Brian and I have been processing our trip down to El Paso this last week (plus). The main reason for going down was to candidate for the Worship Pastor position at Paseo Christian Church.
We had been down to El Paso before for our friends’ wedding (they were stationed at Fort Bliss at the time of their wedding)… but that was 8 years ago. The first thing we noticed when we landed was that El Paso had grown quite a bit since we last visited. That’s always a fun thing to see.
Greg (the lead pastor at Paseo) was there to pick us up at the airport and took us straight to his house where he and his beautiful wife, Jill, hosted us for the next five days. Bless their hearts.
The next five days were a whirlwind.
Church members toured us all over El Paso (as well as parts of New Mexico). We spent one-on-one time with MULTIPLE couples. Many invited us into their home for a delicious home cooked meal while others treated us to some of their favorite El Paso restaurants. I led a full band of people I barely knew but immediately fell in deep, deep LIKE with. We rocked out in band practice and then I led beside them on the platform the next day. And MAN oh MAN are they a seriously talented bunch of musicians.
Playing with this team humbled me and drove a desire within me to be better than I currently am. Being a part of leading Paseo into worship that Sunday morning reminded me of some of my favorite days leading at Sunset for students. I remember looking out and seeing their innocence as they cried out to God in anthem song. I remember feeling like I wasn’t alone but part of something WAY bigger than I could ever imagine. I remember feeling so small, yet I belonged.
This time I looked out and saw honest, authentic, broken, seeking and worshipful men and women singing their hearts out, hands lifted, faces raised, eyes closed. The feeling was familiar… but oh so different. I wasn’t leading anymore. I was being invited into a worship experience. Paseo was warmly inviting me to worship our great and powerful God WITH them.
Oh how I’ve missed feeling like I’m part of a body.
The next two days didn’t slow down much. We met TONS more people, drove down into the very poor areas (the projects), met some of the homeless people Steve works with, saw some of the different projects/organizations Paseo has partnered with and helped out with, watched Steve speak Spanish to a few Mexicans, realized I wasted 6 years taking French, realized I needed to learn Spanish, wished for a superpower in which I could steal Steve’s magnificent Spanish speaking skills, discovered I was ridiculous, saw a graffiti’d plant (seriously… it was amazing), had dinner with the entire Paseo Elder Team & Staff, shared our story, and attended the weekly staff meeting (which I’m proud to say I successfully STOPPED myself from derailing. thankyou!)
WOW RUN ON SENTENCE… moving on…
Even while we were on the plane headed down to El Paso, I truly thought the possibility of the Clayville Clan ending up in the desert was a long shot. The only reason Brian and I even agreed to go was because we both heard God separately say to us that He wanted us to see what was there. And when we hear God… we obey. Little did I know our trip down there would change how I saw everything.
We returned home with a pit in our stomach.
I was about to see how very selfish I really was…
(to be continued)
Whoa…totally not fair to leave us hangin’ here…
well, seth… it wouldn’t be a good part one if i didn’t
That ending is just cruel.
You’re cruel, Jenni.
So cruel.
I know part 2. Taking monetary offers for the information.
hahahaha!!!
Excited to hear the rest of the story! I mentioned before that I grew up in El Paso–way before your time or Paseo’s time. But I love the city. I was there this past August, for the first time in “forever.”
Please keep us posted when the rest of the story comes out.
Blessings
Thanks, Glenn… I’d love to get your thoughts on your hometown sometime. I’m a total outsider so gleaning more understanding from folks like you make adventures like ours easier
I loved reading this. Excitement fills my heart for you and the journey you’re on with Jesus. And you have encouraged me in my journey as my job comes to an end and I have no clue what I’ll be doing on 1st January.
Keep listening & being obedient. I love how God is leading & changing you :0) x
oh ruthie!!! i’m praying for you and your journey too. it’s so uncomfortable to not know the future. praying for quick resolve for you!
So true. When God asks, obedience brings adventure!
i know this. but i’m still scared.
I know ‘scared’ well. We’re on a first name basis. The key is to let ‘scared’ be on your ‘friends’ list, not your ‘ignore’ and hope it will go away list. You’ve had a stare-down with scared, several times before and come out seeing His hand in the adventure. His hand is still there. You were even designed to crave risk and adventure. Why do you think He designed you that way? Is the hand beckoning to you and Brian?
AHHH!!!! What’s going to happen next?! =]
stop yelling…
you’ll find out tomorrow
I know… =] that’s why I’m glad I get to see you in 3 weeks or so =]
we met you briefly at Paseo last week and I found your site and wanted to say hi. Love getting to read another outsiders perspective on processing the whole move to the desert idea.
much love to you-
Emily
HI EMILY!!! thanks for your comment! and hi back!
stick around
Thats just mean….
NUHM – BER TWO…. NUHM – BER TWO….. NUHM – BER TWO…. (Im chanting….)
Curious on your ovraell record for upset picks. I know it can’t be great because you need to be out on a limb most of the time, but your UDJ over OLSM pick got me thinking about it.What makes you think OLSM is ripe for such an upset?
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I love how both you and Brian are seeking and following what God wants for your lives!
i love you, mom! i’m so thankful for all your support and prayer in all this. you’ve been a rock for me in all this. love you!
Cliffhanger?!?
You, my friend, are watching entirely too much Burn Notice. :p
You know, it makes me happy to see you do what you do. I could tell by your tweets while you were there that it was fulfilling.
Whatever you end up doing it sounds like this was a growth experience.
Now, to patiently wait for part two. *drums fingers on desk quietly*
if i don’t cliffhang, who’s gonna come back and read?
It saddens me a bit to think of you guys moving. You’re someone (the whole family-including David & Diane) I’d love to meet up with again. For longer than lunch. Your spirits are so rich with what God has done in your lives. The hurt. The peeling back of all those layers. Getting to the center of one’s very naked being. Feeling alone. Full of shame. And guilt. And of God’s healing. He heals so others can see the transformation. So that others can see the miracles God performs in each of us. If we just let Him!!
I think it is awesome that you are taking us on this journey with you. I will continue to pray for God’s guidance. And am anxious & a little scared of Part 2….
the good news is even if we are moving… we’re still closer than david & diane. just sayin’
“we both heard God separately say to us that He wanted us to see what was there”
This is one of the many reasons I admire you both
these kind of statements make my heart happeeeee!
that’s how we know for certain it’s God speaking. i’m pretty dense otherwise
Jenni, Dana here (Seth Mortier’s Mom), I was just about to peek and delete your e-mail…thinking, OK, pray for thier move, and move on to the next e-mail. They do build up you know. Then was promted to read deeper. WOW! I have just slowed down my morning and worshipped. Thank you.
Dana… this comment has encouraged me this morning. thank you for this… for your encouragement and for your prayers! i really do appreciate you so much!