Makin' Bread

During a visit from my Mother-in-law a few weeks ago she brought a gift for me, a bread machine! I have really enjoyed experimenting with ingredients and making different kinds of bread. The biggest joy I have gotten is sharing the bread with others. Initially it was just with friends and Impacto staff. Then I began thinking about how Gods Word is the bread of life and realized I could use the opportunity of sharing my bread along with Gods bread. So I made several breads Saturday night and Sunday morning we loaded my backpack with bread and tracks and headed for the street. It was fun to share our fresh banana bread with people and rewarding to know we left a piece of Gods bread of life too. Now we pray that as we have planted a seed, someone, maybe us, will be able to nurture it and God will reap a harvest.

Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9 MSG)

Building Relationships

Building relationships can be intimidating when you are struggling with a language barrier. Much larger than a language barrier is cutting yourself off from others. I know that God wants each and every one of us to share our lives with each other, even the ups and the downs. We came from a world where we are accustomed to going directly from the car to the house, even avoiding our own neighbors. Here in Guatemala we walk most of the time to conduct daily personal tasks. Being in the street places us in contact with the people in our town, it makes us familiar with each other. Stopping to attempt a conversation in broken Spanish can let someone know you care. Hugs and fist bumps have become a very routine part of walks about town. We receive such a blessing when we are able to invite people into our home for dinner. Discipleship begins with relationships. Relationships begin with opening your heart to others.

                                                                    

1 Peter 2:11-12

The Message (MSG)

^11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.