The Transitional Twilight Zone

One foot (and part of our heart) in the States and the other foot (and the remainder of our heart) reaching for Mexico makes for fuzzy, fun and sometimes difficult living. We've already begun easing out of big ministry commitments at our home church, frequent supporting churches--and those that might be--and still remain busy with schooling at home, work, marriage and parenthood. "What church are we going to today?" is among the usual questions early Sunday morning. Old friends, new friends, laughter, out of state trips, letters, phone calls, dissapointment, frustration, joy and exhaustion. These are among the many things that make up our support raising experience. Sometimes it's almost like a surreal, Twilight Zone like, experience. At times Mexico is like a far away mirage in a desert (or a world far away) and sometimes it's so real we can taste it! The wonderful and strange and quite different characters in the Zone: the naysayers, the dreamers, the doubters, not-so-scary monsters, friends and lovers. Each play a God ordained role in the whole experience regardless of the emotions they might elicit.

The reality of life bites hard in this episode with sickness, plenty of uncertainty, and dear loved ones finding themselves far closer to death than life. Sometimes the only refuge is denial--a strong dose of denial. But then that Zone reality buzzes a bit too close to your face like a bee. The best you can do is swat it away and hope for a quick retreat back into denial. For a moment though you're overwhelmed (almost more than you can bear) by that ugly bee.

But even in the Zone there is a quiet place, a Safe Haven. Sometimes the Safe Haven is hard to find. But only sometimes. Most of the time you can get there with your eyes closed. You know the steps, you know the way, by heart. It's a place of utter truth and honesty. That is, deciet and self-deception aren't welcomed in the Haven. And far from being a respite from the Zone, the Haven is often a place of toil and labor. But often the toil and labor of the Haven provides relief from the Zone.The bees aren't as scary there.

Each scene passes, the 'characters' come and go and we edge closer to the end of our lives as we know it here in the States and the beginning of our lives in Latin America. We appreciate the lovers, dreamers, friends as well as the naysayers, not-so-scary monsters and doubters. The encouagement, kind words and reality checks give us moments for pause.

Another moment of pause: the Transitional Twilight Zone episode could very well continue in Mexico--only with Spanish subtitles!!!

Mexico Trip Highlights

The Arrival!

Our Northwest flight to Mexico via Detroit went well enough. However, a technical glitch kept us from renting a car as we had planned. After visiting a whole bunch of other car rental centers we decided to take a bus from the airport in Mexico city to Toluca. Passing through the streets of Mexico city in rush hour traffic we were quickly reminded that Mexico is, in fact, a third world (or at least an under-developed) country. Prostitutes lined some streets, vendors shouted for patrons' business, poverty was evident. Two movies--or about 3 hours--later we found ourselves at the bus terminal in Toluca. We got a taxi and made our way to Selene's aunt's home where we showered, unwound, ate and got settled in for the evening. The following afternoon we would be off to the retreat.

The 2008 LAM Mexico Retreat

The theme of the this year's retreat was how God defines "Success". It was an awesome time to learn, share, grow, fellowship, cry, laugh, bask in the presence of God, and see Jesus Christ in the lives of Latin America Mission missionaries. We were able to continue friendships that we had started last year and meet and make new friends.

With a twist of pride I told several LAM missionaries I met that we didn't want to be an "inconvenience" to them. That we didn't make the trip to do that! I have to take a moment to recognize LAM missionaries who allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show Himself lovingly generous through them towards us.

LAM missionaries:

• John and Tracey Pieters and their children Keila and Kiana allowed us to stay at their home, wash clothes, use their computer, make phone calls, fed our family, prayed for us, loved us, counseled us, mentored us (perhaps without knowing it), allowed us to be a part of ministry, took us to the zoo and park and allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show himself lovingly generous to our family.
• Carlos and Carrie Morales and Jaime and Emi Lopez drove about two hours each way (to pick us up and drop our family off) to spend time with us and get to know us better--on two separate occasions! They had nothing to gain but our fellowship and friendship. Carlos, Carrie, Jaime and Emi allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show himself lovingly generous to our family.
• Manuel and Laura Vivanco and their four children had us over for an excellent breakfast and patiently listened to our concerns about serving in Mexico, offered us wise counsel and prayed for us. Manuel and Laura allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show himself lovingly generous to our family.
• Paul and Nydia Johnson graciously lent us their mini-van for us to use during our stay in Mexico. They allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show himself lovingly generous to our family.
• Jim and Robin Heimberger had us over for a bar-b-que, Cliff and Joy McCalister had us over for lunch and gave us a tour of camp Kikoten where they serve with the LAM. Several LAM missionaries took the time to pray for Zachary when he had a allergic reaction. They allowed themselves to be "inconvenienced" that God might show himself lovingly generous to our family. I have since gladly eaten my prideful words about being an "inconvenience" with a healthy serving of humility.

Cancer in the family

God is His sovereignty has allowed cancer into our family. Shortly after our arrival to Mexico we found out that my mother, Elaine, was diagnosed with ovarian and stomach cancer. We prayerfully decided to stay in Mexico entrusting my mom to the Great Physician, excellent doctors and family. Currently she is undergoing chemotherapy treatments to reduce the size of the tumors to then have them surgically removed. We ask that you would keep her and my stepfather, Albert, in your prayers.

Seekers in the family

While in Toluca we were able to spend some quality time with Selene's family. Several of them asked questions about, or seemed interested in, Christianity. One of Selene's aunts even asked if we knew of a church in Toluca that she could attend. Our desire is to be a loving, clear and gentle witness to our family in Mexico. While doing devotions I found this verse in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 6:3 which really impacted me, "We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry." On a few occasions I had a right to be mad or upset while in Mexico. However, as an American Christian and missionary candidate, I bit my tongue and kept my cool. That verse really came in handy!

The rude awakening

Having visited Mexico several times now I have had the opportunity to see not only the good things about Mexican culture, but the bad. To be honest, for several days during our trip I had regretted going to Mexico. For several days I wasn't even sure if I wanted to return to Mexico. LAM missionary Manual Vivanco told me that as a Mexican visiting the States he saw things there, as a foreigner, that offended him and that he didn't like. Things that might not be so obvious to an American. Essentially he told me that it is a good thing to see Mexico (both the good and the bad) as it really is. And, having seen that reality, and to still have a love for Mexico and the people of Mexico, is a big step in a missionary's life.

Perhaps I/we are just beginning to learn that lesson. However, I can say that we left Mexico with a strong desire (even a compulsion) to return there as LAM missionaries.

To our prayer partners and supporters

Romans 10:14-15 reads, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"

Thanks so much to those of you who pray for us regularly. Thank you for your financial support. Thank you for being a part of a growing group of churches and individuals who are sending us to Mexico by way of the Latin America Mission. Thank you for loving the people of Mexico along with us.

Sincerely,

Karl & Selene Strittar

1st Thess. 2:8

People shots

A (semi) Personal Word From Karl

Dear Friends,

About 15 years ago while reading 1st Thessalonians I stumbled across the following verse in chapter 2: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. I latched onto that verse. It resonated deep in my heart. Since that time I have discovered the joy of sharing my life with people in the context of ministry. And God has given me the opportunity to do so many times since then.

I've also allowed many people into my life and have allowed them to share their lives with me. You might call it 'bearing one another's burdens' or simple friendship. Perhaps you could call it listening, counseling, lay-ministry. I think it all boils down to sharing our lives with people. I've learned (maybe I'm still learning) that people need to be a priority--the priority, next to Jesus Christ.

I wanted to take just a minute to thank you for allowing me to share a part of my life with you--and the series of events that make up life in my awesome family. Thanks for your prayers, your emails, your kindness and your love. And thanks for your concern!

Perhaps I've communicated a sense of discouragement in some of our prior email updates. To be honest, the support raising process has its ups and downs--its emotional peeks and valleys. I think I would be less than honest with you if I failed to share that. Thanks for giving me the liberty to share my life with you (to do a 1st Thess. 2:8) without having to edit it or "white-wash" it!

So yes, there are times of discouragement. The sour with the sweet. But rest assured we are having a great time as well. Just about every Sunday we have old and new friends over. We're involved in peoples' lives! And this coming Sunday we're going to have Indian food at a (new) friend's house in Chicago. This Friday I am going to share some of my life experiences at a church ministry whose goal is to minister/mentor troubled youth. And Selene is still leading a Spanish speaking women's group at our home church. We're doing that 1st Thess. thing again!

And, in answer to your prayers, we received a letter from a family who has committed to support us on a monthly basis with an unexpected, sacrificial and substantial amount of money. We truly thank God for them and for your prayers.

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of my life with you (the good and the bad)!
Thanks for those small graces!

Encouraged!

Karl

Challenge Follow-Up

Dear Friend,

I was sitting in an men's "inner city" Bible study a few of evenings ago in Chicago when a man shared about how those small, kind comments he hears now and then are really encouraging to him. I began thinking about those "small graces" (and the bearer of those "small graces") that God has brought into my life--into our family's life.

When we sent out the "challenge" email a couple of weeks ago almost immediately I received an email from a family friend who wrote that she believed in what we were doing and confirmed the fact the she was going to support us. I can't begin to tell you how encouraged I was to read that email. And as recently as a few mornings ago I received a call from a dear friend who shared the news that he and his wife were going to support us. Then he said something I wont soon forget. He said that my wife and I will make excellent missionaries and that he was encouraged that Selene and I could serve the Lord together.

Coming from most anybody else his words would have been well received as a very nice compliment. However, the gentleman I spoke with that morning knows us very well and knew us (and counseled us) during some of the darkest and most difficult days of our marriage. Because of his intimate knowledge of us his words were especially poignant.

In between that almost "immediate email" and that phone call a few mornings ago several people have contacted us and shared their desire to pray for, and support us, as we prepare to serve as missionaries in Mexico. Thank you for those small graces, for your generosity, for your prayers.

Further, I am delighted to report that when we sent out the initial challenge email our support level was at 40.65%. Within the last few days I found out that our support level increased to an even 42%! Another one of God's small graces!

Feel free to skip around the rest of the email. Please take note of the prayer requests mentioned at the end of this email. In response to the many questions Selene and I received over the past year or so I wanted to include F.A.Q.s (and their answers!) in this email.

If I have not mentioned a question in this (or other) emails that you need answered please contact me. Our desire is to be open, transparent and honest as possible about the ministry we believe God is calling us to and about the support raising process.

F.A.Q.s

Q: When are you guys leaving??
A: We hope to have all of our support raised and start the mobilization process no later then August of this year.

Q: How much support have you raised?
A: To date we have 42% of our needed support (incoming and pledged).

Q: How can we support you?? Can we start supporting you now?
A: Pray for us! And if you feel God leading you to partner with us financially as well you can donate securely on-line at LAM.org. Or send a check to the LAM with a note indicating that you want to support the Strittar family monthly. Checks can be sent to:

Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900

Q: Do you accept one-time financial gifts?
A: We welcome one-time gifts which we will use toward our outgoing expenses. We do encourage people to prayerfully consider investing in the ministry we feel God calling us to and supporting us on an ongoing basis.

Q: Where will you be serving?
A: Initially we will be in Costa Rica (for about a year) for Spanish language training. Our ministry placement after that will be in the northern part of Mexico city for about a year or two. Then we hope to plant churches in Toluca which is about 45 minutes from Mexico city.

Q: Why do you want to go to Mexico when there is a growing Hispanic community to minister to in Chicago?
A: Because we believe God is calling us to Mexico and have witnessed, first hand, the tremendous need there.

Q: Does Selene speak Spanish? How about your children?
A: Yes. Selene is fluent in both Spanish and English. All three of our boys understand Spanish. Our oldest son, Karl, speaks the most Spanish.

Q: How long will you be in Mexico?
A: We don't know. We are prepared to live and serve in Mexico as long as God would have us.

Q: Are you open to serve God in other areas besides Mexico?
A: Of course! We are willing to serve God wherever He would have us. At this point we believe God would have us serve Him in Mexico. Before Selene and I met she was training to be a missioner nun with the Catholic church in Mexico. I have always had an interest in Missions. What we've desired to do for years has evolved into the ministry we believe God is calling us to now.

Q: Have you been to Mexico?
A: Yes. We have been to Mexico several times in the past few years.

Q: What mission agency are you going with? Why did you choose them?
A: Our mission agency is the Latin America Mission (LAM). We chose to apply with (and were accepted by) the LAM for several reasons: it's rich history of evangelical/missions work in Latin America, it's 'holistic' approach to ministry (recognizing the significance of meeting social needs in conjunction with sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ), and the fact that LAM missionaries encourage, assist and participate with and are subject to national church leaders.

We have also spent time with LAM missionaries and discovered that there is one common denominator among them: a deep love for Jesus Christ and a serious commitment to share His Gospel. I encourage you to check out the LAM website at LAM.org to find out more about them.

Q: What are you doing to prepare for the mission field?
A: We pray!! We hang-out with Mexicans! Visit Spanish speaking churches and attend services conducted in Spanish. In short, we do what we have been doing for years: we purposefully invest in peoples lives with the intent of sharing the Gospel with them, or encouraging them, or discipling/mentoring them or just simply to love them and be their friends. By the way, we would continue to do that regardless of where God calls us or has us serve Him!

Q: When are you going on your mission trip?
A: Well, we have been to Mexico several times to attend a LAM yearly Mexico retreat, visit LAM missionaries and see the ministries there are involved with and visit with family and friends. You might call those previous trips mission trips. However, our intention is to become long-term missionaries in Mexico. We intend to live in Mexico for as long as God would have us. So again, our goal is to be career missionaries in Mexico with the LAM.

Once again, please feel free to email me (or call me directly at 708-785-5170) if you need a question answered that wasn't addressed here!

Prayer Requests:

• For the spiritual, emotional and physical health of our family.
• That our family would grow closer together and closer to God.
  
• That we would have our support raised and be prepared to leave by August of this year.
• That we would be good stewards of the time God gives us each day.
• For the upcoming transitions to Costa Rica and to Mexico.
• That the two new teeth that our youngest son Zack is getting would grow in straight and true!
• That God would continue to provide for our daily material needs.
• Selene specifically asks that you pray for her to be patient as she home schools our boys.
• Karl Jr, Abe and Zack ask that you pray that our family would be able to get a dog.
  

Thank you for your interest in us, for your prayers and for your support. Thanks for letting us share a little bit of our life with you. And thanks for those small graces!

Sincerely,

Karl & Selene Strittar
1Thess. 2:8

"I thought you guys we in Mexico already!"

Over the past several months we have heard the question mentioned in the title line of this blog several times. Now it's true, we have been to Mexico with some regularity over the past few years. In fact, this year alone we've been there three times. However, we are not living/serving in Mexico--yet. Obviously, there is some misinformation out there. I hope this blog will clear some (most??) of it up.

There are five steps or "phases" that we'll need to work through to start our missionary service with the Latin America Mission (LAM) in Mexico and eventually live and minister in Toluca, Mexico. Here they are:

Phase I: Identifying the call of God in our lives and getting connected to a quality sending agency. In January of 2006 our family went to visit family in Mexico. It was during that visit that I sensed a tremendous spiritual need in Mexico and opportunity to serve Him there. Before we met, Selene was in Mexico training to be a missioner nun with the Catholic church (in 1996). And I have always had an interest in missions. So it was during that trip to Mexico in 2006 that we realized that we should start prayerfully pursuing the idea of missions to Latin America.

We looked into several mission sending agencies before we found the Latin America Mission. We were impressed with the LAM for several reasons. The LAM encourages, assists and participates with the Latin church and national church leaders "in the task of building the church of Jesus Christ in the Latin world and beyond". The LAM firmly believes in an "incarnational" approach to missions. Living life among people and in their culture is the best way to build relationships and communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Finally, the LAM believes in an "holistic" approach to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They do this by coupling the task of evangelization with meeting social needs. Check out their website at LAM.org to find out more.

Phase 2: Support Raising. Just about everybody has been to the mall and while trying to get their bearings they stopped to look at a map. You usually find a little red ball or stick person with the words "you are here" printed above. Well, this is exactly where we're at!Currently, we've raised a little over 40% of our monthly financial need.

We are blessed to have a growing group of individuals who are contributing monthly towards our support and four supporting churches (including our home church). Selene and I are so thankful for these individuals and churches who believe in us enough (and in our God!) to invest in the ministry that He is calling us to. And we are even more grateful for the prayers of many of our friends and those of you reading this now. Faithful financial giving will be a blessing to us while in Mexico. We'll be able to eat, put gas in our van and pay bills! However, faithful intercession on our behalf will allow us to be a blessing to those we minister to!

By the way, our target date to have all of our support raised is August 2008.

Phase 3: Language training. The LAM is pretty adamant about their missionaries being able to communicate clearly with the people they are working with and serving. Our family will spend about a year in San Jose, Costa Rica at the Spanish Language Institute where I (Karl) will be studying Spanish. And we'll all be adjusting to life in a Latin American country while preparing to serve in Mexico.

Phase 4: Ecatepec county, north of Mexico City. Our initial plans are to minister as ministry assistants to the Senior Pastor, LAM missionary Manuel Vivanco, at the Iglesia Bautista Bethlehem in Chiconautla. In Chiconautla we will be working with (and more significantly, learning from) veteran LAM missionaries like Manuel and other local church leaders. During this time we will be adjusting to life in Mexico and we hope to learn as much as we can about Church planting, Evangelization, Leadership Training, etc. in the context of Mexican culture.

Phase 5: Toluca, Mexico. At the LAM orientation we attended, in June of last year, during our initial ministry placement interview we were asked where in Mexico we desired to serve. We were open at the time (and we still are!)to where God would have us serve. However, towards the end of the interview (without nailing down a specific area) we were told to pray about where God would have us serve. During my devotions the next morning the city of Toluca came to mind. I believed then and I believe now that Toluca is where God would eventually have us.

Toluca is a city of about 747,000 with about 1.5 million in the surrounding area. It's the capital of Mexico state. It is rapidly growing being the fifth largest urban area in Mexico. It is located about 40 miles west/southwest of Mexico city. Toluca is the home to various universities and technological institutes. And Toluca attracts many people from the surrounding area in hopes of finding employment. Because of this an interesting "cross section" of Mexicans can be found in Toluca: the rich, poor, college students, professionals and indigenous or native Mexicans. Our strong (and growing) desire is to plant churches in the city of Toluca. We sincerely covet your prayers to that end.

We have greatly benefited from various ministries at our home church--a local body of believers. Our children have been involved in children's ministry. Selene and I have served--and grown so much--in our home church's marriage ministry. We are so grateful to have been a part of a recovery ministry at our church. Even now we are enjoying serving in our Hispanic ministry. We are so thankful for our "local body of believers," our home church. And we look forward, with great anticipation, to serving the "local body of believers" in Mexico.

If you know of anyone who has an interest in missions or may be interested in finding out more about our family's "road" to Latin America please feel free to forward this email to them. If you would like to be a part of a growing group of individuals who are partnering with us as we prepare to serve with the LAM in Mexico please contact us or click on the link below.

I hope this blog was helpful and as always thanks for allowing us to share a part of our life with you.

Sincerely,

Karl & Selene Strittar

1st Thess. 2:8

The Challenge

Over the past year and a half Selene and I have discovered that raising support is challenging--to say the least. We have also discovered that we cannot complete this process without help. We have learned that there is three models or methods of support raising:

1. Praying exclusively (Hudson Taylor) trusting that God will meet your needs.
2. Praying and making your needs known (George Mueller).
3. Praying, making your needs known and asking (Dwight L. Moody).

Daily we have prayed for God's guidance, direction, wisdom and discretion about raising support. We have made our needs known. And we have also asked individuals and churches with humility and gentleness about joining our support team.

Many of you reading this are already supporting us. For that, Selene and I are extremely grateful. We are asking those in this group to prayerfully consider increasing your support. Some of you reading this have pledged to support us but have not yet begun doing so. We want to encourage you to follow through with that commitment and start supporting us at this time on a monthly basis. The majority of you reading this are not (at this time) supporting us. For you in the last category Selene and I want to challenge you to prayerfully consider supporting us. One thing that you all have done which we have benefited from was pray for us. Thanks so much for that!

A very dear friend of mine once told me that I should never be afraid to ask God's people for (God's) money to do God's work. I can honestly say that typing this email is not easy for me. However, we believe that God is calling us to serve Him in Mexico and we need your help.

The need? Only roughly 7% of Mexicans claim to be Christian. The vast majority of Mexicans are not only living in financial poverty but spiritual poverty and darkness, without hope. Many cities/villages (in the Chicago-land area alone) are saturated with churches that proclaim a conservative Gospel. Many towns/cities in the republic of Mexico have no churches that proclaim a conservative gospel.

Perhaps some of may be offended by the content of this blog. Of course that was not our purpose. The purpose of this is to get you to close your eyes, bow your head for a few moments and ask our Father if He would have you support us--and in what way. Our target date to leave and have our support raised is August of this year. That leaves us with less than eight months to raise our support. Romans 10: 14-15 reads: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Your financial gifts will allow us to live in Mexico. Your prayers will enable us to carry out the ministry God is calling us to! Remember monthly supporters who give small amounts (25-100 dollars) make up the majority of our support team. You don't have to "give big" to support us.

With genuine and deep humility,

Karl & Selene Strittar

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

To make a donation:
Latin America Mission, P.O.B. 52-7900, Miami, FL 33152-7900 (with a note that it's for the Strittar family).
Or by internet: lam.org Go to donations/missionary appointees/Strittar family.
Or click on this link to go directly to our LAM family bio:
http://shop2.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/lam.storefront/EN/product/757716