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Santa Cruz, CA
living, and loving people. in the midst of my humanity.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

What Happened in 10 days Part 2

Day 2 to Day 4: We drove down the coast of Mexico toward Ensenada Mexico to stay at APU's El Rancho Refugio. This camp is open for a tent city, Easter 1 & 2, and Summer Kids Camp weeks.

Our camp was beautiful and on a normal day would be really peaceful. We began intensive studies on missions almost immediately. Thus it not so peaceful. We learned outside where I could gaze upon the Bougainvilleas when my undiagnosed ADD was out of control.

In fact I took notes better than I did in college. Note taking has always helped me concentrate so stayed focused on our professors. Who where truly wonderful, Brian (who's last name escapes me, and who is a missionary in Kenya), & Elaine Vaden (teaches at Fuller).

We talked much of missions and how the culture shift of North America fits into all of this. This is the time for change when it comes to missions as we know it. We have created a culture that worked for a time, like the YFC Youth rallies, even those had to reshape and reform into something else. Such is the same with Missions.

I would say that my heart was moved in many ways that I am not sure I have fully unpacked yet. Four days of rich detail, processing, and listening to the hearts of the Mexican People. We came with questions and left with more questions. The beauty is, we also left with hope, hope that we are in the midst of something Larger than we know how to tackle or comprehend. The Question is, Is the American Church as we know it ready to move?
As we speak there are more missionaries from, China, Mexico, and South America than that of the usa. People where motivated and shown how to be missionaries by many from the states, and canada. Now they are giving back, and truly following the Great Commission. Their culture and visas are granting them better access into areas Americans are not allowed.
So what now, we cannot stand back, we must answer this call, this cultural shift in Missions. How....We must pray, breath, and walk boldly forward. We must make teeth marks!
"TEETH MARKS: Biting down hard and leaving behind something uncomfortable. Something that causes a blemish and an audible ouch. Something that Awakens. Something aggressive that changes and lasts. Not a flash bang, but rather a crater of care." - Flash Bang - by Mark Steele


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