Grace

 

Before coming to Argentina I had absolutely no idea of what I was getting myself into, completely clueless of what to expect. The only thing I knew, was that God was calling me here and I couldn’t miss this opportunity. The chance to see God at work and learn from Him. Learn the unforced rhymes of grace, learn his movements, his view on life, the way his heart bleeds for people, to experience his intimacy and to admire His craftsmanship. Those were my reasons for coming and through this journey God has been showing me so much more.

The church in which we are assigned is a church that has been through a lot physically as well as emotionally. There´s a lot of pain and confusion among the members due to difficult experiences that I rather not discuss. But despite all the physical damage, the building still remains standing and its people remain faithful. The other day my roommate Caty and I started cleaning out one of the rooms in the church that was kind of forgotten because it was an overwhelming mess. This room used to be a Sunday school room but was now filled with lots of junk and moldy wood from a flood that happened a couple of years ago. And as we were cleaning the room, it gave me a picture of what redemption looks like and how we are apart of that redemption process for the church. In a weird way while cleaning and getting rid of trash, I started getting a better understanding of what the church has been through and the sensitity and grace that was needed on my part. And just as we were cleaning and restoring that room, God was and is doing the same in the church. I’m seeing first hand God’s promise when he says “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” 1peter 5:10.

The process of being caught in the middle of all this confusion and heartache has not been easy for any of us, including the members of the church. But I have learned so much from these inspiring people. Their lives speak powerfully about perseverance, endurance, strength, hope, grace, faith, justice, redemption and most importantly love. Living here in the church (literally) I have seen charetor that is admirable and noble. I´m learning that nothing is perfect and the only thing that is stable is God. Here I´m seeing how God has not abandon nor shut his ear to his people. He hears their cries and sees their tears just like it says in Psalms 56:8 “you’ve kept track of every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledge, each ache written in your books”. I love that we serve a God who not only listens and understands but also responds. A God who see our struggles and helps us, not by taking it away (though that’s what I usually ask for) but by giving us the strength and endurance to go through it. 

 

I love you all and miss you dearly,

Meroe