Into the glorious unknown...: May 2009

I hope you are all doing well today, and I hope wherever you are in the world that you will remember that you are a light for Jesus whether that's in your home or on the streets or in your workplace, you are Jesus to those around you. Living a missional life makes you a missionary wherever God places you.

That being said you are probably wondering what I'm doing to be missional where God has placed me, and that is a great question that I had to ask myself when I got here. You might remember that when I was in school I did a "cookie ministry" so I decided to continue it in Oaxaca with some variations. The following is my daily account of the last week and what happened:

Day One of Missional life in Oaxaca: Bread Ministry

Martha 

Tonight I bought a loaf of bread in the bakery and asked God to put a woman in my path that needed that loaf of bread. As I walked down the street sure enough there was a woman with her baby sitting on the sidewalk begging. I walked up to her and asked her if she wanted the bread and she accepted it gladly. I then asked if she knew Jesus Christ, and she said that she did. I then asked if I could pray for her and at this point she said she didn’t know what I was saying so I tried a different word for pray and she still said that she didn’t know what I was saying. Then I asked if she knew Spanish and she said that she didn’t. I asked her, her name and she said that it was Martha I told her that I was pleased to meet her and went on my way all the time praying for Martha and her little baby. I don’t know if Martha really didn’t know Spanish or if she just didn’t want me to pray for her, either way I pray that she felt that God blessed in some way through that brief meeting on the street. I also pray that God received all the glory and praise.

Day 2: Bible Verses

Maria Cruz

Last night I looked up bible verses in Spanish and wrote them on a note card so that I had something today to give along with the bread. This afternoon I went back to my usual bakery and bought another loaf of bread (I’ll have to take note of the name next time). As I went on my way praying that God would put a woman in my path that needed that bread I came across Martha from yesterday. I said a quick personal hello and went on my way.  I think I’m gonna try and find her everyday and try to talk to her, I have a feeling that she really does know Spanish but doesn’t want to let it on, maybe because she doesn’t trust me, I don’t know, anyway I’m gonna be persistent. I went to the Zocolo and sat down and in a little while a old woman came to the people next to me and begged for money. I felt God telling me that she was the one I was supposed to give the bread to so I sort of followed her (I know it sounds creepy, but I promise it wasn’t and if it was I don’t care cuz it was in the name of Jesus). Once I caught up with her where there weren’t a lot of people around I gave her the bread and this time asked if she understood and read Spanish and then gave her the card and asked if she knew Jesuscristo and she said that she did. I also asked to pray for her, and she said yes, but was more interested in either getting more money or leaving or both. Anyway, I didn’t get a chance to pray with her but as I walked away I did pray for her. So far this experiment in human standards has not been a success, but I know that God is so much bigger than us and can use anything he wants to speak to his children and I’m trusting in that and am trying to be obedient to his instructions.

Day 3: God is Faithful to His Children

Today I didn’t buy bread I had a full day of things to do, but I don’t consider it a waste. I had a couple of good spiritual conversations. Today I had my first intercambio with Beeanay (phonetic spelling, I don’t know how she spells her name) she is 21 and a Chirstian from a strong Christian family. We talked about what I’m doing here in Mexico and Tlaxiaco and I had the chance to share with her about the 10/40 window in Spanish! I’m glad to have a Christian friend in Oaxaca. Tonight I went out with Catherine a student from the school. We just walked around and talked about life and about God and some spiritual matters. I am excited to see what other opportunities I will have to talk about God with her, it seems that she doesn’t have a personal relationship with God but rather sees it as a religion only.

 

Day 4: Just Add Water

Sandra

Today I added water. So I bought my loaf of bread again today and walked the street looking for the right woman to give it to, then I saw a woman with 4 children who were dressed in dirty clothes sitting in the street. I had already walked past them before I realized that this was the woman that I was supposed to give the bread to. I turned around and walked back to where she was I squatted down and asked if she understood Spanish and she said she understands a little. So then I asked if she wanted the bread and of course she said that she did. I asked if she knew Jesus Christ and again she said she did, so then I asked if I could pray for her and her children and she said yes so I got a chance to pray with them for a little while (yeah!) and after I was done I gave her a note card with some verses on it and told her that they were from the bible. I really hope she reads them and takes them to heart. After that her oldest daughter asked if I would buy them a water and really how could I say no to that request something as basic as water…so I went to the store and bought them some water and when I came back I talked to her for a little while longer then said goodbye, I think that God wants me to find Sandra again and talk with her some more, and I hope that as my Spanish progresses I will be able to talk with her more about Jesus and what He did for her. I really want to be able to pray for people in Spanish, please pray that God will give me the language abilities to do so. I want people like Sandra to be able to understand what I’m saying when I pray for them. Thank you Father for this opportunity, my your name be glorified through this.

I'll continue to record my days here in Oaxaca and let you know what is happening in my life and what is happening through the bread ministry. 

On a different note, language learning is going well I'm learning a ton, 5 tenses in 1 week! Uffdah!

I know that God is good and will see this language work in me to completion, I can already see a difference in a week so I'm hopeful that the next 3 weeks will be just as successful. Even though learning is going well I would greatly appreciate it if you could keep me in your prayers as I go through this process. Thanks for all your prayers, I have really felt them here! Love you all! 

Until next time....adios!

For those of you that don't know what the heck that Johnson girl is up to; I'm doing language school for a month in Oaxaca. I arrived in Oaxaca tonight and found my host family without any problems praise the Lord! I'm staying with a lady and her daughter here in the city. They have been extremely nice and welcoming to me and I am very grateful. I feel also especially blessed because I have my own little suite here complete with a bathroom! I feel down right pampered and very thankful. Tomorrow begins Spanish classes at the language school I'm going to. I'm a little nervous but also excited as I step out into a new adventure with God. I know that God wants to use me here the next month and I'm excited to see how he does. I'm gonna try my hardest to keep you all up on whats happening here with me, but I also want to immerse myself in the language and try and keep my English communication to a minimum. That's all I really have for tonight, but stay tuned....

Prayer Requests:

- God would give me supernatural language learning abilities

- That I would be able to enjoy the process and not get frustrated

- That I would be presented with opportunities to share the gospel

- That I would stay healthy

- That I will be able to stay focused

- That God would be glorified through this process

I love you all! "Talk" to you soon. :)