Tomorrow Jan and I leave for the Pan-American Lectureship in Quito, Ecuador. We are anticipating a week-long spiritual feast among some of the most wonderful of the people of God, both visiting North Americans and brothers and sisters from Ecuador and other South American and Latin American countries.
Quito, the Pan-American Lectureship, Bob and Ridglae Stephens, Bob Brown, Ava Conley, Jim Frazier, Howard Norton, Dan Coker–these and many others are a significant part of our spiritual journey. I grew up in a “missions” church in St. John, Kansas. The mission field was anything north of us–Nebraska and beyond. Jan and I did not catch the “missions bug” in college, except that our eyes were soon after college set on ministry in northern regions within the States. We spent more than a dozen years in Michigan. Later at Ohio Valley University, I sponsored numerous mission trips to points east and northeast as students focused their hearts on the areas they knew and loved–New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and areas between.
But it was Quito, and the PAL, and the people mentioned above plus others who provided for us encouragement and faith and confidence and commitment, so that missions has burned in our heart for the last 12 years. Quito will be different this year–we will know more of what to expect. Last time we were green. It was our first trip out of the U.S. as a couple. We didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know that the folks who came and “stole” our luggage were students and members of the church who were only trying to help. When we tried to follow our luggage, Jan became lost. She went back to where she had started (without her luggage), and waited, alone. When my thief and my luggage with me immediately behind got to the bus, I immediately asked, “Where is Jan?” No one knew, so I went looking for her.
She was easily found, but shaken. She clung tightly (literally) that week. We laugh. We grow. I am looking forward to telling our story and other stories as we reflect upon the impact of the Pan-American Lectureship through the years. Pray that we might never stop telling the story. Pray for God’s missionaries in every place. Pray for the Pan-American lectureship and traveling mercies.