Good afternoon senhoras e senhores,
I found myself really excited this morning as I left my apartment for Monte Horeb, a Christian School and church where I work with youth and kids two days a week. The director asked me to prepare a sermon for Father's Day which is celebrated on June 23rd here in Nicaragua. I arrived at 9 am to preach what I had put together, but no one was there. So I decided to hit the streets to find someone who would hear me.
Earlier this week I had stopped by Rubel's house to invite him to the service today. Rubel is a young man who robbed me over a year ago along with one of his friends. Since then, it has been one of my priorities to see him saved. That day I met two of his friends and fellow gang members. One of them had green eyes and the other was shirtless, showing off a tattoo of a monk that he claimed he got while under the influence. Returning to this morning, I went to talk to them to invite them to church. They said they couldn't come because the rival gang would come after them. I was saddened, but I went back to the church to give the sermon.
When I got there, the pastor had already begun to preach. He went on for two hours about Saul, and the value of obedience. I was a little irked and frustrated because I had prepared to preach, but it looked like wouldn't get to. I wondered to myself, "How can I obey God and preach if someone else took my spot?"
Then it hit me. I wasn't supposed to give that lesson to them. It came from inside as I prayed,"If they won't come to church, bring the church to them." So I waited until the end of the service, after which I went to a former martial arts student of mine and asked him how brave he felt he was. He answered in English, "Very much so." I told him to leave his wallet, house key, and phone at home because we were going to preach to the gang. He said, "Good idea." From there we walked to the edge of the barrio where the tin shacks meet the landfill on the dirt road that leads to the market.
There were about twenty of the gang members there. I stopped by Rubel's house first to see if he would come. His mom told me that he had already left. He wasn't with the gang either. So my cohort and I went up to the gang. They were all in a circle mostly shirtless, and a few wearing bandanas. One had a one-liter beer bottle he was drinking out of. Another was smoking a joint. One had gauze taped over his face to cover where he had been sliced from cheek to chin. Another had his left hand and forearm bandaged up. This was one of the gangs that stopped the youth service I ran two months ago. I looked at them and thought, "Okay God. I'm here please watch over us as we do this."
I greeted them and asked them if we could share a brief word from the Bible with them. They all stopped talking. I repeated the question. The guy in the middle said, "Okay." So I opened as if I would have with the others. I talked about Father's Day and its importance. I told them that I wanted to talk about bears, promises, dads, and heaven. I like to open my sermons like this with seemingly unrelated talking points to keep there interest. I want them to ask themselves how they will be connected, that way they are more likely to pay attention.
I started with bear hugs. My dad used to give me huge hugs. They made me feel secure. That is part of a father's job is to provide security for his children. But not all children get that security. I asked how many of them grew up without a father. Most hands went up. The guy in the middle raised both of his hands. I then told them the story of another former student who didn't sleep at night because he always heard his dad beating his mom. They all went silent. One started to talk and was quickly hushed by the others. At this time, I watched Rubel walk up and join the circle. I went to Ephesians 6, where Paul reittirates the commandment to honor your father and mother, and in doing so you will live long on the earth. It was the first commandment with a promise.
I then asked them, "How do you honor a father who mistreats or abuses you, or who was never there?" I looked at a bunch of puzzled faces. "You pray for them. They may have big problems, but if you don't leave that in God's hands, you risk becoming a victim to the same feelings that cause their awful behavior. Also remember that it is because of them that you are even alive, so there is reason to honor them for that." I told them that some day each one of them would be a father, and no one wants to repeat the mistakes of their own parents. Change begins with acknowledgement and forgiveness. If they were going to be good dads they needed to acknowledge their mistakes and forgive those who wronged them. Wounded hearts look to wound others.
Afterwards I spoke about the promise of long life, the importance of obedience and how it leads to eternal life in heaven. They all told me their names or their nicknames at least( "the Gargoyle", "the Resident of 13th St."), we shook hands, and we all agreed to meet again next week. I introduced my old student, and asked him if he wanted to share a word or a story. He declined.
We left and as we walked back to the church, he said he felt like his testimony was too different from what the others had lived. He grew up in church. They grew up in the street. There is something important in this. The power of a testimony isn't only that it can connect people who have been through similar experiences, but rather it can also inspire someone to strive to live a different life. I see a leader in him and hope in the gang. Please pray for them.
"Where two or three of you are gathered together, there am I in the midst of you." - Matthew 18:20
Modimo ao gaugele e Modimo wa go rata.
Seth
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Brainchild
Guten Tag good friends,
One of my favorite Youtube channels is for the TED talks. For those who do not know, TED stands for technology, education, and design, and it gives an organized platform for the world's leading scientists, scholars, and humanitarians to converge and discuss their ideas with the goal of improving the world we live in. Thousands of influential leaders and academics from all over the world come together for these events, and many fascinating ideas and discoveries are shared and proposed at this forum. While watching some of these videos, I came across a link to a video on Albert Einstein.
His name is essentially synonimous with the word genius, and his intellect will likely be revered for many generations. The video was narrated by British biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins. Dawkins was attempting to prove that Einstein's belief in God was distantly removed from the Christian concept of the personal God. Likewise, I saw links to other videos on Stephen Hawkings' beliefs on God. I have heard people talk about Darwin renouncing his theory of evolution on his deathbed. People argue about whether or not Thomas Jefferson was a theist or an unbeliever. There is seemingly a battle between the religious and scientific communities to claim history's intellectuals to validate their own points of view.
On the converse, people try to argue over the beliefs of the worst dictators, Hitler and Stalin, in an attempt to gain moral superiority. They are people whose actions only reflect their own desires. The thought came to me as I reflected on these things, "Does a single person's belief or disbelief in God, no matter how tremendous his or her impact on humanity, really prove or disprove the existence of God?"
I don't believe it does. We often look to these people as an architype for our own thoughts because of the power of their ideas and discoveries and how much they supercede our own thoughts and intellects. It is natural. Having faith in anything you cannot outright prove with your own senses is very difficult, and it makes it easier to say, "Well Einstein was so brilliant, and he believed it. So it must be true." However, our faith does not come from Einstein or any other great mind produced by the annals of history, no matter how brilliant. It comes from God whose wisdom is beyond all men. If you are struggling with your faith because perhaps someone has tried to diminish it as uneducated ignorance, or an obsolete mode of thought, remember that scientific trends and great philosophies change with the centuries, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cannot be discredited by any human being.
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?" 1 Corinthians 1:20
Gott segne dich,
Seth
One of my favorite Youtube channels is for the TED talks. For those who do not know, TED stands for technology, education, and design, and it gives an organized platform for the world's leading scientists, scholars, and humanitarians to converge and discuss their ideas with the goal of improving the world we live in. Thousands of influential leaders and academics from all over the world come together for these events, and many fascinating ideas and discoveries are shared and proposed at this forum. While watching some of these videos, I came across a link to a video on Albert Einstein.
His name is essentially synonimous with the word genius, and his intellect will likely be revered for many generations. The video was narrated by British biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins. Dawkins was attempting to prove that Einstein's belief in God was distantly removed from the Christian concept of the personal God. Likewise, I saw links to other videos on Stephen Hawkings' beliefs on God. I have heard people talk about Darwin renouncing his theory of evolution on his deathbed. People argue about whether or not Thomas Jefferson was a theist or an unbeliever. There is seemingly a battle between the religious and scientific communities to claim history's intellectuals to validate their own points of view.
On the converse, people try to argue over the beliefs of the worst dictators, Hitler and Stalin, in an attempt to gain moral superiority. They are people whose actions only reflect their own desires. The thought came to me as I reflected on these things, "Does a single person's belief or disbelief in God, no matter how tremendous his or her impact on humanity, really prove or disprove the existence of God?"
I don't believe it does. We often look to these people as an architype for our own thoughts because of the power of their ideas and discoveries and how much they supercede our own thoughts and intellects. It is natural. Having faith in anything you cannot outright prove with your own senses is very difficult, and it makes it easier to say, "Well Einstein was so brilliant, and he believed it. So it must be true." However, our faith does not come from Einstein or any other great mind produced by the annals of history, no matter how brilliant. It comes from God whose wisdom is beyond all men. If you are struggling with your faith because perhaps someone has tried to diminish it as uneducated ignorance, or an obsolete mode of thought, remember that scientific trends and great philosophies change with the centuries, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cannot be discredited by any human being.
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?" 1 Corinthians 1:20
Gott segne dich,
Seth
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Nanakorobi yaoki
Good afternoon os meus amigos,
Between learning traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and yes, karate(I have historically preferred Tae Kwon Do, but I have studied some karate and I am studying to get my black belt in it as well.), I am bombarded with Japanese terms on a pretty regularly. Kuzushi, kamai, mushin, zanshin, jijigatame, jigoku, kaizen(which is tattoed on my left shoulder), etc. I also have to write papers on three of these terms as I learned this morning. A friend of mine through martial arts shared a picture on Facebook with a Japanese proverb I had heard before, but it was good to read again. It is nanakorobi yaoki, meaning "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."
There are two great ways of testing your character: how do you react in times of great stress and how do you react when you fail in those times? Do you hide away from the world in shame? Do you seek help to strengthen yourself? Most importantly, do you stand up and try again? Do you press forward resiliantly? When I was eleven years old, I tried out for the school track team. I didn't make it, but I saw something that taught me a valuable lesson. I wanted to be a distance runner. There were over twenty of us running a mile. Half way through, another kid fell forward right on his face. We all laughed at him. He stood up immediately and sprinted past all of us. Did any of us laughing make the team? Well, he did.
In the Bible, Peter faced a test of loyalty at Jesus' crucifiction. He was asked if he knew Jesus. He could have been the honorable follower to go down with his leader, but he chose to lie to save his life. In fact he lied three times. He was called Peter, meaning "the Rock", something that is immovable and holds strong. Yet he gave into to his weakness. Ultimately he was willing to lose his life to preach the Gospel, sharing the fate of his Savior, as Peter was crucified too. We all fall short of the glory of God, but the question is will we get up after we fall flat on our face, even as everyone laughs at us for it, to sprint on to victory? Keep your eyes on the prize, and remember that your Judge has the grace and mercy to forgive you so you can keep running. Also don't forget to obey the rules when you stand back up!
God bless you,
Seth
Between learning traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and yes, karate(I have historically preferred Tae Kwon Do, but I have studied some karate and I am studying to get my black belt in it as well.), I am bombarded with Japanese terms on a pretty regularly. Kuzushi, kamai, mushin, zanshin, jijigatame, jigoku, kaizen(which is tattoed on my left shoulder), etc. I also have to write papers on three of these terms as I learned this morning. A friend of mine through martial arts shared a picture on Facebook with a Japanese proverb I had heard before, but it was good to read again. It is nanakorobi yaoki, meaning "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."
There are two great ways of testing your character: how do you react in times of great stress and how do you react when you fail in those times? Do you hide away from the world in shame? Do you seek help to strengthen yourself? Most importantly, do you stand up and try again? Do you press forward resiliantly? When I was eleven years old, I tried out for the school track team. I didn't make it, but I saw something that taught me a valuable lesson. I wanted to be a distance runner. There were over twenty of us running a mile. Half way through, another kid fell forward right on his face. We all laughed at him. He stood up immediately and sprinted past all of us. Did any of us laughing make the team? Well, he did.
In the Bible, Peter faced a test of loyalty at Jesus' crucifiction. He was asked if he knew Jesus. He could have been the honorable follower to go down with his leader, but he chose to lie to save his life. In fact he lied three times. He was called Peter, meaning "the Rock", something that is immovable and holds strong. Yet he gave into to his weakness. Ultimately he was willing to lose his life to preach the Gospel, sharing the fate of his Savior, as Peter was crucified too. We all fall short of the glory of God, but the question is will we get up after we fall flat on our face, even as everyone laughs at us for it, to sprint on to victory? Keep your eyes on the prize, and remember that your Judge has the grace and mercy to forgive you so you can keep running. Also don't forget to obey the rules when you stand back up!
God bless you,
Seth
Monday, June 11, 2012
Casting Out the Eye of the Beholder
Buon giorno my amichi,
I was confronted with an issue recently, one that I know affects all men. One of our common struggles: lust. This can easily become a sore subject very quickly, but it is one that can cause a lot of diverse problems. The word in Spanish is "deseo" which can also be translated as "desire". This is precisely the appropriate term to describe lust. Many times we are told that sex is a need, but this is not true. Yes, there is the instinctual desire to reproduce, but it is still a desire and unnecessary to continue your personal existence. There are hormones which drive these desires as well, but that does not put it out of our control. The primary motive psychologically for sex for a man is validation. It satisfies us in our identities and makes us feel worthy and respected. Yet even here, it is not the only means by which we feel validated. True validation I believe comes from honor within one's beliefs, the integrity of the spirit. I believe that this validation is rooted in God.
As a single man this can be a real struggle. From what I hear from others, presented as a problem or as a simple comment in passing, it is also a struggle for those who are in a committed relationship. I am not just talking about infedelity and porn addictions because those are products of the initial problem. The following verse has been on my heart for awhile, and sometimes it really is a fight to obey it. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Napoleon Hill wrote that your thoughts become your actions and ultimately your reality. I obviously do not say these things as if I were immune to it. I am definitely not a virgen, and I have struggled with porn in the past. Yet those things only focused me further on the desire for validation which I was not getting from them. I only got depression, and I have learned valuable lessons from them.
In extreme cases, lust can have enormous impacts on those who are victimized by it. I know many people who are victims of rape, molestation, countless children abandoned by their fathers, even the oldest profession, prostitution, owes its title to the power of this denigrating sin. Yet it is unnecessary to go to extreme cases to demonstrate the consequences of lustful behavior. Returning to the source of the desire, we find the longing for validation. When we seek validation in empty actions, we are filled with hollow feelings.
Someday I will get married. I do not want to ruin that relationship with the products of my thoughts like mistrust, resentment, jealousy, or infidelity. I want to enjoy solely between her and I, giving her everything I am, my mind included. Two of my closest friends have reminded me of this in the last few months. One of whom told me about how important it is in a marriage to strengthen your resolve, telling me about how his wife went through cancer treatments with anti-hormone pills. He explained that seeing your mate for their friendship will sometimes be your only option, so you have to learn to be strong early. I am striving to keep my mind and heart pure now. If you are single like me, or in a relationship or a marriage struggling with this, I urge you to look to the Lord for strength. Find support in others, and pray for renewal in your mind. Please pray for me as well as I work on this in myself as well.
Philipians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything is worthy of praise, think about such things."
Philipians 4:13 "I can do everything in Christ who gives me strength."
Galatians 5:16 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to lose an eye than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Che Dio ti benediche,
Seth
I was confronted with an issue recently, one that I know affects all men. One of our common struggles: lust. This can easily become a sore subject very quickly, but it is one that can cause a lot of diverse problems. The word in Spanish is "deseo" which can also be translated as "desire". This is precisely the appropriate term to describe lust. Many times we are told that sex is a need, but this is not true. Yes, there is the instinctual desire to reproduce, but it is still a desire and unnecessary to continue your personal existence. There are hormones which drive these desires as well, but that does not put it out of our control. The primary motive psychologically for sex for a man is validation. It satisfies us in our identities and makes us feel worthy and respected. Yet even here, it is not the only means by which we feel validated. True validation I believe comes from honor within one's beliefs, the integrity of the spirit. I believe that this validation is rooted in God.
As a single man this can be a real struggle. From what I hear from others, presented as a problem or as a simple comment in passing, it is also a struggle for those who are in a committed relationship. I am not just talking about infedelity and porn addictions because those are products of the initial problem. The following verse has been on my heart for awhile, and sometimes it really is a fight to obey it. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Napoleon Hill wrote that your thoughts become your actions and ultimately your reality. I obviously do not say these things as if I were immune to it. I am definitely not a virgen, and I have struggled with porn in the past. Yet those things only focused me further on the desire for validation which I was not getting from them. I only got depression, and I have learned valuable lessons from them.
In extreme cases, lust can have enormous impacts on those who are victimized by it. I know many people who are victims of rape, molestation, countless children abandoned by their fathers, even the oldest profession, prostitution, owes its title to the power of this denigrating sin. Yet it is unnecessary to go to extreme cases to demonstrate the consequences of lustful behavior. Returning to the source of the desire, we find the longing for validation. When we seek validation in empty actions, we are filled with hollow feelings.
Someday I will get married. I do not want to ruin that relationship with the products of my thoughts like mistrust, resentment, jealousy, or infidelity. I want to enjoy solely between her and I, giving her everything I am, my mind included. Two of my closest friends have reminded me of this in the last few months. One of whom told me about how important it is in a marriage to strengthen your resolve, telling me about how his wife went through cancer treatments with anti-hormone pills. He explained that seeing your mate for their friendship will sometimes be your only option, so you have to learn to be strong early. I am striving to keep my mind and heart pure now. If you are single like me, or in a relationship or a marriage struggling with this, I urge you to look to the Lord for strength. Find support in others, and pray for renewal in your mind. Please pray for me as well as I work on this in myself as well.
Philipians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything is worthy of praise, think about such things."
Philipians 4:13 "I can do everything in Christ who gives me strength."
Galatians 5:16 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to lose an eye than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Che Dio ti benediche,
Seth
Thursday, June 7, 2012
A Guatemalan Tale part 2
Hola again good friends,
To begin where I left off, I was constipated for approximately a week and off to see the Mayan ruins at Tikal. It was a ten hour bus ride from 8 pm to 6 am. The woman sitting next to me was more than portly, and she fell asleep, smashing me into the window. The bus driver raced the other vehicles down the narrow roads, which kept me awake for fear that we would crash. I did not sleep. I tagged along with some med students from Stanford University who liked me because I out-argued a student from Berkley about linguistics. They were also interested in the type of parasite I had contracted. We found a hotel for the day. They were going to stay til Sunday, I was going to leave that night. We all went to get tickets for the tour, but I felt a gut-wrenching pain again. I was overloaded. They went while I stayed back, laying in bed. I was tired, but I still couldn't sleep because of the pain. When they all got back later that afternoon, I was enticed by the pictures they showed me. I had to go.
They switched their tickets to leave that night, and I switched mine to leave the next day. In the process I made friends with the travel agent. He had a phrase similar to what my host mother told the week earlier when I had the parasites. "No existen tiempos malos, sólo difíciles."(There's no such thing as a bad time, just a difficult one.). I booked a sunrise tour, spending the most of my money on the tour, a fish, and a licuado. To do the sunrise tour, you had to first give your hotel. I did not have one. It was National Soldier's Day, and every hotel was booked. We went to nine places before finally returning to the hotel where I stayed earlier. I was happy. They had a room. My thought process was, "I already paid 35 quetzales for half a day. I should just have to pay 35 more." The gentleman behind the desk smiled at me. "One hundred quetzales," he said.
I had exactly one hundred quetzales. My friends went back to Antigua. I was there by myself, unable to sleep knowing that the bus would come at 3:30 am. I went out to the street to wait. The bus arrived at 4:30 or so. I was nervous out there in the middle of the night. It was a relief to be on the bus and on my way. I remember the bus driver put on Jennifer Lopez music, and then the bus broke down. I couldn't stop laughing.
It was almost 5:30 and we were racing to beat dawn. We scaled the tallest temple to watch the sun peak over through the misty canopy of the Petén rain forest. The whole jungle awoke simultaneously from silence to a sinfonía selvática with a chorus of 382 species of birds and howler monkeys erupting through the air. I was revitalized after eight days of constipation and two days without sleep. I hiked through the jungle and climbed the temples like I was Indiana Jones. Just no boulders. After several hours of activity, it was time to back to Flores, where the bus station was. Then I found that I had no bus ticket and no money to buy a new one.
I went back to the travel agent, and explained the situation to him. He was happy to help. He spent one hour calling people up until he found me a bus ticket. Free of charge. You never know how a friendly conversation with a stranger can come back to help you. I then had to walk a few kilometers to the bus station. In the process, my constipation was finally resolved. It zapped me though. I got to the bus station to learn that it would not open for several more hours, which left me hanging out in the street, looking like a shaggy, homeless gringo.
A man approached me. I thought he was going to rob me. He asked me what I was doing. I explained to him that I came to see the ruins, why I was in Guatemala, about my two adopted brothers from Guatemala, and he gave me his hand and picked me up. We went over to a circle of bus and taxi drivers where we joked around in Spanish. The man who approached me asked me if I was tired. I told him emphatically, "Yes."
He opened the bus stations doors to let me in to sleep. I was safe and resting. It was a crazy adventure, but it reinforced what my host mother Carla Rosales taught me in the midst of a serious problem: no existen tiempos malos, sólo difíciles. God is in control of everything. Trust in Him in your time of crisis, and He will guide you to safety.
Que Dios te bendiga,
Seth
To begin where I left off, I was constipated for approximately a week and off to see the Mayan ruins at Tikal. It was a ten hour bus ride from 8 pm to 6 am. The woman sitting next to me was more than portly, and she fell asleep, smashing me into the window. The bus driver raced the other vehicles down the narrow roads, which kept me awake for fear that we would crash. I did not sleep. I tagged along with some med students from Stanford University who liked me because I out-argued a student from Berkley about linguistics. They were also interested in the type of parasite I had contracted. We found a hotel for the day. They were going to stay til Sunday, I was going to leave that night. We all went to get tickets for the tour, but I felt a gut-wrenching pain again. I was overloaded. They went while I stayed back, laying in bed. I was tired, but I still couldn't sleep because of the pain. When they all got back later that afternoon, I was enticed by the pictures they showed me. I had to go.
They switched their tickets to leave that night, and I switched mine to leave the next day. In the process I made friends with the travel agent. He had a phrase similar to what my host mother told the week earlier when I had the parasites. "No existen tiempos malos, sólo difíciles."(There's no such thing as a bad time, just a difficult one.). I booked a sunrise tour, spending the most of my money on the tour, a fish, and a licuado. To do the sunrise tour, you had to first give your hotel. I did not have one. It was National Soldier's Day, and every hotel was booked. We went to nine places before finally returning to the hotel where I stayed earlier. I was happy. They had a room. My thought process was, "I already paid 35 quetzales for half a day. I should just have to pay 35 more." The gentleman behind the desk smiled at me. "One hundred quetzales," he said.
I had exactly one hundred quetzales. My friends went back to Antigua. I was there by myself, unable to sleep knowing that the bus would come at 3:30 am. I went out to the street to wait. The bus arrived at 4:30 or so. I was nervous out there in the middle of the night. It was a relief to be on the bus and on my way. I remember the bus driver put on Jennifer Lopez music, and then the bus broke down. I couldn't stop laughing.
It was almost 5:30 and we were racing to beat dawn. We scaled the tallest temple to watch the sun peak over through the misty canopy of the Petén rain forest. The whole jungle awoke simultaneously from silence to a sinfonía selvática with a chorus of 382 species of birds and howler monkeys erupting through the air. I was revitalized after eight days of constipation and two days without sleep. I hiked through the jungle and climbed the temples like I was Indiana Jones. Just no boulders. After several hours of activity, it was time to back to Flores, where the bus station was. Then I found that I had no bus ticket and no money to buy a new one.
I went back to the travel agent, and explained the situation to him. He was happy to help. He spent one hour calling people up until he found me a bus ticket. Free of charge. You never know how a friendly conversation with a stranger can come back to help you. I then had to walk a few kilometers to the bus station. In the process, my constipation was finally resolved. It zapped me though. I got to the bus station to learn that it would not open for several more hours, which left me hanging out in the street, looking like a shaggy, homeless gringo.
A man approached me. I thought he was going to rob me. He asked me what I was doing. I explained to him that I came to see the ruins, why I was in Guatemala, about my two adopted brothers from Guatemala, and he gave me his hand and picked me up. We went over to a circle of bus and taxi drivers where we joked around in Spanish. The man who approached me asked me if I was tired. I told him emphatically, "Yes."
He opened the bus stations doors to let me in to sleep. I was safe and resting. It was a crazy adventure, but it reinforced what my host mother Carla Rosales taught me in the midst of a serious problem: no existen tiempos malos, sólo difíciles. God is in control of everything. Trust in Him in your time of crisis, and He will guide you to safety.
Que Dios te bendiga,
Seth
A Guatemalan Tale part 1
Salutations friends and strangers,
I was in the supermarket today, and I heard a salsa song that took me back to dance classes in Antigua, Guatemala which began five years ago this last Tuesday. I was a long-haired hippie then. I worked in a restaurant in the U.S. I dreamt of being a writer and an improv comic. I thought I was funny. It was my first journey abroad by myself, and I felt like I was in paradise. The other students were from all over the world, the city was beautiful, the classes were individualized and held in a garden, my host family was kind as could be. The only problem was that they lived next to someone who sold chicken, so periodically I would hear poultry executions. I shared a house with the family, a Brazilian, a Swede, an Irishman, a Dutch girl, another American, and there was a British girl who stopped by for dinner each night. Others came and went, but it was a great experience. It was also in Guatemala where I had what is arguably my first great travel story.
As a hippie, I always liked to hang out at the expatriate folk café, Café Kafka. It was my favorite place along with the boot-leg theatre at Café 2000 and the relaxing Café Sky shown to me by my Brazilian friend. Café Kafka was known for its ribs. It was also known for acoustic hipster songs about how Marlin Brando and T.V. ruined the U.S, I was hungry for some ribs though, and I decided to try them one night. I was unaware that Café Kafka unlugged its refrigerators from time to time to save on electricity.
Later that night, I felt like someone stabbed me in the stomach. My host family moved houses and relocated me to the new house to stay the weekend by myself. I was in pain, it was raining hard, and I could not figure out how to get the the door open. After three trips back and forth for repeated explanations of the mechanics of the door, I finally got it open. I found the bathroom, and rushed in. There was no toilet seat, so I had to prop myself up with my arms. This was how I spent my weekend. Three days later, I was exhausted and horribly dehydrated. My host family's son led me by the hand to the hospital. I was disoriented and walking like Ray Charles. I was having a lot of trouble understanding the doctor's diagnosis, so he was kind enough to draw me a picture. I had intestinal paracites. I decided to take a page from the Israelites and avoid pork. He gave me two pills to stop me up and a liter of salt water to rehydrate me. It worked. Really well. I was constipated for the next eight days, which was painful, but I was on a mission. I was determined to see the Mayan ruins at Tikal. So I booked my bus ride, and I was off.
I have to drop off my laundry, but I will finish the second part of this when I get back.
Hasta pronto y que Dios te bendiga,
Seth
I was in the supermarket today, and I heard a salsa song that took me back to dance classes in Antigua, Guatemala which began five years ago this last Tuesday. I was a long-haired hippie then. I worked in a restaurant in the U.S. I dreamt of being a writer and an improv comic. I thought I was funny. It was my first journey abroad by myself, and I felt like I was in paradise. The other students were from all over the world, the city was beautiful, the classes were individualized and held in a garden, my host family was kind as could be. The only problem was that they lived next to someone who sold chicken, so periodically I would hear poultry executions. I shared a house with the family, a Brazilian, a Swede, an Irishman, a Dutch girl, another American, and there was a British girl who stopped by for dinner each night. Others came and went, but it was a great experience. It was also in Guatemala where I had what is arguably my first great travel story.
As a hippie, I always liked to hang out at the expatriate folk café, Café Kafka. It was my favorite place along with the boot-leg theatre at Café 2000 and the relaxing Café Sky shown to me by my Brazilian friend. Café Kafka was known for its ribs. It was also known for acoustic hipster songs about how Marlin Brando and T.V. ruined the U.S, I was hungry for some ribs though, and I decided to try them one night. I was unaware that Café Kafka unlugged its refrigerators from time to time to save on electricity.
Later that night, I felt like someone stabbed me in the stomach. My host family moved houses and relocated me to the new house to stay the weekend by myself. I was in pain, it was raining hard, and I could not figure out how to get the the door open. After three trips back and forth for repeated explanations of the mechanics of the door, I finally got it open. I found the bathroom, and rushed in. There was no toilet seat, so I had to prop myself up with my arms. This was how I spent my weekend. Three days later, I was exhausted and horribly dehydrated. My host family's son led me by the hand to the hospital. I was disoriented and walking like Ray Charles. I was having a lot of trouble understanding the doctor's diagnosis, so he was kind enough to draw me a picture. I had intestinal paracites. I decided to take a page from the Israelites and avoid pork. He gave me two pills to stop me up and a liter of salt water to rehydrate me. It worked. Really well. I was constipated for the next eight days, which was painful, but I was on a mission. I was determined to see the Mayan ruins at Tikal. So I booked my bus ride, and I was off.
I have to drop off my laundry, but I will finish the second part of this when I get back.
Hasta pronto y que Dios te bendiga,
Seth
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Firestone Odyssee
Good evening mes amis et inconnus,
There is a proverb in the Spanish language that says, "Preguntando, se llega a Roma." or "Asking, you get to Rome." This expression is used for people who are in doubt about a situation they are confronted with. For the last week, I have tried repeatedly to find tires for my truck. I have had three blow outs. Not flats, but my tires have exploded. This has demonstrated a lesson in being a foreigner learning the ropes in another country, but yet again has shown me how God places people on your path to help you in need.
Five nights ago, I was driving home down the north highway, and I heard and felt my left rear tire explode. I had a spare in back, so I pulled off as far off the road as I could to chane the tire. The shoulder was very narrow, which still left me hanging out in the highway as I changed my tire. My jack collapsed three times, and I was constantly praying as semis, cars, buses, and motorcyclists whizzed by me. I finally got the spare on, but I saw it was low on air.
Here in Managua, they have used tired shops called "vulcanizadoras" where they replace tires and refill them. It was past sunset, and I asked two guys who were standing by watching me nervously work on my wheels where the closest vulcanizadora was. They told me it was about 300 meters straight ahead. I was off. One hundred meters later my spare exploded! I drove ahead until I found the tire shop. When I arrived, half of my tire remained. I was astonished.
The store was about to close, and thank God they helped me. They had one left that was the size I needed. He explained to me that A lot of places will cut the tires and sell them so that you have to return when they go flat or are further damaged. Today I was getting ready to meet one of my coaches to train, and I saw the tire I just bought was flat. It was cut just like the man had said, but it was the tire he sold me. So I was off to find a new one. Three tire shops and ninety minutes later, I finally find a tire. It is undersized, and I later discovered it had a nail in it. I brought it back to my truck.
My landlord saw it, and he asked me what happened. He was indignant. He could not stand that I had been taken advantage of. He hopped on his Suzuki motorcycle and took me to a place the sells new tires. I watched him argue with the people for fifteen minutes about a specific tire that he uses on his trucks. They didn't have it. So he went off to check at the Oriental Market for a good tire. He came back thirty minutes later, telling me to follow him.
I had trouble keeping up with him as he weaved between cars and ran traffic lights, but when he got to far ahead, he stopped on the side of the road to wait for me. When we arrived at the market, he showed me the tire and explained its advantages to me. Then he negotiated the price, lowering it substantially. It is sturdy and new, and the first tire I've seen here with an innertube.
All of this may seem like a lot of stress over something innochuous, but sometimes that is life in a new place. I am thankful that it happened on my day off, so it didn't interfere with my work. The man who helped me the most turned out to be someone who I thought was out to swindle me on numerous occasions. I learned that I need to trust in the people God puts in my life. Returning to the proverb from the beginning, you should try not to ask too many people for directions when you are unsure. Trust in God and His servants. Otherwise you might take some costly detours before arriving at your final destination.
Que Deus te abençoe,
Seth
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
-Psalm 32:8
There is a proverb in the Spanish language that says, "Preguntando, se llega a Roma." or "Asking, you get to Rome." This expression is used for people who are in doubt about a situation they are confronted with. For the last week, I have tried repeatedly to find tires for my truck. I have had three blow outs. Not flats, but my tires have exploded. This has demonstrated a lesson in being a foreigner learning the ropes in another country, but yet again has shown me how God places people on your path to help you in need.
Five nights ago, I was driving home down the north highway, and I heard and felt my left rear tire explode. I had a spare in back, so I pulled off as far off the road as I could to chane the tire. The shoulder was very narrow, which still left me hanging out in the highway as I changed my tire. My jack collapsed three times, and I was constantly praying as semis, cars, buses, and motorcyclists whizzed by me. I finally got the spare on, but I saw it was low on air.
Here in Managua, they have used tired shops called "vulcanizadoras" where they replace tires and refill them. It was past sunset, and I asked two guys who were standing by watching me nervously work on my wheels where the closest vulcanizadora was. They told me it was about 300 meters straight ahead. I was off. One hundred meters later my spare exploded! I drove ahead until I found the tire shop. When I arrived, half of my tire remained. I was astonished.
The store was about to close, and thank God they helped me. They had one left that was the size I needed. He explained to me that A lot of places will cut the tires and sell them so that you have to return when they go flat or are further damaged. Today I was getting ready to meet one of my coaches to train, and I saw the tire I just bought was flat. It was cut just like the man had said, but it was the tire he sold me. So I was off to find a new one. Three tire shops and ninety minutes later, I finally find a tire. It is undersized, and I later discovered it had a nail in it. I brought it back to my truck.
My landlord saw it, and he asked me what happened. He was indignant. He could not stand that I had been taken advantage of. He hopped on his Suzuki motorcycle and took me to a place the sells new tires. I watched him argue with the people for fifteen minutes about a specific tire that he uses on his trucks. They didn't have it. So he went off to check at the Oriental Market for a good tire. He came back thirty minutes later, telling me to follow him.
I had trouble keeping up with him as he weaved between cars and ran traffic lights, but when he got to far ahead, he stopped on the side of the road to wait for me. When we arrived at the market, he showed me the tire and explained its advantages to me. Then he negotiated the price, lowering it substantially. It is sturdy and new, and the first tire I've seen here with an innertube.
All of this may seem like a lot of stress over something innochuous, but sometimes that is life in a new place. I am thankful that it happened on my day off, so it didn't interfere with my work. The man who helped me the most turned out to be someone who I thought was out to swindle me on numerous occasions. I learned that I need to trust in the people God puts in my life. Returning to the proverb from the beginning, you should try not to ask too many people for directions when you are unsure. Trust in God and His servants. Otherwise you might take some costly detours before arriving at your final destination.
Que Deus te abençoe,
Seth
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
-Psalm 32:8
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Jungle Runner
Hello again amigos and readers,
Last night's blog was a bit of a downer, so I figured I would finally write one of the good stories from the visa renewal trip to Costa Rica. First good news from today. I met two of the people on the Nicaraguan Commision of MMA. I will be getting my liscense soon. Also one of the commisioners is a Christian and he is looking to help out with my program of martial arts evangelism! Now to the fun story.
Every three months, I have to leave Nicaragua and return after three days to renew my visa to be able to work here. So some of my friends came with me and arranged for a training camp with an associate in Acosta. We were there for three days, and our lodging and food were paid for. I was sick for the first two days, but I still trained. The last night, we were told to take our luggage with us because we would go to the mountains for a promotion ceremony and training. When we arrived there were over twenty people there. The four masters went up somewhere in an SUV. The rest of us had to hike through the jungle in pitch black to find the cabin near the the summits. It was awesome!!! There were bats and snakes, and we finally meandered our way to the cabin where the masters were waiting for us.
When we entered the cabin, there was only one room. There were over twenty of us. We all had the same thought. "Where am I going to sleep?" At midnight we found out the answer to that question. We weren't going to sleep. We trained until five in the morning. I gave a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminar in the mud somewhere around three a.m. When five o'clock rolled around, everyone crammed in the cabin to sleep for two hours. I went outside with two others to watch the sunrise. Then I went runnung through the rain forest by myself. It's not often that life gives you those kinds of opportunities. Carpe diem.
At seven a.m., we participated in a traditional Japanese ceremony where two of my friends were promoted to their next rank in Japanese Jiu Jitsu. All in all, it was an incredible experience. I even met a master who showed me some new ways to share the Gospel with my students in the class. Embrace your walk, and the people God puts on your path. You never know where He may lead you and what lessons you may learn on the way!
Daiwan jaini maimumbia,
Seth
Last night's blog was a bit of a downer, so I figured I would finally write one of the good stories from the visa renewal trip to Costa Rica. First good news from today. I met two of the people on the Nicaraguan Commision of MMA. I will be getting my liscense soon. Also one of the commisioners is a Christian and he is looking to help out with my program of martial arts evangelism! Now to the fun story.
Every three months, I have to leave Nicaragua and return after three days to renew my visa to be able to work here. So some of my friends came with me and arranged for a training camp with an associate in Acosta. We were there for three days, and our lodging and food were paid for. I was sick for the first two days, but I still trained. The last night, we were told to take our luggage with us because we would go to the mountains for a promotion ceremony and training. When we arrived there were over twenty people there. The four masters went up somewhere in an SUV. The rest of us had to hike through the jungle in pitch black to find the cabin near the the summits. It was awesome!!! There were bats and snakes, and we finally meandered our way to the cabin where the masters were waiting for us.
When we entered the cabin, there was only one room. There were over twenty of us. We all had the same thought. "Where am I going to sleep?" At midnight we found out the answer to that question. We weren't going to sleep. We trained until five in the morning. I gave a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminar in the mud somewhere around three a.m. When five o'clock rolled around, everyone crammed in the cabin to sleep for two hours. I went outside with two others to watch the sunrise. Then I went runnung through the rain forest by myself. It's not often that life gives you those kinds of opportunities. Carpe diem.
At seven a.m., we participated in a traditional Japanese ceremony where two of my friends were promoted to their next rank in Japanese Jiu Jitsu. All in all, it was an incredible experience. I even met a master who showed me some new ways to share the Gospel with my students in the class. Embrace your walk, and the people God puts on your path. You never know where He may lead you and what lessons you may learn on the way!
Daiwan jaini maimumbia,
Seth
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Hard Prayers for Old Places
Bon soir dear friends and strangers,
It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything here, and for that I apologize. Life has been crazy as usual with the normal ups and downs. God is my constant. I am thankful for that. Tonight however, my story is not about my present mission field in Nicaragua, but rather from my last calling in East St. Louis, where I was prepared for my work here.
I received a message from a former student of mine out of East St. Louis, Illinois. He told me that two of his friends were shot, one of whom died. The story is more gruesome than I would like to share, and it is very tragic considering both girls were only sixteen years old. We prayed for their families, the community, the girl who survived, and the young man who shot them both. His sentence is still undetermined, but God's judgment is not in until He decides. Even if this young man spends the next sixty years in prison, there is time for God to move in his heart.
For those who are aware of the violence of East St. Louis, you know that this is unfortunately not uncommon. I have heard a lot of these stories with different circumstances but the same results. The saddest part is that I have heard most of them from kids and youth. Last year, the city of St. Louis was statistically rated the third most violent city in the world beating out cities, like Baghdad, Iraq, Mogadishu, Somalia, Grozny, Chechnya, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sixty-five percent of the violence came out of East St. Louis.
I lost a friend last year in East St. Louis, and it was difficult to hear ten-year-olds talk about how they spent Easter running from gun shots. I also lost a student who was eleven almost one year ago to another prevalent problem in the community: house fires. Yet as always, there is an upside to the situation in any place where tragedy abounds. There is a place in that city where kids and youth have a sanctuary filled with strong Christian role models who have helped shape the future and characters of thousands for over two decades. It's the Christian Activity Center. It is an after school community center that is entirely dedicated to the wholistic growth of kids in East St. Louis. It's also where I got my bearings as a missionary. Every week over six hundred kids pour into the CAC for guidance, programs, help with homework, and a whole lot more. Both girls were members, and leaves me with little doubt that God was active in their lives and gives me solace that the girl who passed is in a better place. If you want to learn more, go to www.cacesl.org. If you are in the Saint Louis area, please take some time to check this place out. It will move you.
Please pray for the families and community that have been affected by this awful situation. I ask that you pray that they see God's presence in the midst of this as well as His love. I also ask you to pray for the young man who is now in jail. Please pray that God uses this situation to speak to his heart. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.
Gott segne dich,
Seth
It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything here, and for that I apologize. Life has been crazy as usual with the normal ups and downs. God is my constant. I am thankful for that. Tonight however, my story is not about my present mission field in Nicaragua, but rather from my last calling in East St. Louis, where I was prepared for my work here.
I received a message from a former student of mine out of East St. Louis, Illinois. He told me that two of his friends were shot, one of whom died. The story is more gruesome than I would like to share, and it is very tragic considering both girls were only sixteen years old. We prayed for their families, the community, the girl who survived, and the young man who shot them both. His sentence is still undetermined, but God's judgment is not in until He decides. Even if this young man spends the next sixty years in prison, there is time for God to move in his heart.
For those who are aware of the violence of East St. Louis, you know that this is unfortunately not uncommon. I have heard a lot of these stories with different circumstances but the same results. The saddest part is that I have heard most of them from kids and youth. Last year, the city of St. Louis was statistically rated the third most violent city in the world beating out cities, like Baghdad, Iraq, Mogadishu, Somalia, Grozny, Chechnya, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sixty-five percent of the violence came out of East St. Louis.
I lost a friend last year in East St. Louis, and it was difficult to hear ten-year-olds talk about how they spent Easter running from gun shots. I also lost a student who was eleven almost one year ago to another prevalent problem in the community: house fires. Yet as always, there is an upside to the situation in any place where tragedy abounds. There is a place in that city where kids and youth have a sanctuary filled with strong Christian role models who have helped shape the future and characters of thousands for over two decades. It's the Christian Activity Center. It is an after school community center that is entirely dedicated to the wholistic growth of kids in East St. Louis. It's also where I got my bearings as a missionary. Every week over six hundred kids pour into the CAC for guidance, programs, help with homework, and a whole lot more. Both girls were members, and leaves me with little doubt that God was active in their lives and gives me solace that the girl who passed is in a better place. If you want to learn more, go to www.cacesl.org. If you are in the Saint Louis area, please take some time to check this place out. It will move you.
Please pray for the families and community that have been affected by this awful situation. I ask that you pray that they see God's presence in the midst of this as well as His love. I also ask you to pray for the young man who is now in jail. Please pray that God uses this situation to speak to his heart. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.
Gott segne dich,
Seth
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Power of Protein Shakes
Good evening mes amis,
For those of you who know me personally this story will not come as much of a shock to you. For those of who do not, you are about to know me a little more personally. If you are familiar with my travel stories and dojo tales, you already know that I have a track record of... let's say intestinal malfunction. Be it parasites in Guatemala, an overdose on protein shakes mixed with a hard knee to the gut almost three hours into a jiujitsu test, or sprinting down the crowded streets of Vielle Nice, France on a quest to to find a public restroom during La Fête de la Musique, I could have saved many good times with Pepto. Now they are funny stories that I will someday publish on here. Today was yet another case.
I along with my butt;kicking colleagues from Nahuatl Team went on a local Nicaraguan news channel to promote the academy and inform the Nicaraguans of how we are representing their country abroad in competition. It was fun. They did interviews, we did exhibitions, and good times were had. However, this weekend I was told that I will have to put on ten pounds of muscle for my next fight. I was advised to drink protein shakes, and I have been downing them steadily for four days now. Recall example two of the aforementioned stories, and you will deduce how this ended. All day. Just before we went live, I prayed silently what is probably the most ridiculous prayer I have ever prayed: "God, please don't let me crap my pants. Amen." God answered my prayer, and as soon as I got home I went straight to the bathroom.
The great thing is that we got some exposure to our goals and what we represent in martial arts. We were asked to come back, and they will even let me talk about the missions projects I have which might bring in new students who are in need of the Lord. They even want me to bring some of them on the program next time. Also through the classes I have gotten five students who are looking to further dedicate there walks with Christ at a baptism service we will hold at Monte Horeb in June! Thank you God for your great works and answers to prayer!
Daiwan jaini mai mumbia,
Seth
For those of you who know me personally this story will not come as much of a shock to you. For those of who do not, you are about to know me a little more personally. If you are familiar with my travel stories and dojo tales, you already know that I have a track record of... let's say intestinal malfunction. Be it parasites in Guatemala, an overdose on protein shakes mixed with a hard knee to the gut almost three hours into a jiujitsu test, or sprinting down the crowded streets of Vielle Nice, France on a quest to to find a public restroom during La Fête de la Musique, I could have saved many good times with Pepto. Now they are funny stories that I will someday publish on here. Today was yet another case.
I along with my butt;kicking colleagues from Nahuatl Team went on a local Nicaraguan news channel to promote the academy and inform the Nicaraguans of how we are representing their country abroad in competition. It was fun. They did interviews, we did exhibitions, and good times were had. However, this weekend I was told that I will have to put on ten pounds of muscle for my next fight. I was advised to drink protein shakes, and I have been downing them steadily for four days now. Recall example two of the aforementioned stories, and you will deduce how this ended. All day. Just before we went live, I prayed silently what is probably the most ridiculous prayer I have ever prayed: "God, please don't let me crap my pants. Amen." God answered my prayer, and as soon as I got home I went straight to the bathroom.
The great thing is that we got some exposure to our goals and what we represent in martial arts. We were asked to come back, and they will even let me talk about the missions projects I have which might bring in new students who are in need of the Lord. They even want me to bring some of them on the program next time. Also through the classes I have gotten five students who are looking to further dedicate there walks with Christ at a baptism service we will hold at Monte Horeb in June! Thank you God for your great works and answers to prayer!
Daiwan jaini mai mumbia,
Seth
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
La Canción de la Calle
Good evening amigos!
Unas las cosas que he escuchado desde comenzar a venir para trabajar aquí en Nicaragua hace casi cuatro años ya siempre ha sido, "No des dinero a la gente rogando en la calle." o, "No les mires en los ojos porque eso les llama la atención." Como cristiano eso me suena bastante feo, pero entiendo muchas veces que ellos pueden haberse metido en la droga, ser alcolicos, ser hábiles para trabajar, etc. Entonces encontré otra forma de tratarles: conocerles y conectarme con ellos. Pensé en lo que Jesús dijo en Lucas 4:18(El cotizó Isaias 61:1-4).
"El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, por cuanto me ha ungido para dar buenas nuevas a los pobres;" El versículo contiene más, pero vi que esto fue la primera cosa que dijo de todos y el más fácil hacer de todas la cosas que él cuenta que haría. Pues ahora cuando tengo el tiempo, les pregunto a estas personas cómo se llaman y si hay algo por lo que les puedo orar porque no hay nada imposible para Dios.
Los que ruegan tienen su lugar. Allí se ubican y siempre les puedo encontrar. El primer hombre usa muletas aunque tiene dos piernas. Una parece que está mala y queda guindada sin tocar el piso. Irónicamente se queda rogando frente al Ministerio de trabajo. Le veo mucho. El me contó su problema. Va tener cirugía el lunes que viene. Es divertido porque él me sigue diciendo, "¡Estoy emocionado porque Dios me va a sanar!" Me inspira su fe. Después de cambiar la relación que tenemos, él dejó de pedirme dinero. Cuando lo veo ahora, él me saluda con una sonrisa diciendo, "¡Que Dios te bendiga!"
El otro viene para limpiar las ventanas de mi camioneta. Me frustaba mucho esta gente porque me las lavan nueve veces al día, si lo necesito o no, si lo quiero o no, aún si les digo que no lo hagan. Luego me piden dinero sobretodo dolares. No me gustaba eso porque creía que era racista, pero cambié mi forma de pensar. Hablé con uno quien siempre está por un semáforo que paso frecuentemente. Algun día me pidió oración por su mamá quien estaba en el hospital. Hace dos semanas que él reconoció mi camioneta del otro lado del semáforo y vino corriendo en medio del tráfico pesado para contarme algo. "¡Mi mamá está sana! ¡Ya salió del hospital!" Y después lavó mi ventana con una sonrisa grande, y yo sonreí también aunque tenía que ser la novena vez que se me la había lavado.
Les vi los dos hoy en el camino, y me pusieron bien alegre. Ya veo que Dios puede usarnos en cualquier momento para alcanzarle a alguien o para fortelecer la fe de ellos, incluso la hora de pico. También he aprendido que muchas veces percibimos a algunas personas solamente como una molestía y olvidamos que ellos son hijos del Señor. Pueden ser ovejas perdidas, pero no les buscamos. Ellos también necesitan el amor de Cristo, y no les quiero fallar en eso.
Il Dio le benedice,
Seth
Unas las cosas que he escuchado desde comenzar a venir para trabajar aquí en Nicaragua hace casi cuatro años ya siempre ha sido, "No des dinero a la gente rogando en la calle." o, "No les mires en los ojos porque eso les llama la atención." Como cristiano eso me suena bastante feo, pero entiendo muchas veces que ellos pueden haberse metido en la droga, ser alcolicos, ser hábiles para trabajar, etc. Entonces encontré otra forma de tratarles: conocerles y conectarme con ellos. Pensé en lo que Jesús dijo en Lucas 4:18(El cotizó Isaias 61:1-4).
"El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, por cuanto me ha ungido para dar buenas nuevas a los pobres;" El versículo contiene más, pero vi que esto fue la primera cosa que dijo de todos y el más fácil hacer de todas la cosas que él cuenta que haría. Pues ahora cuando tengo el tiempo, les pregunto a estas personas cómo se llaman y si hay algo por lo que les puedo orar porque no hay nada imposible para Dios.
Los que ruegan tienen su lugar. Allí se ubican y siempre les puedo encontrar. El primer hombre usa muletas aunque tiene dos piernas. Una parece que está mala y queda guindada sin tocar el piso. Irónicamente se queda rogando frente al Ministerio de trabajo. Le veo mucho. El me contó su problema. Va tener cirugía el lunes que viene. Es divertido porque él me sigue diciendo, "¡Estoy emocionado porque Dios me va a sanar!" Me inspira su fe. Después de cambiar la relación que tenemos, él dejó de pedirme dinero. Cuando lo veo ahora, él me saluda con una sonrisa diciendo, "¡Que Dios te bendiga!"
El otro viene para limpiar las ventanas de mi camioneta. Me frustaba mucho esta gente porque me las lavan nueve veces al día, si lo necesito o no, si lo quiero o no, aún si les digo que no lo hagan. Luego me piden dinero sobretodo dolares. No me gustaba eso porque creía que era racista, pero cambié mi forma de pensar. Hablé con uno quien siempre está por un semáforo que paso frecuentemente. Algun día me pidió oración por su mamá quien estaba en el hospital. Hace dos semanas que él reconoció mi camioneta del otro lado del semáforo y vino corriendo en medio del tráfico pesado para contarme algo. "¡Mi mamá está sana! ¡Ya salió del hospital!" Y después lavó mi ventana con una sonrisa grande, y yo sonreí también aunque tenía que ser la novena vez que se me la había lavado.
Les vi los dos hoy en el camino, y me pusieron bien alegre. Ya veo que Dios puede usarnos en cualquier momento para alcanzarle a alguien o para fortelecer la fe de ellos, incluso la hora de pico. También he aprendido que muchas veces percibimos a algunas personas solamente como una molestía y olvidamos que ellos son hijos del Señor. Pueden ser ovejas perdidas, pero no les buscamos. Ellos también necesitan el amor de Cristo, y no les quiero fallar en eso.
Il Dio le benedice,
Seth
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
On The Couch
Buona sera familiar friends and random readers,
Today was pretty crazy, an adventure of people, as two people who I barely know and a complete stranger opened up to me about deaths in their families. More interesting was the fact that each story carried a completely different emotional reaction. It was my day off, but there is no rest in the Lord's work. This is not a complaint, but rather the acknowledgement of a privilege and something for which I am thankful that God has blessed to be able to do.
The first was a young man I met in church. He is twenty years old, and we went out to watch the Avengers for his birthday yesterday. He invited me to his house to meet his mom and have dinner with them where his mom told me a little about the death of his father two years ago. I went back today because his mom offered to wash my clothes and he wanted to hang out this afternoon. Today he opened up completely, telling me in intricate detail about the days leading up to his father's death and the day he passed there in his house. He was composed as he recounted the story, and even laughed as he reminisced about his final days with his dad. He didn't seem down trodden, He seemed a little lost. I asked him what he learned in the experience and the process of grief that followed. He said that is what he had been trying to answer for some time now. I asked him to get his Bible. He returned and said it was his father's. We went over Romans 8:28-39, which I heard at both a student's and a friend's funeral last year in East St. Louis. My grandma also gave me that verse when she spoke of the death of my uncle almost forty years ago. He talked more about the Bible itself, and opened to the last page where his father wrote out Phillipians 1:21 in Spanish. "For me is to live is Christ and to die is gain." He also spoke of how the situation allowed him to counsel a neighbor who lost his mother recently.
Soon after I went to one of my coach's houses where one of my trainers was going to try to get rid of a hematoma on my hamstring with a massage. I laid down on the couch in his living room where his wife and his daughter came in to talk to me. His daughter was explaining to me that she was a widow. She and her mother were laughing almost contemptuously about her husband's passing. He overworked himself and refused to go to Cuba to get the treatments he needed. She is now forty with two kids. She works and has a good job. She talked extensively about how God has provided for her. In this case I just listened. I was honestly shocked inside by what I had just witnessed, but who knows what was really going on with her. Everyone grieves in their own way, and I am here to preach the good news, not to judge others.
Her mother began to recount the death of one of her sons. He was murdered by her other son. She talked about how horrible she felt for rejecting him for killing his brother. that is the strength of a mother's love I guess. Again I stayed quiet and listened. What advice or nuggets of wisdom could I possibly offer for something so atrocious? She cried and held a rag to her eyes, as she continued to tell the story. I realized she just needed to be heard. Afterwards, she began to talk about all of the blessings she experienced after going through such a terrible tragedy, talking about travels, providence, healing, and many other things big and small where she felt God's hands on her life.
James wrote, "This life is but a vapor." Whatever you may be going through in the moment, you can count on the promise of greater things to come if you accept Christ as your personal savior. Personally, I have attended many funerals, friends, families, a student, all different ages and for numerous reasons. I've also been close to dying on several occasions in my short life, be it almost drowning in a river, getting mugged, or attempting to kill myself when I was younger. Mourning is natural and necessary for our well-being, but I am reminded greatly of the real importance of this life by what I read in the young man's father's Bible. "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." We have eternal life to look forward to if we are saved. Rejoice for those who have passed in the Father's hands, and be thankful for his Son's sacrifice that allows us to pass into His glory.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither heighth nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:38-39
"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:21b
Que dieu te benisse,
Seth
Today was pretty crazy, an adventure of people, as two people who I barely know and a complete stranger opened up to me about deaths in their families. More interesting was the fact that each story carried a completely different emotional reaction. It was my day off, but there is no rest in the Lord's work. This is not a complaint, but rather the acknowledgement of a privilege and something for which I am thankful that God has blessed to be able to do.
The first was a young man I met in church. He is twenty years old, and we went out to watch the Avengers for his birthday yesterday. He invited me to his house to meet his mom and have dinner with them where his mom told me a little about the death of his father two years ago. I went back today because his mom offered to wash my clothes and he wanted to hang out this afternoon. Today he opened up completely, telling me in intricate detail about the days leading up to his father's death and the day he passed there in his house. He was composed as he recounted the story, and even laughed as he reminisced about his final days with his dad. He didn't seem down trodden, He seemed a little lost. I asked him what he learned in the experience and the process of grief that followed. He said that is what he had been trying to answer for some time now. I asked him to get his Bible. He returned and said it was his father's. We went over Romans 8:28-39, which I heard at both a student's and a friend's funeral last year in East St. Louis. My grandma also gave me that verse when she spoke of the death of my uncle almost forty years ago. He talked more about the Bible itself, and opened to the last page where his father wrote out Phillipians 1:21 in Spanish. "For me is to live is Christ and to die is gain." He also spoke of how the situation allowed him to counsel a neighbor who lost his mother recently.
Soon after I went to one of my coach's houses where one of my trainers was going to try to get rid of a hematoma on my hamstring with a massage. I laid down on the couch in his living room where his wife and his daughter came in to talk to me. His daughter was explaining to me that she was a widow. She and her mother were laughing almost contemptuously about her husband's passing. He overworked himself and refused to go to Cuba to get the treatments he needed. She is now forty with two kids. She works and has a good job. She talked extensively about how God has provided for her. In this case I just listened. I was honestly shocked inside by what I had just witnessed, but who knows what was really going on with her. Everyone grieves in their own way, and I am here to preach the good news, not to judge others.
Her mother began to recount the death of one of her sons. He was murdered by her other son. She talked about how horrible she felt for rejecting him for killing his brother. that is the strength of a mother's love I guess. Again I stayed quiet and listened. What advice or nuggets of wisdom could I possibly offer for something so atrocious? She cried and held a rag to her eyes, as she continued to tell the story. I realized she just needed to be heard. Afterwards, she began to talk about all of the blessings she experienced after going through such a terrible tragedy, talking about travels, providence, healing, and many other things big and small where she felt God's hands on her life.
James wrote, "This life is but a vapor." Whatever you may be going through in the moment, you can count on the promise of greater things to come if you accept Christ as your personal savior. Personally, I have attended many funerals, friends, families, a student, all different ages and for numerous reasons. I've also been close to dying on several occasions in my short life, be it almost drowning in a river, getting mugged, or attempting to kill myself when I was younger. Mourning is natural and necessary for our well-being, but I am reminded greatly of the real importance of this life by what I read in the young man's father's Bible. "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." We have eternal life to look forward to if we are saved. Rejoice for those who have passed in the Father's hands, and be thankful for his Son's sacrifice that allows us to pass into His glory.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither heighth nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:38-39
"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:21b
Que dieu te benisse,
Seth
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Making Tracks
Hello again readers and friends!
The last few days have been outstanding with a few tough moments. C'est la vie. I'll start with the tough stuff because it's those times that make the good ones so much better. A wise old woman here once told me, "The bitter seeds yield the sweetest fruits."
This week the last remaining founder of the Sandinista Front, Tomás Borges, died at 81 years of age. For the people here, as it was explained to me, this would be like a Founding Father dying in the U.S., and so the people here have been celebrating his life, and large parts of the city were shut down to create pedestrian zones. This also came the day after International Worker's Day. So there were a lot of detours and traffic clogs which delayed me two and a half hours to get home from teaching. At one place, I was stuck going uphill, and I ran out of gas. I had to walk a kilometer down the road to find a gas station only to be redirected further down the road. At that gas station, they told me to go to another two or three kilometers in the opposite direction. I tried the first place again, and they helped me. By the time I got back to my truck, all the traffic had cleared. So I got home in time to change shirts and teach an English class. It was a lesson in patience, and I tried to remember 1 Thessolonians 5:16-18 which says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ."
So on with the good stuff. I am nine days out from meeting with the Costa Rican representative of our MMA organization and a 4-day training camp in the jungle. Yes, I will be training in the rain forest! In six weeks, I have my first MMA fight in Panama, and on Tuesday, the biggest news yet: I am going to Argentina for my second fight a months down the road. These trips renew my visa here in Nicaragua and allow me to legally stay in the country to keep working here. My flights, food, and lodging are also taken care of by the event promoters. This works out perfectly because it allows me to keep my sponsorship funds allocated strictly to my mission. The best part, it opens the doors for my students to be able to do compete abroad as well.
This provides them the opportunity to use their martial arts skills to work as missionaries in other Latin American countries as we are not only representing Nicaragua, but more importantly Christ. So the relationships we form in this are links to strengthen other Christians and lead others to Christ! It also has a social development aspect, as these youth will also be able earn money from the competitions to pay their way through college. Most of their families can't afford to put them through a university, so this provides the means for those who are disciplined enough to stick with it.
God is good all the time!
Y se lo repito a ustedes, "No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por dónde no hay camino y deja huellas."
God bless you,
Seth
The last few days have been outstanding with a few tough moments. C'est la vie. I'll start with the tough stuff because it's those times that make the good ones so much better. A wise old woman here once told me, "The bitter seeds yield the sweetest fruits."
This week the last remaining founder of the Sandinista Front, Tomás Borges, died at 81 years of age. For the people here, as it was explained to me, this would be like a Founding Father dying in the U.S., and so the people here have been celebrating his life, and large parts of the city were shut down to create pedestrian zones. This also came the day after International Worker's Day. So there were a lot of detours and traffic clogs which delayed me two and a half hours to get home from teaching. At one place, I was stuck going uphill, and I ran out of gas. I had to walk a kilometer down the road to find a gas station only to be redirected further down the road. At that gas station, they told me to go to another two or three kilometers in the opposite direction. I tried the first place again, and they helped me. By the time I got back to my truck, all the traffic had cleared. So I got home in time to change shirts and teach an English class. It was a lesson in patience, and I tried to remember 1 Thessolonians 5:16-18 which says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ."
So on with the good stuff. I am nine days out from meeting with the Costa Rican representative of our MMA organization and a 4-day training camp in the jungle. Yes, I will be training in the rain forest! In six weeks, I have my first MMA fight in Panama, and on Tuesday, the biggest news yet: I am going to Argentina for my second fight a months down the road. These trips renew my visa here in Nicaragua and allow me to legally stay in the country to keep working here. My flights, food, and lodging are also taken care of by the event promoters. This works out perfectly because it allows me to keep my sponsorship funds allocated strictly to my mission. The best part, it opens the doors for my students to be able to do compete abroad as well.
This provides them the opportunity to use their martial arts skills to work as missionaries in other Latin American countries as we are not only representing Nicaragua, but more importantly Christ. So the relationships we form in this are links to strengthen other Christians and lead others to Christ! It also has a social development aspect, as these youth will also be able earn money from the competitions to pay their way through college. Most of their families can't afford to put them through a university, so this provides the means for those who are disciplined enough to stick with it.
God is good all the time!
Y se lo repito a ustedes, "No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por dónde no hay camino y deja huellas."
God bless you,
Seth
Friday, April 27, 2012
Braveheart Hamilton
Boa noite meinen Freunde,
Life is taking off here in Managua after what seemed a bit like a slow start. Last night I managed to connect with a Guatemalan boxer who is now putting together a delegation of fighters to compete with us here in Nicaragua, and also so we can send Nicaraguan fighters to compete in Guatemala. Two weeks from now, I am going to meet with our federation's president in Costa Rica and get qualified as an international ref(I will also get my visa renewed in going so I can stay here in Nicaragua). On Tuesday I will meet with aa army general/boxing commision president to help a friend get his promotion liscense and to discuss the future of MMA here in Nicaland. In the meantime, my classes have tripled in size, and the other teachers in the Federation are helping to spread the Gospel in my classes while imparting new character training methods and a plethora of new techniques. We have also found that our students who compete can use the money they make competing to pay for university costs and provide them with opportunities to work as missionaries in other Latin American countries as they will be paid to travel as competitors.
So things are certainly looking up here after a rough start. God has been good, and I am seeing the impact of His presence. My next obstacle may sound corny and asinine, but I have been looking for a nickname as a fighter. My boxing coach wanted to call me "Chele Cumbia", "chele" being a slang term for a white person and "cumbia" being an aggressive form of Latin dance. I am a white guy, but as a white guy I cannot dance well. So that was out.
I told another coach of mine about a dream I had where I came out to the cage to bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" wearing a kilt with the Hamilton clan's plaid. I am mostly Scottish by heritage, and I spent my childhood going to Highland games festivals, so I identify very strongly with my Scottish roots. My coach asked me if my clan was from the lowlands or the highlands. I said we were from the lowlands. Then he asked me how to say that in English. So then I was declared Seth "the Lowlander" Hamilton. For 30 seconds. I didn't really like it. Then he mentioned my favorite movie of all time, "Braveheart". I was sold. I have the "Amazing Grace" track. Now I just need a kilt, and I will figure out how to get it here.
Daiwan jaini maimumbia,
Seth
Life is taking off here in Managua after what seemed a bit like a slow start. Last night I managed to connect with a Guatemalan boxer who is now putting together a delegation of fighters to compete with us here in Nicaragua, and also so we can send Nicaraguan fighters to compete in Guatemala. Two weeks from now, I am going to meet with our federation's president in Costa Rica and get qualified as an international ref(I will also get my visa renewed in going so I can stay here in Nicaragua). On Tuesday I will meet with aa army general/boxing commision president to help a friend get his promotion liscense and to discuss the future of MMA here in Nicaland. In the meantime, my classes have tripled in size, and the other teachers in the Federation are helping to spread the Gospel in my classes while imparting new character training methods and a plethora of new techniques. We have also found that our students who compete can use the money they make competing to pay for university costs and provide them with opportunities to work as missionaries in other Latin American countries as they will be paid to travel as competitors.
So things are certainly looking up here after a rough start. God has been good, and I am seeing the impact of His presence. My next obstacle may sound corny and asinine, but I have been looking for a nickname as a fighter. My boxing coach wanted to call me "Chele Cumbia", "chele" being a slang term for a white person and "cumbia" being an aggressive form of Latin dance. I am a white guy, but as a white guy I cannot dance well. So that was out.
I told another coach of mine about a dream I had where I came out to the cage to bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" wearing a kilt with the Hamilton clan's plaid. I am mostly Scottish by heritage, and I spent my childhood going to Highland games festivals, so I identify very strongly with my Scottish roots. My coach asked me if my clan was from the lowlands or the highlands. I said we were from the lowlands. Then he asked me how to say that in English. So then I was declared Seth "the Lowlander" Hamilton. For 30 seconds. I didn't really like it. Then he mentioned my favorite movie of all time, "Braveheart". I was sold. I have the "Amazing Grace" track. Now I just need a kilt, and I will figure out how to get it here.
Daiwan jaini maimumbia,
Seth
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Мой Сердця, Мой Сердця
Здраствыйте мои други!
Я видел что многи русски читют мой блог. Итак, я решал писать на по-русски. Пожалуйсте, на меня не обиделите когда я проваливу :)
Я американец, но живу я на Никарагуа. Я миссионер, языковед, боец и борец. Я учу спортивная борьба здись чтобы делить Евангелие. Ето блог зовут "Добры Бой" из 1 Тимофею 6:11-12(потому что я хочу жить как это), где Павел пишал, "Ты же, человек Божий, убегай сего, а преуспевай в правде, благочестии, вере, люби, терпении, кротости. Подвизайся добрым подвигом веры, держись вечной жизни, к которой ты и призван, и исповедал доброе исповедание перед многими свидетелями."
Я получил хороший урок о любом здись. Я имел девочка кто я должен жениться в етом году, но сейчас мы не говорим. Мой урок, я могу любить девочке, но если она не мне любит тожжа, я должен искать Бога и свой люби. Тожа получил что я могу терпеть всех боли, но сердця самая медленна мишца исцелать. Бог с мной, и мне всегда будит доволбно Он.
"Изнемогает плоть моя и сердце мое: Бог твердыня сердца моего и часть моя вовек." -Псалом 73:26
Que Dios te bendiga y gracias por leer,
Cet
Monde and Mandela
Boa tarde friends,
About one year ago I went to South Africa on a mission trip with some of my students. Aside from knocking down walls with children orphaned by AIDS in the north, we also stopped through Capetown to see where the mission started some eleven years back. While in Capetown I met a woman named Pumla who worked in the orphanage. She asked me to pray for her son, Monde. She said he had no direction in life, and he had just committed his life to the Lord. She was very concerned, and so I got her email address to keep in touch.
I have prayed for her son periodically over the last year. Many times it can feel very strange praying for someone you have never met, especially when he lives thousands of miles away and you know you will probably never meet him. Yet there is a story of South Africa's national hero, Nelson Mandela, which reminds me of the importance in believing.
Mandela was a Xhosa-speaking native of the south of South Africa, born into apartheid. In many parts of the country the segregation was so atrocious that blacks entering white areas were shot after 6 pm. Mandela was found working to end the oppression through civil disobedience, and he was imprisoned for 27 years. In the eighties after more than a decade of imprisonment, one would find Nelson Mandela doing calesthenics in his cramped cell. Another prisoner asked him why he was exercising.
Mandela responded, "Someday I will be free and leading the people, and I will need my strength."
At that time he was nearly in his seventies. The other prisoner mocked him. A few years later Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after the end of apartheid. Even though he was jailed for almost three decades and even mocked by other prisoners, he continued to prepare himself having faith that he would one day lead a free people.
Remembering that story I just sent an email off to Pumla after finding the small scrap of paper with her name and son's on it. Somehow it made all the way here to Nicaragua with me. I am looking forward to seeing what God has done in both of their lives. I am sure that God is doing great things in, for, and through them!
In the book of Matthew(8:5-13), Jesus encounters a Roman centurion who asks Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. It says that Jesus was astonished. I was astonished when I read this. What could surprise the King of kings? It was faith, and faith moves God. When in trouble ourselves, or in the lives of others whose needs move our hearts, remember: take heart, your faith can heal you.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1
"Then Jesus said, 'Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that very hour." Matthew 8:13
Modimo ao gaugele!
Seth
About one year ago I went to South Africa on a mission trip with some of my students. Aside from knocking down walls with children orphaned by AIDS in the north, we also stopped through Capetown to see where the mission started some eleven years back. While in Capetown I met a woman named Pumla who worked in the orphanage. She asked me to pray for her son, Monde. She said he had no direction in life, and he had just committed his life to the Lord. She was very concerned, and so I got her email address to keep in touch.
I have prayed for her son periodically over the last year. Many times it can feel very strange praying for someone you have never met, especially when he lives thousands of miles away and you know you will probably never meet him. Yet there is a story of South Africa's national hero, Nelson Mandela, which reminds me of the importance in believing.
Mandela was a Xhosa-speaking native of the south of South Africa, born into apartheid. In many parts of the country the segregation was so atrocious that blacks entering white areas were shot after 6 pm. Mandela was found working to end the oppression through civil disobedience, and he was imprisoned for 27 years. In the eighties after more than a decade of imprisonment, one would find Nelson Mandela doing calesthenics in his cramped cell. Another prisoner asked him why he was exercising.
Mandela responded, "Someday I will be free and leading the people, and I will need my strength."
At that time he was nearly in his seventies. The other prisoner mocked him. A few years later Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after the end of apartheid. Even though he was jailed for almost three decades and even mocked by other prisoners, he continued to prepare himself having faith that he would one day lead a free people.
Remembering that story I just sent an email off to Pumla after finding the small scrap of paper with her name and son's on it. Somehow it made all the way here to Nicaragua with me. I am looking forward to seeing what God has done in both of their lives. I am sure that God is doing great things in, for, and through them!
In the book of Matthew(8:5-13), Jesus encounters a Roman centurion who asks Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. It says that Jesus was astonished. I was astonished when I read this. What could surprise the King of kings? It was faith, and faith moves God. When in trouble ourselves, or in the lives of others whose needs move our hearts, remember: take heart, your faith can heal you.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1
"Then Jesus said, 'Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that very hour." Matthew 8:13
Modimo ao gaugele!
Seth
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Highs, Lows, and Steady Flows
Good evening mes amis,
As I write this I am still bleeding from being hit over the head, even though it has been a couple of hours since the incident. I was walking home from church(in hindsight I am happy I didn't drive or I would be without a vehicle too.), and as I arrived at the gate to my apartment complex, I watched a fat man order several guys with pistols to various spots where people were still outside. I was literally about to put my key in the door as I was pointed out and one of the guys with the pistols ran up to me. I had a a satchel carrying my bible, a book by John Maxwell, a notebook, an Ipod, and my cell phone inside it. He told me to give it all to him. I said no, and he hit me over the head with his gun. I still said no, so he called over a buddy who hit me over the head as well. At that point, I remembered a saying that a lot of people told after one of the last times I was robbed, "Lo material se recupera, pero la vida no."(What is material you can get back, but not your life.) So I gave them the stuff. After going inside to tell my landlords what happened and calling my pastor, I went out to check on the others who were robbed. They were shocked because I was still bleeding, but nobody else was hurt, thank GOD. We all got together and prayed for God's protection over the community and for the young men who robbed us that God would work within their hearts as well.
Last night I was going to write about how a retired boxer with a broken nose came back around to Christ after a brief conversation at one of my trainer's house. He and I spoke for a little bit about God's purpose for our lives, and a recovering crack addict to whom I have been witnessing.She also washes my trainers clothes while staying at my trainer's house to get away from her abusive husband. It was awesome to see her sharing God and His love with this stranger. I had cooked for my trainer and myself, but I brought extras so there was enough for all of us to eat together. I went home filled with the Spirit, and today I was still pretty joyous.
As of now I am reminded of something a pastor told me while on a mission trip to South Africa last summer with Horizon International(www.horizoninternationalinc.com). I had three kids(one with Asperger's and one with cerebral paulsey) from the ghetto in East St. Louis with me working with AIDS orphans in the slums of Capetown and villages in the Limpopo province. It was the ultimate culture shock experience as we were joined by suburbanites from Wyoming. It was a tough trip as I had to parent these kids who were in a whole new world outside of the hood for the first time with a group of total strangers from a completely different socioeconomic background. The pastor told me, "The closer you get to God, the more deeply the enemy will attack you." Tonight was yet another instance that backed up that statement.
In the midst of all of this, there is one constant. Something that I can rely on no matter what. That is God's protection. This is far from the first time that I was robbed, and not even the first time my life has been threatened. Those two and their cohorts could have shot me. Yet they just hit me instead. "When you pass through the waters of trouble there am I with you, and you will not be swept away; when you walk through the flames of oppression, there am I with you, and you will not be burned up." (Isaiah 43:2) I heard this while on that trip in South Africa, and it has stuck with me ever since.
Most importantly, I feel renewed in my purpose here. The guys who robbed me were very young. I feel like I need to double my efforts to reach out to the youth of the barrios here. The more youth we can reach, the less of these cases we will encounter. It's funny how sometimes it takes a knock to the head to really motivate you, even if it means getting pistol whipped.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; your rod and your staff they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4
"For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power, love, and discipline." -1 Timothy 1:7
"What the shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31
Tixho auga tselele!
Seth
As I write this I am still bleeding from being hit over the head, even though it has been a couple of hours since the incident. I was walking home from church(in hindsight I am happy I didn't drive or I would be without a vehicle too.), and as I arrived at the gate to my apartment complex, I watched a fat man order several guys with pistols to various spots where people were still outside. I was literally about to put my key in the door as I was pointed out and one of the guys with the pistols ran up to me. I had a a satchel carrying my bible, a book by John Maxwell, a notebook, an Ipod, and my cell phone inside it. He told me to give it all to him. I said no, and he hit me over the head with his gun. I still said no, so he called over a buddy who hit me over the head as well. At that point, I remembered a saying that a lot of people told after one of the last times I was robbed, "Lo material se recupera, pero la vida no."(What is material you can get back, but not your life.) So I gave them the stuff. After going inside to tell my landlords what happened and calling my pastor, I went out to check on the others who were robbed. They were shocked because I was still bleeding, but nobody else was hurt, thank GOD. We all got together and prayed for God's protection over the community and for the young men who robbed us that God would work within their hearts as well.
Last night I was going to write about how a retired boxer with a broken nose came back around to Christ after a brief conversation at one of my trainer's house. He and I spoke for a little bit about God's purpose for our lives, and a recovering crack addict to whom I have been witnessing.She also washes my trainers clothes while staying at my trainer's house to get away from her abusive husband. It was awesome to see her sharing God and His love with this stranger. I had cooked for my trainer and myself, but I brought extras so there was enough for all of us to eat together. I went home filled with the Spirit, and today I was still pretty joyous.
As of now I am reminded of something a pastor told me while on a mission trip to South Africa last summer with Horizon International(www.horizoninternationalinc.com). I had three kids(one with Asperger's and one with cerebral paulsey) from the ghetto in East St. Louis with me working with AIDS orphans in the slums of Capetown and villages in the Limpopo province. It was the ultimate culture shock experience as we were joined by suburbanites from Wyoming. It was a tough trip as I had to parent these kids who were in a whole new world outside of the hood for the first time with a group of total strangers from a completely different socioeconomic background. The pastor told me, "The closer you get to God, the more deeply the enemy will attack you." Tonight was yet another instance that backed up that statement.
In the midst of all of this, there is one constant. Something that I can rely on no matter what. That is God's protection. This is far from the first time that I was robbed, and not even the first time my life has been threatened. Those two and their cohorts could have shot me. Yet they just hit me instead. "When you pass through the waters of trouble there am I with you, and you will not be swept away; when you walk through the flames of oppression, there am I with you, and you will not be burned up." (Isaiah 43:2) I heard this while on that trip in South Africa, and it has stuck with me ever since.
Most importantly, I feel renewed in my purpose here. The guys who robbed me were very young. I feel like I need to double my efforts to reach out to the youth of the barrios here. The more youth we can reach, the less of these cases we will encounter. It's funny how sometimes it takes a knock to the head to really motivate you, even if it means getting pistol whipped.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; your rod and your staff they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4
"For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power, love, and discipline." -1 Timothy 1:7
"What the shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31
Tixho auga tselele!
Seth
Monday, April 16, 2012
Vagrant's Waltz
Buenas tardes again amigos,
There is an image here in Nicaragua that is hard to avoid, especially as a foreigner: the hungry face of a begging child. At many stop lights, street corners, gas stations, markets, and anywhere where they will not be run off by security guards you will find these marginalized children. Some are sent by their family, others have no family, and some have a drunk old man collecting their earnings. As they grow older, begging no longer sustains them, or some become jaded, and they turn to robbery. Perhaps it is because they are terrorized by the older kids who have already turned to thievery. A year ago almost to the day I was robbed by two of these beggars turned thieves. Upon finding out who they were and where one lived, I found him at his house. Not to beat him up of course, but I was seeking to change his life. We have become pretty good friends, and we spend about an hour a week talking and studying the Bible. He has not yet turned his life over to Christ, but he has found a job and quit robbing people. Oddly enough he was checking to make sure that I didn't my stuff out where we were last time because he didn't want anyone to steal it. Not bad considering this time last year he almost cut my throat.
Every week I invite him to the youth service which is 500 feet from his house. He never makes the trip because the other vagos(delinquents) will hurt him. I learn from some other young men a little up the street that he was held down a month ago by a group of them while they cut a hole in his calf muscle. Recently an old drunk was macheted in the neck and he is still in the hospital. Last night, not long after I went home from the youth service, two rival gangs started shooting at each other. They were supposed to meet in front of the school to settle things out at noon(They must have been watching old Western movies). At that time we had a whole team of missionaries from the States working on the security wall for the cafeteria, so it was fortunate that nothing transpired.
Now what I have also noticed is an increasing number of these vagos calling me gringo burro while raising there hands up like a late nineteenth century British boxer fighting fisticuffs. Almost everyone in the barrio knows me as the martial arts teacher. I am increasingly suspicious that I will become a target, but like the case of Rubel who last year threatened to kill me, I am seeking these youth out. They need God and His love most of all, not just for their own sake, but also for their community. The cycles of violence are perpetuated by the intimidated, weak kids who grow into the fearless, strong men. A begging child holds out an empty hand today that years from now may hold a gun. Kids with no home, no hope, and no future know only survival. So they continue in step to the dance of the street that keeps them spiritually impoverished without a thought of what will come tomorrow.
That is the urgency of this situation as organized gangs are now in their infancy in this neighborhood. Delinquency is still marked by petty thievery through most of Managua, but in 31 de diciembre something else is happening. We are working to organize the community so that they will begin to look out for one another to stop this early. Please pray for the families of this barrio.
Gd bless you,
Seth
There is an image here in Nicaragua that is hard to avoid, especially as a foreigner: the hungry face of a begging child. At many stop lights, street corners, gas stations, markets, and anywhere where they will not be run off by security guards you will find these marginalized children. Some are sent by their family, others have no family, and some have a drunk old man collecting their earnings. As they grow older, begging no longer sustains them, or some become jaded, and they turn to robbery. Perhaps it is because they are terrorized by the older kids who have already turned to thievery. A year ago almost to the day I was robbed by two of these beggars turned thieves. Upon finding out who they were and where one lived, I found him at his house. Not to beat him up of course, but I was seeking to change his life. We have become pretty good friends, and we spend about an hour a week talking and studying the Bible. He has not yet turned his life over to Christ, but he has found a job and quit robbing people. Oddly enough he was checking to make sure that I didn't my stuff out where we were last time because he didn't want anyone to steal it. Not bad considering this time last year he almost cut my throat.
Every week I invite him to the youth service which is 500 feet from his house. He never makes the trip because the other vagos(delinquents) will hurt him. I learn from some other young men a little up the street that he was held down a month ago by a group of them while they cut a hole in his calf muscle. Recently an old drunk was macheted in the neck and he is still in the hospital. Last night, not long after I went home from the youth service, two rival gangs started shooting at each other. They were supposed to meet in front of the school to settle things out at noon(They must have been watching old Western movies). At that time we had a whole team of missionaries from the States working on the security wall for the cafeteria, so it was fortunate that nothing transpired.
Now what I have also noticed is an increasing number of these vagos calling me gringo burro while raising there hands up like a late nineteenth century British boxer fighting fisticuffs. Almost everyone in the barrio knows me as the martial arts teacher. I am increasingly suspicious that I will become a target, but like the case of Rubel who last year threatened to kill me, I am seeking these youth out. They need God and His love most of all, not just for their own sake, but also for their community. The cycles of violence are perpetuated by the intimidated, weak kids who grow into the fearless, strong men. A begging child holds out an empty hand today that years from now may hold a gun. Kids with no home, no hope, and no future know only survival. So they continue in step to the dance of the street that keeps them spiritually impoverished without a thought of what will come tomorrow.
That is the urgency of this situation as organized gangs are now in their infancy in this neighborhood. Delinquency is still marked by petty thievery through most of Managua, but in 31 de diciembre something else is happening. We are working to organize the community so that they will begin to look out for one another to stop this early. Please pray for the families of this barrio.
Gd bless you,
Seth
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Le Bon Voyage
Bon soir good friends!
I see more and more with my experiences as a missionary that serving God does not stop when the mission you are sponsored to complete ends. I have found that God sends us to touch the lives of people wherever we go. I have lost track of how many strangers I have found in need in the most random places: getting a tire repaired, at the beach on a day of vacation, in a restaurant, sitting on the street waiting for a friend to get home, in front of the gas station. They all have stories to tell. They all have problems, and there is one common solution: God.
I had a conversation with a friend tonight about the meaning of service to God. The point came up that it means complete obedience to God and giving up all of yourself and anything tied to you to live for Him. Any ability, possession, connection, asset, relationship, or whatever it may be goes to glorify and serve God. It means to surrender control and let yourself be guided. Afterwards we went to meet an older friend of his who further opened the conversation.
"We as Christians must be open to any opportunity with any person in any circumstance to bring the Good News to them," he said. He then retold a story that my friend had already told me. It was still good as it was the first time. "I went to Somoto in the mountains of northern Nicaragua for a week. I found one child living in the street. The child looked at me as if he wanted to tell me something, so I spoke to him. We talked about Jesus, and he accepted Christ. The next day the were two more children with him. The next day a few more showed up. On the forth day, a gentleman came to me saying that he was looking to preach. These children were all from the street, some were orphans, some were abused, some were prostituted, and all of them needed God. This manupon seeing the need started the first children's church. These same children now form the choir, they read the Bible aloud, they give devotions, and there are over one hundred of them."
I was astonished by the story. It really was inspiring. It all started with a random conversation with a child who was not looking for money or food as much as he was for spiritual nourishment. The narrow path is an adventure. There are obstacles, but many of them are within our perception of the problem. Moreover there are sweet surprises and strengthening experiences to teach us and make us wiser if we let God do his work in and through us. Be prepared for the unexpected on the good journey!
Che Dio ti benedica,
Seth
I see more and more with my experiences as a missionary that serving God does not stop when the mission you are sponsored to complete ends. I have found that God sends us to touch the lives of people wherever we go. I have lost track of how many strangers I have found in need in the most random places: getting a tire repaired, at the beach on a day of vacation, in a restaurant, sitting on the street waiting for a friend to get home, in front of the gas station. They all have stories to tell. They all have problems, and there is one common solution: God.
I had a conversation with a friend tonight about the meaning of service to God. The point came up that it means complete obedience to God and giving up all of yourself and anything tied to you to live for Him. Any ability, possession, connection, asset, relationship, or whatever it may be goes to glorify and serve God. It means to surrender control and let yourself be guided. Afterwards we went to meet an older friend of his who further opened the conversation.
"We as Christians must be open to any opportunity with any person in any circumstance to bring the Good News to them," he said. He then retold a story that my friend had already told me. It was still good as it was the first time. "I went to Somoto in the mountains of northern Nicaragua for a week. I found one child living in the street. The child looked at me as if he wanted to tell me something, so I spoke to him. We talked about Jesus, and he accepted Christ. The next day the were two more children with him. The next day a few more showed up. On the forth day, a gentleman came to me saying that he was looking to preach. These children were all from the street, some were orphans, some were abused, some were prostituted, and all of them needed God. This manupon seeing the need started the first children's church. These same children now form the choir, they read the Bible aloud, they give devotions, and there are over one hundred of them."
I was astonished by the story. It really was inspiring. It all started with a random conversation with a child who was not looking for money or food as much as he was for spiritual nourishment. The narrow path is an adventure. There are obstacles, but many of them are within our perception of the problem. Moreover there are sweet surprises and strengthening experiences to teach us and make us wiser if we let God do his work in and through us. Be prepared for the unexpected on the good journey!
Che Dio ti benedica,
Seth
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Confiar en el Camino
Buenos días amigos y hermanos,
Me desperté pensando en el tema que ha sido mi lucha personal desde mudarme aquí a Nicaragua. ¿Qué es el gran propósito de tenerme acá? Yo obedecí la llamada de venir sabiendo que Dios me dio una promesa de algo más, y con otros propósitos de servicio que ahora no puedo realizar. Dejé a mi vida en mi país, mi familia, y mis oportunidades allá para venir aquí donde sólo tengo Dios y su promesa. En realidad no sé por cuantos años voy a estar aquí sirviendo, sólo que estoy dónde dios quiere que esté y que El está conmigo.
En vez de preguntar ¿qué es mi camino?, tengo que recordarme lo que Jesús dijo de sí mismo: "Yo soy el camino, la verdad, y la luz." Mi iglesia en los Estados sólo ha tenido dos misioneros: yo y un hermano quien vivía en Japón trabajando con la iglesia allá. El me dijo que él fue allá pensando que solamente estaría en el país por un año, pero estaba por diecinueve años al fin. Mi lucha ahora es seguir sin saber cómo ni cuándo, y esa es la buena batalla de la fe.
God bless you,
Seth
Monday, April 9, 2012
Confidence in Your Compass
Buona sera friends and strangers,
I am not writing from the perspective of a fighter today, but rather a seasoned traveler. there is a line in Jean Luc Godard's 1960's film Pierrot Le Fou in which the main character(hardly a protagonist), Pierrot walks away from a car filled with money which he incinerates telling his estranged cohort, Marie Anne, "Let's go. Travel broadens the mind." The flaming vehicle may be irrelevant, but I have always loved the line. Travel does indeed broaden our perspective, which can help guide us on the narrow path as believers.
As of late I have personally struggled with my goals over the next five years. By age thirty I see myself as married with one kid, serving God in some way, either as a pastor or leading some non-profit organization. At the moment, it feels impossible that those circumstances will come to pass. I feel like I have a thousand questions about the direction in my life, and at present little control. I pray for answers to shine light on my destination, my purpose, God's plan for my life. Yet if I knew that already, it would nullify the purpose of having faith in God. Today I heard some good advice from a pastor: you seem like a guy who is searching for answers when God is the solution. You are looking for the path without realizing that God is the path.
This has triggered a lot of similar thoughts. 1) a Blackalicious song that says,"the final destination used to be my main question, but then I searched and all I was lookin' for was present." 2) the line the Guatemalan poet wrote in my journal almost five years ago,"No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por donde no hay camino y deja huellas." 3) the psychological concept of cognitive mapping.
In my adventures I have predominantly traveled alone, and when I didn't I would find time to explore by myself. as per personal tradition, when I arrive in a city I don't know, I spend the first day getting lost. This way I can observe landmarks, and become familiar with places so that I can avoid getting lost in the future. It also gives me a chance to study what areas seem safe or dangerous, where I can find the nearest stores and farmacies, as well as a brief overview of the general activities of the people. Right now my compass is pointing in several directions at once, but it is a time for internal exploration. The notion of being lost is frightening because it means that we are not in control of our destiny. It makes us feel incapable of controlling our destiny.
In the midst of a torrential storm at sea, there is a lone mariner. A captain whose crew has abandoned the ship. The waves crash against the boat. The undertow sweeps beneath the bough, and the winds beat against the mast. In all of this the boat is not moved because there is something unseen that holds the vessel firm. Beneath the water there is a heavy anchor that keeps the captain safe and stable. When the storm clears, he will pull up his anchor and continue onward.
I may feel lost, but it is a time for growth and maturation in my faith. A time to obsevre my character and strengthen its roots. Where I will go is not as important as where I am. Sometimes it is more important to realize that God is with you, and He will illuminate your path in His time as long as you obey Him.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by the right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." -Psalm 73:23-24
Que Dios les bendiga,
Seth
I am not writing from the perspective of a fighter today, but rather a seasoned traveler. there is a line in Jean Luc Godard's 1960's film Pierrot Le Fou in which the main character(hardly a protagonist), Pierrot walks away from a car filled with money which he incinerates telling his estranged cohort, Marie Anne, "Let's go. Travel broadens the mind." The flaming vehicle may be irrelevant, but I have always loved the line. Travel does indeed broaden our perspective, which can help guide us on the narrow path as believers.
As of late I have personally struggled with my goals over the next five years. By age thirty I see myself as married with one kid, serving God in some way, either as a pastor or leading some non-profit organization. At the moment, it feels impossible that those circumstances will come to pass. I feel like I have a thousand questions about the direction in my life, and at present little control. I pray for answers to shine light on my destination, my purpose, God's plan for my life. Yet if I knew that already, it would nullify the purpose of having faith in God. Today I heard some good advice from a pastor: you seem like a guy who is searching for answers when God is the solution. You are looking for the path without realizing that God is the path.
This has triggered a lot of similar thoughts. 1) a Blackalicious song that says,"the final destination used to be my main question, but then I searched and all I was lookin' for was present." 2) the line the Guatemalan poet wrote in my journal almost five years ago,"No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por donde no hay camino y deja huellas." 3) the psychological concept of cognitive mapping.
In my adventures I have predominantly traveled alone, and when I didn't I would find time to explore by myself. as per personal tradition, when I arrive in a city I don't know, I spend the first day getting lost. This way I can observe landmarks, and become familiar with places so that I can avoid getting lost in the future. It also gives me a chance to study what areas seem safe or dangerous, where I can find the nearest stores and farmacies, as well as a brief overview of the general activities of the people. Right now my compass is pointing in several directions at once, but it is a time for internal exploration. The notion of being lost is frightening because it means that we are not in control of our destiny. It makes us feel incapable of controlling our destiny.
In the midst of a torrential storm at sea, there is a lone mariner. A captain whose crew has abandoned the ship. The waves crash against the boat. The undertow sweeps beneath the bough, and the winds beat against the mast. In all of this the boat is not moved because there is something unseen that holds the vessel firm. Beneath the water there is a heavy anchor that keeps the captain safe and stable. When the storm clears, he will pull up his anchor and continue onward.
I may feel lost, but it is a time for growth and maturation in my faith. A time to obsevre my character and strengthen its roots. Where I will go is not as important as where I am. Sometimes it is more important to realize that God is with you, and He will illuminate your path in His time as long as you obey Him.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by the right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." -Psalm 73:23-24
Que Dios les bendiga,
Seth
Sunday, April 8, 2012
El Caído
Buenos días mis hermanos y amigos!
¡Bienvenidos a The Good Fight en español! El título viene de 1 Timoteo 6:12, traducido literalmente sería "La Buena Lucha" o "La Buena Pelea", pero en la Biblia de la lengua española dice "La Buena Batalla". Yo soy peleador, pero no soy guerrero sino pacifista peleando para la fe. Entonces, me quedo con "La Buena Lucha". Pues, como peleador yo me caigo bastante, sea competencia, sea práctica, o la vida cotidiana. Esta expresión puede ser demasiado usada, pero cuando se cae, se levanta. Se puede ser golpeado miles de veces, pero es lo que hacemos cuando estamos en el piso que demuestra nuestro carácter verdadero. ¿Quedamos amargos? ¿o nos decimos que aprendimos, siguiendo adelante? Nuestra ubicación ahora mismo depende de una decisión, no de una circunstancia, porque son nuestras decisiones que crean nuestras circunstancias.
Como cristianos, ya tomamos la decisión de levantarnos del pecado. Hoy estamos al fin de la Semana Santa, un tiempo para reflejar en el tiempo cuando Jesús se murió para que seamos salvos. Le golpearon. Le pusieron la corona de espinas. Le puñalaron con la lanza. Se burlaron de él. Le hicieron llevar la cruz en la que le crucificaron. Le mataron. Jesús es el mejor ejemplo del caído. Hizo poco tiempo que la gente celebró su entrada, y todos se le dio la vuelta incluso sus discípulos. Sin embargo, él se resucitó. El se levantó para enseñarnos que através de él podemos levantarnos si le aceptamos. Por su sacrificio podemos conquistar la muerte y vencer el pecado en cada round de la pelea. No tenemos que tirar ningun puño, sino tenemos que buscar perdón. Dios es bueno.
Que siempre se levanten con la ayuda del Señor.
Seth
¡Bienvenidos a The Good Fight en español! El título viene de 1 Timoteo 6:12, traducido literalmente sería "La Buena Lucha" o "La Buena Pelea", pero en la Biblia de la lengua española dice "La Buena Batalla". Yo soy peleador, pero no soy guerrero sino pacifista peleando para la fe. Entonces, me quedo con "La Buena Lucha". Pues, como peleador yo me caigo bastante, sea competencia, sea práctica, o la vida cotidiana. Esta expresión puede ser demasiado usada, pero cuando se cae, se levanta. Se puede ser golpeado miles de veces, pero es lo que hacemos cuando estamos en el piso que demuestra nuestro carácter verdadero. ¿Quedamos amargos? ¿o nos decimos que aprendimos, siguiendo adelante? Nuestra ubicación ahora mismo depende de una decisión, no de una circunstancia, porque son nuestras decisiones que crean nuestras circunstancias.
Como cristianos, ya tomamos la decisión de levantarnos del pecado. Hoy estamos al fin de la Semana Santa, un tiempo para reflejar en el tiempo cuando Jesús se murió para que seamos salvos. Le golpearon. Le pusieron la corona de espinas. Le puñalaron con la lanza. Se burlaron de él. Le hicieron llevar la cruz en la que le crucificaron. Le mataron. Jesús es el mejor ejemplo del caído. Hizo poco tiempo que la gente celebró su entrada, y todos se le dio la vuelta incluso sus discípulos. Sin embargo, él se resucitó. El se levantó para enseñarnos que através de él podemos levantarnos si le aceptamos. Por su sacrificio podemos conquistar la muerte y vencer el pecado en cada round de la pelea. No tenemos que tirar ningun puño, sino tenemos que buscar perdón. Dios es bueno.
Que siempre se levanten con la ayuda del Señor.
Seth
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Masachapa Blues Part 2
Konichiwa amigos!
I told the story of a conversation with a stranger that yet again showed me the value of walking where there is no path. As a Christian, you never know when you will be called to be a good Samaritan. But there is more to this trip like the fact that I have bruises and scratches on the left side of my face from training in the sand that make me look like a B movie super villain and being stopped again by bribe-seeking police officers(17 times now, but the main problem with my licence plate has been resolved with some shoe string ingenuity). Nevertheless, after waking up, sparring in front of the beach crowd for an hour or so, and boxing with the burrito guy, I decided to take a shower to get rid of the sand and sweat. I let my friends go first.
While I waited for them to finish, my friend who let us stay out there approached me and started up a conversation. Usually we talk about God, MMA, being a gringo in Latin America, or business stuff, but this time he started to talk about himself. He told me about how he ended up in Nicaragua and the cause of his divorce in the States. He also talked about his son whose drug addiction tore his family and marriage apart after over thirty years together. He was not bitter about his pain though.
"That's life," he said. "You have to be tougher than your problems. God will see you through it."
"Things don't always get better, but God is there with you to give you strength as you endure them," I said in a questioning tone.
"That's right!" he said with a huge grin. "Do you read poetry?"
The question surprised me, especially coming from a tough old Italian New Yorker who used to be a brawler. You can never read too far into a person. I told him that I love it.
"Have you ever read Rudyard Kippling's ''If'' ?" he inquired.
I told him I hadn't.
"That poem taught me how to be a man. You should check it out sometime," he suggested.
I looked the poem up online, and you can read it at this link: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm
Sometimes it is not about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it is about wandering through the dark caverns feeling out each step you take, trusting with courageous faith and firmly rooted character that God is with you in the moments of difficulty. Sometimes we only see darkness because we forget to uncover our eyes.
I have left my home to start a new life following God's calling. I have been robbed twice(my passport from my truck and car battery), contracted a lung infection, struggled to discern who sees me as a friend and who sees me as an opportunity, injured my knee, and dealt with a profoundly aching loneliness that I have never experienced before. However, God is with me. Each experience teaches me and draws me closer to Him. He demonstrates this wherever I go in small and big ways. That gives me peace. My focus in this life is to make it to the next and to show others that there is hope for a new life. As a wise Guatemalan mother once told me in a moment of adversity, "No existen tiempos malos, sólo difícles.(Bad times don't exist, just difficult ones.)". My old boss and mentor from East St. Louis also gave me this advice, "Don't let the facts you see blind you to the reality God is shaping.
"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." -Isaiah 58:11
"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become darkness around me,' even the darkness will be light you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you." -Psalm 139:11-12
Que Dieu te donne la paix dans l'oscurité,
Seth
I told the story of a conversation with a stranger that yet again showed me the value of walking where there is no path. As a Christian, you never know when you will be called to be a good Samaritan. But there is more to this trip like the fact that I have bruises and scratches on the left side of my face from training in the sand that make me look like a B movie super villain and being stopped again by bribe-seeking police officers(17 times now, but the main problem with my licence plate has been resolved with some shoe string ingenuity). Nevertheless, after waking up, sparring in front of the beach crowd for an hour or so, and boxing with the burrito guy, I decided to take a shower to get rid of the sand and sweat. I let my friends go first.
While I waited for them to finish, my friend who let us stay out there approached me and started up a conversation. Usually we talk about God, MMA, being a gringo in Latin America, or business stuff, but this time he started to talk about himself. He told me about how he ended up in Nicaragua and the cause of his divorce in the States. He also talked about his son whose drug addiction tore his family and marriage apart after over thirty years together. He was not bitter about his pain though.
"That's life," he said. "You have to be tougher than your problems. God will see you through it."
"Things don't always get better, but God is there with you to give you strength as you endure them," I said in a questioning tone.
"That's right!" he said with a huge grin. "Do you read poetry?"
The question surprised me, especially coming from a tough old Italian New Yorker who used to be a brawler. You can never read too far into a person. I told him that I love it.
"Have you ever read Rudyard Kippling's ''If'' ?" he inquired.
I told him I hadn't.
"That poem taught me how to be a man. You should check it out sometime," he suggested.
I looked the poem up online, and you can read it at this link: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm
Sometimes it is not about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it is about wandering through the dark caverns feeling out each step you take, trusting with courageous faith and firmly rooted character that God is with you in the moments of difficulty. Sometimes we only see darkness because we forget to uncover our eyes.
I have left my home to start a new life following God's calling. I have been robbed twice(my passport from my truck and car battery), contracted a lung infection, struggled to discern who sees me as a friend and who sees me as an opportunity, injured my knee, and dealt with a profoundly aching loneliness that I have never experienced before. However, God is with me. Each experience teaches me and draws me closer to Him. He demonstrates this wherever I go in small and big ways. That gives me peace. My focus in this life is to make it to the next and to show others that there is hope for a new life. As a wise Guatemalan mother once told me in a moment of adversity, "No existen tiempos malos, sólo difícles.(Bad times don't exist, just difficult ones.)". My old boss and mentor from East St. Louis also gave me this advice, "Don't let the facts you see blind you to the reality God is shaping.
"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." -Isaiah 58:11
"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become darkness around me,' even the darkness will be light you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you." -Psalm 139:11-12
Que Dieu te donne la paix dans l'oscurité,
Seth
Friday, April 6, 2012
Masachapa Blues Part 1
Buenas tardes friends!
As I mentioned in my last blog, I just went to the coastal town of Masachapa where a fight promoter and friend of mine has a hotel. I am still on Easter vacation, so two of my training buddies and I went there to work out and relax by the sea. We slept outside in hammocks beneath the cloud covered stars beside the incoming waves. It was a pretty eventful trip including a trip through a resort in search of a place to eat, a broken window, and a boxing match with a burrito vendor on the beach early this morning. He fed me fists, and all I wanted was shredded beef wrapped in a tortilla. There were a lot of small lessons and funny side stories to tell, but more importantly there is a testimony to give. Seasoning gives good flavoring but provides no sustenance. This is a meat and potatoes meal.
At about ten o'clock last night my friends and I finally found our way back to the hotel. Earlier that day another guest at the hotel approached me asking if I was "the missionary". He had seen me sparring with my friends on the beach and joined the crowd that gathered to watch us duke it out. I told him that I was who he was looking for. He said he wanted to talk to me when I had time because he was interested in my mission. I told him I would love to. When we got back, he was waiting at the gate.
I figured he might be a potential sponsor and wanted to know more about the projects I am working on here in Nicaragua. The conversation went in a very different direction. He asked me about why I was in Nicaragua, how I ended up in the ministry, what got me started in martial arts, and a few other questions. after explaining the basics, he started to open up. He said that he was going back and forth between whether or not he should believe in God. He is an older retiree, who came down from the States to live here to escape the pressures and the pains of his past along with a drug addiction. He explained all of the successes he had, the land he owns, and his list of achievements. Yet he said there was something missing. He had trouble in developing relationships and felt that he had no purpose. He thought that by selling everything and changing scenery that he would escape his problems. You can take yourself of a house, a city, or even out of your own country, but the internal problems you face will stick with you wherever you go if you don't let them heal.
We talked for four hours until about 2 a.m. as the tide was getting higher. He opened up about the traumas of his past. He seemed to be fighting the possibility of good coming out of his life.
I on the other hand am aggressively optimistic. We seemed to be debating whether or not he could do something positive for others and if God could do something positive for him. I could see his desire to do what was right. The question was how to communicate it in a way that would click with him. There was one instant that I think sums the conversation up very well.
He said, "I was raised understanding that your past makes you who you are."
I replied, "Your present is what makes you who you will be."
On that thought he went to the bathroom. As he was away I had to pray to thank God for the opportunity to speak into his life and to be the listening ear he needed. He came back, and we prayed. He grabbed me by the forearm, shaking and crying as we prayed. When I finished, he said one himself. He said with a smile that he felt lighter afterwards. He even found the next steps about how he could serve the people of the community. He wants to teach people there how to make furniture to sell from driftwood. A great idea especially for a community with 80% unemployment and a lot of driftwood!
Ironically, it has been me who has felt a little lost this week, but God always amazes me in how He shows His presence in my life! Where can I run from His presence? I am truly thankful for this man. He reminded me of God's purpose in my own life.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Submit to him in every way, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." -Psalm 119:105
Que Deus te abençoe!
Seth
As I mentioned in my last blog, I just went to the coastal town of Masachapa where a fight promoter and friend of mine has a hotel. I am still on Easter vacation, so two of my training buddies and I went there to work out and relax by the sea. We slept outside in hammocks beneath the cloud covered stars beside the incoming waves. It was a pretty eventful trip including a trip through a resort in search of a place to eat, a broken window, and a boxing match with a burrito vendor on the beach early this morning. He fed me fists, and all I wanted was shredded beef wrapped in a tortilla. There were a lot of small lessons and funny side stories to tell, but more importantly there is a testimony to give. Seasoning gives good flavoring but provides no sustenance. This is a meat and potatoes meal.
At about ten o'clock last night my friends and I finally found our way back to the hotel. Earlier that day another guest at the hotel approached me asking if I was "the missionary". He had seen me sparring with my friends on the beach and joined the crowd that gathered to watch us duke it out. I told him that I was who he was looking for. He said he wanted to talk to me when I had time because he was interested in my mission. I told him I would love to. When we got back, he was waiting at the gate.
I figured he might be a potential sponsor and wanted to know more about the projects I am working on here in Nicaragua. The conversation went in a very different direction. He asked me about why I was in Nicaragua, how I ended up in the ministry, what got me started in martial arts, and a few other questions. after explaining the basics, he started to open up. He said that he was going back and forth between whether or not he should believe in God. He is an older retiree, who came down from the States to live here to escape the pressures and the pains of his past along with a drug addiction. He explained all of the successes he had, the land he owns, and his list of achievements. Yet he said there was something missing. He had trouble in developing relationships and felt that he had no purpose. He thought that by selling everything and changing scenery that he would escape his problems. You can take yourself of a house, a city, or even out of your own country, but the internal problems you face will stick with you wherever you go if you don't let them heal.
We talked for four hours until about 2 a.m. as the tide was getting higher. He opened up about the traumas of his past. He seemed to be fighting the possibility of good coming out of his life.
I on the other hand am aggressively optimistic. We seemed to be debating whether or not he could do something positive for others and if God could do something positive for him. I could see his desire to do what was right. The question was how to communicate it in a way that would click with him. There was one instant that I think sums the conversation up very well.
He said, "I was raised understanding that your past makes you who you are."
I replied, "Your present is what makes you who you will be."
On that thought he went to the bathroom. As he was away I had to pray to thank God for the opportunity to speak into his life and to be the listening ear he needed. He came back, and we prayed. He grabbed me by the forearm, shaking and crying as we prayed. When I finished, he said one himself. He said with a smile that he felt lighter afterwards. He even found the next steps about how he could serve the people of the community. He wants to teach people there how to make furniture to sell from driftwood. A great idea especially for a community with 80% unemployment and a lot of driftwood!
Ironically, it has been me who has felt a little lost this week, but God always amazes me in how He shows His presence in my life! Where can I run from His presence? I am truly thankful for this man. He reminded me of God's purpose in my own life.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Submit to him in every way, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." -Psalm 119:105
Que Deus te abençoe!
Seth
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Prisonbreak
Hello again amigos!
I'm writing this one before I go off to train at 6 am and forget to write it again. Today I will run to La Cuesta del Plomo(a point on amountain just outside of Managua), run through the forest around there, and then go to the beach town Masachapa to train with a former Tough Man competitor who retired out there. A working vacation for Semana Santa. However, this is not about today's events to transpire, but rather those of two days ago.
On Tuesday I went to Ciudad Sandino to a lake called Xiloa with my boxing coach to run, swim, and improve my hands. I love new places, and I also had a chance to learn more Nicaraguan history while I was there. Yet the biggest lesson came after we put the gloves away.
My coach had a friend who was recently put in jail for being an accomplice to her abusive husband who had been prostituting a fifteen-year-old girl. The young woman in jail is only nineteen, and her husband is thirty-three and was deported from the U.S, for murder. I was reluctant to go, but I remembered that it is important to help others in times of trouble. We went to visit her mother and sister who live by the lake. My coach wanted to tell them that he found a lawyer to help them. We entered the house, and the mother began to open up.She explained the whole story of how her daughter was wrapped up in this man, which she felt was an attempt to replace an absent father. She said her daughter was just putting her faith in God to see her through these hard times. she is pleading her innocence, but she could face up to twenty years in prison for her husband's actions. We had a long conversation on faith, in which we discussed Paul and Job. Paul who was imprisoned for preaching, and Job who had lost everything he had, was mocked, and was covered with boils.
At the end of the conversation she told me that she had been to church, but she had never given her life to Christ. I asked her if she wanted to pray and accept him into her heart. She said yes, and we prayed together. She was born again! I told her the next step was to go to the church and get baptized and that it is a symbol of the cleansing of her spirit. We talked a little longer and prayed for her daughter and her family. Then my coach and I left for Managua since it was getting late. If you read this, please pray for them.
Many times in life, we all feel trapped by a situation, whether we are literally locked up, pressured by others, or in a prison of our own making, but this life is but a vapor. Any problem is transitory, and God will see us through it, giving us peace and patience in the storm if we put our faith in Him. He can break any chains and lift us from any bondage.
Got to run!
Благослови тебя Бог!
Seth
"When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." -Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner. Remember those who are mistreated asif you yourself were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)
p.s. Always be open to the road you wouldn't normally take. You never know what miracles you may behold when you get to the destination god had planned all along. No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por donde no hay camino, y deja huellas!
I'm writing this one before I go off to train at 6 am and forget to write it again. Today I will run to La Cuesta del Plomo(a point on amountain just outside of Managua), run through the forest around there, and then go to the beach town Masachapa to train with a former Tough Man competitor who retired out there. A working vacation for Semana Santa. However, this is not about today's events to transpire, but rather those of two days ago.
On Tuesday I went to Ciudad Sandino to a lake called Xiloa with my boxing coach to run, swim, and improve my hands. I love new places, and I also had a chance to learn more Nicaraguan history while I was there. Yet the biggest lesson came after we put the gloves away.
My coach had a friend who was recently put in jail for being an accomplice to her abusive husband who had been prostituting a fifteen-year-old girl. The young woman in jail is only nineteen, and her husband is thirty-three and was deported from the U.S, for murder. I was reluctant to go, but I remembered that it is important to help others in times of trouble. We went to visit her mother and sister who live by the lake. My coach wanted to tell them that he found a lawyer to help them. We entered the house, and the mother began to open up.She explained the whole story of how her daughter was wrapped up in this man, which she felt was an attempt to replace an absent father. She said her daughter was just putting her faith in God to see her through these hard times. she is pleading her innocence, but she could face up to twenty years in prison for her husband's actions. We had a long conversation on faith, in which we discussed Paul and Job. Paul who was imprisoned for preaching, and Job who had lost everything he had, was mocked, and was covered with boils.
At the end of the conversation she told me that she had been to church, but she had never given her life to Christ. I asked her if she wanted to pray and accept him into her heart. She said yes, and we prayed together. She was born again! I told her the next step was to go to the church and get baptized and that it is a symbol of the cleansing of her spirit. We talked a little longer and prayed for her daughter and her family. Then my coach and I left for Managua since it was getting late. If you read this, please pray for them.
Many times in life, we all feel trapped by a situation, whether we are literally locked up, pressured by others, or in a prison of our own making, but this life is but a vapor. Any problem is transitory, and God will see us through it, giving us peace and patience in the storm if we put our faith in Him. He can break any chains and lift us from any bondage.
Got to run!
Благослови тебя Бог!
Seth
"When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." -Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner. Remember those who are mistreated asif you yourself were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)
p.s. Always be open to the road you wouldn't normally take. You never know what miracles you may behold when you get to the destination god had planned all along. No vayas por el camino que te lleve, pero ve por donde no hay camino, y deja huellas!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sprinting Past the Sunset
Hello again my friends!
This afternoon I was disappointed to find that none of the other martial arts teachers could accompany me to teach self defense at the House of Hope(check out their website at http://houseofhopenicaragua.com/) . It is a refuge for girls and women who either worked in or were forced into prostitution. Due to the nature of the work there, I cannot teach classes without another person there to help out with the class. This left me with some free time. So I went to get my pictures taken for a new passport. Two good things on a side note: 1) the pictures only cost $1.50 for six 2) my passport photo will no longer look like a murder suspect.
Afterwards, I still had a free evening so I went to run with two of my buddies. The sun was an imense, vermillion disc setting beyond the highway's horizon. We ran a 10K, walked home (another kilometer), and trained for another hour and a half. I felt astonished that I could do so much without falling over and dying. That was not the highlight of the evening though. We ran twenty-five laps around a massive traffic circle, La Rotonda La Virgen which contains a park inside. There were a lot of people walking around, and the more we ran, the more the walkers began to run as well. The funniest was a couple that started running while still holding hands. Eventually we saw one Nicarguan man who started to race us. We were in our final lap of the 25 around the four hundred-meter traffic circle, and he slowed to a walking pace. After we finished, we started walking to cool down. The young man joined us.
He explained that he was a private in the air force, and that he was training for an exam to be promoted to the rank of sergeant. He explained the exam to us, and it sounded pretty grueling. We talked more, and he told us about the different parts of Nicaragua he had visited, the psychology of training, martial arts, police corruption, anti-corruption tactics in the military, and finally about God. I found out that he lived near the church where I preach. I also found out that he doesn't believe in God.
"I am trained to kill, and due to the nature of my job, I don't believe that I can follow God," he said, but in Spanish.
"There are a lot of warriors in the Bible," I answered, still in Spanish.
"I know, but my senior ranking officers beat me to keep me disciplined. I have to obey them," he rebutted.
"There is a being who outranks all men on this Earth, and you have to obey his commands with a disciplined spirit," I told him.
He seemed a lot more interested. I invited him to the Sunday service at the church. He agreed to go! I am praying that I will see him there and that God will move in his life. After all, we can run as many miles as we want, but we can never run away from God's presence.
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10
Gott segne dich!
Seth
This afternoon I was disappointed to find that none of the other martial arts teachers could accompany me to teach self defense at the House of Hope(check out their website at http://houseofhopenicaragua.com/) . It is a refuge for girls and women who either worked in or were forced into prostitution. Due to the nature of the work there, I cannot teach classes without another person there to help out with the class. This left me with some free time. So I went to get my pictures taken for a new passport. Two good things on a side note: 1) the pictures only cost $1.50 for six 2) my passport photo will no longer look like a murder suspect.
Afterwards, I still had a free evening so I went to run with two of my buddies. The sun was an imense, vermillion disc setting beyond the highway's horizon. We ran a 10K, walked home (another kilometer), and trained for another hour and a half. I felt astonished that I could do so much without falling over and dying. That was not the highlight of the evening though. We ran twenty-five laps around a massive traffic circle, La Rotonda La Virgen which contains a park inside. There were a lot of people walking around, and the more we ran, the more the walkers began to run as well. The funniest was a couple that started running while still holding hands. Eventually we saw one Nicarguan man who started to race us. We were in our final lap of the 25 around the four hundred-meter traffic circle, and he slowed to a walking pace. After we finished, we started walking to cool down. The young man joined us.
He explained that he was a private in the air force, and that he was training for an exam to be promoted to the rank of sergeant. He explained the exam to us, and it sounded pretty grueling. We talked more, and he told us about the different parts of Nicaragua he had visited, the psychology of training, martial arts, police corruption, anti-corruption tactics in the military, and finally about God. I found out that he lived near the church where I preach. I also found out that he doesn't believe in God.
"I am trained to kill, and due to the nature of my job, I don't believe that I can follow God," he said, but in Spanish.
"There are a lot of warriors in the Bible," I answered, still in Spanish.
"I know, but my senior ranking officers beat me to keep me disciplined. I have to obey them," he rebutted.
"There is a being who outranks all men on this Earth, and you have to obey his commands with a disciplined spirit," I told him.
He seemed a lot more interested. I invited him to the Sunday service at the church. He agreed to go! I am praying that I will see him there and that God will move in his life. After all, we can run as many miles as we want, but we can never run away from God's presence.
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10
Gott segne dich!
Seth
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Cornerman
Recently I was offered to represent Nicaragua in the Central American MMA circuit on Nahautl Team. It is a team of close friends of mine all of whom have the common goal of using martial arts to share the Gospel. My first match in the sport will be in Panama, and I will compete in either May or June, depending on my passport situation(It was in a backpack that was stolen from my truck one day.) I have been working with several coaches in various martial arts disciplines to prepare for the fight ahead. I have learned many lessons in my training, some related to diet, some to technique, others to strategy. The most valuable lesson is to know you cornerman's voice intimately.
A fighter has to condition himself or herself(There are lady brawlers too.) to the voice of his or her trainer. When the crowd is screaming, the music is blaring, and your adversary is insulting you to your face, you have to be able to focus your ears and lsten for your cornerman's commands in the midst of the battle. He is there with water when you are beaten and exhausted to encourage you to keep going. When you stop listening or refuse to listen, you are assured a loss. He sees the outside angles and the weaknesses from outside, and he knows your vulnerabilities. It is the voice of direction that carries you to victory, even when the odds are against you.
For everyone in their own way, life is a struggle. We are all fighting something. From pressure, finances, relationships, success, starvation, our past, our present, desires, to loss and fear, we all need a cornerman to put things into perspective and to guide us step by step through the ring. It is comforting to know that whenever I feel like I am out for the count, I can depend on God to speak into my life and lift me to my feet again. With God in my corner, there is no fight I can lose. He prepares me every day with new experiences that make me stronger and wiser. He sees the situations I am living. He guides my moves. He will never leave my corner no matter how great the challenger. He knows me completely, and He has the perfect game plan to carry me to victory. It is up to me to listen for His voice in the heat of battle.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." -Deuteronomy 31:6
Modimo ao gaugele!
Seth
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
In the beginning...
Good evening amigos!
It's my first blog, but far from my first writing. To give you head's up on what you will see here, I will post my past and present adventures, from continental voyages to internal journeys of reflection. you might find some short stories from here to there, but I promise to distinguish fact from fiction. I also promise to be honest with my experiences. I will not withhold something just to make you think I am a good person. Besides, a testimony has no value if one cannot see the transformation of God's grace, right? Here I will connect you to before and after stories, the joy, blessings, triumphs, tragedies, and sometimes utter lunacy of the mission field. I am twenty-five years old as I write this, and I have been blessed with a lot of experiences in my short life. I look forward to sharing them, and I hope you will enjoy them.
I currently live in Managua, Nicaragua, teaching Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiujitsu, French, English, and working as a youth pastor. I went to language schools in Guatemala and France, taught Spanish to special ops marines(for 2 weeks), taught martial arts and language in statistically the most violent city in the U.S., took three kids from that city to do mission work in South Africa, and best of all, I've made a lot of good friends along the way who have taught me many lessons in life. None of this would be possible without God, and still as spectacular as it may sound, it has not been without tribulation. As a Guatemalan poet once told me in a random, park bench conversation about God, "No vayas por el camino que te lleva, pero ve por donde no hay camino y deja huellas." (Don't go by the path that leads you, but go where there is no path and leave foot prints." I never saw her again after that conversation, but I feel that that is fitting for the advice she gave me. Trust in God and he will guide you continually.
Buenas noches y que Dios te bendiga!
It's my first blog, but far from my first writing. To give you head's up on what you will see here, I will post my past and present adventures, from continental voyages to internal journeys of reflection. you might find some short stories from here to there, but I promise to distinguish fact from fiction. I also promise to be honest with my experiences. I will not withhold something just to make you think I am a good person. Besides, a testimony has no value if one cannot see the transformation of God's grace, right? Here I will connect you to before and after stories, the joy, blessings, triumphs, tragedies, and sometimes utter lunacy of the mission field. I am twenty-five years old as I write this, and I have been blessed with a lot of experiences in my short life. I look forward to sharing them, and I hope you will enjoy them.
I currently live in Managua, Nicaragua, teaching Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiujitsu, French, English, and working as a youth pastor. I went to language schools in Guatemala and France, taught Spanish to special ops marines(for 2 weeks), taught martial arts and language in statistically the most violent city in the U.S., took three kids from that city to do mission work in South Africa, and best of all, I've made a lot of good friends along the way who have taught me many lessons in life. None of this would be possible without God, and still as spectacular as it may sound, it has not been without tribulation. As a Guatemalan poet once told me in a random, park bench conversation about God, "No vayas por el camino que te lleva, pero ve por donde no hay camino y deja huellas." (Don't go by the path that leads you, but go where there is no path and leave foot prints." I never saw her again after that conversation, but I feel that that is fitting for the advice she gave me. Trust in God and he will guide you continually.
Buenas noches y que Dios te bendiga!
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