I have been getting more and more excited as the Peru trip approaches. When a trip first becomes a possibility I always think about all the things that will be good for me or that I will like on the trip. In this instance, as I have been getting closer I have been thinking about what will be good for others. For some in our group it will be a pretty big adventure having not traveled much, for others it will be a chance to see a place they have heard about for decades but have never seen. It will mean some renewing of relationships for those who lived in Peru before, and they get to show some of the rest of us the sites. "See here is where I first ate fish head soup". We get to experience a ton of memories and stories (after all Ken Comfort will be along)
For the folks we are about to visit we are guests who get to witness another milestone. 50 years of successful outreach, church planting and discipleship. What I want more than anything is for our F(f)riends of Peru to feel as if we are peers, not missionaries-though there will be appreciation for those folks, or the benefactors, or anything that takes away from the truth of their very capable leadership.
Pray that we will be a great encouragement and that we will keep our eyes and ears open for what God is saying to us. Keep us humble and help us listen well.
For the folks we are about to visit we are guests who get to witness another milestone. 50 years of successful outreach, church planting and discipleship. What I want more than anything is for our F(f)riends of Peru to feel as if we are peers, not missionaries-though there will be appreciation for those folks, or the benefactors, or anything that takes away from the truth of their very capable leadership.
Pray that we will be a great encouragement and that we will keep our eyes and ears open for what God is saying to us. Keep us humble and help us listen well.
I'm one of those for whom it will be a a chance to see a place ( and people) that I've heard about and prayed for, for decades and never imagined that I'd ever have this opportunity! Our family knew the Oregon Yearly Meeting's first "pioneer" missionaries to Bolivia (Helen Cammack was mom's first cousin and pal, and she went to school with the Tamplins). Several couples of the next generation of missionaries to Bolivia and Peru were my classmates in college.Later we knew their children and grandchildren as they continued in missions around the world. I pray that as we worship,visit, and celebrate with our South American sisters and brothers that we will be blessed and be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteElenita