Family & Friends,
In the previous letter, I
described the long shadow cast by
the imminent departure of a large
portion of our community. I do not
want to be mistaken, however, our
work with the people departing
over the next six months isn’t even
close to finished. Like all stories,
the plot gets really good right
before the end and so will our
story be.
I have watched a few of the
young men grow from obnoxious
little trouble makers to obnoxious
leaders with extraordinary
charisma. I’ve not seen God
change the potent parts of them
because I believe he loves their
potency. I HAVE seen him change
their trajectory and where they
once were walking disasters;
ticking time bombs of regret, they
are now unexplored excellence
waiting to be revealed by God’s
timing.
There’s this one guy. He was a
middle school student when we
first met. He’ll leave here as a high
school student. He is quiet. He is
reserved. He doesn’t drag his
knuckles along the ground to prove
to the other guys that he is
masculine. When I first met him,
he would not say three words to
me. He wasn’t rude. He didn’t
blow me off, or the people around
him. He just didn’t have a lot to
say.
Something has changed in him,
though. He spends a lot of time
with the guys. He is extremely
athletic (like he has been since he
got here, but now he flaunts it.)
He’s tough. He’s fast. He’s strong.
And now he’s confident. And he’s
confident in that really cool
Hollywood cowboy, don’t have to
flaunt it, sort of confident. He
makes up his own mind and
doesn’t let the group push him into
a choice.
A few months back when the
group was getting ready to go have
a round of paintball, I witnessed a
group of guys trying to goad “Kyle”
into joining the game. They were
throwing the word “wuss” into the
mix, and using the ever popular
“don’t be a girl.” What I saw him
do, though, was stand his ground,
with a smile on his face, to boys
two and three years older than
him.
Astonished, I interceded and
explained that to define “manly”
and “masculine” in such narrow
terms is to live a small life and that
gentleness and wisdom are also
crazy good aspects to have as a
man, which this guy had in great
measure. They conceded the point
and walked away. I turned to him
and he thanked me.
“Kyle, I was actually saying that
for their benefit. I think you already
knew everything I just said.” He
smiled a big broad grin and
reclined to own his moment of
victory. “Clint Eastwood,” I thought
to myself. “I’m looking at the next
Clint Eastwood.” He will move,
more than likely, before the
summer months hit.
Damien & Desiree Marts JANUARY -­‐ 2017 No joke, they actually dressed up for this
Welcoming people at the airport is a LOT of fun
with the right people
“Should auld
acquaintance
be forgot,
And never
brought to mind?
Should auld
acquaintance
be forgot,
And auld lang
syne!
For auld lang
syne, my dear,
For auld lang
syne.
We’ll tak a cup
o’ kindness yet,
A few weeks later, I went to see the new Star Wars movie. It was awesome. I
will not hear any arguments to the contrary. Along with me, I brought six
students. One of the guys, me and “George,” the owner of long blonde hair and
a very healthy vocabulary, got to sit next to each other. When I say “got to” I
mean, I’m pretty sure he threatened life and limb of the other guys (and one girl)
to secure a spot next to me.
So he could talk through the whole movie to me.
He is REALLY funny.
HE is REALLY loud.
I don’t know if the people around us enjoyed his commentary as much as I
did. It was a definite cinematic enhancement unexpected but unequaled in the
history of the series, I’m sure. But for as funny as he was, he is a deep thinker
that observes people. He called out a few people in the movie who were dead
ringers for people we know in real life. He was spot-on accurate to a person.
I get to keep him for a few more years.
As we go into this next semester, our talks will feature the “I am” statements of
Jesus Christ. Then we will talk to them about how He sends us into the world.
Some of these students we will send to the four corners of the earth. To multiple
continents, countries, mainland states, mission fields all. The others, we will send
to our very group, to be the building blocks of our next group. It is our challenge
to begin to work with both groups separately. With one group we will conclude
our story. With another, we will begin a new chapter of responsibility. With
everyone, we create stronger bonds, stronger relationships, and continuing calls
to go deeper with the Christ. To walk in His ways. To say “yes” to His call.
DAMIEN, DESIREE, PETER, JOHANNA, AND LEONIDAS
For auld lang
syne.”
- Robert Burns
Just a couple of us going around base to spread some cheer