Shhh... Don't Tell My Left Hand!

So... I've always had trouble deciding where the line is between not letting my left hand know what my right hand is doing (Mt. 6:3) and helping others be encouraged and able to overcome by sharing my testimony (Rev. 12:11).

When God allows me to be a part of blessing someone else, I'm never sure how much of that stuff to tell others about. Or, more accurately, I'm not really sure how to tell others in a way that truly glorifies Him without making it seem like it's just a little about me.

Because it's not about me. Not at all. At least, to me it's not about me. And, I don't want it to be about me to anyone else. But, I do really, really, really want to share the wonderful things I've been seeing God do for the people around me.

So - here goes. I'll be typing with mostly my right hand, so please don't tell my left hand what all I've had to say. Remember - this is not about me. If anything, I'd like this blog post to make you think about God in His infinite love and mercy, but also about YOU - and the role you have to play in helping people come to know Him.

For several weeks an amazing, awesome, rag-tag group of people from my town have been allowing me to accompany them to Omaha to serve food and hand out warm clothes to the men at a homeless shelter. This is, really, my first experience with homeless people. (I'm a little embarrassed to admit that.)

My first day I was pretty jumpy, and I didn't know what to expect. I mean, I was pouring syrup and doling out peanut butter onto warm pancakes from behind a table, so it's not like I was exactly getting up-close-and-personal or anything. Still - every loud interaction, every brusque tone, every sideways glance kind of set me on edge. I'm ashamed to say it, but I was honestly anticipating a knife fight to break out between two strung out bums at any moment.

(Yes - I'm cringing just as much as you are that I really thought that.)

What I have discovered over these past many weeks, however, is that these guys are just, well... guys. They're just people. Some of them are rude and cranky. A few are even openly hostile (for a myriad of reasons). But, for the most part, they're just people like you and me. They can't help but return a smile or a hug when one is offered. They say, 'please' and 'thank you'. They've usually got a funny joke or story to tell, and they're grateful when you take the time to care about them.

Oh, and they're hungry for the Lord.

I don't care whether someone lives in the biggest house in town, or in a tent by the railroad tracks - they were created in God's image. And, as such, there is something in them that longs to know their creator.

Usually, I'm just the lady behind the table with the funny hat. (See the pictures below if you don't believe me.) But, today, we got the chance to go inside the building and hang out with the guys at the day house. Because of the crowding due to the cold temperatures, it was (quite literally) an opportunity to rub shoulders with these men. I didn't really know anyone's names, but I had come to recognize a lot of faces over the weeks. Apparently they recognized my face too, and the fact that I had offered them smiles, syrup, and the occasional, 'God bless you.'

Those things alone would never have been enough to forge a relationship that transcended all of our vast differences in order to build trust and a level of intimacy between us. But, combined with the burning desire inside their souls to know God, it was sufficient.

It started with one man who came to me, a bit shyly, and quietly said, "I have a question..."

He showed me a page from a religious magazine, stating that after Jesus ascended He was a spiritual being in Heaven.

"So, does that mean He wasn't really human?" the man asked, his head cocked and eyebrows raised.

We talked quietly, amid the chaos and crowds, about the fact that Jesus is seated in Heaven with God as a spirit, but that He truly was 100% human while on Earth, and really did know the realities of life as a person - just like us. This seemed to be an important point to this homeless man - a way to connect with an otherwise unrelatable God.

He had no more than turned away when someone else tapped me on the shoulder, and began the same way:

"I have a question..."

As I walked the ten feet or so between the table I had been standing at and the door, I was stopped by several men today, each of them with a different question about God. I could tell that others were listening intently, curious about I had to say.

One man had been to Bible college briefly, and his eyes lit up at the chance to discuss the scriptures- clearly a topic near and dear to his heart. I found out that he didn't have a Bible, and I offered him one of the Gideon New Testaments that I always keep with me. From all the way at the other end of the eight-foot table, another man - who I didn't even know had been listening - quietly asked if he could have one too.

Not everyone was eager to talk about Jesus, of course. Most of them were more concerned with finding a seat in the crowded room or getting a hold of the classified ads from the paper. One gentleman was even hostile to me - vehemently telling me that as a Muslim he didn't believe in my Jesus. How could someone be God, and let other people kill him? To him, the story made no sense. Yet, before I left, he grabbed my hand, told me he could tell I was a woman of God, and allowed me to give him the last copy of my New Testament, promising he'd look it over so we could continue the conversation next time I was there.

There were other men with questions, I could tell, but our group was leaving, so I headed out to the bitterly-cold courtyard area to help load the vans. I stopped for a moment to watch a homeless man dole out little bits of a piece of bread he'd been given to the birds. As I stood there, I suddenly felt someone at my shoulder.

"I bet you wonder why he's doing that, don't you?" He asked. I didn't recognize him - neither from the pancake lines in weeks past, nor from any conversations I'd had that day.

"Actually, I was just thinking about what a beautiful act of mercy it was for that man to feed the birds, when he himself has so little," I replied.

There was silence for a moment, and I turned to look at the man beside me.

He was sober, and swallowed hard before he spoke.

"I don't know why, but I feel like I'm supposed to come and talk to you," he said. All of the typical toughness and posturing that is so necessary for survival as a homeless person dropped away, and he became very, very vulnerable.

"Well, what do you think we're supposed to talk about?" I asked. (Yes - I know... it probably wasn't the best response, but it's what came to me. Maybe I'll do better next time.)

He swallowed again, and rubbed the toe of his worn boot against the ice in the courtyard.

"About the fact that Jesus loves me."

So that's what we talked about.

I told him that Jesus did love him, and asked if I could pray with him.

After I had finished, he thanked me, and wiped the tears away that had begun to freeze on his cheek.

(I told you it was cold out there. That, and I'm prone to long prayers.)

I had always believed - until recently - that it was wrong to 'push' my religion on others. That everyone had already had the chance to make an informed decision about their beliefs. That people didn't really want to hear about Jesus. Today was yet another reminder of just how untrue that is, and just how much God's creation will always yearn to know about Him.

The question is - will there be anyone there to tell them?

Look - I don't know everything there is to know about theology. I don't know all the answers to all of life's hard questions. And, I'm not perfect. No one is. (Except Jesus, of course.) But, because I was there today - just because I showed up - other people had a chance to get to know a little bit more about their savior and their creator.

God is that big - that He can work through people like me. I know He can work through you, too, and I challenge you to start being there in your own life.

Being there for your friends
Being there for your neighbors.
Being there for your family
Being there for your co-workers
Being there for the people in the biggest house in town.
Being there for the people living in tents by the railroad tracks.
Being there for the lovely.
Being there for the unlovely.

But, most of all - just being there, wherever God asks you to be.

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

If you're interested in contributing to the wonderful things this group of folks is doing for the homeless in Omaha, send me an email at farriersoffaith@yahoo.com. 

This is someone's home.

(I told you I wear a funny hat.)

We are a motley but dedicated crew. It was 2 degrees F this morning.

I am amazed at how many of these men have severe illnesses, diseases, and disabilities.

This facility is at more than 150% capacity, and still not able to serve all those in need.

One of our crew pets 'Handsome' a loyal companion to the folks who live down by the river.

 

 

I am Not Happy!

I don’t try to be upset with my wife. We only fight every couple of months.  But, sometimes there are just things that are too frustrating to keep silent about.

I mean, how dare she? Does she know hard this is on me?  All the time we’ve spent together, and she does this to me.  It's like our 14 years of marriage were all for nothing.  It is almost more than I can bear.

I am sure by now you have guessed it.  Andrea is going to Guatemala without me in February.

Let’s just break this down:

The first week in February (which feels like the longest month of the year in Iowa), Andrea will be leaving sub-zero tempatures for mid 70’s everyday.  The horror.

She will be traveling with our church.  So, she will be in great company, learning even deeper truths about the Lord from seasoned Christians, and getting to hang out with Pastor Paul - one of the most fun people I have ever been around.  Like I don’t want to be around awesome people or something!

She will be helping at the school, the women’s shelter, and maybe even the college - blessing people's lives not just with her faith and her love, but also her works. Helping in such small ways that will change lives for eternity.  Did I mention this will all be without me?

She is going to get to travel around with the people we will be working with once we move to Guatemala.  Learning more about what we'll do when we get there, getting to know the city, seeing apartments, finding  out about local regulations we will have to follow.  (Okay, the last one on the list doesn’t sound great.)

She is going to get visit local Xela-area churches again.  To see people with nothing, but who are so happy just to know their Lord and Savior.  She will get to encourage and get hugs and share love with awesome brothers and sisters in Christ.  I just can’t believe she would do this to me.

She gets to fly around on airplanes, going through Atlanta and into Guatemala City. There is nothing more exciting than that!

She tries to tell me that I could go, but then the whole vacation time thing comes up. (I wonder if she planned our prior vacations out just so I wouldn't have enough days left, and she would have to go instead of me.)  She tries to say she doesn’t even know how much vacation time I have. Boy, she just has all the excuses...

If you would like to contribute to Andrea’s acts of selfishness against me, you can give online at World Outreach Ministries (select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu), or learn more about our ministry by visiting our website at farriersoffaith.org.

If, that is, you think you can live with yourself for helping bring dischord to an other-wise happy marriage.

Why Not Stay Here?

So, here's a question we get a lot:

Why are you guys going to Guatemala?  mean, there are lots of people here who need help.
         who need more money...
                    who need more food...
                             who need more love...
                                                                                                               Who need more Jesus.

It's a thoughtful question, really, and I appreciate that people are asking it, because it means they recognize the needs here in the U.S. In their states. In their communities. In their own neighborhoods. And, if God has opened up their eyes to recognize the needs, then they're supposed to be part of the solution.

Don't believe me? It says so in the Good Book.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.   -- Prov. 19:17

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  -- Gal. 6:2

Give to the one who begs from you, and do no refuse one who would borrow from you.  -- Mt. 5:42

Whoever opresses a poor man insults his maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him.  -- Prov. 14:31

Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifice is pleasing to God.  -- Heb. 13:16

But if anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth. -- 1 John 3:17-18

(Seriously - I could go on like this all day. The admonition to care for those in need around us is in there. A lot.)

According to a study done in 2010 by the Pew Charitable trust, there are approximately 250 million self-identified Christians in our country. (Yes. I know. If you self-identify as a space alien it doesn't necesarily make you one of those either.)

But, let's just say, for the sake of argument, that even 1/4 of those people who say they're Christians really got a hold of Jesus, and let Jesus get a hold of them. What would happen if they decided to start living out the scriptures I just listed above? That's  62 1/2 million people - or a smidge over 20% of our nation's population.

What that means - conservatively -  is that even if only a quarter of the people who call themselves Christians in the U.S. decided to reach out and help just 4 people each, then everyone in our country could have the chance to hear about Jesus, and experience His love through human vessels.

The church in the United States could - quite literally - care for all the widows and orphans. Feed all those who are hungry. Help all those in need. Reach all of those who are unreached. And, it wouldn't really take that much or that many of them to do it, either.

That's not the case in Guatemala.

So, honestly, the very question that people think will make us reconsider going, is the one that reaffirms that we're supposed to do so. There are enough people here who see the need, and have what it takes to meet it. Our job is to go to Guatemala.

We're doing our best to help our 4 people each before we go. (More than that, really.) You guys do the same, and tell your friends.

Once word gets out just how much of a difference we can make for Christ, this nation should be in pretty good shape in no time.

Right?

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Rediscovering a Dream

When I was 11, I knew that God existed and that He cared for me.  He had answered a simple prayer and it was enough for me to believe.

When I was 13, at church summer camp, I felt His great love for me and I gave my life to serve Him forever.  Over the next couple of years I studied the Word all the time.  I would write sermons. Some I gave to the Pastor of our church.  Most were in notebooks that would get thrown away without anyone thinking about what was in there.

I wrote these and studied so hard because I had a dream of becoming an evangelist.  What would be better than telling people about Jesus?  To bring people to Jesus and know they were saved for eternity?

What I really wanted to do was start new churches for the church I was a member of.  I had dreams of going to cities we did not have a church in and starting one. Getting people to come to the church, teaching them God’s word, getting the new people to run things, and then I’d be off - off to the next city, to  plant another church, and get people trained in the word.  To me this seemed like the best job in the world.

I kept this dream until I was about 22.  As some may be able to guess, the rest of the story is not unique.  I got married and had kids.  The church we were in was consolidating, not expanding at that time.  Getting a career and supporting my family seemed to be the wisest step. I didn't have a 'give up on my dream' moment. It was lots of little choices and focuses.

Focus on my family (very important); focus on a career to support my family (important), give myself to my church and its goals (important).  None of the things I was doing were bad. Besides, the dream was only mine. I had only shared it with my parents and wife.  It is comical to me how it just disappeared and I never even really cared.  Life with my wife is great, my kids are great, my profession is great.

So what changed? How did I remember a dream that was buried?

After some very hard times and challenges, I had a very deep personal experience with God.  I had dug deep, and found myself face to face with Jesus.  That is not when I discovered the old dream.  This was when I rededicated my life.  I was on fire for Jesus again, and wanted to tell people about Him and His amazing gift. We left the church I had grown up in to join one that did more evangelistic outreach.

Still, this was not rediscovering the dreams of my youth. This was just an extension of what I had been doing.  I still had my job, wonderful property, great kids.  The only thing that changed was now I was in a church that would go out Fridays and talk to the college students about Jesus.

Then we moved.

We had prayed about it and felt it was where God wanted us.  To be honest though, it was mostly about my career.  With the move, I was able to support my wife and place myself for future career development.  There was no thought that God might have bigger plans.  We only knew that we would find another church because God would not lead us somewhere  where He wasn’t.

Then it happened - we went to a new church. The, we went to Guatemala.  Suddenly I had remembered what I had wanted to do in my youth.  Buried deeply, I had not even remember it was down there.

Though it is not my original dream, doing mission work is still time that's been redeemed.  I am getting the privilege to go Guatemala and share the gospel.  I will be helping at a college where the bible is taught and ministers are sent out from there to teach the gospel.  I get to throw aside all the concerns of a normal life and focus completely on him.

And that is a dream come true.

 - Mark

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

One Day a Year

Our family has done Operation Christmas Child every year for the last few years.

If you do not know what that is, it is a program to hand out shoe boxes of stuff to children in third world countries.  You fill up the shoe box with stuff, and then send it off. The group, Samaritan's Purse, sends it with a small book about the love of Jesus.

Every year we buy plastic containers with lids that are the size of shoe boxes. We get 10 of them - 2 for each of us.  We then go to Dollar Tree and load up on anything that is on the list (from the website) and anything extra that looks fun.

When we put the boxes together, we dump out all the stuff in the middle of the floor and get our boxes, and start filling.  The kids love it. As they are putting the stuff in they are saying, "my little girl is going to love this" and, "I like this - I bet they will too."  They also draw pictures to put in so that maybe they will make the box a little more personal.

What do we put in the boxes? Well I made a boy's box and a girl's box this year, both ages 5 to 9.  I had a toothbrush, toothpaste, gloves, stocking cap, pencils, pens, crayons, pencil sharpener, notebook, wash rag, toy cars, a ball, hair ties, various little toys, and hard candy on the top.

At some point in the process, the starkness always hits me. You'd think I would expect it after a while.  When you put a toothbrush in a box and realize this could be the only toothbrush this child will have in their childhood.  The little toys might be the toys they play with for the next couple of years.  And suddenly the cares you had that day don’t seem so bad.  The house with its little problems that you need to get work done on suddenly seems like a mansion.

Never in my life have I had to go to sleep without some kind of heater around, except when I have camped. (Nothing like recreational suffering.)  So maybe this stocking cap will help keep a child a little warmer this winter as they sleep.

This year I noticed an even bigger difference.  We forgot to get pencil sharpeners.  So in this mood of already feeling spoiled, I ran to Walmart.  Do you realize what Walmart seems like when you have the poverty of third world countries on your mind?  It was huge, so much stuff, all shiny and clean.  It ends up making you feel a little dirty that you have access to so much while so many have so little.

So this year I am going to try to hold on to these feeling a little longer.  To remember how lucky I am to live in this country and how doing small things can help people in big ways.

- Mark

Blah

I wanted this blog to be a memoir of our journey to Guatemala - both literally, and metaphorically. You know - the physical stuff we had to do in order to pack up our Jeep and head south, but also the emotional, spiritual, relational, etc... stuff. 

Well, it turns out that stuff happens. Real stuff. So, I figured we might as well share that, too. Here goes:

Right now we're feeling discouraged. Not, like, "that's it, we quit!" discouraged. But, we're definitely feeling a little bummed, weary, and generally 'blah'. We stalled at commitments for 27% of our monthly need for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks... We've had one missionary reception cancelled, and another one that no one showed up to. (Ouch.)

We've sent letters to everyone we can think of, put out the word on Facebook, and have even been handing out flyers to strangers we meet, as the opportunity presents itself.

This is the reality of support raising for mission work.

It doesn't mean that we're not supposed to go, or that we won't be able to go.

It doesn't mean that God isn't wiling and able to supply our every need.

It doesn't mean that the floodgates aren't going to open for His provision.

It just means that we need to stand in faith right now, not in fear.
                              To walk the walk of trusting God, and not just talk the talk.
                                                    To be still and know that He is God, and to wait on the Lord.

(FYI - those things aren't always  ever easy.) 

I wanted to share this because we know that there are prayer warriors out there, interceding for us. Please pray that we would stand firm, and not be discouraged or lose faith in God's mighty provision in His perfect timing. 

I wanted to share this because someday (maybe now?) this blog might be an encouragement to someone else just starting out on the path to becoming a missionary. If that's you, and you're reading this - don't give up, or feel like you don't have the faith that it takes to share the gospel just because you also still sometimes feel down, or discouraged, or disheartened.

I wanted to share this because sometimes people (myself included) put ministries (even missionaries) up on a pedestal, and think that they are somehow different than everyone else. We're all called to be part of the royal priesthood of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Yes, the specifics of our calling might be a little different from yours, but we're all in this together, doing the best we can with the human emotions and circumstances that wehave to deal with. If you're feeling less than faith-filled, you're not alone. Everyone feels that way once in a while.

So, we're discouraged. We're having a hard time staying focused on the promises. We're feeling 'blah'. 

BUT...

                         We have Jesus...         
                                                                  We have Jesus...
                                                                                                            We have Jesus...

...and He is always more than enough. 

So, here's what we're going to do -
We're going to set our eyes back on Him (Hebrews 12:2)
We're not going to lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:16)
We're going to let Him carry our burdens (Psalm 22:55)
We're not going to be troubled or afraid (John 14:27)
We're going to encourage ourselves in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6)
And, we're not going to forget that He is faithful (Psalm 33:4)

I invite you join us in doing the same for the troubles and cares in your life right now, and to pray for our preparation to minister to the people of Xela, Guatemala.

Is there something you'd like us to pray for? We'd love to hear from you!

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Things Just Got Real...

These are the moments when things feel really, really real.

That's right - we are a family of five, and we now have five passports!

(Granted - our passport photos bear enough of a resemblance to mugshots that we are unlikely to actually show them off unless it is absolutely necessary, but still...)

Guatemala, here we come - and we'll even be legal when we get there!

Triplewarmth

What do you call all the best things in life crammed into one, forty-eight hour time period?

A weekend with family, of course.

Fall is my favorite season, and there's almost no better place to enjoy it than in the timber. This weekend we donned our coats, work gloves, and boots. After making the difficult decision of whether to hop onto the tailgate of my sister's pickup truck, or to ride in the back of my dad's homemade trailer, we headed off across the pasture to the woods.

We climbed over barbed wire fences. Competed to see who could throw black walnuts the farthest. Practiced our sword fighting with sticks and twigs. Looked at cool fungus. Admired the beautiful colors of fall. Caught a very cold toad.

Oh yeah - we also hauled wood. Did I mention that's what brought us to the timber?

There's an old expression - he who cuts his own wood is twice warmed. This weekend we got to snuggle together near the warmth of the fire in the wood stove, to feel the warmth from within and from the fall sunshine overhead while hauling logs out of the timber, AND to enjoy the warmth of being with a family that loves each other very much.

Triplewarmth - it's a very good thing.

These are the times I know my heart will long for once we're in Guatemala. However, I already find myself longing for Xela, too. It is amazing how God can make a place feel like home before you've ever even lived there.


Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Visitors From Guatemala!!

This has been a really good month for the Farriers of Faith (that's us).

Some days it's hard to feel connected to this place, since we're so excited to get to Guatemala and do all the great things that God has planned for us.

More often, though, it's hard to feel connected to Guatemala, since it's so far away, and there is so much 'unknown' there.

One of the things that has really encouraged us and helped us feel plugged in with both places at the same time (a challenging feat, let me assure you!) is that we got to visit with three of the people with whom Mark will be working closely once we get there.

A few weeks ago, we got to have French Silk Pie (a blessing straight from heaven) with Dick and Sharon Mueller (ditto) at our house. These guys are incredible! They've been in Guatemala 30 years now, and started a Bible college that recently graduated almost 100 students from its degree program. They are as rock-solid as can be when it comes to walking by faith, and we are incredibly blessed to be able to intern with them. (Better than winning a big lottery any day. Seriously - we're that excited.)

Sharon and Dick Mueller with our Pastor, Michael Kalstrup

 Just yesterday, we had David Mann over for chili, homemade bread, cobbler, and some excellent conversation. (Doctrine, church history, parenting, American politics... all the good stuff.) He also works with Dick at the college, and we spent the most time with him when we were in Guatemala in February. It was so much fun to be around him for those 5 days, and we were relieved to find out that his easy-going manner and sense of humor weren't just part of his 'tour guide' persona. As far as we can tell, he's really, truly that cool all the time!  (I bet his wife and kids would even say the same thing.)

David Mann bringing the message at our church

Between those two visits, we feel like a lot of our practical questions have been answered (yes, you can flush the toilet paper [sometimes]), our fears allayed (we won't just disappear, never to be heard from again, once we drive into Mexico), and our excitement level has been boosted even higher (I honestly burst into spontaneous, exuberant song sometimes).

So, besides just raising the roof in singing the praises of our amazing God, we're also still looking to raise some support. (See what I did there?)

Seriously, though - God has put it on my hear to be bold and seek out 10 people/groups to commit to supporting us at $50 (or more) each month, beginning in January. 

We know our partners are out there. Are you one of them? Something to pray about...

If you want to know more, check out our website. If you'd like to donate, it's easy and safe to do online, or by mail. (Plus, it's tax deductible!) Just head over to our servicing agency's website for instructions.

If you have questions, fundraising ideas, would like to know more about how to host a missionary reception, want us to come speak to your group/church, or anything else, you can always email us at farriersoffaith@yahoo.com.

We truly would love to hear from you! Thanks for joining us on our journey thus far. We can't wait to see where we'll all end up together tomorrow!

akf

Here and There

I really love these types of things - that give a succinct, clear, visual representation of just how differently people live around the world.

They are a good way to get some perspective.

I recently came across this project by Peter Menzel- called 'A Week of Groceries in Different Countries.' It's pretty eye-opening. The 28 different families who participated were photographed with a week's worth of food. They range from expensive and varied diets (Norway, $731.71) to the pitifully insufficient (a refugee camp in Chad, $1.23).

Of particular interest to me were the differences between the American family ($341.98):



and the Guatemalan family ($75.70):



And, while our week's worth of groceries here looks a lot different than the one pictured up top (and we don't spend anywhere near $341.98 per week on food), I can't say that our diet is as veggie-rich as the one in the picture from Guatemala. Something to look forward to!

Just another difference between Here and There...

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Going Out With a Bang

 

We had a blast this past weekend... literally. But, I'll get to that part in a minute.

Mark was able to take a day off on Friday, so we all packed into the Jeep Thursday night (good practice for when we make the long drive to Guatemala) and drove the 4 or so hours to his childhood home.

These things are becoming increasingly bittersweet.

We ate. We talked. We ate. We played cards. We ate some more. You know the drill - just a regular weekend together with family. We did our best to soak it all up - the beautiful autumn colors, the smiles, the playful teasing. (They won one hand of canasta, and we won the other, for those of you who are curious.)

We know that God will put new friends into our lives once we get to Xela, but nothing can replace the deep and wonderful relationships we have with our families.

In this case, we're not the only ones feeling the impending changes that are just around the corner. Not only are we moving, but the senior Farriers (hah!) are also planning on moving next year - all the way to the Gulf Coast of Alabama.  I hate to get maudlin and sentimental, but these really are some of the last 'lasts' we'll ever have at the only home that Mark ever lived in as a child.

You know how they say that you can never really go home again? For him, that is especially true.

So, we reflected and celebrated all of the changes our extended family will soon face in the only way that we know how - by blowing stuff up.

My father-in-law has been a certified pyrotechnician for the last 20 years or so. We have also (at various times) been certified and helped out with fireworks shows. That, too, is something he and the rest of us are giving up. After the sale of the bunker, he still had a few odds and ends left over, which we used to truly 'have a blast' for the last time together. (At least, in that particular way. Don't worry - there are plenty more good times, meals, and card games ahead of us!) I must admit - it was a lot of fun getting gunpowder on my fingers and dropping shells into mortars again. I even got to use a fire extinguisher!

Seriously, people - if you're not cherishing your family time together, you really should be. Just some free advice, from someone who's come to realize just how true it is.

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Called

You will always have the poor with you. And whenever you want to, you can give to them. But you won’t always have me here with you.                         --Mark 14:7

When I went to Guatemala last February, I was not at all 'mission-minded.'  I went mostly out of curiosity, because the Holy Spirit was leading me to go, and because I wanted to make my wife happy. (I knew she was starting to feel a leading toward missions, but I had no idea how strong it was.)

When I got down there I was overwhelmed at the need. But, honestly, it was something else that really grabbed me.  Even with all the poverty, and all the futility - people seemed happy.

This was quite a mind trip for a person who grew up believing in the American Dream.  It really struck me while I was standing on the roof of a church, in the dark, watching kids playing and families talking on their roof across from us.  The idea that these people are different - different culture, language, economy, opportunities - it all faded away. What was left was just people. And, though they were different, they really were people, just like me.

And that was the start.  After that it became easy to see one very important thing: I am not called to change these people’s lives by Americanizing them. I am called to give them the promise of Christ.  While it is true there is mass poverty, trash everywhere, unsafe conditions - all of that is good to work on - what they most need is Christ.

You may be reading this and saying “duh, of course it is about Christ. If that's you, then I challenge you to go on a mission trip, to open up to the Holy Spirit when you are there, and see how it changes your perspective.  If you are honest, I bet you will find out that a lot of what you believe to be your Christian values are really American values.

Christ is what is needed to change lives, communities, towns, cities, and countries. What purpose would it serve to comfort someone here on earth, but let them suffer after they leave this earth?

That is not to say helping people is wrong. One of the overwhelming things that hit me was how much we could do for the people in Guatemala to help their physical needs. Because of the prosperity of this country, we have money and opportunities. We are much less afraid of failure. Think about it - we get experience building things, because a lot of time if we fail we can go buy the stuff to try it again.  That is a very different reality from a person who has one chance to build something. If they fail they have nothing else to try it with. There is no second chance. (And, that's assuming they had the resources to build it to begin with.)

So, yes - we are going down to bring an amount of comfort to the people we can reach, in whatever form we can.  But, that can never overwhelm the fact that we are there to bring Christ to people. After all - He's the one thing that is universally and eternally important.

- Mark

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Reward

I've been a born-again Christian since June 8th of 1988. That's when I knelt down and accepted Jesus into my heart.

I did so because that's when I became aware of His great love.
His great love for ME!

That's when I became aware of the gift that is salvation.
A gift He he had created for ME!

That's when I realized that He had a plan for my life.

That's right - the creator of the universe had a plan for ME!

Those are all the reasons I became a Christian. But, it's only been recently that I realized that there's much more to the equation than just that. Yes, He had all those things for me. And He gave them freely.
But, He also wanted more from ME.

More accurately (lest anyone think that our works are what get us into heaven, or that God wants to engage us in the drudgery of spiritual slavery in exchange for our salvation), Jesus wanted ME to want more for HIS sake.

I believe it is profoundly healing and healthy to accept the realization that if I would have been the only one who needed it, Christ would have climbed up onto that cross anyway. Just.For.Me.

That's how much He loves me. I am what He did it for. I am what He was thinking about that day. I am what He longs for. In fact, I am the reward for his suffering.

Think about that - there was no other prize at the end of the cross, resurrection, and ascension except for me. (Well, ok... there was eternity with the Father in heaven, but He already had that.) No brass ring. No pot of gold. No winning lottery ticket. Just me. Just you. Just humanity.

I am entirely and completely and utterly undeserving of the gift of salvation. I pray that it never ceases to bring me to tears when I consider what Jesus did for me.

But, He is deserving. Entirely, completely, and utterly deserving of my love. Of my adoration. Of me. And of you. And of all of humanity, which is all that He longs for.

When I feel shy or uncomfortable, and would rather pass on sharing the gospel with a stranger...
            When I start feeling content with my accomplishments and resentful of having to do more...
                         When I feel discouraged or tired, and am ready to give up on this whole 'missionary' thing...
                       

That's when I remember my Jesus - peering down to Earth - loving each and every person I come into contact with just as much as He loves me.

Desiring to give them the free gift of salvation, just as He desired to give it me.


Longing for each person to be a part of His eternal reward, just as He longed for me to be a part of His eternal reward.

How can I not share the gospel with strangers? How can I not go the extra mile for His sake? How can I not go to Guatemala to tell the people there about Jesus?

It is not about me, and what I have gained. It is about HIM, and the fullness of His reward that He will lose if I choose to give less than everything for His cause.

He deserves the full reward for His suffering.
He deserves an eternity with every person He died for.
He deserves them all...

And it must become my highest goal and privilege to see that He gets everything He suffered for... everything He died for... everything He deserves.

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

A Missionary Whozawhatsa?

Raise your hand if you've ever hosted a Tupperware / Mary Kay / 31 Bags -style party before.

              Or if you've ever been to one.

                          Or if you've ever heard of one.

(Since I can't actually see whether or not you raised your hand, I'm going to assume that you did.) 

Congratulations! You are fully equipped to host a Missionary Reception!

A Missionary Reception is an awesome support-raising idea for the missionaries in your life. (hint hint) We do our best to be bold and send letters to all of our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, people we meet at the grocery store, and everyone else we can think of. The problem is, we can't think of everyone. But, you can! (At least, you can connect us with some new people, which is close enough.)

Think of it this way - a Missionary Reception is like a Tupperware party, only instead of giving your friends a chance to buy plasticware that will save their sandwiches, you're giving them a chance to support a missionary who will help save souls for Jesus. Kind of cool, huh?

The best part is that it's super easy to do.

1.) Come up with a list of people who you think are interested in mission work. Or who want to make more of a difference in the world. Or who are looking for a place to donate money in order to get a tax deduction. Or who you know will show up to your house if you promise them snacks. Any of these criteria are fine.

2.) Invite those people to your house on a night when your favorite missionaries are also going to come over.

3.) Serve snacks. (Nothing fancy required. Pretzels and soda will do nicely. Or, for a south-of-the-border theme, serve chips and salsa. Whatever suits your fancy.)

4.) Let your favorite missionaries give a 20 to 30 minute presentation to your friends. Allow mingling to happen afterwards. (It's amazing how many friendships can be made over pretzels.)

5.) (This is the really important part!) Let God do the rest.

Seriously. It's that easy. Missionaries aren't trying to talk anyone into giving money. They're just trying to connect with the people that God has already planned to support their work. For all you know, that could be your next door neighbor, the lady in the office down the hall, or your best friend. You'll never know unless you host a Mission Reception. Neither will your favorite missionaries. Neither will your neighbor/co-worker/friend.

See why these things are such a win-win-win-win situation?

Yes, that's four wins. You win. Your favorite missionaries win. The people who support the missionaries win. And, best of all, Jesus wins. I don't know how it could get much better than that!

So - how 'bout it? Are you interested in hosting a Missionary Reception for the Farriers? Let us know! Shoot an email to farriersoffaith@yahoo.com and we can chat about details or answer any questions you might have.

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to make a tax-deductible contribution to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

What Am I Sacrificing?

Eleven years ago I was working as a custodian at the University of Iowa. It was a good job, especially for someone without a college degree. Many of the  people I worked with were good people - family people, even some married couples who worked together.  But, I am old fashioned, and wanted more. I wanted a job where I had more responsibility, and I wanted to make enough that my wife wouldn't have to work if she didn't want to

In 2003 I took a job with the City of Wellman.  The main reason was to get more experience in other fields, and to find a career and be able to support my family.  I found, as soon as I started, that I liked the water and wastewater industries.  I worked hard and started pursuing professional licenses.  I got a new job with the City of North Liberty, and then with the City of Atlantic.

Through hard work, and many blessings and opportunities, I progressed rapidly.  In ten years I went from someone who had never even heard of wastewater as a career (I grew up in the country with a septic tank) to running a grade 3 plant with five employees.  I am on a state sub-committee of a national organization (IAWEA) that helps operators get training and work with state and federal government in writing rules for wastewater issues.

In less than a year I will be eligible to take the grade 4 wastewater exam. This is the highest license you can get in most of the country.  Only 7% of operators in the state  of Iowa are grade 4s.   With the higher age of grade 4 operators, and most of them getting ready to retire, the job market is going to open up for people who have supervisor experience and a grade 4 license. That means I could be running a major wastewater facility in just a few short years, and working my way up through IAWEA.  I have come to the place where I am established as a professional in my field.

More than that, I am making really good money doing something I enjoy, and my wife does not have to work outside the home. I am completely supporting my family - something I once thought would be impossible.

I am giving that all up, though, because I am called to get God's word to the people of Guatemala.  I am going, at the minimum, to have to put my career on hold for 2 years.  I have already told the subcommittee I am on that I will be resigning next spring.   I am going to be losing out on getting more managerial experience, which may be handy if I were to pursue another job in this career.  I have only been at this job for two years,  which also doesn't look great on a resume when you apply for a job.

The hardest for me is that Andrea will no longer be home with the girls. She is going to be teaching at a Christian school in Guatemala. And, even though she is excited about the opportunity to serve, I think her first choice would be to get to continue staying home.

I have also been able to support myself my whole adult life. Now we are going to have to  rely on friends and family to support us - something that is very uncomfortable for me.  I know mentally that it is not begging,or a free handout. We will be working harder than we ever have before.  But, it is still difficult to keep in my mind that these are people who are supporting us because they want to, and they share our vision.


So, what am I sacrificing to follow God's call on my life?

• a great job (doing something I love)
• being able to fully support my wife and children
• a career path that puts me on the fast track to making more money
• getting respect from peers
• setting up a great retirement 
• living in the United States (which, even with all its problems, is still the best place in the world
• being a long way from everybody I love and care about except my wife and kids

With all these negatives why I am I still going to follow through and move to Guatemala?  Because I went and saw. I got called. I know I could never be happy here knowing I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing for Jesus.  To me I do not really have a choice. Why? Here's why:

Mark 8:34-38 NKJV
[34] When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. [35] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. [36] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? [37] Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? [38] For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

- Mark


Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to contribute to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Double Lives

Photo Credit:
 http://knicknacker.com/
alter-ego-superhero-posters
-danny-haas/

Sometimes it feels like we're living double lives right now.

By day, we're the happy, successful, all-American family next door - going to work, doing our schooling, and keeping up on our favorite shows on TV. By night, we're missionaries trying hard to raise enough funds to get our boots on the ground in a poverty-stricken, dirty, second-world country.

It can be a challenge. Especially since we don't have the option of being only one or the other at a time.

The emotional realities of these two lives are very different. Here, we are allowed (even encouraged) by society to take advantage of the luxuries that are available to us as a reward for our hard work. Even with a very modest lifestyle and budget, we have access to all the food, clothing, entertainment, and comforts that anyone could ever wish for. But, we're also missionaries, preparing to live with less, and on less. We have seen the other side of the coin, and will soon have to stop catering to our mere 'wants' and be grateful to simply be able to meet our true 'needs.' We often find ourselves wondering, 'should we be starting that now?'

I also have a hard time not letting the emotions I feel from one life spill into the way I think about the other.

When I've had a frustrating or discouraging day as American homeschooling wife and mom, it's hard not to also feel frustrated or discouraged about our progress and preparation for our mission work.

Literally, I've had times when I've been bummed about burning dinner, and let that make me doubt (just for a second) the calling to missions God put on our lives.

It's silly, I know, but that's how the fiery darts of the enemy work. And, while our situation is different from most, I bet you can relate. We're all, in one way or another, leading double lives.

Father and breadwinner.
Wife and daughter.
In the world, but not of it.

That's why I'm so glad I have Jesus. He knows what I'm going through. He was both beloved, and despised. He was needed, but rejected. He was God, but He was man.

He gets it.

He knows my struggles and challenges. He rejoices with me and because of me. He will never leave me, nor forsake me... neither the happy, successful, all-American me, nor the missionary me raising funds and preparing to move to Guatemala.

And if that's not enough to make a person double happy, then nothing is.

Like what you've read? Want to learn more? Check out our website, or go here to contribute to our ministry. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Poverty

This is a really hard subject for me to talk about - poverty. Which is too bad, 'cause it's kind of a big part of telling people about what we're planning on doing in Guatemala.

In one way, it's hard to talk about it to friends, family, churches, small groups, etc..., since the American understanding of poverty is a little bit, well, skewed. It's one of those things that everyone thinks they know when they see it, but can't really describe. In the U.S. we have a 'poverty line,' 'poverty guidelines,' and 'poverty thresholds' - all used in different ways, by different agencies, with different purposes. Even after reading extensively on the Health and Human Services webpage, I'm not 100% sure what any of these things really mean. In our prosperous nation, they're really just a statistical measurement of who has the least as compared to everyone else, and not necessarily a way of determining if someone truly has enough - enough to put food on the table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.

Yes. There are desperately poor people in our country who literally struggle each day to find the resources it takes to sustain their very lives. But, very few. Especially in comparison to the rest of the world. I can't find any actual figures on this subject, to be honest. When I try to find data on those living in poverty in the U.S., I come up with articles like this, which use Census Data figures to give a picture of what poverty in our country looks like.

80.9% of those living in 'poverty' here have both a land line phone, and a cell phone

96.1% have a t.v.

83% have some sort of DVR

(Seriously!? What the heck!? I just got a DVR for the first time last year!!)

It's no wonder people's eyes glaze over a little when I start telling them about the poverty in Guatemala. It's hard to understand what that means, in light of our own examples in the United States.

Maybe this will help. The World Bank uses the term 'Extreme Poverty' to describe people living on less than the equivalent of $1.25 per day. I'm going to venture a guess and say that there is something like .1% of the U.S. population that lives in such extreme poverty. Maybe.

In Guatemala, it's 13.5%.
In the Congo, it's over 87%.

Worldwide, there are an estimated 1.2 billion people in extreme poverty.
That's 20%.
Of the people in the world.
Who live on less than $1.25 per day.

Wow.

But, here's the kicker - it's not about the poverty. At least, not the money part. We aren't going to evangelize in Guatemala because they're living in poverty there. We're going because they need Jesus. The fact that they also need food, clothes, and shelter (which we can help give them) provides an open door to give the most needed, the most important, and the most lasting thing at the same time - salvation.

Remember - the only way we're going to be able to help with those living in the poverty-stricken nation of Guatemala, is because of the generosity of those living in the prosperity-driven nation of the United States.

Please pray about contributing to our mission. (Select 'Farrier' from the pulldown menu.)

Please take a moment to thank God for your own financial wealth, especially in light of the fact that so many in the world have so much less.

Please work in your own neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, communities, homes, and churches to end the most dangerous type of poverty of all - spiritual poverty, and the absence of salvation through Jesus Christ.

That's a poverty that no one can afford to have.

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.

- Proverbs 22:2

Us... On a Mission

Holy cats, Batman! It's not even been quite a month since we mailed out our first letters, and we've already got commitments for 16% of our monthly budget, and 17% of our emergency/sending fund.

You guys rock, and our God is an AWESOME God! I can't wait to see how the next 9 months or so play out, and what opportunities to minister God has waiting for us in Guatemala after that.

It's funny how much this calling has changed our lives in some ways, and how little it has changed our lives in others. I'm still home schooling the girls. Mark is still going to work everyday as the Superintendent of the Wastewater Treatment Plant here in Atlantic. You'll still find us in church almost every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, and we still love to watch a good movie or show together occasionally while eating a bowl of ice cream.

But, now we've also got a website. We've got flyers, a sending agency, and a display board (see above). We're working on setting up opportunities to speak to small groups and churches. We even have a YouTube video. Our home schooling includes Praying for the World (a great way to make geography meaningful!) using The Joshua Project. Mark now ponders ways to use the skills he's learned in the water and wastewater industry to help people in Guatemala once we get there. And, we're enjoying as much ice cream and movie time as possible, since we know we probably won't get much of either in a year.

In short, we're still us. We're just us with a new and different calling. It sometimes feels strange to live straddling two worlds like this. There are days when I want nothing more than to cancel the whole thing and keep enjoying the immense goodness of our life here in Iowa. But, all it takes is a memory, a moment of reflection, or a whisper from the Holy Spirit, and I know that Guatemala is where we're meant to be.

Thanks again to all of you for your friendship, faith, and support.  It's an amazing journey, and we're so glad to be able to share it with you!

No Longer Waiting

I've kind of always been under the belief that I'd eventually get to the place where I started to feel like a grownup. Like a responsible wife and mother. Like a professional. Like a mature Christian. Like a, whatever. But, so far I just still feel like me. Like me, doing all those all other things.

It's totally that way with mission work. I keep waiting for a dove to descend, or a booming voice from heaven, or to be given a life-changing vision. (Don't laugh. That stuff happens, you know. It's in the Bible!) But, like usual, those aren't the ways that God spoke to us about mission work. He's much more subtle than that.

Our confirmation came through well-timed phone calls and emails, open doors that we expected to find shut. Encouragement spoken lovingly by those around us. Answers to prayers. Bible verses that spoke directly to our hearts, needs, and fears.

You know - the usual ways.

It's funny that we expect (wait for? hope to have? want?) that giant voice from the sky kind of experience. I mean, being a Christian is all about a relationship with Christ. There's no other relationship where I want someone from on high to burst into my life and blurt instructions, and then leave again. That's not a relationship. That's the punchline to a joke.

No, Jesus wants to have our ears (and our hearts) every moment of every day. I guess I've finally figured out that by choosing to listen to His still, small voice and leading (and not waiting for the clouds to open every time I am looking for direction) means I no longer have to wait to start walking in His commands, and being His hands and feet to those around me, either.

I'd say that works out better for everyone.

akf

Humbled...

Everytime I think I've got this humility thing figured out, God manages to help me go deeper.

He's like that, though. You know - infinite.

Today I'm mailing out 75 more letters. We're up to a grand total of 225 now. That, combined with the display we set up one week at church, and the chance we had to speak to our small group, means that we've now informed approximately 300 to 325 people about the work we're called to do in Guatemala.

That's a little staggering to me in and of itself.

Even more so, though, is the response that we've gotten.

It's a wee bit nerve wracking to send letters to a bunch people out of the blue. Especially if those letters include a request for prayer and donations.  I've imagined all sorts of terrible possible scenarios, including irritated phone calls, snarky email replies, and even the dreaded 'unfriending' on Facebook.

So far, all we've gotten back in response has been love.

Love. Support. Prayers. Donations. Encouragement. Confirmation.

Wow. God really is that big. He really does work through the hearts and hands of His people. He really has called us (including little ol' me) to share his Gospel in a tiny country in Central America. He really does know how to provide for us, and raise up partners to join us in our work.

Again - wow.

So, for all of you who've supported us with your prayers, faith, and/or finances, I want to say thank you. It means the world (and eternity) to the people we will minister to in Guatemala. But, you're also being an instrument for God's glory and in teaching this gal more about the endlessness of humility.

Thank you for that.

Lasts...

A few days ago I bought what (I think) will end up being my last bottle of laundry detergent before we leave for Guatemala. (I buy in bulk.) At the time, it didn't really sink in. But, as I placed it on the shelf in my laundry room next to the other, half-empty bottle, the realization crept into my heart:

This will probably be the last bottle of detergent I will ever use in this house.

That thought has been growing ever since, like a tiny little seed.

This is a last. My first last, in a way. At least, the first one to pop onto my radar. There have been others, of course, but we didn't recognize them as such at the time, so there was no nibbling little pain involved. Then, we were just living life, you see. Now, we've started a countdown. We're on the clock, so to speak.

It's funny how it's only the awareness of the next thing looming that makes the everyday more significant, and the mundane more momentous.

This new awareness of the 'lasts' ahead makes me think of things differently. I snuggle my girls a little closer on our comfy couch during movie night. I savor the weekly date my husband and I have during his lunch hour a little bit more. I hug a little harder when my family and friends leave my house after an impromptu visit. I will not always have these types of things to enjoy.

It's hard not to let a sense of desperation sneak in, to be honest.

I want to savor the good stuff so much. It is so transient. So fragile. Yet, so life sustaining. I want to breathe it in, and breathe it in, and breathe it in again.

But, at some point, I must also exhale.

Biologically, I show that I have 100% faith in the air around me every time I take a breath in, let it out, and breathe in again. There is no sense of desperation. There is no need to hold on to the breath I have for fear of what the next one will hold. I know, that I know, that I know that the air will be there for me, and it will have what I need to sustain my life.

How much more so is that true of God and our spiritual breath of life?

So, I'm determining not to let these 'lasts' freak me out. (Remind me later that I said this. Will you?) God never takes us out of somewhere, except to lead us in to somewhere else. I am eternally grateful (so much so that it hurts) to my eternal father for all the good He has placed in my life to treasure and enjoy right now. But, I'm also grateful that it is because of the exciting new chance we've been given to serve our God, whose love is everlasting, that we will so many 'lasts' in the days to come.

Makes it all worth it, doesn't it?

Rich?

The annual median household income in Guatemala is just over $2700.

Our goal is to raise $2500 per month in support.

Wait... Doesn't that mean that we'll be living on as much per month as what many families do per YEAR!?

(We've gotten that question several times already, so I thought this would be a good place to clarify.)

The answer is yes. And no.

Yes - we will have more financial security than most of the people around us. But, that's kind of one of the things that is bringing us to Guatemala - to try to help those who are so desperately impoverished. It's difficult to explain just how different the standard of living is for an 'average' poor Guatemalan than it is for an 'average' poor American. Like, no-comparison-at-all different. Sure, we could probably figure out how to live on $2700 a year, like they do, but that also means we'd be subject to water and food borne illness, lack of medical care, malnutrition, limited education for our children, etc, etc, etc. Plus, we don't know two other families with whom we can share a three bedroom house, so I think we'd be at a severe disadvantage in that arena.

Also, we're going to have a lot of expenses that Guatemalans do not. For example - American car insurance, American life insurance. American car tags. American classes to maintain our professional licenses. American health insurance. American storage unit fees. American passport fees. And, let's not forget - American taxes. We dearly love the blessings that come from being a citizen of the good ol'  U.S. of A. But, we'll have to pay for those blessings, just like everyone else.

Perhaps the most important difference, however, the requires us to have 12 times the income of a Guatemalan family (which does sound staggering, I admit...) is that we're not going just to survive, or to live, or even to thrive. We're going there in order to give. We want to give people the good news about Jesus. We want to give hope. We want to give love. And, in order to do that, we'll need money. (Strangely enough, it turns out that giving isn't usually free.)

The support that we get from friends, family, small groups, and churches (which we are OH-SO grateful for!) is what will ensure that people in Guatemala will get to feed their souls, along with their bellies.

It means receiving eternal salvation, as well as receiving safe drinking water.

It means a family getting to have a Bible to study, and getting school supplies so their children can study at the local school.

So, I guess you can say that the support we'll receive of $2,500 per month will make us rich - but mostly in our ability to enrich the lives and eternities of others. And for that, we can't thank you enough!