Saturday, June 5, 2010

Where to Begin?
















Location: My one-room house in C., Romania (at 9:00pm on the 30th of May)

By now, some of you are probably wondering what happened to me, and you may continue to wonder for a little while if I am unable to access the Internet soon. I have been without regular access since my arrival in Romania a couple of weeks ago. Now that I am in the village of C., I have had no Internet access since my arrival last Tuesday evening, and only once did I manage to use my telephone. You know that I trust in the Lord, and I pray that you do, too, so you will not worry about me when you do not hear from me. As usual, no news is good news! When I finally have an opportunity to spend some time in town, I will buy a SIM card for my phone that will allow me to communicate from this village. I also hope to find a way to have semi-regular Internet access.

If you have not read my last post (which will probably be posted at the same time as this one), read it first--I am sure it will be more interesting! Meanwhile, let me give you a snapshot of my life in C. with the W. family, beginning with today.

Today marked the end of a three-day weekend during which I babysat the four W. children, between 7 and 15 years old. The Lord taught me a lot during this opportunity, especially since most of the time five or more of the neighbor kids were here, too! Much of the weekend I lounged outside in prayer, enjoying the village setting and redirecting arguing children when necessary. Today was a special treat though, for two reasons. First, we had a small church service with the four children and one neighbor boy, reading Bible passages in German and Romanian. (All my interaction with the family is in Romanian, for though several family members know a little English, they do not know as much as their Oradean counterparts from last week; thus, I am quickly learning more Romanian, though with a Swiss-German accent!) In addition to the church service, our choir director came with his family in the afternoon, and we took the horses up to a meadow high in the hills and rode there and ate brownies before the rain came. Then I got to blaze new trail on horseback with my Saxon-Romanian mentor and friend, T. (the choir director), through rain and forests and briars and pastures and orchards and hills and valleys. It was spectacular, and maybe except for the English saddle, my mother would have loved it!

So yes, life with the W. family has been very good in C. My first day, I did some masonry, facade work, and helped with some painting. But the majority of my first week was spent in the large garden, manual labor that will either break me or transform me into an ox. We have had mostly beautiful weather with some torrential cloudbursts and thunder. The hard work, language learning, and horseback riding has contributed to a healthy fatigue each day, and I have had the privilege of going to bed around or before nine o'clock several nights. I live in a simple brick-masonry house with one room, wood plank floors, and no plumbing. (If you are wondering, I have an outhouse nearby, in front of the horse stable, or I use the toilet and shower across the street at the W.'s house.) I have a wood stove for heat or cooking, and a single-bulb light in the middle of the room. A couple of twin beds, a table and two chairs, two wardrobes, and some bookshelves round out my home, which I really appreciate. It is so nice to have my own place again, even if for only a while. (It is probably about the same size as my former apartment in the United States.) My early nights not only provide sound sleep, but they permit me to rise easily in the morning to meet with some of the W. family for devotions at 6:30am. Again, what a treat it is to be with a family who studies God's Word together!

What else is there to tell you? C. is a bigger village, with three small convenience stores and two bars, if I understand correctly, though I have not had an opportunity to explore. I know there is also a church and a castle, which I hope to visit. Sighisoara is about 20 kilometers away, which makes it difficult to get to. I have weekends off, so I would have gone to town yesterday except for babysitting. I did get to go briefly Wednesday night with the family for choir, and actually ran into the team I worked with last time I was in Sighisoara, but I was unable to visit because I was on the family's schedule rather than mine. I hope to take several pictures of my current village life and the magnificent surroundings, but I have not been carrying my camera because of the work and the rain. Besides, I figure that even with the photos, you will be unable to appreciate the beauty I want to describe. I did take many photos from the train ride through the gorgeous landscapes during my trip from Oradea that lasted about 7 hours, including the taxi ride from Sighisoara. We will consider them a "sneak-peek."

So, in sum, I am extremely blessed. Please pray for my coworker, I., who is 22. He and I get along well, but he has had a hard life, and it will be interesting to see what our Lord has in store for him. (Last night, I had a terribly violent nightmare, which is rare for me, especially since I have not been exposed to any visual violence via television or any other stimulus. I. was in the dream with me, and I have know doubt that the dream represents the spiritual warfare going on around me in this place.) Meanwhile, I am spending more time in prayer to better serve my Lord and this family while I am in C., and to better understand the path before me. The hard work and outdoors life is invigorating, and the cows and horses and goats and sheep and tractors and motorcycles and bikes in the road already seem like home, not to mention the cuckoo birds, swallows, and roosters! Welcome to village life! I hope you can enjoy it from wherever you are, even if it is difficult for you to imagine. Just picture this: an American cityboy up to his knees and elbows in Romanian dirt! What could be more wonderful!?





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A Rose From Home

A Rose From Home

My Story (As prepared for my church congregation this spring--2009)


I have a story to tell you. I am the main character, but the story is not about me. I have traveled several parts of the world, but my adventure has been closer to home. I am twenty-six years old. My story begins like many of yours…

I grew up going to church. I had been born into a family who labeled themselves “Christian,” in a country that labels itself “Christian.” Every Sunday found me attending a worship service and Sunday school in a mainline denomination church. I served as an acolyte, attended Vacation Bible School, helped my dad count and record the offering money, sang in the youth choir, was a leader in the youth group, and occasionally served as liturgist. Baptized as an infant, I was confirmed at the age of twelve, thus becoming an “official” member of the church. Then, hurt by the church, my family left to find another.

Have you ever been hurt by the Church?

After months of searching, we settled into a very large independent church. Things were different there, and I was quickly welcomed and at home among new friends that truly had a passion for Jesus. The Word of God was taught boldly from the pulpit, and I was introduced to a missions-aware lifestyle. So it was with regret that I said goodbye only a couple of years later to move with my family to another church. I purposely remained aloof, not wanting to make new friendships before I left for college a year later. Besides, I was loosing my faith—or so I thought—and I didn’t want anyone to know. I was asking scary questions like “Is there really a God?” and, if so, “Is He the Christian God?” and “Would I be Christian if I had been born in another part of the world?”

Have you ever asked yourself unsettling questions about what you believe?

So I headed into college under a cloud of confusion that only worsened for the next two years. Though I didn’t know what I believed anymore, I continued to go to church every Sunday, and to help lead worship in chapel. Most importantly, even during this questioning, I continued my morning habit of daily study of the Bible. I had begun at age twelve, reading at first a chapter per day, then ten minutes each morning, then an half-hour, and so on. So, only by the grace of the very God I doubted, I remained anchored in His Word and in His community, though I felt like a fake most of the time. Since then I have learned that “fake” is the worst insult the world can give us; that is why the label of “hypocrite” is so offensive.

Have you ever felt like a fake?

Six weeks with missionaries in South Africa followed by a year in France began to teach me what life with God is all about. I began rebuilding my faith, this time it belonged to me, in contrast to me borrowing the faith of my parents, church, or anyone else. In my parent’s basement in 2003, on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, I invited Jesus to live in me; perhaps I had done so before, but I didn’t recall—but since 2003, I have never forgotten that moment. Unfortunately, nothing changed. I continued to do my best to act like a Christian, as I had done for so long.

Have you ever found yourself “doing your best” to be a good person, or to act like a Christian?

Though I did not realize it at the time, I was quenching the Spirit, even though I had welcomed Him into my life. During the next few years, the LORD continued to nurture me, and slowly things began to change. Several tough months in Idaho birthed my prayer-life. I spent three years being humbled in a job that was my informal seminary training. In 2007, a short stint in Mexico helped me to see things as they were, and not long afterward, I was baptized by immersion. No baptism of any kind can save a lost soul—only Jesus can do that. However, this baptism was an important covenant between me and God, symbolizing not only my death and resurrection with Jesus and my public profession of faith, but it also my life change, the beginning of my bearing fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit…”according to Luke 6:44. During the past year and a half, the LORD has provided me with an informal pastoral internship in my church, teaching me every aspect of discipleship. Simultaneously, I have been studying unceasing prayer and worship. I am now very different than I was five years ago.

In the Book of Acts (which tells the story of the earliest years of the Church) every time a person decided to follow Christ, two things took place—though not always in the same order. Each person experienced a life change, which I call the “baptism of repentance,” as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which I call the “baptism of the Spirit.” Looking back, I realize that the Holy Spirit was living in me in 2003, but it wasn’t until I surrendered everything to God, as represented by my immersion, that I allowed the Spirit to have His way in me and transform my life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)”

Have you invited Jesus to live in you? Have you allowed the Spirit to transform your life?

I tell you this story for two reasons. First, I tell this story in order to boast in the LORD! May God our Father get all praise and glory forever! Second, I tell this story because it is relevant to you. Likely you have heard that I am leaving the country: I have let my light shine before you; please let your light shine within the Church, too! This congregation is in revival, and as each of you allows the Spirit to revive you, the entire Church will be revived and utterly transformed, to the glory of the Most High God. And for His glory is the reason He created us; the reason He sent His only Son to reveal Himself to us; the reason He became Sin for us and died for us on the cross—while we were still sinners; and the reason that He conquered death and offered us eternal life with Him.

It will cost you a lot—in fact, it will cost you everything, your very life. But if you have never surrendered your life to Christ Jesus, if you have never invited Him to send His Spirit into you and to transform your life, then do it right now. Just let go of everything to which you are desperately clinging; stop trying to do it yourself! This is the very reason you are still breathing in this physical life—God has been delaying His judgment of this sinful world because He is waiting for you—2 Peter 3:9 says He wants none to perish!

If you have already invited the Spirit into your life, then live like it! Bear fruit! Anyone and everyone who meets you or knows you or sees you or hears you should know immediately and clearly that Jesus the Christ lives in you and loves them! That is how stark the contrast should be between your life and the world around you!

Have you immersed yourself in God’s Word and in prayer in the last twenty-four hours?

If you call yourself a follower of Christ, then there is no excuse for not communing with Him daily! Anchor yourself in the Word! God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Bible is a complete and accurate record of that revelation. And prayer is humbly letting Him love us. Let Him love you! God doesn’t need us, but He wants us! God doesn’t need us to live for Him—He wants to live in and through us! Let us love and fellowship with one another, even when you disagree! Pray for each other—the names in the church directory are a great place to start! Church, we are not only the Body of Christ, but we are the Bride of Christ. We have allowed ourselves to get bedraggled and stained—now let us stand to the glory of God! Let’s let Him purify us, restore us, and love us!

My dear Brothers and Sisters, if you have ever once been blessed by God our Father at work in me, then I urge you, please, take seriously His desire to love and work in you, beyond anything you can ask or imagine! I have told you the beginning of my story—may it end in glory to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by way of His Spirit.

Now, what is your story?