Ice Breaker – 22 Hours

Image by VerseVend (via Flickr – Creative Commons)

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week, GOP Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke for 22 straight hours on the Senate floor in response to the budget and Obamacare. I’m not really interested in getting into a political debate or discussion here, but this marathon speech provided some inspiration for this week’s ice breaker question.

Question: What could you do for 22 straight hours? What are you so passionate about that it would keep you awake for a whole day?

My Answer: I’m not as young as I used to be, and I probably couldn’t pull many all-nighters in a row. But there are a few things that would drive me to stay up all day and night:

Watching my daughter run cross-country (although I think she’d give up well before the marathon reached 3 hours).
Spending time with my wife. Our days are so busy running from one thing to the next. We often miss the time when our responsibilities and distractions were minimal.
Playing “Just Dance” on the Wii with my son. He’s hilarious. It might take me 22 hours just to beat him in one of the songs/games.
Walk the streets of Xenacoj. I don’t think I would ever grow weary of walking these beloved streets (at least not for a day).
Writing. If I had the time, I think I might be able to make it for a whole day writing. This has definitely become a passion of mine.
Worshiping God. We got a small taste of this during our last night in Guatemala last month. I think this is actually possible if we are intentional with everything we do (even sleep).
Watch the Star Wars movies. I think I’d have to watch two or three of them twice, but this would be a fun marathon.
Run. I’ve done three marathons, and I know it’s a lot of work. But I’m always intrigued by the ultra marathons. If my body could take it, I think it would be fun to run for 22 straight hours.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter. Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

We Can Make A Difference

Why aren’t these boys in school?

This is the question that went through my head when I took this picture. The older boy is definitely old enough to be in school. Maybe he’s taking care of his siblings. Are his parents working?

I took this picture while I was standing in the yard of a local school in Xenacoj in August. School was definitely in session, but these kids were standing on the other side of a barbed wire fence while other kids their age were attending school. There was no truancy officer making sure school age children were in school during the school day.

Their absence from school is already putting them behind in learning and gaining skills that will help provide for their family. I obviously don’t know what their story is, but this is a common scene in Guatemala. Many children aren’t in school for one reason or another. The pattern of illiteracy continues.

Education is something we take for granted in the United States. In the U.S., all children have access to school, and they are required to attend.

Meanwhile, in many parts of the world, children don’t have the privilege of going to school. They have to work. They have to take care of siblings. They don’t have school buses to drive them a long way to school. They don’t have family members who encourage them to get an education.

Did you ever complain about going to school when you were younger? Or do your kids complain about school?

How do you think your perspective or your kids perspective might change by meeting kids like these?

Our experience in Guatemala definitely opened our eyes to a different world.

How can we make a difference for kids like these? That’s an interesting question.

GO! Ministries is trying to make a difference for kids in and around Xenacoj by providing a feeding program in the poorest schools five days a week. The food served at school is very basic (rice, beans, and tortillas), and it makes a huge difference for these kids. Many children don’t eat so well at home, but through the feeding programs they get one decent meal every day while they are in school. More families will send their kids to school if they know they will get this kind of meal. A meal like this provides nutrition and energy that helps children learn more effectively.

GO Ministries is also in the process of setting up a child sponsor program for kids served by the feeding programs. The sponsor program will provide more resources to feed the children. They will get chicken and/or fish along with their rice, beans, and tortillas. It will also provide funds for medical attention that many of these children lack.

Do these programs fix everything in Xenacoj? I suppose not, but it’s a huge help for many.

Can all these kids be helped? It seems like a huge challenge. I know that God cares for these kids. I know that all things are possible with God. I know that we can make a difference by helping one. We can sit around doing nothing overwhelmed by the immensity of problem, or we can stand up and do something – doing for one what we wish we could do for many.

And so our trip to Guatemala continues to stretch and challenge me. I don’t want it to be a waste. I want to do what I can to help kids like these. I share this to help you see into their world, and I share to keep me stretching and processing – to challenge me and our family to find ways to help.

You can make a difference for kids like this. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

Education yourself. Learn about the conditions children live in around the world. Learn about the education (or lack of education) children experience in other parts of the world. Learn about their nutrition. Don’t ignore the fact that kids are faced with this level of poverty around the world.
Pray. Prayer is powerful. Pray that these kids would be safe. Pray that they would have food. Pray that they would learn new skills to provide for their future families. And most importantly, pray that they would know the love of God.
Consider sponsoring a child. These sponsor programs make a huge difference for kids and their families. If you’re interested in sponsoring a child through GO! Ministries, send an e-mail to Dave Sgro at davidlsgro@gmail.com. You can also check out organizations like Compassion, World Vision, CMF International, or Lifeline Christian Mission.
Go! Go to Guatemala or another country. Even a week-long trip makes a huge difference. We fed 450 children while we were in Guatemala for a week. We learned so much and experienced so much in just a week. We were able to hug these kids and share God’s love in a very tangible way through our experience. Our family is already making plans to return to Guatemala. Maybe you’ll come with us!?!

Don’t sit around doing nothing. Take action. You can make a huge difference for needy kids around the world.

What can (and what will) you do today to make a difference for a kid in need?

Love In Every Language – Even Kaqchiquel

Growing up in the United States of America, it’s easy for us to think that the whole world speaks English. It’s rare that we would hear another language in the towns where we live and in the places we go to school, work, and church.

In Guatemala, it’s a different story. Spanish is spoken by many in the country – especially the younger generation. And some young people are even learning a bit of English. But many still speak a Mayan language native to their specific village or area of the country. In Xenacoj, many people speak a language called Kaqchiquel (pronounced Catch-E-Kel).

I took a few years of Spanish when I was in high school, so there were bits and pieces that I could understand if people were speaking Spanish. But it really became confusing when the villagers spoke Kaqchiquel.

Our friend and guide, German (pronounced Hair-man), took some time to teach us a little bit of Kaqchiquel. He taught us numbers along with a few basic greetings and phrases. It was comical as our group repeated the phrases we thought we were hearing. To us it sounded like “My neck is strained” and “Chewbacca chin” and “Mateeosh”. While I’m still not sure what these phrases meant, they were short phrases that connected us to many of the widows of the town. While they were probably chuckling to themselves as we butchered their language. I think they could understand that we loved them and that we wanted to share hope with them.

When I returned home, I was looking up something on Biblegateway.com, and I discovered that they actually have a Kaqchiquel translation of the Bible on their site. How cool is that? You can literally look up any passage of the Bible and find it in Kaqchiquel right there on the Internet.

I think it’s a great reminder. God speaks to us in a language that we can understand – a language that makes sense to us. God loves us whether we speak English, Spanish, Kaqchiquel, or any other language.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:8 (NIV)

El que no ama no conoce a Dios, porque Dios es amor. I Juan 4:8 (Nueva Version Internacional) – Espanol

Yacˈa ri majun ajowabel riqˈui, nikˈalajin chi ma retaman ta ruwech ri Dios. Ruma ri Dios can ajowabel wi. I JUAN 4:8 (Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW))

How have you seen, heard, or experienced God’s love in other languages?

Want To Be Happier? Me too! (@DBartosik)

Today, I’m honored to present guest blogger, David Bartosik. David recently connected with me through the Team Faith Builder Facebook Group. He is Pastor to Students at Richfield Community Church, and he blogs at dbartosik.com about awakening affections for God. You can link up with him on Facebook and Twitter.

David reached out to me on this guest post following my post last week about A Different Twist on Happiness. If you want to add to the conversation through a guest post on happiness (or any other stretching topic), leave me a comment so we can connect. Thanks!

Want to be happier? Me too!

Jon recently wrote a post that directed us to think about the concept of happiness.

7 years ago I was pushed to contemplate the same thing and it changed my life and I can never go back.

Pursuing our happiness and pursuing God are not contrary ideas.

The more you pursue your own happiness it should lead you to God and lead to a deeper, more profound happiness that is contagious and limitless.

1. God designed us to Pursue Happiness.

In every person is a desire to be happy. We buy stuff. We marry people. We do stuff. Every motive of every decision of every person is rooted in their desire to be Happy. This desire was God-given.

2. He is the ultimate source of Happiness.

So if so many people are pursuing happiness, why aren’t their more happy people? Suicide rates are up. Anti depressant medications top the chart of most filled prescriptions. Monogamous relationships are a thing of the past. If that statement is true why aren’t people who believe in God happier? If God is the ultimate source of happiness shouldn’t those that believe in him be the happiest people? Reason-Christians often get wrapped up in the gifts instead of the giver of the gifts. On Christmas are you happy for the new bike, the lawnmower, the Christmas feast, or are you happy in the person who gave it to you? It is a subtle idea that creates a world of difference. God says, pursue your happiness in the giver and the gifts will be even that much more special in view of who gave it. He himself is the ultimate gift. Ultimate happiness is found in HIM.

3. Pursue Him for the rest of your life.

This is the hard part. The first one is a picture of reality. It’s just how it is. The second idea is an awakening to that reality. This third point is a battle. It is one thing to recognize a reality but it is a completely different thing all together to want to and continually pursue that reality. It is a fight, but rather than an obligatory fight that is filled with sacrifice, it is actually a fight for a deeper happiness than I am experiencing.

No one would argue that this idea doesn’t exist in the foundation of our country.

LIFE. Guaranteed.

LIBERTY. Guaranteed.

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS? Well, good luck it’s a pursuit because this is not a guarantee. But what is guaranteed is you can pursue it.

As I observe our culture, it seems as if we’ve missed it. As Jon asked last week I don’t think the question “What makes you happy?” is illegitimate, but I would twist it a little further.

Is this an accurate view of how life should be lived? Why aren’t more people living it?

The Stretched Blog Visits I’m Just Thinkin’ (@ChrisVonada)

Today, I’m guest posting as part of The Network for Chris Vonada at his blog, I’m Just Thinkin’. In my post (When Words Sting), I share 5 suggestions for responding to insults. Here’s an excerpt to get you started.

When Words Sting

“If I get a 1,000 compliments and one insult, guess which one I listen to?

The insult, of course.

I have an unbelievable ability to ignore a swarm of positive words and camp out on the one negative.” Jon Acuff (http://www.jonacuff.com/blog/quit-giving-the-haters-phds/)

It’s probably happened to all of us at one time or another – someone says something to us that absolutely stings.

Maybe they call you names. Maybe they are just rude. Maybe they insult you.

Words can hurt!

Words can sting!

Words can leave a gash on our hearts!

So how can we respond when this happens? How can we move past the pain of words?

If you’re visiting from Chris’s blog, I’m glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll check things out and become a regular part of The Stretched Community. You can sign up to receive daily blog updates by adding your e-mail on the main page (I promise not to send you spam). To help you get a taste of my other writing, here are a few of my favorite posts:

How do you deal with words that sting? What step do you need to take today to get past wounds that have been caused by words?

Ice Breaker – Current Reading

Image by VerseVend (via Flickr – Creative Commons)

Question: What are you reading right now? What book? What blog? What magazine? Whatever?

My Answer: I’m in the process of reading The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing [A Spiritual Memoir] by Jeff Goins. So far, it’s been a great read. I’ll share more on the book once I finish it.

One of the blogs I’m reading these days is Radical Living In A Comfortable World by Seth Barnes.

I’ve been reading the book of Romans lately.

And you can always find a copy of Runner’s World magazine by my nightstand.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter. Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Sunflower Sunshine

A little sunshine to end the day!

Published via Pressgram

A Little Boost, A Lot Of Hope

Meet Linda.

Linda is 27 years old. She has five kids. The oldest is a girl who is 12 years old. The rest of the kids are boys with the youngest being two or three years old. A couple of weeks before we arrived, Linda and her kids were living on the streets of Xenacoj. Linda worked in one of the sweat shops making 80 cents an hour, and her kids stuck together during the day taking care of each other. Linda’s husband was no longer in the picture. I’m not certain of the entire story, but Linda was essentially abandoned and left to figure things out herself. The community didn’t really embrace or help her out. In fact, I got the impression that she was somewhat shunned by the community, because her husband left.

While Linda doesn’t fit the American definition of a widow. She has essentially been left as a widow.

Thankfully, GO! Ministries found out about Linda.

Again, I don’t know the whole story, but a week before we arrived GO! Ministries took Linda and her family in. They gave her a place to stay. And they gave her a new job – first to take care of her kids and then to take care of some things for the ministry. This is just the lift she needed.

Linda doesn’t know how to read, and her children were destined for a similar path if someone didn’t step in to provide a boost.

Now her four oldest kids get to go to school every day. They are learning. And they have a hope. Dave, the missionary, is helping to show them what a father looks like. He’s pointing them to Christ. He’s teaching them to be respectful, and he’s teaching them to do their best.

Linda is also learning to read. When she graduates “first grade”, she will get a raise in pay. When she graduates “second grade”, she will get another raise. She will learn skills that will help her survive and thrive.

Linda and her family have hope thanks to a little creativity, observation, and action.

Sometimes it takes a little boost to get off the ground.

When you and I reach out to help the widows and the orphans, we are following God’s Word. And we are also dealing in the market of hope and love.

Linda’s story could have been one of despair and desperation. But it’s not. She now has a story of HOPE!

How can you give someone a boost today? How has someone’s act of kindness given you hope?

The Great Pumpkin

Guess what time of the year it is? We finally have success with pumpkins in the garden this year!

Published via Pressgram

The Stretched Blog Visits The Daily ReTort

Today, I’m guest posting as part of The Network for Tor Constantino at his blog, The Daily ReTort. In my post (5 Reasons To Go On A Missions Trip With Your Family), I share some thoughts about faith, family, and missions. Here’s an excerpt to get you started.

5 Reasons To Go On A Missions Trip With Your Family

Early this month, our family traveled to Guatemala to serve the orphans and widows in and around the village of Santo Domingo Xenacoj.

Deciding to go in the first place was a pretty significant leap of faith.

As a father and husband, did I think we would be safe in a strange land removed from many of the luxuries we currently enjoy?

Did I really want to spend my vacation time working instead of relaxing somewhere?

How were we going to come up with the money necessary to make this trip a reality?

These were just some of the questions that troubled me for weeks as we processed this decision last fall.

Having arrived at the other side of this mission trip, I can tell you that we made it. We were safe. The vacation time from work was well spent. And God provided the funds for this trip in ways that far exceeded our greatest expectations. (Click here to keep reading.)

If you’re visiting from Tor’s blog, I’m glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll check things out and become a regular part of The Stretched Community. You can sign up to receive daily blog updates by adding your e-mail on the main page (I promise not to send you spam). To help you get a taste of my other writing, here are a few of my favorite posts:

You can also click here to link to more about my experiences in Guatemala.

Have you ever taken a mission trip with your family? If so, how did it impact your family? What’s holding you back from going on a mission trip?

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