Greetings Future STI’s!
I have spent over 2 months here in Cordoba and they have been some of the most challenging, refreshing, spiritually-growing, joyful and enriching days I have experienced in my life. Challenging in adjusting to a new culture, ways of life and communicating in a language that is not your own. Refreshing in that this culture is laid back, relaxed, go-with the-flow and relationally focused. Spiritually-growing in the vibrant atmosphere of the church, passionate prayers of the Christians, radical styles of worship and time for personal pursuit in running after the Lord. Finally, this time has been so joyful in getting to know the host family, other friends in Christ for the City, serving those who have a great need, and getting to have an adventure in Cordoba. The overall experience has been a blessing to me and I truly feel as if I have been given more than I gave.
My prayer before coming Cordoba was to have an open heart and to be ready to serve. Both of those are essential to your experience here as you will be challenged, but will grow through those challenges. There will be things you won’t want to do, times you don’t want to serve, think of better ways to do something or even have a lack of hope at times with the situations in which we serve. All those thoughts are normal, but will humble you as you go through them. Break through your pride and rest in being humbled. No one here knows of your accomplishments, accolades, or talents from your life in the United States- this is such a positively humbling bonus. You can only show people who you are through serving with your heart and through your actions.
Two verses that have given me great encouragement are as follows:
“Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desires.” (Psalm 37:4)
Remember to run after Him during your time here and He will satisfy you. I pray you have late nights, early mornings and days full of prayer, scripture reading, and meditating on the Lord. Use this time to allow Him to fill you up!
“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthews 20:26-28)
As you prepare for your trip and raise support and get your packing list together, make sure your prepare your heart (as this is the most important part to prepare). Be open to what the Lord is going to show you through the host family, CFCI, the church and being a servant. Your mission here is to spread the Gospel, but the greatest avenue to do so is through service. One STI had a talented voice, so she served through singing. One had a talent for making videos, so he made a promotional video. Serve with your actions in whatever way the Lord leads you!
Lastly, in regards to the language barrier, this can be difficult to deal with at times. Regardless of your speaking ability, unless you are fully fluent, you will experience some sort of frustration. I am an intermediate speaker, but times I lack being able to fully express my thoughts on a topic; this can be frustrating. During deep conversations, brainstorming sessions, or reflections, I desire to say one thing, but have to say something less eloquently because of the language difference. This is humbling and has shown me that my actions will always speak louder than my words. I have also been shown that the Spirit can speak through me without words and has caused me to lean even more on Him.
I pray that your trip here will be a great blessing to your life and also that you will make an impact here!
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
Be encouraged by these verses and seek the Lord above all else as you prepare to serve with Christ for the City!
God bless,
-Justin Cardenas
Ps. I still don’t know what “STI” stands for, but that is what we are called so embrace it!
Note: STI stands for "Short-Term Individual" and is the phraseology used by the Central Office to distinguish between an individual and a team.
Edited by: John Michael Den Hartog
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