Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Welcome Back

Dear Blog,

'Welcome Back!' was the first txt msg I got arriving here at home in Panama. I have been away the past two weeks in Peru with Jon, visiting his mom and family friends and traveling around the country. It was an amazing experience that I will try to sum up with a few pictures.


The Classice Machu Picchu shot...


Psalm 90:2-4
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man to destruction,
And say, "Return, O children of men".
For a thousand years in Your sight,
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.

I read this Psalm as I sat up, way up, in the Andean mountains, looking down at the ruins of the 'great' civilization of the Incas. God is so much bigger than these mountains he created, and this vast empire was but a moment in His eyes.


Some famous Incan wall...sorry no deep thoughts on this one.


This picture for me is interesting. It was taken in a GIANT monastery. Here we have a cross with its shadow. As we went around Peru the evidences of religion where everywhere...giant cathedrals, hills with giant crosses. However the reality that we encountered most was that these religious monuments only produced a slim shadow of true faith in so many of the people. However the 'shadow proves the sunshine'

COOL STORY

Vida Estudiantil here in Panama has started a partnership with the Dominican Republic and plans to send its first missions trip there this August. So while in line for security on the way back from Peru the girl behind me asked me to help her...when I noticed she had a Dominican passport. I started talking to her a bit (in spanish) and told her we planned to go...
Later as we waited to board our plane she came and sat beside us....where I noticed her seat was next to Jon's. I told him this, but what I didn't tell him was that I was praying that he would be able to share the gospel with her.
During the course of the flight they talked and we learned quite a bit about the Dominican. Then 15 minutes before we began to descend I looked over and there was Jon going through the gospel with her. In the end we got her contact information (our first contact in the D.R.!!) and I was amused and amazed at how God strings together little 'coincidences' to encourage us and do his work.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

So when I got back to Panama in my heart I was returning home. Now this isn't to say I've forgotten about beautiful Vancouver (in fact probably the past few days I've had more longings for things from there), but more a reflection of something God taught me.
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Ultimatley my citizenship is in heaven, but here on earth I am part of God's people. Here in Panama I am following God's will and therefore I'm home. If God leads me back to Vancouver then that will again be home...or Moroco, or Panama, or Spain, or Burma or wherever....it will be home.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen.

-eli

Jessica Fauvelle said...

Steve, I LOVE your heart for Jesus... you inspire me to get to know Him more! I appreciate how your life, and even your blog enteries show His goodness! Keep being transparent, and keep showing the world what your heart lives for!!

-Jess