Final Thoughts
FreshMex Team (this is written mostly to the dudes, however parents are welcome to read!)-
Waking up this morning in my own bed was wonderful, and I hope you all feel the same! It was amazing to see my wife, and play with my two little dudes. However, I also felt just a little empty. The transition back to our comfortable, blessed lives can be a harsh wake up call in comparison to the world we were so invested in for the past six days. We didn't really get a chance to go through our final devotional thought, so I wanted to get it out here for anyone who is like me and struggling to adjust this morning. I also want to let you know that if you are having a hard time with the adjustment back - that's OK! It's actually really good. It means you were deeply invested in the work and relationships in Mexico, and you allowed your heart to be changed by the things you experienced there. If you are struggling this morning, I think there is a good chance that God has you right where He wants you. Lean in to Him and be open to whatever it is that He wants to teach you. Here are some thoughts that may help you process and figure out what to do now:
"Thus when you wake up in the morning, called by God to be a self again, if you want to know who you are, watch your feet. Because where your feet take you, that is who you are." -Frederick Beuchner
So... that begs the question. In light of this recent trip to Mexico, where should my feet take me in my daily life here in Colorado? What does all of this lead to?
Ephesians 4:1-7 (NLT):
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ."
You want to know who you are and where your feet should take you? Walk in a manner worthy of your calling! Your calling is grand and wonderful. You may also know at least a little bit more about your calling now than you did before this trip. I have recently been processing the idea that my sole calling in life is to follow Jesus - everything else is secondary and needs to be viewed through that lens. My professional calling is not to be a high school dean/counselor and football coach, my professional calling is to follow Jesus; and then do the things he has for me as well as I can. My personal calling is not to be a husband, a dad, a son, and a friend, my personal calling is to follow Jesus; and then do the things he has for me as well as I can. You get the idea. I hope that your experience over the past 6 days has shown you a little bit more of what it would mean to walk in a manner worthy of your calling - the calling of following Jesus Christ every day, and in every situation.
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace." This is a specific list of things that should characterize your walk as you follow your grand calling. Patience, forgiveness, unity, peace - these should define your continued relationships with the other guys on this trip, your relationships with other friends (AND NON-FRIENDS!) at school, your family, and anyone else you come into contact with.
Remember: the end of this trip is a beginning for us! The things God showed you in Mexico, at i6eight Ministries, building for the Zamano Lastra family, working with Amor, and seeing the things we saw in Puerto Penasco can stay with you. All of these things should now become a part of your every day life as you strive to be more full, complete, and wholly Christ's. The spiritual high of all these things will wear off, and that's ok. Faithfulness to God and successfully living out your calling are not always characterized by spiritual highs and adventures. A life of following Jesus is characterized by obedience, trust and faithfulness in the little things, the normal things, and the every day things. There will be a time when you no longer think about Chava, Pati, Luis, Jesús, or Paulina (Aaron!) every day, and that's ok. Your prayer can be, however, that in every day that goes by the way you love God and love people is somehow changed or different because of your time of obedience, service, and relationship in Mexico.
Please also know that any of us leaders are open to talking with you any time you want to process more or talk something through. God bless you all, thank you for the opportunity to be on this trip with you, and stay Chava forever.
Sunny, Reese, Blase, and Mase
Waking up this morning in my own bed was wonderful, and I hope you all feel the same! It was amazing to see my wife, and play with my two little dudes. However, I also felt just a little empty. The transition back to our comfortable, blessed lives can be a harsh wake up call in comparison to the world we were so invested in for the past six days. We didn't really get a chance to go through our final devotional thought, so I wanted to get it out here for anyone who is like me and struggling to adjust this morning. I also want to let you know that if you are having a hard time with the adjustment back - that's OK! It's actually really good. It means you were deeply invested in the work and relationships in Mexico, and you allowed your heart to be changed by the things you experienced there. If you are struggling this morning, I think there is a good chance that God has you right where He wants you. Lean in to Him and be open to whatever it is that He wants to teach you. Here are some thoughts that may help you process and figure out what to do now:
"Thus when you wake up in the morning, called by God to be a self again, if you want to know who you are, watch your feet. Because where your feet take you, that is who you are." -Frederick Beuchner
So... that begs the question. In light of this recent trip to Mexico, where should my feet take me in my daily life here in Colorado? What does all of this lead to?
Ephesians 4:1-7 (NLT):
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ."
You want to know who you are and where your feet should take you? Walk in a manner worthy of your calling! Your calling is grand and wonderful. You may also know at least a little bit more about your calling now than you did before this trip. I have recently been processing the idea that my sole calling in life is to follow Jesus - everything else is secondary and needs to be viewed through that lens. My professional calling is not to be a high school dean/counselor and football coach, my professional calling is to follow Jesus; and then do the things he has for me as well as I can. My personal calling is not to be a husband, a dad, a son, and a friend, my personal calling is to follow Jesus; and then do the things he has for me as well as I can. You get the idea. I hope that your experience over the past 6 days has shown you a little bit more of what it would mean to walk in a manner worthy of your calling - the calling of following Jesus Christ every day, and in every situation.
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace." This is a specific list of things that should characterize your walk as you follow your grand calling. Patience, forgiveness, unity, peace - these should define your continued relationships with the other guys on this trip, your relationships with other friends (AND NON-FRIENDS!) at school, your family, and anyone else you come into contact with.
Remember: the end of this trip is a beginning for us! The things God showed you in Mexico, at i6eight Ministries, building for the Zamano Lastra family, working with Amor, and seeing the things we saw in Puerto Penasco can stay with you. All of these things should now become a part of your every day life as you strive to be more full, complete, and wholly Christ's. The spiritual high of all these things will wear off, and that's ok. Faithfulness to God and successfully living out your calling are not always characterized by spiritual highs and adventures. A life of following Jesus is characterized by obedience, trust and faithfulness in the little things, the normal things, and the every day things. There will be a time when you no longer think about Chava, Pati, Luis, Jesús, or Paulina (Aaron!) every day, and that's ok. Your prayer can be, however, that in every day that goes by the way you love God and love people is somehow changed or different because of your time of obedience, service, and relationship in Mexico.
Please also know that any of us leaders are open to talking with you any time you want to process more or talk something through. God bless you all, thank you for the opportunity to be on this trip with you, and stay Chava forever.
Sunny, Reese, Blase, and Mase
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