Location: Again in the Dining Room at our base in Sighisoara, Romania, a little before 7am on October 1, 2009.
I may not have told you that we have to be very careful taking photos in the gypsy villages, for several reasons, and especially in the village we visited yesterday. However, let me paint a few photos for you to enjoy!
Picture a dozen young boys caked in mud running toward me with grins that cry "Jee-mee" because they struggle to say my real name but they really want to play football (soccer) with me!
Imagine me sitting on the side of a large slope, four boys squeezed into a row ahead of me, one boy on my shoulders and one boy on his, pretending we are bobsledding down through the weeds!
Picture me sitting in front of the stage with a squirming boy under each arm, determined to hold them with me until they learn not to hit one another.
Smile as you see me glance out the kitchen window to see the neighbor outside plucking one of the chickens that not so long ago was scampering around his yard...
Imagine me standing in the rain while the children ask me if I am a professional wrestler since I come from America and that is what they see on television.
Imagine me picking up my language-learning college on my shoulders and spinning him in a circle with a war-whoop before setting him down to prepare for a pile-driver in front of our overwhelmed language professor during class while we were demonstrating what professional wrestling is, exactly.
Picture me tipping my hat with a smiling "Buna ziua" to a gang of Romanian peers who were laughing at the tall American wearing an old man's hat. Imagine a frauline from my gospel choir telling me that she "fancies" my hat!
Picture me sitting in a quiet building in Sighisoara as the sky prepares to welcome a sunrise outside the window. Imagine me eating leftover vegetable-and-chicken-and-rice soup on a brisk autumn morning, having rising at 3:30 to pray for many of you, knowing that I stil need to squeeze in some Romanian homework before the day starts.
Picture a smiling Jesus looking at you like I look at these unkempt, dirty, squirming kids in the gypsy villages, these kids who long so much for someone to love them, who would love to have someone care enough about them to take time to discipline them or to tell them a story or play football with them. Picture Jesus among them, hugging them despite their grim, laughing with them when they find out He is ticklish, being mobbed by them when they see Him entering town. Please, today, do not forget that Jesus loves you like that! Remind yourself that He delights in you, even when you wear a silly hat, even when you disrupt your language class, even when you are standing in the rain, even when your kids will not mind you. Never forget that He passionately desires time with you, that He calls you to rest in Him, to run to Him, to sit in His embrace, no matter what this world is throwing at you, even if you do not even remember what Hope is! Remember that like the sun that will soon peek over the hill to my east, the one that is beginning to color the blueing sky with some tints of purples and pinks, Jesus rose for you, that you might live a life full of color, to His glory!
Keep these pictures in your head today; may they keep a smile on your face! I bless you in the Name of this smiling, risen Jesus!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Rain-Out
Location: Dining Room at the base in Sighisoara, Romania, about 5:30pm on September 29.
In an half-hour, I will be teaching English to 7 or 8 students of varying levels. Not only am I supposed to do that each Tuesday, but I have also been asked to teach French to one girl. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn Romanian, so you see that linguistically speaking, there is a lot happening.
While I wait for my students, I am letting my clothes dry. I got a proper soaking in one of the gypsy villages today when a cloudburst postponed our program plans. I continued to play football (soccer) with the boys until the rain really picked up, then we continued with a shortened version of the lesson out the back of the truck, around which our die-hard fans were huddled. Rain or shine, the message of Jesus is good news! We did close up shop a little early, though, which gives me a brief moment to catch you up on things.
I painted all morning; the apartment we have been remodeling is now very pink (in my opinion). Supposedly it is peach. Go figure. Yesterday I stayed back from the visitation to work on that apartment; it is certainly coming along! The rest of yesterday was filled with cleaning (after the departure of our Bristish guests and before today's board meeting), as well as preparation for this week's program.
Sunday was good, too. We went back to the Nazarene church were some of our team attends, and when everybody looked at me funny for clapping during the last song, I said that I could do so because I am not Nazarene! (In fact, I do not consider myself anything but Christian--a follower of Jesus Christ!) Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! But my clapping did not stop one of the elders from asking me to pray before the whole church. I was unsure that I was understanding his Romanian correctly, so I clarified by asking if I could pray in English. When he agreed, I knew I was "on deck," even though that was only my second time in the church. I was surprisd he knew my name!
But everyone will know me soon. Not only am I a tall American who says "Buna Ziua" to everyone in town, but now I have my Romanian "older gentleman's" hat. So as usual, I do not blend in. Even better, I ended up preaching on Sunday night! How does that happen to me, you ask? Here is the story...
Sunday afternoon we were dining at the home of one of our team members. She was saying something in Romanian about visiting the Baptist church, and our leader was saying we should prepare a presentation if we went as a team. She asked me if I could prepare a song, and I said, "Sure, I could even preach!" Of course, I had no idea that they were talking about going that evening! As soon as I got home, I prepared a message and a song, in case I was asked to do either. When we arrived at the church, we sang a song as a team and then I preached. Not only did I preach, but I preached Matthew 23! Take a look at that, and imagine the Spirit leading me to preach on that text!
Actually, it went very well, and it was followed by a very good sermon. A third man was also due to preach, but he said that he had learned at a conference that when people hear more than one message, they forget all but the last. He said that the first two were good, so instead of preaching, he summarized ours and humbly pointed everything back to Jesus. It was very powerful, and I felt privileged to be a part of it!
Thank you for your prayers! I pray that as I minister, I represent well those of you who are praying for me. I never know what the day will look like, but I try to always be ready to give the reason for the hope I have. By the way, in case you are wondering, my reason is named Jesus Christ, and if you need hope, I would heartily encourage you to look to Him!
I bless you in the Name of Jesus!
In an half-hour, I will be teaching English to 7 or 8 students of varying levels. Not only am I supposed to do that each Tuesday, but I have also been asked to teach French to one girl. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn Romanian, so you see that linguistically speaking, there is a lot happening.
While I wait for my students, I am letting my clothes dry. I got a proper soaking in one of the gypsy villages today when a cloudburst postponed our program plans. I continued to play football (soccer) with the boys until the rain really picked up, then we continued with a shortened version of the lesson out the back of the truck, around which our die-hard fans were huddled. Rain or shine, the message of Jesus is good news! We did close up shop a little early, though, which gives me a brief moment to catch you up on things.
I painted all morning; the apartment we have been remodeling is now very pink (in my opinion). Supposedly it is peach. Go figure. Yesterday I stayed back from the visitation to work on that apartment; it is certainly coming along! The rest of yesterday was filled with cleaning (after the departure of our Bristish guests and before today's board meeting), as well as preparation for this week's program.
Sunday was good, too. We went back to the Nazarene church were some of our team attends, and when everybody looked at me funny for clapping during the last song, I said that I could do so because I am not Nazarene! (In fact, I do not consider myself anything but Christian--a follower of Jesus Christ!) Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! But my clapping did not stop one of the elders from asking me to pray before the whole church. I was unsure that I was understanding his Romanian correctly, so I clarified by asking if I could pray in English. When he agreed, I knew I was "on deck," even though that was only my second time in the church. I was surprisd he knew my name!
But everyone will know me soon. Not only am I a tall American who says "Buna Ziua" to everyone in town, but now I have my Romanian "older gentleman's" hat. So as usual, I do not blend in. Even better, I ended up preaching on Sunday night! How does that happen to me, you ask? Here is the story...
Sunday afternoon we were dining at the home of one of our team members. She was saying something in Romanian about visiting the Baptist church, and our leader was saying we should prepare a presentation if we went as a team. She asked me if I could prepare a song, and I said, "Sure, I could even preach!" Of course, I had no idea that they were talking about going that evening! As soon as I got home, I prepared a message and a song, in case I was asked to do either. When we arrived at the church, we sang a song as a team and then I preached. Not only did I preach, but I preached Matthew 23! Take a look at that, and imagine the Spirit leading me to preach on that text!
Actually, it went very well, and it was followed by a very good sermon. A third man was also due to preach, but he said that he had learned at a conference that when people hear more than one message, they forget all but the last. He said that the first two were good, so instead of preaching, he summarized ours and humbly pointed everything back to Jesus. It was very powerful, and I felt privileged to be a part of it!
Thank you for your prayers! I pray that as I minister, I represent well those of you who are praying for me. I never know what the day will look like, but I try to always be ready to give the reason for the hope I have. By the way, in case you are wondering, my reason is named Jesus Christ, and if you need hope, I would heartily encourage you to look to Him!
I bless you in the Name of Jesus!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Just a Tease...
Location: Dining Room, base in Sighisoara, about 11pm on Monday, September 28th.
I haven't had time to update you, but the weekend included shopping in the market, goodbyes to our British men's team, prayer in one church and last minute preaching in another! Today was a Monday of cleaning and construction and preparation--this promises to be another busy week! I hope to write more soon! I bless you in the Name of Jesus (we are teaching about the Name of God this week, the third Commandment in Exodus 20)!
I haven't had time to update you, but the weekend included shopping in the market, goodbyes to our British men's team, prayer in one church and last minute preaching in another! Today was a Monday of cleaning and construction and preparation--this promises to be another busy week! I hope to write more soon! I bless you in the Name of Jesus (we are teaching about the Name of God this week, the third Commandment in Exodus 20)!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Heroes! (warning: this will be lengthy, but full of information!)
Location: In a cemetery in the citadel in Sighisoara, Romania, about 1:00pm on Saturday, September 26.
Why am I in a cemetery?
So far, it is the closest thing I have found to a peaceful park where I can get away from the world below. Today is a day off, and I decided to use much of it for prayer. So I have been sitting here enjoying the singing birds, the first falling leaves, and the sunlight filtering through the trees. The Lord and I have been discussing you, as well as my future in Europe and beyond.
I very frequently pray for you. Most of you are probably on my prayer list, and I also try to pray for you each time you contact me via email. If you have a special request, or if you are afraid that your name might not be on my list, let me know! I will make sure to pray for you!
Thanks for praying for me. This week passed well. I have begun teaching on stage during our village programs. Our trips into the villages are very challenging--it is fun to be welcomed so enthusiastically, but all the while one knows that often the people are looking for free handouts of food or candy or anything else. My language classes are going well, especially now that I jumped to a little higher level. They are difficult, but I am learning! Work is settling down now as we complete some of the transition and begin to know each other better. Yesterday we discussed how we feel about the first two weeks, and what we need to be able to do our best work.
What does a typical day look like for me? Well, I spend the morning privately with the Lord in prayer and reading the Word (the Bible). Then I grab some muesli (like granola) for breakfast around 7:45am, and I head back upstairs for devotions at 8:15am (we take turns leading devotions). Our work starts about 9:00am, and most days that means cleaning or remodeling work around our living area/workspace. Sometimes I get to help out in our kindergarten. Yesterday, for example, we split A LOT of wood trying to prepare for winter's onslaught. Our four-story building will be heated only by a wood stove in the garage with radiators in the rooms. That is one thing I love about Romania: it is so old-fashioned and charming in many ways! You regularly see horses and carts on the roads or in the fields, people garden and farm by hand, or sometimes with the help of old tractors. Men give women, especially the elderly, their seats on the bus; women usually wear their hair quite long. People say hello in the streets, and they sit on their front steps or a porch and greet the neighbors. You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables in the market, or on the side of the road. Can you picture it?
In fact, maybe I already told you, but many of the gypsy villages are very similar to African tribal villages. Many of the children are half- or completely naked, and the people live in shacks and shanties, though of course it is not unusual to see satellite dishes perched on top. Sometimes they have to work hard to find clean water or enough food for their families.
But back to the day. After working hard for a couple of hours in the morning, I can hopefully find a little time to study Romanian (or go to class, depending on the day). Then I hurry to the dining room in time for a quick lunch before meeting the team upstairs to discuss the day's program. Half-an-hour later, we are en route to one of the villages, where we will play with the children (football or stamps or jewelry) while the truck is set up. Soon after, we will start our program with games and music, followed by short teaching lessons. After nearly two hours, we will say goodbye, debrief, and make it home in time for a little more work before dinner. We eat dinner about 7pm, and in the evenings we have more preparation to do as a team, or a team activity.
You can see that I spend a lot of time with our team (there are about ten of us). But I also get to spend some time with college students from America who help us out. Last night I had the privilege of joining one for dinner in town, and he and I had a great time of discussion and fellowship. Every time I have a conversation like that, I remember that I do not have to fully understand why I am in Europe, because each of those interactions was worth everything I have given up and endured to be here. May God get the glory!
You are worth it, too. That is why I love communicating with you, usually through email. Your emails are encouraging to me, and I like knowing how best to pray for you. I have been in contact with so many wonderful men and women of God--what a blessing! In addition to email, I have met wonderful people each place I go! Let me briefly describe some of them to you:
One man I met ministers to Muslims all over the world, despite the death-threats he has received; prayer and study is the backbone of his work, and he intentionally trains others how to become people of prayer, like Jesus.
One man is finally building a house for his family after he has lived in ten places over the past 12 years. He has frequently sacrificed his own mattress for someone else in need; this is a man who would literally give the shirt off his back so that others might know the love of Jesus!
One man was a taxi driver in Chicago for years, and he always welcomes you with a smile. From whatever position he is in, he will show you respect and love in the way the Jesus would. He cares for his elderly wife in such a gentle way that you know you are safe when you are with him!
Two young ladies, one with a handicap, laugh and laugh when they are together. They run camps for disabled children, and they have a vision to fight for rights for persons with disabilities in all of Romania, transforming the nation. They do not know how they will do it, but they are ready to follow Jesus as He leads them!
One young mother has poured herself and the love of Jesus into her work. She has worked with the same handful of handicapped young people year after year for many years. At the same time, she cares for her family and her church. It is a thankless job, but she is a hero to those young people, and to me!
One man moved to France more than twenty-five years ago, and he still lives and ministers there, raising his family among a people who often have no hope. I heard several people agree that his gentle character is more like that of Jesus than anyone else they know!
Another girl is the sister of a man of God confined to a wheelchair. She selflessly cares for her brother in anything he needs, and along with her church friends she ministers among persons with disabilities in Romania. Now she has decided to study physical therapy to be better equipped to touch people with the love of Jesus!
These are just a few of the people I have been honored to meet during the past four months. Maybe one of those mentioned above is you--maybe not. The truth is that my heros are usually unsung. If you are not on my blog, you are in my heart. I thank you for letting Jesus work through you. May each of us be a hero in someone else's eyes, thanks to the Holy Spirit living through us freely!
But like any good hero, we must be humble. I know that the majority of the persons who have influenced me never had any idea that they made an impression on me. So now it is my turn to do the same. I bought some items this morning that I need for winter here, and I replaced Waldo (my ballcap) with a Romanian fedora. I still will not blend in very well, but hopefully I will not stand out so much. Hopefully no one in Sighisoara will remember the lanky American who smiled through the streets one year, but hopefully they will have been forever transformed by the Jesus that lives in me. I hope the same for you, and I bless you in His holy Name!
Why am I in a cemetery?
So far, it is the closest thing I have found to a peaceful park where I can get away from the world below. Today is a day off, and I decided to use much of it for prayer. So I have been sitting here enjoying the singing birds, the first falling leaves, and the sunlight filtering through the trees. The Lord and I have been discussing you, as well as my future in Europe and beyond.
I very frequently pray for you. Most of you are probably on my prayer list, and I also try to pray for you each time you contact me via email. If you have a special request, or if you are afraid that your name might not be on my list, let me know! I will make sure to pray for you!
Thanks for praying for me. This week passed well. I have begun teaching on stage during our village programs. Our trips into the villages are very challenging--it is fun to be welcomed so enthusiastically, but all the while one knows that often the people are looking for free handouts of food or candy or anything else. My language classes are going well, especially now that I jumped to a little higher level. They are difficult, but I am learning! Work is settling down now as we complete some of the transition and begin to know each other better. Yesterday we discussed how we feel about the first two weeks, and what we need to be able to do our best work.
What does a typical day look like for me? Well, I spend the morning privately with the Lord in prayer and reading the Word (the Bible). Then I grab some muesli (like granola) for breakfast around 7:45am, and I head back upstairs for devotions at 8:15am (we take turns leading devotions). Our work starts about 9:00am, and most days that means cleaning or remodeling work around our living area/workspace. Sometimes I get to help out in our kindergarten. Yesterday, for example, we split A LOT of wood trying to prepare for winter's onslaught. Our four-story building will be heated only by a wood stove in the garage with radiators in the rooms. That is one thing I love about Romania: it is so old-fashioned and charming in many ways! You regularly see horses and carts on the roads or in the fields, people garden and farm by hand, or sometimes with the help of old tractors. Men give women, especially the elderly, their seats on the bus; women usually wear their hair quite long. People say hello in the streets, and they sit on their front steps or a porch and greet the neighbors. You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables in the market, or on the side of the road. Can you picture it?
In fact, maybe I already told you, but many of the gypsy villages are very similar to African tribal villages. Many of the children are half- or completely naked, and the people live in shacks and shanties, though of course it is not unusual to see satellite dishes perched on top. Sometimes they have to work hard to find clean water or enough food for their families.
But back to the day. After working hard for a couple of hours in the morning, I can hopefully find a little time to study Romanian (or go to class, depending on the day). Then I hurry to the dining room in time for a quick lunch before meeting the team upstairs to discuss the day's program. Half-an-hour later, we are en route to one of the villages, where we will play with the children (football or stamps or jewelry) while the truck is set up. Soon after, we will start our program with games and music, followed by short teaching lessons. After nearly two hours, we will say goodbye, debrief, and make it home in time for a little more work before dinner. We eat dinner about 7pm, and in the evenings we have more preparation to do as a team, or a team activity.
You can see that I spend a lot of time with our team (there are about ten of us). But I also get to spend some time with college students from America who help us out. Last night I had the privilege of joining one for dinner in town, and he and I had a great time of discussion and fellowship. Every time I have a conversation like that, I remember that I do not have to fully understand why I am in Europe, because each of those interactions was worth everything I have given up and endured to be here. May God get the glory!
You are worth it, too. That is why I love communicating with you, usually through email. Your emails are encouraging to me, and I like knowing how best to pray for you. I have been in contact with so many wonderful men and women of God--what a blessing! In addition to email, I have met wonderful people each place I go! Let me briefly describe some of them to you:
One man I met ministers to Muslims all over the world, despite the death-threats he has received; prayer and study is the backbone of his work, and he intentionally trains others how to become people of prayer, like Jesus.
One man is finally building a house for his family after he has lived in ten places over the past 12 years. He has frequently sacrificed his own mattress for someone else in need; this is a man who would literally give the shirt off his back so that others might know the love of Jesus!
One man was a taxi driver in Chicago for years, and he always welcomes you with a smile. From whatever position he is in, he will show you respect and love in the way the Jesus would. He cares for his elderly wife in such a gentle way that you know you are safe when you are with him!
Two young ladies, one with a handicap, laugh and laugh when they are together. They run camps for disabled children, and they have a vision to fight for rights for persons with disabilities in all of Romania, transforming the nation. They do not know how they will do it, but they are ready to follow Jesus as He leads them!
One young mother has poured herself and the love of Jesus into her work. She has worked with the same handful of handicapped young people year after year for many years. At the same time, she cares for her family and her church. It is a thankless job, but she is a hero to those young people, and to me!
One man moved to France more than twenty-five years ago, and he still lives and ministers there, raising his family among a people who often have no hope. I heard several people agree that his gentle character is more like that of Jesus than anyone else they know!
Another girl is the sister of a man of God confined to a wheelchair. She selflessly cares for her brother in anything he needs, and along with her church friends she ministers among persons with disabilities in Romania. Now she has decided to study physical therapy to be better equipped to touch people with the love of Jesus!
These are just a few of the people I have been honored to meet during the past four months. Maybe one of those mentioned above is you--maybe not. The truth is that my heros are usually unsung. If you are not on my blog, you are in my heart. I thank you for letting Jesus work through you. May each of us be a hero in someone else's eyes, thanks to the Holy Spirit living through us freely!
But like any good hero, we must be humble. I know that the majority of the persons who have influenced me never had any idea that they made an impression on me. So now it is my turn to do the same. I bought some items this morning that I need for winter here, and I replaced Waldo (my ballcap) with a Romanian fedora. I still will not blend in very well, but hopefully I will not stand out so much. Hopefully no one in Sighisoara will remember the lanky American who smiled through the streets one year, but hopefully they will have been forever transformed by the Jesus that lives in me. I hope the same for you, and I bless you in His holy Name!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New Photos!
I just caught up my photos (http://picasaweb.google.com/TheRabboni); enjoy! They range from leaving the camp in the French Alps to my 36-hour bus ride to Sighisoara to last weekend's adventures! Read about the adventures in the long post below, and below that there is info about our work in Sighisoara, which I hope to supplement with another post soon. Thanks for traveling with me!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Super-Duper Wonderful Weekend--Check it out!
Location: Back home(?) on my bed in Sighisoara, Romania, at nearly 11:00pm on Sunday, September 20th.
I know, I promised to write more about Sighisoara and my thoughts and feelings during this first week or so of transition...and I will. But first, I have to tell you about this weekend! I tell it because I want to boast in the LORD! Only He could have orchestrated such a fantastic two days, and I was richly blessed! I had anticipated an exhausting weekend, and instead it was refreshing and encouraging!
(This is a true story!)
As you will recall, I left early Saturday morning to walk to the bus station in Sighisoara. Thanks be to God, I found it with no trouble, and after a bit of a wait, the right minibus arrived and I climbed abord. My driver looked like Elvis and drove like the Dukes of Hazard, but all in all, it was an uneventful trip--I arrived in Cluj safely and on time, if a little car-sick.
I studied Romanian for a little while and then met up with my two friends who arrived, and we caught a tram to the central park in Cluj for the civil ceremony of the wedding. There were literally dozens of weddings taking place, and the brides were lined up as though they had taken a number like in a customer-service queue. Some of you know that I am not a big fan of weddings in general, so you can imagine that it was a nightmare-come-true to be surrounded by so much matrimony! But joking aside, it was wonderful to see my friends from Cluj, those who were getting married and those attending as guests.
Let me tell you about the wedding--it is a testimony to the grace and grandeur of God (may He get the glory!). My friends both are persons with disabilities, wonderful blessings who are nonetheless the kind of people that foolish people might suppose would never get married. One was raised in an orphanage where he had to make do without a wheelchair. Now they are revolutionizing their city by bringing together people who are often overlooked by their neighbors. A very large number of the guests were persons with disabilities, and some of the other young men from the orphanage were there, too. What is awe-insipiring is watching all of these men and women of God care for one another with a love that can only come from Jesus--I love my Cluj friends!
So we left the park to go to an Orthodox church. In case you are unaware, you stand during an Orthodox service. So we stood for an hour-and-a-half or two hours before they announced that the service would contine for another long while, and we were given permission to be seated. I have to admit that though I understand only a little of all the Romanian that is spoken, the Orthodox service makes me sad because so many things constrain what should be a liberating relationship with Jesus. But I enjoyed absorbing the new experience while praying for Holy-Spirit transformation for the Orthodox Church--after all, the Catholic and Protestant Churches are also filled with misguided persons who do not truly know Jesus. Oh, how I long for the day when every person in a church building knows the amazing God who is the Head of the Church body! May the Church of every denomination be purified and radically transformed into a beautiful, spotless Bride for Christ!
We left the Orthodox service early to prepare for the reception. I was asked to help the guest up two flights of stairs, especially guests in wheelchairs. But it was worth the effort, for the many faces in the room were plastered with bright smiles during the whole evening. I enjoyed visiting with friends I had not seen in a while, as well as some new ones. God is certainly working through these folks in Cluj!
The night ended with a visit to the train station to wait with a friend for a late train, and then a late night discussion with another friend before sleeping off the busy day.
I rested well, and I thank you for your prayers, because day one had certainly gone well, despite me fighting a little food-related illness during my travels and the wedding. God was watching out for me, and that was only the beginning! The next morning, I made it to the bus station without mishap, and soon I was enjoying the sunrise en route to Bistrita. I dozed quite a bit, but I was alert when we entered town. Despite that fact, I was surprised when the bus driver got up out of his seat to inform a confused ME that I was supposed to get off on the street corner; I thought we were going to the bus station. So I reentered some serious prayer as I tried to figure out where to go from there. Fortunately, God quickly led me to the bus station, where I arrived just in time to catch a bus that happened to be going through the small village to which I was headed. I had to sit in a jump seat facing the crowd of other passengers, but I was on my way, for six lei (less than two dollars)! Then I had to call out to the driver to stop as we sped through the village; since he was jabbering into a cell phone, I was not convinced he was going to stop!
So I found myself on the side of a highway running through a small gypsy village in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to the Lord, there were other people on the side of the road, and most seemed to be headed in the same direction. So I crossed the street and walked straight up to a young couple who looked American, and I began to follow them (they only seemed slightly concerned). My friend, K., had told me there were 80 Americans ministering in the village, so I thought I had a good chance of finding some! I had arrived just in time for church, and as we arrived on the doorstep of the church, K. suddenly walked out, and after a double-take, welcomed me a big hug! I had no idea how I would get home in the evening, but I had made it!
The church was packed thanks to the 80 Americans and the three baptisms scheduled to take place, so again I found myself standing for worship for several hours. But I was happy, and feeling much healthier than the day prior. After church, I was invited to lunch with K.'s mission team, so I pitched in my train mix and joined them. As the blessings stacked up, I also laughed when I was blessed to meet a gal I had gone to college with eight years ago! (Many of you know I went to a tiny college in a tiny town in Indiana, so it is just hilarious to meet up with an alumnae in a tiny village in Romania on the other side of the world!) How great is our God!
Still praying about how I would get home for work tomorrow morning, I suddenly learned that the group's plans had changed, and they would be leaving town at 3pm! Ordinarily, that would have been bad news for me, because it would force me to cut my visit short. However, it turned out that they would be driving through Sighisoara, and they had room on their coach bus for me! What a miracle! I got to visit with K. for two more hours and then was dropped practically at my doorstep, no back-tracking or bus schedules necessary! And instead of arriving home after midnight, I was back by about 6pm!
To top off a great weekend, I came home to find that God had provided a whole bag-full of winter clothes for me. I also got to talk to my family via the computer, and K.'s parents. Ironically, my parents had sent me photos of my former boss from college whom they had seen over the weekend--another blessing! I cannot tell you how rejuvenated I am after such a weekend!
The only downside is a prayer request... Please pray for N., the infant son of the missionaries with whom I work here in Sighisoara. He is evidentally sick and having trouble keeping food down, and they may have to take him to the hospital.
Thanks so much for your prayers. I had prayed a lot about this weekend, knowing that there was only a slight chance I would find K., and figuring I would be completely worn out after so many adventures. But look how the Lord answers prayer! It was not my prayers that were powerful, but it was our God, and I believe He was pleased to receive our prayers. I certainly never would have made it except for His mighty work! Thank you so much--I needed this weekend, and I appreciate your prayers. Thank you, Lord God--I cannot thank You enough!
I hope to post this tomorrow morning, along with pictures if some of them turned out. For now, it is goodnight: Noapte buna! (I'm sure my 8 roommates wish you the same! They were terribly excited after a terrific day of ministry! Please pray for them as they will lead an outreach with us tomorrow evening--Monday--in the tough community in which I live and work.)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Want to Know More?
Location: Breakfast table at my home in Sighisoara, 6:15am on Saturday, September 19.
So, I call it my home, but this is also where I work. I have fifteen minutes to type you a little update, then I must go back up to my bedroom where there is a work team of about 8 British men sleeping and quietly gather my things and slip out to the bus station. I hope you do not mind if I eat some breakfast while I type.
I have been in Sighisoara just over a week, and it has been quiet a week! I am the only American working with a French and Romanian team, though there are some American college students with whom I am taking language classes. Some of them help us with ministry, too. For example, every afternoon, we go out to a local (gypsy) village with our special box truck, one side of which folds down into a stage. We do a program that includes games and contests, as well as storytelling and preaching to roughly four-hundred people each week. Our current program is based on the Ten Commandments (found in Exodus Chapter 20), so each week we revisit each town to present the next commandment and how that relates to a relationship with Jesus. We also do visitation in those towns to get to know the families, and we work closely with other churches and organizations doing similar ministries, including football (soccer), construction, etc. The team of men that is here this week will not only be doing construction, but they will be ministering to men (especially those with addictions) in several of the same places where we are working. Remind me to tell you more about these villages that in many ways remind me of African tribal villages with kids running around completely naked except for a thick layer of dirt, broken only by a toothless smile when they show off their English "Hello!" On Fridays, we have the privilege of teaching in the community in which we live.
When we are not in the field, we are preparing our program, studying language, remodeling the building we are in, cleaning, and spending time in prayer and worship. As I mentioned in the post last night, two of us have joined an international gospel choir, and we had a concert last night. Not only am I studying Romanian, but I am teaching English to my fellow team members, and often translating meetings into French. Work has included chopping wood to heat this large building this winter, emptying trash, plastering walls and ceilings, etc. Oh, I have also helped out with our kindergarten that meets here four mornings per week.
Unfortunately, that is only a brief glimpse, but I have to run so I can make it to the bus. Remind me to tell you about how it feels to have been in Europe four full months now, as well as to have passed the date when I originally was due to return to the USA. Photos later! Thanks for your prayers, they are needed, wanted, and appreciated! I am praying for you, too!
So, I call it my home, but this is also where I work. I have fifteen minutes to type you a little update, then I must go back up to my bedroom where there is a work team of about 8 British men sleeping and quietly gather my things and slip out to the bus station. I hope you do not mind if I eat some breakfast while I type.
I have been in Sighisoara just over a week, and it has been quiet a week! I am the only American working with a French and Romanian team, though there are some American college students with whom I am taking language classes. Some of them help us with ministry, too. For example, every afternoon, we go out to a local (gypsy) village with our special box truck, one side of which folds down into a stage. We do a program that includes games and contests, as well as storytelling and preaching to roughly four-hundred people each week. Our current program is based on the Ten Commandments (found in Exodus Chapter 20), so each week we revisit each town to present the next commandment and how that relates to a relationship with Jesus. We also do visitation in those towns to get to know the families, and we work closely with other churches and organizations doing similar ministries, including football (soccer), construction, etc. The team of men that is here this week will not only be doing construction, but they will be ministering to men (especially those with addictions) in several of the same places where we are working. Remind me to tell you more about these villages that in many ways remind me of African tribal villages with kids running around completely naked except for a thick layer of dirt, broken only by a toothless smile when they show off their English "Hello!" On Fridays, we have the privilege of teaching in the community in which we live.
When we are not in the field, we are preparing our program, studying language, remodeling the building we are in, cleaning, and spending time in prayer and worship. As I mentioned in the post last night, two of us have joined an international gospel choir, and we had a concert last night. Not only am I studying Romanian, but I am teaching English to my fellow team members, and often translating meetings into French. Work has included chopping wood to heat this large building this winter, emptying trash, plastering walls and ceilings, etc. Oh, I have also helped out with our kindergarten that meets here four mornings per week.
Unfortunately, that is only a brief glimpse, but I have to run so I can make it to the bus. Remind me to tell you about how it feels to have been in Europe four full months now, as well as to have passed the date when I originally was due to return to the USA. Photos later! Thanks for your prayers, they are needed, wanted, and appreciated! I am praying for you, too!
Alive and Well and Blessed
Friends, just a quick note to say that I have been working from sun-up to sundown and then some most days, so I have had little time for computer work. What little I have had has gone into travel planning for this weekend's adventures--I leave early in the morning and get back late Sunday night. I am well, and I hope to catch you up soon with posts and photos (hopefully even before I leave tomorrow morning). Thanks for your prayers! Interesting fact: I have been in Sighisoara just over one week, and I sang in a gospel choir concert tonight! Blessings to you! Until soon...
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Welcome to Sighisoara!
Location: In my bedicle on the fourth floor of the building where I live and work in Sighisoara, Romania; it is approximately 10:00am on the 12th of September.
(The photos are of the cookout at camp in France when I said goodbye, the top of the bus (far right) during a stop in Austria, my bedroom and cleaning tarps in Sighisoara, and my view from the roof of our building in Sighisoara. Look above for a picture of me with R., as well as photos of a Hungarian sunrise!)
Thank you for your prayers! Today is a new day, and a beautiful one I might add. As the Bible says, "Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" What a privilege is was to spend time in prayer with the Lord this morning as the sun began to rise over the medieval town of Sighisoara.
Let me catch you up. You know about my bus trip to Romania. We ended up arriving two hours early! I am glad I took the bus--it was a neat way to see this part of the world, and I got to meet some nice folks, too. Everywhere I have gone, I have met neat folks, and I plan to blog about that soon. For now though, I have been thinking about the friends I left behind in France. For one, in particular, I request your prayers. (I hope to post his picture above.) Monsieur R., soon to turn eighty, was one of my good friends while I was at the camp. Except for the camp and an occasional vacationers, he is the village where we lived (no one else lives there). I used to tease him about being the mayor, the sheriff, the gardener, you name it! Joking aside, he has had a tough life, and I have watched the Lord working on him. However, he does not yet know the Lord, though he is thirsty to be able to believe the truth he has heard about such a wonderful God. When He meets Jesus, I believe it will impact the entire valley, because he is a pivotal character in the community. I felt as though he and I were especially close, but I believe many people feel that about R. Please pray for him, and if you ever have the opportunity to meet him, you know you will be meeting a true Frenchman pursued in love by the Lord.
Yes, R. has had a difficult life, and I mentioned in my post yesterday that my living situation is a bit rough. Let me tell you about it. (I always have to be careful with my words, though, for I seek not to offend any of my hosts in any place I am, though I like to describe accurately the life I am living, for your benefit. In addition, if I am careless, you may worry about me, and as I wrote last night, I am well. In fact, I am happy and healthy and in the love of the Lord--there is no better place to be!))
So I am in Sighisoara, Romania, where I plan to be for four months. It is pretty here as summer drifts into autumn. I am working with a neat group of people (mostly Romanians, a couple of French, a Swiss, etc.) who have a heart for the local community, especially the children who do not have a lot of hope because of the life they know.
We live among them, which means this is not the nicest neighborhood, though we are only a few-minutes' walk from the center of this touristy town. The man behind the Dracula legend was supposedly born here, and there is a castle-type building on a hill overlooking the town, which itself lies in a valley surrounded by low hills (at least, they are low to me after my time in the Alps!). From the skylight in my room, or from the dining room two stories below, I can see the whole town spread out below us. There is a porch on the level below me that is actually the roof of the dining room, so it feels like I spend time enjoying the cool breezes up there as Jesus probably did in Biblical Israel's culture; that porch has an amazing view of the town, as well as a nearby cemetery.
For those of you who are not native English speakers, "bedicle" is not a real word. However, like the office cubicles that imprision so many professionals in our modern age, my bed is in a large portion of the attic that has been partitioned off to offer several persons relative privacy. Two of us share this room currently, though others may share it when they visit. Down a rickety half-spiral staircase is the meeting room below me, which might get loud the more often we have children around. Yesterday, I had the privilege of leading worship (with two teammates) for our team of ten. The rest of the building houses the missionary family that lives here, a kitchen, a guest room, an office, and a local Romanian family. In the basement are some restrooms with a couple of showers.
I have not yet had time to explore Sighisoara. We grabbed a bite of pizza in town my first night, and I ran an errand for the missionary, but other than that I have been busy here. I have helped clean tarps, work on plastering walls and ceiling, fixing drawers to a large cabinet, and I even made the trip into Cluj (within less than twenty-four hours of my arrival!) to pick up one of our French team members from the airport. I know the Cluj airport better than anywhere else in Romania--I have been there six times this summer! It was a blessing to go, though, because I got to see my Romanian friend M. as she helped us navigate to the airport. While waiting, we also saw a Romanian actor in the airport (I did not know him, but the Romanians recognized him!) Furthermore, since I have my Romanian cell number again, I have been catching up with some of my friends in Romania, which is also fun.
So you see, life is good. But I was reading Matthew 20 this morning, and Jesus was talking about the workers in the vineyard who worked hard throughout the heat of the day only to be paid the same as those who only worked one hour. You see, this is my privilege. I have the privilege of working and living a hard life so that someone who does not know my Lord Jesus may have the opportunity to meet Him before the end of the day. What does that mean?
That means that I have surrendered everything to God, and I am content with little or with plenty, with discomfort or with ease, with work or repose. Though it has not always been this way, nor will it be necessarily always this way, this summer has been an invigorating challenge. Often the challenge has been to sleep with my feet pushing through metal bars at the end of whatever bed I have been offered, normally a bed two small for my tall frame. But sometimes I have not even had a bed, so I will boast in the Lord as He provides for me!
Sometimes the challenge looks like me hitting my head more often this summer than any other time in my life, because European construction so often has low ceilings and doorways, especially in old buildings. Or it is using toilets that cannot have paper flushed down them, often toilets that are pay-per-use. Sometimes it is eating food that does not look or taste appeasing, or that does not fill a hungry boy. Sometimes it is wearing the same clothes over and over, or using the same outfits as "nice" clothes for church and outings as well as for construction projects. Sometimes it looks like not being able to communicate across language barriers, or not having any privacy to get away from noise and activity on all sides. Sometimes it looks like trying to complete projects without the needed tools or resources, or without the "know-how." Sometimes it looks like having to do laundry in the bathroom sink and letting it dry from a rope suspended over the bedroom. Sometimes it looks like having to live out of a bag and not having the same place to sleep in any two nights in a row. Sometimes it looks like being out of touch with friends and loved ones, or maybe trying to define carefully or repair relationships that try to grow across cultural differences and even misunderstandings. Sometimes it looks like not knowing how to get somewhere, or how to carry groceries if you forgot to bring a sack, or buying water because you should not drink from the tap. Sometimes it looks like going for days without sufficient rest, or working for very long hours day after day. Sometimes it looks like using what seems like precious little money to pay large sums for the privilege of cleaning toilets, washing dishes, and working with children.
But think of it this way: Imagine you have a family member in agony, near death but afraid of death, wanting to live, but writhing in pain every moment life continues. Imagine this family member is the person you love more than anyone else in the world, maybe your spouse, a child, a parent... Would you not do anything you could to either ease the pain or allay the fears of death? Would you not be willing to pay large sums of money to doctors offering a cure, or to a holy man who could assure your loved one of eternal, wonderful life?
I do not have a family member in this situation, but there are hundreds of people all around me who are living in pain or fear of death. And I am willing to pay large sums of money or to donate the hours of my life several times over so that even one of them might see the Jesus who carries me through and who offers them the same. Maybe it will be R. Maybe it will be someone in Romania. Maybe it will be you. I assure you that all the money and back-breaking energy I have spent this summer, or even my whole life, will have been well-invested if it gives you the opportunity to receive the love of Jesus Christ. That is why He died--He was offering each of us His very life, saving us out of our rough situations. I have determined to live like Him; I offer my life that someone, maybe you, may be redeemed from your rough situation, turning despair into hope.
You see, in all this I am blessed. Much of my "rough" life might sound all too familiar to you. Many people would love to have a "rough" life like this, for theirs is even harder. As for me, everywhere I have gone, I have been thoroughly loved and welcomed, and you know that is not normal. I attribute it to my loving, leading God who is blessing me through your prayers; thank you. I have had a roof over my head, food in my belly, and often luxuries like hot water and Wi-Fi. How can I complain of a rough life? I cannot! My careful packing paid off, and usually I have had the clothes I needed, and I did not bring things I did not need. I have been healthy and safe. I have had the opportunity to see new places and meet new people. I will not complain, for this is the life I have chosen. I laid it all down before the Lord, that He might live through me. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I expect the rough things, and I boast in Christ as I endure them, that He might be glorified. I am weak, but His strength carries me through! The blessings are an added bonus; every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights who delights in His children!
Have you ever been blessed? Even once? I am thankful beyond expression to have a God who delights in us, His children! And if you have never been blessed, if your life has been hellish, then I bless you right now, in the name of this Jesus who is Lord, that you might know His peace and joy in the midst of this rough life! Let me know, and I will pray for you. I can tell you from grateful experience how much prayers make a difference, and you will see for yourself!
Thank you for your prayers for me. This moment's pause will soon end and off we go! We have a meeting and some work this afternoon, and except for church, I do not know tomorrow's schedule. I do know that I will begin Romanian language courses on Monday, and soon we will be hosting a construction team here to help with work on the facilities. I learned that a friend of mine from the States is only hours away, so I am hoping we can cross paths some time, and I hope to see my friends in Oradea and Cluj before too long, also, though I do not think I will be free to do much traveling anytime soon (I have not even seen the city I live in yet!).
May you and I live today knowing that we are thoroughly loved by the very God who crafted us cell by cell, thought by thought, breath by breath.
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Roughing It"
Location: Sighisoara, Romania
Hey Gang, it is late, so I hope to write and post tomorrow. But I just wanted to request prayers from you who have been blessing me with your prayers. I am good, and life is good here, but it has been a little rough the last couple of days. Everything is fine; I will explain more later, but thanks in advance for the prayers. I am doing my best to represent you humbly, Body of Christ, that our Lord might be known through you and me!
Hey Gang, it is late, so I hope to write and post tomorrow. But I just wanted to request prayers from you who have been blessing me with your prayers. I am good, and life is good here, but it has been a little rough the last couple of days. Everything is fine; I will explain more later, but thanks in advance for the prayers. I am doing my best to represent you humbly, Body of Christ, that our Lord might be known through you and me!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Arrival in Sighisoara (Safe and Sound!)
Location: 31.5 hours into a 38 hour bus ride from Grenoble, France to Sighisoara, Romania, somewhere near Sibiu, where I will soon have to change buses. It is 3pm local time on the 9th of September.
Though I know not when I will next have Internet access, I will go ahead and type as usual, with plans to later upload this post. Oddly enough, I had planned to write a lot during this trip, both for the blog and for fun, but this is the first time I have done it. You might think such a long voyage tiresome, and certainly one has to use self-control and bladder control to survive the cramped ride and the infrequent restroom stops. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I have thoroughly enjoyed these two days; it is a great way to see Europe. For example, I began in Grenoble, and I was the only person on the bus (except for the three drivers who rotate) for the first hour-and-a-half of my trip--that was heavenly! Then we passed through Lyon and on into Switzerland, stopping in Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, and Zurich. We headed into Austria as night fell, passing through Salzburg and not far from Innsbruck, if I am correct. When dipped our toes in Germany for a few minutes before re-entering Austria, and we were in Hungary for the sunrise this morning. Passing below Budapest, we entered Romania and stopped in Arad, then Timisoara, then Deva, and now on to Sibiu. Late this evening I should reach Sighisoara.
Neither will it surprise you that I have both made friends on the bus, and enjoyed a lot of alone time. The bus is not as packed as I had been told it might be, and so I have two seats to enjoy. The people on the bus are nice, and there have been fewer adventures than I expected. I was bracing myself for an adventure when we entered Romania and only my passport was taken off the bus, but they just stamped it and brought it back. I think I am the only non-European Union passenger. The only major distraction on the ride has been the shoot-em-up movies that are played--I did not even realize so many existed! Fortunately, they have not been playing ceaselessly.
So here I am in Romania, and as we have traveled through parts of the country I have never visited, I can hardly keep from smiling. I am not sure what it is about this country or its people, but I am filled with much joy here. For example, there is a plowed field to my right with hazy mountains a couple of miles behind, hedging the horizon. The fields to my left populated by rows of dry corn, with closer mountains keeping watch behind the fields. A small white church is nestled comfortably at their feet.
I just shared some food with my neighbors across the aisle, and the young couple toward the back of the bus gave me some contact info to see about a visa. Especially one of the bus drivers is quite good-natured, asking me why I am headed to Dracula's house (Sighisoara). There was another lady who helped me quite a bit with translation, but she got off a couple of stops ago.
Now the train that was blocking our way is past, and it is "forward, ho!" They are farming with a horse-and-plow on my right, and there is a fruit orchard on my left. This cross-continent trek has given me a lot of time to ponder and pray, too.
I was thinking about the countries I have been spending my time in this summer--primarily France and Romania. These are two countries I never had a strong desire to visit. And as I drive by their seemingly infinite church buildings, I wonder why God brought me here. Yet He whispered to me some truths that are relative to America, too:
France has a Catholic church on every corner. In Romania, they are Orthodox churches. In the USA, Protestant churches flood the nation. (Of course, each of these nations has other types of churches represented, too, in varying proportions.) Nevertheless, a church building never saved anyone. A church is not a building, it is a group of people who let Jesus Christ live through them--they are His Body, He is the Head. I may offend some of you and sadden others, but each of these three countries need missionaries. The vast majority of these "churches" are hollow, like the people inside of them. The vast majority of these so-called Christians do not know the Jesus they claim to serve, making their acts and traditions merely rote religion that appeases their consciences and soothes their fears. What we as Americans, as Romanians, or as French need to ask ourselves is, "Do I truly know the Lord as a person who loves me and calls me to live a life that soars beyond the empty expections of those merely wading through this worlds problems?" That is not to say that a Christian life is easier, but it is to say that is has true value. Our value comes from our Creator, and if we hijack our lives to live it the best way we see fit, we do more harm than good, to ourselves and the world around us.
I rarely label myself as a missionary. I am not a missionary--at least not as defined by most. Most picture pious men or women trekking into the heart of a jungle or desert to live in a handmade hut and learn an impossible language. I would agree with those who would define a missionary as someone called to live among a group of people in order to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. I maintain, however, that any and every person who truly knows Jesus as Lord is called to live among a group of people in order to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. That means that every Christian should be a missionary, most often among the group of people in their neighborhood, their places of work, and even their churches. I am not a missionary, I am simply one loved and called by Christ to let Him be the Lord of my life.
I did not come to Europe because there was more need here than there is in the United States. Nor did I come to do anything different than I did there. No matter where I am, it is my privilege to humble myself and let Jesus live in and through me completely, that the watching world might see His glory and grace. That is why I am in Romania right now. That is why I was in France. That is why I was in the United States.
May God be glorified, and may you be blessed. If you do not know what this good news is about Jesus, do not hesitate to ask. It is so good that it is worth traveling to the ends of the earth in response, or surviving bleak years in a pit of misery if necessary. No treasure is richer, and it can be yours!
Though I know not when I will next have Internet access, I will go ahead and type as usual, with plans to later upload this post. Oddly enough, I had planned to write a lot during this trip, both for the blog and for fun, but this is the first time I have done it. You might think such a long voyage tiresome, and certainly one has to use self-control and bladder control to survive the cramped ride and the infrequent restroom stops. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I have thoroughly enjoyed these two days; it is a great way to see Europe. For example, I began in Grenoble, and I was the only person on the bus (except for the three drivers who rotate) for the first hour-and-a-half of my trip--that was heavenly! Then we passed through Lyon and on into Switzerland, stopping in Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, and Zurich. We headed into Austria as night fell, passing through Salzburg and not far from Innsbruck, if I am correct. When dipped our toes in Germany for a few minutes before re-entering Austria, and we were in Hungary for the sunrise this morning. Passing below Budapest, we entered Romania and stopped in Arad, then Timisoara, then Deva, and now on to Sibiu. Late this evening I should reach Sighisoara.
Neither will it surprise you that I have both made friends on the bus, and enjoyed a lot of alone time. The bus is not as packed as I had been told it might be, and so I have two seats to enjoy. The people on the bus are nice, and there have been fewer adventures than I expected. I was bracing myself for an adventure when we entered Romania and only my passport was taken off the bus, but they just stamped it and brought it back. I think I am the only non-European Union passenger. The only major distraction on the ride has been the shoot-em-up movies that are played--I did not even realize so many existed! Fortunately, they have not been playing ceaselessly.
So here I am in Romania, and as we have traveled through parts of the country I have never visited, I can hardly keep from smiling. I am not sure what it is about this country or its people, but I am filled with much joy here. For example, there is a plowed field to my right with hazy mountains a couple of miles behind, hedging the horizon. The fields to my left populated by rows of dry corn, with closer mountains keeping watch behind the fields. A small white church is nestled comfortably at their feet.
I just shared some food with my neighbors across the aisle, and the young couple toward the back of the bus gave me some contact info to see about a visa. Especially one of the bus drivers is quite good-natured, asking me why I am headed to Dracula's house (Sighisoara). There was another lady who helped me quite a bit with translation, but she got off a couple of stops ago.
Now the train that was blocking our way is past, and it is "forward, ho!" They are farming with a horse-and-plow on my right, and there is a fruit orchard on my left. This cross-continent trek has given me a lot of time to ponder and pray, too.
I was thinking about the countries I have been spending my time in this summer--primarily France and Romania. These are two countries I never had a strong desire to visit. And as I drive by their seemingly infinite church buildings, I wonder why God brought me here. Yet He whispered to me some truths that are relative to America, too:
France has a Catholic church on every corner. In Romania, they are Orthodox churches. In the USA, Protestant churches flood the nation. (Of course, each of these nations has other types of churches represented, too, in varying proportions.) Nevertheless, a church building never saved anyone. A church is not a building, it is a group of people who let Jesus Christ live through them--they are His Body, He is the Head. I may offend some of you and sadden others, but each of these three countries need missionaries. The vast majority of these "churches" are hollow, like the people inside of them. The vast majority of these so-called Christians do not know the Jesus they claim to serve, making their acts and traditions merely rote religion that appeases their consciences and soothes their fears. What we as Americans, as Romanians, or as French need to ask ourselves is, "Do I truly know the Lord as a person who loves me and calls me to live a life that soars beyond the empty expections of those merely wading through this worlds problems?" That is not to say that a Christian life is easier, but it is to say that is has true value. Our value comes from our Creator, and if we hijack our lives to live it the best way we see fit, we do more harm than good, to ourselves and the world around us.
I rarely label myself as a missionary. I am not a missionary--at least not as defined by most. Most picture pious men or women trekking into the heart of a jungle or desert to live in a handmade hut and learn an impossible language. I would agree with those who would define a missionary as someone called to live among a group of people in order to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. I maintain, however, that any and every person who truly knows Jesus as Lord is called to live among a group of people in order to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. That means that every Christian should be a missionary, most often among the group of people in their neighborhood, their places of work, and even their churches. I am not a missionary, I am simply one loved and called by Christ to let Him be the Lord of my life.
I did not come to Europe because there was more need here than there is in the United States. Nor did I come to do anything different than I did there. No matter where I am, it is my privilege to humble myself and let Jesus live in and through me completely, that the watching world might see His glory and grace. That is why I am in Romania right now. That is why I was in France. That is why I was in the United States.
May God be glorified, and may you be blessed. If you do not know what this good news is about Jesus, do not hesitate to ask. It is so good that it is worth traveling to the ends of the earth in response, or surviving bleak years in a pit of misery if necessary. No treasure is richer, and it can be yours!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Location: The library room at the camp (nearly 6:00am on September 7).
Today is it.
After praying, packing, cleaning my room, and other odds and ends, I will have to say some goodbyes again. Sure, it is a part of life, but not an easy one.
You can see from the pictures that work at camp is never done; for example, a mountain of laundry awaits my coworkers. But life goes on. The other picture, above, is from the last group we had. We were enjoying the beauty of the moon descending in the horizon as they prepared to leave for the bus station very early in the morning.
Now it is my turn to ride off into the "moonset." The LORD has gone before me, and with a God like ours, whom shall I fear? I will use my goodbyes to carefully wrap of the fond memories of camp; I look forward to the next hellos.
In church yesterday morning, the new, young pastor preached on Philippians 1:27. He stressed the importance of the word "only" at the beginning of the verse. The verse begins, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ..." The word "only" here means "first and foremost," or "before all else," or "if nothing else..." Thus, in every circumstance, our focus and priority must be to conduct ourselves in a many worthy of the good news of Christ. So I will not allow myself to be paralyzed by the regret of goodbyes, nor by apprehensions of the future. Instead, I will at every moment allow Christ to use me to remind you and anyone else I meet that God our Heavenly Father loves you with a love that goes so far as to say goodbye to His only Son, to send Him on a fatal mission, simply that we might know the God who loves us that much and live as His adopted sons and daughters for the rest of eternity.
The post below has more details about the past week or two at camp, and more importantly, information about the near future. Meanwhile, until I next greet you, I bless you in the Name of this Jesus, son of our loving Father, with whom we commune in Spirit and in Truth!
Can't Get No Satisfaction!
Location: The very clean, otherwise empty dining hall of the camp, outside Grenoble, France (it is 8:00am on Sunday morning, September 6)
For the several of you waiting for email replies from me, I apologize, and I assure you I will do my best to respond soon. I decided to post on the blog first, so that everyone would be "au courant" with my plans. Very soon, I will leave this valley tucked into the French Alps and will spend the night close to the bus station; the following morning I will greet the sunrise somewhere along the road to Romania from my cocoon in a bus seat where I will rest for two days. My contact in Romania will be waiting for me, God-willing, but I do not know what my Internet availability will be like, nor how soon I will have my Romanian cell phone up and running. Thanks for your prayers and patience. I will stay in contact as best as possible. Most of you know that when I am unable to connect to the Internet, I write my posts offline and save them until I can post them. Watch for them!
The reason I fell behind on everything has to do with an international prayer conference in which I had the unexpected privilege of participating. I met wonderful people from all over the world, and when I was not working, I often was interceding with them for individuals and countries around the globe, often into the wee hours of the morning. We probably prayed for you!
Now I am trying to catch up on sleep, emails, and the little details that need to be completed before I head to Romania. Yesterday was a cleaning day after our rental group left, which explains why the dining hall is so immaculate! The dining hall, along with the dishroom and some of the restrooms, was my responsibility. That took much of the day, and then I was invited to dinner by a missionary family. Today we plan to go to church (this will be the first time I have attended service in a church building in quite some time) and to catch up on rest.
As I was praying about Romania yesterday, I realized that though there is often a lot of unknown in my life, this time there seems to be a little more. In fact, I was smiling as I thought about the fact that there is too much unknown for me to even be scared--maybe as I learn more I will taste a little apprehension. But I feel good about the coming months.
Leaving the camp seems strange. I have had a wonderful stay here, and I feel very much a part of things. This last group seemed to think that my title of "toilet-cleaner" or "dish-washer" is translated "he-who-knows-everything," and I had to try to answer all sorts of questions that were beyond my knowledge of the camp or the area. But not only do the visitors think I belong here, but the staff have adopted me as part of the family. I enjoy the area, and God moves powerfully among the people here. So in many ways I am not eager to leave; nonetheless, it feels like time. I knew all along this was a brief stop, and though I would not be disappointed to pass through here again, I am ready for what lies ahead.
You see, I mentioned that June in Romania was one of the best months of my life. In fact, in retrospect, this year seems to be one of the best I have ever had! Perhaps you see me as transient and lost or seeking. I see myself of confident of God's call on my life and led by His Spirit. He is faithful and true, and I feel more secure and certain of my current lifestyle than I have for a long time. Certainly, traveling gets old, but I am rooted in the mighty love of an unchanging God! It is true that I often do not know on any given day how God might work in or through me, but I see the big picture of His plans, and I am happy to walk with Him as He brings them to pass.
In fact, I feel very satisfied with the many blessings of this summer and the path I am on. Oddly, though, I was confronted by a couple of people this week who suggested that I seem to be seeking something, perhaps searching satisfaction. This bothered me more than usual, because it seems to mean one of two things. Either I am dissatisfied and am simply deceiving myself, or I am satisfied and through my lifestyle inadvertantly communicating that I am dissatisfied. Neither option is positive from my point-of-view, so I have given it a lot of thought, and I will continue to pray about it.
I think, though, that I am very happy. I have met dozens of amazing people this summer, and I have seen God powerfully at work in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, and France, in addition to hearing the stories from Jesus-followers in many other countries! What a privilege this summer has been! And though often there are fears and challenges and uncomfortable situations, like the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4, I am content in every situation, because I know my God is with me. I am not running across Europe waiting for God to catch up. I am going in the path that Jesus leads me on, and I am in awe as He shows me His glory. Thus, I am very content to be on such a journey!
At the same time, the God we serve is an unfathomable God. He is so great that none could ever begin to know Him if He had not chosen to reveal Himself to us--Jesus is the most clear revelation we have, and I thank God for sending His Son that we might know Him better! Having come through numerous adventures in several parts of the world, I can state that getting to know God facet by facet is the greatest adventure. And in this way, I hope to be never satisfied. I pray that daily, moment by moment for the rest of eternity, God will reveal more of Himself to me, His beauty, His love, His justice, His grace, His mercy, His genius, His wisdom, His power, His compassion, His patience, His joy, ... The more of Him I know, the more of Him I want to know! Biologically speaking, I am not a parent, but I think it would be similar (in a grossly inadequate analogy) to watching you child grow and develop. You would never tire of watching him or her mature and succeed and meet life's challenges with ingenuity and energy; you would never tire of seeing new character traits reveal or refine themselves. In this way I thirst after God. I know Him, but the little I know makes me desire to go deeper, to know every bit of His heart, His mind, His glory!
So maybe I am not satisfied, but if that is the case, may I never be! May I never be satisfied with anything less than all of our infinite God! As tired as I get of traveling, I would criss-cross the earth for the rest of my life following Him. As much as I like variety and new experiences, I would sit locked in a small, prision-like room for the rest of my life sitting with Him.
O, how I love Jesus! O, how I hope that someday you will, too, if you do not already! He already loves you with more passion than you can imagine!
And how do I know? Because I know Him. Because I have traveled the world with Him, and I have heard His sons and daughters around the globe declare awesome stories of His goodness. Brother or sister, let Him love you! Do not let yourself be satisfied with anything less than the deep, deep love of Jesus!
For the several of you waiting for email replies from me, I apologize, and I assure you I will do my best to respond soon. I decided to post on the blog first, so that everyone would be "au courant" with my plans. Very soon, I will leave this valley tucked into the French Alps and will spend the night close to the bus station; the following morning I will greet the sunrise somewhere along the road to Romania from my cocoon in a bus seat where I will rest for two days. My contact in Romania will be waiting for me, God-willing, but I do not know what my Internet availability will be like, nor how soon I will have my Romanian cell phone up and running. Thanks for your prayers and patience. I will stay in contact as best as possible. Most of you know that when I am unable to connect to the Internet, I write my posts offline and save them until I can post them. Watch for them!
The reason I fell behind on everything has to do with an international prayer conference in which I had the unexpected privilege of participating. I met wonderful people from all over the world, and when I was not working, I often was interceding with them for individuals and countries around the globe, often into the wee hours of the morning. We probably prayed for you!
Now I am trying to catch up on sleep, emails, and the little details that need to be completed before I head to Romania. Yesterday was a cleaning day after our rental group left, which explains why the dining hall is so immaculate! The dining hall, along with the dishroom and some of the restrooms, was my responsibility. That took much of the day, and then I was invited to dinner by a missionary family. Today we plan to go to church (this will be the first time I have attended service in a church building in quite some time) and to catch up on rest.
As I was praying about Romania yesterday, I realized that though there is often a lot of unknown in my life, this time there seems to be a little more. In fact, I was smiling as I thought about the fact that there is too much unknown for me to even be scared--maybe as I learn more I will taste a little apprehension. But I feel good about the coming months.
Leaving the camp seems strange. I have had a wonderful stay here, and I feel very much a part of things. This last group seemed to think that my title of "toilet-cleaner" or "dish-washer" is translated "he-who-knows-everything," and I had to try to answer all sorts of questions that were beyond my knowledge of the camp or the area. But not only do the visitors think I belong here, but the staff have adopted me as part of the family. I enjoy the area, and God moves powerfully among the people here. So in many ways I am not eager to leave; nonetheless, it feels like time. I knew all along this was a brief stop, and though I would not be disappointed to pass through here again, I am ready for what lies ahead.
You see, I mentioned that June in Romania was one of the best months of my life. In fact, in retrospect, this year seems to be one of the best I have ever had! Perhaps you see me as transient and lost or seeking. I see myself of confident of God's call on my life and led by His Spirit. He is faithful and true, and I feel more secure and certain of my current lifestyle than I have for a long time. Certainly, traveling gets old, but I am rooted in the mighty love of an unchanging God! It is true that I often do not know on any given day how God might work in or through me, but I see the big picture of His plans, and I am happy to walk with Him as He brings them to pass.
In fact, I feel very satisfied with the many blessings of this summer and the path I am on. Oddly, though, I was confronted by a couple of people this week who suggested that I seem to be seeking something, perhaps searching satisfaction. This bothered me more than usual, because it seems to mean one of two things. Either I am dissatisfied and am simply deceiving myself, or I am satisfied and through my lifestyle inadvertantly communicating that I am dissatisfied. Neither option is positive from my point-of-view, so I have given it a lot of thought, and I will continue to pray about it.
I think, though, that I am very happy. I have met dozens of amazing people this summer, and I have seen God powerfully at work in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, and France, in addition to hearing the stories from Jesus-followers in many other countries! What a privilege this summer has been! And though often there are fears and challenges and uncomfortable situations, like the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4, I am content in every situation, because I know my God is with me. I am not running across Europe waiting for God to catch up. I am going in the path that Jesus leads me on, and I am in awe as He shows me His glory. Thus, I am very content to be on such a journey!
At the same time, the God we serve is an unfathomable God. He is so great that none could ever begin to know Him if He had not chosen to reveal Himself to us--Jesus is the most clear revelation we have, and I thank God for sending His Son that we might know Him better! Having come through numerous adventures in several parts of the world, I can state that getting to know God facet by facet is the greatest adventure. And in this way, I hope to be never satisfied. I pray that daily, moment by moment for the rest of eternity, God will reveal more of Himself to me, His beauty, His love, His justice, His grace, His mercy, His genius, His wisdom, His power, His compassion, His patience, His joy, ... The more of Him I know, the more of Him I want to know! Biologically speaking, I am not a parent, but I think it would be similar (in a grossly inadequate analogy) to watching you child grow and develop. You would never tire of watching him or her mature and succeed and meet life's challenges with ingenuity and energy; you would never tire of seeing new character traits reveal or refine themselves. In this way I thirst after God. I know Him, but the little I know makes me desire to go deeper, to know every bit of His heart, His mind, His glory!
So maybe I am not satisfied, but if that is the case, may I never be! May I never be satisfied with anything less than all of our infinite God! As tired as I get of traveling, I would criss-cross the earth for the rest of my life following Him. As much as I like variety and new experiences, I would sit locked in a small, prision-like room for the rest of my life sitting with Him.
O, how I love Jesus! O, how I hope that someday you will, too, if you do not already! He already loves you with more passion than you can imagine!
And how do I know? Because I know Him. Because I have traveled the world with Him, and I have heard His sons and daughters around the globe declare awesome stories of His goodness. Brother or sister, let Him love you! Do not let yourself be satisfied with anything less than the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Still Safe at Camp
I posted a previous post called "Safe at Camp." This is a quick note to say that I have been too busy to write (for example, I prayed with a special prayer group till 5am this morning), but that I am alive, safe, happy, and healthy during my last week at the camp. Thank you for your prayers! I hope to write more soon!
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A Rose From Home
