The Way of the Shepherd - Psalm 23:5

 

We are continuing our series The Way of the Shepherd in Psalm 23. This beloved Psalm has been quoted in numerous contexts and settings, offering encouragement to believers for thousands of years. 

 

The problem with familiarity, however, is that we don’t often slow down and think through the depth of the psalm, and we pigeonhole the text to common expressions. For instance, considering Psalm 23 as only a funeral Psalm and missing out on the everyday life application of this song. 

 

With that, let’s turn to Psalm 23 and read it in its entirety, then we will focus on verse 5 today.

 

Read Psalm 23

 

Theology Provokes Worship

As we read through the text there are a couple of shifts David presents us. 1-3, David is describing God with the pronoun “He”. In these few phrases, David is recounting what he believes about God, which is what we call “theology.” Every believer is an amateur theologian, meaning we all think about God and talk about God. We have views of God which we should regularly recount and develop.

 

Then in verses 4-6 we see a shift from talking about God, to talking to God, this is called “worship.” We should never allow ourselves to talk about God’s glories without turning those into praise. This is a natural shift when our theology engages our hearts.  

 

It’s About Honor

One more thought from the context before digging into verse 5. In verse 3, we heard an astounding phrase, “for His name’s sake.” Why is God doing all this for us? For His name’s sake! It’s about His reputation, about His character. It is about who He is.

 

In our culture honor, character and integrity are virtues, but we are not an honor culture, at least not like what we see in the Jewish and Middle Eastern cultures. Your name, your family name and your house’s reputation were guarded with great care. 

 

We see this understanding of honor and “name’s sake” expressed in the Bedouin hospitality laws. The Bedouin culture has been around for over 4,500 years. Bedouins are a people who live in tents and continually move around the Judaean/Jordanian wilderness. 

 

In a Bedouin context, tales about hospitality and generosity became as important as battle stories. Just as important as being a strong and victorious in battle was being a welcoming and hospitable host. Consider,

 

1 Kings 8:41–43

41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 

 

It is this honor code that God has used to describe Himself. His provision, protection, leading and hospitality communicate His character and draws people to Himself. This is why it is so important for us to be His “witnesses” to the world, that we proclaim the love and care we have experienced from our Father. 

 

It is this Bedouin backdrop that shapes how I’ve read through Psalm 23, and especially verse 5. Keep that in mind as we talk through our verse for this week.

 

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows

 

Many commentators and Study Bible contributors provide a significant change in Psalm 23 when we come to verse 5. They transport us from the shepherd with His sheep in the field, to the royal palace. They use the words like “banquet” and “feast” and conjure up images of a kingdom and festivals. 

 

Those images and ideas are not foreign to the Bible as feasts and celebrations with God are talked about numerous times. However, I don’t want to leave the wilderness, the shepherd/sheep context of Psalm 23 too quickly and miss what is revealed in this setting.

 

Will you walk through Psalm 23 with me, thinking of a Bedouin context for verse 5. 

 

Radical Hospitality

 

“You prepare a table before me…” 

In the Negev, the Judaean wilderness, where shepherds watch over their flocks, it is a hard land. It’s not the green pasture lands of Ohio. It’s rocky, difficult terrain, where the shepherds need to lead their sheep continually to new grasslands. This led to the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouin. 

In the desert wilderness of Judea, the harsh environment was exhausting and would demand the life of one who does not know the wilderness. This is why the Bedouin’s developed the desert code of hospitality. In the desert, one is always welcomed to your tent. When a guest arrived, announced or unannounced, they were to be treated with honor and care. 

 

Look at Genesis 18:1–8

1 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. (ESV)

 

Provision

Here we see the Bedouin Hospitality on display. The generosity of Abraham is on display. The invitation, the water for washing, a place to rest, to a snack to eat and to be refreshed. Once that is taken care of, he rushed out to prepare a meal. 

 

If we read this from an American perspective, Abraham looks task driven, hasty and inconvenienced by the important visitors. But from a Bedouin’s view, this is a wonderful tale of hospitality, where Abraham is not rushing out of inconvenient embarrassment, but out of joy for having a guest in his tent. 

 

This is the image I have as I read this verse. We haven’t left the wilderness where the Shepherd watches over the sheep. Rather, we have a tent in the wilderness, where the host beckons us to his table.

 

I think David is caught up in this imagery as he is humbled by God preparing a meal, washing his feet, and giving his weary soul a place to rest. 

 

Psalm 23 does not just point us to the Bedouin hospitality but lays a pattern for the Good Shepherd’s hospitality.  In Matthew 11 Jesus offers an open invitation to come into his tent and receive rest for your soul (Matt. 11:28-29). Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). The provision that Jesus has made is more than a temporary meal, it is eternal life (John 10:10).

 

Not only is God’s radical hospitality on display at the table, but it also says a strange phrase:

 

“in the presence of my enemies…” 

 

Protection

We all have enemies, whether external or internal. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Habitual sins, wayward thoughts, lies we believe, relationships that are broken, or even people who antagonize us. David definitely knew about having enemies.

 

Early on, David faced the Philistine giant, Goliath. Shortly thereafter he had to run from King Saul, who was jealous of him. David wander throughout the desert land evading enemies in his youth, and later in life when he fled from his own son’s conspiracy to take over his kingdom. 

David knew what it was like to be overwhelmed by this world. He did not take God’s hospitality for granted.

 

The Bedouin Hospitality laws not only demand that provisions are made, but that protection is offered. A leading scholar on the Bedouin life, Dr. Clinton Bailey, said this,

 

“A Bedouin host is obliged to protect anyone who enters his tent from outside threats…Preventing harm from befalling anyone who has entered a man’s tent, who has thereby become his guest, is reflected in the legal directive, “Defend a guest if he’s done good or done bad; keep a violator at bay or pay for his faults.” Defending a guest may mean stopping assailants from assaulting their intended victim by admonishing the assailants, especially if they are still outside the tent.”

 

Again, it was the character and honor of the host at stake, and therefore they would protect the guest, even if it put their own life in danger. As in this Bedouin legal directive, “You will die in front of the one you’re protecting.”

 

This understanding is transformative! God is not transporting us out of the shepherd’s fields and into a palace, He is meeting us where we are at to provide refreshment and protection for our souls. 

 

Not only will God stand before you and your enemies, He sent His Son to defeat your enemies. Jesus was willing to die in front of the one He is protecting, by taking our sin and shame to the cross, conquering it by overcoming death. Listen to His invitation:

 

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (ESV)

 

Oh, weary soul, listen to the voice of our Savior calling out to you, come to His table and find the provision and protection you need. Experience the radical hospitality of our divine host today.

 

Compassionate Care

Not only does our Shepherd offer us radical hospitality, but he shows us compassion in the way He cares for us.

 

“Anoints my head with oil…”

 

It’s easy to read this and think of the anointing of kings, or the anointments of perfumed oils at festivals. But let’s stay in the shepherd’s context here. The Hebrew word for anoints in this passage is “to make healthy.” To anoint a king is a different word all together. 

 

The Bedouins would offer their guests oils to refresh their face and skin. This was particularly refreshing coming out of the sun and wind of the wilderness. 

 

A caring shepherd, even today, will anoint the sheep’s head with oils for several reasons. We all know what it is like to have dry and cracked skin, especially in the winter. A shepherd would rub oil to bring healing to the sheep’s cracked skin. 

Another reason as shepherd would put oil on a sheep’s head was to keep the flies away. There is a type of fly that will pester the sheep continually so they can’t rest. These flies will land on the sheep and try to lay their larva in the cracks of their skin or in their nose. This causes to the sheep pain, frustration, and can even lead to death.

 

Shepherds developed an oil mixture that keeps these flies away and protects the sheep. Sheep who are being attacked by these flies will rub their noses in the ground or on a bush, or sometimes even bang their head on a rock. An observant shepherd would see this and treat the sheep with this medicinal salve. 

 

Do you resonate with that sheep having flies attacking and being a painful nuisance to you? Allow the tender, compassionate Shepherd to apply the oil of healing to your pain. 

 

James 5:14

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (ESV)

 

We most often refer to this when it comes to physical sickness, but it is not limited to the body. The flies that are attacking can be physical sickness, or mental struggles. James is calling us to bring in spiritual leaders who can be the presence of the Good Shepherd to us. Whether it is real oil, or the presence of prayers and counselors that act as the oil of healing to our weary souls, we need to bring others into our pain. 

 

As I read Psalm 23, especially 4-6, I see David increasingly being astounded by what he is writing about God. This is a song of praise, of worship and wonder. As he ponders God’s protection, provision, and care, I can’t help but think he did recall the time he was called from the shepherds field and anointed with oil. 

 

Yes, it’s a different word, as I have said earlier, but it was a profound moment in David’s life. This radical hospitality, compassionate care and call from his God led David to Abundant Joy.

 

Abundant Joy

 

“my cup overflows.” 

 

The Bedouins would offer water, milk and wine to their guests. A generous host would ensure that their cup was never empty, thus, my cup overflows would mean that I have been greatly cared for by my host. 

 

Consider Psalm 104:15

“You (God) gave… wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.” (ESV)

 

In this verse we see the Bedouin radical hospitality of our God on display to bring joy to our hearts. David is overwhelmed by God’s love and his care for him. An overflowing cup is a symbol of abundant joy. 

 

When you dwell on the presence, provision and protection of our Good Shepherd, how can you not be filled with joy?

 

When we come to Psalm 23, and dig deep, as we have, we have to allow the truths, the promises and the teaching to sink deeply into our hearts. We cannot just memorize the verses, recite the refrain, without letting it affect our heart and expect the abundant joy that David sings about. 

 

Oh Christian, Jesus is offering you abundant joy, are you living in it? Drink deeply from His provision, His care, His protection and know His love for you.

 

This is His promise to you, that when we come to Him, our lives will be the cup that overflows with the living waters, that His Spirit will indwell us, empower us, and help us overcome. 

 

Daily you can come to the table of our Lord and experience His provision, protection and care and be refreshed in your soul. However, we shouldn’t stop at just what we receive from Psalm 23:5 and the radical hospitality the Shepherd has for us. We should learn from the Good Shepherd and imitate him by becoming radical in our own hospitality towards others. Consider this article by Rosaria Butterfield on “Ordinary Hospitality” and consider how your hospitality could be used to bring others to the Good Shepherd.

 

 

Mexico Trip 2024 – Day 8 – Travel Day

***Today’s entry is a guest post from Cindy Preston***

The morning devotional for our travel home day yesterday was on joy. This is fitting as our mission trip to Mexico and Abba Father’s Home was coming to an end. There are so many reasons and events to rejoice over from the last week. One is the answer to prayer(s) … even those that may have started out as a bit of a joke. Seeing God in the unexpected is pretty cool.

We talked through final details and logistics at our last team meeting a couple weeks ago. One of the things that we were going to be blessed with was a washer and dryer at our guest house. I asked a question that seemed logical to me – do we need to bring laundry detergent and fabric softener? This of course made most of the team laugh, especially the mention of fabric softener (which evidently isn’t part of the top ten necessity items for a mission trip). Since this was my first missions trip, this will be helpful information in the future. lol

I was going to give each member a couple Tide pods and dryer sheets to be silly when we go to the airport. But it ended up being an opportunity to create little gift bags with practical items that could be a reminder of prayers that I had for each of us. It is with a joyful heart that I share these, and the way that God answered them this week.

Tide pods (Clean) – may God clean each of us inside and out (Matthew 23:25-26). Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for looking good on the outside but being hypocrites on the inside. The hope of this little prayer was that we would be made clean from the inside out and that this week would be transformative. We could have just gone through the motions of painting, playing with kids, passing out treat bags with tracks. But it was clear from our evening debriefs, and individual conversations, that no one on our team is going home unaffected. Every one of us has expressed a desire to not just go back to life exactly as it was, to leave this week behind us as just a trip we went on. Rather, the sentiment has been to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in ways that everyday life here looks a little more like what our days looked like in Puerto Escondido.

Fabric softener (Soft) – may God keep our hearts and words soft, regardless of weather and circumstances (Proverbs 15:1). Our devotions this week were on things like unconditional love, humility, helpfulness, grace, kindness and patience. But just because we spent quiet time with the Lord in the morning didn’t mean that these attributes would play out throughout the day. We were hot, tired, hungry, thirsty, overwhelmed, at times sick. Yet the Holy Spirit kept our hearts soft. There was no tension, no drama. Every member on the team was supportive and encouraging to the others throughout the entire week.

Candy (Sweet) – may we taste the sweetness of the LORD and take refuge in him (Psalm 34:8). I mentioned the sweetness of the LORD on day 2 when the ladies had the unexpected gift of rest and refreshment before jumping into the mission. Our team, including Kayla, Jocsan and Zeke, was essentially three generations. Not only did our team have soft hearts and “got along,” but there was authentic connection and relationship building that will also be a lasting legacy of this trip. That’s pretty sweet.

Pringles (Salty) – may we not lose our saltiness so that all that we come in contact with will see our good works and give glory to God (Matthew 5:13-14). We planted seeds this week. But every team member brought their whole being to the work projects, interacting with the kids and sharing the wordless book at the events. God will be the one to water the seeds, and he already starting watering the seeds planted from last year. There were a couple families who came that had also attended the children’s events last year. Building relationships, authentically connecting in the community takes time. Kayla and Jocsan are there on the ground 24/7/365 doing this. But, seven of our team members were part of the group last year. They returned this year with even more passion to share the gospel and connect with the kids.

Mints (Fresh) – may we embrace the new thing God is doing in us and those we are serving (Isaiah 43:18-19). I mentioned being fresh, embracing a new thing God is doing, on day 4/Sunday. But it’s a prayer that God continued to answer throughout the week. Several people mentioned multiple times during debriefs that there seemed to be an underlying theme of discerning the will of God. But the desire isn’t just to come back to do something different, to be different, than before we went to Mexico. The key is God is the one orchestrating the new thing in, and for, each of us. Although none of our individual stories are the same, we each have the privilege of being part of God’s big story in the ways that he specifically calls and gifts us to be.

When I signed each of their gift cards with “Looking forward to spending a transformative week with you,” I had no idea how amazing and beautiful it would be. (And, yes, there was gratitude and joy expressed in being able to do laundry this week!)

Mexico Trip 2024 – Day 7

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:1

Today (Wednesday) was our last day in Puerto Escondido and last workday before traveling home. (I am writing this on Thursday while sitting at the airport and reflecting back on yesterday.) I thought our pre-trip devotional from June 28 was appropriate for today. Psalm 118 invites us to be thankful for the goodness and enduring love of the Lord. The devotional book defined “Thankfulness as being full of thanks and appreciation; glad for something or someone; realizing that everything and everyone is a gift to us from God.” I am so thankful for our team and how they came together on this trip. I am thankful for Mariska, who asked me to pass a on a message, “hi fam!” It is a big adventure to travel international and be in close proximity to each other for a week. I am proud of the maturity, generosity, and servant hearts they all displayed on this trip.

I am thankful for Jocsan and Kayla’s invitation to join them in this ministry. I am thankful for the hard work and positive attitudes yesterday as we painted the garage. It was one of the sweatiest days of my life, but we worked hard, and the pictures are amazing! I will let the pictures tell the story.

Isn’t it beautiful how the colors pop! It was very rewarding to see the orange paint cover the white. Stepping back and seeing the after was exciting. I had mentioned the first day we drove to the property was concrete structure that you could barely see through the trees. Sealing it with the white primer looked good through the trees. However, as we drove away, seeing the orange pop through the trees was exciting! Now the kids will see from the road that there is a building on the property and one day it will be a safe place for them to learn skills and hear about Jesus!

Yesterday evening we went out for dinner, which was delicious, and then stopped for frozen yogurt as a fun treat after a long week. It was fun just hanging out as a group and allowing conversations to happen. When we arrived back at the Airbnb, we had our last night of share time. It is bittersweet to come to an end of an amazing trip. The team shared lessons learned and highlights of the trip.

Anna shared from her heart and wonderful summary of what many of us are trying to process, “what is God’s will for our lives?” She admitted her struggle knowing what God’s will is for her and how that can be frustrating. However, hearing the testimonies this week from Kayla and Jocsan helped her see that knowing God’s will is about being obedient with the next step, whatever that step might be. Sometimes it’s hard to know what the next step to take is because we don’t get the big picture at the beginning; we just get the call to be obedient. As we take each step God weaves a bigger picture then we could imagine.

That’s a lesson I have learned, continue to learn, and still need to learn: faithfulness in the next step even when we don’t fully know what’s coming next. I think back on my life and where I am at today and marvel at how God worked in and through the unknowns to bring me to this place. I couldn’t have, and probably wouldn’t have, written my life story the way I have lived it out. But God has proved himself faithful with every step I have obediently taken with my eyes on the Good Shepherd. Kayla and Jocsan have amazing stories of what God had done in their lives to bring them to this point, which is a beautiful beginning to what God is doing through the vision he has placed on their hearts. God has taken a desire and turned it into a vision. He has taken a vision and is creating a reality as they faithfully take a step in obedience to his call.

Jocsan shared with us how exciting and encouraging it is for us to travel down and help them once a year. He confessed about the loneliness of being missionaries and the difficulty of holding the vision before their daily lives. All their work right now is focused on creating and orphanage for the kiddos, but there are not kiddos that they are caring for right now. Their heartbeat isn’t to build buildings but to build into lives of children. Having friends from Akron, Ohio that travel to work is a boost of energy and refreshing to their vision. Having a church family who is regularly praying and supporting them helps them feel less alone in the difficult times. Please commit to praying for Jocsan and Kayla and the development of Casa Abba.

This trip is completely different than last year’s trip. I don’t say this as a comparison or competition, each trip is a unique adventure that God gives to us. Several of us were on both trips and gleaned new lessons this year. This was the first international missions trip for some of our team members and I am so thankful that there was no separation between the returning members and the new members. However, each of our stories continue to build a bigger picture of the Kingdom of God in our lives and in our world.

I came into this trip more exhausted than I had realized due to a busy season. When I am exhausted, I can become a little short sighted or impatient. I must confess that after the first day, during debrief, I was a little short with the team trying to force the Spirit’s work. I had some expectations and tried to structure a specific outcome and ended up confusing and even frustrating team members. I wanted our debrief time to be a serious reflection of the spiritual lessons they are learning and not about joking around about poop stories (this is a missions trip staple) or “unspiritual” experiences. I know better than that, the icebreaker stories tear down the walls throughout the week and encourage vulnerability. But I wanted my way (notice how many times I said “I” in that paragraph).

Cindy took the time to stick around after our meeting and check in with me, at which time I began to I realize my own pride and desire for control. I wasn’t giving the team space to process and allow the Holy Spirit to do his thing. The next morning, I apologized to the team for being controlling and putting too much structure on a time that should be open and free to share whatever. I confess this because I want my team members to hear that I was not mad at anyone of them, and they didn’t do anything wrong. I became selfish, frustrated, and short sighted, but God is bigger and redeemed our time on this trip.

Today’s devotional is what I really needed to hear on Day 2. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).  Joy is an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something that is good and satisfying.  I wasn’t allowing the joy of the Lord to direct me into delighting in him. However, as I sit here and look at my team and remember each of them sharing their experiences this week, I find great joy and happiness in them, and I am satisfied with what God worked out through this week and through their testimonies. I am thankful that God did not allow my selfishness to derail the trip.

Jocsan shared the story of the well on the property you can read my post from last year to hear the story

God allowed this week to be a lesson for me. I came in exhausted, and he led me to a place of refreshment and rejuvenation. Yes, I am exhausted from hard work and long travel days. But I am refreshed in my spirit because the Lord has done a good work in our lives this week. He’s not finished with us yet and I am “confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Mexico Trip 2024 – Day 6

 

 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant…”

(1 Corinthians 13:4)

Today’s quiet time was based on kindness from 1 Corinthians 13:4. Our journal defined kindness as “doing whatever it takes to make life better for someone else.” And then it quoted the Talmud, the writings of Jewish Rabis on the Old Testament, saying “the highest form of wisdom is kindness.” This week we have been examining the concept of decreasing so that Jesus can increase in our lives. We have been praying through and seeking true biblical humility and a Christlike heart. Kindness is the expression of a heart that loves Jesus genuinely.

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “Love Chapter,” and is often read at weddings (BTW I am preparing a wedding sermon for back home on Saturday…I appreciate the prayers). Interestingly, that was not Paul’s intent when writing it. Yes, there are some beautiful statements about genuine love in 1 Corinthians 13, but it was written for Christians as a guide to loving fellow Christians they may disagree with about worship issues (Read chapters 12 and 14). Jesus said, “they will know you are my disciples by your love for the brothers.” This means loving fellow Christians well and demonstrating it through action.

Kindness is a trait that is welcomed by all, yet it is unfortunately rare. Learning to display the love of Christ through kindness will make you stand out in this world. I love seeing the kindness of our team as they seek to serve and encourage each other on this trip. Seeing and hearing conversations happen that are real is a testimony to the authenticity of the spirit of love in the team members. Not only are they learning and applying love with our team, but they are bending that love out toward the community and Casa Abba as we painted there today.

Painting can be a tough job any day, but it can be very difficult on a day that was a humid 86 degrees. Our team jumped in full bore as we began painting the first building on Casa Abba property. Today was about sealing the concrete with a white paint primer. Tomorrow we will add some color. Everyone pitched in and began working to prepare the space and get the brushes out. Everyone was filling the different jobs so quickly that I had time to go around and take pictures. I am just going to post a bunch of painting pictures tonight…

 

David, Will, Nick, and I (mostly David) helped fix the front gate to the property.

 

A highlight for me was jumping in the car and catching up with Kayla Morales. I realized she has been absent from my writings this week, but she is very much present and a huge part about what is going on here. It’s just that Kayla and I haven’t had much one-on-one time this year as she is a new momma and taking care of Zeke. I enjoyed the time in the car and look forward to future conversations with her. Last year we had one vehicle with only 8 of us, therefore Kayla, Jocsan, and I shared the cab of the truck most trips. This year we have two vehicles and Jocsan and I have had a lot of time together, which I treasure but that also means less time with Kayla. I love my time with her where we can talk about life, fears, struggles, vision, and God.

It is so encouraging to see how she loves her kiddos and sacrifices for them. Zeke is 3 months old and needs a lot of attention, yet Kayla is on the work site caring him around or passing him off to one of the team members, which we all love having “Zeke time.” These things are a big deal for a new mom, and I am so proud of her spirit, encouragement, and her kindness as she embraced this team.

 

Kayla shared her testimony in our morning devotions, and I love hearing her share it. Each time she shares it I learn something new about this amazing young woman that has inspired us to be here this week. Kayla is one of our own and she is serving Jesus with her whole heart! Jesus never promised an easy life if we follow him, but he promised to be with us and to bless us as we faithfully follow him. Kayla’s testimony is a story of God’s faithfulness to his promises in her life. You will have to come on the trip with us in the future to hear her testimony or ask her when she visits home. It’s her story to tell but I am a so proud of her for telling it.

After Kayla shared, I shared this Irish proverb with the group, “the best thing a friend can do with their friends is to share them.” Kayla and Jocsan are my friends that I want to share with the world. They are good people who love Jesus and live authentic Christian lives, and I am so happy to share them with our team (and you through this blog). Missionaries (and pastors for that matter) are not perfect people, they are people. I love the fact that our team is around real missionaries and can learn from them and see the realness of their lives. The fact that Kayla and Jocsan have allowed us to invade their space only 3 months after having their first baby is amazing. We have become a family unit and grown together tremendously.

 

When we finished cleaning up painting, we met behind the garage and prayed for Mr. Juan and Eulogio. I had the privilege of praying for them and their families. Afterwards, they shook each of our hands and were grateful that we took time to pray for them. They are doing an amazing job on the property and are a huge blessing to Jocsan and Kayla.

 

Jocsan shared with our team their vision for the property and even some ideas of what a trip next year might be. Let’s pray together for God’s direction and blessing on his vision to reach the neighborhood children for Christ.

Tomorrow is our last full day here. Please pray for us as we don’t want to leave, even though we look forward to being back home. God has protected us and given us health throughout this trip, which is part of the reason we are enjoying it so much. Please pray for Jocsan as he is congested and may have a cold. Pray for Kalya’s mom Kim who had a scratchy throat and wasn’t feeling well today. We only have short time left here, but we do ask for continued prayer for our health, especially the digestive health, of our team.

Thanks for following along!