During class this week Heidi Baker was encouraging us to spend time with the children and with the poor. She says she learned far more about the kingdom of God by sitting with the poor and with children then she ever did while earning her PhD in Systematic Theology.
After class while walking back to our apartment, I was wrestling with these thoughts as I battled a sinus infection and was not feeling great: I told God that I wanted to do something more math oriented and not to play with children. I didn't want to play with children right now. Could I not do something more administrately and serve you here?
About the time these thoughts went through my head, I turned a corner only two see a two year old little boy from the nearby village had locked eyes with me. He had his arms lifted high for a hug and a big grin on his face, running as fast as his legs would carry him straight for me. I bent down to him and he would not let go. My heart melted and I spent the rest of the day playing in the dirt, sitting in the hot sun, with a child I could not communicate with in any language other than love.
God had answered my question about whether I needed to spend time with children this afternoon with a simple demonstration. I have not see this child again but he was at the right place at the right time to speak to me.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
National Children's Day
Today was National Children's Day, a national holiday. Iris fed about 2500 children ages 3-12 a meal of rice, cabbage, and a piece of fried chicken with a Fainta soft drink. It was amazing to see these children walk miles to line up in the heat to get this free meal and receive a goodie bag consisting of 1 lollipop and 3 pieces of candy. Many of these young children(5-7 years old) escorted or carried their younger siblings (18 months to 2) as they were not big enough to walk for long times no their own. Allison and I had the privilege to help the children line up and wash dishes.
Iris Ministries
A lot goes on at the Iris base in Pemba. First, they feed about 1,000 children lunch from the nearby villages 6 days a week to curb hunger. They have a primary school to 7th grade which has the best marks of all the schools in the province. Unfortunately, the poverty level has half the students below a passing level despite their efforts. A free medical clinic is available to the people. A nurse travels to another nearby village to offer milk to support women with babies as the diet does not offer sufficient nutrients for the babies to survive often. Iris offers a sewing training program for widows where they make patalonas, purses, and head covers to sell. For the poor, Iris gives away rice and beans every two weeks in exchange for some labor around the base, offering the work to not hurt the people's pride. They are planning to start offering classes for farming called "Farming God's way."
In addition Iris trains about 200 Mozambiquan pastors and runs a missionary training program for Mozambiquan pastors too. They also have a visitor center where they host about 2,000 visitors from around the world who come here to learn and serve.
The diversity of the ministry reminds me a lot of JH Ranch in that it is reaching people through many different dimensions.
In addition Iris trains about 200 Mozambiquan pastors and runs a missionary training program for Mozambiquan pastors too. They also have a visitor center where they host about 2,000 visitors from around the world who come here to learn and serve.
The diversity of the ministry reminds me a lot of JH Ranch in that it is reaching people through many different dimensions.
Prayer for Summer
Our school meets from 8am to 1pm Mon to Friday. Rolland and Heidi Baker will do most of the teaching with guest speakers supplementing throughout the summer. Amy Lancaster from Jackson, MS shared with us one day this week. Amy and her husband lead an inner city ministry on Fair St. in Jackson which supposedly is one of the worst streets to be living on. She reminded us the importance of seeing people the way God sees them and loving them unconditionally. She gave an amazing testimony of a man with a 30 year addiction to crack coming to know the Lord in her ministry and how we must believe that God can do the impossible.
This message touched our hearts and affirmed the verse the Lord highlighted to us on the plane ride over:
Isaiah 11:3 says "he will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth."
Lord, give us eyes this summer to see people as you see them.
This message touched our hearts and affirmed the verse the Lord highlighted to us on the plane ride over:
Isaiah 11:3 says "he will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth."
Lord, give us eyes this summer to see people as you see them.
Arrived in Pemaba
We've arrived in Pemba, Mozambique to Iris Ministries Base. We are doing wonderful and loving being here. It is an adjustment to live without some of the conveniences but JH Ranch community living has prepared us more than most. We have enjoyed meeting new people who are eager to serve and learn from all different cultures. We have also enjoyed our runs in the morning along the ocean.
This base hosts about 200 children. Also on this base are the 120 missionary training students. Nearby is another Iris base hosting about 200 Mozambiquan pastors being trained.
Most of our classmates have arrived. The majority are from the USA but also included are 17 Russians, 10 South Africans, 4 UK, 2 France, 2 Canada, 4 Australia, 2 Switzerland, 1 Uganda, 1 Hong Kong, 4 China, and more.
The base is on a hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean. Our housing is about a 300 yard walk to the beach. It is hot here but fortunately we get a refreshing ocean breeze.
Our housing is about a 600 sq ft building with a tin roof. Within this is 3 rooms hosting Allison and me and 7 more female missionary students. Water here is a precious commodity and not something we are guaranteed to have. We keep a 55 gallon drum filled at all times in case we need water for showers, toilets, etc. Everyone sleeps under a mosquito net for comfort and prevention for malaria. Fortunately, I have not found the mosquitos to be bad having only put on bug spray once just to do it.
The food has been ok. In less than a week I have had rice and beans for the majority of the meals. Fortunately we came during a time of celebration and had chicken twice with rice which evidently is a really big deal. Breakfast consists of a glass of tea and a roll. We are able to go to town to the market to purchase some fruits to supplement our diet.
The people are very friendly but communication is difficult not knowing Makua or Portuguese. Having had some Spanish is very helpful for communicating a few things. We are being paired in our school with pastors from the Mozambiquan pastor school to facilitate cross-cultural learning. Worship with them is a fun experience. It involves every part of your body moving as all the songs have movements to them. Allison, enjoys this. I do too but I am still trying to clap and sing at the same time.
This base hosts about 200 children. Also on this base are the 120 missionary training students. Nearby is another Iris base hosting about 200 Mozambiquan pastors being trained.
Most of our classmates have arrived. The majority are from the USA but also included are 17 Russians, 10 South Africans, 4 UK, 2 France, 2 Canada, 4 Australia, 2 Switzerland, 1 Uganda, 1 Hong Kong, 4 China, and more.
The base is on a hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean. Our housing is about a 300 yard walk to the beach. It is hot here but fortunately we get a refreshing ocean breeze.
Our housing is about a 600 sq ft building with a tin roof. Within this is 3 rooms hosting Allison and me and 7 more female missionary students. Water here is a precious commodity and not something we are guaranteed to have. We keep a 55 gallon drum filled at all times in case we need water for showers, toilets, etc. Everyone sleeps under a mosquito net for comfort and prevention for malaria. Fortunately, I have not found the mosquitos to be bad having only put on bug spray once just to do it.
The food has been ok. In less than a week I have had rice and beans for the majority of the meals. Fortunately we came during a time of celebration and had chicken twice with rice which evidently is a really big deal. Breakfast consists of a glass of tea and a roll. We are able to go to town to the market to purchase some fruits to supplement our diet.
The people are very friendly but communication is difficult not knowing Makua or Portuguese. Having had some Spanish is very helpful for communicating a few things. We are being paired in our school with pastors from the Mozambiquan pastor school to facilitate cross-cultural learning. Worship with them is a fun experience. It involves every part of your body moving as all the songs have movements to them. Allison, enjoys this. I do too but I am still trying to clap and sing at the same time.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Fear, misguided or properly placed?
We are in route to Africa and lots of thoughts run through our minds. What will the mosquitoes be like with all the concerns for malaria? Did we bring enough money? Will we have the appropriate type of clothing? Will rice and beans sustain us for 3 months? How will living with 8 other people affect our marriage?
Hours could be spent in anxiety over such thoughts and fear could easily be triggered if we allowed it, but we know the Lord has a great lesson in store for us. I am reminded of my first summer at JH Ranch in 2003 when I stepped out of my comfort zone.
I had been trying to intern on Wall Street when the Lord redirected my steps to JH. I signed up to volunteer in the kitchen because I had physical limitations due to having brain surgery a few years prior in 2000.
I had tingling sensations (like hitting your funny bone) that ran down the left side of my body when I did anything strenuous due to my birth defect, Chiari Malformation, that led to the brain surgery. During my interview for JH they told me that females worked in the kitchen positions that I had signed up for, and after prayerful consideration, the guy’s recruiter offered me a position to be in maintenance (eventually the garbage man).
I did not know what to do. I knew I was supposed to be at JH that summer because I had felt the impression from the Lord. However, I also knew how my body would react to the physical activity. I agreed to attempt the work, trusting that the Lord had called me to JH. The first day while walking around the property of JH Ranch, I could fee the tingling sensation all down the left hand side of my body.
“Lord, what are you doing? Surely, you are not asking me to do something that will cause me to have brain surgery again. Lord, brain surgery is not fun. What am I going to do? Lord, I am trusting You that everything is going to be alright.”
Later that day, I was given my first assignment. I was given a pick ax and told to dig a trench. “Lord, what are you thinking?” I began to dig the trench and within seconds my tingling sensations went away and did not return all summer. I served on maintenance, lifting heavy items and working strenuously with no health problems at all.
Through this miraculous disappearance of my condition’s side effects, God revealed to me His faithfulness, and removed me from my shackles of fear. He no longer wanted me to live in fear and paranoia, always wondering every time a tingling sensation occurred wondering if I would need brain surgery again. He wanted me to place my trust in Him. And as a result of this trust in Him, I had the most amazing summer of my life, launching me for an incredible adventure over the last 7 years that have been amazing beyond words.
This one faith lesson taught me so much about the heart of God, and now I seem to be learning it again in a new dimension as we head to Africa. We have nothing to fear, only to trust, trust in Him. He loves us and no longer wants us to be shackled by the worries of this world but to have complete trust in Him. He has a good plan. He is a good God and He is in a good mood. Discouragement only remains when we look at our problems without God as our solution.
Hours could be spent in anxiety over such thoughts and fear could easily be triggered if we allowed it, but we know the Lord has a great lesson in store for us. I am reminded of my first summer at JH Ranch in 2003 when I stepped out of my comfort zone.
I had been trying to intern on Wall Street when the Lord redirected my steps to JH. I signed up to volunteer in the kitchen because I had physical limitations due to having brain surgery a few years prior in 2000.
I had tingling sensations (like hitting your funny bone) that ran down the left side of my body when I did anything strenuous due to my birth defect, Chiari Malformation, that led to the brain surgery. During my interview for JH they told me that females worked in the kitchen positions that I had signed up for, and after prayerful consideration, the guy’s recruiter offered me a position to be in maintenance (eventually the garbage man).
I did not know what to do. I knew I was supposed to be at JH that summer because I had felt the impression from the Lord. However, I also knew how my body would react to the physical activity. I agreed to attempt the work, trusting that the Lord had called me to JH. The first day while walking around the property of JH Ranch, I could fee the tingling sensation all down the left hand side of my body.
“Lord, what are you doing? Surely, you are not asking me to do something that will cause me to have brain surgery again. Lord, brain surgery is not fun. What am I going to do? Lord, I am trusting You that everything is going to be alright.”
Later that day, I was given my first assignment. I was given a pick ax and told to dig a trench. “Lord, what are you thinking?” I began to dig the trench and within seconds my tingling sensations went away and did not return all summer. I served on maintenance, lifting heavy items and working strenuously with no health problems at all.
Through this miraculous disappearance of my condition’s side effects, God revealed to me His faithfulness, and removed me from my shackles of fear. He no longer wanted me to live in fear and paranoia, always wondering every time a tingling sensation occurred wondering if I would need brain surgery again. He wanted me to place my trust in Him. And as a result of this trust in Him, I had the most amazing summer of my life, launching me for an incredible adventure over the last 7 years that have been amazing beyond words.
This one faith lesson taught me so much about the heart of God, and now I seem to be learning it again in a new dimension as we head to Africa. We have nothing to fear, only to trust, trust in Him. He loves us and no longer wants us to be shackled by the worries of this world but to have complete trust in Him. He has a good plan. He is a good God and He is in a good mood. Discouragement only remains when we look at our problems without God as our solution.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mozambique
Allison and I will be in Mozambique from May 28 to August 26 attending Iris Ministries missionary training school (www.irisministries.com). We will have limited internet access but hope to post our experiences every couple weeks throughout the summer. Our hopes in establishing this blog are to share with you our journey of growth and encourage you with testimonies.
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