Culture, Culture and Culture

or: "That's all I have to say about Oxford Commas."
or: "Rockin on the 1's and 2's."

Saturday we had our Cultural Training time for the Mexico team. I didn't sleep on Friday night (because, you know, life), so it was a bit of a blur for me, but it was a really pleasant blur.

We started by spending 1 hour of our scheduled 2 hour training doing a get-to-know-you exercise. It was essentially speed dating, where every person asked and answered the following two questions with every other person:
1. What makes you feel the most dead inside?
2. What makes you feel the most alive inside?

A bit weird, but it stirred some great conversation and let us get to know each other in a cool way (please keep praying for team unity for us!). It may seem like a lot of time to spend just conversating with each other; but what better way to get exposed to Mexican culture? We were investing in relationship, not task. If you are a gringo who wants to be more Mexican and you are reading this, here's the best two things to learn:
1. Relax; it will all work out.
2. People are more important than the thing you think you should be doing.
If you're Mexican, especially if you're a regio and reading this, let me know if that's inaccurate! I have a lot to learn still, but that's what I've got so far.

There's nothing wrong with being more task-oriented or more relationship-oriented, just know how you are slanted. I think God is both. I still remember when i learned that our task was relationship and our relationship expressed itself in tasks. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Or read John 13 and 14, where Jesus says if we love him we'll obey his command...and that his command is to love.

Anyway, I'm excited to see what our team culture turns out to be like (every year is so different) and how we respond to regio culture and how it changes us and impacts our homegroup cultures when we come back.

Also, because i know you are all dying to know:
1. I feel most dead inside when my brokenness breaks other people.
2. I feel most alive inside when I get to help other people in a meaningful way. Also when i'm driving on a wide-open road.

Pray for love.
Pray for power.
Pray for vision.
All from God.

Support-raising

Joyful generosity on the part of the church brings God great glory, y'all.

Support-raising has always intimidated me a bit; i'm prideful and independent by nature. I don't like to ask for help or rely on other people. God always uses raising money for these trips to humble me (thanks God) and put me into a position to receive love from other people.

I felt it on my heart this year to try to rely entirely on other people to pay for my trip. If i wanted to contribute, to contribute to my team-mates in their support-raising, but to trust in God to provide for my trip through his people. It's telling that i kept this goal to myself; it shows i didn't really trust God to come through in this area.

I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people i sent letters to (and some that i didn't!). Thank you so much to everyone who has been giving. It has been humbling and i feel deeply loved and cared-for.

I'm getting pretty close to our goal and have a few more people who have said they want to give. It's still a faith question, but the generosity that i've seen so far has already moved my heart to worship God and his provision through his people.

:)