function of community. Teaching opportunities arose as they walked together, lived together and ministered together. I just submitted a paper called My Personal Philosophy of Christian Education, and though the title does not sound exciting, it really captures what CEC is all about - this communal walk of discipleship. If you would at all be interested in reading it, you can do so here.
The other thing that coincides with this are the questions that arise over our current experiences, specifically as the Church, over the past number of weeks. In Mexico, we are still not allowed to have public services and so continue to transmit Sunday morning worship services online. Our experience of "church" has been greatly hindered, in a sense, but it has brought about many questions about what church should "look like" during a time like this. We miss meeting together, not having seen many people in person for a long time. But what does it truly mean to be the Church? That is a question we directly and indirectly ask ourselves with the students. How do we do church? The question should probably be though, not how to do church but rather how to be the Church - but what does that even mean?
Our inability to meet together at church - what a second... What did I just say? "Our inability to meet together at church..." There's actually two things wrong with this statement. 1) In the New Testament, the word "church" comes from the word ekklesia which means "an assembly." Church always referred to the people and never a building - there actually were no places built specifically for the Church to meet together for several centuries and so they met in people's homes. There was no "going to church," there simply was the Church, the people. 2) "Inability to meet?" Who says we can't meet together? Yes, there are restrictions in meeting publicly, a maximum number of people, etc. but with those we can meet together with, we can encourage each other as The Church. I think that's exactly what Hebrews 10:25 is talking - not "going to Church" but always finding ways to encourage each other as the Church, whether we have a building to do it in or not.
"Do not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
It really is one of the goals of CEC - to live together as the Church, growing together and challenging each other in our walk. It's the journey we as Christians are all a part of and invited to walk together, wherever we are, under whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. Maybe this raises more questions then answers, but it keeps me asking myself, What does it mean for me as a member of the Church? What does it mean to be the Church?
The Summer
Though things have looked different this year to this point, we are still looking forward to another season of students at CEC. We actually already have a few people who are interested in coming next January! I am making plans to head up to Manitoba early July (and factoring in obligations for quarantining on arrival) to be able to connect with family, friends, and my church family there over July and August. Lord willing, I look forward to connecting with many of you in the coming weeks.
In the certainty of uncertainty, all we can do is do the best we can with what we have at hand, knowing that God is and will remain the ultimate Certainty, the One who has everything together in His hands, and is working everything out for His glory and our good. Thanks for your continued prayers for the ministry here in Mexico! ¡Dios les bendiga!
It was 13 years ago, on May 13th, that my little Honda Civic hatchback was loaded up with whatever necessary items I had to begin a 3 day road trip down to San Carlos, Mexico. It would be the 2nd time that I would make the trek, the first one having taken place only 5 months earlier on a short-term missions trip with the then-running Crosscurrent Discipleship school from Winkler Bible Camp. I was at a place of transition in my life, not really sure what was next. First the opportunity for that missions trip with Crosscurrent came up, and then an opportunity to return for a longer period to the same missions center that I visited earlier in San Carlos, called Casa de Esperanza.
Well, that was 13 years ago...and what started as a four month commitment has become an "annually-renewing" adventure. You ever wonder to yourself, "How did I get here?" I've asked this myself many times, though only in a positive sense, amazed and how God has correlated everything as only He can, to bring me to where I am today. I would never have imagined the privilege to be able to do what I am doing, teaching at a Bible/Discipleship school, in Mexico of all places.
Yet perhaps the greatest thing is not even so much what I'm able to do and be a part of, but to see how God has used the very journey to shape me. There have been times where I've wondered if God has sent me to Mexico not so much for what I would do for Him but for what He would do in me. I have learned a lot about myself, perhaps as much through error as success, and all along I have seen His patient work within me. Sometimes I think that God places an awful lot of confidence in us, much more than we deserve, and patiently draws the best out of us. (Even as I say this, I know that another 13 years won't even come close to completing this task!) But I am thankful to see His goodness and faithfulness. Each step has been significant, from the language, culture, and connections that I made during the first five years at Casa de Esperanza, to the new frontiers explored in a classroom here at CEC. Being given the opportunity to teach was perhaps a desire hidden very deep within me, one that I barely recognized myself; even if I would have acknowledged it, fear would have kept me from even giving it a chance. Yet the opportunities presented themselves and slowly I found myself in a place of discovering something I really enjoy and am blessed by.
However, the greatest blessing here at CEC has been the opportunity to be a part of something that seeks to transmit to the students who come some of the basic questions of what it means to be a Christian. Discussions about what to teach go far beyond What subjects do we cover? to How do we draw the students into a more deeper and vibrant life of discipleship? This question cannot be asked without considering what it actually means for my own life. And these questions cannot be asked without them making some kind of affect on our own lives. For our students and for ourselves, it goes far beyond what we ought to know, to Who we know and what that looks like in our lives.
So, in summary, (and thanks for listening to these reflective ramblings...) I thank God for these 13 years and for so many of you who have made it possible, not only to be out here, but by your prayers, that this time here has had a profound affect on my life, and by God's grace on the lives of others as well. Here's to another 13! ¡Dios les bendiga!
This morning a reminder pops on my laptop: Tomorrow is CEC's Graduation. Five weeks have already past since the hard decision was made to send the students home, but it seems more like five months with CEC feeling like a distant memory.
I had the opportunity to chat with one of the students yesterday who was going through a difficult time himself, wading through the uncertainty that is facing just about everyone these days. Missing the regular meeting of his church family, he now finds himself working outside of his hometown, spending the week on the road, and being even more isolated from anything that is remotely close to "normal." His isn't the only story of those who are struggling post-CEC; in and of itself, leaving CEC can be a challenge as one gets back to life and ministry after all that has been experienced here. As we've been in contact with the students, we hear how others have faced difficult circumstances as well.
Others, though, seem to be isolated from all that is going on in the world. One such case is Raul and his wife Sofía. They live in a rural area in the south of Mexico, in the state of Veracruz. Their weekly routine consists of walking through the surrounding mountains to share Bible studies to some of the local ethnic communities, of which Raul speaks their ethnic tongue. These isolated communities are thankfully far-removed from all that is going on elsewhere, and Raul with his family are able to continue to make the several-hour trek on foot to these places several times a week. In a sense, they have been able to return to their normal life and routine, rising early every morning to work, arriving back in the afternoon to head out and take care of the local church congregation or make the trek to the nearby villages they visit; most of their evenings are occupied with some form of ministry but every time I've talked to them, they are doing well and are encouraged, always positive, and making the most of every opportunity in front of them.
Raul & Sofía and their two boys. The whole family makes the trek on foot several hours, several times a week to neighbouring villages for Bible studies.
Between job uncertainty, drastic changes in how to take part in ministry, isolation, and also the "shock" of leaving CEC, much has contributed to the struggles for some of the students (I think we can all identify with any number of these things...) At the same time, in a very real sense, they, like all of us, have the opportunity to put into practice the things that they know, including many of the things learned during their time at CEC - in a sense they are on the training field now. The communion that they experienced here in CEC (times in the desert spent with God or the group devotional times, etc.) doesn't depend on the school, or whether or not we are together, but ultimately on God and His unfailing presence in our lives. God's sovereignty and control have not come into question either, though circumstances might seem to portray a different reality. In the end, and this is something that we want the students to grasp while they are here at CEC, nothing experienced during their time here is dependant on CEC but solely on God Himself. The circumstances look different, perhaps even drastically so, but He remains the same, wherever they are, as does every promise in His Word. These circumstances we find ourselves in just might help all of us to more fully rest in His promises where under other circumstances, we actually "rested" in other things.
The students continue to need our prayers, but we know that God continues to be at work in their lives. Thanks, as always, for your continued prayers and support. I'm able to carry on with a number of responsibilities that I haven't had time for otherwise - some promotional material that we have badly needed so that when we are ready to get the word out for next year, we'll be ready to go, and things like that. Staying in touch with the students is also easy to do with the many methods available. God bless each one of you! ¡Dios les bendiga!
There's no need to comment on things that are happening these days and how everyone is being impacted in one way or another; unfortunately for us at CEC, it has meant that the students have been sent home early though we still had five weeks remaining to the completion of this year's course. I suppose that this turn of events (for all of us) has in some sense awakened us to the reality that we truly don't know what tomorrow will hold. This, of course, is nothing new - it has been the fact each and every day, however, in these days it becomes more of a reality. And not only that, but also the reality that we are not in control.
However, as believers we find great comfort in being reminded that there is ONE who IS in control. The Psalms especially are fully of cries for help and expressions of confidence in God, who is "our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). This Psalm reaches a climax with the familiar words, "Be still and know that I am God" (verse 10). I don't know how much different you are from me, but I know that for myself, I like control. I get uncomfortable when things are out of my control; but God lovingly reminds me that things are better in His hands anyways.
Our Students: BACK: Abram R. (Jalisco), Abram M. (Chihuahua), Miguel (Sonora), Joel (Jalisco), Manuel (Sonora), Jesús (Sonora); FRONT: Carlos (Veracruz), Carmen (Sonora), Andrea (Oaxaca), Sofía (Veracruz), Raúl (Veracruz)
That is the confidence our students went out with this past weekend. The decision was a hard one to make and to carry out as staff, but for the best of all involved, we decided to send each student back to their homes and communities. The past nine weeks that we have spent with them have truly been a blessing, and as students reflected on the time we've spent together, each one could share with gratitude how God had met them in specific ways, and how they are not heading out the same. We can attest to that as we've seen significant changes in each one of their lives.
In the coming weeks I'll take some time to share specific stories of how God has been at work, but for now, let's pray for each of these students as they unexpectedly find themselves back home, perhaps feeling that they weren't ready to leave CEC behind. Some in particular are at a transition point in their lives and weren't sure what was next for them. Thinking they still had five weeks remaining at CEC has left some of them feeling very unsure and vulnerable. Yet the reality is that nothing is out of God's hands, His control, nor His plan. He saw this coming and was preparing each one of them for this moment. This now becomes the place where the rubber meets the road and we learn to walk by faith when we can't see what's around the next corner (and we have no understanding of what's going on!)
Thanks for your prayers for the students and for us as a staff as we figure out our next steps and what the rest of the year looks like. I keep hearing in my head the voice of a GPS unit repeatedly saying, "Recalculating route...recalculating route..."). I'm glad that God's routes never get recalculated by unseen circumstances! ¡Dios les bendiga!
We are officially 25% of the way through our 14 weeks together with these 10 students who have joined us from all parts of Mexico. Though it's only been three and a half weeks, honestly it has felt like about seven weeks together in many ways. "Ahead of the curve" is one way to describe this group in the sense that from Day 1 this group "agarró confianza" (some things are just easier to say in Spanish!) Basically, they got very comfortable very early as a group. This is great, because its when we get past the initial "ice-breaking" that we can get down to the real work of learning and growing, and yes, this more than often comes through conflict as "iron sharpens iron." I think there's been a lot of iron-sharpening already! Within the first two weeks a number of students faced internal mini-crisis where they were close to the point of leaving. Thankfully each one made the decision to stick around, staying the course. It is often as we are confronted with different issues that we respond by running. Praise God that no one has successfully run so far!
The class of 2020: Jesús (Sonora), Jorge (Sonora), José Carlos (Sonora),
Abraham (Jalisco), Abraham (Chihuahua), Andrea (Oaxaca), Carlos (Veracruz),
Raul & Sofía (Veracruz), Juan (Sonora)
One of the big themes that has come up with this group is what it means to "hear God's voice." This can be misleading because to hear someone's voice is not difficult. We hear people's voices all the time - this is easy to understand. But it is different with God's voice. We don't (except perhaps in rare occasions) hear an audible voice like we do with people. So what does it mean to hear God's voice? Below is a graphic I shared in one of my classes that perhaps over-simplifies it, yet it holds the key to what we've been conveying to the students in helping them to develop a deeper understanding, stronger habits, and ultimately a sensitivity to hear (and discern) God's voice from the many other "voices" that we often hear. "The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) These are humbling, almost scary words when we consider the power of God's Word and what it reveals in us but even more so, to us. It's no wonder why someone might want to run!
"Speak to me, Lord!"
BUT, Jesus Himself, speaks clearly about what His intention is in speaking to us. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11) We are excited when we see the students respond to God's Word, sometimes having to face some hard and painful things in the process. But the purpose is ALWAYS for our own good. We have seen that in a number of students already, responding to God's work in their lives. We have some students who are still continuing to struggle through some difficult issues, but we are excited knowing that God is continuing to do His work in each one of them. Continue to pray with us for each one of them! Continue to pray for us as a staff, as we work together in unity. Thank you for your faithful prayers! ¡Dios les bendiga!
This morning I read the story of Pentecost and couldn't help but see the parallel with (and reversal to) Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel. In one story, man is at work, united, but against God. God sees man's efforts and confuses mankind by introducing different languages. Thousands of years pass and God has been at work, even using fallen humanity, to bring about a solution. This solution finally comes about in Christ - the Gospel being "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16). God is at work. Upon His resurrection, the disciples are told to do one thing: wait. They wait for 50 days and suddenly God shows up, empowers them, and the language barriers that were introduced are overcome as the apostles speak in languages they didn't even know, so that every person from every nation represented hears about the amazing things God has done in their own language. God brings about reconciliation and unity. When man was working for himself, God brought confusion. But where God was at work, men were simply called to respond by waiting and trusting. It makes me think that I'm far better off just trusting Him do the work instead of me trying to do it myself.
I find great comfort in this, especially in those areas of "confusion" in my life, whatever that confusion might look like. I'm reminded that it is much more about God, His purpose and His power, than it is about me, my plans, my understanding, or my strength. As we are about to start a new semester at CEC, this is especially of great comfort. I can easily be overwhelmed by the tasks at hand, the classes that I still need to prepare for and all the details involved, but then I'm forgetting all over again that it has much more to do with God and His power than about my inadequacy.
We are excited for the 9 students that are coming this weekend. The semester starts on Monday and a great group from all over Mexico has come together once again. I'll give you more of an update as to who they are and where they are from once we are into the course. Pray for these students as we form a new community and learn to walk together as fellow disciples. Pray for us as staff as we make the adjustments that come with each new year - unity is one of our most powerful tools as we seek to impact the lives of these students. Pray for myself as I venture into teaching classes on Spiritual Disciplines once again over the first five weeks. Will watch and wait to see what God will do in our lives over the next 14 weeks. Thanks for your continued prayers! ¡Dios les bendiga!
