This past Wednesday, we had a going-away-party (despedida) for our friend Tiffany. Tiffany just completed her term in Mexico – a one year commitment that turned into three and a half.
Tiffany first visited (coming to us from Arkansas) four years ago, an exploratory trip before coming mid-term. She was a part of the very first baking class, something that would become an important part of her ministry here.
She came the following year, and joined the summer interns (you can see lots of Tiffany in this video). She did some language school in Cuernavaca, and in the fall dove into classes at the community centre – shaking up Jesús MarÃa with a line dancing class!
She started helping with the youth, continued her work at the community centre, including those continuing baking classes, English classes, country dance, and eventually even classes for kids, and served the families of Jesús MarÃa in countless other ways. She helped with a “vision weekend” that brought together Mexicans, Americans and Canadians as we imagined what God could do in Ixtapaluca.
Somehow in the midst of all this, she served us by babysitting and even hanging out with us once in a while!
Who can forget the startling events at her birthday party in 2011?
Tiffany shared the Gospel, served without words in the background, and energized others. Not only did she encourage us and others around her, she encouraged others from outside of Mexico to come and join in the harvest.
We didn’t always support Tiffany as we should have, and we probably didn’t tell her we appreciate her as much as we should have. During those three years, Tiffany has gone through challenges and trials that no one else can understand.
But Rod put it well at the party on Wednesday. Tiffany was faithful – when she said she would do something, she followed through.
And as rare as that is, there’s more. She did it in spite of the many challenges – expected and unexpected – that she faced. She did it with energy and a smile. And she still went above and beyond and did more than anyone expected.
So thank you, Tiffany.
Tiffany will be back. But everything is changing so fast, we know that things will be different. So it’s a good time to look back and say thank you.
Tiffany, we send you the prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21 as God continues to guide you and do amazing things.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do
far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Tiffany’s Going-Away Party (October 2013)
