[TEAMspinella] Global care: a sincere invitation

Short story: We are committed to a ministry of global care, (and we would like to invite you to partner financially with us in this ministry.)

 

Seeing Joey and his fiance, Laura G, planning their wedding* sends us hurtling back into the past. (Among other things, I remember being blissfully unaware we were having that effect on "the older generation" at the time!) *The date has been set for July 28, 2012 in Boulder.

 

The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. Part of that is our work. We love global ministry and we love to care for people so much! People don't always see our hearts this way, but many do, and we like it when people see that in us, too.

 

It's not just a McJob to us. Over the years I've certainly struggled with wanting to be somebody else or have some other role. But global care is something we love so much we'll even raise money to do it …and, not or, …live with less.

 

When I think about my own journey, it is landmarked by conversations of the heart. Sure I've studied and even taught, and Laura puts me to shame with her disciplined habits of daily committed reading and reflection, but most of all it is intimate conversations that have marked our journeys.

 

I remember…times of loneliness when someone sought me out every week to meet with me, not just in the word, but in the gym or in the mountains, times of growth when someone coached me not just about my performance but my person, times of grief when someone met me where I was even though it was not fun, and times of sharing intimately, sometimes unexpectedly, with so many people, but especially those with whom this became a habit!

 

Isaiah said, "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money. Come, take your choice of wine or milk--It's all free!" That's how we have been loved and that is also how we want to love others.

 

What are the intimate conversations you remember in your own journey? We hope you will find much to celebrate as you remember where you have been and look forward to what is yet to come!

 

With love in the one who keeps us, Steve and Laura

 

PS We invite you to give to our ministry by sending a check to TEAMworld.org with a note saying it's for "the Spinella's work" or you can go to http://teamworld.org/give/ways-to-give-through-team/team-us-ways-to-give.html for other ways to give, including online. And for you who are and have been our financial partners in this ministry, thanks again for choosing us as your partners!

Steve and Laura Spinella

street: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920

mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>

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[TEAMspinella] Waiting on the father and the father's tables (spoiler near the end)

Turkey was a great place to visit. The friends we spent time with were very gracious, welcoming us into their lives and communities. We even had opportunities to visit with a few local people and enjoyed those conversations, too. Still, after all the travel, we're also glad to be back in Colorado. We should stay here more often ;-)! We're looking forward to spending Christmas here with Sarah, Joey, and Robby, and whoever else shows up!

First, the waiting on the father: Going to a place we hadn't ever visited and meeting friends that we knew little or not at all, I was impressed that I needed to take an attitude of waiting to see what opportunities presented themselves instead of trying to make things happen. You know, I got a lot of chances to do that--and wouldn't you know it, I also got to watch a lot of things happen without being in a position of engineering them--but rather in a very dependent position most of the time! It was perhaps one of my greatest takeaways from the trip, other than the meaningful relationships with precious people.

Next, the waiting on tables: Laura was investing herself in a passel of precious kids, for many hours a day, during the training event we joined. And among other things, I got to recruit and lead a team in putting breakfast on the table every morning and then also clearing breakfast away. You know, that turned out to be a great small group experience as we did some early morning rising, kitchen bussing, and then ended up with our own group to commit the day back to the father before breakfast started. There were other great opportunities to serve and some of them even involved holding babies! Personally, we think we have great potential as grandparents, but we're willing to be patient.

In the midst of these life adventures we got to hear stories from people living in historic cities like Damascus, Istanbul (previously Constantinople), Cairo, and Izmir (once known as Smyrna). We wait for opportunities like these, and as best we can, we come alongside in the journeys of people crossing language and cultural boundaries with an attitude of compassionate love and sincere respect.

Oh, yeah, and we got at least one more opportunity to wait tables, when we "happened" to be in Houston last Saturday. That was the day our son Joey proposed to Laura G and she said "yes!" Since we were there, we got to run out and buy food for a little reception with some of their college friends at the end of their most exciting day. They're looking to late July in Colorado :-)

I plan to write one more email update before Christmas inviting you to partner in our ministry. This has been a year of learning and adjustment for us, but we are thankful and happy to do the ministry of love and care that the father has placed before us at this time. Each year has its share of challenges and delights, how will you be finishing your year? Do you have something to celebrate?

With love in the one who keeps us! Steve and Laura

PS Just a note to say that we delight in walking with the father of the universe is and certainly love to call him by name. At the same time, we are aware that the emails we write may not only be read by anybody in the world and get posted or forwarded different places, but also get searched by automated processes looking for certain words. That's why I try to avoid some of the most special words we use in the family when I write these email updates. I hope you understand and won't be frustrated by that. In the international community there are a bazillion ways people approach these issues, and we try to respect all of them. This was especially true on this latest trip.

Steve and Laura Spinella

street: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920

mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>

--
This is an email list for friends of Steve and Laura...
To reply to a posting, send email to steve.spinella@gmail.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to TEAMspinella-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
To see past emails, pictures, et al, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/TEAMspinella?hl=en