I hope everyone’s enjoying football, fall weather, and the other blessings of the Father that we’re constantly surrounded by. We don’t get to watch much football here, but we did play soccer with the guys from the village a couple of days ago. It was a great time, but I feel that I would have competed a little better in the 10 and under girls’ division. My soccer skills are a bit lacking. But it was a lot of fun anyway, and a good way to root out some of that manly pride that says a guy’s gotta have skills.
Another exciting thing we got to do a couple weeks ago was climb Mt. Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at about 13,600 ft. It was an amazing experience made even better by the fact that we’ve got some good friends that climbed it last summer. It’s great to go through journeys in life knowing that others that you’re deeply connected to have experienced the same thing.
Praise to the Father, we’ve had some more opportunities to share some truth with people since the last email that I’ve written. Thanks for your pr’s concerning that. I know the Father uses you as you’re led by the Spirit to pr for us and the people that we’re with here. We haven’t had many instances of sharing the fullness of the good news with people. There have been times when I open my mouth to try to share and fumble around for a while and end up not being able to say anything because my language is still at such an elementary level. But I’ve shared some simple things that I’ve been able to, and must believe that the Father is going to use even the little bits of truth that we’ve planted in people’s hearts. Joel’s been able to share pretty comprehensively a couple more times. He’s done very well with his language learning. Timidity is something that he’s confessed as being one of his weaknesses, so it’s amazing to see the Father work in him and use him to boldly speak truth. It’s easy for me to be prideful, competitive, and self-absorbed in regard to this issue and other things as well, and say, “Why can’t I do this as well as he does,” or “Why does he have to be so good at that.” How sickening. I pr that the Father would teach us that life is not about how well we can perform and about how good of a Chr. we can be. We’re not in competition with each other for the follower of the month award. Father, save us from our self-centered and competitive spirits. I want to be free to rejoice with other people in their strengths and their victories, while bearing their weaknesses and their burdens with them as if they were my own.
Please continue to pr for the family that we’re staying with. They’ve been exposed to the truth many times over the past number of years, but have never come to accept it. The grandpa’s name is Lahassan, whom we call Papa Smurf, the grandma’s name is Zaharra, and their sons’ names are Hamid, L’Hussain, and Abdul-Rahim. We’re believing for the Father to draw them to Himself. They truly have become very much like family to us.
We’ve only got about five weeks left here in Morocco. I believe that we’re going to do some traveling down to the south of the country this week and go to Marrakech to do our paper for a week or so the following week. After that, we’ll have another two or three weeks left in the village, we’ll travel to Spain and Ireland for about twelve days, and then we’ll be home. I am more than ready to be home, but I know I desire to live out my last stretch of time here to the fullest. I’ve learned, or, more truthfully, I’m learning, that I can’t continue to live my life always desiring to be in the next place or the next stage of my life, which always looks better than the place that I’m presently in. You can’t ever live life to the fullest like that. It’s the great deception of the enemy. We’ve got to fully engage in life right where we’re at and fully enjoy everything the Father has for us right here and right now instead of always thinking that we’re only in preparation for the next phase of life. The enemy would like us to think that we’re always preparing for the next step in life so that we spend our whole life preparing and never really living. That’s a bunch of trash. I speak of this as one who still has so much to learn. I’ve spent much of my time here wanting to be back home. But in spite of everything, I know this has been one of the greatest times of my life. I wouldn’t want to live it again, but wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Since I’ve been here, my eyes have been opened to my own weaknesses and the love and greatness of the Father more than ever before. I’ve realized that most of the time I desire to please and impress other people more than I desire to live a life that’s pleasing to the Father, not realizing that He loves and accepts me and that’s all I really need. I desire for my good deeds and qualities to be on display so that people will applaud me. I really believe that many who live the greatest, most beautiful lives, reflecting the love of the Son will be people that we’ll never know about, those who will never come close to being in the spotlight. Some of you will never be applauded or thanked for the lives that you live, the sacrifices you make, and the mercy of the Father you show to other people. You’ll never play music in front of people or go on some great trip overseas, but your simple life of love and faith will change lives and advance the Kingdom more than anyone will ever know. I thank the Father for you. I believe the goodness, mercy, and love of the Father, found especially in the coming and the death and the rising of His Son is really all we have. It makes life good, even when it hurts, makes us want to sincerely love other people, changes us to the core, and truly adds life to everything. It allows us to see the goodness and beauty in friendships, in people, in rain, grass, mountains, and everything. I want to live in light of these things, but I know I lose sight of it all constantly. I get bitter, competitive, and selfish. But He continues to give us more grace each day. And I can live today because of it. Deep down, I’ve probably tried to impress you with these words, but I pr the Father will forgive me and can use them to encourage you and give you some insight into what has been going on in my life. Please pr that the Father would give us endurance and that we would not get down or too focused on being home and live life to the fullest here and now. I’m so thankful for you all and realize how much I’ve taken so many of you for granted. Thank you for your endurance in continuing to walk with the Father and thank you for your pr’s.
In the love and grace of the Father,
Jason