Thoughts from Chris

Dear Friends in Christ,

This coming Sunday, I will be hosting A Peruvian Afternoon in my home at 2pm. There will be dessert, a photo slideshow from my trip, me blabbing about what I think I learned, and time to mingle and ask questions and all that.

I apologize for the late notice! Many of you may have already heard through facebook or will shortly receive a snail mail invitation.

I hope some of you can make it!

Grace and peace,

Christopher

Dear Friends in Christ--

I apologize I have taken so long to get this blog post up; I'm home!

On Wednesday May 25 I said goodbye to my host family, the kids from the children's homes, Fr. Chris & Anne, and Sandy & Gloria Johnson. The preceeding days had been filled with several wonderful goodbye parties, gifts, hugs, and kisses from those at San Lucas Church, youth group, and School, Cristo Redentor, Santiago Apostól Mission, and others. I will miss the many friends I made in Peru, and most of all the children.

Thursday I arrived in Dallas, Texas, met my family at the airport, and plunged into the events surrounding my cousin Danielle's wedding. It was a packed weekend with wonderful people and felt disorienting as I began to experience reverse culture-shock.

We got back home on Sunday night and my first date with Katie started Monday morning. We went on a walk. this past Saturday, I got to attend her high school graduation and yesterday we threw a successful surprise birthday party for her 18th. It's nice to hold her hand, something that Skype in all its glory does not offer.

On Saturday I also attended Iglesia de la Resurrección, a Spanish-speaking Congregation pastored by Jonathan Kindberg, a friend of mine who grew up as a missionary kid in Peru among other places. I plan to help out at Iglesia's First Communion classes and youth group throughout the summer, both of which are on Saturday afternoon. It was wonderful to be there this Sunday; there was even a congregant from Arequipa! It feels a lot like my ministry in Peru in some ways, but also feels like Church of the Resurrection, so it's a wonderful place to be during transition. It's also good practice for someone who wants to go into bi-lingual church-planting!

My first Sunday back at Church of the Rez was also fantastic. Felt like home, but new at the same time. Things have changed while I've been gone. I've changed. But it still feels like home. "New" home. It's cool.

My friends and I are excited to see the Holy Spirit launch Jesus Teaching tomorrow night at 6pm. Your prayers for our first time of worship, Scripture, teaching, conversation, and prayer are deeply appreciated.

I hope to organize an event sometime in July when those of you who are geographically capable can gather and hear about my trip and my life and pray together. Details coming soon.

Thank you so so so so so so so so much to all of you who financially supported me, read my updates, prayed for me, encouraged me, asked me how I was doing, or blessed and formed me in some way throughout this process! You guys are vital partners in the work of God in my life and the lives of those I've worked with. May God bless you abundantly!

Grace and peace,

Christopher

Dear Friends in Christ,

One month from today I head back to the United States. (Or at leas that was the case when I started writing...I see now that it's past midnight.) I'm not sure where to begin this blog post...there's so much I could talk about! I guess I'll start with the easy stuff.

He is Risen!

I really enjoyed participating in all the Holy Week festivities here, but also missed Church of the Rez a great deal. Check out this video from the Palm Sunday procession at the Santiago Apostól mission:

New People

About two weeks ago, Father Christopher and Anne came to town from Wales. They are long-time sponsors of the San Jose and Sagrada Familia Children's Homes and are here for three months on sabbatical from their busy parish work in Wales. They are valiantly learning Spanish and join me on Tuesdays and Thursdays in practicing English with the kids at San Jose. It's wonderful to have them.

Regular Ministry Stuff

My work at Colegio San Lucas continues to be fun but unpredictable. I did some math recently and discovered at the end of my time, I will only have spent about an hour-and-a-half to two hours total with each small group of students I work with. How much can you really teach in two hours spread out over 10 weeks? But I see certain students picking new concepts up and using them, so that's encouraging.

At San Lucas Youth Group, I'm trying to figure out how I can best equip and serve the small group of leaders (Nestor, Nikole, Yohana, and Daniel) in the time I have left. It's odd because I feel like I'm just starting to "get" some of how I might lead our time together in a way that helps them effectively follow Jesus, and I only lead that time for more times... such is the nature of a short internship!

At Misión Santiago Apostól, the 13-year-old children's ministry leader María shared the Parable of the Sower on Easter Sunday and I helped review the basics of the story with the other kids in addition to sharing a bit about Jesus' death and resurrection. I'm proud of her! (She was hesitant to lead, but I'm trying to encourage her to take charge of more since I'll be gone soon!)

At Casa Hogar San Jose, we continue to have fun reviewing English. Father Christopher and Anne are quite popular. I've also kept giving short talks based on the kids' questions about God (recently we talked about Baptism and the Holy Spirit and about Hell), which is quite fun and I hope helpful.

Ica, Ayacucho, Huanta

From May 9-14, I will (Lord willing) be travelling up to Ica, Ayacucho, and Huanta (districts north of Arequipa), helping translate for a team that includes four non-Spanish-speakers from Troy, New York who are visiting the new church work being done there under the direction of Suffragan Bishop Mike Chapman.

My Soul

On to the not so easy stuff...

One of the things I've noticed about how I blog is how...neat and tidy it is. I have these categories and descriptions that let you know what I'm up to and my prayer requests at the bottom and it's all very well ordered. My friend Hattie has been out and about this year as well, and I've followed her e-mail/blog updates. One of the things that strikes me about Hattie's writing is how not neat and tidy it is. She doesn't even try. But she's always honest and frequently brave in what she shares. I often come away from her posts feeling like I know her and how she's feeling a bit better. While I don't think the "neat and tidy" is bad, I wonder if sometimes I use it to project an image of this fantastic ministry dude who confidently knows what he's doing. I don't really like being needy, or looking needy, or like everything is not totally under control.

What am I afraid of, after all? Wouldn't being honest about my weaknesses show forth God's power in my life and ministry even more? (They're not really "mine" anyways.) I actually think that my fear of being needy is one of the main things God has brought to my attention during this trip. My time in Lima was incredibly difficult for me emotionally, but I was largely unwilling to admit that and seek much-needed help from others. So I'm asking the Spirit to develop in me a greater willingness to "seek out" the help I really do need, even when I don't like to think so.

Along the same lines, I'd like to share a little bit more openly in my blogs. Unfortunately this is probably one of the last ones. Maybe I'll start a blog when I get home just to talk about life or something.

Anywho, something else that I've been convicted about recently is how I've been trying to seek satisfaction. I've spent a lot of time comparing my experience of life here in Peru to my experience in the US. I remember the sense of happiness that I felt there and often ask myself, "Do I feel that way among these people, this town, this church?" The answer has almost always been "No." I then try to ease the sense of disatisfaction-- with a movie or checking my e-mail more often than I need to or indulging the temptation to lust.

Recently, though, I was reading the Sermon on the Mount, and was struck by what Jesus declares in the Beattitudes. He lists all these people who are seen as little in the eyes of the world-- the spiritually poor, the mourning, the persecuted-- and says they are "blessed." In him, in the new life he brings, there is something so strong that it makes the difficulties of external circumstances "not worth comparing" (to use the words of the Apostle Paul). Instead of constantly analyzing my external circumstances to see if they satisfy me and then turning to empty entertainment when they don't, I could instead lift up my heart to Jesus, and in him find joy that outstrips any unhappy aspects of my time here.

This realization is both annoying and freeing. Annoying, because it means I have to own up to the aspect of the pain I've felt in Peru that's my own fault. It's not just "how things are here" and bound to magically get better one month from today. Freeing, because I don't have to wait till I'm in the US to seek joy in Jesus. If Paul and Silas could sing while bruised and in prison (check out Acts 16), I can certainly learn to delight in the Lord in the trials I face where I am now.

Shameless Plug: Jesus Teaching

That's what we've named "the weekly spiritual formation event" that I've written of in the past. I'm very excited about how things are coming together and the leaders I get to work with. (Specifically, Brian, Caley, Katie, and Hester.) I'm even more excited about the opportunity to try and help some friends grow closer to Jesus in authentic community. Starting June 7, we'll meet Tuesday nights 6pm-8pm in Oakwood Park, Winfield. Here's a clip from the intro at our facebook group:

Jesus Teaching Us How to Follow Him

If you’re a person who follows Jesus, you know that sometimes the path is frustrating. Often instead of experiencing mind-blowing growth, we feel stuck and confused. Repetitive sins make us question ourselves and unanswered prayers make us question God. We ask ourselves, “Where did the joy go?” We long for the “abundant life” we see in others or maybe have known ourselves in the past.

This summer, we’re going to get together. We’re going to seek Jesus out together, asking him how life in his Kingdom works. Is it possible to really know joy, to really grow, to really become like him?

Our Tuesday night gatherings will run like this:

Worship

Scripture + Teaching

Discussion

Prayer

Come. Invite your friends, young and old. Anyone is welcome who wants to discover (or re-discover) the path of Jesus.

We'll also partner with the college ministry of Community Fellowship and Glen Ellyn Bible Church in a few events throughout the summer that "take worship into the streets" in some way. Lots of prayer is appreciated, for everything we're doing and asking God to do!


Thank you so much for listening, for praying, for supporting, for corresponding! I can't wait to see you all again.

In Christ,

Christopher



Praises

+ Fr. Chris and Anne's presence, especially at San Jose
+ Better understanding of what God has been teaching me here
+ Good progress with the leaders of the San Lucas youth group
+ Plans progressing well for all things Summer 2011

Prayer Requests

+ Wisdom for each area of ministry, that I would finish strong and transition out well
+ Continued courage to seek out the help I need from others
+ That I would seek to be joyful in Jesus instead of looking toward what cannot satisfy
+ For the church here and all its ministries, perhaps using this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer: "Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen."

Dear Friends in Christ--

Everything continues to go quite well here in Arequipa. I'm at the halfway mark of my time in this city, with only 6 and a half weeks left to go. You can see what I'm up to below.

Sandy and Gloria Johnson just got back in town; they ended up attending a second funeral (besides Gloria's father's): Father Ron Robertson's. Father Ron and his wife Vicki were missionaries here in Arequipa for about five years before returning to the States three years ago when Father Ron got pancreatic cancer. I met Vicki a few weeks ago; she was a member of the "Roof Dogs" team. Please keep everyone here and Stateside in your prayers as they continue to mourn.

There is also a sensitive situation in Zamacola in relation to a second-grade girl who may have been sexually approached by a teenage boy. Please pray for clarity, protection, and healing for the girl, her family, and others affected by the events. (The girl has a loose connection to the Anglican church here.)

On a lighter note, today is also Katie's and my 6-month anniversary!

We haven't had a date yet.

Colegio San Lucas

I'm enjoying tutoring students in English and even beginning to remember some of their names! It can be challenging to know how to prepare material, since the amount of time I'll have with different groups of students is unpredictable and always short.

San Lucas Youth Group

The real conversation (of the vision of real conversation, real faith, and real mission) is happening in the small group discussions that we have at our weekly event. Last night I had a great conversation with three girls and one guy (three of whom are also students I tutor) about Scripture as a reliable guide for our lives. 

We also have some great laughs together.

Misión Santiago Apostól

Children's ministry here continues to go well from week to week. Sometimes it's hard to get the kids to pay attention, but that's to be expected. I'm hoping I can pass off some responsabilities to María (the girl who was in charge of the group before I came) to smooth the transition for when I leave.

Casa Hogar San Jose

We've been reading lots of Dr. Seuss together in the past couple of weeks, and it's interesting to see which kids have gotten bored of him and which are still excited about Zanses and Nooks and Mr. Gump's Wump. (We do learn real English vocabulary, too; don't worry.)

I've also recently asked the kids about their questions about God. Recently four of them showed up for a 20-minute talk about creation, sin, redemption, and restoration and excitedly participated. Please pray for similar meaningful conversations in the future!

Playing ball with Jimena

Summer 2011 Spiritual Formation Groups

Plans run smoothly for the following activities:

• A weekly event of worship, Scripture, teaching, discussion, and prayer (probably on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm in Oakwood Park, Winfield-- I'll plug it here when that info is confirmed).
• An initiative to get young people together in small groups and train them in how to be a healthy small group
• A separate bi-weekly Scripture and discussion event
• A one-time multi-church gathering to pray about mission in DuPage County.

Praises

+Prayer partnership with Daniel

+Luis, a Catholic lay minister who I met in order to help him practice English

+Excellent books to help me learn how to follow Jesus

+Excellent ministry opportunities that are all going well

+A way-better-than-I-could-ever-ask-for Katie

+Reliable friends and leaders back in the US

Prayer Requests