Jesse A. Schroeder

- selection of a prayer by Henri Nouwen, in his book "Show Me the Way: Readings for Each Day of Lent"

There is something about this idea, that God fights for me that is utterly humbling. This idea taps into an aspect of grace that, when I consider it, just levels me. God fights for me - he wants me on his side - he is seeking me out and struggling to save me. 

All that I do to fight against God, to rebel against his simple way of life and his perfect love - in spite of all of that, God is fighting for me. 

It reminds me of a song we sang in Guatemala one Sunday - Jehova es mi guerrero - Jehovah is my warrior. 

(This video isn't from the same church we visited, but it's pretty similar.)

As you probably know, Kellye and I visited Guatemala several times and care deeply for the people of this country. We know many of the families that are in need, and the pictures you see here are very familiar to us. 

This is an immediate need, and we can provide immediate help. We would like to see our friends and loved ones come together to match our pledge. It takes very little time or effort to make a Paypal donation, or to mail a check for $10 or $20, but together we can make a significant contribution to this need. So for every dollar you send to Guatemala, we will match it! You send $10, we will send $10; $20, we will send $20; $100, we will send $100. 

How much can we raise together, this weekend, to help these families in need??? 

Post in the comments, or send us an email to tell us how much you will donate, and we'll match it!

If you or any friends in your sphere (church or civic group) can help with this need, please send a check or do a Paypal donation to Hearts For Heaven on the website: http://www.heartsforheaven.com/

For mailed checks, send to:
Hearts For Heaven, Inc.
1264 Willow Oaks Trail
Matthews, NC 28104

I made a short "video blog" sharing some details and thoughts about our recent trip Guatemala. It's nothing special, but you can view it here:
Watch "Guat 11 Reflection" on YouTube

As I was waking up this morning, there was a large thunderstorm rolling through Grove City. It started with faint thunder off in the distance, slowly coming closer and closer. Periodically, the thunder would be right over head, shaking our house and waking me up even more. Then the rain started, soft at first but growing stronger and more steady. Flashes of lightning would make it through the blinds, and the loud thunder followed. By now, I was completely awake, and enjoying listening to the storm roll over our house. 

I love thunderstorms, when they aren't so big that I'm not in any danger. The sound of the thunder rolling, so strong and loud that the walls of my house shake, the flashes of lightning, and the strong winds and rain that come and go - these are all reminders to me that the there is power in the world that far exceeds my own. I saw some pictures of a recent volcano eruption in Chile, and I had similar thoughts: There is so much power, it is far beyond anything I can comprehend!

I believe this power also exists in an existential manner, meaning, there is a power that can control, direct, understand, shape and move the activities and results of the world. There is a power to save, and that is a power that I don't possess or control. 

I also believe that this is a very important realization, especially when trying to travel across the world to help people in a practical way. It can be easy to get caught up in the desire to try to save the world. There are so many needs, so many people, and so much that could be done. The sheer magnitude impacts me and I have a deep longing to try to save the world, as best I can.

But just as forceful is the realization that I simply can't. I am only one person. I live so far away. I am trapped in my American lifestyle, and as much as I try, I can only do so much. The juxtaposition of great need, a great desire to help, and the realization of my limitations can be severely debilitating, almost to the point of depressing. 

Then I remember, there is a power greater than my own - MUCH greater than my own. There is a power to save, that I don't possess, but that I believe exists. There is a power that is shaping, directing, and intimately guiding the world, simultaneously engaging every individual toward redemption. 

So I can step back, relax, and stand in awe at the raw power. The raw power of thunderstorms. The raw power of volcanic eruptions. Or the raw power of a love so big, it is saving the world. 

The following is from a small publication called "Explorations: Becoming Like Jesus - Part Four - The Compassionate Life" (by Christopher Webb). He describes a year that he spent working at an inner-city church in England, primarily with people who were homeless and poor. He says, 

"And Jesus showed up - just where I'd least expected him. Id on't know how much of Jesus they found in me - something of him, I hope. But every time I sat over coffee with that community, Jesus revealed himself to me in them. After a few months I re-read the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, and noticed something obvious that had never struck me before. Those who reach out to the poor, the hungry, the naked, the prisoners, find they are not congratulated for being Christlike. Instead they are rewarded by meeting Jesus in the very people they seek to serve. In the end, I went to that church not to be Jesus, but to meet Jesus. The experience changed my life." 

This is a crucially important lesson for us to consider as we prepare to leave for a short-term mission trip. We cannot head into the country of Guatemala with the attitude that we are Jesus - our heads held high, our Bibles in hand, our tongues ready to bless and proclaim peace to the people we meet. This type of attitude is insensitive, offensive, and very dangerous. 

Rather, we enter the country - and eventually we enter the homes of real people - with the hopes of seeing Jesus in the Other. Like Webb says, as we serve, we are not being Christlike, rather we are meeting Jesus in the people we are serving. 

We meet Jesus at the construction site. 

We meet Jesus in a home with dirt floors, no electricity, and no running water. 

We meet Jesus in the family of life-long missionaries.

We meet Jesus in the face of a local pastor, serving a poor community. 

We meet Jesus in the faces of the children. 

Webb concludes, "The compassionate life is, first and foremost, personal. It must be rooted in genuine, direct relationships, not nebulous issues. We cannot love causes. We can only love people - and this love is the root of all real, enduring justice and peace. As we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we need to learn to see." 

May God give us the eyes to see Jesus in Guatemala. 

I've been working on updates and links on the Guat11 blog. It's fun to keep people connected and know that they are following what we are doing. But putting in links and connections, mobile, online, etc....it can be endless!! And I have a tendency to get carried away....wanting to have everything linked, and seamlessly. 

Suffice it to say, that I tried to create a "facebook page" today, and got sucked into the facebook black hole of social networking....

So please, help me feel good about all my efforts, and "Like" our Guat11 page! 

This quote was a cornerstone for my presentation on Leadership for Service at the HOBY Ohio South Conference this past weekend. And I feel like this quote describes my life right now. I spent four full days with HOBY, putting in time and energy to empower the student leaders of today who will, of course, be the future leaders of tomorrow. As soon as I came home, Kellye and I continued to work hard on preparations for our trip to Guatemala that is taking place in only a few weeks. My life has recently become a rapid sequence of meeting folks around town, making connections, collecting supplies, and organizing service events and projects. 

And I love it. 

It is exciting to connect with people for a cause greater than ourselves. It is inspiring to see the work that is being done around the world in efforts to make a difference in people's lives. (For an amazing example, check out Flying Horse Farms). It is humbling when people give us donations to take to Guatemala. It is encouraging to hear stories of projects and activities that other people are doing. We begin to network, connect, encourage, share, challenge, and continue to serve together. 

Happiness is elusive - even in the wealthiest and most blessed country in the world. But I agree with Schweitzer - if you seek and find what it really means to serve, you will find happiness. 

I had a routine checkup at the dentist this morning. The hygienist was asking me questions about my summer plans, if I was traveling anywhere, etc., and I mentioned our trip to Guatemala. She kept cleaning, and then asked a few more questions about where we go and what we do. I shared a few basic details.

Then she asked if we could use any toothpaste. I said we can use whatever we get, and toothpaste is great! She went into the storage room, and came out with about 120 small toothpastes! The toothpaste had an "expiration date" on the box, and so they could no longer give them to patients. But they were perfectly fine.

Then my dentist came in a started to talk with me about how he wants to visit Guatemala, and Cambodia (which many of you know is where my brother and sister-in-law are right now), and we talked for about 15 minutes about different organizations around the world.

I love these conversations. I love sharing about what we do, and I love giving people the opportunity to be generous. I love providing outlets in which the excess and superfluous American materialism can be passed along and become a blessing to other people.

We aren't planning to do hygiene bags, or give away toothpaste this year, but I'm sure we can find a use for all this toothpaste!! Maybe if we talk about the story of "Daniel in the Lion's Den" we can do a little lesson on keeping your teeth clean, just like the lion's teeth had to be clean :)

Today was the TOMS Shoes "One Day Without Shoes" event. It also just so happens that our team is collecting shoes to take to Guatemala. So, I thought it would be a very appropriate event to participate in, and hopefully be able to spark some conversations with people about our trip. 

OK, I have to be honest - I didn't make it the full day. So really, it was my "morning" without shoes. But the morning was rough enough. The weather was cold, and the ground was wet from the rain yesterday. I had morning class on campus, which normally means riding the bus, but I wanted to try to walk as much as possible. I parked about 3 or 4 blocks from my building (which is actually REALLY close; I was lucky I got the spot) and started walking. 

Let me just say that campus sidewalks are not "well maintained." Rocky, cracks, holes, muddy water, and plenty of broken shards of glass to step around. It was a very painful and cold way to start the morning. 

While I sat in class, my morning coffee began to make its way through my system, and I realized I was going to have to use public bathrooms throughout the day. Walking barefoot in a public bathroom?? Really?? But then again, kids who don't have shoes don't have a choice about what touches their feet, about where they have to walk, or even what "bathrooms" they can or can't use. 

Walking around the building, I was distinctly aware of being "unfashionable." As I said, it was a cold day, so many people were wearing winter coats. I felt silly walking around with no shoes. I don't usually pay that much attention to my shoe style - I actually only have one pair for campus that I wear every day. But I felt pretty embarrassed and self-conscious about being barefoot. 

So my morning "no shoes" experience was not all that great. But after class, I went to a casual meeting with some of the College of Social Work staff, and my experience changed quickly. As social workers, they were aware of the "no shoes" day, and were pretty excited to see me not wearing shoes. I had printed some flyers about our Guatemala trip to give to people if they asked about my bare feet, and so I passed a few out. The staff was very excited. They wanted to take pictures and include it in the weekly newsletter. And, they had already collected some children's shoes for another event, but hadn't given them away yet! So, I walked into the meeting barefoot, and left with about 10 pairs of kids shoes. 

I carried the shoes back to my car, distinctly aware of the irony that I was walking barefoot while carrying lots of shoes. The day was a bit warmer, but still my feet hurt pretty badly as I walked around campus. A few people shouted out "Hey no shoe guy!" but other than that, I didn't have too many interesting conversations. Nevertheless, my "day without shoes" was challenging, eye-opening, and ultimately beneficial for kids who need shoes. 

We are starting to gear up for collecting necessary items. Please look at the "Donations" page and see if there is anything you could give for the kids in Guat. Thanks!

This past weekend we were incredibly blessed to have our good friends Roger and Beth Briggs (the founders of Hearts for Heaven) as well as Oscar and Telma (the native missionaries in Guatemala) visit us in Ohio. On Friday night they hung out with us and some of the team members for our June trip. Also, some of our family and friends from different groups around the city came and hung out, and listened to Roger and Telma as they shared about the ministry. Below are a few pictures:

After they left, Kellye and I both felt very sad. It was the same feeling we had after we came home from Guatemala last summer. We agreed that it was because we had to say goodbye to our dear friends. It's very difficult to put into words the connection we have with them and the ministry. They are deeply committed to doing God's work in Guatemala. Oscar and Telma actually have family living in Miami, and we asked if they would like to move to the United States. Immediately, Oscar said, "No, Guatemala is my country." They are committed to God, committed to the people of Guatemala, and their commitment is powerful and challenging to me.

My head was spinning after speaking with Oscar about collecting shoes for the children in Guatemala, how to do effective children's ministry, and funds needed for building a new church for a large youth group in Guatemala. There is so much that needs to be done! And we are so blessed to be a part of this exciting work. The next few months we have a lot to do, lots of preparation, and lots of supplies to be gathered. But I'm very very excited. Visiting with Oscar and Telma reminded me that our trip is going to be very special, for us and for the people of Guatemala.

I can't wait.

This weekend we were blessed to be able to spend time with our good friends from Guatemala, the Briggs and the Martins. It is so encouraging to hear about what is happening in Guat and to think about what events and programs are in store for the future.

In addition to Guatemala, we celebrated a wonderful year with our family: My niece, Skylar was born. Kellye's brother, Jon, turned 30. My brother and sis-in-law left for Cambodia, and we are excited about their work and ministry there. Kel and I were also able to travel within the United States, with her family to Maine, and just the two of us to Puerto Rico. 

2010 was a great year. 

So do we try to do even more in 2011? What awaits us in the next few months? Kellye and I have been talking at length about the options, choices and opportunities that we have for this coming year. As I mentioned, we will be leading another team to Guatemala in June, and we are incredibly excited for this second trip. It seems that in March, our good friends Oscar and Telma (the native missionaries in Guatemala) will be able to visit Ohio. This will be their first visit to the United States. Also, Hearts for Heaven Ministry has just purchased property that they intend to use as a career/vocational training center. The growth, the relationships, the changed lives - there is so much about our connection with Guatemala that is exciting and humbling. This year's trip with the team will only be one small part of our ongoing connection with this beautiful country and the people we love from there. 

Late last year, we were invited to join another team on a "pilot trip" to Nicaragua. This will be the first trip of its kind to the specific churches we will be visiting, and Kellye and I will be in charge of the kids' program. We will get to visit two churches and do three kids' programs at each location. We have never been to Nicaragua. We have never traveled with this specific mission organization together. We have never led a trip like this before. There are many unknowns, but many exciting aspects as well. It is an opportunity to be involved with the first step of strengthening and building up the ministries of local churches in this area. It's a chance to see a new part of the world and meet new people. It's a chance and an opportunity we have decided we are going to take. 

I have been studying in the Ohio State Master's of Social Work program for about 2 quarters now. I have learned more information about the summer study abroad trip to Mexico, and I have decided that this is a trip I want to take. I will be focusing my studies on immigration issues, international social work, and the people and culture of Mexico. I would love to work with immigrant populations in the United States after I graduate, and the possibilities of doing international social work (in Guatemala for example) are also very exciting. But deciding to go on this trip means that I will be out of the country for about 5-6 weeks of my summer. That's a big commitment and a lot of time to miss working and saving money. It has been a difficult decision, and one that Kellye and I have discussed at length, but we are deciding to move forward in this direction. 

There are even more things that will happen this year: I get to be a party of the HOBY Ohio South conference again. I will start my second year studying at OSU. Kellye continues in her new job. We hope to visit friends and family around the country. We like to plan ahead for these events, but sometimes its overwhelming to think about it all at once!! It is going to be an exciting year. 

But I am also afraid of some things. I'm afraid I have decided to try to do too much. I'm afraid of failing at any or all of the goals I have set for myself, or not fulfilling the promises I have made to other people. I'm afraid that the stress of all these activities will hurt my marriage. I'm worried that I have made bad financial decisions, and I don't know how all of these activities will be paid for. 

But I don't want to live in fear and worry. I have always believed that God is ready and willing to do more, to move beyond the life we are currently living, and to help us discover what faith really looks and feels like. This is a line that I use to encourage students who are going on trips with us, but I feel like this year Kellye and I are learning to live in faith again. We are learning to keep maintain a balance between dreams and reality, between working hard and resting, between connecting with other people and maintaining our strong connection with each other. 

I know that 2011 will be a great year, regardless of how all of the above mentioned events turn out. I know that I need God's help in 2011. I know that I need the help, support, love and prayer of the people are me - family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, the emergent cohort, and all the people who know Kellye and me well. I look forward to sharing with all of you the exciting stories about how we have experienced and seen God's kingdom here on earth in this year, 2011. 

In spite of so many challenges, I can personally attest that this is an amazing family. In 2010 when we visited with a team of students, we spent about an hour visiting with this family. They were happy, generous, hospitable, and such a wonderful group of people. They live in a squatter settlement called La Primavera, which is built upon the side of a very steep hill. Unfortunately now, the land that the house is built upon is beginning the erode. Steady rains, poor construction, and no help from the city results in a home that literally is falling apart, down the side of the mountain. 

I have learned that in the next month, Hearts for Heaven ministry plans to do some basic construction to fix the parts of the house that are falling into the ravine. I know that this family could use assistance financially as well. It would be incredible to bless this family from far away, from people who they do not know personally, but they know we love God and so we love them in whatever way we can. A small bit of money would make a HUGE difference for this family and give them hope. It would encourage them to continue to look for the good in a life that is filled with so much bad. It would give them the spark to share the love that they have with the people in their community and neighborhood whom they see every day. 

If you would like to donate, there are two ways: 

1) Send check/money to Jesse and Kellye Schroeder, 2406 Altenburg Ct., Grove City, Ohio 43123

2) Donate through our PayPal Account by clicking the button below. 

This is the latest picture of Heidi, the girl who fell and injured her head, resulting in 25 staple/stitches, a shaved head, and a slow recovery. She is wearing a hat to cover her shaved head. She is poking her head out of the rusted lamina that makes the walls of her house. This is the face of a girl whose life would seriously be impacted by a few dollars sent from loving people from far away.

Let's see how much money we can raise in one week. We need to get the money to the family quickly so the construction project on their house can begin and be successful.

Let's do this together. There are so many reasons, I'll let you just think of one. And if you choose to donate, share in the comments why you did. 

 Heidi had surgery to drain the blood from her brain last night and is doing well now.  She is talking, walking and beginning to eat some.  She was supposed to start school Monday, but doesn't want to go without her beautiful hair which had to be shaved.

You can see why a story like this would touch our hearts. This is what the ministry in Guatemala is all about: helping families in simple practical ways; walking through life with them; providing support through prayer and through physical means; rejoicing together when God delivers and mourning together when we suffer. These families are so special, and it is an amazing privilege to be able to know them and share in their lives.