March Update
Hi everyone,
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been back in Colombia for a month and a half already, after being back in the US over Christmas and January. It was a good time, seeing family and friends and my little niece (who had her first birthday in December). I also had the opportunity to visit and speak in several churches and church groups, an opportunity to share more of what is happening in Colombia and what I feel God is calling me to be a part of here. And I was also very grateful for some downtime in which I was able read some very insightful articles and watch some interesting documentaries on forgiveness, non-violence, and reconciliation.
Just a couple of weeks after returning in February we had our first health and community assistance outreach of the year in Uré, a town that has suffered much at the hands of the armed groups. We had a fairly small team this time, but were very blessed with health professionals, attending almost a thousand patients total between medical consultations, dentistry, blood work, and pharmacy. Besides medicine, we also served the community with counseling, clothing, legal advice, agronomy, haircuts and lice treatment, workshops, etc. In meeting these needs, we also had the opportunity to share God’s love and gospel with them.
One of the key elements of the outreach is to open a space for those who are dealing with loss, grief, and rage for the terrible injustices they have suffered. We listen to their stories, share their hurt and their tears, and invite them to begin the process of forgiveness, if they feel ready. One woman had lost a son, tortured and killed by an armed group, who also beat his younger brother and left him handicapped. Between sobs she kept asking, “How can you forgive that? How can I forgive what they did to my sons?” All words feel like they ring so hollow. Another elderly woman had lost both parents and six siblings in a massacre of her family when she was just 17, and had already chosen to forgive in her heart, but decided also to make a public witness of it during a peace ceremony the final night.
In preparing some scriptures to share with the circle of victims who came, I was struck again by the close relation of divine love and forgiveness. Forgiveness can seem like a difficult and nearly offensive thing to preach. But this is certainly a key, recognizing that just as our human love is incapable of loving an enemy, so our human sense of forgiveness just isn’t sufficient; we may be able to let go of some of the pain, be released from the chains, find joy again, but without drawing on God’s grace I don’t think we can ever really come to know full peace and reconciliation. Our forgiveness is only possible by participating in Christ’s forgiveness, and only in recognizing it as an expression of his love–even for our enemies.
I keep finding a deeper and deeper appreciation for the ways that God allows us to participate in his divine nature, and calls us to be his true sons and to be perfect, as he is perfect. If only we would enter into it more fully and more faithfully, and help the broken ones to receive it.
Besides continuing to be a part of the outreaches this year, I also am helping out in the office here with translations and fund-raising, and trying to spend time when I can with the children in our homes, often tutoring in English homework. We are working to finish up the well project from last year, too. It’s been a growing and sometimes a frustrating process, but we continue to see God’s provision in it. We’re almost there, just trying to work down the estimates on the pump and the distribution system a little bit to make budget. We just need to trim a couple thousand dollars and we can finalize it. Then we hope to have a dedication ceremony there in Villa Clemen to share about Christ’s living water.
I also should share that while I was back in the US, I had the chance to see my former rheumatologist and get an MRI of my left knee. Unfortunately it was pretty bad news. No more sports for me, limited walking (which is tough here in Colombia), and I’m to look into surgery options as soon as possible. So once the water project is done I plan to see some specialists here in Medellin and also in Bogota to see what can be done. Please pray for me as I simply don’t have the finances for an expensive surgery, that God would open doors to doctors who might be able to give me reduced prices.
For those of you who have been supporting me financially, or for those interested in making donations, please note that my sending organization has changed. Some close friends of mine recently began a non-profit to handle finances for their work in Honduras, and offered to let me join them. So the new information is as follows:
The 600
23955 Beard Ave
Lakeville, MN 55044
Please make checks payable to “The 600″ and include a note with it that it is for my ministry here in Colombia. Thank you all so much for your continued interest in my work and calling, and for your prayers and support. It’s very meaningful to know I have you all behind me.
Shalom, Jon
