Sunday, July 1, 2012

Matthias Otto - Columbus (departure)

As I write these words, our entire team is sitting in the Columbus International Airport, ready to step on to flight 3575 to Miami.  It truly has been an adventure preparing for this opportunity to serve our Lord in Peru.  If you were to open the journals that each of the team members received in the weeks leading up to our departure you would find these words displayed in bold letters and/or colors:
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!
The words above are followed closely by Paul's words found in Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing out of sefish ambition or with conceit, but in humility consider others better then yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Verse 5 says that is exactly what Jesus did!  The powerful, sovereign Son of God, Who created all things and sustains them by His might, obediently humbled Himself to His Father's will and for His Father's glory.  Our team's aim is to follow Jesus's example, by putting our team members interests, the Peruvian people needs and God's will before our own.  It's not about us, but about the great name of our God!

Please pray for us!  I have recently been reading a wonderful book entitled A Praying Life, by Paul E. Miller.  In it, the author emphasizes the importance of helplessness in our communication with the Lord.
We receive Jesus because we are weak, and that's how we follow Him.  Paul told the Colossians, "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (2:6).  We forget that helplessness is how the Christian life works.
 Our team is completely helpless to accomplish anything of eternal value on this trip, and we are completely helpless to leave a lasting impact in the lives of these students.  BUT, GOD IS NOT!  We trust His might and the power of prayer to move His sovereign hand.

On that note, a gigantic "thank you" goes out to all the parents, who have entrusted their children to our immediate care.  We will take the best care of you sons and daughters and approach the next two weeks as a priceless investment that will change our team members forever.  It is with great expectations that we travel to Peru for the glory of our Lord, Who is awaiting us at the destination!

Trusting in the name of the Lord our God,

P. Matt

2 comments:

  1. Love hearing about the trip and what God is doing, Matt! You truly are carrying out Romans 10:14-15, one of my favorite passages:

    How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

    (Romans 10:14-15 ESV)

    I love you guys and am praying effectually and fervently!

    -Kinsey

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  2. A big THANK YOU!!!! goes out to all of you Steppers, the army of supporters, and to God for opening hearts both near and far to make this trip possible. Godspeed!

    - g

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