Poetry Week: Yo Te Busco

Well, to wrap up the week, I chose one of the first songs we learned here in Honduras.  Back then, I didn't even understand what all the words meant.  But once I learned, I realized how deep and powerful the song was.  It continues to be one of my favorites.

In Spanish...

Yo Te Busco

Yo te busco, Yo te busco
Con fuego en mi corazón.
Yo te busco, Yo te busco
Recibe mi adoración.

Te anhelo, Te necesito,
Te amo, más que a mi ser.


And in English...

I Seek You

I seek you, I seek you
With fire in my heart.
I seek you, I seek you
Receive my worship.

I long for you, I need you,
I love you, more than myself.

md

Poetry Week: En El Nombre de Jesús

In Spanish...

En El Nombre de Jesús

En el nombre de Jesús,
Me acerco ante tu presencia, oh Señor.
En el nombre de Jesús,
Para darte mi ofrenda, oh Señor.

Es alabanza, adoración,
Lo que te ofrezco, oh Señor,
En el nombre maravilloso de Jesús.

Es alabanza, adoración,
Lo que te ofrezco, oh Señor,
En el nombre maravilloso de Jesús.


And English...

In the Name of Jesus

In the name of Jesus,
I approach your presence, oh Lord.
In the name of Jesus,
To give you my offering, oh Lord.

It's praise, worship,
That I offer you, oh Lord,
In the wonderful name of Jesus.

It's praise, worship,
That I offer you, oh Lord,
In the wonderful name of Jesus.

md

Poetry Week: Renuévame

While not many authors are listed in our songbook, this song is said to be written by Marcos Witt.  I love the sincerity of the words he wrote. 
  

In Spanish...

Renuévame

Renuévame, Señor Jesús,
Ya no quiero ser igual.
Renuévame, Señor Jesús,
Pon en mí tu corazón.

Porque todo lo que hay dentro de mí,
Necesita ser cambiado, Señor.
Porque todo lo que hay dentro de mi corazón,
Necesita más de ti, necesita más de ti.


In English...

Renew Me

Renew me, Lord Jesus,
I don't want to be the same.
Renew me, Lord Jesus,
Put your heart in me.

Because everything there is inside of me,
Needs to be changed, Lord.
Because everything there is inside my heart,
Needs more of you, needs more of you.

md

Poetry Week: Ven, Espíritu, Ven

This is one of my favorites.  It's a slow, meditative song.  And while the tune is pretty, it's the words that are really powerful to me. 

In Spanish...

Ven, Espíritu, Ven

Ven, Espíritu, ven,

Y lléname, Señor, con tu preciosa unción.

Ven, Espíritu, ven,

Y lléname, Señor, con tu preciosa unción.

Purifícame, lávame, renuévame, restáurame, Señor,

Con tu poder.

Purifícame, lávame, renuévame, restáurame, Señor,

Te quiero conocer, Señor, te quiero conocer.

And in English...

Come, Spirit, Come

Come, Spirit, come.

And fill me, Lord, with your precious anointing.

Come, Spirit, come.

And fill me, Lord, with your precious anointing.

Purify me, wash me, renew me, restore me, Lord,

With your power.

Purify me, wash me, renew me, restore me, Lord,

I want to know you, Lord, I want to know you.

md

Poetry Week: Somos el Pueblo de Dios

Some of the best moments of my week occur at church services on Sunday mornings, when I get to sing alongside others who've gathered to worship.  At this point, most of the songs feel pretty familiar to me, but I still have to really concentrate on the words I'm saying (which is what I should be doing anyway, right?!).  I always think to myself, "I wish my family and friends could hear the words to these beautiful songs!"  

So I've declared this week "Poetry Week," and I plan to share a song (which I'm calling poetry because, to me, it is) every day.  I'll give you my own translation of the poem, so please know that it's probably not perfect.  Hope you enjoy this first one.  

first in Spanish...

Somos el Pueblo de Dios

Somos el pueblo de Dios.

Somos un pueblo especial.

Llamados para anunciar,

Las virtudes de aquel,

Que nos llamó a su luz.

Somos el pueblo de Dios.

Su sangre nos redimió,

Y su Espíritu dio, para darnos poder,

Y ser testigos de él.

Y llevaremos su gloria,

A cada pueblo y nación,

Trayéndoles esperanza,

Y nuevas de salvación.

Y su amor nos impulsa,

No nos podemos callar,

Anunciaremos al mundo,

De su amor y verdad.

and in English...

We are the People of God

We are the people of God.

We are a special people.

Called to proclaim,

The virtues of the One,

Who called us to His light.

We are the people of God.

His blood redeemed us,

And He gave us His Spirit, in order to give us power,

and to be His witnesses.

And we will take His glory,

To every people and nation,

Bringing them hope,

And news of salvation.

And His love compels us,

We cannot keep quiet,

And we will announce to the world,

About His love and truth.

md

Some Thoughts On Our Time in Honduras -- Part 3 (by Bart)

People ask us frequently, “What do the people that you work with need?”  Usually, they are asking what kinds of things can they bring to give away, or what types of projects that they should plan for their trip.  But the question always causes me to think, “What do they need?”  The fact is that each person’s situation is unique and entire books could be (and have been) written on that subject.  What do they need?  As difficult as it is to find an answer, we have to try.  

I have learned so much about the people here, about this culture, and about myself since we arrived.  Like so many other things in life, the more I’ve learned, the more I realize there is to learn.  I had tried to educate and prepare myself before coming to Honduras.  We received excellent training from some very wise former missionaries.  But no amount of classes, book-reading, or internet research could have taught me what I have learned by living here.  

What I believe the people here in Honduras truly need right now is for us to honor them.  After many years of well-intentioned involvement from outsiders, many here have begun to wonder if they will ever be able to stand on their own.  Many seem to be losing the confidence and dignity that God wants every human being to have.  Many of the mission methods that have aimed to alleviate poverty have not proven to have the desired long-term benefits.  Today, I am convinced that we could make a deep and lasting impact if we were to renew our commitment to an equal partnership with the local church and made it our highest priority to live out Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.”  

To honor those to whom we minister, we must show each individual that that we care about knowing them personally.  It is right for us to seek ways to use the blessings that we have received in order to bless others.  But, in order to make sure that our methods are truly blessing those we seek to bless, we must know the people to whom we are ministering.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to meeting people’s needs.  Some missions methods of the past have been like dumping a huge barrel of water over the top of hundreds of glass bottles; the barrel gets emptied quickly, but more bottles can end up knocked over or broken than filled.  A slow, steady individual approach is required to do the job.  We can’t meet someone’s needs if we don’t know what their needs actually are.  And what people really need is not always immediately obvious to us--especially as outsiders in an unfamiliar culture.  We must commit to do whatever it takes to build real and deep relationships between ourselves and those we wish to serve, so that we can discern their true needs and demonstrate the love of Christ.  This may require us to study a new language, to dedicate less time to work projects, or to slow down the hectic pace of our mission trips.  But, mission work is people work; the time and energy we invest into our relationships with people will always be worth it.

Another way we honor those we serve is to be honest with them and with ourselves about our own shortcomings.  We have much to offer, but it is God who changes lives. We can only point people to the Savior.  When we land in a foreign mission field, we need to remember that the local people have been living their lives in that place long before we arrived and will continue to do so long after we have returned home.  Having realistic expectations about what we can accomplish in our time on the field can help to avoid frustration--ours and theirs.  We can make an impact on people’s lives in our time on the mission field, but we can also contribute to widening the gap between the two cultures if we think more of ourselves than we ought to.  We are only human.  Even if we come from a wealthy country or are highly educated, we don’t have all the answers.  We should ask for advice from wise local people about culture, language, and even how to go about our activities in their country.  We should ask for forgiveness if we know we’ve made a cultural misstep.  If one of our family members or friends is sick, if we are having personal struggles or our church is experiencing difficult times, we can and should ask for the prayers of the local Christians.  We should ask some of the local brothers and sisters if they would like to share with us a favorite verse from the Bible and what it means to them.  We should ask them to teach us a song, a game, a joke, or how to make one of their traditional foods.  Sometimes, allowing someone to give to us can be as big a blessing for them as anything we can give.  We can honor and bless others by showing them that we value what they have to offer.

Finally, we can honor people in foreign mission fields by simply doing what they do.  We send a message of disapproval when we don’t follow local customs.  We could narrow the cultural gap and have a greater impact on people’s lives if we would--respectfully and lovingly--do as the locals do.  The people to whom we are ministering would be much more willing to hear our message and accept us as friends if we would simply do what they do, go where they go, talk how they talk, eat what they eat, and become interested in the things that interest them.  Certainly, matters of conscience and safety should be considered.  But, if our goal really is to impact the lives of others, then let’s commit to doing all we can.  We simply will not be as effective as we could be if we don’t, to some extent, ‘go native’.  And little things can make a huge difference.  I have had many people here in Honduras tell me on many different occasions how much they appreciate it when visiting North Americans eat the local food.  On the other hand, they have also expressed how shocking and hurtful it is when visitors turn up their nose at what, to them, is good food for which they are grateful.  Our message will not be heard if we demonstrate a sense of superiority.  If we tell them with our actions that the food they eat is not good enough for us to eat, or the places they live aren’t nice enough for us to spend time in, or the way they do things just isn’t quite logical or efficient enough for us, the effectiveness of our mission shrinks.  We show the love of Christ when we put honoring others ahead of our own comfort.

I am convinced that we can make a profound and lasting change in the physical and spiritual well-being of people like those here in Honduras if we would make it our ultimate goal to show them that they have something to offer to the rest of the world, that they are worthy of our respect and honor, and that they are loved by God.  Someone may ask, “Isn’t it obvious that we love the people to whom we are ministering?  We spend lots of money and energy going down there to give to them and to do our projects for them in the name of Jesus.  How could they not see that we love them and that God loves them?”  It might be difficult to understand, but for many of the people that we have come to know, for us to give our selves to them would speak more love than any project or any thing ever could.  Maybe it would seem strange to think that a conversation in broken Spanish could mean more to them than a bag of food.  Or that spending time sitting with someone in their home could mean more to them than some new clothes or shoes.  Or that sharing a simple meal with a family could mean more to them than even giving them a new roof over their heads.  Here in Honduras there are many who could use a new house or new clothes or more food or more stuff.  But I truly believe that there are also many people who have a greater need for honor, respect, encouragement, equality, unity, and solidarity.

_____________________________________________

I still love carpentry.  Every once in a while, I find a way to use my skills in a way that--I hope--can be a blessing to many different people and that can glorify God in some small way.  I enjoy the creative process of building and the satisfaction that it gives me to complete a project.  To be honest, sometimes I wish I could use my talents more in that way.  But I am certain that who I can be for God is greater than what I can do for Him.  I know that if I can be a friend, a partner, a listening ear, a neighbor, a companion, a brother, and an encourager for the people here, then God can use me to make a difference.  

I believe we all can use whatever talents and abilities we might have to glorify God.  It would be a real shame to never use your construction skills, or your nursing skills, or your sewing skills to help others.  But just as God tested Abraham’s commitment to see if he was willing to sacrifice the son that he cherished so much,  we must also be willing to sacrifice our will, our plans, our satisfaction, our comfort, and our own sense of fulfillment so that we can truly serve others and that they might see God in us.

Some Thoughts On Our Time in Honduras -- Part 2 (by Bart)

There is a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi that I’ve heard repeated quite a lot recently.  It says, “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”  I’m not totally sure that St. Francis had the proper balance in mind, but I think it’s fair to say that our actions communicate to others, as much or more than our words, what is really important to us.  Similarly, the Apostle Paul told Timothy that he should watch his life and doctrine closely so that he could save himself and others.  No matter where we find ourselves in the world, we as Christians should constantly be asking ourselves if our actions are really communicating to the world around us what God would have us communicate.

Ministering to people in poverty is an extremely complicated issue.  Since we have been in Honduras we have seen or been a part of many different approaches to poverty issues.  I have become convinced that, for our own sake and for the sake of those to whom we would minister, we cannot stop asking ourselves if the actions and attitudes that we demonstrate to others are really being received in the way that is most beneficial.   Are we doing things in a way that glorifies God and points people to Him?  When we give things away to the poor, are we sure they are getting the message we want them to get?  Or are they receiving a different, unintended message?  What message do we give to the members and leaders of a foreign church when we continually send money to sustain their congregation?  When our mission group builds a house for a family in need, what do they see as the reason behind what we do?  How sure are we that they aren’t reaching some conclusion that we didn’t have in mind?

The truth is, it may be difficult to determine what message the local people actually are taking away from works that are done with the purest of intentions.  But just as our church budgets are constantly being reviewed to ensure the good stewardship of all the finances that have been entrusted to us, we must also constantly analyze our methods so that we can be good stewards of the time, resources, and talents that we have at our disposal on the mission field.  The people whom God has entrusted to us to serve and to love deserve the very best that we can give.  We would be poor stewards indeed if we allowed ourselves to lose sight of our commitment to meet people’s true needs, to magnify God, and to encourage local Christians through our missions efforts.  

It’s no secret that, today, a large percentage of our missions efforts in materially poor countries like Honduras involve giving materially and financially to the people to whom we are ministering.  Throughout the Bible, God commands his people to give--especially to the poor.  The Bible also has much to say about how we give.  It’s clear that just the physical act of giving something is not necessarily all God asks of us.  Over and over again, we are reminded that what we give and especially how we give is of utmost importance.  Our motivation for giving and the attitude of our hearts is shown to be of just as much importance to God as what we give--if not more so.  From the very beginning, the Bible shows us that our offerings are pleasing to God when we cheerfully offer the best that we can give with the aim of glorifying Him and not ourselves.  

We, along with our brothers and sisters around the world, are equal partners in a global Christian community.  The church we read about in the book of Acts shows us a model of such a community.  The members all freely shared everything they had with one another, and the Bible says that “there were no needy persons among them.”  In 2 Corinthians, Paul makes this even clearer.  As he is instructing the Christians in Corinth about giving to those in need, he says, “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality.”  From this, we see the church as a community where those in need receive help and, in turn, those who have received give to others in their time of need, and so on.  The Bible does not spell out for us when a “receiver” should become a “giver”, but, in Luke 21, Jesus himself says that He is more pleased with the poor widow’s tiny offering of “two very small copper coins” than with all the large donations the rich were making.  

Everyone has something to give.  Everyone has something to offer.  We know that God wants us to give of ourselves--of all that we have been blessed with--not just our money.  So, though they may be materially poor, what is it that those to whom we minister have to give?  Is it hospitality?  Is it encouragement?  Could it be a skill like the ability to repair an engine or draw a picture or cultivate crops?  Is it great knowledge of the Bible, or a unique insight into the Scriptures?  If someone is materially poor, that doesn’t indicate that they have nothing give.  Likewise, just because we may be materially rich does not mean that we lack nothing and should therefore always be in the powerful position of “giver”, or “teacher”, or “leader”.  As children of God made in His image, we are all rich--in one way or another.  Conversely, as human beings who live in a broken, sinful world, we are all lacking something; none of us is perfect.  In our relationships with others, then, we should ask ourselves: “What is it that this person has to offer to the people in their life, and to God?”  When we help others who are in need, we should strive to give in such a way that will empower and inspire the recipient to, in turn, give to others from what they, themselves, possess. 

Some Thoughts On Our Time in Honduras -- Part 1 (by Bart)

      Every few months, Melissa and I have to fill out paperwork to keep our visas up to date.  So, several times a year for about the past two and a half years, I have to fill in the blank that says, “occupation”.  I’m not sure why, but I still always write “carpenter”.  I still feel a strong connection with that trade, even though I haven’t done much carpentry at all since we’ve been here in Honduras.  Working with my hands, especially working with wood, is something that is a part of me and I think it always will be to some extent.  To me, it’s a rewarding and satisfying feeling to be able to see tangible fruits of your labor.  When I started in the home construction business, I felt an even greater sense of satisfaction, knowing not only was I being able to help build something that would last, but that, because it was someone’s home, it would be a place where a family could live, and grow, and spend time together.  It would be a place that someone would take pride in.  

      Really, since I went on a spring break mission trip to Mexico in college, doing more, longer-term mission work had always been in the back of my mind.  Eventually, I felt like I had an obligation to use my talents and passion for carpentry and construction to benefit people who, I felt, really needed it.  The homes that I was working on in Oklahoma could hardly be described as basic shelter.  It seemed wrong to be pouring all my energy into building homes that were so luxurious, by most standards, when I knew that many people around the world lacked a decent roof over their heads.  

  In the winter of 2009, Melissa and I began asking people with some missions experience if they knew of a place where I could put my skills to work for people in need.  We talked to several people, and the country of Honduras kept coming up.  People told us stories about trips that they had made to Honduras and what poor conditions people lived in.  We went online and searched for more information.  We found all kinds of shocking statistics about poverty.  I envisioned that I would be able to do what I loved--build houses--and help people who were truly in need.  I felt that it was right for us to go and help.  We applied and were accepted to the Helpers In Missions program.  After a year of training, and much prayer and discussion, we sold our house and our cars and moved to Honduras for what was, originally, a two-year commitment.  

  From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted to try to immerse ourselves in the local culture--at least as much as we could.  We wanted to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to not just visit, but to live in a foreign land.  It seemed to us that we would be happier ourselves and that our relationships with others would be better if we fully embraced the culture, the lifestyle, and the language of the Honduran people.  It excited us to think about the adventure and the challenge of knowing this new place and this new culture and trying to become as Honduran as we possibly could.

  We started language school right away.  Obviously, learning to speak Spanish would not be easy, but we were genuinely excited about the possibility of learning a new language.  Others had told us that, even if we weren’t great at it, the locals would appreciate our efforts and that they would be more accepting of us.  We attended Spanish classes every day, nearly all day, for the first few months.  At the same time, we had a sort of nagging feeling that we should go ahead and get to work on some of the projects that we planned to be involved in.  But we felt like to live among these people as guests in their country, we owed it to them to at least have a basic knowledge of their language.  And plus, the time we spent in language school was a sort of built-in transition period where we were learning what our new life would be like in terms of the daily tasks, like buying groceries, paying bills, and navigating our way around our new home country.

  I guess when you live day-to-day in a place you’ll learn things and have experiences that you just can’t get otherwise.  Before coming to Honduras, we had searched out all the information we could find about the country.  We read books, searched online, and even made two short visits before moving.  But even knowing lots of information about the country and the culture couldn’t compare to living among the people every day.  There were, and are, lots of challenges.  Our enthusiasm and sense of adventure, at times, ran right into a wall of confusion and frustration when we struggled to communicate or failed to comprehend why people did the things they did.  But we had been taught and trained to avoid forming negative attitudes about our new culture.  

  Instead, we tried our best to find the good.  And we did.  I’m ashamed to say that before we came to Honduras, I was focussing almost exclusively on things like high poverty rates, low average annual salary figures, a dismal education system, skyrocketing unemployment rates; all things that I thought proved how much we were needed.  And, in some ways, maybe I was right.  There certainly are lots of needs here.  But, living here, we began to see that there was plenty of good to be found.  We began to see beyond statistics and shocking images of poverty.  God was allowing us to see past the anonymity of the labels we had initially put on the “poor” and “needy”.  We started to see people as people, as children of God who bear His image and therefore have dignity that is not based on what they have or what they do, but rather who they are.  Many people here certainly have challenges to overcome, but they are people who are “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  

  I think, on some level, I had the idea that we were coming to Honduras to “bring Jesus to the people here”--”to bring God into a ‘dry and weary land.’”  What we have realized is that God has been here.  God was, and is, working in the lives of the Honduran people.  He has been, and is still, revealing Himself and His love to those who will open their eyes and hearts to Him.  After a short time of living among them, God, and the people themselves, began to offer us a glimpse into their lives.  We began to see them as friends.

Off to a Great Start

We are about a month in to the new Baxter school year, and things are off to a great start.  New students from Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Ecuador are getting settled in, and more students from Cuba are due to arrive in a couple months.  Bart and I are resuming pretty much the same roles that we had last year, with one of Bart's main duties as supervising the weekend ministry assignments of all the students, and one of my main duties as providing therapy to the students and employees of Baxter, as well as people from the community.  
As part of Bart's supervisory role, last weekend we headed into the mountains to a small church in a place called La Ciénaga.  The young woman on the far left in the photo above, Martha, taught the little kids' Sunday School class, and asked me to assist.  Martha, having only been at Baxter a few weeks, was already jumping right in and interacting with the children of this small village in animated, positive ways.  And as has become the norm these days, Bart and I drove away from visiting a new church and meeting new people feeling very encouraged by what God is doing in and through the lives of His children here.      

md