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

Some selfie fun

We had a week long game of selfie challenges, each day we had a different topic that we would try to get photographed. 1 point was awarded for completing the challenge, and an extra point if it was the best of the day. Julia walked away with the most points. Here are a few of the selfies from the week below:
 Day 1: Selfie with a cow

Day 2 Airborne selfie

Day 3: A selfie with a new friend

Day 4: A difference between Colombia and USA

Day5: Secret selfie

Day 6: Isn't it crazy they don't/do have ...

Day 7: Selfie with a statue

How I can explain some of the things that happen here...

Luke 10:2 "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

My week reminded me of this verse. I am here on the island, and there is no hiding. The island life reminds me of a camp ground. Everyone lives very close, many houses share one outer wall. The island seems to wake up around the same time and the routines makes me think of the movie Ground Hog's day. You walk everywhere and so you have to speak to many as you pass by. Gossip here on the island is a way of life, everyone participates. My husband laughs and says many times if I am in Cartagena running an errand, he knows before I get to the house that I am on the island due to everyone talking. They would walk by and say, your wife is here, she'll be up the hill soon. 

This week was harder than normal. The other day there was this boy who is 7 with his 6 month old sister sitting on a tire. I thought I need to snap a photo. When he looked up and saw me, he was so sweet that turned his body around to give me a better photo. Then about 20 minutes later, I heard the baby crying, and the boy yelling for his Mom. I didn't think much of it, but then the boy started screaming louder and louder crying down the hill for his mom's help. I jumped my wall and went into his house to find him alone in the house with this baby. The mom was not in sight. When the mom finally came I had to be firm with her and tell her this is not acceptable and that a 7 year old boy is not responsible to take care of a baby nor to be left alone. The mom just smiled and took the baby back. I went home and was saddened to know this was happening but even more sad to know the Mom is broken. 

But then the next day my husband yells to me with the baby in his hands. You see the Mom had the seven year old carry the baby down the hill to buy juice. He fell while walking with her and dropped her. I went immediately to the house and told her this can not happen. I spoke firmly with her for about 10 minutes, while she smiled and had many excuses, I returned home. Frustrated at the situation, I thought of this through out the day. At one point I heard the mom crying from the back steps. Please Lord, use this time for her to call on Your name. I am reminded that while we teach the Word here on the island, our relationships with others in our everyday life speak of God. When we hold those accountable in love, we show the love of God. 

To finish my day off a different set of neighbors came up to my fence as they were passing by, turned and looked at me and said our neighborhood would be going down hill, but Tara and Nate won't let that happen. Happy to know through trials fruit can be seen.

So yes Lord, please send more willing to labor. Willing to take a stand for what is right. Showing others your love and praying for those who don't know you. No matter where we live, Let us glorify you.

Baseball

Baseball

 

Sunday was the day of the game between the Bocachica with arms against the team with only one or  a disabled arm. It was the excitement of the week here, the sidelines were full of people to watch. It is interesting here because I have talked to a neighbor missing a hand from dynamite fishing and asked if he wanted to get a prosthetic. He scoffed at the idea, he said he could work the same without the hand. He demonstrated the action of fishing using his arm instead of his hand to pull the line up. This is a sentiment that many have here, we have quite a few missing hands due to the dynamite.  I have seen various example of these guys working along side other men doing the same work in a modified manner, but nevertheless keeping up. Sometimes what we think is a weakness or something lacking in another may not be so. It is hard to imagine for many that are used to the push for perfectness that comes in popular entertainment culture, but there is a pride in the team for being able to compete against a team that has two hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 He would catch with the glove then rapidly tuck it under his other arm to throw the ball.

 

Closer to water but still need help.

July in Bocachica is just as hot as it was in North Carolina. The air seems thick and sun is always present. The good thing is that doesn't slow us down. We have been busy getting ready to purchase the desalinization machine. We have raised a little more than half the funds for this project. Nate, while waiting for more funds to come in has been planning ahead getting everything ready for the day we buy this valuable machine. We have purchased land at the bottom of the hill, dug a well, dug trenches in the street all the way up the hill to put in the tubing for the water to come up our hill. Finally, last week, Nate finished the work by building a storage shed where we will store a pump in the well to have a constant feed of water to our neighborhood.

Trish and Emory McChargue came to Bocachica for 8 days to work along side us.They are missionaries from Louisiana working in Bogota.  Emory was a big help to Nate with all of his projects. It was refreshing talking to them about missionary life and encouraging one another in the Lord.
Not to mention my kids had a blast playing with this couple! We look forward to them returning for another visit.

Emory helping with the footer for the storage shed over the well.

Emory making cement.



digging up the street to lay the tubing for the water.

just keep digging.

Up the hill they go!

Inside is the well, and the pump that will drive the water up the hill for our neighborhood.


 We are fighting just to have access to water daily. If you would like to give to this project please email us or click on the donate button on this page. Thank you for joining us in praying for a solution to this problem.

Many blessings to you and your family. Have an enjoyable August!

The Ariels