The Field leaders of South America Mission. After an Ice Breaker @ the Gun Range, it was all business!
7 jam packed days later and I’m ready to enjoy my extra hour of sleep tonight as South America Mission’s Field Leader Conference and Annual Board Meeting have come to an end. It was a week where this young inexperienced missionary was surrounded and in awe by amazing & godly individuals. The number of stories and history that was interlaced in these men and women that have dedicated their lives to the Lord’s kingdom work, was downright inspiring. To see people serving God for more than 50 years, the dedication, determination and faith was incredible, but even more so was a genuine desire to not be stuck in their ways but continually seek to see how God can be glorified in this day and age. Life lived and time spent together over the last 175 hours provided many opportunities to take a peek into the lives, personalities and hearts of some of these incredible people.
From a 10-time South American Moto-Cross champion turned pastor to daring pilots maneuvering the jungles of South America in ways that I can only describe as insane, it gave me more of a real sense of what I wrote in my last blog entry. God is in the business of doing amazing things through ordinary people. As we visioned together as a mission about the future we answered the question of “why would anyone want to be a part of South America Mission?”, with the desire that people will see that the Lord God almighty is with us. Just as Zechariah 8:23 depicts –
“Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”
I see that God has been with us over about the last 100 years as a mission and am excited to see how He is going to take more ordinary individuals with available hearts to continue His work. Take a look at this video clip for a taste of some of the kahunas some of these guys have.
The night before I left on a plane headed toward South America Mission’s annual leadership conference, I was out and about in the heart of Santa Marta. I should have been packing and getting a good nights rest before a full day of travel, but nonetheless I found my self amidst a group of young adults and professionals that night.
Our chairs forming a circle, it was a clear warm Caribbean night as we all sat under the stars together. The majority of us had never met before, but for the most part everyone was acquainted with at least one other individual in the group. As I got comfortable in my chair, my friend introduced me to everyone. The typical adjectives of, “Canadian, Chinese & Missionary” were part of all part of my introduction.
Taking me by surprise in addition to the usual smiles and giggles that I normally receive when being introduced to new people in Colombia, one individual piped up and others followed in agreement saying, “Noooo, liar, you don’t look like a missionary” followed by, in English but the lost in translation expression of, “you look like a bad boy!”
Intrigued by this response I naturally smiled back and inquired back why they had come to this conclusion. “Bad boy?” I asked. The jovial individual replied between shy giggles, “You just look like a bad boy, the confidence, the way you walk. I don’t believe you are a missionary.” Others threw in their comments in agreement, so jokingly in response I asked, “what are missionaries supposed to look like? Am I missing my halo, cargo shorts and safari hat?” The laughter only continued, but the ice was broken and the conversations began.
As I was contrasted with the normal foreigner that frequents Colombia, praise God my life testimony only caused the group to be interested in my perspectives and beliefs as a Christian. We all chatted the night away about a number of topics, but soon enough the time came where it was wiser for me to head home and get ready for the 7am departure the next morning. We exchanged contacts and I look forward to meeting up with them once I return to South America as God definitely planted a seed that night.
According to the world, I may not appear to look like a ‘typical’ missionary, but what does that really mean? What does a Christian look like? We are imperfect people, in the process of becoming more like Christ, each with our own unique personality and gifts. “The way I walk” and “my confidence,” comes from my relationship with Him, my personal Savior, something He offers to each and every individual on this earth.
Not so SuperSam...entertaining the locals at a mall before halloween.
I praise God because I know He planted a seed that night, a seed that He will water and cultivate. What I’m learning is that even my subconscious picture of what missionaries “look” like, is also being reconstructed. God may or may not use me to water or cultivate what He planted that night. What I love is that, He doesn’t need me to be Superman and “do everything” like some super Christian. Each day He still blows me away in regards to how big He is, beyond the constraints of time, and more immense than we can comprehend. Through all this my little faith is more and more assured that He is in control. In this I have confidence, comfort and live in freedom and wherever you’re at so can you. Let us walk with the Almighty God and may others be attracted to join us, because they see that – God is with us!
