Water Falls, Shadows Shift, God Stays

I read this today: God does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

Throughout the day, shadows change. We can say, “When the sun rises in the east, my shadow will be here on the ground,” and, “When the sun shifts to that part of the sky, my shadow will be there.”  But in reality, the sun never moves. The earth does and so do its clouds.

Here in the Central Valley/San José area, the weather can change drastically in a short period of time. One minute the mountains are covered in clouds, the next they’re clear. Our nearly panoramic view of the mountains all around us at the institute allows us to see drastically different weather patterns in different directions at once. When we went to the mountains to see waterfalls, the day changed from cold/cloudy/rainy to hot/sunny and back again.

Our constantly changing feelings, thoughts and situations are not because God is changing on us. He is always consistent. For example, our assurance as believers in our salvation can wax and wane (Heb 10:22), yet from God’s perspective we are always chosen, sealed and written down in the Book before creation (Eph 1:4, 13-14; Rev 13:8).

Over the past year or so, I’ve been learning the value of being raw with God about what I feel, but always anchoring back to what I know and believe. If you read through David’s “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” lament (Psalm 22), you find that David validates perfectly the coexistence that can and should be had of crying out in pain and expressing trust. They are not incompatible! He’s real about what he feels, but anchored in the reality of how trustworthy and unchanging God has been in the past.

While learning a language in another culture, there are ups and downs, good days and bad days, moments when you nail it and moments when you’re dumb. God’s good either way. He stays the same and He gives good gifts. 

Check out some pictures from the waterfall park!

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Images from Costa Rica

It's been about 2 weeks in Costa Rica, 1 week of classes. Here's some pictures from my first days here. More to come from our trip to see waterfalls this weekend!

Fútbol game at the National Stadium in downtown San José

With Christian (my host) and his daughter

And fireworks

Part of The Spanish Language Institute

View from the school (Click to enlarge)

Made sure to find the local roasters in the central market. No exaggeration - the best French press coffee I have ever made or had!

Cathedral in the northern part of the city

Layover Thoughts

I’m sitting in the Dallas airport waiting for my flight to San José, Costa Rica at 3pm Central Time!

I was thinking back to something really cool God did.

I have been waiting for this whole thing to really sink in for a long time. Thanks to God, I have been unwaveringly motivated toward this throughout the process, but the difficult consequences of leaving finally hit me briefly on Wednesday night as I was trying to fall asleep (of course). My mind was going a million kilometers a minute (trying to transition my brain to metric). Even though my friends and family are extremely supportive (a blessing I know many don’t have), I started realizing how much it was still emotionally affecting them - my parents especially. It burdened me.

The next day, tired, and with so much to accomplish, I decided I really should start by opening up Face to Face by Kenneth Boa which phrases Scripture in prayer-form for each day. You may have had a similar experience where God bizarrely and blatantly places verses and truths in your life right when you need them. The “Affirmation” section had this excerpt from Luke 14. I think The Message articulates it powerfully,

“…Jesus turned and told them, ‘Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple’” (Luke 14:26-27).

And then,

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

Praising God for His consistent confirmation, affirmation and care!

Frequently Asked Questions: Choosing the Right Ones

Earlier in my life, when presented with the idea of making disciples in another country, I would have the standard rebuttal: "That's for special 'called' people, they'll go," "There's plenty to do here," "My family would be grieved," and "God is sovereign, so He'll get it done one way or another." 

*Caveat #1: These aren't necessarily untrue or invalid statements, but they can sometimes be used as excuses. 

*Caveat #2: Not all believers should go, but all believers should play a part in making disciples where they are and of all nations.

I've often said that the turning point that I look back on was the switch from asking, "Why me?" to "Why not me?" 

Therefore, I found my fellow SIM pre-field missionary's prayer letter especially meaningful. Similarly, instead of asking, "Why go?" Elizabeth asks, "Why stay?" Her motivation for going to Guinea matches mine for Uruguay: a concern for the unreached - those who know nothing about Jesus. 

Jesus said that the harvest is out there, we just need more willing workers (Matt. 9:37). Yeah God's sovereign (so we're fighting a winning battle), but He chooses to use the willingness of His people to carry out His will. Those who are called to be His people are those who call on the name of the Lord (1 Cor. 1:2).  Paul's logic is clear in his questions: How will people call on the name of the Lord if they don't believe? How will they believe if they don't hear? How will they hear if no one tells them? How will anyone tell them if no one is sent? (Rom. 10:13-15).

This changed my perspective and my questions. This is also fuel for Elizabeth, other SIMers and many other believers. I've shared Elizabeth's words below.

Click here to see her full prayer letter: Hargis Happenings: Why Stay?

              Hargis Happenings

          Serving through youth outreach and discipleship in Guinea

December 2016

Why stay?

Over the course of the past couple of months, I've been asked certain questions countless times.  One of those questions is, "Why go to Guinea instead of work here in the US?"  Guinea seems like an obscure place for the majority of people, so why am I going there of all places?

I can give you two primary reasons in the midst of many other smaller ones.  First, I am going to Guinea because it is in an unreached area of the world; the vast majority of the people living in Guinea have never heard the name of Jesus.  They live and die every day without knowing the Gospel, the one thing that is needed for salvation, and not only do people not know the Gospel, but many do not even have access to it or know someone who does.

While the need for the Gospel in Guinea is undoubtedly a reason to go there, it pales in comparison to the second and greater reason.  It is said throughout Scripture, but Jesus said it succinctly in Matthew 28: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, and out of that authority, he commanded us, as Christians, to take the Gospel into all the world so people from all nations would become his disciples.  He was sending them (and us) out on the mission to make his matchless name known among all people so that they would know of the redemption his life, death, and resurrection had brought to them.  

That's why I'm planning to spend at least three years of my life in a place that most people don't think about.  People are lost and need to know the salvation that Jesus has brought, and Jesus has commanded us to go to them so that all of his creation may bring glory to his name.  Instead of asking, "Why go?" I can now only ask, "Why stay?"

Serving Him Together,
Elizabeth

How to Encourage Your Overseas Worker - Anisha Hopkinson

A good friend of mine shared this blog post from "A Life Overseas: The Missions Conversation" with me the other day and I thought it was really helpful for anyone looking for tangible ways to genuinely reassure and embolden the missionary once they are overseas - so I'm sharing it with you! Check out the link.
How to Encourage Your Overseas Worker

Supporting Me - Who’s That For?

Who benefits from your generosity?

As I venture through this support-raising process, I have continually been wowed not just by people’s generosity, but by their overall perspective on giving, missions and living a life of purpose wherever we are and whatever we do. As I dedicate myself to prioritizing generosity with my own finances, I am always encouraged when I encounter others who share the same joy in investing in things that matter; things that last; things that truly pay off.

Paul had an interesting perspective on the generosity that made it possible for him to devote his full attention to making Jesus famous throughout the Roman Empire. His supporters in Philippi, Macedonia sent him aid to serve in Thessalonica and beyond.

“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the Gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need” (Phil. 4:15-16).

Here’s the twist…

“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:17-19).

• Paul is fully supplied/has more than enough because of their gifts.
• God is fully pleased/worshipped by the Philippians’ fragrant, acceptable sacrifice.
• The Philippians’ needs will be fully met according to God’s riches in response to their generosity.
• The places where Paul preached were fully blessed with the gift of salvation.

After he went from Philippi to Thessalonica, he went on to Corinth. While there, Paul made it a point not to be a financial burden to that particular church. The Macedonians committed to support Paul so that he could serve the Corinthians (2 Cor. 11:8-9). While he waited for the support to come from Philippi, he worked as a tentmaker and was only able to preach one day a week (Acts 18:1-4). When the aid came, however, he was able to focus completely on the preaching of the Gospel (Acts 18:5).

He even uses the Philippians as examples of generosity - no matter what their financial situation was - to encourage the Corinthians to be generous to the collection Paul was taking up for Jerusalem.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us” (2 Cor. 8:1-5).

Likewise, here are some effects of your giving in our context:

• I am supplied in order to fully focus on the task of making disciples.
• God - who loves cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7) - is worshipped by your generosity.
• Your generosity-sowing increases your generosity-reaping (2 Cor. 9:6). You are sustained materially and more is credited to your spiritual account (Phil. 4:17).
• Those drawn to salvation in Uruguay will benefit eternally from your gifts.

Thank you for your intentional prayer and thank you for exceeding my expectations!

The Dependence Days

Yesterday was Uruguay’s Independence Day. August 25^th two years ago, I celebrated the holiday with my hosts - the Corrales family - in Punta del Este, THE vacation destination in the country (although quite cold in August). 

*see post from that day

There, I snapped this picture of what looked like a homeless sea lion – mattress and all! His home is the sea, but now he’s in this foreign place all by himself - and it’s so exhausting, he just wants to sleep! Looking back at this picture today, I realized that I could have really related with this sea lion at the time!

That Independence Day was very early into my time in Uruguay when I frankly felt anything but independent. My lack of proficiency in the language, my lack of experience with the culture and my lack of knowledge of how to get around caused me to be very dependent on others - much like when I was a child! People don’t like this feeling. We want to feel and look intelligent, confident, and like we are truly contributing…more than we are being contributed to.

This, God used to really humble me to the point that being “dependent on God” sort of became the main theme of my internship. It was still my responsibility to work hard to improve, but I had to trust Him with the results…and to learn to laugh at myself looking stupid - because that’s just part of it.

Throughout the next few months, the everyday things like grocery shopping, understanding what bus to take and knowing where the good restaurants are, became routine and more natural. I was not only able to know my way around, but even to direct others! That’s when I felt like I was starting to do this thing - this foreign place could maybe, someday be home.

Even though this time, I will be flying into a place where I have been before, have relationships, and have a much better idea of what I’ll be doing, I still recognize my inexperience, weakness and necessity to be flexible! I need to be dependent on God’s power more than ever - fueled by your prayers.

Extend Your Reach to the Unreached

When you hear the phrase “unreached people group,” the tribe with no written language on the jungle island is likely to come to mind. While you wouldn’t be wrong - the modern, better-off, European-style nation may be just as cut off from the Gospel and a strong Church presence.

So in a very real sense, the people as a whole in Uruguay are unreached. With half the population considering itself “non-religious” (which is the highest for a country in the Western Hemisphere), atheism, agnosticism and skepticism reign supreme over the closest competitor of Catholicism (of which only 2% attend Mass).[1]

The great missionary Paul did his part in the Christian mission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), by making it his ambition to “preach the Gospel where Christ was not known” instead of “building on someone else’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20). That’s why he asked the Roman church to join with him by supporting his Gospel-expansion to Spain (Rom. 15:23-24).

While it was Paul’s role in the mission to go to unreached people groups, he saw the senders’ role (whether giving, praying or both) as truly joining with him. To his faithful financial supporters in Philippi, Paul wrote, “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel” (Phil. 1:4-5). He urged others, “Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Rom. 15:30).

Supporting me prayerfully and financially extends your reach to Uruguay. The lives that God changes in that country will, in part, be a result of your effort from the place that God has you.

I’ve been incredibly encouraged, in my first couple weeks of meeting with people, by God’s hold on people’s hearts! Some have committed to give generously before I even say anything! You’re right, God - this all depends on you, not my ability - thanks for the clear reminder!

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[1] Jason Mandryk. Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation. 7th ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: Biblica Publishing, 2010), 870.

December 17: Heading Out

As is usually the case, it’s hard to believe that the last day is here. I start my journey home tonight. I’ll fly to Miami and then to Charlotte for my debrief at SIM. Lord-willing, I’ll land in Cleveland on Friday evening (I’ll be home for Christmas)! Saying good-bye has been tough but incredibly encouraging! I am so thankful to God for all He put in place to make this trip happen and to make it a great experience! The quality relationships that I have gained here is by far the best part. I will miss everyone and this country! “I will return to you again if God wills.” God bless!

December 7: Nice One, God!

Very cool sunset tonight! Praise God for His creativity and beauty!

Also, if you don’t believe me about the “IMF’s” (Invisible Meowing Frogs), here is a video from my neighborhood so you can hear them for yourself – so weird. I definitely thought they were cats for a while until someone enlightened me. I have been told that more compassionate expats have gone to great lengths to “save the poor kittens” only to be very confused. Another example of God's creativity though...and a little humor.

I’m starting my last full week here in Uruguay. I’m looking forward to coming home but don’t want to leave at the same time. I’m looking forward to snow and cold, but don’t want to leave summer. I’m looking forward to spending time with family and friends, but I don’t want to leave the family and friends here. I’m looking forward to being a student again and Growth Group Leader at Grace College, but I don’t want to stop leading worship at Christ Church, helping to lead the high school group and hanging out with the kids every day at Atrévete a Soñar. I’m looking forward to the Chipotle, Taco Bell and Starbucks...and mom's cooking, but I don’t want to leave the asado, chivitos and dulce de leche!

My chest feels better, tried running on Friday and it didn't hurt, just a little tightness! Please pray that I finish well - with my requirements on the school-side of things and in general! 

Nathan Harley

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)