Soccer in the Delta -- can you find the ball? Click on the image to make it bigger.
The day I was commissioned at my home church they gave me a book filled with pages of encouraging notes from the congregation. I brought this with me to Argentina, and last week on a day I was discouraged I opened it and read some of the notes. One anonymous note said, "We will be praying for you every day. You are not alone. Psalm 115." What does Psalm 115 say?Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
This is not about me, but about something much bigger and beyond me.
O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
I've been reading the Bible chronologically this year, and so have recently read about how trustworthy God is to keep the plans and promises that God has made, rescuing the Israelites from Egypt and providing for them in the desert. God alone is our help and our shield, not the people we work with or organizations or anything else we want to trust in.
The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
God has allowed us time on the earth in part to work for justice for all people and peace with God and harmony with our neighbor and with the earth. I have a purpose and a call, as we all do.
Today at the Libertador Church the history of their work in Baradero and the work for holistic community transformation was announced. The bulletin cover says, "Come on over to Baradero and help us..." which was what was asked of the church in 1999. The cover goes on to say: Today we begin to live together a faith experience. God is challenging the Libertador Church to look for the lost and needy. And then it quotes Romans 10: 14-15, "But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" We prayed over Silvia and Horacio as they begin their year seeking to move to Baradero full-time to bring lasting change the people in that area. I get to walk alongside them in this process. What a privilege, and what perfect timing for me to be here!
Samila at the feeding center in the Delta
Martin, who was seated next to Samila
