Visitors

Lately we have been visiting lot of churches. We are very happy with our home church, so no, we are not looking for a new church home. We are begging for money and prayers.

Well, begging is an extreme word. To be more MC (missionary-correct, get it? har har) we are "sharing about the ministry the Lord has called us to and giving the Body of Christ an opportunity to participate in His work among Native America."

And that's true, it really is, even though I joke about it.

But do you know how hard it is to ask people for money?

Folks, it's not easy, it's really not, although the more you do it and more convinced and passionate you are about getting where you want to go, the easier it gets.

Plus I usually let Jesse do that part. (Thanks, dear. I love you!)

But all that aside, we have been so amazed and blessed at the beauty and diversity of Christ's body. We attended a church today in Seattle that is part of a denomination other than our own and was yet again surprised at this beauty of variety.

This church is smaller than our home church. It meets in the original building that was constructed long long ago (in a galaxy far away - oh wait... no, in Seattle) and while dilapidated, is gorgeous with it's stained glass windows, balcony, domed sanctuary and wooden pews.

But the people - the people were the most stunning of all. And while they are different than the people that I see in my own church on a regular basis, they are no more and no less beautiful. Just different.

For example, when I took Lyddie to the nursery to feed her, I was able to chat with a Samoan lady. This mother of 11 told me about a time in her life three years ago when she lost two boys in the span of 10 days. I remember hearing about a situation at that time when some teenage boys were looking at a gun that they brought home and there was an accident and one of the boys died. That was this family - this mother lost her son. But only 10 days before, one of her other sons was killed while waiting for a bus at a bus stop.

But you would never immediately guess that this woman has tasted so much suffering. She is clearly filled with joy and peace and hope. She is part of the missions committee at this church and her children were present and active in the worship service, with one standing up and sharing her faith with us. I was so blessed and challenged by this lovely woman of faith.

The church is made up of many different kinds of people - there were elderly couples, white couples, a man with cerebral palsy, a Filipino family, a few Samoan families, some Native Americans... the diversity of the body, not only in skin color, but style of worship and probably lifestyle, was so interesting and a beautiful surprise. It's so easy to forget the many different kinds of people the Lord has drawn into Our Family, and this support raising journey is just a wonderful and blessed reminder. We love visiting other churches and sharing about the beautiful and exciting ministry happening with Sacred Road, even when it is scary, stressful, time consuming, and exhausting. It's a true blessing to be used by God in this way and to be blessed by His people with their wonderful hospitality.