Guayaquil calliente. (hot!)
Guayaquil vive por ti (I live for you)
Guayaquileños sing awesome songs about their city. And we were very much at home for 8 years there.
Yet Guayaquil is not the safest city in the world. As in most majority world cities, most people who live there, including ourselves, have lived through some scary experiences.
This summer I was concerned about having to keep the family safe upon our return and it was stressing me out a bit. Then my good mate Frank preached at cession last month and told the story of how when he arrives in a new country he likes to be picked up at the airport then he can relax and enjoy the ride to where he is going because someone else is in control. It was one of those moments when God really spoke to me, telling me I didn't need to be hyper-vigilant about it all but that He was good and He was powerful and He was for me so I can rest in His vigilance as He would be the driver. Today I have been reading the blog-release of The Undefended Life by Simon P Walker. It is a must read in understanding living openly in this world. Simon shared the similar thoughts at the last SIM Global Leaders Gathering, in Kenya. In fact his thoughts on The God who is undefended has been very influential in my missional musings over the last few years. Guayaquil is the place where I was most open as we learnt Spanish by talking to randoms on the street, but them most closed after a couple of assaults. So now we get to trust God again and seek to experience Guayaquil with openness and faith, not mistrust and fear. Jesus take the wheel...
