KEVIN ELWORTH LIVE

The last few weeks have been rather hard on us. We’re still going through a bit of culture shock and for those who have never felt what that is before it’s the feeling of isolation, being alone, not fully understanding life, culture and language around you. At times it’s a scary feeling others it’s a very frustrating feeling, but every missionary goes through it whether they acknowledge it or not and unless they face it, it has potential to blow up in their face and cause them to fail.

So because of these thoughts we daily have to stay in God’s word and be reminded of reasons to stay at it. At times we play games in our minds, I wish we were like every other average Christian who can own their own home, enjoy a 9-5 job, a dog, not having to deal with another language and some of the fears that go with living in a different culture that may not be as safe as their home culture. (Please don’t take that the wrong way, I’m in no way saying that those who enjoy those things are average or that if you’re not serving on the mission field you’re not truly what God wants you to be, I’m just giving you a glimpse into our mind) But then you think about it, first has God called any of us to be just average? Wouldn’t that tie in with what John described as a lukewarm Christian in Revelation 3? You all know us and our passion to see God at work. I truly believe that God is about to do some awesome things in our world and yours as well. Why do I believe that? Because that’s what I’m praying He will do.

So onto the reason why not to give up.

1) Hope this doesn’t sound cliche, but my first reason not to give up is simply because of what He’s done for me. He redeemed me, paid His very blood for me, forgave me, loved me, died for me, cleansed me, washed me, sanctified me, and since then has put up with a lot of nonsense about me, yet still forgives.

So where does God have you that you want to give up? There’s reason number 1 to stay at it.

More tomorrow…

I’ve been thinking about my days of old when I used go on missions trips and hang out with MissionQuest. They are most of the reason why Cris and I are in missions today was their allowing us to be apart of their summer program. At that time they were built around ministry in Saltillo, Mexico, now they are more world-wide, but I can remember working with various groups with that would come and see how God could use them to impact a life. At the end of each week we would have a time where we would build a fire, worship God a bit through praise and then allow people to mention how God had changed their life during that time frame. I distincly remember one of those opportunities when I mentioned what God meant to me. One of my favorite verses in all the Bible is Psalm 19:1 it has always meant the world to me to think that I can look to the sky and proof of God’s existence is right in front of me.

Now being on the mission field myself we have days that we are so alone, discouraged, frustrated with life in a new culture, language, people that we just want to give up and head home. But then you look to the sky and remember why it is that we are here, because God called us and becasue He’s bigger than all our frustrations and calms all our nerves and fears. Thank God for that. Next time you look to the stars remember He put them there to prove to you He’s an awesome God.

Yesterday I was going through and copying all the blog posts I have from our website and moving them to this new blog format. I realized that I used to write about Austin all the time and haven’t done a lot of writing about him lately.

Austin daily never ceases to amaze me. He has grown immensely over the past few weeks and has increased his use of words too. Now he’s speaking several words in Spanish as well as English. Cris is a much better interpreter than I am, but once you understand what he’s saying it really does come out clear that he knows what he wants and for the most part how to ask for it.
He’s an amazing little boy and we are tremendously blessed to have him in our lives. When you look at your kids you realize what a treasure it is that God would allow us to care for such little blessings.
I was thinking the other day about his attitude toward us. He’ll be two in just a month and that’s hard to believe but you know what they say about kids this age, the terrible twos. I am convinced that what that really means is the age from 1-3 because he certainly has some days that he is terrible! Cris and I have really stepped up the disciple in his little life and I’m sure he hates it, but one thing I never get over is the fact that no matter how often he is disciplined his love for us never ends neither does ours for him. Austin has complete unconditional love for us in this stage of his little life. It’s awesome how God gives us pictures like this to remind us of Him.

You’re going to see some changes coming your way in regards to our website and the way we present ourselves over the internet. I’m excited about it and can’t wait to see how God will use it to increase our effectiveness and extend our reach with churches and opportunities. As it is right now most churches we talk to say we have the nicest looking website they have ever seen a missionary have and that’s a great thing, but I think it can be better and that’s what we are going for.
Obviously if you’re reading this you’ve already found that I’ve changed my blog and I hope you like it. If you don’t that’s fine too.

I’m sitting at our local private hospital this morning waiting on a third blood test, yes 3 in one day. Talk about ouch and a lovely bruise on my left arm. I’ve had some issues with my blood sugar lately that have got my concerned and my wife much more concerned. I’ve also dealt w/ high cholesterol for like my whole life so I have to get that checked out as well. I’m trying not to think to much because I’ve got a splitting headache at the moment because I haven’t eaten in almost 14 hours. My body has never done well with going without food, so I’m suffering right now.
Thinking about the complexities of our bodies. When I was a kid my mom encouraged us (with a $25 incentive) to memorize Psalm 139. I did it and can still quote some of the verses although not the entire Psalm. Probably one of the most well know verses in that Psalm is 14- I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are your works my soul knows it very well.
Over the past years those of you who have followed us know the struggles that Crystal’s body has undergone. All of our bodies have troubles now and again. I know a guy who spends over 3K per month on health insurance premiums because of the struggles he and his wife’s bodies have gone through over the course of their lifetime.
I don’t know of anything more complex than the human body, but what an encouragement to know that the Creator of the body is our greatest friend and companion. What an awesome God we have.