We've all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but words give us pictures, too. To illustrate, we decided to create a literal photo album filled with pictures of the buildings of our Chandler, AZ church along with photos of its ministries in action and to take this album with us to Riobamba, Ecuador. At every opportunity, we want to share with fellow church members and new friends there exactly what our church facilities and ministries in action look like here. Let us explain the discovery that compelled us to create the photo album. When we were assigned to Riobamba, Ecuador, we started doing research to find out more about the city. As it turned out, it's the fifth largest city in Ecuador with a population around 180,000 people. There are many active churches in the Chimborazo Province in this Central Sierra region. Specific to our assignment, we found out that the school where we will work educates about 400 students. We did not know anything about God's work in Riobamba. We had never heard of Riobamba, and we did not know about the mighty influence of God's transforming influence in the lives of these students. Beth Moore writes,
"Jesus is still flagrantly changing lives," and "Real people are doing the real thing all over the real world." (Moore, B. (2011). James Mercy Triumphs. Nashville.) Jesus has His eddies whirlpooling and whirlwinding all over the world, saturating His creation with Himself. We have a tendency to think in terms of our city, our little neighborhood, and our church in America. But, when we read the research, the words gave us the picture. Four hundred students! God is working in obscure places using obscure people to make an eternal difference for His Kingdom. But, what about the four hundred children? Do they see a larger Jesus-work in the world? Or, like us, do they think of only their city, their neighborhood, their church? We believe that photos of our church and its ministries will be the pictures with a thousand words. We believe that they, too, will understand that God is working in obscure places using obscure people to make an eternal difference for His Kingdom. We will never know to the fullest extent the pervasive and monumental number of God's eddies at work in the world.
But, occasionally, we see a picture...
If you have time, we invite you to discover your picture and journey with us.
Keep Looking Up! Jim and Linda
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Elevation Elation!
Treks from Riobamba(Altitude: 2750 meters, 9000 feet. Population: 120,000. From Chapter 12.)
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Riobamba likes to call itself corazón de la patria, the nation's heartland, and for good reason. Situated near the geographic center of the country, it is the very essence of Andean Ecuador. The city is surrounded by numerous highland indigenous communities and five massive snowcapped volcanoes. Riobamba is an important regional center, the capital of the province of Chimborazo, and the hub of the country's once-famous railroad.
"Jesus leads them up into a high mountain apart by themselves." (Mark 9:2)
In less than a month, we will depart for a trip of a life-time: 3 months of living and working in Riobamba, Ecuador. Among the many facts that we have learned about the culture and lifestyle, we read that Riobamba is located at 9,000 feet altitude. Aren't Christians always asking God to "elevate us," to bring us to "higher grounds" of growth and discovery! Well, He has done that for us, literally! We presently live in the Valley in the Phoenix, AZ area, which is 1,117 feet above sea level. We asked the Lord for permission to experience a true mission lifestyle, and He has truly "risen to the occasion."
Oswald Chambers writes, " The mount is not meant to teach us anything it is meant to make us something." We are about to view life from a different perspective, knowing that we are entering a new "teaching and making" level.
Chambers goes on, "The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have the power to rise only, something is wrong." We are about to have a mountain-top experience, but we can't stay there; we have to descend - to come home to Valley living. We will enjoy the 9,000 feet until we have to come home to the 1,117 feet.
Jesus has lead us up to a high mountain, and we are so grateful for this perfect match: the two of us...with Him!
If you have time, we invite you to make this mountaintop trek with us! Come on, let's start the climb!
 |
| Riobamba is surrounded by five massive snowcapped volcanoes, including Chimborazo—the highest in Ecuador. (Trek 18, Photo: DK) |
Riobamba likes to call itself corazón de la patria, the nation's heartland, and for good reason. Situated near the geographic center of the country, it is the very essence of Andean Ecuador. The city is surrounded by numerous highland indigenous communities and five massive snowcapped volcanoes. Riobamba is an important regional center, the capital of the province of Chimborazo, and the hub of the country's once-famous railroad.
"Jesus leads them up into a high mountain apart by themselves." (Mark 9:2)
In less than a month, we will depart for a trip of a life-time: 3 months of living and working in Riobamba, Ecuador. Among the many facts that we have learned about the culture and lifestyle, we read that Riobamba is located at 9,000 feet altitude. Aren't Christians always asking God to "elevate us," to bring us to "higher grounds" of growth and discovery! Well, He has done that for us, literally! We presently live in the Valley in the Phoenix, AZ area, which is 1,117 feet above sea level. We asked the Lord for permission to experience a true mission lifestyle, and He has truly "risen to the occasion."
Oswald Chambers writes, " The mount is not meant to teach us anything it is meant to make us something." We are about to view life from a different perspective, knowing that we are entering a new "teaching and making" level.
Chambers goes on, "The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have the power to rise only, something is wrong." We are about to have a mountain-top experience, but we can't stay there; we have to descend - to come home to Valley living. We will enjoy the 9,000 feet until we have to come home to the 1,117 feet.
Jesus has lead us up to a high mountain, and we are so grateful for this perfect match: the two of us...with Him!
If you have time, we invite you to make this mountaintop trek with us! Come on, let's start the climb!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Live Small to Live Large
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders....and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
(Hebrews 12:1)
In our first go-around in life, we invested our income in big houses and nice vehicles, purchased both necessary appliances and fun gadgets, bought clothes, shoes, lawnmowers, dishes,etc, etc, etc....get the picture.
We lived large and liked it!
In our second go-around in life, we sold our big house, big car, appliances, gadgets, clothes, shoes, lawnmower, dishes, etc. etc, etc. get the picture. Yes, "...throwing off everything that hinders..."
We live small and like it!
We knew in our second go-around in life that we wanted to serve in missions, and we did not want to be hindered with things that would not let us plan, prepare and go whenever we wanted. Was it difficult to put our 'everything that hinders' in those three piles: sell, give a-way, and keep? Strangely, it was a comfortable sort of exercise in letting go, lightening up and un-layering.
Since we now live small, we can now begin to live large; we can "run the race marked out for us." Our road this time leads to Riobamba, Ecuador where we both will be involved at a Christian school. Jim will be involved with sporting activities and business support and Linda will teach EFL in grades 1-6. To us, this is living large.
And, we are grateful for this second go-around in life.
If you have time, you are welcome to follow us and live large with us.
Keep looking up! Jim and Linda
(Hebrews 12:1)
In our first go-around in life, we invested our income in big houses and nice vehicles, purchased both necessary appliances and fun gadgets, bought clothes, shoes, lawnmowers, dishes,etc, etc, etc....get the picture.
We lived large and liked it!
In our second go-around in life, we sold our big house, big car, appliances, gadgets, clothes, shoes, lawnmower, dishes, etc. etc, etc. get the picture. Yes, "...throwing off everything that hinders..."
We live small and like it!
We knew in our second go-around in life that we wanted to serve in missions, and we did not want to be hindered with things that would not let us plan, prepare and go whenever we wanted. Was it difficult to put our 'everything that hinders' in those three piles: sell, give a-way, and keep? Strangely, it was a comfortable sort of exercise in letting go, lightening up and un-layering.
Since we now live small, we can now begin to live large; we can "run the race marked out for us." Our road this time leads to Riobamba, Ecuador where we both will be involved at a Christian school. Jim will be involved with sporting activities and business support and Linda will teach EFL in grades 1-6. To us, this is living large.
And, we are grateful for this second go-around in life.
If you have time, you are welcome to follow us and live large with us.
Keep looking up! Jim and Linda
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