It’s amazing to see just over a few weeks how certain things are constant and others change. This week has been my second visit to Tena, Capricho and Shandia. In the middle of June I stepped into Hotel Vista Hermosa for the first time, not having a clue how to get to Cafe Tortuga or Parque Amizonicos, or what the churches in Shandia or Capricho would look like. This time around I could lead 13 gringos anywhere we needed to go with no problem and I had faces in mind when I thought of going back to the ministry sites.
I have to say I learned a lot in the jungle this time around as well. I had a lot of practice figuring out songs by ear, which was particularly good practice for me when I’ve been uncharacteristically trying not to play guitar this summer. (For those of you to whom I’ve mentioned that, I think I’m over it). I also got to sit back and worship in church.
That’s a lesson I’ve been learning over and over this summer. Sitting back and worshiping. At home I’m used to being the guy doing the “important stuff.” If I’m at church I’m playing guitar (or another instrument) or singing or preaching or running the sound system. And through facilitating worship for others, you worship by giving back the gifts that God has given to you. But it’s really easy to get caught up in that also, and in many instances hard to find that sense of worship, particularly in the moment.
I saw that actually accomplished in Elysaul, in the way he played at the colegio in Babahoyo after giving his testimony. Tears streaming down his face and snot dangling all the way to the neck of the guitar, he sobbed and played gorgeous music, praying all along and knowing exactly how much his gift was affecting what was going on around him, despite probably barely being able to see what was happening through his tears.
This morning I learned the same thing by seeing and feeling something totally different. I listened to T.J. preach, and watched the group do their Prodigal Son skit. I hadn’t been part of the planning process for that except to listen out for cultural gaffes (and I was mostly asleep on a pew for that). I love just being and worshiping in the presence of God and surrounded by his love shown in the dedication of a baker’s dozen gringos and a church full of people who are still accepting of and excited about every single team of extranjeros that shows up.
God has a lot to teach us when we’re simply still.
