During our time in Armenia Bonito we’ve noticed more and more how tragically absent men are from society (for the most part). Boys and girls appear to mingle through primary school, but then girls often get pregnant young and men grow more distant, seemingly more interested in soccer than family life or work. As such, some clinic days all of our 50 patients are women and children, and our ESL classes are often all-female as well.
So it’s been exciting to have Walter (above) come with his wife Daisy to our current round of weekly ESL classes. But it’s always a challenge to view cultural differences through the Gospel and distinguish between those aspects of culture we should celebrate and those we pray to be transformed. Are our views on and vision for society and culture driven only by our “enlightened” Western worldview?
Paul put it best (as usual 
). I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe (Eph. 1:18-19a). God doesn’t force an imperialistic transformation, but inspires hope (and very good, diverse culture) by the freedom and love and inheritance he offers us. We pray that God uses us to communicate that offer and not our own.
We’ve also noticed in our kids club that a more structured and limited game time seems to disinterest the male crowd, so we’re trying to add a little bit of chaos in the mix . Every once in a while though, we run across something that satisfies everyone. Jamie found a great water race game for a hot afternoon…
That's right. The three of us -- Josh Bolton, Jamie Jacobsen, and Andy Stuntz -- are delaying college for a year to serve as missionary interns in La Ceiba, Honduras. We'll be helping two new missionary families as they plant a church, start a medical clinic, and reach out to street kids. Mostly though, we want to be vulnerable and to experience and share the power and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's where it's at, and that's where we want to be. Join us as we slowly learn what in the world that means!