By Antoinette Chew, Ministry Pastor of COTHA Kids
A couple of nights ago my children and I were on our way home. It was raining very hard, and it was hard to see the road. Suddenly a car that was next to me swerved in front of me. Of course I slammed on my brakes. Then in front of me a huge car accident happened. Yes the car that had swerved in front of me slammed into the car ahead of him. It was just by luck that I already started to slow down because he had swerved in front of me, that I was not involved in the five-car pile up. Or was it luck?
I believe someone was looking out for me. Whether that someone was God or my angels, I know it was not luck, but a divine intervention. I give God the glory for protecting my family and me that night. 

We were just a few gringos who wanted to give a little back.
What I experienced was God’s glory.
Somewhere in the living water literature, I read how if you’re going on this trip just to drill a water well, you’re missing the boat.
Of course the goal is a completed well that pumps clean water but throughout that process relationships are formed. Even with a language barrier, God’s love shows in smiles and gestures, playing soccer with the kids (we got schooled) and a sweet kiss on the cheek from a little girl. They will likely never forget the gringos who came to their village and gave them “a cup of water in Jesus’ name”. They watched us work through the adversity of failing equipment with cooperation and faith and the ladies tirelessly teaching health and hygiene to the children…my whole team was awesome! And I will always remember their humble, smiling faces.
…just a few gringos who wanted to give a little back but we all received much more.
God is good!

What do you dream about?  What is the desire of your heart?  Do you have ‘God-sized’ dreams and desires?  The community we met in Guatemala certainly had ‘God-sized’ dreams.  What were their dreams you might be asking?  Was it for their children to grow up to be successful?  No.  Was it for abundant crops?  No.  Their dream was what we might consider not much of a dream at all.  For years, their dream has been to have a safe source of drinking water.
Through the generous giving of COTHA for a water well and sending a team to develop a safe water supply and share a cup of water in Jesus’ name, we were used by God to fulfill their dreams and answer their prayers.  Let’s continue to dream our own ‘God-sized’ dreams to the glory of God and to the benefit of His children in our families, our community, our nation, and our world!

We had many challenges drilling due to a layer of hard rock which two drilling bits, one hydraulic motor shaft broke, and a unpredictable air compressor.  With team work and gods help, we completed another successful water well.
Enjoyed the many days and moments of getting to knowing, playing and especially build relationships with everyone.
Enjoyed working with my fellow church members, living water team and local community to provide freshly clean safety water to the local community.
I feel this second mission to Guatemala has found one additional purpose in my life to share my knowledge, ability, since of community and love for others.
Look forward to continue my mission in 2014.

I was sitting in front of the television on the morning of June 6, 1968 when I heard the tragic news of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.   Despite my youth I knew that I was witnessing a piece of American history.  It had been a strange spring.  Scenes from the Viet Nam War were a daily occurrence as was the growing number of protests springing up from the streets of the United States.  There were continued updates on the Civil Rights struggles throughout the country.  As I sat watching the scenes from California unfold before me, I still remembered the pain of a nation that witnessed another assassination only two months before.  Shot from the walkway of a motel in Memphis, Tennessee, Martin Luther King Jr. had the met the same fate.
I had not even entered my teen-aged years, but I knew that this country faced a crisis.  The television newscaster echoed the pain and concern as I sat and wondered what would happen to the country.  What would happen to me?  Was the country disintegrating?  Was there any hope?
The problems that we faced as a country seemed insurmountable in the mind of a young boy who sat there as a witness to these tragic events.  As bad as it seemed, it would be only a short thirteen months later before a different, more hopeful event took place on that same television screen.  On July 20, 1969 Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon.   I remember the words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Watching Neil Armstrong leap from the lunar module onto the surface of the moon seemed surreal.  How could we go from the assassinations of idealistic leaders to an amazing technological feat like the landing on the moon?
As I look back on those days, I am amazed at the contrast between devastation and triumph.  I wasn’t able to reflect much on it at the time, but now through the lens of retrospection I can see the affect it had on a nation, on the world.  How can the human race sink to such despicable lows and then rise to such grand achievements?  Within each person exist the possibilities of both.  It is our task to rise to the heights of “our better angels” in order to make a difference, both in the affairs of the world and in the activities of our daily lives.
The desire to make a difference is ingrained in most people.  There is a general sense that we want live differently than others.  This means different things to different people but the hope that we will leave the world in a little better condition than we found it is something that motivates many people.  Of course there are exceptions but even the terrorist who straps a bomb on his body and heads out to crowded city market is motivated by the hope that somehow, no matter how misguided, there sacrifice will have been worth the loss and devastation.
History is littered with the stories of people who have sought after their own gain at the expense of others.  There is no getting around the fact that people with good will are not found everywhere.   But if you have picked up this book, you are probably numbered with the great number of people who are interested in making a difference, leaving the world in a little better shape than you found it.
Humans are capable of tremendous good in the world.  Like Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., many people look at the conditions around them and say enough is enough.  Equipped with whatever they have in their hearts and in the skills that they have acquired, they take action that leads to change.  Other people, whose names have been lost to history, have also found dissatisfaction in what they face and have been motivated to do something about it.  These men and women are schoolteachers who finally get fed up with all the bureaucracy of public education and move out from underneath the tyrannical forces that keep children from learning and do something about it.  These people are small business owners who know that operating their business is more than just making a profit so that they can enjoy creature comforts.  They know that their work can make a difference for both their employees and customers.  They break through the all the forces that work against their success: governmental interference, high taxes and discouragement, to do something different, never satisfied until they make a breakthrough.  These people work in the public square, private industries, non-profits and even the Church.  These are not remarkable people yet they do remarkable things.  Without the desire to improve the world, no matter if that affects many or a few, then change and improvement would never happen.
Are you dissatisfied with the world?  What are you doing to change it?  Where is God calling you to make a difference?

We're in this together! That's the name of the message series being taught at COTHA during Lent. Last weekend I taught the Biblical process of conflict resolution. I also reminded us that knowledge about what to do isn't enough. We have to take action on what we know to be true if we want to make a difference.
I came across this teaching through a leadership organization to which I belong. Since it dovetails off of what I taught this past weekend, I thought I'd share. Here it is:
Connecting With People: The Leader’s Greatest Skill
Linda Sasser
How to Conduct Tough Conversations
In this month’s lesson, John begins by talking about four mistakes he made early on in his leadership walk in regards to connecting with others. The fourth and final mistake he shares, and the one that resonated most with me, was his admission that he failed to initiate important but difficult conversations.
I’m so glad to hear John address this because this is a challenge that many leaders make early on in their careers; in fact, it’s one that many of us continue to make today! For this month’s application piece I’d like to take a closer look at the nine action steps John shares for how to conduct a tough conversation and exactly what we can do within each step to ensure that every tough conversation is an opportunity for a stronger relationship and professional growth.
Meet privately ASAP.
¨ Once you observe the need for a critical conversation, schedule the meeting ASAP. Don’t let it linger.
¨ Upon scheduling the meeting, set the tone before the meeting so that the employee comes to the meeting with the right mindset. Here are some examples:
“Take a deep breath and come mentally prepared. There are a few performance items I need to discuss with you.”
“There’s no need to prepare or bring anything to the meeting but an open mind. We need to discuss a few things, and I’d like you to be in listening mode.”
Assume good motives.
¨ Approach the conversation with a “coaching mindset.” You’re not creating an argument. You’re helping someone improve and develop. The goal is to put the person at ease so their defenses come down.
¨ Remember that every tough conversation is an opportunity for growth.
¨ Help set the environment for your positive motives in holding this meeting by engaging in a little lighthearted small talk for a few minutes prior to the conversation.
Be specific.
¨ Give the employee one or more specific examples that illustrate the problem or your reason for having the tough conversation.
Explain the negative impact of those behaviors.
¨ Specifically illustrate how the employee’s behavior impacts the following:
Their teammates
Their opportunity to lead up to you
Their own job value
Ask for their side of the story.
¨ Let the other person respond so that they feel they have the opportunity to give their point of view. (Note: Even if there is no way the person is in the right, allow them to express their stance.)
¨ Don’t debate; listen and coach when appropriate.
Find points of agreement.
¨ Practice the 101 Percent Principle – Find the one percent you both agree on and give that 100 percent of your effort. For example:
You both want what is best for the team.
You both want the individual to grow as a leader.
¨ Emphasize these points of agreement when establishing a plan for moving forward.
Set out a future course of action.
¨ After listening to the employee’s point of view and emphasizing your points of agreement, share your decision of how you should move forward. Remember, it’s your call how you steward the team. It’s okay to put your stake in the ground and be firm with your decisions.
¨ Talk through how the employee will handle a similar situation next time, based on your conversation. For example, you might ask:
“How will you handle your emotions the next time you’re in that situation?”
“How are you going to change the direction of the failing plan?”
“How will you make sure all invoices are paid on time in the future?”
Validate the value of the person and the relationship.
¨ As you bring the tough conversation to a conclusion, be sure to point out the integral role this person holds on the team.
Express your commitment to help.
¨ If your mindset is to serve, rather than to be served, you will likely encounter less resistance.
¨ Encourage the employee when you see them exhibiting the behavior that you discussed.
Linda Sasser