Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Oswald Chambers said, "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, but if you don't fear God you fear everything else." I have had almost a surreal peace about this adventure from the beginning, and I can only credit God with this tranquility.

For the past couple months, I've been asking people to sign their name next to their favorite verse in my Bible, to remind me to pray for them. Today, I came across Lindsay Kuhl's signature next to a passage that describes her faith when moving her whole life to Baltimore to start Mosaic, and now fits nicely with my transition to Bolivia: "By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God." -Hebrews 11:8-10, The Message.

Living in the Miami airport for the past seven hours, I must have assimilated well, because I was just mistaken for a Spanish speaker. A man started talking to me in Spanish, until my ineptitude at replying convinced him to switch to English. As a coca producer who lives in La Paz, Bolivia, but has five kids in France, Bruno has taught me a ton about coca and Bolivian culture, and shamed me in his understanding of four languages. But he's also reminded me of the people I'm going to help and the reason I'm leaving all the people that I love so much in Estados Unidos. Hasta Luego!

Hallelujahs

"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96:3

This summer, I've been intentional about trying to use my time as ministry instead of preparation for ministry. I want my words and actions to point to God. Over the past two nights I've heard messages on this very topic.

At a Perspectives class on Monday evening, David Bryant spoke about the Supremacy of God and recommended studying through the Bible and highlighting every verse that could be used to point to Christ. Over 60% of the Old and New Testament will be glowing with yellow.

Then, last night at The Post Amy Whikehart shared about using our words purposefully. If all of the words I spoke were given to me in a transcript at the end of the day, what would it look like if I highlighted the ones that pointed toward God? How long would it take for my highlighter to run out of ink?

She also told of an African Bible study where each Believer's introductions simply stated their name and that they were a follower of Jesus. It reminded me that Jovenita, our shopkeeper friend in Mexico, asked us if we were "Hallelujahs," their term for the local Believers. How watered down our introductions have become with our careers, hobbies, and descriptions of ourselves. I want my life to plainly state that I am a Hallelujah, nothing more, nothing less.

"This is my prayer in the harvest

When favor and providence flow

I know I'm filled to be emptied again

The seed I've received I will sow."

-Hillsong

Team Spears

"You can always tell a Spears, but you can't tell 'em much." "There's no I in Spears!", and "Give me an S, give me a P, give me an E..." were just a few of the cheers motivating Team Spears this past week on the family vacation to Oregon, where six or us competed in and narrowly completed the Crater Lake Rim Run. The devastatingly hilly course unified us through pre-race trepidations, post-race horror stories, and the common bond of pain.

Similar to the farewell tour through Colorado with the Scott side of the family last month, this trip was a gorgeous, fun-filled, memorable time with loved ones I see far too little of. Four Spearses traveled from KY to meet my sister from NM and join two cousins, an aunt, an uncle, and a few old friends for some racing, rafting, hiking, bouldering, swimming, and good old-fashioned togetherness, (which ten people in a one bathroom cabin is very good for.)

I also met, and fell in love with, the most adorable two-year-old boy, Soren Brumbach. (I can use this superlative, because all the two year olds I currently dote on are girls.) The watermelon hat he is modeling (left) was intended for his three-month-old sister, but I think he looks dashing!

As the day of my departure creeps closer, the people around me show ever-increasing grace with my fanatical photography and growing sentimentality. I sense that God is filling me up before sending me out. I'm absolutely loving the intimacy with friends and family this time has allowed me, but I hope I can do it justice by allowing God to pour me out like a drink offering once I'm overflowing with love from all these wonderful people.

CVM East

You've all heard of Christian Veterinary Mission (or you've most likely been throwing away my prayer letters as junk mail.) But you may not have known that the Seattle based non-profit has expanded to the East Coast, specifically to Mary and Jack McDonald's farm in Catawba, Virginia. Pictured below is the farm, its director (Mary--my Bolivian predecessor), and its first two students, Shelley and I, there for the weekend to reconnect with our long lost large animal skills as we prepare for veterinary ministry in South Africa and South America, respectively.

Working with these livestock as well as ducks, horses, cattle, and alpacas was a confidence booster and a good reminder of how valuable our trade can be in underdeveloped countries. Part of our practice was in the art of Participatory Training Methodology. In her book on this subject, Learning Together, Susan Stewart said, "Animals provide the resource base for the vast majority of rural poor around the world. They are the banking system, often providing the buffer between survival and death. When people lose their animals through war, greed, natural disturbances and disease, the family or family members go without schooling, food and healthcare and sometimes die.” I feel so blessed to have such a practical way to serve needy people and share God's love. And I'm so thankful to have such great mentors and resources at CVM both East and West!

(These pictures were not staged to prove that my entire summer has not been merely lounging around enjoying myself and my friends, but they sure do help with that.)