Since around 1990 part of my ministry has been writing, first letters and then email updates, to our friends and ministry partners. I've also read a lot of these, as you can imagine.
Letters from people in ministry come in many shapes and sizes. Some are nicely typeset, some have lots of pictures, and some come on organizational letterhead. More than one or two have titles like "Spins the story" or "Laura's Aura." Well, maybe not those exact titles. Perhaps if I had a name that rhymed with newsletter I'd work it in somehow. "Steve's Peaves" might not quite fit the genre.
For my part, I've tried to write about international ministry life in such a way that people might understand it better, both the glories and the gory details. (See, I'm writing about writing letters here, since it's a part of most every ministry worker's life.)
Most people write about successes and upcoming challenges. Most readers like the parts about the family the best, especially if there are young kids involved. Usually there is an invitation to give to the ministry (or partner, or participate, or....) Almost always there is a call to pray, or at least an implicit call to prayer. In fact, we used to call them prayer letters.
Since we like to influence people, a lot of us try to write in a way that calls readers to draw near to Holy Father and be good ambassadors. Sometimes we even do that by sharing how He is changing us. Failures don't seem to get a lot of press, but we sometimes work them around into "active opposition" or "pressing through difficult seasons."
But like most jobs, sometimes ministry doesn't seem so interesting up close. Then it's hard to write! And I've learned that it's harder to tell my story than someone else's, but especially as a counselor, telling other people's stories doesn't work out so good. I've learned to say, "we each have the right to tell our own story." Of course, we can get people's permission to tell their story, or try to change the details enough that no one knows whose story it is. My main point is that I still often find it hard to write, even after writing for so long.
The other side of this picture is that as we share our hearts, you (the readers) love on us as the people we really are, not the people we wish we were or would like to be. That is a gift of great value. Thank you so much.
As you read this email update (scant on news, but I'll add a little at the end,) would you imagine yourself writing the 11th, 56th, or 261st email update? Would you call out for those who are writing, whether from the heart, or out of deep need, or even from a mix of all of that and more, some not so pretty? For this too is part of the journey and worth remembering.
In him who keeps us, Steve and Laura
PS We've had a satisfying spring, with not so much travel and a lot of snow on the mountains. I get to leave for Toronto on Mother's Day and return on Laura's birthday. (And I already owe her more than I can ever repay.)
We had a good visit to Houston in February--well before the terrible flooding this spring. We rode our bikes along one of the bayous that definitely flooded.
We cancelled a trip to the DC area in April, missing some good conversations, because of family concerns closer to home.
One change for me is that I've started "officing" at Bob and Martha's--around the corner from our house. The view is better (not just one tree, but many, with Pike's Peak behind them) and most of all it makes me more available to Bob and Martha, and hopefully also gives Martha a little more freedom from time to time. Compared to my view of the roof and the bars on the windows in middle of Taichung, which I appreciated because I could see outside, this is pretty amazing.
I continue to coordinate the international ministry readiness assessment for TEAM's Counseling Office while Laura focuses a lot of her energy alongside the women of the International Women's Connection (IWC) here in Colorado.
This summer we have a family wedding in Michigan where we will see my sisters and most of their families. Hurray for Angela and Jake!
Then in August, I've been invited to meet up with a large group of people in Thailand, but I may have to leave Laura behind.
PPS Since times have changes and most of you can see pictures in your email these days, here's the one I keep on my computer screen as a back drop. This is Garden of the Gods, from the west side of the central rock formations. No, I did not take it from my window!
Steve and Laura Spinella
US: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
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