Walking with the Wise

I feel like the counseling school is something that should be require for life. These two weeks we have been looking at the walls we build in our heart, why, and how to build the “wall of salvation.” It’s such good information, but between all of the application in our notebooks and pastoral time it hits home too.

This school is wonderful! Last school was kind of stressful for all of the staff, but this is like a breath of fresh air for us. There are problems and many things to work on for sure, but it’s just like the house is filled with the presence of God, with safety for openness, and a desire to grow.

Today I was thinking about how blessed I am with the community I get to live in. I have some wonderful friends that are equally passionate about missions (although in different areas of society). There are the kinds you laugh with, cry with, and hold accountable. It made me think of the proverb, “If you walk with the wise you will grow wise.” The proverb doesn’t say don’t hang out with any one but wise. What it does say is “walk” with with wise, like spend your time and let yourself be influenced by the people who are walking in the same direction, the people who are on a path towards God. These are the people we grow with, learn with, we essentially walk with spiritually. Another reminder how God meant for us to live in community, and with good reason.

Story: Desteni and I had to go fix some paper work in DAS (where we go to register our visas and stuff like that). My temporary ID says I’m a male. But they had my real one ready! I was so excited, it feels like I’m official now. But as soon as the lady left the office I noticed the little, bold “M.” Out-loud I said, “Des! I’m still a man!” Then I realized that there were three English speaking men outside of the office, listening. Even in English I don’t communicate what I mean!

Chech out some new pictures from this summer.

FARC

I have finally finished the first week in the counseling school. We have notebooks to do each week that take up all of our time. I think I used all of my creativity in the first week, who knows where my inspiration will come from next week? But it will be so good. We are having great classes about how people build walls of rebellion or rejection. I love the counseling school because the classes are great, but the school is set up so there is a lot of time to personally process all that you're learning. I'm so excited!

I need to update about the situation in Colombia. One of the biggest rebel groups is called the FARC. It claims to be "for the people" but it actually is a pretty violent group against the government. They kidnap many people, and the numbers are growing. Just recently 11 of 12 politicians that had been kidnapped about 5 years ago were killed. The FARC played it off saying that they were killed in a military attempt to rescue them, but, again, that they really are trying to protect the people. There was no military presence involved thought, these people were just outright murdered. In response to this, Thursday there were peace walks in all of the major cities in Colombia. People came out to pray carrying the Colombian flag to show the government and the world that FARC is violent and does not have the people's support. This group has done a lot of damage, there is not a person in Colombia that has not been personally affected, either in their own family or in the family of close friends. One of our neighbor's wife was kidnapped and they paid ransom for five years only to find out that they had killed her in the first month and continued to make money off her. Please continue to pray for this situation and wisdom for our government.