Uncertainty in the Jungle [thursday]

Today is the start of the end of this three-week chapter in Chiapas. We leave our last jungle stop, Benito Juarez, and return – after six hours of driving, and several queasy stomachs – to the Terrell home in San Cristobal via the beautiful natural waterworks of Agua Azul.I am glad for the chance to share some off-time with the members of this team. There is something rich about time with good friends amidst a beautiful landscape. It is where God put man and woman to start – His first choice of setting for that ideal fellowship that we once had, but forfeited, yet will someday again be ours.I have a happy sense of completion here, but also a sense of loss at soon having to part ways. I’d like to share why these are the right kind of people to be with in the jungle. First, a little context .Everyone on this trip was subjected to a lot of uncertainty about what was next. We didn’t manufacture that. It’s just the way it was. For example, today: how long will the broken trailer hold? (Repairs could have derailed the whole day.) Jumping into the deep rapids at Agua Azul: when am I going to surface? (You don’t float in air bubbles.) Where are these currents going to take me? (You tend to find out after it happens.) And walking back to the vehicles: what just jumped onto my head? (A tree frog) Or earlier this week: where are we going now? Will our children’s program be in a church or open-air? Will there be a dozen or a hundred kids? Where are we supposed to install filters? What is this substance in front of me that is allegedly food? What are these feral dogs sorting out, again, as they all race noisily back down the street at 3:00am? What in the world is this person saying at me? As we pull into a new place at night: where are we going to stay; are these people staring at me my hosts or onlookers; and what should I do with them? Why did they all just snicker amongst themselves about some apparently highly amusing subject (probably me)?Those are 15 examples out of probably 150 questions you don’t get in California but might get in Chiapas on a typical Thursday. It’s a lot of uncertainty.This jungle uncertainty was in some respects a microcosm of life. Some seem to ascertain their ultimate destiny, with a surprising degree of specificity, at a very young age. But I don’t think most of us on this team had that – perhaps not any of us, even. We clearly had deeply held passions; perhaps a jumble of them. But the working out of those passions? Not so clear. And so we went on a jungle trip where there was even more uncertainty.Few of us thrive on a near-total absence of expectation. We like some certainty about what is next. But the Bible says, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” (Ps. 62:5.) “A man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov. 16:9.) “Seek first the kingdom of God…. Take no thought for tomorrow; for tomorrow shall take thought for itself.” (Mt. 6:33-34.)“Because of Christ we are not a people of timetables or charts or predictions but a people of relationships with God and with each other. We leave the future in God’s hands. We might as well because the future is in His hands whether we leave it there or not.” (Earl Palmer, “Time,” 11/23/2009.)On this trip, all the members handled this uncertainty with aplomb. It is my special pleasure as team leader to report that. (Actually, I heard so few complaints about anything that I began to wonder whether I’d done something to keep people from sharing concerns.) Each member contributed significantly and meaningfully to the team. Each worked hard, very hard, and I could dwell on how. But I mainly want to focus here on a few individual aspects of each person: a tiny glimpse of who they are, and how that had a bit of a chance to shine through during three jam-packed weeks relatively far from our typical civilized First World comfort zone.Jacob is a man full of daring and adventure. We nicknamed him “Ready”. He’s the kind of guy who’s first in – heavily armed, absolutely committed, and insanely unafraid. A man is not just suited for difficult challenges; a man needs those challenges and that fight. And for this, Jacob is ready. And that’s not all – he’s equally at ease relating to young children.Eden is a student of beauty. There are some who will miss a beautiful sunset or a darling little flower in the midst of the rush. Not Eden. I am sure that God takes special pleasure at having His work noticed, and appreciated, and enjoyed, and testified about; and Eden gives Him this.Abby has a heart for her amigos. Her background with Spanish did put her enviably ahead of some of us. In any case, she used all of what she had to relate to the people. I think many young children of Zoque will remember the (seemingly) quiet young lady who demonstrated the time and interest to talk with them.David is a versatile and competent person. You’ve only started to see what’s there after witnessing his skills in wilderness survival, edged weapons, or managing a construction project. This is also a person who sees a need and can put together an ad hoc children’s program on the spur of a moment with only basic language support and a couple of team members to help.There are two kinds of people: talkers, and doers; and you want the doers. Peter is a doer. What a solid guy: always there doing what’s needed, and with the least amount of noise. Peter has a big heart for the kids as well, and I am eager to see where that takes him. What amazes me, to top all that off, is how the steadiest guy on the team could end up in more wacky photo poses than anyone else.Rachel is an accomplished, ambitious, and joyful person who does not let the grass grow under her feet and does not hesitate to throw her whole self into what is before her. She has a magnetic personality with kids. I think God takes joy in directing the steps of an individual who is this eager to serve Him.Amy K. is a fun-loving personality who is ready to try new things and eager for the Lord to have His way, whatever it may be. She has the sensitivity and openness that I think God wants to see in all of us as we walk with Him.Hannah is a trooper and a beautiful example of quiet tenacity. She is a motivated person who enjoys seeing something through to completion, and does not hesitate to give of herself fully for that, and in a most unassuming way.Katie is a reliable person who has a heart for sharing Christ. I appreciated Katie’s willingness to get pushed beyond her normal comfort zone. Whatever the circumstances – sultry weather, loads of work, hairpin-turn changes of plans – they never seemed to be able to bend her pleasant personality out of shape.Stephanie joined us for our second jungle trip, capping off several weeks of helping the Terrells. She was all I could hope for, and more, in an additional team member, and I’m glad we could have her join: a team player eagerly ready to devote 100% of her substantial energy and capability to whatever we had next, motivated by a heart not wanting to waste any opportunity to spread Christ’s light.Amy C. is an eminently sensible and remarkably level person who made an excellent co-leader. If there were some prize for listening to the other team leader rant about pet peeves without losing it, Amy would get several. (On the other hand, regrettably, the male constituency never discovered how to make her scream.) [Editor’s note: It was not, however, without exceptionally abundant energy and ingenuity on their part though! Better luck next time, guys. ;-)]Steven and Grace were both delightful supports to the team in both language, morale, and otherwise (and surprisingly lucid given their impending wedding). Grace’s wonderful sister Gabby also provided invaluable support and was a delightful and fun addition to the team (including being completely good-natured about getting thrown in the water at Agua Azul – yes, we were a bit rough on our translators). Steven’s testimony about God’s leading in his life was especially helpful and encouraging to hear from his point a bit farther down the road than some of us. The same is true of our fearless leader Nathan and his gracious wife Julie, our longsuffering hosts for the stay, who let us invade their home for three weeks, and rolled with the punches to a degree that might have driven me insane. God has given them a valuable handful of insights and blessed the world with their versatile, patient, perceptive, wry, and energetic personalities – not to mention their three beautiful and highly entertaining children ages nine months to five years (including the illustrious and talented Cloe, our most junior team member for the second jungle trip, and now a good personal friend of mine).God has brightened the world considerably with the presence of each of these individuals – these “quality characters,” in the words of a colorful friend. I’ll miss them. When you come to the end of three weeks in a jungle of uncertainty with people like these, you really have to ask yourself the question: what more could I want? If there is something more, and hopefully there is, here is where you go: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.”- ChristopherEditor's note: No team post would be complete without a word about Christopher!  Insightful, affable, and adventurous are three of the first words to come to mind.  We all appreciated his leadership during the trip, and he is one who truly leads by influence, not position.  Of course, a mention of his plethora of pranks must be made as well, but perhaps in the end those just add to the package. :-)