Oh The Places We'll Go...

I have thoroughly been enjoying our time in Guadalajara, Mexico. Today in church I really enjoyed worshiping in Spanish, partaking in the Lord's Supper and getting to watch several baptisms. Casa de Paz has within the last couple months started a church plant called Casa de Paz la Cantera. Today they decided to have a joint service partly so that Karmen and I had the opportunity to see friends from the church plant and partly to have the baptisms together. It was a great service!

I want to give you a little glimpse into some of our conversations over the last week or so.

Friend#1: Greg. Karmen. Are you guys back to be missionaries here with us?
Greg: No, right now we are here for a visit and to see what God is doing here in Guadalajara.
Friend#1: Well when you guys are ready to return, this church is your church as well. There will always be a place for you here.

Friend#2: So do you guys have plans to return here and work with us in Casa de Paz?
Karmen: Not at the moment. We are still praying to see where God might send us as missionaries.
Friend#2: What are your plans for this next year?
Karmen: We are planning to go to South Korea to teach English.
Friend#2: Two years, two years we have been waiting for you guys to return and now you are going to South Korea instead...

Friend#3: So do you guys have plans to be missionaries in Mexico?
Greg: We are open to wherever God leads and we are still in a time of preparing and praying.
Friend#3: I guess we will have to pray for another whole year that God will send you here.

I think you get the general idea. On one hand it is flattering to know that we are loved and wanted here but on the other hand we aren't certain that Mexico is where we're called to live long-term. There is still a lot of praying and processing that needs to take place.

Flashback: As we think about Mexico and our internships, I had a very positive experience and Karmen's was more difficult (if you want more details, feel free to write us an email and we can fill you in). So being back here has brought up questions about if or when we could return here. I mostly get excited at the thought while Karmen has more anxiety and uncertainty at the prospect of returning long-term.

There are still plenty of questions to be answered and things to be done before we could return. This year we plan to finish paying off our student loans while we are in Korea (step #1). We would have to approach MB Mission or some other missions agency and see what kind of programs they have that we could fit into. We would want to know there was a specific place for us in the local church here, where there was a need and where we weren't taking the place of capable local Christians. Our hearts would have to be united and passionate about returning and we would want to feel God's leading in a strong way.

Anyways, being back here has got me thinking and we would love your prayers as we have a lot to pray and work through in the weeks, months and years ahead. Thanks!
Greg

Pool Baptisms

The Current Church Property