Oh Mexico...

David didn't really get guitar, but he liked it anyways...

Ale was really glad to see me.

I don't even know where to begin!  

To be used so much, and loved so much, and to see so many people, and to have such conversations!   I taught a week's worth of guitar classes, and got guitars for home, Refuge Ranch, where I lived a few years ago.   Not everyone had forgotten there chords.  Little David can't read and didn't really get very much about the guitar, but I didn't have the heart to damp his spirits, so we learned two chords and kept moving forward, because he was loving "class."  

On the first Saturday I shared with the youth group and also lead worship one night at the house.  It was really good.  I wanted to say "sorry ya'll, I have no voice, show's cancelled," but both times, His power was perfect in my weakness.  I was able to lead, challenge, and speak, but not really able to sing.  Once, I just spoke the words.  The other time, I invited my good friends Angie and Jorge to sing for me.  :)  During church, because I had no voice, I wrote six new worship songs in Spanish. 

After youth group, I felt that I was supposed to talk to someone.  Soon after starting the conversation, he admitted he was a long way from the church involved in a bunch of sinful things, but that he wanted to change.  I was completely blown away, not expecting anything like that.  I prayed over him and tried to give advice, but obviously it's in his hands now.  This was one of three or four "confessions" that came about in the course of my conversations during these weeks.  Secret sins, discouragement, past traumas...someone was praying, and since these things came to light, so was I. 

The second week my voice got better.  One of the girls at the ranch who had hated me for months when I was here before, had welcomed me as a long-lost brother, but ended up getting bitten pretty seriously by a dog.  Sitting on the couch feeling discouraged, I tried to make up a song to encourage her.  She smiled.  This lead to an impromptu worship service that lasted about an hour, and it was really obvious that looking to God changed her perspective and given her peace. 

The guys and I also played a lot of risk...

The second weekend I again shared, this time in the young adult group.  It was really good, but I felt like it wasn't enough, wasn't quite meeting the need of the people there.  Afterwards I realized why...this young adult group had been one of the best examples of people living their calling in their daily lives.  They were already putting much of what I was saying into practice.  Cool.

I also shared two songs on Sunday in church, Angie singing with me, and we put together melodies for 10 of Dulce's songs which we tried to record.  We've got a ways to go before we get something really album quality I think, but it was great experience for both of us, and I think we're both a lot farther along as a result of the process.



On Monday I was invited to encourage young people in mission, play my songs, and talk about my upcoming Spanish album ON THE RADIO!   Yeah, our church has a radio station, so it's not that crazy, but...there were people in five countries at least listening in.  Wasn't expecting that. 

On Tuesday I introduced two of my friends who are both Christians who sing opera...one is a 40-year old veteran, and the other is a teen.  The young guy said of the meeting "I didn't realize that you could survive as a believer in this kind of environment."   Everybody left really encouraged, after we sang some new impromptu songs together and chatted about our music-related ministry dreams.

There were two things that were in my heart to do from my first two days at the ranch, but I was nervous.  I wanted to take everyone's picture and pray with them, and I wanted to play a concert for this adopted family of mine.  I was afraid...these kids have strong personalities.  The reactions to picture taking were completely different.  One things stuck out though...my fear very nearly lead me to not doing the two most amazing things that I got to do. 

Playing to a "Full House"

We all have the chance, every day, to speak into people's lives.  To say positive things, to speak truth, to call out the best in others.  But sitting these friends of mine beside me and speaking it.  Was really powerful, and I'm so glad I did.  And I nearly didn't because I was scared.

The show was a riot.   I started out by telling the family that they make me think about girls too much, always asking when I am getting married...and playing my song "Love Songs," followed by my silly song about how I always lose picks.  Everyone was roaring.  Then I went into explaining why I had left them, to go serve on the other side of the world.  And sang more, talking about their calls, and how much they've been blessed, and how their checkered pasts were gone, and that they weren't going to limit them but strengthen them for the work ahead.  I don't know, I hope they heard.  The next day they were still all telling me "don't go James," so maybe they didn't, and maybe they just heard the love, but I guess that's good too. 

I wish I didn't have to go...my heart feels so full and also broken.  But it's a good broken.