We are working with New Song Ministries. This vision is changing the lives of people who live in villages outside of Leon. They are bringing more than church...they are introducing a new way of living. While church, youth group and discipleship are pillars of the vision, there are also numerous ways they interact with the community: a garden and goat program, kickball and baseball teams, sewing classes, and a soon to be medical/dental clinic and feeding program. We are staring up a bible study for youth who have just accepted the Lord in the last few months. They are eager to grow in their faith and spend all their free time here at the mission.

Other than our time spent forming these relationships, we have helped to build a house...gotten stuck in a river...swam in the pacific ocean...enjoyed nearby colonial style cities...and stuffed ourselves with local delicatessens!

Enjoy the video!  

In this random moment, the Lord spoke and convicted me – "I wonder how often God throws me (us) a piece of bacon and I (we) go lick a tire." The Lord longs to provide for my needs, but I too often pass him up and seek out my own provision. I settle for licking a tire while He wants to give me something of substance. Too often, a veil keeps us hidden to what our Father longs to give us.

I came across these verses the other day and the words stuck in my Spirit. They will not let go...

"...where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with no veils on our faces, are reflecting like mirrors the glory of the Lord and being transformed into his own image, from one degree of splendor to the next." 2 Cor. 3:17-18

 The same verses in The Message: "Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are – face to face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." 

Right now, today – I AM BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS OWN IMAGE! I am called to be a mirror reflecting His glory. This morning I had to ask myself – What or whom am I reflecting right now? Honestly, I don't feel like I'm doing a very good job at reflecting Jesus. Is there still a veil over my eyes (like I mentioned above)? My eyes have been too focused on me and my own needs. Other people have been more of a bother than a blessing.  

Many times I find my spirit willing to go deeper with the Lord, but my flesh is weak and often keeps me grounded in reality rather than living beyond myself – in total dependency. Notice, in The Message translation, it said "Whenever, though, they turn to face God....God removes the veil and there they are – face to face!"  

Do I need to turn to face God? I'm pretty sure he's facing me, just waiting and longing for me to turn completely towards him and look Him in his eyes. I need to look into HIS EYES...by looking into THEIR EYES.  I need to fall back in love with my Savior.    

Right now, I feel like I am only partially facing Jesus. He is calling me to come fully back into his arms. My spirit longs to once again enter his embrace, yet my flesh it weak. I know that once I stare into his eyes I will be called to a higher level of dependence upon him...called to sacrifice more. 

I don't know if I want to be fully vulnerable again. I don't know if I want to give up food for a day, let alone a meal. I don't know if I want to wake up at sunrise (which is before 5am) to pray for more of Him in me and the squad. I don´t know if I want to go and find him in the smile of a little girl or boy becuase of what I know will happen in my heart.  I hear his voice calling me...yet I'm hesitant. 

This morning, at our team meeting, we listened to a Hillsong song called "Fire Fall Down". It brought me back to Mozambique – en route to the refugee camps. We would play this song as loud as we could and the Holy Spirit would fall and heal the lame and the blind and deaf. We, as a squad were pushing the limits that month – fasting, interceding for each other and Mozambique, crying out for miracles and healing in this parched land. We were staring Jesus in the eyes and we were in love with Him. And he was calling us to do "crazy things" in obedience...and He was healing his children.

I am back in Nicaragua. For those who followed my blogs last year, you know that Nicaragua was a month of extreme brokenness for me. I worked in a barrio in the trash dump. I hurt and I fell in love with the people. (Click on ¨nicaragua¨ on the left of my blog page to read about last year.) Today, I am scared to fully face Jesus because I know he is going to wreck me once again, and right now, I'm comfortable and don' t want to be a blubbering mess. After all, I'm the team leader – how can I lead the squad when I can't even lead myself? Maybe that's the point...

But, it's not about me and my uneasiness. Though my flesh is weak, my spirit is calling out for the Lord to reach out and heal His children here in Nicaragua. I want to see him heal the land, to open blind eyes, to restore father-son relationships. Why is he calling me to sacrifice and call out for him to heal? I don't know. He doesn't need me, yet He is choosing to use me...to use my team...

What do I need to let go of so I can swivel my chair and look him in the eyes? Do I need to stop licking a tire so I can run after the bacon? Am I going to be obedient and loose myself again in His gaze...in THEIR gaze? 

‘The moment’ was supposed to give him family – a sense of accomplishment and belonging...an initiation into brotherhood. Because of ‘the moment’, he not only lost his life, but he took another innocent life with him. Yes, anger stirs within, but the immense pain that echos from his body resonates within my spirit at the same time. A tattooed tear drop is a constant reminder that he belongs to the gang – a symbol of his bravery – better understood as a death-mark.

Mario knows the truth. I think that is why the pain is so great. Yet, he can’t seem to find forgiveness. This keeps him distant… 

Last week I asked Salud to come to one of our church services in order to meet Mario. As I wrote in my last blog, Salud came from a similar background – drugs, alcohol, a gang. To my surprise, their background was even more similar than I imagined. Before Salud began to follow the Lord, he and Mario were in the same gang! 

That evening, Salud dug right in with sharing his testimony and it was a beautiful picture to see those two sharing a bible while reading scripture. Mario even stepped into the church and sat with us for half of the service. After a ½ hour, he retreated a few yard to lean on the pastor’s red bug and as the sun started to set, Mario quickly retired back to his curb – his comfortable place where he could remain somewhat hidden in the dark.

Yes, the Lord is putting people into Mario’s life to help him along the way – to love him and walk alongside him. Salud and Ricardo (another church member) have a heart to disciple him and pour into him. But, Mario needs to want it. Mario needs to separate himself from the powers that keep him entrapped to ‘the moment’. He needs the power of the Holy Spirit to move him to conviction and the saving grace that can only be found in Jesus. 

Mario is not a two week project while we are in Palenque. Mario is a creation of God whom God has loved before he was born. And God will continue to love him after we leave. God is love and God is faithful. Please pray for Mario: that that his spirit would be in a position of repentance and that he would accept forgiveness and the redeeming love of his Father. 

The story is still being written before my eyes. A divine circle is being drawn and I forsee the Lord using Salud’s life to pass the blessing of grace and forgiveness to another deeply hurting individual before I leave Palenque for the second time. 

Some of you might remember me talking about Salud last year. Let me give a bit of a refresher for those who may have forgotten or who are just joining me this year. I will paint a simple picture that will serve as a foundation to illustrate the amazing transformation that has taken place (and still is) in this 23 year old man’s life.

When I was in Palenque 1 ½ years ago with the Jan ’07 race, some of my teammates and I came across a man stumbling up the hill towards us. Mind you he was drunk and thought the three of us were his guardian angels. We ‘took advantage’ of our ‘angel status’ and he followed us back to the church where he sat and detoxed for the 2 hours before church service. He was a hurting man under the control of drugs, alcohol and man (gang influence). The Lord had him in the very center of his palm that night and spoke to him as a Father and Healer. Salud gave his life over to the Lord and came back for every service while we were there for the two weeks. As time progressed, his bond with Pastor Nestor grew into a beautiful picture of Father and son.

When I left, Salud became a prayer and a memory…until a week ago the story came back alive. I feel so honored to be a simple player that the Lord wrote back into the story. Salud’s story hasn’t been all roses and daisies, but it is a real demonstration of the fact that the Spirit of the Lord is victorious over the dark powers that try to control the flesh. 

Salud relapsed for about a year and returned to drinking and doing drugs; but during this time the truth still lived in his heart. One night he hit rock bottom and knew something had to change or he didn’t want to live anymore. He returned to the church and they accepted him back with open arms. That was six months ago and since then he has not looked back. The Lord has transformed him from the inside out and the power of the spirit has freed him from the chains of drugs and alcohol. For five months he has been holding a steady job as a cook in a local Italian restaurant. His demeanor has changed as he now serves the Lord and no longer the bottle. 

And just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives…for when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:4b and 7

During church service last night, Salud walked up to the front of the church to receive prayer. He is so hungry for his Father’s love and to give it back in thanks and adoration. This is when Dan (picture below) and Josh joined him in prayer. This is one of the most simple, yet beautiful demonstrations of how the Lord uses His body here on earth to show his love and encourage us forward on our journey. 

The circle is not quite complete. But the story gets better. Another player, Mario, is about to enter and the circle is about to be handed off. It is only fitting that Salud’s circle of transformation is completed by sharing his blessing and testimony with a deeply hurting 20 year old who just started his walk tonight…

Stay tuned.      

 Where did my daddy go? He was yelling at my mommy last night and I was scared. I heard a lot of loud noise, my mommy was crying and then the door slammed. I ran out to my mommy and saw her on the floor. My daddy gets really mean whenever he comes back late at night. He stinks and his breath smells really funny. He always has a bottle in his hand, but they won’t tell me what it is. I found a bottle the other day and took a drink. It burned my mouth and I spit it right back out.  I want my mommy to be ok.        -  a 5 yr. old girl who has lost her daddy to the bottle

Moon, Sun and Stars…do you see us? We are sold out for you. We are vagabonds dedicated to spreading your spirits throughout the world. From Barcelona the spirits of the night and day have brought us to the deserts of Kenya where we heard the cries of a lost culture…From Africa the spirits called us here to Palenque. If only people knew how to tap into the energy of the universe…to this we dedicate our music.  Listen to our bongos and guitar, our voices call out to the spirits. May we attract the backpackers, the seekers. Where do we go to next? Yesterday we meet some friends from America. They said they were Christians…maybe we should head there?    - Tigre (Tiger) and Mar (Sea) (street musicians/missionaries of the Spirits living in Palenque)

Come spirits of old and enter the body of your grandchild. Heal her limp body. Let the smoke from the fire and our chants call you back from the dead. We need you dad and we call on your spirit. Come to us. Why is your power not strong enough? There are some new people in the village right now. They say a man called Jesus can heal her? This Jesus character sounds funny. Is he white too? I do not want to forsake you dad. You love me and I know you will heal your grandchild. Just hurry…These people keep coming back to pray in the name of their Jesus. What do I do?   - a mother who is trapped in her Mayan tradition of ancestral worship    

I cannot take another night, yet I see no other way. The only thing that keeps me coming back night after night is my daughter. She deserves more than a life of selling herself. I cannot be restored. I am worthless. Is love really something that can only be bought? Ten guys in five hours? At least I am not the new one anymore…last night they trafficked in a fresh one from Guatemala. I feel sorry for her. But better her than me. Lord, if you are out there, save me.    – scared and hopeless (hundreds of young women behind the bar scenes)

Lord, tend to your flock. Palenque is in need of your touch, your love and your restoration. Send workers of the harvest to Palenque Lord. Send your body.     -  a hopeful pastor in Palenque

The Apostle Paul experienced life. Life didn’t happen to him. Paul ‘learned’ to praise God in the midst of hardship. He didn’t sit in a classroom where he was preached at, but he actively engaged his being and spirit in the ‘school of life’. 

In the classroom, theory prevails. In the ‘school of life’, experience is the teacher. And in the scheme of living, The World Race is a doozy…depending on your ATTITUDE and PERSPECTIVE. 

On Sat. (28^th), the July squad re-united in the Miami airport. That night we camped out in the airport – card playing, talking, sleeping and getting that last cup of Dunkin Donut coffee. By 5:30am Sunday morning, we began checking into our flight to Mexico City. From Mexico City, 3 of us flew to Cancun before the others, but we all met up around 6pm Sunday evening. Check – everyone safe and sound in Mexico with their bags (some bags were late, but we’ll take that over never!)

Not only did I have a surprise for the squad, but the squad had a surprise for me. While I was about to announce “Go. You now get to race to Palenque!”, the team leaders approached me, “Umm, we are not able to get any team money out of the ATM. Only one debit card out of 6 works.” After trying all the cards again in different ATM’s, we soon realized plan B might have to kick into gear: How are we going to get to Palenque (roughly a 12 hour bus ride away) with out much money? Lesson in problem solving.

We quickly agree that it might be better if the ‘race’ was dropped at this time. Resources were pooled, tasks divided and prayers said. Lesson on unity. Long story short, there were 19 seats left on the buses that were heading towards Palenque that night. Turns out, that was the exact amount of money we had collected so far. So, 19 of us headed out while the other 12 were going to catch the earliest bus the following morning. Lesson in flexibility.

 We were making progress. Then, half an hour from Palenque, on Monday morning, the bus that was carrying 19 of us broke down due to a loss of air pressure. Lesson in patience. Even if we were to catch another ride into town, our luggage would still be locked under the bus (doors ran on air pressure). After 2 ½ hours, three of us got a lift  into town so we could let our contacts know that we were on our way. Lesson in trust.

 

 

By that afternoon, all 19 of us were safely ‘home’ and the other 12 were in route. By six o’clock tues. morning we were all safe and sound at Shekinah Ministry Training School. 

Problem solving. Unity. Flexibility. Patience. Trust. All key players in how we approach the challenges life throws our way. I pray that as a squad we continue to see obstacles as opportunities to grow in our faith and in unity. And just like Paul, that we would have the proper perspective and try to see problems as lessons and blessings - that we would continue to seek his face and praise his name in the midst of hardships.

Do you feel the world is treating you well? If your attitude toward the world is excellent, you will receive excellent results. If you feel so-so about the world, your response from that world will be average. Fell badly about your world and you will seem to have only negative feedback from life.   – John Maxwell

On another note, I want to share a special blessing with you.  One of my friends and supporters, Daphne, is hosting a benifit for me on Sun, July 13 at the Sami Center in Spirit Lake, IA.  I am continually blown away by all the hometown support and encouragement that has been an integral part in where I am today.  It does not go un-noticed.  So, if you are in the Lakes area that night - please go and check out Lester Rupp's amazing photographs.  I've heard it's a great program.  Below is the newspaper article discribing more specifics of the event.  Thanks again Daphne - You are a huge blessing!

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Stephanie Fisk of native Milford will be traveling as squad leader for mission team known as "World Race"--a journey across 11 countries in eleven months created by Adventures In Missions calls our youth to proximity of learning mission, building life together, and growing with self-discovery as a Christ-follower. After returning from her first World Race Jan-Nov, '07, Stephanie had been mobilizing the churches through speaking engagement. In April, '08, her bike trip was accompolished to voice injustice in an event called "Biking against Human Trafficking."
 
In Stephanie's blogs archive, she said, "By the end of my senior year, the Lord had taken my heart for a complete 180°. Medical school had morphed into international missions (granted it still excites me to use medicine in developing nations)." Calling herself "as an ambassador of Jesus Christ," she confides in God and all becoming integral partners who support such a ministry as she stated in her latest newsletter: "Together we are His Body through which He chooses to usher in His Kingdom!" To follow the journey, you can read her blog at www.stephaniefisk.theworldrace.org.
 
Following his grandfather's footstep in observing nature, Rupp has captured serene beauty of habitat since he bought the first camera in his junior high year. Lester loves the wilderness of "North"--northern MN, even farther to Canadian provinces. His slide presentation has been shown at various nursing homes and churches in MN & SD, also at some conservation, 4H, or school events. Served as a dedicated church historian at Bethel Mennonite Church, he resides in Mountain Lake, MN and is retired from working at local lumber yard in 2004.