With much 'gusto'

2 hours ago

3 min read

As I write this letter, my mom is busy mending one of my “singing jackets.” Growing up, Mom sewed many of the matching outfits my brothers and I wore for our “Thompson Family” concerts and watching her fix my jacket is bringing back lots of memories.

Some of you will recall first learning about LOGOI during a “Thompson Family” concert. We would sing, play handbells and trumpets, and in between songs, Dad would tell stories of how God was using LOGOI to proclaim the Gospel across the Spanish world.

I’m told I joined the family singing group when I was two years old. My instructions were to wait quietly on the front row pew, but when my three older brothers walked on stage to sing with Dad, my two-year-old self just followed them right up to the stage. To the delight of the congregation, I sang the first and last words of each song with much gusto.

“Gusto” is a great word. It means, “great energy, enthusiasm, and eager enjoyment while doing something.” With much gusto, I sang the only two words I knew of our songs. Interestingly, my “gusto” made up for a lot of other things I was missing.

Marielis and Jhonatan Torres Jovien are LOGOI Bible students bringing the Gospel (as well as water) to the Wayuu Tribes in impoverished desert villages of Northern Colombia (where Marielis was born). They are a young married couple and and I suspect lacking in a lot of wisdom and knowledge more seasoned missionaries would bring to the table. But they are serving Christ and loving people with much “gusto” and the Wayuu people love them and are being blessed by their ministry.

LOGOI Missionary-of-the-Month and church planter, Pastor Cristian Alejandro Morales Soto is on a mission to “faithfully carry the Gospel to all who will hear” in his hometown of Puente Alto, Chile. Pastor Soto suffered a major stoke several years ago that left his right side disabled. He is so filled with gusto for the Gospel, however, that few seem to even notice his disability.

Our own Grandma Carolyn – along with some church sewing circles, some individuals and some special financial partners – have joined together to send care packages filled with love to LOGOI national missionaries working with children in impoverished areas. They are sewing and gathering gifts for children with such gusto, no one notices or even cares that almost all involved in these projects are seasoned citizens whose hands and feet are laden with physical ailments that most would use as perfect excuses to not be involved.

With much gusto, we could fill page after page with stories from pastors and leaders LOGOI is helping as they “do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). That includes you who, with much gusto, give of your time and resources so that others will hear the Good News. You do so even knowing you will probably never meet those you are helping this side of heaven.

So it is that with much gusto, my mom sits quietly mending the “singing jacket” I just wore as the “crooner” for one of the popular Candlelight series jazz concerts. Yes, I’m still singing with much gusto remembering that it all started back when I was two years old with the wonderful Thompson family singers. And just like back in the day, Mom is still mending my outfits.

I’m so thankful God invented family. As you celebrate Thanksgiving, may the Lord bring to mind all the many, many things for which we can be thankful. Mostly, may you revel with the joy that is with eternal gusto that Jesus gave His life to save yours. There is no greater display of gusto!

Forever!