Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #1

I wanted to share some personal thoughts from these 5 years the Lord has allowed us to be missionaries here in Argentina. The next few blogs I will be posting will be specifically addressing “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field”.

This first lesson is the freshest on my mind as well as a very recent incident that happened. Just days ago, on Saturday, Mindy was in the hospital because of the loss of our baby. To make the story brief, she was bleeding a lot and if they would not have taken her to surgery, she could of died. Most of the nurses and hospital workers were on vacation and/or out of the office. It seemed that no one was attending us and Mindy was getting worse and worse. I began to pray with her and then in my heart, “Lord, please let her live, I need her, I will be different, please give her back to me.” This big scare that happened, brings me to my first “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field” - the need of your spouse.

How many times have I been so wrapped up in work that I forgot about my precious wife. It took a “close to death” experience for me to wake up. We have talked since and realize how much time we have wasted over silly arguments and disagreements that make no sense. My stubbornness, not wanting to give in, etc has made me lose so much time of this short life with my wonderful wife. As Solomon explains in Song of Solomon 2:5, “the little foxes, that spoil the vines”. The little arguments, the little petty things in life that steal time and ruin relationships.

I counsel our young people in our church to not get married unless they can serve the Lord more as a couple than they could being single. But how often have I not taken my own advice. The Lord has given me a “help meet” one to not only accompany me, but to complete me. A precious jewel, a friend, a co-laborer to help me in the ministry. And together, as a team, we can do so much more for our Lord than being separate.

How foolish I have been many times ignoring my wife to try and “grow” the church, when the truth is that most of the people I have striven to get in church ends up leaving after a short time. It is not to say that my labor has been in vain with people, but I have found out that although many have used me in the ministry, my wife is always at home to love me and accept me.

To conclude this first lesson, I cry out to myself and many married couples on the mission field, “you can lose your ministry and still have your wife, but if you lose your wife, you will lose both ministry and wife”. Life is short to waste it not being in love. Maybe Romeo was not all that silly, maybe “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecc 4:12). So grab your wife by the hand and enjoy the time God has given you on the journey for Him.

The second “Life’s Lessons” I would like to share is the simple fact that God will provide.

When my wife and I were on deputation, we saw the Lord provide in mysterious ways and it was obvious to us that the Lord was taking care of us. Our life’s story on deputation was a clear testimony of how God works and provides. But it seems that sometimes we see God work and then we head back off the mountain and into the valley - where we do not see God provide for another long time. The amazing thing about our God is that he has continued to provide through the entire journey - He still provides as I sit and write this entry.

I have to admit that when we preparing to come to Argentina, we were excited, but very nervous at the same time. I was not sure of the exact city or location where God wanted us, I was nervous to start from zero, etc. But probably one of the greatest events that stick out in my mind about coming to Argentina was what began years before we arrived to Argentina. My wife and I would pray on deputation and in language school that God would prepare the hearts of the Argentine people. When we finally arrived to Argentina and was living in a hotel before finding a house and church building, our prayer began to change. We began to pray that God would send the people whose hearts He had prepared. When the Lord led us to an old paint building that was to be turned into the Lighthouse Baptist Church, the miracles began. We began expectantly working in the new church and within months, the Lord truly did send those people whose hearts He had touched. One by one, a couple would come that would later watch over us and constantly love and pray for us, a young man and his sister came who later became teachers and leaders in our church, a girl came that later brought her husband who would later become the Ast. Pastor, a family came that would bring and win many others to the Lord, and much more. The Lord began to provide!

God proved to me more than once that it was not me, rather Him providing. People would leave, people would come, but God began to build, God provided!

I am amazed that in Ex 31 y 35 that God tells Moses that He, God, has called men out that will help Moses do the work that God had told him to do. Once again in Numbers 11:16-17 God tells Moses to gather 70 men and, “they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone”. And the same story we have today in every church and every place - God raises up the leaders so that His work will go forward.

Time does not permit us to go into every story of how the Lord provides economically. Many of us have seen this and it is so true that God provides in this area. But my “Life’s Lesson” is to show that the same God that raises money and gives materially, also raises men, workers and capable people to do the work He has called us to do. What a blessing! God really does provide!

More than once my wife and I have sat down and said, “remember when we prayed and God sent…..” and then we continue the sentence by saying, “we need to pray that He would send another family, another leader, …”. We all would say we believe in prayer, but my testimony is to show that once and again I have prayed that He would send more workers and He has provided. We saw families come in as a direct result of asking God - sure we might have passed out tracts or knocked on doors or …, but every time we have prayed it is like God telling us, “prepare the ground because I’m going to send some rain.” And He has!

So I ask you my friend, when was the last time you asked for Him to provide in any area. I don’t want to stop my life with a few testimonies from the past of how He has provided, rather be able to daily and constantly see the Lord provide. We have a God that provides!

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #3

The third “Life’s Lessons” I have learned on the mission field is that every person is a volunteer.

When we arrived to Argentina we started the church and between my wife and I, we divided the church - everyone from 12 and under was her category and everyone from 13 and above was in my category. I did the singing, anouncements, offering, preaching, praying, etc while my wife did the nursery, kids club, SS classes, etc. It was quite funny now that I look back. Within a short amount of time, the Lord began to send us young men and women who are today great leaders in the church. One by one, people began to volunteer to help clean, help in a class, help in the nursery, be a greeter, pray in church, be an usher, etc. I knew that the teachers and leaders were to be the examples and therefore little by little began to put rules. Time passed and the Lord had given us a good group of teachers and workers, so I thought it was time for “the list”. I sat down and wrote a list of requirements and jobs that these teachers and workers had to do in the church - after all I thought, isn’t it a privilege to be in the Lord’s work. I presented my list to a group of teachers with requirements that I now see were not so necessary. Later I had a few looks and visits to my office with statements such as, “I don’t think I can complete all these requirements”. I was shattered, all of a sudden these hard workers that the Lord had placed in the church, were possibly not going to continue - what would I do.

I went home after our episode of me trying to be “leadership on steroids” and did some thinking. What really was the problem. Almost every teacher brought people, was faithful, dressed and acted right, … but I was pushing for more. Maybe they weren’t the problem, maybe it was me.

I began to realize a great “Life’s Lesson” - no one works because they have to work, everyone is a volunteer. If one’s heart is not in it, he will not do it. I was taught by my spiritual father that real leaders go against the flow, they are not “yes men”. So it is with our people here and anywhere else - no one works just to work, they do it because they love God, they do it because they are volunteers.

Maybe the idea of leadership has ruined our thinking, or maybe our leadership needs to be more like the leadership that Christ manifested. He did not force anyone to believe in Him, follow Him, etc. Sure it was hard and they had to take up their cross, but if they didn’t want to do it, they could leave. And as His instruments here on the earth, I can not make anyone do anything - they only do it because they want to, because they are volunteers.

God has given us a great group of people here in Argentina and we are thankful. But I have learned one “Life’s Lesson” that I hope I will never forget - they are volunteers. The only owner is the Lord, not me nor the church, nor … and when I love these volunteers and seek after their good, God will keep them coming.

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #4

The fourth “Life’s Lesson” I have learned on the mission field is how short life is.

A few years ago I was having chest pain and my wrist was hurting. I saw a few doctors and the majority told me that they did not know the problem and it seemed to be only a pulled muscle. The pain continued and so I continued looking for help. I finally arrived to a hand doctor where they did extensive studies and eventually made an appointment to see a specialist. I remember sitting at his desk and the doctor looking at my blood work and other studies - he looked at me and said, “it looks like you have rheumatoid arthritis.” I looked at him and remember saying, “I’m 28 years old, do you mean that I am going to have to take medication every day until the day I die?” It was at that moment the reality hit me that life is short.

We all recognize the fact that the weeks, months and years are flying by. It seems every day that I think, “I remember when …” We all know time flies by without warning, it is a fact of life. I don’t need to remind anyone that the Lord teaches us to number our days (Ps. 90:12), our life is like a vapor (James 4:14), and that we should redeem the time (Col 4:5). But the “Life Lesson” I have learned is that time is short and we must learn to enjoy the time we do have on this earth.

I believe strongly in that one should work and that one should only be paid what he does work, but I also believe that one should take time to “smell the roses” on his way through life. Serving God is the best life possible, but sadly many may have the concept that we can not have fun and enjoy life if we are serving the Lord. I have been very guilty of this and lost many wonderful memories in life because of it.

When my wife and I got married, we did not have enough wedding pictures taken. This subject has come up so many times because I simply did not think of taking more pictures at our wedding. We still have each other, but we lack the pictures to have good memories. Even if we took pictures today with the same clothes as the ones we wore on our wedding day, it would not be the same. The reason is because the time has already passed by, the opportunity is lost. And so it is with life. When time passes, you can not turn back.

One day soon we will not have kids in the house or not have the physical strength or … so I must enjoy the time God has given me today. What are some things I can do that would help my family, help a leader in the church, help my personal growth, etc. In the near future it may not matter, so I must do it now. Time is too short to not make memories.

May this “Life Lesson” always be before me - soon life will be gone and those hours I have wasted doing non-important things will be nothing more than a waste. So today I want to enjoy life serving my Savior!

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #5

The fifth “Life’s Lesson” I have learned on the mission field is one that everyone knows, but one that has been an important lesson for me - learning to Love People.

Before coming to Argentina, I remember reading and studying about Argentina. I looked at videos of Argentina, read books, looked at pictures, listened to how they talked, etc. I thought I loved the people, but to be honest I think it was an emotional high without reality.

When we arrived to Argentina, I put my Argentine flag up, marked every holiday, tried to talk and act like them, etc. I wanted to be one of them. But as time passed by, I found they had in common certain characteristics such as people I knew in the United States, people I met in Peru, and everywhere else in the world….. they were just people. Although this seems so simple, it is still very complex.

The blessing about me realizing that they are “just people”, meant to me that they really did not care that I was short, had big ears, flunked more than once in school, was not smart in many areas, etc. I began to find out that the more I loved them, the more they accepted me. They were just people in need as my family and anyone else in this world.

Whether rich or poor, whatever nationality or language, people just need someone to love them. It is said that no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. The truth in this is amazing. We have been able to win families and individuals, not because we have the best preaching and singing, but we are learning the “Life Lesson” of loving people.

I have seen the power in love. I have seen how hard a person will work when he is loved and recognized. I have seen people do more than they may be capable of, or spend what they don’t have because they feel loved. I have seen attitudes changed and joy fulfilled when someone sees they are truly loved. They care not how much I know, nor how good of a preacher I am, they just care how much I love them.

I John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” And as He has taught me, He commands me to go and love others. This love can be the water and sunshine to make a new Christian grow in the Lord. But I am to love them first, I am to go after them even when they might not know they need it.

When was the last time I wrote a letter of encouragement to someone? When was the last time I sent an e-mail or a text message to encourage someone? When was the last time I called or visited someone, just to show them I love them? There is great power in love. It is love that cannot be quenched by many waters or drown by the floods. And it is love that is a great “Life Lesson” for all of us to learn and to put in practice.

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #6

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #7

There is a very important “Life’s Lesson” that I have learned or am learning on the mission field and that is What is a missionary really supposed to do?

When I was 16 years old, the Lord clearly put it upon my heart to serve Him - and more specifically I felt He was directing me to the mission field. I desired to be a missionary, but did not know exactly was a missionary really was. Finally getting to college and then language school, the Lord began forming me more and more to what He would have for my life. I was very fortunate to have met a veteran missionary, Austin Gardner, who took me under his wing and began teaching me what missions really was.

When I finally arrived to Argentina in 2004, we started up and within a short amount of time the Lord sent us great young people who became pillars and leaders in the churches. I thought I was doing what a missionary really is supposed to do. I thought by leaving the United States and starting a church on foreign soil, that this was enough, but it really wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I was taught that anyone can cross a border - military, army, tourist, business men, etc … and I was no more spiritual than any of these men by simply living on foreign soil. So what was I supposed to do?

Is a missionary simply a foreign pastor, one that begins with strength but then settles in a church? So the Lord began to teach me that one of my “Life’s Lessons” was to remember what I was taught … to remember what I am really supposed to do as a missionary.

Life in any aspect can be very frustrating not knowing what one is supposed to do, so this “Life’s Lesson” is very important. I am not supposed to just be a pastor on foreign soil, I am not just supposed to “hold the fort” until the Lord comes back, I am not supposed to just live as any other man. The man that is given much, is required much (Lu 12:48). So I am to know what a missionary is supposed to do.

Every man is convinced in his own mind of where or what his job is, but my “Life’s Lesson” is that I must prepare MANY to continue the work of the Lord in every part of this globe. My preaching is not to be general, but with the end to prepare generals in the army of the Lord. My time is not to just be spent, but to prepare generals in the army of the Lord. My prayer is not to be aimless, but to prepare generals in the army of the Lord. The need in every corner and every area of this world is great, but the laborers are few (Mt. 9:36-38). Therefore what I am supposed to do as a missionary is to prepare the laborers for the great harvest.

My prayer is that I will never forget of this “Life’s Lesson”, that I will not walk aimlessly. The difference between time and time well spent could be the fact that one realizes what he is supposed to do. May God use our generation of missionaries and those to come to really know what we are supposed to do.

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #8

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #9

Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field #11

In all of “Life’s Lessons”, God chooses different times to teach me, but this is one that God has taught me since a child. The 10th “Life’s Lesson” is Living With what God has Given Me.

Even though I may be a missionary and a preacher, I still must remember what the words of Christa are: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Lu 12:15). I can not place my eyes upon what my hands can grasp. I must be careful to not covet big things that are not meant for me.

For me this truth goes back to my childhood. I did not grow up in a big house and have money to spare. I thank God for the way He allowed me to be raised and do not regret it at all. But I must be honest about this truth. When I became a missionary, I began to administer money that I had not administered before. I began to see that while we were on deputation that we could have went to better restaurants or bought nicer items for our house, etc. But the Lord reminded me that none of this was “real” riches. Life does not consist of these riches one posses. The money was not to look at or covet after, rather a tool to use for the Lord and the Lord’s work.

So I had a choice … to buy better items for me, to have bigger toys, to order more food, to be more in style … or to administer honestly what I was given. This passage really struck me in Hebrews 12:11 - “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Wow! So I can be self disciplined in not wasting money and goods placed in my hand or I can use it up as I wish … but later have nothing to show for it.

For many, the test is not when they don’t have money, rather how they act when they do have money. Will it change me? Will it affect me? Psalm 62:10 is pretty clear what I am to do: “if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Sometimes I look back and see how much better it was when there was not much money. When money does come in at different phases of life, I must be careful how to react, how to administer it.

So the “Life’s Lesson” is really not that hard to understand. Serve God with little or with much, but don’t change how I live and serve God because of money. Money is a tool and many times can be put in my hands to try my heart - if my heart is placed on God or on cash. Money takes wings and flies away as an eagle towards heaven, therefore I should not place my eyes upon it. Living with what God has given Me is the best way to live. Not coveting what another has, not changing because I now have, etc. May God help me to always live within the range He has given me and be satisfied there.