Today I was looking through some pictures of when Aaron was born. I can't believe that when he was only three weeks old our family did this and I never blogged about it.
Back-track.
We must have been crazy thinking to take a three week old on an 8 hour trip to another state while trying to serve God and others. When we told people of our plans, most people said "good luck" or "you're brave." Honestly, I was exhausted and not looking forward to the 10+ hour drive ahead of us. I was grouchy and doubting that God could use us (or me) to minister His love to others.
This wasn't exactly the plan. We didn't know that Aaron would be just 3 weeks old. Both my other two kids were born 1-2 weeks before their due date. He came almost 2 weeks after the due date. We didn't know that it takes longer than three weeks to get used to a family of 5. But God did. God knew that little Aaron would be just three weeks old. Just old enough for momma to start feeling well again and to have a eating/sleeping schedule established. But still young enough to sleep the majority of the day and not care who is holding him. Not only did God know, but it was in His perfect plan.
God reminded me that he uses sinners. Sinners like me--to minister His love. To be His hands and His feet to a broken world. Sin is real. And our sin should not get in the way of us searching for ways to minister His love to others. I often get so tied up in my own sin, and so easily over look ways I have right in front of me to minister to others, at church, to friends, family, or even my own kids. Our own sin is the very reason we know we need a Savior and what drives us to the cross. In our sin is where we can remember what it is like for those who don't know the love of our Savior and see how important it is to share His name among the nations.
So what does family missions look like?
Well, it's living real life. In front of others to see. Talk about intimidating. With kids, you can't put up a front like we sometimes so easily can at church or when we are in public. Being real with who we are--the good and the bad, our mistakes, and mostly our need and love for Jesus. Going to the cross daily not only points us back to Jesus, but also those who we are ministering to. We co-lead a group to Dalton, Georgia for a week to connect with a local church and reach the Hispanic population. Each one took their place in serving and ministering to others during the week. I loved seeing how God used each member of our family as a part of the team for His purpose and glory.
God blessed Angel with an amazing ability to lead music during VBS and team worship time. This was not something in the plan. While this was way out of his comfort zone, he loved it! Angel also helped the team serve with a construction project. This was something he was good at and really enjoyed doing. The project was re-finnishing a house of a single-dad who had cancer, and was raising his two young boys. We later learned that the dad died shortly after we left and the boys are now living in the house with their grandmother.
I was able to relate to other moms and invite families to come back. This was a great aspect to our week in that many parents stayed during the VBS and heard the gospel. We weren't just ministering to the kids, but to families including moms and dads. I also stayed back to watch the kids from our group and help prepare for VBS while the other adults went to the construction site. Thankfully, since this was a family trip, we could plan nap time into our day! practicing songs for VBS
Alisia has a heart for little children and offered her talents where needed. She eagerly helped in skits, lead music with her Papi, heled the younger kids with cafts, met new friends and invited them to come back to VBS. She also voluntereed to help with the construction project in whatever way she could. Alisia and the other girls even willingly cleaned the bathrooms in the church.
Caleb was very much still Caleb. He played in the rain, in the river, on the play ground, and in the field. God used Caleb's playful spirit which immediately attracted attention from other kids to come play. He also helped lead music motions and helped out with some of the skits during VBS.
I loved seeing what was God's perfect plan for Aaron. This was what I was most worried about. Conversations are so much easier to start if you are carrying a newborn. I had many moms come up to me and start a conversation just because I was holding him. Many mom's stayed at the VBS when they saw that other moms were there. LOTS of people held him. There's a wives-tale in Latino countries called "mal de ojo" (evil eye) usually associated with envy and that if someone wants to hold your baby, they should, or they will leave a bad vibe with the baby resulting in uncontrollable crying. I had to be comfortable handing him off. I had to trust. Overall, the trip reaffirmed to Angel and I that God can use our imperfect family to share His love. God can speak through us and to the hearts of others. God has laid it on Angel's heart to take the gospel to other Hispanics, his own people, and his own family. Please join us as we will be praying for God to open up doors for us to have opportunities to minister His love in this way. In the mean time, may God prepare our hearts and use us where we are to be His hands and His feet.
