We've been welcomed here at Esperanza but to be honest, I don't think we have really felt like we connected with people on a deeper relational level. It's interesting to be the guest and pick up on what makes you feel like you belong or not in a new community. I think part of it was that we never really shared much of our story with people here, or at least they've never asked very many questions about us. Either way we've decided to invite a few different people over to our place for meals and be more pro-active. We've connected with Arttu - he's a 37 year old Finnish backpacker making his way up to Anchorage. He quit his job, sold everything and is basically living day by day (he says he was a contestant on The Apprentice in Finland!). He has been here for about four days, and is definitely searching spiritually. He was baptized in Tofino last week, but I'm not sure if he completely understands who Jesus really is. We've had him over to our place a couple of times and have been able to share our story and who Jesus is to us - you can pray that he would continue to grow in his relationship with Jesus. He is divorced and I think Father's Day was kind of hard for him. We've also invited Emily over, she's nineteen years old and has been living here for 3 years - her parents divorced when she was four and she has been able to come to a place of healing and forgiveness only recently.
There has been a work group of about 30 young people here from Portland for the last few days and they've been splitting wood and doing some electrical projects. We just enjoyed a potluck meal with the group and Esperanza staff, so we got to chat with them more and learn about Portland! They're here until Saturday.
I'm just about finished reading "Missional Renaissance" by Reggie McNeal - it was something our board went through, but I hadn't read it completely yet. A great practical book to change the "scorecard" on what we measure success by as a church. I'm beginning to really reflect on this identity as a believer to be "sent". Here's a quote that caught my attention:
"The missional church is made up of missionaries...they live their lives with the idea that they are on a mission trip. On mission trips, people focus on the the work of God around them, alert to the Spirit's prompting, usually serving people in tangible ways, often in ways that involve some sacrifice or even discomfort. Life on mission is more intentional and more integrated. While the concerns of life (family, work, leisure) are pursued, they are part of a larger story being played out for the missionary. This story does not require a round-the-world excursion to discover or to pursue. Mission is not something "out there"; it is the defining quality of how missionary life is lived." So I'm asking myself, how does my lifestyle reflect this idea of being sent as a missionary? What does it look like for me while I'm on sabbatical and not being a "pastor"? What does it look like to be a misional family and not separate work and home life, and simply be sharing Christ as intentional blessing agents for the kingdom of God? Good stuff...
Julia and I are reading through Gary Chapman's book, Four Seasons of Marriage - it's generated good discussion for us as we get close to celebrating sixteen years of marriage!
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