Comfort and discomfort, Known and unknown

I've been in Guatemala now for nearly 11 years and I've lived in the same house for all of that time. Honestly I think I've used it pretty well. I've lost count of the number of people who have passed through. Usually it's been the first step in Guatemala, a place to recover from jetlag and ask questions before being immersed in their work placement or language learning. They've often returned when they've needed a few hours away from 100% spanish or a slice of carrot cake, or a hot shower, or to be listened to as they talk freely of all the cultural struggles, or a dose of vegetables, or for company when they've needed to see a Doctor, or to access internet that works. They've come to borrow books and DVD's and sleeping bags and adapters. They've come to catch up with others going through the same process of cultural adaptation. They've come with questions. They've come to offload and to reflect. They've come to pray. They've come for hugs, for someone to cry with, and to laugh with, and to eat more cake. It's been a place where people have felt at home - of course most of them have had keys! It's been my home too.

I've never been all that attached to things. I didn't bring much with me to Guatemala, and didn't buy all that much either - just enough for it to be comfortable for those that pass through. I've made use of furniture that was left behind and made do. But over recent years the house has got a bit fuller - other people's furniture when they've left Guatemala and bits and pieces 'that will be useful for someone or something in the future'. Books that previously I would have taken to a second hand shop ended up staying because someone left me an extra bookshelf so I had room to keep them.

There's a gradual change from living lightly and passing things on, to holding on to stuff. But this year I've had a real sense that there's a move on the horizon.

It's funny when you're a missionary people back home seem to think you're doing new or challenging stuff every day. When I was in the UK this year, I was amazed how many people talked to me admiringly about sacrifice and living outside of your comfort zone. However I've lived in the same place for 11 years now. Honestly it's more than comfortable. The unknown and uncomfortable can quickly become known and comfortable. We humans are fairly adaptable.

But God does ask us to leave comfort and what we know, in order to trust Him in the unknown. Peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water wasn't really about walking on the water in itself. This might be heretical but I'm sure that with a bit more time and a bit more practice, Peter might have got good at walking on the water - he might even have got to the stage where it felt natural to him - but walking on the water wasn't actually the point. Trusting Jesus was. As soon as we get anywhere close to knowing what we're doing, we lose our need to focus and trust in God.

The point is to keep on hearing and responding to Jesus' call, every day in a new way - wherever that might lead.

And I'm struck by how many biblical examples there are of God asking people to leave their home before telling them where they should go. The 'setting out' on the journey seems to be the point of obedience rather than the arrival at the destination.

And that's where I am now. I sense that God is calling me onto new things and new places. Over the last year in my work I have been transitioning between different roles and am developing new things which I'm really excited about - but I think this stage of change will also include my home as well.

I don't yet know where I'll go next or when exactly, but I want to be ready nonetheless. So I'm having a clear out: letting go of stuff, passing things on, getting prepared for living more lightly. I don't know what I might need for the next stage of the journey - but it's always been my philosophy to pack light for an adventure!

(PS. Friends in Guatemala - let me know if you want anything you're seen in my house!)

San Marcos La Laguna

Just back from a great break in San Marcos La Laguna .... didn't do much.... here's some photos!!

Korea (part 2)

We also took a trip to the DMZ (demilitarized zone), and looked towards North Korea. Whilst we were there, there was a film crew, recording something about a family being reunited. This is the site where 2 railway bridges cross the river. One was destroyed in the war, and the other became known as Freedom Bridge when prisoners of war were able to return to the south.

 It's slightly bizare that there were in the process of setting up a funfair at the site, ready for the Day of Maize next weekend!

 Many messages left by families still separately from their relatives in the north.

 The peace bell.

 On our return to the city, we also visited the foreigners cementary. It includes the graves of many missionaries (from the UK, America, New Zealand, Belguim) who came to Korea in the late 1800's, and pioneered gospel work here.

Of course missionaries in those days, had a different sort of task and a very different sort of commitment, often leaving their home country with their belongings packed into coffins, knowing that they would need them.

Korea (and the nations)

I'm coming to the end of a really insightful week in Korea.

I was invited to be part of a delegation of Nextmove (a network of mission agencies focussing on adapting to include diaspora communities in their work) to be part of a Symposium on Diaspora Missions. It was an academic symposium, with a few of the world leaders in diaspora missiology. Although I was there to learn and wasn't presenting anything, I got an upgrade to being a Dr!!

 Our Nextmove group with some of the organisers. 

It was significant that this took place in Korea, which has a fairly young missions movement of 30 or 40 years, but has also made great strides in developing diaspora missions within the last 20 years. 

During our time together, they included a service to commission 5 new missionaries, all serving diaspora communities in Korea. The ceremony included traditional dances and an International choir.

 The church which hosted us has an incredible heart for the nations. It's a large traditional church, which also includes ministries or congregations for 8 different language groups.

Within the church complex, they have 2 floors of accommodation for missionaries. Any missionaries are able to stay here for up to a month, with food at the on site restaurant, a health centre and many other facilities, all free of charge. They really know how to practice hospitality!.

 The view from my room.

The organisers of our trip were also incredibly generous, enabling us to enjoy wonderful Korean food at every opportunity. Other churches also invited us out for meals. This is just one example of the spreads put on! (Unfortunately my chopstick skills seemed to get worse as the week moved on!)

 And being in Korea was a very different experience. The cities are predominantly high rise, so have a very high population density.

But even amongst all the modernity and development, there are elements of the ancient Korean culture and history.