Author: Global Education Ministries

Soon, my wife and I will begin our fourth school year with Manantial. To say that these 3 years have been a blessing would be an understatement. We have been encouraged and have grown in so many ways since we followed God’s leading to Puerto Escondido, Mexico.  God is truly at work in all of our everyday lives and is constantly pouring out His grace to us in innumerable ways. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability ti produce wealth.” Everything we have is the generous love and grace of God who gives and provides for all things. God has truly been good to us, but this past year came a gift unexpected in our lives.

Not even a year ago, we met a family in our church and invited them to dinner the next night. Come to find out, this family lived just a few blocks from us. That one dinner turned into dinners at their house at least once a week where they opened their home and generously served and cared for us as their own.  We began going to their house just to hang out for a little bit, but that would turn into spending the entire afternoon and evening with them. As Kristen and I celebrated 3 years of marriage last November, they invited us over to their house and they celebrated our marriage with us. In a little less than a year, these strangers have become our family. They are some of our deepest friends in Mexico and we haven’t even known them for a year. God’s gifts comes in various ways. My prayer is that this simple story reminds you of God’s grace in your life. What gifts has He given you that you are taking for granted? Who are some people around you that you can show the generous love and grace of God to?

-Daniel McDonald, GEM Missionary 

This summer, after my first semester of teaching in Mexico, has been so refreshing while reflecting back on these past 6 months.  Typically, I’m a slow processor and usually things piece together and make sense to me once I’m actually out of the situation and able to look back and see the bigger picture of what God has been trying to show me over time.  Looking back on this semester, I think it’s easy to say that everyone, no matter who you are and what you’re walking into, always has some kinds of expectations of what something is going to be like.  You paint a picture in your head and you immediately assign these things to friends, work, church…you name it.

If you would have asked me before moving if I had any expectations of what moving to Mexico was going to be like, what teaching was going to look like, and if I would miss the United States, I would have told you something like, “Nope. No expectations. I’ll miss my people, absolutely, but I’m so excited, I doubt that I’ll really miss the States. I’ve said my goodbyes well and I’ve been waiting forever to move. I’m just ready.” Reflecting back, a lot of my struggles ended up coming from unmet and unrealistic expectations that I came up with on my own without even realizing it.

One thing I was expecting that I wouldn’t have been quick to admit before, was that I was expecting Puerto to feel like home.  Looking from the outside in I felt like I already had a community set up that I would be able to just walk into, the “perfect teaching job” laid out in front of me, and beaches that would make me never want to go back to the cornfields of Ohio (funny because I joked all the time about what I would have given to blast my country music in my car driving through fields and fields of corn). Of course, you and I know that there’s such a thing as “Instagram” vs. “reality,” and that community and relationships take time to build and form.  For whatever reason, I just had this picture that Puerto was going to immediately feel like home. But let me tell ya, as soon as that first wave of heat hit me square in the face when I walked off the plane and stepped onto the hot pavement below, after riding in the back of the car from the airport to my apartment and staring out the window to my new home, surrounded by people I just met and hardly knew, reality began to settle in. Honestly, I never felt so lost, confused, out of place, and overwhelmed. Where was I and what in the world did I just get myself into. In time, YES community grew, relationships formed, and I’ve never felt SO welcomed into a community of people before. In time, things began to feel a little more familiar and a little more normal to me. And in time, it was sweet and I began to develop a deep, deep love for the people and for Puerto.

However, I spent so much time dwelling in my selfishness, craving to be back “home” where I felt comfortable, safe, and had a sense of familiarity and convenience that I so often failed to see what was right here in front of me; where God intended for me to be all along.  I missed friends who were like sisters to me and a community that I prayed for years to have and then only to leave shortly after. Once I finally got back to the states and reunited with these people, it was SO sweet… but also. I still had this sense of “this just doesn’t feel like home, this doesn’t feel normal anymore.” Something was still missing. During my drive to Ohio from Virginia, it finally clicked. I’ve been trying so hard to make this world feel like my home and to be the glue that holds relationships together in a world that is ever-changing.  I’ve been holding ever so tightly to expectations that just needed to die and be surrendered to Jesus.

In Philippians, we’re reminded that whatever we gain, we count it all as loss for the sake of Christ. That nothing surpasses the value of knowing Christ.  Everything I selfishly live for momentarily on this side of heaven, I count it as rubbish compared to the joy and riches of gaining Christ. I’m reminded that for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Jesus tells us to lay down our comforts, desires, and expectations at His feet and to pick up our crosses and follow him.  It would sure be a lot easier to follow Jesus if things were convenient and comfortable for us, wouldn’t it?  But that’s not that life He calls his people to. That’s not the life that He has called me to.  I could search the whole world to find what I’m looking for, but nothing will ever compare to the treasure I have found in Jesus. Until I see him face to face, my soul will always be longing for a place with no more suffering, no more pain, where my fears are put to ease, and where I no longer feel out of place, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable.  That place is heaven. Heaven is my home.

I was reading in A.W. Tozer’s book called “Culture” that when we become Christians, our citizenship immediately switches from being citizens of earth to being pilgrims and strangers here on earth. We are now citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). Well, no wonder why I feel so out of place in this world. We will always be longing for a place that is simply not here in front of us. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” Eagerly, I wait and long to be home. Until then, Jesus still has work for me to do here in my temporary home.

-Shelby Davis, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Shelby as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!

As this school year is coming to an end, I have been thinking a lot about what God has done during my second year of teaching here at Manantial. There are many things that God has been teaching me as well as many things that have stood out to me in His creation. Something that has really stood out to me this year is butterflies. I see them everywhere! When I’m driving, they come into my classroom when I am teaching and even when I am at the beach relaxing. Everywhere!

Butterflies are each so unique and beautiful. In their different sizes, shapes, colors, patterns… they all radiate the beauty of God. Just like we do! There are 3 things that stand out to me about butterflies that I want to daily remember and live out, in my life and walk with the Lord, as I live and teach here in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.

They don’t stay as they are— they undergo a major transformation. 

When God called us by name, we were bound by death, but Jesus came and brought a way into salvation. Our lives have been permanently changed. Not only has our place of eternity changed, but our old self has died! The sins that once had power over us, are now defeated. When we choose to believe the message of the Gospel, we undergo a major life transformation. Just like butterflies, when they go from cocoon to butterfly. They come out of the cocoon and spread their wings.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

They come in contact with many things and they leave them better than when they landed on them— they pollinate the plants around them.

Butterflies fly around and land on many things in a day. When butterflies land on flowers and plants, they help them grow by pollinating them! Their purpose is to help them bloom and grow by simply coming in contact. Much like us, we come in contact with people every single day. Family members, co-workers, friends, strangers. Are we coming in contact with them to help them grow? To help them thrive in their purpose in the Kingdom of God? It is so easy to go through our lives “self-focused” but there is beauty in choosing others first. Like Jesus chose us, before Himself on the cross. We are lights in the dark world. Let’s choose to live intentionally like butterflies, leaving people better than when we first came in contact with them.

“Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 

Butterflies gently flutter their wings— travel with humility and grace while radiating God’s beauty.

Butterflies are gentle, harmless creatures. As they go through their lifespan, they fly from place to place by gently fluttering their wings. When you watch a butterfly, you can’t help but notice their beauty. They are a perfect example of walking through life with humility and grace while radiating God’s beauty. When Jesus, the King of Kings, walked on this earth He wasn’t full of pride, He wasn’t full of Himself… He walked humbly, concerning himself with the will of God and caring for others. In a world full of pride and selfishness, we can choose to walk through this life with a purpose bigger than ourselves, and that radiates the glory of God. And that is the Will of God, to radiate Him!

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Pray with me…

Father God, as believers in this dark world, we have undergone a huge life transformation. Thank you for saving us and changing us to be more like your son, Jesus! Help us to not stop with the life transformation of ourselves. There are people around us, who we come in contact with every day, who don’t know your message of salvation and freedom. Help us to choose to flutter our wings, to live intentionally for your glory. Help us to do all things to build your Kingdom, all for you and not ourselves. We love you, Father. Amen.   

-Kayla Miller, GEM Missionary

One of my favorite responsibilities with GEM is managing the blog. Every week, I have the privilege of reading, editing and posting our missionaries’ blog posts. I get so excited to be able to have a sneak peek before the rest of the world gets to see it! The best part of the GEM blog is that the missionaries are free to write about whatever is on their hearts. They can tell a fun story about their classroom or what it has been like to live cross-culturally. They can share what God has been teaching them through His word and through their experiences. They can even write about how darn HOT the weather gets in Mexico this time of year (it has been done plenty of times).

During this past school year, I have seen a theme in our blog. Almost every single missionary at one time or another this year has chosen to write about community. My first thought as a blog manager and a type A person (anyone else out there?) was… “Man, I need to email everyone and tell them to mix it up and start writing about something other than community. We are beating a dead horse! Come on, there have to be other topics out there!” Then I got a nudge from the Holy Spirit indicating that my heart wasn’t in the right place… oh, how thankful I am for these nudges.

At that moment, God opened my eyes. How amazing is it that every single one of our missionaries or staff members have chosen to write about the love they have felt through their community? How special is that? And now… here we are… my turn to write a blog post. It is completely up to me what I write about, and I can mix it up and hit a brand new topic of interest!!! But what do I find myself writing about? …community 🙂

This day in age, so many Christians around the world feel that they don’t need community. They try in every way to avoid it if possible. Sermons can be found online. You can get a daily dose of encouragement from a devotional book. And life is way easier without people getting into your business, right?

WRONG!

It feels easier, because… “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Living in a Christ-centered community leads to life! Sure, it can be uncomfortable at times, but it is oh so worth it. I encourage everyone who follows Jesus to find a Christ-centered community. People you can call on when you’re being tempted. People who will rejoice with you during times of excitement as well as times sorrow. People who will pray with you and for you. Those who will love you when you don’t feel lovable.

I am so grateful that I have been a part of many different Christ-centered communities. I have felt the love of God through His people in times when I needed it desperately. It is good for us to go out into the world and proclaim the goodness of Jesus, but it is also difficult, exhausting and at times overwhelming. Which is why God encourages us to go spend time with people that will remind you of truth, encourage you, and build you back up to send you back out!

I encourage you to go and experience this kind of community. Once you do, you’ll understand why our missionaries (and myself) can’t stop talking about it. There is joy and life to be found while spending time with God’s people. 

So, to end my not so original blog post… let me leave you with the scripture I read this morning that encouraged my heart in a big way:

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:8-11

-Rachel Ellzey, GEM Director of Communications