Modern Epistle

In the course of my Baka research, I read through an email document sent to a colleague of mine from a missionary working among a different group of pygmies. At one point he said “I notice that the most effective churches are the ones far from where the missionary lives. They take charge of the work whereas the ones close to where the missionary lives develop dependence. With this in mind I see the missionaries task as traveling from region to region and calling the Pygmy Christian leaders of that region together for training, focusing vision and organizing literacy classes. Priority is given to local churches that are planting new churches.”
As I read these words, first it struck me how similar this missionary seemed to the apostle Paul (in fact, his name is Paul).
The second thing that occurred to me is that this work is a big deal, a really big deal. God is allowing my team and I to be involved in reaching an entire people group with the Gospel. Wow! What an honor, what a privilege, what a responsibility, what a burden. This has nothing to do with me. This has everything to do with the Gospel of Christ, which is for all peoples. In the light of this truth, everything else fades. Any sacrifice or suffering is so quickly forgotten in the joy of being a conduit of the Gospel. Oh, there is nothing better!!
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1

He Leadeth Me

Joseph H. Gilmore

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Refrain

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

Perfect Harmony

Today we learned about cross-cultural communication. At the end of class we were shown a concert video from Steven Curtis Chapman. The video centered around the 5 martyred missionaries to the Waodani Indians and the resulting ministry among the Waodani. It was a picture of love and sacrifice, but it was also an amazing picture of grace.
The very last song was introduced by Steven as the closest thing to what will happen in heaven that he could imagine. He sang in English, exalting and worshiping God, and beside him, in another language and even another melody sang a Waodani man. Both sang songs of worship.
My heart was pulled to that day when we will all worship God together. Every one of us will express our worship differently. I picture a huge choir, worshiping in perfect harmony, each nation of people expressing adoration for God in a different way. What a wonderful concert that will be! For eternity, all of us praising God in purity and truth.

Variety

God loves variety. Why else would He create so many different kinds of plants and animals? Why would He vary the landscapes so dramatically? And why would He create each one of us humans to unique?
We were looking at the story of the Tower of Babel the other day in the context of cultures. All of the people of the world had come together and begun to build a great city with an enormous tower. The people were filled with pride and thought that they could overcome anything through their unity. The consequence of their pride was that God confused their languages and caused them to be scattered throughout the earth.
It occurred to me as I read this that God did not want to have one race of people. He valued variety. He was not harsh in His punishment. He did not send a plague or cause the people to die. He simply caused them to no longer understand each other. And now, He's created such a beautiful palette of different people all over the earth.

The Love of God

Frederick M. Lehman

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race-
The saints' and angels' song.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

How Deep The Father’s Love For Us

by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Saved a Turtle

Mom, this one's for you.
The other day, when I and a couple friends were on our way home from a grocery trip, I spotted a little box turtle attempting to cross the road. Cars were straddling it as they sped by, and it was quite apparent that it was in eminent danger. So, I flipped a U-turn and headed back to save it. The cute little bugger just sucked in all his legs and peered out to see why this car was going so much slower than the others. Karen jumped out, picked him up, and deposited him on the other side of the road. I am sure he was grateful:) It's a good thing that Karen was the one who actually got out of the car, since I might have been tempted to keep him.

Fall

Ever since arriving here, I've wanted to document photos of an East Coast fall. I have not yet found a good place to begin taking my fall photos, but as soon as I do, I'll begin sharing weekly pics of the fall colors.

Culture Shock!!

This afternoon, we began class by playing a game. It was a simple card game where you win tricks by having the highest number in a suit or by trumping it with a certain suit. We got used to the game by playing it for a few minutes, and then our instructions were taken away and we were told that we could not verbally communicate with each other. That’s when things started to get entertaining. After playing in silence for five minutes, we were instructed to determine who won, and to move to another table based on if we won or lost. We were still supposed to be silent. At the next table, my partner and I began playing with another team. To our frustration, the other team began cheating and stealing our tricks! They kept making motions at us and indicating that we were playing wrong. It was all quite fun, and we were laughing the whole time. It was hilarious, and I would have loved to have it on video. In a moment of humility, I ceded the game. The next round, with a new team was much better. I finally came to the realization that everyone had slightly different versions of the rules, so we quickly, though silently, agreed on a new set of rules and played.

All of this fun and games was an illustration of what culture shock is like. Basically, when we go into a new culture, we are not only handicapped by a lack of knowledge about the language, but a difference in the way the game is played. The big difference between the game and culture is that culture goes so much deeper, down to the very worldview of individuals.

Comforter

No, I'm not talking about the downy bed covering, though I am currently wrapped up in a warm, fuzzy blanket.
I wrote a reflection paper today on the Holy Spirit. I realized that I had plenty of head knowledge about the Great Comforter, but I lack in intimacy with Him. You see, He is the one who gives us power, convicts us of sin, prompts us to action, guides, comforts, and so much more. He is relational, intimate, personal. Though we need to know about Him, He is not just theology to be studied. He is God, just as much as the Father and the Son. I realized today that He is what I have been longing for.
Counselor, Friend, Comforter, please forgive me for neglecting intimacy with You. Draw me ever closer.

Sabbath

After the last two posts of monsters and mayonnaise, I feel obligated to tell you that I have been working hard here at CIT. I am in class each day from 8am to 3pm, with a generous lunch break. We've been learning about everything from learning styles and personalities to contextualization and spiritual warfare. Each of us are doing a research paper on our target country/people group. We have also read a couple of books on cultural differences. And I suspect that this week will be a heavier week as far a class work. It has been intense, but certainly enjoyable and worthwhile. Please pray for me and for everyone here, that we would learn lots, be drawn nearer to Christ, and that we would remain healthy.
I have, however taken a Sabbath's day rest today. It was quite nice!

Bring out the Best

Dad, this is for you.
Yes, I am East of the Rocky's
Love ya

Kudzu Monster

Yes, it really is a monster. While on the cross-country trip, I saw this green monster several times. I thought this vine was interesting, even beautiful, and much different than the greenery that I am used to. The way it grows on trees, bushes, even telephone poles, it looks like a monster lumbering toward an unsuspecting victim.But after talking to people from this area, I realized that it really is a monster, a menace really. Kudzu was supposedly introduced in the US as a way to control soil erosion, but it has done so much more. It is nearly impossible to control, and it kills the native foliage by suffocating it. It even pulls trees and telephone lines down by its sheer mass. And, if you watch carefully, you can almost see it growing!
More info on kudzu:
Wikipedia
Yahoolavista
Kud-Zoo

Worldveiw

OK, so I was challenged by a fellow CIT student this afternoon to post something, so here goes…

Wow, we have been learning so much here, it is hard to sum it all up. As I think about the awesome and necessary preparation that we are receiving here, I wonder how past missionaries managed to survive without places like CIT. Today we focused mostly on worldview and ethnocentrism. I remember a few years ago thinking how much easier it would be to just evangelize a people group in English, or through a translator. My views have changed drastically since then.
An article that I read this morning dealt with the idea of contextualization. In essence, contextualization is the packaging of the truths of the Gospel in a way that it remains true to itself so that the target culture can both understand and accept it. This can be done only after one spends significant time learning the language and culture of the target group and forms genuine relationships with individuals. We all take our own culture into our ministries, but we’ve been challenged to separate our culture from the Gospel, so that those who hear may worship God in a way that is meaningful and correct in the context of their own culture. This is a big idea, and it is hard for me to even begin to write about it here, but I hope you get an idea of some of the things that we are working through here.
On a lighter note, I went for a walk with a new friend. I had driven by a small lake the other day, and wanted to get down there to explore it a little, so we headed down. I’ll definitely be back, and you may see more pictures of this little spot.

CIT

Well, I’ve finally arrived in Union Mills, North Carolina. It is so good to be here with other people that are also preparing for missions. Our first event was dinner this evening. Even though many of us didn’t know each other before we gathered in the cafeteria, I still felt like I was instant friends with many of them. I am in dorm-style housing with 3 other women. We all got together tonight to compare notes on our experiences so far. Everyone agreed that it is so encouraging to be able to talk to people who understand what we are going through. We are all in the midst of raising support and transitioning from full-time work to overseas missions. In short, the majority of us are unemployed and homeless (in a good way, of course). Well, I better get to bed. I’ve got class in the morning.

Smokey Mountains

Knoxville

We got to stay two nights with Don and Cher. It was such a blessing to be spend some time getting to know them a little better. They treated us like royalty, and we got to go to the Lost Sea. Oh, and it was good to be in a home, rather than in a hotel room.

Boomsday

Every Labor Day weekend, the residents of Knoxville, TN celebrate with a spectacular fireworks celebration. They call it Boomsday. It is choreographed with music and broadcasted on television. Though we were in Knoxville, we decided to watch the celebration on TV and avoid the crowd. What we didn't know is that Boomsday would come to us.
Only moments after I got to sleep, I was violently awakened by a crashing and rumbling. A few moments later, Lindsey was knocking at my door, wondering what had happened. We were both a bit shook up, but managed to find the cause of the explosive noise. We found a tree leaning precariously against the roof of the house and the balcony outside the room that I was staying in. There appeared to be only minor structural damage to the house, and no-one was harmed, but Boomsday has taken on a different meaning.