We're studying South America in our homeschool right now and are currently reading "Nate Saint: On a Wing and a Prayer", from the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series put out by YWAM publishing. What an incredible book! It brings back many memories from about 10 years ago.
Before having children I was a Spanish teacher for 3 years in a Christian school. One Spring, the church youth group that was tied into the school I taught went on a missions trip to Shell, Ecuador. I was asked to go along to help with translation. What a WONDERFUL experience it was! We were working with missionaries Brian & Connie Shepson from our church who were stationed in Shell. Brian was a pilot/mechanic there. We did some physical labor with some building projects as well as ran some VBS programs with children in some villages there.
While there I had the opportunity to take 2 flights into the jungle in an MAF plane. The first flight took us to a remote village where we were dropping off supplies and picking up goods from the village. I witnessed a pig being carved up there! The second flight was a flight to one of the Waorani (Auca) villages. We met Waorani Christians and took a walk through the jungle to the Cururay river and the beach where the 5 missionaries were martyred. Unfortunately at the time, I hadn't read as many of the details of the story and maybe didn't appreciate it as much as I would now. It was sobering to stand there and reflect on the call the missionaries had.
Tonight as I was reading some different websites about Nate Saint and his life, I was reflecting on Jim Elliot's famous quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." These missionaries had such a love for the Lord and commitment to him, that it makes my daily thoughts, worries, and pursuits seem so trivial. I get so sidetracked on things that aren't important, and neglect the most important so often. Oh, to have such a complete love for the Lord that though I may not be called to die physically, or have any incredible (in the world's eyes) story or testimony, I am daily following Luke 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." It's not about what acts I do or don't do, it's about a love relationship with God that takes my mind off the things that aren't eternal and puts them on the eternal.
I pray we can live according to 2 Cor. 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." |
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• Tue 13 Feb 2007 - Untitled Comment