Email update from last week

January 23, 2007

Friends and Family,

I want to express my deepest thanks to all of you who have been praying for my health and for our family. I’m writing you all from a hospital bed in San Salvador after the craziest five days of my life. God has been so merciful to me and to our family and he protected me from almost certain death, and has cared for me as I make my way back to health. IMG_4220.JPG

I am currently on the road to recovery. The doctors repaired the damage to my esophagus on Thursday and have been running tests all week to evaluate the healing. They have been, and still are, most concerned about infections that could be caused by the impact of the bullet, it’s time in my neck (7 hours), and the fluids that went into my chest cavity. We are all still in awe of the fact that the bullet lodged where it did. Had I been hit one or two centimeters in either direction, and most likely I’d been dead or seriously injured. From what I have heard, roughly 5% of people who are shot in the neck survive

The doctors are saying that I may be out of the hospital within another week. I’m anxious to get out. I’m even more anxious to get the feeding tube out, and to eat a good meal. Our family has been rallied behind by a wonderful community here in El Salvador, and we have felt everyone’s prayers in the most profound ways. Dara has been a rock to me. God is doing amazing things in her heart through this all. Yet, she has yet had the time to really deal with it all. I’m sure when she does there will be feelings we’ll need to work through. The kids are doing relatively well. PJ and Isaac are dealing with it all the most severe. They are having some nightmares and are dealing with fear. They are in school, which helps. Yet, we miss our time together as I have only been able to see them a couple times.

The ENLACE team is going through a lot. Our entire ministry is founded upon a heart to build authentic, long term relationships with churches in their contexts. This requires us to travel to them. Obviously, the thought of another shooting happening again, has us all praying about how to possibly take precautions without being over gripped by fear. Fear is the motive behind this shooting. Fear is the goal of the enemy who doesn’t want us to trust completely in Christ. Fear can cripple a ministry. Please pray against fear in my life, in our family, in our ministry, and ultimately in El Salvador.

I am currently writing up all the events and am anxious to share the story first hand. I’ve experienced nothing short of a miracle, and you all have experienced with me. We all have seen God’s body come together to pray for one another. We have all seen what God will do when we will lift each other up. My prayer is that this will continue to encourage us all to live lives completely in the hands of God, completely available to his Spirit. I pray that we all will care about the hurting people in our world, and continue to come together to live out the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed is possible in Him.

Many of you have asked how you can help. Dara and I are working through these decisions this week. We are considering coming home (to So. Cal) for a couple weeks, but may wait until I can recover fully, and so that I can wrap up all the loose ends of the case. We have every intention to continue in the work here in El Salvador. Yet, we are very aware of the road that lies ahead. It will take a day at a time to walk through all the feelings. We will let every one know how best to help in the coming days and weeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the love you have poured out on us!

One last thing, please continue to pray for the community of Abelines, where I was shot. They have met a couple of times as a church and community since the incident. They feel ashamed that this would happen to me in their community. They feel discouraged and fearful because violence continues to escalate in their midst. Please pray that God will use this to strengthen them, and their heart to reach their community. Pray that all the work of the last 5 years will not be harmed by this, but in God’s sovereignty only strengthened.

We will keep you posted throughout the coming weeks. I have tests planned all week, so please continue to pray for the 100% recovery of my esophagus and for no damage to any other part of my neck. I so value you your prayers, support, and friendship.

Trusting in Our Savior,

Pete

Lesson 2: People over tasks....Lesson 3: Living Intentionally

Lesson 2: Prioritizing people over my task lists: Relationships are all that matter.

Often, I have been frustrated when I think about my work week over the last year. My last career in business was defined by an adherence to Microsoft Outlook, meetings, trips, and identifiable accomplishment. It was easy, if the business was growing, profitable, and healthy, I was doing a great job. Rewards came in many ways. I received an emotional high with every account that we won, every stellar sales month, and every bonus. Bottom line, I believed I was in control.

Yet, as many of you can relate to, none of that is fulfilling or carries any lasting value. Money is earned and spent in a blink of an eye. Stories are rampant of lonely individuals who put their financial security first, only to live empty lives because they haven’t invested in people. God clearly teaches us that our relationship with Him is the biggest gift we have, and truly the only thing of eternal value. This relationship should radically motivate us to build relationships with all kinds of people around us.

In addressing poverty in El Salvador, it has become evident to me that the poorest in the world are those without a relationship with Christ and without quality relationships with others. One can argue that economically speaking, the only thing that separates the desperate poor of our world to the wealthy is the sets of relationships they are born into. A few break the barriers, but by and large life is lottery, a few of us have drawn the right numbers, while most haven’t.

So as a believer in Jesus Christ, I must be concerned with restoring broken relationships. I have to care that billions are cut off from God, cut off from their neighbors, and cut off from the political, social, and economic relationships necessary for abundant lives. Checking off boxes from my Franklin Planner will not suffice. I must continually ask myself, “how am I restoring relationships in a manner that lives out the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?”

Lesson 3: There are only 24 hours in the day, and I can’t do it all. I have to intentionally choose the activities that most reflect God’s heart and mission for my life.

If you looked in my office, you’ll find a list of books that I plan to read this year. You’ll also find a list of areas in which I plan to grow, academically, physically, spiritually, relationally, and professionally. Yet, I will not even come close to reaching all that I have set before me. As much as I want to, I cannot control how this year will turn out. I have no idea if one of my family members will get sick. I don’t know if I will get hurt again (I got hurt 3x’s last year). All I can do is lay these lists before the Lord, trusting that he has guided me to write them only as guideposts in my journey to live out a life that honors him.

I truly believe the ethic that says it is who we are, and not what we do that defines us. Yet, I think that we often take this too far. If I say that I am a Christian that loves Christ and wants to know Him deeper, but I spend huge amounts of time watching television, pursuing hobbies, slaving to make money, etc., how do my activities reflect my words?

Instead, I have to be very intentional in how I live. This is the fruit of the Spirit known as self control. Self control is not just keeping your eyes away from the women, not drinking too much, or swearing when you are cut off. Self control means that I am so connected with the Spirit of God that every action is under His control. Obviously this will take a lifetime, in fact an eternity, to reach. But shouldn’t my goal in life be that everything I do, say, and think is under the control of the living Holy Spirit in me? Thus, I have to choose each day to spend my time and energy on activities that will move towards this goal. Everything else should be folly to me.

27 Welders, 2 pigs, and a machete

Kate Joslin writes about her visit to San Jose El Naranjo

Leaving the hustle and bustle of San Salvador in the rearview mirror, our jeep bounced along roads to the rural town of San Jose El Naranjo. The sights were common for my companions but pigs roaming the streets and old men strolling with machetes in hand were not something I was accustomed to in California. During my two-week visit to El Salvador, I was blessed with the unique privilege of visiting a local church Enlace has been building a relationship with and training for the past five years. IMG_4903.JPG

Upon arriving at the Jerusalem Church, sparks flew as many teenagers welded iron bars together. Pastor Marco Antonio Melara informed me these teenagers were part of a training program launched in November 2006. With twenty-seven local students enrolled, I assumed this was one of the many service projects Enlace helped organize. How surprised I was to learn that Enlace had nothing to do with it, but that the Jerusalem Church had taken the initiative on their own. Resources were pulled from within the church and contact was even made for government funding through the Mayor’s office and Ministry of Education. Instructor Elio Adonai de Moran Lopez explained the reason for his involvement with the students, “I’m doing all that I can so that later they can fend for themselves.” This training program, complete with a certificate of completion, will help young men learn a skill they may potentially use in the workforce.

The Enlace workers and I were greatly encouraged to see the Jerusalem Church reaching out to their local community. Pastor Marco explained, “as a church we have the responsibility and a mandate from God to help people however we can.” I felt very fortunate to be able to witness firsthand the fruit of Enlace’s ministry. This church was applying the training provided by Enlace to serve their community in new ways.

IMG_4877.JPGAs we left San Jose El Naranjo my thoughts drifted back to the buzz of the welding torch. The love the Jerusalem Church displayed toward those in their community was clearly evident. These were believers in the same God I worshipped and yet they were doing so much with the little they had. I was greatly challenged to serve those around me in California with the same unselfish and focused commitment. As a Christian, I say I believe a lot of things. But if my life is not radically different because of God’s transforming grace, then what do I really believe? My actions either confirm or deny the words that come out of my mouth. “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45

-Kate Joslin

Kate is a good friend of ours from our home church Copperhill Community Church in Valencia, California

Lessons from 2006: Number #1 If God produced a Godcast would I listen?

In the coming months, our family will reach our 2nd year mark living and serving in El Salvador. It’s a bit hard to believe that we have been here that long already. In some ways the time has flown, in other ways it feels as if we have lived another lifetime here. I have learned many lessons over the last year, and I thought I’d share them as we all retool for the new year. I have written 10 lessons and will release a few at a time over the next week.

Lesson 1: If God produced a Godcast would I listen? I can only hear God when I listen

I love my ipod. I can’t overstate this. I love it. It has allowed me to stay connected to the world while living in El Salvador. I love the option to listen to music, but really I love that on demand, I can listen to news analysis, political debates, cultural commentary, sermons, bible courses, etc. The list is endless. I use the word “love”, because it really is the only possession that I feel emotionally attached to, fearing that loosing it would cause pain. I spilled coffee on it yesterday and actually caught myself praying to God that He protect it from harm.

Yet, there is one problem. God has not yet published a podcast. It would be very easy for Him to do. He probably already owns a mac. He could put the onion out of business. Think about it, a Godcast. Doesn’t that sound amazing. I could sync every morning, and on my way to work hear exactly what God wants for my life. He could give me instructions on how I should treat people, what tasks I should do in the day, and remind me of the sin that is my life. He could tell me great stories from long ago. I’m sure His timing and delivery is out of this world. Surely, with a targeted Godcast, specifically produced for me, I would be able to live out the perfect Christian life.

But, would I listen to my Godcast? I may, but I’d be tempted to first listen to NPR’s wrap up of the news, or APM”s Marketplace. I sure enjoy listening to the political pundits, the economists, and the weekly stories from Businessweek. Comedy Central puts out some funny stand up acts. And the sermons, don’t even get me started. Francis Chan has been hitting it out of the park lately. When I want my spiritual spanking, I just listen to Piper. When I want hear the gospel with flavor I listen to Driscoll. Brian Howard gives it to me straight. There just isn’t enough time in my day to process it all.

Here’s my lesson. Do I want to listen to God? A Godcast would just have to compete with all the other podcasts. I may listen at first, but if God didn’t deliver what I wanted to hear, I most likely would select another program. When my ears are tickled, my mind challenged, and my funny bone struck by all the voices available to me, it becomes easy to stop listening to God’s.

I have heard a lot of debate surrounding the theological matter of “listening to God.” Many argue that God really doesn’t speak today, that we can only extract his voice from written words in the Bible. The problem is that too often those words are not alive to us. There are millions of us who read the Word, only to walk away and live contrary to its teachings. Yet, we are all too willing to listen to everyone else, preachers, politicians, parents, friends, you name it. But, how often do I follow the words of the Lord who consistently said to be still and listen to Him. How often do I shut out all of these voices, and simply listen to God's?

Listening to God happens in my spirit, not with my ears. It requires me to be still. It requires me to humbly submit my heart to the Holy Spirit when I approach Scripture, and ask Him to teach me. It requires me to not ignore that still quiet voice that convicts me, encourages me, or leads me to do something. It requires me to listen. God is speaking all the time. The Godcast is always on. The question is “will I listen?”

Last year I tried to listen more to God, and I can say that when I did, He spoke. When I say “spoke”, I’m not just talking about words. God is not confined to using the English vocabulary. His voice is gentle, but powerful. I best hear him when I humbly approach His Word. Yet, if I listen, He speaks to me throughout the day. We have a relationship that is alive. How silly would it be for me to believe in prayer, in which I do all the talking without believing that He wants to respond to me? In fact, some of my best times in prayer have been when I shut up and try to listen. In the coming year I want to listen to God more. I want to know his voice in Scripture as well as His active voice moment by moment in the grind of my daily life.

side note : for more reading on hearing God, check out Dallas Willard’s HEAring God. It is phenomenal.