This Dieing Stuff

Death is something that has become not so uncommon in my world lately. That is one of the hazards of working in the ER. When I was in school, I was told by many of my professors that when a person is in the hospital, they are likely to be receptive of spiritual things. Many times, walls that exist when a person is well are easily broken down when he is ill. I had the opposite experience yesterday.
When I arrived at work, I received a patient who had end-stage lung cancer with metastases to the liver and spine. She was not responding well to chemotherapy anymore and came to us with severe difficulty breathing and a dangerously low blood pressure. With her family, she had decided that she did not want any heroic life-saving measures taken. In short, my patient was dieing.
During the course of our time together, she turned to me and said “This dieing stuff is hard.”
Being the attentive nurse that I try to be, I recognized this as a prime opportunity to talk with her about spiritual things. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind if I prayed with her. This question usually opens up communication lines as patients share what they would like you to pray about. However, my patient was not so receptive. She said that prayer helps some people, but she did not want to be prayed with.
So I asked if she would mind if I prayed for her later by myself. Her response was the same. She said that she did not feel that she was helped by prayer and that it might make some people feel better, but it did not help her.
It is at a point like this that the four spiritual laws or a traditional approach to sharing the Gospel doesn’t work to well, but I was able to share with her that I know a mighty God who hears and answers prayer. I know that He heard my prayer for my dieing patient this morning and I can only pray that He touches her life in a way that opens her eyes to her need for a Savior.

Which Came First…

I was reading Eternity in Their Hearts, by Don Richardson last night. I reached a section in the book where Richardson was presenting an opposing argument that stated that we, as a human society, came up with the idea of God. And, like us, of course, the idea of God evolved through time. The father of this theory was a man named Edward B. Tylor. Tylor said that ancient savages conceived the idea of a soul because of their experiences with dreams, visions, sleep, and death and their observance of shadows and reflections. As time went on and society developed, they began to develop their ideas of the supernatural. When aristocracies appeared, the idea of gods ruling over spirits appeared. Then, with monarchies came the idea of a supreme god. According to Tylor, monotheism, or the idea that there is one “Creator God” is just an invention of man that was preceded by polytheism.
Later on, a man named Andrew Lang, who is described as “Tylor’s favorite pupil,” came to some conclusions of his own. You see, Lang was a strong supporter of Tylor’s theories, but he was soon to encounter strong, undeniable opposition. When Lang read a letter sent home by a missionary, celebrating the fact that the people the missionary had been sent to reach already had an idea of a “Creator God,” his ideas were immediately challenged. However, he vehemently opposed the idea of monotheism preceding native polytheism, or animism and began to publish more works and speak publicly supporting Tylor’s theory
Another strong supporter of Tylor, Wilhelm Schmidt, was spurred on by the fact that Lang’s ideas were not accepted by the scholarly community. So, he dedicated himself to the study of the subject, with the idea of proving Tylor and Lang correct. He found the evidence to be strongly in opposition to Tylor’s theory. It seemed that “native monotheism” was alive and well and had, in actuality, preceded the idea of animism. Schmidt ended up publishing 4,000 pages of evidence in 12 volumes supporting the fact that monotheism had actually preceded animism.
This anthropological victory got me thinking. Animism is alive and well in most third-world cultures. The presence of spirits and their influence on life and death and the events of every day is undeniable in many areas of the world. Because of this, people have a very strong fear of controlling spirits and become indebted to them. Their lives are dictated by the traditions associated with their religion, not because religion is an invention of man, but because they must appease the spirits. This enslavement is driven by a very real and valid fear of real spirits who oppress.
All of this is sometimes hard to imagine from a North American perspective. Satan also enslaves us, but from a standpoint of denial. We have a hard time acknowledging that the spiritual world actually exists. Satan’s control of our lives often comes from convincing us that that there is no spiritual battle. Therefore we become apathetic.
Satan’s strategy in animistic cultures, however, is the opposite. Everything is driven by fear. It is in this setting that God has called me to work. This raises the question; how am I, an apathetic North American, going to convince a culture that is ruled by fear that God is more powerful than the spirits that they serve? The good news is that it really isn’t my job to do the convincing. But, in my attempt to be a worker worth her wages, I have to make my life worthy of the sacrifice of Jesus. God must be so real in my life that He clearly outshines the demons in theirs. I must have such a strong faith in Christ and His redeeming love that the demons shriek in horror.
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) This scripture must become my life-verse. Lord, please remove my apathy and replace it with zeal for you and for the furthering of your kingdom.

Stranger Things...

A few short years ago, I knew very little about the continent of Africa. I had a friend who had discipled me in high school who was a missionary there, but I had no other ties to that part of the world. It is strange now to think of all the ties I have over there. In fact, at this very moment, I have many friends, and even family traveling and serving God in Africa. Emily, Katie, and Emily’s parents are on a trip in Nigeria (Cameroon’s neighbor and close cultural cousin). They are doing medical work and helping out some of the long term missionaries who serve there. Sharon is serving with the Freisens in Big Bekondo, Cameroon, teaching their daughter Rachel and gaining some valuable insight into linguistics along the way. I am sure that her help is invaluable to the Scots and Freisens, who are in Big Bekondo long-term. Robyn is visiting Northern Cameroon with a group of North Americans and Ray and Paula, some friends of mine who are opening up a new field in the far north. Pray for them as they travel the area, praying 5 times a day and hoping to form some relationships with Muslims. And you know that my parents are in Cameroon. They are with my good friends Barry and Desma, and new friends Nathan and Laurel. And of course there are all the missionaries that I met in Cameroon.
What is really strange though, is the tie that I feel with the Baka pygmies of Southern Cameroon. I used to look at pictures of people like the Baka, who live the same way that they lived thousands of years ago, who would be called savage and uncivilized, people who you see in National Geographic. In fact, the Baka were featured in National Geographic several years ago. Now, when I look back at old pictures and home video of the people that I got to spend so much time with, I wonder at that strange world that God brought me to and has caused me to love so much, and I even wonder if He will really allow me to go back and continue to work toward accomplishing the Great Commission among them. Stranger things have happened.

Food Staples

This seemed like an interesting idea at first, but I think I might have gone overboard. The following are lists of different uses, mostly edible, of rice and corn respectively. Though this may be a boring read, it is interactive, so feel free to add to the list (in the comments section). I thought of adding lists for cassava and wheat, but that would have gotten even more tedious. Thanks for putting up with my attempt at generating an idea for a blog entry.

Rice
Boiled rice
Steamed rice
Rice cakes
Rice crispies
Sticky rice
Rice milk
Rice noodles
Fried rice
Rice crispy treats
Chicken and rice soup
Puffed rice
Rice cereal
Sushi
Rice pudding
Rice wine vinegar
Horchata
Sake
Rice paper

Corn
Corn bread
Corn on the cob
Fufu
Grits
Sweet corn
Corn tortillas
Corn chowder
Maize
Corn whiskey
Tamales
Corn pops
Hush puppies
Corn starch
Corn syrup
Popcorn
Corn oil
Corn chips
Corn flakes

Distant Memories

Have you ever noticed how easily places and times are forgotten? I watched a movie set in Africa tonight. The Africa that was portrayed was much different than the Africa that I know, but it occurred to me that I have forgotten many of the details of my time there. Some images are harder to forget, because I have pictures to remind me, but many events, smells, tastes, and sounds get pushed back into the recesses of the memory until they are rarely recalled. Little things bring back memories. The taste of groundnut soup with friends a few months ago helped me to remember treasured time around the dinner table with friends. The smell of certain illegal substances on the clothing of some of my patients reminds me of the thick mélange of scents that would waft into my bedroom window each morning, and of the voices of Baka men, women, and children sharing a bit of daybreak family time around the fire. The sound and feel of the wind and rain today (though miniscule when compared to Cameroonian rain), reminds me of rainy season and the thunderous sound of water hitting the thin tin roof. The sight of malnourished children on TV and sick kids in my ER prompts me to pray for the starving children in the Baka camp and wonder at how conditions can be improved for them.
That brings up an interesting point. Many of my memories are fond and pleasant, but some are just the opposite. I long to return to Cameroon, but it is not the warm memories that draw me, but the desire to see God glorified among the Baka. I remember the faces of so many Baka who have died, so many sick children, so many lives that are imprisoned by spiritual slavery. God doesn’t just remember them. He knows them each by name and has the hairs on their heads numbered. And He loves each of them so dearly. Lord, please continue to put a little of Your heart in mine and grow in me a love for all of the people that you love so much.

Airplanes and Mongulus

Dad and Mom are going to Cameroon in a few short days! I am so excited for them! Please pray with me for safe travel and a God-glorifying time of fellowship between them and the Baka team. How I wish I could go with them, but alas, I could not fit in the carry-on (I nearly tried). Pray also that they would be well received by the Baka, and that their trip, in some way, large or small, would help to pave the way for me to go back in the near future.

Contentment

We all have moments when we are not nearly as content as we should be in the love and presence of God. I am reminded of a Chris Tomlin song that always prompts me to find my fulfillment and contentment in God Almighty.


Enough

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

YouÂ’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
YouÂ’re my coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can see
You are more than enough for me

Making Disciples

Another letter came from the Abbots today. They recalled the events of a "typical" day in Cameroon when they transported two ill children to a nearby hospital. I thought of many things as I read their letter. The nurse in me wanted to ask more questions about the children's symptoms and wondered if the illness was preventable. The missionary in me pondered the lack of resources. The Christian in me was proud that Barry and Desma took the time to use this situation as an opportunity to pray with the Baka. The overwhelming thought, however, was the desire to be in Cameroon, caring for the medical needs of the Baka with the goal of making disciples.

Jubilant Spirit

I just received another update from the Baka team. They spoke of a "jubilant spirit" that is causing the Baka to sing praises to a good God. It seems that the Baka are beginning to understand that Komba, the creator-God, cares about them and deserves their praises. This is a huge step toward the building of a reproducing church among the Baka!!
My friends also spoke of the old oppressive forest spirit, Jengi, who seems to still have a tight hold on the hearts of the people that live in Mayos. You see, though the Baka are learning that Komba cares for them, they also know intimately the slavery that spirit worship brings. They have been appeasing Jengi for generations and are, quite literally, in spiritual bondage.
Most of us in the West have no idea what it means to be cursed by someone or to be the subject of an evil spell. We spend a good amount of money and effort seeking out experts in medicine, finances, even home decorating, but the Baka, and many other people groups who are spiritually enslaved spend money and energy seeking out the expertise of witch doctors. Just as you and I see necessity in seeking out medical and financial help in certain situations, the Baka cannot imagine a life without appeasing the spirits.
Please pray with me that the God who created the universe, moves mountains, calms the seas, and changes the hearts of men would continue reveal His good purposes and His character. Pray that He would work among the Baka to free them from their long bondage.
(To see the full text of Barry and Desma's letter, please see the comments section.)

Dawn

Who is this babe that has caused such a ruckus? Why do millions of people stop to worship a little infant every December? What is so enchanting about the nativity? Why were the shepherds and the wise men so impressed? About whom did the angels sing their chorus?
In church today I was reminded that Israel was in the midst of a very dark night when their Messiah came. Some did not recognize Him, but for those who did, dawn began to break and hope returned. This dawn quickly spread throughout Israel and the neighboring areas. Since then, it has crossed cultures, seas, and language to reach some of the uttermost parts of this globe.
However, there are still so many people living in that dark night waiting for a Messiah. In many places of this world, whole people groups wait and wonder for God to end their night.
Lord, please light those dark places with the dawn of the nativity.

Present Sufferings

I can't describe to you what heaven will be like. I can't even imagine it myself. A little gem from the sermon this morning, or rather from Romans 8:18, reminded me that heaven will be beyond my wildest dreams.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
-Romans 8:18
Paul was no stranger to suffering. By the time he wrote Romans, he knew what it was like to be beaten, persecuted, near death, shunned… Perhaps some of you know what it is like to have sufferings that are overwhelming and seemingly unbearable. Weigh your sufferings, however mighty or overwhelming they might be and then try to imagine heaven. It is not even comparable!!! Heaven is not just a consolation prize for saints who have served their time on planet earth; it is what God had planned in the first place, a place full of love and peace and God’s very glory. Not only is heaven the opposite of suffering, but it is monumentally immeasurable, incomprehensible, and far beyond any of our wildest dreams.

Charlie Brown's Christmas tree

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Yesterday our apartment manager had the common areas decorated with lights and garland. Today, my roommates and I bought a live Christmas tree and some poinsettias to decorate our own space. We had some difficulty deciding on a tree as some were more expensive, but prettier and bigger, and some were not the right color or the right kind of branches. Eventually we all agreed on a cute little stone pine that stand about 3.5 feet high and leans ever so slightly. It's funny, because the fact that it leans was one of the deciding factors. We all agreed it reminded us just a little of that sad Christmas tree in Charlie Brown's Christmas. Our meager Christmas decorations will be more than enough to decorate our little tree, and I am sure it will look quite festive once it has lights and decoration. Not only that, but we can give it a spot in the backyard once Christmas is over.

Anthem for Christmas

Since Thanksgiving has officially passed, I have given myself permission to begin celebrating Christmas. This, of course, means that I can now legitimately listen to Christmas music. One of my favorite Christmas albums, Michael W. Smith's "Christmas," captures the celebration of the season quite well. The song that is quoted below puts joy in my heart and a new Christmas hope in my mind. It recounts what God intended when He created this world, reveals how He chose to remedy the problem of sin, and gives us a glimpse of what to expect when His kingdom is fully established. What an awesome God we have that He would first create such a wondrous world just to communicate love to us. And then, when we chose sin instead of simply accepting His love, He sent and even more precious gift, His own Son. I can't wait to see what He does next!!

Anthem For Christmas - Michael W. Smith
In the space of the beginning
Was the living Word of light
When this Word was clearly spoken
All that came to be was right

All creation had a language
Words to say what must be said
All day long the Heavens whispered
Signing words in scarlet red

Still some failed to understand it
So God spoke His final Word
On a silent night in Judah's
Hills a baby's cry was heard

"Glory!" sang the angel chorus
"Glory!" echoed back the night
Love has come to walk among us
Christ the Lord is born this night

All creation sing His praises
Earth and heaven praise His name
All who live come join the chorus
Find the words
His love proclaim

Storytelling

Everyone loves a good story. In fact, we seem to be infatuated with stories. We read stories in books, see them on TV and in movies, and listen to them on radio. Most of us grew up listening to stories told by a grandfather or some other elder relative. We tell our own story over and over (especially those of us who write blogs) and often even tell the stories of friends and acquaintances (some even take it as far as gossip). When I think about it, I realize that a good amount of our time is spent in story telling or in reading, watching, or listening to stories. The rest of our time is spent living out our own personal story.
Today, as I drove from Manteca to Santa Ana, I began pondering why we are so taken with stories. Perhaps it is because we were made by God to be story livers and story tellers. The best story of all is the story of redemption and forgiveness that Christ lived out for us and that every born again believer continues to live today. As we live out the story that Christ gave us, we have even more reason and opportunity to tell of the One who gave his life so that we might live.

Thankful

You all know that Thanksgiving is this week. What do you have to be thankful for? I am thankful for life and health (especially after coming home from work tonight). I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my brother this weekend and for the opportunity to drive home this Wednesday for Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for awesome roommates and for the protection that God has given us in spite of some tension with neighbors. I'm thankful for the privilege of being God's hands and feet to those who He places in my path.

Hurting People

I am beginning to realize how many opportunities I have to minister to people that I pass up. In the midst of being unhappy about my current job, I have been dreaming of working in a clinic with low-income families or the homeless. I figure that it would be a great opportunity for ministry and it would prepare me for some of the health problems that I am likely to see overseas. However, I forget that I have amazing opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus in my current position. The emergency room cannot be rivaled as a place to find hurting people. It is a unique environment filled with those who have recently and suddenly been thrown onto a physical and spiritual roller coaster. Lord, please help me to minister to the hurting people that I meet every day.

Visions of Mayos

I got an email from my friend who is visiting Mayos (the Baka encampment that I frequented when I was in Cameroon). She told me of how she is enjoying her time with the missionaries and with their precious children. She described a little of the Sunday worship service (they are really having weekly worship services!). And she mentioned meeting some Baka whom I have fond memories of. Though I really wish I could be there with her, it is neat to see Mayos through her eyes. I think tonight I will fall asleep with visions of Mayos dancing in my head.

Unprepared

A few years ago, I decided to become a nurse, because I felt that was the best way for me to gain some of the skills that I would need to be a missionary. When I finished school, I had hoped that I would be able to get a job that would prepare me for the kind of nursing that I would be doing on the mission field. The emergency room seemed to be the perfect choice. Working in an ER has proven to be a huge learning experience for me, just not the kind of learning experience that I had hoped for. You see, we, as a society, have learned a vast amount about the human body: how it works, what can go wrong, how to know what is going wrong, and how to treat it when it is not working right. Of course all of this knowledge is of great value. The problem is that there is so much that a nurse in my position needs to know. I have to be prepared to care for every patient, from the teenager who cut her finger in the kitchen to the middle aged man who collapsed in a shopping mall for no apparent reason and has been receiving CPR. I have found, time and time again, that I can not be properly prepared to handle every emergency that will come my way. In fact, I've been told that I could be an ER nurse for 30 years and still come across situations that I am not prepared for. I have also found that I am unprepared for some of the things that I should have already received training for. Thus, I am in a situation where I frequently experience "baptism by fire" or feel that I must "sink or swim."
I say all of this, not to complain about the stresses of the ER or to evoke feelings of sympathy from you all, but to draw some parallels with ministry, to write a parable of sorts.
I hope to be on the mission field in a couple of years, but am I prepared? Do I know about the ministry: how it works, what can go wrong, how to know what is going wrong, and how to treat it when it is not working right. Can I handle every emergency that comes my way? Have I learned as much as I can of the Bible? Do I have access to the vast amount of knowledge we have gathered about the human condition? I trust that God has given me the ability to bandage up some of those spiritual bumps and bruises, but what about the person who is teetering on the edge?
There's so much yet to learn in the next couple of years. "Baptism by fire" and "sink or swim" are not phrases that I want to use to describe my first couple of years on the mission field.

Lord, please cause me to be prepared for the ministry that you are leading me into.

Wasting Time

Sometimes I feel as if I waste so much time on silly, unimportant things, like television or surfing the internet. It's as if I know in the very core of my being that I was created for something so much more fulfilling and important. It takes me a while to realize that the one most important thing is my relationship with the creator of this universe, who, strangely enough, wants to spend time with me. Anselm, a eleventh century philosopher and theologion, said it well.

Up now, slight man! Flee for a little while thy occupations; hide thyself for a time from thy disturbing thoughts. Cast aside now thy burdensome cares, and put away thy toilsome business. Yield room for some little time to God, and rest for a little time in Him. Enter the inner chamber of thy mind; shut out all thoughts save that of God and such as can aid thee in seeking Him. Speak now, my whole heart! Speak now to God, saying, I seek Thy face; Thy face, Lord. Will I seek.

-Anselm

A Trip to Mayos

A dear friend of mine is spending some time with the Baka this week. As I wonder who she will meet in Mayos and what the reaction will be to the visitors, I am reminded of how much the Baka need Jesus. Please continue to pray for the Baka with me. Pray for simple things, like the availability of food when they go out to gather it tomorrow and for healing for the multiple illnesses they suffer because of their environment and because of malnutrition. Also pray for more spiritual things as they continue to hear about Komba (their name for God) and His plan for this world. Pray that they would listen and hear what Komba is saying to them and that many would come to a solid belief in Jesus Christ, who is the only way to be saved from sin. Also lift the Abbots, the Conrods, and Pierre up in prayer as they continue the work of sharing the Gospel with the Baka. Pray for Dan, Lisa, Rachel, and Sharon as they travel to Mayos to spend time with the Baka team, that their trip would be safe and beneficial to all. And pray for my own parents as they prepare to take a trip to Cameroon in January to encourage and help the Baka team.

The Last Battle

I just reached the end of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles Of Narnia. The last book is entitled The Last Battle. In the final few chapters Lewis describes Aslan's world, which is meant to represent heaven. Once again I found myself homesick and longing for the day that we go to heaven. What a joyous reunion that will be. We will be utterly amazed and awestruck at what we will find there. Lewis' rendition was amazing enough, but the real thing will be beyond our imagination or our wildest dreams. Wow, I just can't wait!!

ER Blues

As I arrive home from work tonight (or rather this morning), I have much to consider. Though life as an ER nurse has its challenges, I feel that some of the stresses that are included in my job are unnecessary. I am considering applying at another hospital in order to gain more ER specific training and preparation. This, of course, opens a new can of worms, and I am not sure what to do with them. Please pray with me for wisdom and guidance as I wade through some difficult decisions.

Devotion

de•vo•tion: noun
1 a: religious fervor: piety b: an act of prayer or private worship -- usually used in plural c: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation
2 a: the act of devoting b: the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal (as to an idea or person)
3 obsolete: the object of one's devotion

I see four different meanings for devotion here.
religious fervor: piety: whether it be allegiance to the one true God or a false god, a commitment to one’s religion is one meaning for devotion.
an act of prayer or private worship: this makes me think of the daily devotions that many Christians have made part of their lives. Sometimes these are with a small group of people or by one’s self, but they are priceless times to sit at God’s feet, learn from Him, worship, and pray.
the act of devoting: I am reminded of Hannah. She devoted Samuel, her long awaited and much loved son to God’s service. This was not an empty dedication, but a real sacrifice as she sent her young son, just after he was weaned, to live in the temple, so far away that she would only see him once a year.
fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal: What I wish for. Such devotion is what God deserves. This is the kind of commitment to God that led Hannah to devote not only her own life to God, but also the child that was so precious to her. This is the sort of selflessness that leads martyrs to give up their lives instead of forsaking Christ. This is real devotion.

Indescribable

At church the other day, I was overwhelmed with the uniqueness of God. I wanted to find a word or two to describe Him, but nothing seemed adequate. Everything that I thought of described something so much smaller, so much weaker, and so much less perfect. Laura Story and Jesse Reeves put words, though still quite inadequate, to the uniqueness of God in Chris Tomlin’s album Arriving.

From the highest of heights
To the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing your majesty
From the colors of Fall
To the fragrance of Spring
Every creature unique
And the song that it sings
All exclaiming…

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And you know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untamable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God

Who has told every lightning bolt
Where it should go?
Or seen heavenly storehouses
Laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun
And gives source to its light?
Yet conceals it to bring us the
Coolness of night?
None can fathom…

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And you know them by name
You are amazing, God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart
And you love me the same
You are amazing God

Songs and Feet

Rejoice with me as I celebrate a new step in the journey of the Baka to Christ!!! I have been amazed at the wondrous work that God is doing on behalf of the Baka through good times and bad, happy moments and sad.

For what seems like a very long time, I have been praying for this little people group who need Christ so desperately. One of the prayers that I have been praying is that God would give them a song to sing. I don’t just mean any old song, but a song of redemption and worship to our King.

I dream of the day that all nations will be gathered to Christ. I cannot imagine how great that day will be, but I bet each tribe will be worshiping our Lord in their own way, their own tongue, and their own song. These songs will blend together in a beautiful orchestra of voices and hearts poured out before God. The Baka will be among that great throng of people, and they will be singing their own song of praise in perfect harmony with the rest who will be gathered that day. The exciting part right now is that we are beginning to see glimpses of what that will look like.

A prayer letter came to me the other day from my friends Barry and Desma, who recently went back to Cameroon to continue the work among the Baka. On a preliminary trip into the bush with teammate Nathan, Barry got to participate in a little meeting with the Baka and was pleasantly surprised at what he saw and heard. Here is an excerpt of the letter describing the gathering:

The best part of the week, however, came on the last evening. Pierre (our Cameroonian friend who is a believer and has dedicated himself to sharing the gospel with the Baka) invited me to prepare some verses and a few words for a meeting with the Baka. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I borrowed a French Bible from Samba. Phil and Reda had left it to him as he is capable of reading a great deal of French. I wasn’t prepared for the beautiful glimpse of things to come.

We began the meeting with a couple of songs that Pierre and the Baka have worked together to write in the Baka style. It was a beautiful sound and I could pick out enough words in Baka to know that they were singing about God’s goodness. Their voices rose as if they were putting all they had into the melodies. There were divided parts as one person after another (Lendo, Mbaka, Samba) would lead certain songs sometimes at Pierre’s prompting sometimes more spontaneously. After the first two songs, Pierre said it was my turn. I read to them in French from Jeremiah 17:5-8 which talks about the tree planted by the river which never ceases to bear fruit and doesn’t notice when the heat comes I proceeded to explain briefly how God has many names . . . one of which is the river of life. I explained that whoever plants himself close to this river would experience the blessings of God. They replied in unison with a hearty “ie sakindi” (yes it’s true).

I also shared with them that we were sad that Phil couldn’t be with us, but that we are content that he is now in heaven with the Lord. They replied with the same phrase.

After I finished, they clapped and then sang many other songs. Before the last song, Samba led a prayer. I must remind you that Samba was one of the young men that passed their days on Desma’s porch when she lived here before. Now he is a man with a very large heart. He prayed a long prayer and I was so moved to hear the tone of his voice as he prayed. It sounded familiar even though I couldn’t understand most of the words. Later when Pierre explained the content of the prayer, my heart was very glad. He prayed for our trip back to Yaounde and for our families and children. He also prayed for our teammate Reda Anderton and her children as they continue to grieve the loss of Phil. He prayed for the people of Mayos as well. We closed with a song as everyone shook hands with everyone there.

You can imagine my joy at hearing such amazing news. Though I cannot expect that all of the people who were at that little meeting are true believers at this time, it is still so encouraging to see leaders beginning to emerge, leaders who will be used by God to further the Gospel among the Baka and surrounding people groups. The Baka are beginning to hear the melody that God will press onto their hearts, and I dare say, some are humming along already.

This raised a question in my heart about whether I would be of any use in the Baka ministry. After all, it will be a couple of years before I will be able to get to the mission field, and there may be the beginning of a growing and vibrant church among the Baka at that time. But God nudged me a little and showed me how much more work there is to be done. Even after a church is established in this encampment of a couple hundred, there are still 40,000 more Baka souls who need to know His saving grace. I think that there will be some missionary involvement in this task, but I hope that the Baka themselves will see that the joy that they receive in Christ should be shared with their tribesmen who are scattered throughout the rainforest. Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” I hope I am there to witness the beautiful feet of the Baka delivering the good news of the Gospel to others who need to hear. A new prayer was born in me today. ‘Lord, make their feet beautiful.’

(If you are interested in reading the text of Barry and Desma’s prayer letter, see the comment section)

Narnia

I've been visiting a very special fantasy world lately. It's a place were animals can walk and talk like humans, where ordinary children become extraordinary, where water turns people to gold and little dwarfs hop around on a single leg. It's a place with centaurs and fauns and a giant, dangerous, loving, and good lion.
The treasures that I have found in this series of books have been numerous. I could sit here listing them for you, but I think it would be better if you found out for yourself. I hope, if you decide to read it yourself, you will be edified and encouraged by the simple theology that it holds within its pages.

They travel in waves?

When I was in an eighth grade science class, we studied light and sound. The basic concepts were easy enough to understand, but I was really confused about how light and sound travel. The best my instructor could do was to tell me that they travel in waves. Being a very concrete person, I still have difficulty with that concept. I can't see the waves, so they are hard to imagine. Those were the days that light, sound, radio, and television traveled in waves. It was amazing to me that these waves traveled so fast, and that they didn't get in the way of each other, and that they could contain so much information. And then there was the telephone. If it was difficult for me to understand the concept of waves traveling through air, it was even harder to understand how verbal messages could be transmitted back and forth through a little cable. How does that cable get a voice to travel along it so quickly, and how does it know where to send its message? As if all of that were not confusing enough; now we have cell phones and wireless computers. I don't suppose that I will ever understand it. I guess I should just be grateful for the technology. God created an awesome world for us to live in. His creation is so complex and beautiful that it would be foolish to suggest that it could have begun any other way besides God's design. He also created us with amazing brains. Some people are so smart that they can even figure out things like wireless technology.

Endure

The following was copied from a friend's blog today. It was quite appropriate and timely for me. I hope it encourages you also.

Restless until...

Our God, to whom we turn
When weary with illusion,
Whose stars serenely burn
Above this earth's confusion,
Thine is the mighty plan,
The steadfast order sure
In which the world began,
Endures, and shall endure.

Thou art thyself the truth;
Though we who fain would find thee,
Have tried, with thoughts uncouth,
In feeble words to bind thee,
It is because thou art
We're driven to the quest;
Till truth from falsehood part,
Our souls can find no rest.

All beauty speaks of thee:
The mountains and the rivers,
The line of lifted sea,
Where spreading moonlight quivers,
The deep-toned organ blast
That rolls through arches dim
Hints of the music vast
Of thy eternal hymn.

Wherever goodness lurks
We catch thy tones appealing;
Where man for justice works
Thou art thyself revealing;
The blood of man, for man
On friendship's altar spilt,
Betrays the mystic plan
On which thy house is built.

Thou hidden fount of love,
Of peace, and truth, and beauty,
Inspire us from above
With joy and strength for duty.
May thy fresh light arise
Within each clouded heart,
And give us open eyes
To see thee as thou art.

~Edward Grubb, 1925

Let us endure with eyes fixed on our Maker.

Inconvenient Conveniences

I used to hate it when my mother told me that it was time to hand-wash all of the glasses. You see, we had really hard water, and after a few weeks of running the dishes through the dishwasher, the glasses would get so covered in hard water stains that they were no longer pleasant to drink from. The best answer to that problem was to wash them all by hand to get the white stuff off.

Last night, we ran the dishwasher. When we opened it this evening, the glasses were covered by white grit and bits of dish-grime. We decided to give the convenient little machine a second chance and put the rinse cycle on again. No go. Our next course of action: make sure all of the movable parts inside are, in fact, moving, run the garbage disposal, refill the soap compartment with dishwasher soap, and run the dishwasher again, this time with the optional pre-rinse. Of course, I was doing anything I could at this point to avoid washing the dishes by hand, especially the dishes that had already gone through the dishwasher. Why is it that simple things like washing dishes by hand become so inconvenient when modern conveniences like dishwashers are available? I guess it is just the principle of the thing; why have a dishwasher if it does not do its job?

Daddy-love

I got a phone message from my dad this morning. He told me that he loves me, and that he wants to go get Korean barbeque for dinner with me. Of course, we won’t be able to go get dinner together this evening, but it was so precious to hear that my daddy loves me and wants to spend time with me. I love you Dad.

The phone message from my earthly father made me think of how much our heavenly father loves us. He wants to spend time with us, to show us His love, to share Himself with us. God’s daddy-love is a pursuing love, a love that will not give up, a love that gives us worth and meaning. His love for us is so great that He would allow Jesus to die, so that He could bring us near to Him. I love you Abba.

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