Same world different places

When we hear about typical topics of Christianity in the modern world they vary from the third world. This is easy to imagine, first world : car trouble, third world: donkey is sick. The list is endless. A view on life changes also. In the first world there is greater emphasis quality of life. Making an impact. Third world there is a greater focus on death, and how to survive. Quality of life is still an issue, but death gets the front burner.
  In order to know this environment better, and better serve them it is important to notice the differences. Here the fear of death drives many of the decisions people make. Where you go, what you do, who you talk too. This aspect of the culture is very strong, it affects not only the people of Colombia, but visitors as well. One of the main concerns for coming to Colombia is safety, we answer questions about it all the time. A new visitor's first fear in coming to Colombia is death. Death from sickness or violence are the things that occupy their minds. Part of this culture is death can be very close.

 "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:14,15

Thank the Lord He has released us and we are free to not fear death. We are liberated.

There are other subheadings under the theme of death, for instance, a greater emphasis on healing and miracles. I think this still relates to death because it reverses the affects of death that seems so close. This is countered in the 1st world environment with the strong emphasis and quick response of the medical professions. There generally isn't a need for a miracle. Rapid medicine isn't available in the environment of the 3rd world.

 The modern world has death under control, as long as it is under man's supposed control they are happy. Perfect example is the recent Ebola scare, why was it a scare when the likelihood to die from it was lower than the flu? It was unknown and uncontrolled. Every day can be an Ebola scare to some in a third world culture, there is no control over death. The fear isn't overcome, after a while you just live with it always being possible.
 In Bocachica, a couple of months back, a man was murdered by three young men over something stupid that happened one night. The normal course of events isn't to wait for justice from the government, that will never happen. The family that is wronged looks for justice in a revenge killing of the other family. It can take years for it to happen. After the initial murder, the other family tried to fight instantly. As of yet they haven't won their "blood for blood". The other family, this means even cousins, aunts, uncles, are afraid of being killed by the offended family. The fear is so great that for the first month many of the offending family wouldn't leave their houses. Even today there is still fear by many of them and they rarely go out. The whole family suffers not just the perpetrator. That is a radically different lifestyle then the first world.
 A surprising thing happens in the church though, the songs about resurrection and victory are not only sung at Easter. Generally the only time the first world focus' on victory over death is at Easter. In a culture of fear of death for Christians the resurrection becomes much more significant. Christ is alive. It becomes celebrated more than once a year in the local church.
 It is interesting that the response of the church has grown to appreciate the resurrection of Christ more. To fight the fear the focus on Christ's power is amplified, His victory over death.
 It is a blessing to live in a place where death isn't the main problem. It is a blessing that the Bible can guide which ever culture we live in. It is a blessing to be able to know and experience another world being redeemed. A great promise is that one day death will be gone for good. Revelation 21:3-5

 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

 As a Christian working in this culture in three years we have not succumbed to the fear. Thank the Lord. In the meantime we continue to work towards "making all things new".

One example of a song from Church (it sounds better with a Caribbean beat):
A Spanish version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=153AwMoKb98

English Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9EMTTLfQTw

Winter update from Sunny Bocachica

  I can't give you and accurate description by words of what Bocachica is like, but when you experience it in person it becomes real.

We just shared 5 days with a group from our church in NC. Three men came here for the first time.

January 2015 Antioch team

I think one of the things I appreciate most about short term mission trips is that it gives those who come here an idea of how to pray for those who live here.

As soon as we walk off the boat and enter into the garbage filled banks onto the rugged streets that are not paved but washed away from the falls rain. It fills their minds with awareness of how this community lives. To the houses made of wood that are being eaten away by termites to the houses that have charm. This community therefore becomes meaningful by what they experience and see.
We are thankful to have the team come and interact in the community and spend time with those who live here.

My neighbors right down my street. Making mud pies! :)

I can tell you about not having power, but it isn't until you have dealt with the stuffiness of an enclosed room on a tropical island at night; do you understand what many on this island experience often. The team got to experience this the first night they stayed.

I can try and convey the struggle the island has with lack of clean water in so many ways. It's once you hear personal testimonies of a families struggle that you can begin to understand the need here. We are now in 2015 and most of the island still drinks contaminated water.

A very common way to bathe here on the island. Notice the yellow jug beside the mom. After they are done bathing she will fill the jug and take it home and use it for  drinking, cooking, and washing laundry.

Thankful Antioch sent funds to make 3 filters for families in need!

I can write blogs about the lack of parental supervision/involvement there is here, but until you see kids as young as one and a half walk around alone, or you see a 12 year old losing patience with her small child due to being a child herself does it really stick with you.

The little boy in the dirt is sad to hear the word NO!

I am thankful for the many discussions we had with the team concerning topics like this. Just the time to talk about such topics gave Nate and I encouragement.

Our team also spent an afternoon encouraging those who would like to know more about homeschooling. This was a blessing to all involved. I am excited to know parents are seeing things they are not happy with and desiring a change.

I can tell you in many ways the churches here are trying all they can to reach those who are lost here on the island but they still need help. Mature Christians are needed here. The cycle needs to change and we need to encourage dads and moms to have an active role in their children's lives. To share the importance of family to those who live here. To teach the word of the Lord with our kids.With out examples of this it takes more time to get basic things accomplished.

Mark with Mau the translater. We are always excited to have Mark preach and the people here look forward to it as well! 

The church was full!

We are thankful that Antioch sees a need for our family to be here ministering to this community.

So we thank Antioch Community Church for coming all time to work with us, To love the people we love. To share in what we do daily. We couldn't do it with out their support. We look forward to the next time they come!

We welcome and encourage you to come and experience the life here.

If you want to support a project in Bocachica, here are our plans for the near future.
  Build a house for missionary family Luis and Adriana: $6000.00
  Sponsor a filter for a family: $65.00
  Sound system for weekly movie nights:$1000.00

We want to have the house finished this spring so that Luis and his family can have space of their own. They are living in the apartment at our house, and it is a little small for a family to use as a house. Luis wants to work here long term, so if you like to invest in locals that are working in the community this is a great place to put that investment.

Send checks to:
Antioch Community Church
P.O. Box 40
Elon, NC. 27244
with the specified use in the memo line, or click on the "Pay Pal" button at the top of the page

Blessings,
Tara

Wrapping up 2014 with a bow~

Merry Christmas from our part of the world!

The holiday season is always busy. It starts with being thankful for the year in November, and then it seems to rush to Christmas. Many people travel to see family, or take time to relax. It is a great time of year. Being in Bocachica makes us miss all the celebrating.
 This is the time of year for reflection and hope for the future as well. New years is right around the corner. When looking over the past year there are accomplishments, and things that could have been better. This will inform the next year, and there is hope for the next possibilities.
 Of course the foundation and capstone for this time of year is the birth of Christ. Sure Christmas is commercialized, but this means we need to celebrate better. Christ as our salvation is the greatest gift, what better way to remember than to give gifts as well. Though is doesn't mean gifts are only those bought.
 Working in Bocachica for 3 years now has taught us a lot. The most revealing thing is the value of relationships. Relationships in hospitality are vital, but I think a greater and harder relationship is purposeful discipleship. More than random acts of kindness or mercy missions and better than FB likes is purposeful discipleship. Discipleship being the example of Christ and the 12 disciples. Globalization and the demand for our attention from various organizations, even the evening news of the world can seem dim. Hopeless. Trying to fix everything doesn't work, but being responsible for what is in front of you can have a big impact.  One relationship that has accountability.
 I have heard two testimonies in particular this year. Both men are retired with a full career of experience and wisdom, one was a pastor the other a mechanical engineer. The pastor told of a village that he worked at when he first started pastoring. The village was tough to work with, and he was supposed to help start a church. After a couple years of work there weren't enough to even have a church. He still went to the houses and visited the families. One woman finally became Christian, and he discipled this woman and her kids the rest of the time he worked in this village. His denomination called him to work in another area, and he kept in contact with the family. The pastor went on to work in large churches, but this story he told impressed him the most. Years later when the kids were grown, one of her boys went to seminary and is now a pastor of a successful church. He said that all that time in the village was just to affect that one woman who affected her children and later bore fruit. It took years to see the fruit though.
 The engineer came to visit us with his son who is grown, and we had lots of time to talk with him over the weekend. He shared how he started out Catholic, but changed to "evangelical" later, one thing he has always done is mentored specific young people. He gave examples, but the best is his son. His son has been to the island several times with mission trips, but this time he came to visit two young boys in particular that he is friends with. Because of the model of his dad, he has put his life into people here. It has required a portion of his life to invest in these young men, and he is continued fruit of his father's discipleship.
 Discipleship isn't something you measure in the short term, but it is something that takes time. It is a purposeful relationship. A popular version of this are the padrino or sponsor programs, but they are usually distant and only require money and an occasional note. They are not entirely wasted programs, but they fall short of what purposeful discipleship can produce. It is not something a church can create a program to make people do. Discipleship has to be a decision on your part to be faithful to another to walk with and follow Christ. It is accountability, communication, time. It is awkward, tiring, confrontational. It produces the fruit of the Spirit, brother and sisters in Christ, a redeemed future.
 In the new year ahead I think a good resolution would be to find someone in particular. It will be someone close to you, you don't need to head hunt for someone. It may be your children, co-worker, nursery kids, neighbor. Then purposely walk with them, more than just a weekly devotional.
Be the person that you can say to them "...you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ". If you feel unqualified to make that statement, then look for someone to disciple you. Purposeful discipleship, this is the mission.

 Merry Christmas from the Ariels, God bless your new year. Thank you to all who work with us and support us here in Bocachica.

Discipleship in action

Sometimes when you do short term missions you come away with more than you thought you would. That happened with Juan David. He has come to Bocachica 4 times now since 2012. While coming to do small work projects and witnessing to the kids in the community. He made a friendship with 2 boys. One of them being Yaiker an 11 year old boy. A sweet kid with an infectious smile. He is always happy, loves his family, does well in school, and goes to church by himself regularly. This past May when Juan came he told both boys he's would like to take them for their summer vacation to Bogota. They would spend time with Juan's family, his church and tour the "big" city. Both boys were thrilled with the possibility to go.  Juan returned in Oct. with his father for a week visit and talked with both boys. He found out that one of the boys was having issues. You see he has flunked his grade 2 years in a row now, and not just an education situation, but also a rebellious situation his home life. This gave an opportunity for Juan to witness to the father of the boy. Encouraging him to be active in his son's life and guide his son to do necessary things. Giving him ideas to challenge his son and hope for him to work on things.

Juan with Yaiker last year during Holy week.

This also gave a testimony to Yaiker. On December 6th Yaiker graduated the 5th grade. It was then we gave him the print out of his plane tickets to go to Bogota. Juan paid for a 3 week visit. The smile on Yaiker's face was priceless. I asked him, "Yaiker, what will you do for three weeks in Bogota?" He replied, "I will just say thank you and thank you over and over again." He came up often between the 6th and the 13th when he left for Bogota and one of those time he shared with me that God has blessed him because he is doing good things.

Yaiker's graduating gift: A trip to Bogota!

I am sure anyone would be thrilled to go on an all inclusive vacation. This is a huge process for him and his family. First let me give you a picture of why. Many people here, especially kids on the island stay on the island. Parents  buy their groceries at small Ma and Pa stores daily. They might go into the city for a doctor's appointment or maybe go to the (smelly) market. Many young kids here don't leave the island and go into a mall, a grocery store, or business. Yaiker would leave everything that was normal to him to visit someone special in his life. When we got to the airport he was so nervous to go into a public bathroom. He saw his first ATM machine and thought that was the best invention on earth. :) I have received many updates from Juan sharing about their time together. It has been a blessing to see their friendship. God knew in 2012 he had "bigger" plans for them both than a short term mission trip.

Yaiker with his mom at the airport.

Juan and Yaiker relaxing with a good book.

Yaiker visits Juan's office.

Yaiker, reads the morning news. :)

Drinking water from the ocean and more.

We have good news! Yes we have the desalinization machine here and running.
  It has been a long process, and there has been a lot of learning involved. We have now imported our first piece of machinery into Colombia. This was quite a job in itself.  We have learned what the desalinization process is, getting the pressures right, water quality. I didn't realize how much work goes into potable water.

 This week we finished setting up the tanks and piping, and we are getting ready to make it more available to the locals. You think this would be easy, but the people are very skeptical of new things. The next step is training the locals about the water and advantages of pure water over contaminated water. Some in our barrio are excited for this, others are afraid and think that it is impossible to drink water from the ocean. We have been using the water for about two weeks now, and it is great to  have water when we need it.

 The next step is to get a permanent place for the machine. The plan we have is to build a house on a lot near the ocean so that we can get more water and sell more due to a better location. We have a lot, but we need to put the building on it now. This will provide Luis and Adriana with a home, but will also be the site for the water machine. Lord willing, this will keep us busy for the near future.
 If you would like to help in this next step let us know. The cost of the house will be about 6.000 dollars to get it livable for Luis and his family. This will be a multi-benefit project. It will provide living space, the desal machine storage, and central location for distributing the water.
 This is a new addition to the project, but it is necessary. We weren't initially planning on building more, but the necessity to operate the in the most efficient and best manner requires that we include this.  Pray we can get this under way quickly because we are running out of water quickly for the neighbors!

 Other news, we have a new neighbor, they are building a house next to ours. We have advanced a bit on the second floor in between the setting up of the machine.

The new owners are the couple who are working at the YWAM clinic. The wife is a doctor, and the husband does media arts.

 The kids are busy doing school, and helping out whenever we have people here to stay with us. This month we have had Tara's brother, and the workers who were working on the neighbor's house staying in the apartment.

Tara and I went to Medellin to the year end reunion for "Snoot" and we were able to view the work done in this year and the plans for the following year.

The water program is one of the projects they support, and they bring a team to Bocachica each year. We were blessed to spend this time with them.







Thanks for your prayers and support to our family. If you would like more information about our projects here in Bocachica or would like to support one of our projects please contact us at:

ariel.family.mission@gmail.com

Faithfulness

Everything we as humans have that is valuable is given it's value in Christ. Christ, as the determined sacrifice for us, became human and was made a little lower than angels, though now crowned with glory and honor. In Christ we are children of God. This present life then becomes valuable as a result of Christ's becoming human. (Hebrews 2)  The daily activities we participate in now have value. Why? Because Christ thought it worth while to participate in this life.
 

“The trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are, terribly and terrifyingly normal. From the viewpoint of our legal institutions and of our moral standards of judgment, this normality was much more terrifying than all the atrocities put together.” 
― Hannah Arendt
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963)

 This was concerning a trial after World War 2 of a German officer involved with the killing of innocent people by government order. He wasn't a monster or a scary personality, just a normal man. This idea was stated as the "banality of evil", the fact that the most evil actions in recent history were done by such ordinary people is shocking. Whole populations and political powers were swept up in incremental actions that created something so terrible. The people when seen up close seemed normal.

 In the wake of the "Do hard things", the pendulum may be tempted to swing back to the other side of whatever the opposite of doing hard things would be, but I think that after seeing the affect of normalcy there is something to be said for being ordinary.

 The idea of faithfulness, which is a fruit of the Spirit, becomes much more pivotal in determining the future. Faithfulness is becoming more rare these days, just look at the success of marriage rates in America. The future opportunity, though, relies on faithfulness in the present. I think it goes without saying the better environment for the family is if the parents are faithful in keeping their promise to the significant other. There are studies that confirm that children thrive better in homes that have both parents present to raise them.

 The difficult part of faithfulness is if you have to carry the burden of another, especially if the burden is the sin of the other against you. The example we have though is Christ who bore all of our burdens of sin upon himself. As a result of Christ choosing this, it is now given a pricelessness. Therefore to participate in something great may be the daily faithfulness of bearing another's burden or just being loyal. A banality of good. This is something hard, but not spectacular. Rather unoriginal and probably to be unrecognized, but if the banality of evil could produce the atrocities of some of the most evil things the earth has seen, perhaps the daily regime of following Christ that is a little boring drives the world in the direction of redemption.

  The Holy Spirit may be working in the daily activities of those faithfully working the same job for years. An example that stood out to me was a friend from our church talked about how his job was good, but it seems boring in comparison to the lives others lead. The important part of the perceived mundaneness of his job is that he has been faithful for 12 years. Because of his faithfulness he not only provides for his family, but the overflow of his work blesses others. My family has been blessed by his faithfulness. If he couldn't be faithful to his job, if he wanted to do only big or exciting things, perhaps he would find himself unemployed over the past years. Without being faithful he wouldn't be able to provide as well for his family, which would result in less that could overflow in the lives of others.

                                           
  I am thankful to the many people who are faithful in the ordinary times that contribute to a vast network of different people and activities that go unnoticed. They may be unnoticed, but they are not without effect. There are many who support us here in the work we are doing, thank you for your support. Thank you for your faithfulness for the past three years.
 Yes, we have hit our third year here on October 30th. With out your help our work here couldn't be done.




 

Antioch Community Church

We had our church come and help us work again this year. They are faithful to come at least once and most times twice a year. We love hosting them, and working with our friends who support us and love us. We had eight people this time, 4 men with three of them bringing their kids of which 3 kids were experiencing their first missions trip.

 We focused on getting our house here better suited to host and serve the people here in our community. With the money they raised we accomplished a lot here at the house and in the community as well. We got the roof on the second floor partially done, doors, latrine, electrical, walls, and we even had time to do a filter. Some of the time was spent visiting friends in the community from previous trips. Many stopped here at the house to visit, and in the evening the group went out to visit them in their houses as well. Of course there was beach time, soccer games, card playing, cliff jumping, and firecrackers to enjoy also.
 One of the verses impressed on my mind this time is Philippians 4:17  Paul's writing in Philippians is very Christ centered and every subject he talks about somehow turns toward or result in the service and glory of Christ. Even the giving of the Philippians Paul uses to preach Christ. "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account." This is our hearts desire with the generosity of our home church- Antioch Community Church. The friendship and unity of Christ is not limited to denominations. Our church sent the team, but Ja Doss and his son Payton, of Living Free Ministries, made their second trip as well. Their ministry is a service to people with addiction in North Carolina, but the Doss family's service and generosity overflows even to here in Bocachica Colombia.
 Here are a few more pictures of the team and activities the participated in:

The men talking about the work ahead of them. Nice uniforms hey? :)

Anna Katherine, Julia, and Valerie enjoying each others company!

Nathan and David working on electrical over the patios.

They make a good team. 

Luis and Nate working on the second floor.

Luis and Ja Doss putting the roof on. Luis learned a lot from Ja!

Nathan shared at Larcy's homegroup.  The team members enjoyed being part of this.

Jay Carey working on doors

Jay and his partner Patrick get the doors almost done :)

The doors being installed.

Julia did craft night with the dance group of Cuadrangular. They loved the frames.

The team delivering a filter. Heavy but what a blessing to be part of!

Clean water for Mensi and family. 

Anna Katherine, Payton, Julia and David washing sand and gravel.

The joy of seeing the filters in use.

Anna Katherine shared this beautiful dance with the dance group and then was asked by the church to share it at their church service. She also had time to teach this dance to the group.

We are thankful for our time we spent with each member of the team. Thankful for their hearts to share in the Lords work here in Bocachica. Thankful for their love for our family and most of all their prayers and encouragement.

In Him,

The Ariels