Johnny - Breakfast in Spain

 

I (Beki) was able to take a long delayed trip to Spain with some friends from church. While there, they met and spoke with an Irish man who had been homeless for four months. Johnny is running away from some trouble back in Ireland, and found trouble again in Spain. He does not have a passport or phone, and is sick - coughing up black, which could be a few things, but none of them are good. I learned a lot watching Trish, our pastor’s wife, lovingly and firmly encourage Johnny to swallow his pride, contact family, and get to the doctor before winter comes. We spent a long breakfast with him, and hoped his sister would text back on my phone. That didn’t happen and we suspect he has burned some bridges with his family along the way. 

We made a phone call to a local pastor (originally from New York) who agreed to be a contact for him and us, and Johnny was happy to speak with him on the phone and said he’d be at church the next morning. The next morning, we attended church but Johnny was a no show; however, we realized we had directed him to the wrong church! We looked for him at his usual spot a couple times during our last day in Spain but he was not there, and left word about the correct location of the church at a bodega where the owner looks out for him. We are hopeful that he is in the hospital getting the care he needs. 

I don’t know if Johnny will find his way home to Ireland to face up to his mistakes, or if he will live his days out in Spain - or just how many days he has, but would you pray with me that he can find grace and peace through Jesus soon? He is a man who is running from mistakes because he doesn’t know what to do about them, and it is literally threatening his life and soon, his eternity. My prayer for him is that he can know forgiveness and live out the rest of his days honestly and in warmth and shelter with a loving church family for support. He cannot see it right now, but I can! The church in Torrevieja stands ready to help, and our church is ready to help if he wants to come back to Ireland. Will you pray for Johnny with me? 

123 AT 2 YEARS

Today Beki and I were discussing how we have now been in our house at 123 Marian Park for two years.  That seems impossible, until I remember that lockdown has consisted of about half of that time.  So what have we learned?  First of all, nothing happens quickly here, getting to know people and earning their trust takes time.  The locals are usually eager to meet the Americans and hear why they have moved here, but moving beyond that requires proving yourself.  So we are working on being stable and dependable, not just for Ireland, just as a rule. Whether we like the lockdown or not, it is affording us time and forcing us to be patient. 

We have also learned that serving in a different country during a pandemic lockdown requires intentionality, flexibility, and actively seeking opportunities to serve and foster relationships.  Prior to lockdown, our ministry mainly consisted of travelling and performing music and the conversations before and after concerts.  Now, we spend a lot of time helping our church’s online service, checking on others, and walking and conversing with people locally.  Being proactive and intentional through this change has been well worth learning and practicing.  However, if our norms were in place, it may have taken much longer for us to develop this trust and focus.

What grains of wisdom can be gleaned from all of this?  One thing is that God does and requires what He wishes, regardless of our expectations.  This can be both frustrating and a relief.  Would we want to serve a God that we could debate or outhink? Will we grow if we are not challenged or stretched? These are not new concepts to mature believers as much as helpful reminders.  God is not surprised by covid-19 nor is He unprepared.  We are called to serve and follow God, period, regardless of circumstance or difficulty, and today, we are grateful for God’s gift of our little Irish home, which is becoming a place for lessons learned, ministry opportunity, and God-willing, meeting the needs of others.

To find out more about Team Kerkman, visit modernday.org/field-workers/team-kerkman

Lord, make me useful...

Years ago, when we were settling in to what we thought would be our post-musician life in Denver - I as a tour guide and Randy as a deputy sheriff, our debts paid off, and our house and dog keeping us in one place for the first time in years…I began to feel a bit too comfortable, bored, useless.

One week in frustration, I talked to God a lot about it. “Lord, I feel useless. Can you please give me something to do for You? I don’t mind what it is, just so I know I’m doing SOMETHING useful.”

We had a rare coffeehouse performance that week - we still did music as a hobby from time to time. A few friends and family members showed up, and a few strangers just happened to be there having coffee too. The next day, I received an email from Rachel, saying that she had seen us play, and although we didn't know each other, the Lord had prompted her to ask if I would be her lay mentor during her time at Denver Seminary.

SOMETHING useful to do! A nearly instant answer to prayer. I was amazed and of course, I said yes.

Rachel and I got to know each other over the next months. She and her husband Jesse are from the very small area of Iowa that Randy’s family is from, and their ministry goal was to go back to that part of Iowa and minister, which they have been doing for years now, currently as a pastor and a music ministry director at Orchard Hill Church in Waverly.
We are so thankful for the chance to get to know them and see their ministry (and their family) grow, and for the privilege of being her lay mentor for that year.

She has a beautiful soul and a beautiful voice, and I wanted to share with you this video of Rachel. (I asked her if I could share it. and our story).

There is no way it will bless you as much as it does me, but I hope that it does your heart good.

As we work and wait in Dundalk for next steps in uncertain times, and after Randy finishes school…we are again reminded that if we ask God what He wants us to do and listen and are willing…He will provide an answer.

(Reading w/ the Henkle kids on tour a few years ago)