When I Said, “I Do”

22 yrs…mr. and mrs.

Never wanted to marry a pastor. That’s what my dad was many of my growing up years. And yes, that’s when I learned more than ever how to truly live by faith. But. That happened to be a deterrent in my thinking. I’m surely not going to marry someone in a position where I will always have to live by faith. Like it’s some kind of curse. But the thing is, those life lessons early in my years were foundational for how I live today.

When we mentally planned in our heads the ideas of what our new ministry would look like here in Jocotenango, we had no idea what was coming. We envisioned much more of what we were doing previously in Buena Vista. Not that some of that is not being carried over. But realistically, it looks rather different.

staff meeting with Britt, Jorge and Julio

Soon after we moved down here, we started back up with Spanish lessons with our teacher, Julio. Julio knows everybody here in his hometown. And soon we began meeting his friends and people God happened to place in his path. One of the first friends we met was Jorge, Julio’s ministry partner. We started going to Bible studies they had started, one being with a local rehab. The thing is, Jorge is not the kind of guy to just let you sit and smile. You have to get involved. So it didn’t take long for him to ask Britt to share at one of the Bible studies. Then another. And another. He started out in English with Julio translating. But recently, he has been doing them all in Spanish. So proud of him.

Walter, beside Britt, struggles greatly.
We are encouraged every time he shows up.

Tonight Britt will be sharing at our Saturday night Bible study with a family we have been meeting with since not long after we moved. Last night, he shared with me that he’s just not sure what to share this time. You see, a number of events have transpired over the past months, changing this family’s future forever. Apparently, two of the daughters have made some poor choices and are pregnant. The father of the house was only made aware of this last week, even though one of the daughters is seven months along (I’m sorry, but I still don’t get how that happens.).

Britt getting to know Celzo, the hard-working
dad of the house, a little better

What clicked in my head last night, as Britt shared his concern with me was that he is showing the concern of a shepherd. Yep, I believe my husband has inadvertently become a “pastor”…as in someone who shepherds a flock and cares about more than just teaching and discipling them. He doesn’t just want to share whatever comes to his mind with this family tonight. He wants to guide them and direct them towards a better path, using principles straight from God’s word. He wants to teach them about true love and what that really looks like.

Really, I believe many Guatemalan men are smooth talkers for the most part. Because there are so many woman/girls here that get knocked up. And it’s not usually because of their good looks that women are drawn to these men. Really. I could go off on a whole new topic here on the culture and how rotten many men treat women behind the schemes of their smooth talking. It goes deep in this society. Really only God can change such downward cycle of thinking. And tonight, Britt, with God’s guidance, is going to start right here with this family.

Jorge (on the right) shared God’s word with these guys from San Felipe

Ariel (in the middle), our worship leader

Last Saturday, after being diverted from our normal Bible study location due to the drama at that house, Britt ended up (without me because I was in bed with a fever) with the guys at another house. Several of the guys whom we’ve been ministering to at the Bible studies from the rehab were able to attend that night. One of them, whom I’ll probably mention more on later, is a talented musician. So he’s recently been leading our Bible studies in worship, which is just incredible. I love it. Anyway, he and another rehab guy accepted Christ after Britt shared that night. This is huge. And it will reflect back to the other guys at the rehab who just aren’t there yet. Really, if God starts working on these struggling men and changing their hearts one at a time, who knows what could happen in this community.

Although I never would have seen it coming…being married to a “pastor”, I believe I need to settle into the idea of it and just be okay with it. And I am. Because there’s no better place to be than right where God wants you. And if for us that means ministering in the lives of people by digging in God’s word rather than starting businesses and building houses for the moment, I’m good with that. Eventually, the other needs will come, I’m sure. It’s inevitable in this country. But building relationships, where we can disciple those new in faith and not yet there yet is what God has us doing for now. Although I have wavered in my feelings of inadequacy on this, I believe God is using this time to build us up and prepare us for what is coming.

Technically, when I said, “I do”, I was signing up for the whole package…past, present and future. I never could have known the journey I would be on with this man. Little did I know that one day, we would be doing the same thing with our family that my parents did with theirs. That the very thing that I wanted to avoid would become my own reality. I thought I was pretty safe marrying the man I chose. But God can do amazing things beyond our imagination. This reminds me of the verse we are using to base our new ministry from… Ephesians 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.