Real conversation

We started our week of service on Monday where we helped with Los Pablanos Community Project by planting 20 donated trees. We also helped them repair their irrigation pipes. They use their 130-acre field to produce crops and plants which help feed people in the greater Albuquerque area. It was great to be outside working in the November sunshine!

Monday night we were invited to the home of Sandy, a woman who is a member at the church we spoke at this week. There we ate dinner with her and her former pastor Howard and his wife Freddi. It is always such a blessing to be invited into people’s homes, but for whatever reason this night stands out for me. I think it was the conversation of the evening that made the difference. Howard asked us deep and challenging questions: “Is this year living up to your expectations,?” “How are you processing what you learn,?” Do you realize how everything you do after this year will be measured up to this?” We couldn’t use our practiced responses about what Latreia is, why we do it, and where we’re headed—instead, he made us think. It makes such a difference when people ask real questions…I want to remember that and practice that because too often in life we take the easy road and never delve beyond small talk with people. It’s easy to say “how are you?” but it is more difficult to say “is there something you are struggling with right now?” We must seek and encourage stimulating conversations that truly let you glimpse who a person is and what they are about rather than being content with just learning their name. Jesus’ ministry was all relational and He set the example of sitting down with others and learning about them and who they really are. We, as Christians, are called to follow that example even though it may not be the norm.

Kelly