Hola, como estas?

Hello, how are you?

The title is an often-familiar greeting that we give to one another.  This is no different here in Guatemala.  Hola, buenas dias?  Como estas?  You hear that just about everywhere you go.

So it is with great joy and sincerity that I share that expression with all of you:  Hello, how are you?

It has been a long while since our last post.  We have traveled back to the States to help with a fundraiser/awareness event for the ministry, connect with friends and family, putz around on the acreage, and share our hearts with various churches and groups, and individuals.  Alas, we (the Schrocktribe) are now back in Guatemala.

We are in the small break between the two Timothy Leadership Training seminars here at the base.  Each week about 25 pastors come here to worship, study, train, grow, and develop.  Exciting is hardly the word to use.  Our family simple acts as host at the base, I (Justin) led one devotion, and then chat with the presenters in between their teaching….oh…and we eat ALL GUATEMALAN FOOD.  It is amazing!

As we reflect on our family’s experiences this past year, we are amazed.  We had felt the call to come here a few years ago, but it was not entirely clear.  We were content and felt like we still had a role at our home church in youth ministry.  We always said that we would stay there until God would call us out.  We had a hunch that the next calling would be in Guatemala.

In September of 2013, our Church went through The Story together and on the last Sunday in September the message was on Abraham and his following the Lord.   We, Vicki and I, were mulling over, “is it time to move on”.  We had chatted with only 3 other people…..yet on that Sunday we heard: So they left.  Only 3 other people knew what was in our heads….not the pastor, not the youth group, only three close friends.  Yet we heard it: The Call.

This passage is taken from Genesis 12:4 when Abram responded to the Lord’s calling.  He, and his wife and nephew Lot (hence the they) went to a place that they did not know, only to follow the Lord. 

We heard those words that day: So they left.  So we began the journey that we find ourselves in….Guatemala.

Yet, in the journey of following God, which I pray that all of you desire to do, we need to be aware of two types of callings:  A Life-Long Calling and a Calling to a Task.  I had to learn this in my years of ministry.  My vocation is my life long calling.  My job is my calling to a task.

Acts 16 sets this up beautifully.  Paul (called to be a Missionary to the Gentiles) heads out to share God with a man from Macedonia.  After spending at least four weeks in Philippi and was beaten and flogged and thrown in the inner cell, THEN he gets to share the Gospel with the jailer and converts him and his entire family to Christ.  Then in verse 40 we see these words: Then they left . 

Their task was done……

For us a  Schrocktribe, let us be the same…..in September we heard and answered: So they left.  Yet again, we hear that same mysterious calling:  Then they left.  We will answer that call.  We share this with you, to let you know…..we are moving back to the States July 1, 2015. 

After much prayer and soul searching and listening, we see and sense (having confirmation that we were to come AND confirmation that we are to return) we will be faithful yet again and return to the States.  Vicki has a job/ministry in the field of nursing and serving the under served.  This opportunity will be within her gifts and passion and a benefit to our family.

I remain open to the Lord’s leading.  I still enjoy youth ministry, discipleship ministry and helping men and women called into ministry to further explore their vocational calling. 

As a family, we see the overall need and direction is to move back.  This has been a difficult process because we hold much love (still) for the ministry and people here.  We still HIGHLY recommend people to come to Guatemala with Paradise Bound Ministry.  We believe in what God is doing in and through the ministry here.

Yet, for the Schrocks, let it be said of us: So they left and then they left , ALL in God’s plan and timing.  We thank you for your prayers (oh how we thank you!!!!).  We plan to continue this blog to share God’s movements and devotions and our hearts.  We are not done yet.  We still have a few more months here.  Join us in the great unknown WITH the Great I AM! 

~Justin