The Power of Us
Surprise! I have just a few moments to connect to the Internet before we head off to the mountains where I anticipate being cut off from the cyber world. I thought I would take advantage to give you an update.
Things continue to go well here in Cordoba, Argentina. I am so blessed to in the midst of such a wonderful mix of people. The Vögelin family has made me feel like part of their family and I have really enjoyed spending time here. It’s been fun to be part of such a multicultural mix of several South American countries and also missionaries from Switzerland, Germany and Austria and I have no idea where else. The dinner table conversation this morning was great. Several of us are staying here in the same house, When I came to the table there was an animated conversation taking place in German. I greeted them in German (the absolute limit of my ability, although I can follow along pretty well at times if I don’t have to say anything). Immediately the conversation switched to Spanish. The Vögelins speak German and Spanish. He is Swiss; she is German. Daniel, another guest, was born in the Canary Islands, which makes him Spanish, yet has a German or Swiss parent (I can’t remember which), so he speaks German, Spanish and English that I know of, and he is married to a Bolivian. They live in Peru, of course. Hans Walter is a German missionary living in Brazil. That I know of he speaks German, Portuguese and English, though he can understand most Spanish. He was my roommate last night and when I greeted him in Spanish he let me know it was easier for him to communicate in English. So, when spoke at the table this morning he spoke in English, we answered him in Spanish and handfuls of German occasionally filtered into the conversation. Sometimes he would resposn in a Spanish/Portuguese mix. What fun! But why does my head hurt?
Last night I spoke at a vibrant church in the city of Villa Carlos Paz that is about a 30 minute trip from Cordoba. As I understand, Villa Carlos Paz is the Argentinian equivalent of Branson. It was interesting to drive down their “strip” last night on the way to church. The church is only 5 years old and looking to build a 5,000 seat auditorium. The service was electric and a wonderful experience. It was very late by the time I got back to the house but well worth it.
Reading yesterday in Colossians 3 I was reminded of something that seems so appropriate for me to be thinking about this week when we are looking at ways to work together in God’s Kingdom with people from all over the world on the same team.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:16-17
The Greek text makes it very clear (as does our Spanish Bible that I was reading that morning) that Paul is speaking to the church as one, not as individuals. When he says that the word of Christ is to dwell in you, he means you plural as in the whole body of Christ together. How often we read the Bible in a very egocentric way thinking only of ourselves alone! This is one of the greatest challenges those of us who live in the United States are going to have in connecting to believers in other places. Our cultural puts such a strong emphasis on individuality and individual responsibilities, rights and privileges. We are individuals, of course, and have our own individual accountability. But, we need to learn to think of ourselves as part of the whole body, just as Paul described in passages such as 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.
I’m off! Pray for me these next few days. Exciting things are happening here as this group is planning for the next major youth mission event in 2010.