Thursday, December 30, 2010
What I've been learning lately
Hope- In Christ alone my hope is found. Without Jesus I have no hope. He that is in me is stronger than he that is in the world. Christ is the light of the nations. This light lives in me. I am to be a light to the nations. I am to be different. I am to bring hope. The nations need hope. People need hope. We live in a hopeless world. In Christ alone my hope is found. If we believe what we say we believe, we have to go. Because the world is starving. The world is dying. The world has no hope. It is stumbling in darkness, and we have light. And we are no followers of Jesus Christ if we don't share it. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. So go out, and for the sake of the lost, give them light, give them hope. It is Christ who lives in you. The one thing we so desperately need is a Savior.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Feliz Navidad
I miss people today. Christmas is a little different here- no snow, no decorations, no tree, etc. On the plus side, no irritating commercials coming at you from every which way. So that is really nice. I do hate the commercialism associated with Christmas in Canada. And boxing day. But I didn't realize how much I missed snow and all our traditions until now. Maybe it's good to get out of the traditions at least once- then you can a) appreciate them more, and b) realize that they are just that, traditions. They're not vital to life, or to the actual significance of Christmas. I can celebrate Jesus' birth without decorated trees and snow and colored lights and Santa Claus and presents and Christmas carols (which should be sung other times anyway, because they are theologically loaded). Maybe it's good that I only heard the Christmas story (from the Bible) once in Spanish, and then I read it this morning because I felt like maybe I should follow tradition. I can be a Christian without emphasizing Christmas so much. Although we did eat turkey last night, then stay up late playing games. But you know, it's okay. Things can be different. Maybe it just means I'm popping my prairie bubble. I'd like to see it different in Canada, just once. Without the hype. Without the extra church services that were only good because you got candy at the end and the smallest children with the bells every year were cute. Without the Christmas Eve service that drags on when all you really want to do is go home and open your presents. (I do realize I am 21 and saying that I always thought Christmas Eve services were boring. Except for the candle part. Fire!) Without the presents... Without everything we thought we needed. As a good friend of mine once said, "I want to spend time contemplating the theological significance of the birth of Jesus Christ, and it's not even something I get to do very much of in church, because we only sing like 2 or 3 verses of a Christmas carol, and miss all the theology in the other verses of the song." And then we talk about one of 3 passages in the Bible: Matthew 2, Luke 2, or Isaiah 9:1-7.
So despite the fact that yes, I do miss my family today, it's kind of nice, actually, it's really great, that Christmas has been changed up for me. For the better, I hope.
After all that,
Feliz Navidad
So despite the fact that yes, I do miss my family today, it's kind of nice, actually, it's really great, that Christmas has been changed up for me. For the better, I hope.
After all that,
Feliz Navidad
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
21
I would just like to point out that today is my 21st birthday, and it is on the 21st day of the month. And I am very excited about it. Today is also the winter solstice, which means it is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year, for those of you who, like me, care about such things.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Oaxaca!!!
This week we went to Pinotepa, Oaxaca, for a wedding. If you don't know where that is, google map it. I didn't know. It's a good 18 hour drive from Guadalajara. On the way there it took 19 hours to get there (we got lost in Mexico City for an hour), but the way home only took 15 hours. I don't know why, I slept most of it. On the way there we had 13 people in a 13 passenger van. On the way home we had 14 in a 12 passenger van. Equals 26 both times, I guess. Some highlights of the trip were: driving through desert mountains (with cactuses!!!) listening to Petra's Beyond Belief CD; eating iguana; drinking Coca-Cola like my father does; drinking coconut water out of a coconut with a straw (I didn't particularly like the coconut water, but it was a cool experience); seeing a cockfight (they're not illegal here apparently); wearing pretty dresses; going to both ceremonies (Mexican weddings have two ceremonies: a legal one and a religious one. Both are celebrations); making chocolate covered strawberries for the reception; going shopping in Pinotepa; going to the beach on Saturday, playing Dutch Blitz at the beach; and understanding most of what was being said. On the whole, it was a good week. 
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thank you
"One of the most obvious differences between all the poetry I have ever read and all the straight prose (I say 'straight' to exclude prose which verges on the poetic) is this simple one, hardly ever stated: the poetry contains a great many more adjectives. This is perfectly obvious. From Homer, who never omits to tell us that the ships were black and the sea salty, or even wet, down to Eliot with his 'hollow valley' and 'multi-foliate rose', they all do it. Poets are always telling us that grass is green, or thunder loud, or lips red. It is not, except in bad poets, always telling us that things are shocking or delightful. It does not, in that direct way, attempt to discharge or excite emotion. On the contrary, it seems anxious to bombard us with masses of factual information which we might, on a prose view, regard as irrelevant or platitudinous."
-C.S. Lewis, in his essay The Language of Religion
Faith, Christianity, and the Church, A Collection of Essays by C.S. Lewis, page 257
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
December 1 already?
This last week has been full of slow days punctuated by busy points. At least, that is how it feels. It is hard to believe we've been here for almost a month already. Standing at the crest it looked interminable, and some days it still feels so. Part of me wishes I was doing puzzles at my parents' kitchen table, negative 30 degrees outside and Christmas lights reflecting in the window. Don't get me wrong, so far I love it here. But this will be my first Christmas without snow, and it doesn't feel December without snow.
Anyway, what have I been up to? Well, I have been attending Spanish school, doing homework for said school, watching movies (mostly in Spanish), and spending time with the youth (and other people) at the church I attend. On Saturday night, after youth group, the ladies of the church had a bridal shower for one of the girls who is getting married this month. It was a lot of fun, even though half the time I didn't really understand what was going on. It's cool because by living with a Mexican family, I get to experience so much more of the culture than any tourist ever would. Just because one has been to Mexico for vacation does not mean one knows Mexico. I am not claiming by any means to know a lot of the cultural stuff, but I do think that I have a unique chance to experience more than the average visitor, as most visitors to a country don't spend weeks merely living and learning from a family. I say mere, but it is really anything but.
God has been teaching me humility these last few days. Every time I go out, I have trouble with the simplest things, mostly because I don't speak the language. But I also get looked at a lot, mostly because I am a white girl. I dislike being looked at. But that's life. I can't do the simplest things easily, I get looked at, and I'm awkward and make lots of mistakes. I can't be proud anymore. There is no place for it. People who can't surrender their pride can't learn language. Because you will make lots of mistakes, and people will laugh. And if you can't laugh at yourself, you can't do anything. The other day I tried walking home from school. Partially because I didn't want the people on the bus to look at me. But I ended up getting lost and walking for two hours. I did get home, but I got looked at by an awful lot more people than would have looked at me on the bus. On the plus side, it was a lot of fun, it was really nice out, I got a good feel for part of the area, I got a lot of exercise, and on the whole it was a great experience. But I think I hopefully learned my lesson. Humility is, if not everything, a heck of a lot. "...walk humbly with your God..." (Micah 6:8)
On a different note, I would love to hear from people, whoever reads this. What you think, anything you'd like to hear about, anything you'd like to know about my life or what I'm learning, anything. Feel free to comment. Sometimes I don't know what to write about, so tell me, what would you like to read? This could be an interactive thing.
A couple prayer requests:
Energy and desire to do homework; I've hit that slump right before the holidays where I don't actually want to study anything, let alone learn how to use "this" and "that" correctly, so officially studying Spanish has become harder, and I still do want to learn.
Opportunities to intentionally spend time with people, build relationships, and learn from them.
That I would set aside time to listen to God, spend time with God, and learn to listen to Him.
Anyway, what have I been up to? Well, I have been attending Spanish school, doing homework for said school, watching movies (mostly in Spanish), and spending time with the youth (and other people) at the church I attend. On Saturday night, after youth group, the ladies of the church had a bridal shower for one of the girls who is getting married this month. It was a lot of fun, even though half the time I didn't really understand what was going on. It's cool because by living with a Mexican family, I get to experience so much more of the culture than any tourist ever would. Just because one has been to Mexico for vacation does not mean one knows Mexico. I am not claiming by any means to know a lot of the cultural stuff, but I do think that I have a unique chance to experience more than the average visitor, as most visitors to a country don't spend weeks merely living and learning from a family. I say mere, but it is really anything but.
God has been teaching me humility these last few days. Every time I go out, I have trouble with the simplest things, mostly because I don't speak the language. But I also get looked at a lot, mostly because I am a white girl. I dislike being looked at. But that's life. I can't do the simplest things easily, I get looked at, and I'm awkward and make lots of mistakes. I can't be proud anymore. There is no place for it. People who can't surrender their pride can't learn language. Because you will make lots of mistakes, and people will laugh. And if you can't laugh at yourself, you can't do anything. The other day I tried walking home from school. Partially because I didn't want the people on the bus to look at me. But I ended up getting lost and walking for two hours. I did get home, but I got looked at by an awful lot more people than would have looked at me on the bus. On the plus side, it was a lot of fun, it was really nice out, I got a good feel for part of the area, I got a lot of exercise, and on the whole it was a great experience. But I think I hopefully learned my lesson. Humility is, if not everything, a heck of a lot. "...walk humbly with your God..." (Micah 6:8)
On a different note, I would love to hear from people, whoever reads this. What you think, anything you'd like to hear about, anything you'd like to know about my life or what I'm learning, anything. Feel free to comment. Sometimes I don't know what to write about, so tell me, what would you like to read? This could be an interactive thing.
A couple prayer requests:
Energy and desire to do homework; I've hit that slump right before the holidays where I don't actually want to study anything, let alone learn how to use "this" and "that" correctly, so officially studying Spanish has become harder, and I still do want to learn.
Opportunities to intentionally spend time with people, build relationships, and learn from them.
That I would set aside time to listen to God, spend time with God, and learn to listen to Him.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ultimately, translation
Apparently I live in Mexico. A lady who was giving me a ride home told me that. I think what she meant was that where I live, it's a lot more stereotypically Mexico than where she lives. But I have also realized that I have not told you where I live. I live with a wonderful Mexican family on a little deadend street in the Constitucion section of Zapopan, which is one of the cities attached to Guadalajara proper. Our street is just off the street with lots of stores. You can get basically anything within 10 blocks. We are 8 blocks away from the market. Which is probably a lot like you would picture an outdoor market in Mexico. Again, everything you could possibly think of in little booths lining the street, along with in the buildings themselves. And everything's a lot cheaper than it would be in Canada. It's pretty cool. Guadalajara is a beautiful city. Lots of beautiful architecture, plus lots of row houses. I have loved row houses since I went to Philadelphia in 2006. If you don't know what a row house is, it means all the houses on the street are attached. Like a townhouse, except for picture the whole street, and not all the houses are the same structure. There are a lot of different structures. There's also no such thing as a yard here. If you do have one, you're probably selling stuff on it. Houses have little courtyards though (picture quite little), and those are used often for hanging laundry in.
I've fallen into a sort of schedule, and this is it (in case you were wondering what in fact I am actually doing here):
7:00 (ish) wake up (to a palm tree outside my window, please note), get ready for the day
8:00 eat breakfast
8:30-45 catch bus 636, which takes me to school
9-12:30 Spanish school
catch bus home
eat somewhere between 2 and 3
do stuff, sleep, answer emails, etc.
eat again sometime between 8 and 11
Of course, there are variations. On Wednesday, instead of coming home, we go to Jen and Sandra's (our missionaries) house for lunch and the afternoon, and then go to soccer at RETO church in the evening. On Thursday nights there is church, which is really good. It's like a prayer meeting, but actually interesting and interactive. Saturdays and Sundays I wake up later. Saturdays we do assorted things, and Sundays we have church and then family time. Today we spend several hours making bags. If you've ever wondered where gift bags come from, I can tell you. I live with the lady (or rather, one of the ladies) who makes them. I get to put the strings in. We also watch a fair amount of television, usually in Spanish. Tomorrow I get to have Thanksgiving dinner with some of our missionary team. One day I went to the fair. Some days I miss Saskatchewan, winter, and the people there. Other days I don't.
It's a good thing God speaks all languages. Learning a language without knowing God would suck. Imagine having most of your personality unavailable to you, and then get to know a lot of people. And you can talk in little more than present tense. My sarcasm, my puns, my big words, are all useless here, because no one understands them. And you can't make plays on words in a language where you don't know half the words. I don't know how to express lots of who I am (Hay muchas cosas quiero decir, pero no puedo.) And on the flip side, my hosts can't yet express lots of who they are. But praise God because He is greater than languages. All reflect some of His glory and He can speak through all. God, not Google, is the ultimate translator.
I've fallen into a sort of schedule, and this is it (in case you were wondering what in fact I am actually doing here):
7:00 (ish) wake up (to a palm tree outside my window, please note), get ready for the day
8:00 eat breakfast
8:30-45 catch bus 636, which takes me to school
9-12:30 Spanish school
catch bus home
eat somewhere between 2 and 3
do stuff, sleep, answer emails, etc.
eat again sometime between 8 and 11
Of course, there are variations. On Wednesday, instead of coming home, we go to Jen and Sandra's (our missionaries) house for lunch and the afternoon, and then go to soccer at RETO church in the evening. On Thursday nights there is church, which is really good. It's like a prayer meeting, but actually interesting and interactive. Saturdays and Sundays I wake up later. Saturdays we do assorted things, and Sundays we have church and then family time. Today we spend several hours making bags. If you've ever wondered where gift bags come from, I can tell you. I live with the lady (or rather, one of the ladies) who makes them. I get to put the strings in. We also watch a fair amount of television, usually in Spanish. Tomorrow I get to have Thanksgiving dinner with some of our missionary team. One day I went to the fair. Some days I miss Saskatchewan, winter, and the people there. Other days I don't.
It's a good thing God speaks all languages. Learning a language without knowing God would suck. Imagine having most of your personality unavailable to you, and then get to know a lot of people. And you can talk in little more than present tense. My sarcasm, my puns, my big words, are all useless here, because no one understands them. And you can't make plays on words in a language where you don't know half the words. I don't know how to express lots of who I am (Hay muchas cosas quiero decir, pero no puedo.) And on the flip side, my hosts can't yet express lots of who they are. But praise God because He is greater than languages. All reflect some of His glory and He can speak through all. God, not Google, is the ultimate translator.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Clouds
Maybe sometimes when I don't feel God, it is not that He has gone away. Perhaps He is like the sun, and has only gone behind a cloud. It doesn't matter what the cloud is made of, for clouds bring rain, and without rain there is no growth. God is still there, and evident, behind the cloud, but is harder to feel (and sometimes, to notice). Clouds don't last forever, and the sun always comes back out. When you bask in the sun, it leaves marks on you, a suntan, so a) you remember where you have been, and b) other people notice as well. When we have been with God, others should notice. Moses had to put a veil over his face so the Israelites could look at him after he was with God. Clouds happen. They are necessary for life. But they do not mean that God is farther away. The sun is, after all, closer to the Earth in January than it is in July.
You are a child of God
You are loved by God
You are not God
You are not in control of anything
You have a lot to learn
You are not stupid
But neither are you wise
1Corinthians 1:20, 23-25
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?... But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles (and German Mennonite girls), Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
You are a child of God
You are loved by God
You are not God
You are not in control of anything
You have a lot to learn
You are not stupid
But neither are you wise
1Corinthians 1:20, 23-25
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?... But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles (and German Mennonite girls), Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Fun Facts
I really like where I am currently living
Crosswalks are only a suggestions and pedestrians never have right of way (it's bigger, faster, and can hurt you, so let it go first)
A bottle of Coke on the corner is 5 pesos (about 45 cents)
The street that I live off of is a market street: basically an outdoor mall, there's everything you want in open shops that close with garage doors
If church prayer meetings at home were like the one I went to here, I totally would have gone
I miss Tristan
I think you will only really be fluent in a language when you can write poetry and do crossword puzzles in it
I saw a taxi with five seats and ten people in it (the car was smaller than Elmer)
Seatbelts are generally only a suggestion for people in the back seat (although that's how it was in BC too)
Tripitas= intestino CRUNCH; but they taste good
It's never quiet in Guadalajara except around 4 in the morning, but I kind of like the big city feel
There's a palm tree outside my window that I wake up looking at every morning
I will fear no evil for the LORD my God is with me, and if the LORD is with me, whom then shall I fear?
Starbucks does not have peppermint mochas at Christmas here, but they have other good things, and snowflakes on the windows, which is odd because it doesn't snow here
God is patient
Buses are quite the adventure here, and I love it
There are times when I didn't know a car (or bus) could fit in that space
I've been drinking a lot of instant coffee
I'm doing really well, for those of you who are reading this list to find out how I am.
Crosswalks are only a suggestions and pedestrians never have right of way (it's bigger, faster, and can hurt you, so let it go first)
A bottle of Coke on the corner is 5 pesos (about 45 cents)
The street that I live off of is a market street: basically an outdoor mall, there's everything you want in open shops that close with garage doors
If church prayer meetings at home were like the one I went to here, I totally would have gone
I miss Tristan
I think you will only really be fluent in a language when you can write poetry and do crossword puzzles in it
I saw a taxi with five seats and ten people in it (the car was smaller than Elmer)
Seatbelts are generally only a suggestion for people in the back seat (although that's how it was in BC too)
Tripitas= intestino CRUNCH; but they taste good
It's never quiet in Guadalajara except around 4 in the morning, but I kind of like the big city feel
There's a palm tree outside my window that I wake up looking at every morning
I will fear no evil for the LORD my God is with me, and if the LORD is with me, whom then shall I fear?
Starbucks does not have peppermint mochas at Christmas here, but they have other good things, and snowflakes on the windows, which is odd because it doesn't snow here
God is patient
Buses are quite the adventure here, and I love it
There are times when I didn't know a car (or bus) could fit in that space
I've been drinking a lot of instant coffee
I'm doing really well, for those of you who are reading this list to find out how I am.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Home in Mexico
Hola! Me llamo Teri. Yo hablo Espanglish. Which means... my Spanish is coming along oxymoronically: slowly but in leaps and bounds. I already know a lot more than when I got here, but it is still painfully slow for me (and probably for the people talking to me too). Spanish is a lot easier than English, but I still feel like I'm in kindergarten. I am in level 1 in the SSL (Spanish as a Second Language) school. (I just made that abbreviation up.)
For those of you that will be shocked, I now have a cellular telephone. I carry it in my pocket and people text or call me on it. It is a very strange sensation. But everyone here has one and I need it, because Guadalajara is a big city.
I live with a wonderful lady and her daughter, and a variety of other family members that are visiting or live nearby. It is very good. We speak slowly. It is good. I am learning. (Yo estoy aprendiendo.)
There are a lot of cultural differences, and more as you get to know people. So far my favorite is the greeting: a kiss on the cheek. But only for girls. Guys don't kiss guys. And when you enter or leave a room, you greet or say goodbye to everyone. (If you don't know someone, you shake hands.)
There is a palm tree outside my window. I see it in the mornings when I wake up.
Prayer requests:
fast learning of the language
rest (learning another language is very tiring)
Gracias.
I was born for a reason
I am here for a reason
I was called for a reason
I am breaking for a reason
Breaking, broken, emptying
God disciplines those He loves
I trust God for a reason
However faint it seems at times
He is the one who calls the stars
Isaiah 40:26: Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
For those of you that will be shocked, I now have a cellular telephone. I carry it in my pocket and people text or call me on it. It is a very strange sensation. But everyone here has one and I need it, because Guadalajara is a big city.
I live with a wonderful lady and her daughter, and a variety of other family members that are visiting or live nearby. It is very good. We speak slowly. It is good. I am learning. (Yo estoy aprendiendo.)
There are a lot of cultural differences, and more as you get to know people. So far my favorite is the greeting: a kiss on the cheek. But only for girls. Guys don't kiss guys. And when you enter or leave a room, you greet or say goodbye to everyone. (If you don't know someone, you shake hands.)
There is a palm tree outside my window. I see it in the mornings when I wake up.
Prayer requests:
fast learning of the language
rest (learning another language is very tiring)
Gracias.
I was born for a reason
I am here for a reason
I was called for a reason
I am breaking for a reason
Breaking, broken, emptying
God disciplines those He loves
I trust God for a reason
However faint it seems at times
He is the one who calls the stars
Isaiah 40:26: Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Life is different now
Fun fact: We are now in Mexico, having gotten here safely last night after only one day of travel.
I am doing well, I think. Everything seems a little bit daunting this morning, but as I settle in and start picking up the language, I think it'll get better. These first couple nights we're staying with Jen and Sandra, who are missionaries here, and tomorrow we are going to start living with our host families.
Prayer requests:
That we would pick up the language quickly
Confidence in moving about in Guadalajara
That we would form good relationships with the local people
That the rest of my support would come in or be accounted for somehow
That I could figure out how to do my budget on my computer (I need the Windows Excel program, which I do not have, which is making things complicated)
That I would learn to rely on God and not look for other things
Fun fact: You're going to miss me.
"Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, our God
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?"
I am doing well, I think. Everything seems a little bit daunting this morning, but as I settle in and start picking up the language, I think it'll get better. These first couple nights we're staying with Jen and Sandra, who are missionaries here, and tomorrow we are going to start living with our host families.
Prayer requests:
That we would pick up the language quickly
Confidence in moving about in Guadalajara
That we would form good relationships with the local people
That the rest of my support would come in or be accounted for somehow
That I could figure out how to do my budget on my computer (I need the Windows Excel program, which I do not have, which is making things complicated)
That I would learn to rely on God and not look for other things
Fun fact: You're going to miss me.
"Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, our God
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?"
Monday, November 01, 2010
Soon now
I think I'm about ready to go. I'm scared but I'm excited. And I'm going to come back different... I'm already different. The Teri who left won't be the same Teri that comes back. And this time of living and dying and growing and letting go and everything else is partially upon me already. But in four days I'm moving, and then there is no going back, and I'll have to learn to give it all to God, because there will be no other option anymore. But to be healed, I have to be broken. I think I'm about ready to go.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Grouse Grind...
...it seemed like a good idea at the time...
Actually, it was a good idea. We went hiking today. On Grouse Mountain. Well, they called it hiking. It was more like stairs. Actually, it was all stairs. Two miles of stairs. Steep stairs. We went through the door into the hike and basically climbed stairs up the side of the mountain. At the 1/4 mark I was so tired, and there was this big sign saying that from there on the trail was steep and dangerous and to proceed at my own risk. I had thought the trail to that point was hard but NOOOOO, it got more intense. But it felt so good afterward, to say "I have climbed a mountain!!" It took me an hour and a half, but I did the Grouse Grind. I'm from the prairie... I have never climbed a mountain before. It was pretty exciting. And then we took a gondola down, which was nice.
On a different note, I have less than a week left in Canada. Some prayer requests would be health and energy for everyone here, especially as we prepare to go. Some people still have lingering coughs. Also that we would not be nervous or afraid of what is coming, but that we would rely on God to carry us through, for He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). And also that the two teams and the two going to Mexico would be spiritually and emotionally ready for this last week and the adventure that lies beyond it.
Actually, it was a good idea. We went hiking today. On Grouse Mountain. Well, they called it hiking. It was more like stairs. Actually, it was all stairs. Two miles of stairs. Steep stairs. We went through the door into the hike and basically climbed stairs up the side of the mountain. At the 1/4 mark I was so tired, and there was this big sign saying that from there on the trail was steep and dangerous and to proceed at my own risk. I had thought the trail to that point was hard but NOOOOO, it got more intense. But it felt so good afterward, to say "I have climbed a mountain!!" It took me an hour and a half, but I did the Grouse Grind. I'm from the prairie... I have never climbed a mountain before. It was pretty exciting. And then we took a gondola down, which was nice.
On a different note, I have less than a week left in Canada. Some prayer requests would be health and energy for everyone here, especially as we prepare to go. Some people still have lingering coughs. Also that we would not be nervous or afraid of what is coming, but that we would rely on God to carry us through, for He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). And also that the two teams and the two going to Mexico would be spiritually and emotionally ready for this last week and the adventure that lies beyond it.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Worship
My mind is racing
A hundred miles an hour
And I can't quiet it
No, I can't forget
So I scream "Silence!" again
And you smile at me, my friend
You take my open hands
Gently pull me to my weary feet
So we can dance
And as we dance
The music slowly fades
And all those things are washed away
"And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what can stand against?"
A hundred miles an hour
And I can't quiet it
No, I can't forget
So I scream "Silence!" again
And you smile at me, my friend
You take my open hands
Gently pull me to my weary feet
So we can dance
And as we dance
The music slowly fades
And all those things are washed away
"And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what can stand against?"
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Broken
Last night I spent 6 pm to 6am in prayer for the nations with around 16 other people. I originally was only going to go for half the night- go home at midnight and get some sleep so I could have energy for today. But my heart was caught.
We heard the cries of the nations last night, and joined and prayed for things, some general and some specific. Some countries that kept my attention were:
A section of Africa. There is much persecution of believers there. This has a lot to do with the Islamic faith, and believers must be wary about what they say where. Sometimes people just disappear. There is one country though where revival is happening. Believers are multiplying so fast that the government does not know what to do with them all. It just can't keep up. This is awesome! But there is also one country that is one of the most closed countries in the world, and the missionary presenting said that last he heard, there were 4 Christians in the entire country. Four. In the country. This is not a small country. And the only one he's ever met was in Canada as an immigrant.
Asia. In a country in Asia there are a whole bunch of people groups who do not have any access to the Bible. They are smallish people groups, but there are very few missionaries. In 1908 someone put out a call for 300 missionaries to this region. Today, there are 30. Why, as Christians, do we not heed calls of need? Where are the other 270 people that need to go here and translate the Bible and tell these groups about Jesus? Because they are so hungry for truth. I cried and cried when the missionary was talking about this. There are so many people and languages in this area and no one to go. Raise up, you comfortable people who sit in your houses and wonder where God is leading you. Go looking for your answer. Because there is brokenness and there is a cry and your passion is wasted on your living room couch. Hear the call of the people at the ends of the earth. Will not someone risk everything for the only thing that matters anyway?
Another country in Asia, where about 1.7% of the population is Christian. This country touched my heart when it was being presented, and I wish I could tell you about it. I want to go there.
Thailand. There is a lot of the sex trade in Thailand. A lot of North Americans go there for sex tourism. The Thai people are beautiful, but trapped in spiritual bondage. Pray for them. There are so many hurts (as in any country, but these were highlighted last night so these specific ones are on my heart), and so many dark places, yet there are people turning to Christ.
Germany. This is definitely one that was close to me, probably because I was there in May. Germany could be considered a least reached country. There is a general trend of turning away from Christianity there, and the need is great. Berlin was highlighted, because that is where we were. The people in Berlin are very cold, untrusting, efficient people as a general rule. They are suspicious and they know about Jesus, so bringing the gospel to them has to be done differently. Catholicism goes way back in Germany, and faith there is often stagnant. Pray for a revival in Germany, another reformation in the land of the Reformation, where people turn back to Jesus with their hearts and minds, and open them. Although the wall fell in Berlin in 1989, the wall stayed in people's hearts. Pray that it would fall there too.
Pray for our own countries too. There is a lot of repenting that needs to be done in Canada and the States too, and many things to pray for. We have many broken people here. We have the nations in our backyard. And we have injustice, stagnant faith, and so much pain in our "free" country. Pray for the nations, but don't forget to pray for our own country as well.
Mexico. Pray for revival in Mexico. Pray that the Catholic Church would not oppose the evangelical church and that people would trust God and turn to Him.
I got challenged with whether or not I would be willing to go. Spend my life, or a significant portion of it, in another country. Even a closed country? Would I go? I was passionate last night. Could I be passionate for life? I think so. Or, why don't more middle-aged or retired couples go out on the mission field? What is stopping them?
I can't explain everything from the whole night, but these were some that impacted me. And so I got 3 hours of sleep and now we're going shopping in the States today. It'll be fun.
We heard the cries of the nations last night, and joined and prayed for things, some general and some specific. Some countries that kept my attention were:
A section of Africa. There is much persecution of believers there. This has a lot to do with the Islamic faith, and believers must be wary about what they say where. Sometimes people just disappear. There is one country though where revival is happening. Believers are multiplying so fast that the government does not know what to do with them all. It just can't keep up. This is awesome! But there is also one country that is one of the most closed countries in the world, and the missionary presenting said that last he heard, there were 4 Christians in the entire country. Four. In the country. This is not a small country. And the only one he's ever met was in Canada as an immigrant.
Asia. In a country in Asia there are a whole bunch of people groups who do not have any access to the Bible. They are smallish people groups, but there are very few missionaries. In 1908 someone put out a call for 300 missionaries to this region. Today, there are 30. Why, as Christians, do we not heed calls of need? Where are the other 270 people that need to go here and translate the Bible and tell these groups about Jesus? Because they are so hungry for truth. I cried and cried when the missionary was talking about this. There are so many people and languages in this area and no one to go. Raise up, you comfortable people who sit in your houses and wonder where God is leading you. Go looking for your answer. Because there is brokenness and there is a cry and your passion is wasted on your living room couch. Hear the call of the people at the ends of the earth. Will not someone risk everything for the only thing that matters anyway?
Another country in Asia, where about 1.7% of the population is Christian. This country touched my heart when it was being presented, and I wish I could tell you about it. I want to go there.
Thailand. There is a lot of the sex trade in Thailand. A lot of North Americans go there for sex tourism. The Thai people are beautiful, but trapped in spiritual bondage. Pray for them. There are so many hurts (as in any country, but these were highlighted last night so these specific ones are on my heart), and so many dark places, yet there are people turning to Christ.
Germany. This is definitely one that was close to me, probably because I was there in May. Germany could be considered a least reached country. There is a general trend of turning away from Christianity there, and the need is great. Berlin was highlighted, because that is where we were. The people in Berlin are very cold, untrusting, efficient people as a general rule. They are suspicious and they know about Jesus, so bringing the gospel to them has to be done differently. Catholicism goes way back in Germany, and faith there is often stagnant. Pray for a revival in Germany, another reformation in the land of the Reformation, where people turn back to Jesus with their hearts and minds, and open them. Although the wall fell in Berlin in 1989, the wall stayed in people's hearts. Pray that it would fall there too.
Pray for our own countries too. There is a lot of repenting that needs to be done in Canada and the States too, and many things to pray for. We have many broken people here. We have the nations in our backyard. And we have injustice, stagnant faith, and so much pain in our "free" country. Pray for the nations, but don't forget to pray for our own country as well.
Mexico. Pray for revival in Mexico. Pray that the Catholic Church would not oppose the evangelical church and that people would trust God and turn to Him.
I got challenged with whether or not I would be willing to go. Spend my life, or a significant portion of it, in another country. Even a closed country? Would I go? I was passionate last night. Could I be passionate for life? I think so. Or, why don't more middle-aged or retired couples go out on the mission field? What is stopping them?
I can't explain everything from the whole night, but these were some that impacted me. And so I got 3 hours of sleep and now we're going shopping in the States today. It'll be fun.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Talking
This week we had some teaching on evangelism. The idea of going out and telling people about Jesus makes me uncomfortable. Honestly. Going up to people and asking them if they know Jesus is weird. But today I thought of why. Going out with the purpose of telling people about Jesus, and having no other reason for going to a certain place, still makes me uncomfortable. I shy away from knocking on doors, it makes me feel like a Jehovah's Witness. But talking about Jesus in day to day life doesn't. If I have a different reason for talking to someone, like I need to make a bank account or we are going for coffee or we are mucking stalls together, then Jesus will probably come up. And this sort of talking about Jesus doesn't make me uncomfortable. See the difference? Now, I don't know the theology behind either of these options, but I realized today that one freaks me out like no one's business and the other gets me excited. The reason behind my existance is God, and He spills out into conversation. It happens. But going to the mall to tell people about Jesus throws me off a bit. Not that it is bad. But going to the mall and then telling people about Jesus seems normal. Does anyone else feel this way?
Some general information: Our flights to Mexico happen on November 5. I get to get up at 4 in the morning, drive to Bellinghame, and from there take a shuttle to Seattle airport, in order to make an 11:30 flight to Houston. From Houston we fly to Guadalajara. It will be great.
Some general information: Our flights to Mexico happen on November 5. I get to get up at 4 in the morning, drive to Bellinghame, and from there take a shuttle to Seattle airport, in order to make an 11:30 flight to Houston. From Houston we fly to Guadalajara. It will be great.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Who you are
And a week later...
This week we learned about spiritual authority. And the biggest question was "Why haven't we ever heard this before?!?!" In our evangelical, especially Mennonite, churches, we don't really talk that much about the Holy Spirit. I mean, we know He's there, and that's about it.
But what we learned this week is that the Holy Spirit is not only living, He's active. And through Jesus we as Christians have the AUTHORITY to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc. [Note: I learned way more than I could ever suitably explain on here, so please bear with the short version. Everything might not be explained as well as you might like.] The most fascinating thing for me this week was the idea that we don't have to pray for healing. The apostles never did. They had authority through Jesus Christ. And so do we. We can command, in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord of all, diseases. Sickness. Lies. Evil spirits. Even bad weather. We have authority over these things, and because Jesus is the most powerful, they have to obey. This isn't saying that every time you pray for a sick person, they'll get well, because that is God's prerogative. We don't do the healing. God does. But if the person doesn't get well, they should have an understanding of why not. Listening to the Holy Spirit is very key in this whole thing. He speaks a lot. And so praying with authority becomes a mix of praying (asking God, or intercession) and speaking against something with the authority we have in Christ's name.
I don't know if that makes much sense. But it's hard for me to put everything into words, and I want to tell you all this. Some more comments from this week: The proclamation of Jesus as the Christ affects things in the physical realm (John 18:5-6) and the spiritual realm (Acts 2:36-37). The authority we have been given is not because of who we are but who we represent. Accept God's healing the way He wants to bring it; it's not necessarily instantaneous or obvious. Strongholds of evil in a person's life are not necessarily demons, they can be lies or addictions, but these are still strong and need to be dealt with. Go to the Lord with everything. Ask the Holy Spirit to show the root of the issue, and don't just fix the "fruit" of the problem. The less you know, the more you rely on Jesus. Having freedom (from lies, addictions, etc.) gives you the ability to be healed. Humility is being dependent on God. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me. Surrender everything to God, submit your mind to Him. Healings are a sign of the Kingdom of God - they're a demonstration of God's victory over evil, they point the way to Jesus. The purpose of healing is to point people to Jesus. Putting out a challenge is an act of faith - we have no certainty that God will come through, but He will. If He doesn't, He looks bad. He'll come through to glorify Himself, and if that were anyone but God, that would be the most prideful thing ever. But it's God, so it's not. There is salvation through no one but Jesus. Screw being politically correct. At every presentation of the gospel, call people to a decision. Always go out in twos, the second person is then covering the first in prayer so the first can be effective praying for someone else. Love must be the first thing in healing - the person is more important. Focusing only on the healing is counterproductive to relationship. Always go back to God's Word, otherwise you're going to start relying on your own feelings and experiences, and these will fail you. Quote the Bible. Get used to things not making sense. And realize that the thing is never the thing. I was created as a poem, unique in Jesus Christ. Pray against retaliation, because evil is not happy when Jesus happens. Other people, possibly even meaning well, might pray to their gods for you, so be aware of this, reject those prayers, test spirits, and submit to God. Spirits are regional, but God is everywhere. Forgiving people sets you free. Do spiritual warfare as the Spirit leads, because this isn't magic. And focus in on freedom and healing.
Anyway, there's a snapshot of what I learned this week. And here's something I wrote:
There is no longer any time
To go out
Or turn back
That time has passed
You have given yourself
To follow a path you cannot see
To go down a road you will never regret
Never forget
And you can no longer let go
For this is who you are.
This week we learned about spiritual authority. And the biggest question was "Why haven't we ever heard this before?!?!" In our evangelical, especially Mennonite, churches, we don't really talk that much about the Holy Spirit. I mean, we know He's there, and that's about it.
But what we learned this week is that the Holy Spirit is not only living, He's active. And through Jesus we as Christians have the AUTHORITY to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc. [Note: I learned way more than I could ever suitably explain on here, so please bear with the short version. Everything might not be explained as well as you might like.] The most fascinating thing for me this week was the idea that we don't have to pray for healing. The apostles never did. They had authority through Jesus Christ. And so do we. We can command, in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord of all, diseases. Sickness. Lies. Evil spirits. Even bad weather. We have authority over these things, and because Jesus is the most powerful, they have to obey. This isn't saying that every time you pray for a sick person, they'll get well, because that is God's prerogative. We don't do the healing. God does. But if the person doesn't get well, they should have an understanding of why not. Listening to the Holy Spirit is very key in this whole thing. He speaks a lot. And so praying with authority becomes a mix of praying (asking God, or intercession) and speaking against something with the authority we have in Christ's name.
I don't know if that makes much sense. But it's hard for me to put everything into words, and I want to tell you all this. Some more comments from this week: The proclamation of Jesus as the Christ affects things in the physical realm (John 18:5-6) and the spiritual realm (Acts 2:36-37). The authority we have been given is not because of who we are but who we represent. Accept God's healing the way He wants to bring it; it's not necessarily instantaneous or obvious. Strongholds of evil in a person's life are not necessarily demons, they can be lies or addictions, but these are still strong and need to be dealt with. Go to the Lord with everything. Ask the Holy Spirit to show the root of the issue, and don't just fix the "fruit" of the problem. The less you know, the more you rely on Jesus. Having freedom (from lies, addictions, etc.) gives you the ability to be healed. Humility is being dependent on God. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me. Surrender everything to God, submit your mind to Him. Healings are a sign of the Kingdom of God - they're a demonstration of God's victory over evil, they point the way to Jesus. The purpose of healing is to point people to Jesus. Putting out a challenge is an act of faith - we have no certainty that God will come through, but He will. If He doesn't, He looks bad. He'll come through to glorify Himself, and if that were anyone but God, that would be the most prideful thing ever. But it's God, so it's not. There is salvation through no one but Jesus. Screw being politically correct. At every presentation of the gospel, call people to a decision. Always go out in twos, the second person is then covering the first in prayer so the first can be effective praying for someone else. Love must be the first thing in healing - the person is more important. Focusing only on the healing is counterproductive to relationship. Always go back to God's Word, otherwise you're going to start relying on your own feelings and experiences, and these will fail you. Quote the Bible. Get used to things not making sense. And realize that the thing is never the thing. I was created as a poem, unique in Jesus Christ. Pray against retaliation, because evil is not happy when Jesus happens. Other people, possibly even meaning well, might pray to their gods for you, so be aware of this, reject those prayers, test spirits, and submit to God. Spirits are regional, but God is everywhere. Forgiving people sets you free. Do spiritual warfare as the Spirit leads, because this isn't magic. And focus in on freedom and healing.
Anyway, there's a snapshot of what I learned this week. And here's something I wrote:
There is no longer any time
To go out
Or turn back
That time has passed
You have given yourself
To follow a path you cannot see
To go down a road you will never regret
Never forget
And you can no longer let go
For this is who you are.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Quick note
How time flies! I honestly have no idea where this week went. We played a lot of volleyball though.
One thing I have been thinking about lately is relinquishing rights. We had a session on this the other day, and basically came to the conclusion that I actually have no rights. Going on missions... or actually living for Jesus... means that I have given up my right to possessions, my right to having money, my right to time, my right to having a schedule (well, you can have as many schedules as you want. That doesn't mean anyone will obey them.) My right to safety (which is an illusion anyway), my right to pride, my right to say goodbye (if I'm out of the country when people die, or if I'm killed I guess...), my right to be understood, my right to my future, my right to individuality, my right to be a calloused individual, my right to be thanked for something I do, and my right to my life, among others. If something is asked of me, will I follow? If this one thing I have, my faith, is worth living for, it is worth dying for. And unless something is worth dying for, it is not worth living for. And if I give my life to this one thing, which is what I am trying to do, I guess I don't have any rights on top of that. I have given them up.
A prayer request would be for health. A lot of us here are or have been pretty sick with a nasty cold that sits in your chest. Pray that those with coughs would get better and those who are not sick would not get sick.
One thing I have been thinking about lately is relinquishing rights. We had a session on this the other day, and basically came to the conclusion that I actually have no rights. Going on missions... or actually living for Jesus... means that I have given up my right to possessions, my right to having money, my right to time, my right to having a schedule (well, you can have as many schedules as you want. That doesn't mean anyone will obey them.) My right to safety (which is an illusion anyway), my right to pride, my right to say goodbye (if I'm out of the country when people die, or if I'm killed I guess...), my right to be understood, my right to my future, my right to individuality, my right to be a calloused individual, my right to be thanked for something I do, and my right to my life, among others. If something is asked of me, will I follow? If this one thing I have, my faith, is worth living for, it is worth dying for. And unless something is worth dying for, it is not worth living for. And if I give my life to this one thing, which is what I am trying to do, I guess I don't have any rights on top of that. I have given them up.
A prayer request would be for health. A lot of us here are or have been pretty sick with a nasty cold that sits in your chest. Pray that those with coughs would get better and those who are not sick would not get sick.
Monday, October 04, 2010
For in death there is life
It's frustrating sometimes that no matter what I do, there is still more. As much as I'd like to be, I am not perfect, which means I have to keep striving towards it, which is a continual battle. Becoming Christ-like is not an easy process, nor a finite one. We have talked a fair amount recently about personal holiness and spiritual warfare. They are actually quite connected. Yesterday in church a lady spoke about how Christianity means taking risks. And it is a struggle. There will be opposition. As soon as you decide to follow Christ, you will be opposed. (But, if you're being opposed, you are probably doing something right. If the devil is ignoring you, you are no longer a threat, and then you're in trouble.) Following God means risking everything. She spoke from Exodus 5. The cool part is, risking everything, even losing it, is more than worth it if it is for the kingdom of God.
We also talked about suffering on Friday, and how it is necessary, for 23 reasons.
1) God wants us to suffer
2) To make us more like Jesus
3) So that we can comfort others
4) So that we won't rely on and trust in ourselves
5) So that we may give praise to God in everything
6) So that our endurance may be developed
7) So that more fruit may be produced in and through us
8) So the reality of our faith may be proved
9) So that our faith would mature
10) So that we may learn obedience
11) So that I would be humbled
12) So that the sufficiency of God's grace would be clearly demonstrated
13) So that I would be purified
14) So that glory would be given to God
15) So that I would be driven to the Word of God
16) So that I would grow spiritually
17) So that God can display us as His
18) So that our lives can be a testimony to angels and demons
19) So that we will be driven to God
20) So that God can mark us as His own
21) So that my thoughts are on Heaven
22) So that I will be prepared for Heaven
23) So that God will draw me back to Himself
Because of these reasons, and being challenged on risk-taking obedience, I generally define suffering in my head as "the losing of something". As Christians, we are losing something, and that could be our possessions, our money, our freedom, our rights, our family, our lives. But giving these up for the glory of God is worth it. Suffering, any way you define it, is worth it for Christ. I mean, if he owns your life anyway, why bother living safely? If we try to save our own lives, we are not going to be living at all, for living in fear of death is no life. I would rather choose to live, even if it means dying.
We also talked about suffering on Friday, and how it is necessary, for 23 reasons.
1) God wants us to suffer
2) To make us more like Jesus
3) So that we can comfort others
4) So that we won't rely on and trust in ourselves
5) So that we may give praise to God in everything
6) So that our endurance may be developed
7) So that more fruit may be produced in and through us
8) So the reality of our faith may be proved
9) So that our faith would mature
10) So that we may learn obedience
11) So that I would be humbled
12) So that the sufficiency of God's grace would be clearly demonstrated
13) So that I would be purified
14) So that glory would be given to God
15) So that I would be driven to the Word of God
16) So that I would grow spiritually
17) So that God can display us as His
18) So that our lives can be a testimony to angels and demons
19) So that we will be driven to God
20) So that God can mark us as His own
21) So that my thoughts are on Heaven
22) So that I will be prepared for Heaven
23) So that God will draw me back to Himself
Because of these reasons, and being challenged on risk-taking obedience, I generally define suffering in my head as "the losing of something". As Christians, we are losing something, and that could be our possessions, our money, our freedom, our rights, our family, our lives. But giving these up for the glory of God is worth it. Suffering, any way you define it, is worth it for Christ. I mean, if he owns your life anyway, why bother living safely? If we try to save our own lives, we are not going to be living at all, for living in fear of death is no life. I would rather choose to live, even if it means dying.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
The Amazing... Trek?
Today was the longest day of my life. Not literally. But I'm fairly certain I did more physical exercise today than any other. And it was stressful. None of this sissy walking here and there stuff. How about, let's run across Abbotsford for half an hour. Racing two other groups of people. It was... The Amazing Trek. Think Amazing Race, Abbotsford style. Our team was made up of the three Global Servants here at training, Jon, Heidi, and myself. We raced against the two teams of TREKkers that are also here, Portugal and Thailand.
Some highlights of today for me were... winning! That was pretty sweet. Or waking up at 4 in the morning because the card said to be ready sometime between 4 and 6, and having the people show up at 5:45. Bushwhacking and getting stinging nettle all over my legs. Cutting through someone's yard at 6 in the morning, climbing a fence, and appearing on the side of the main road, right in front of the Portugal team (not planned, but funny). Doing a blindfolded activity and walking into a ledge, falling over and cutting up my knee but good. The best part of that one was that I was following Jon, who was not blindfolded, and he forgot to tell me there was a ledge there. But the second activity with the blindfolds, in the afternoon, we aced. Well, we aced the first one too, but there was more pain involved. Eating a lot of gross foods, including a half-developed baby duck still inside the egg. Apparently it's a delicacy somewhere. (We did not consume the egg shells.) Getting a clue on a flash drive that contained the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" for 250 pages, and finding the clue in there. No joke. Two hundred and fifty pages. Eating lunch at the Sikh temple. Running around Abbotsford looking generally dirty and ragamuffinish, like we were lost hitchhikers or vandals all day. Catching a trout in a fish farm pond, and later building a fire and frying it. (This was a very hurried and slightly gross frying. Do not picture delicious fish. I had to fillet it. Guess how well that went...) Putting on a fireman's coat and pants, and doing various activities while wearing them. Literally looking for a needle in a haystack. Doing a corn maze. And many other things.
We learned a lot today, about strengths, weaknesses, leadership, having a good attitude, and teamwork. We also learned that some things are "hotter than fire", including fire, stinging nettle, and jalapeno peppers; that running most of the day is hard work; that there are no guarantees in life, or races; that it pays to think ahead and listen to your friends; and that finding a needle in a haystack is actually next to impossible, except apparently for Jacob, who found it in 10 minutes. We ate a lot of mostly unpleasant food, got some weird stares, and bonded as a team... not team?... group of Global Servants.
I think I'm going to go to bed now...
Some highlights of today for me were... winning! That was pretty sweet. Or waking up at 4 in the morning because the card said to be ready sometime between 4 and 6, and having the people show up at 5:45. Bushwhacking and getting stinging nettle all over my legs. Cutting through someone's yard at 6 in the morning, climbing a fence, and appearing on the side of the main road, right in front of the Portugal team (not planned, but funny). Doing a blindfolded activity and walking into a ledge, falling over and cutting up my knee but good. The best part of that one was that I was following Jon, who was not blindfolded, and he forgot to tell me there was a ledge there. But the second activity with the blindfolds, in the afternoon, we aced. Well, we aced the first one too, but there was more pain involved. Eating a lot of gross foods, including a half-developed baby duck still inside the egg. Apparently it's a delicacy somewhere. (We did not consume the egg shells.) Getting a clue on a flash drive that contained the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" for 250 pages, and finding the clue in there. No joke. Two hundred and fifty pages. Eating lunch at the Sikh temple. Running around Abbotsford looking generally dirty and ragamuffinish, like we were lost hitchhikers or vandals all day. Catching a trout in a fish farm pond, and later building a fire and frying it. (This was a very hurried and slightly gross frying. Do not picture delicious fish. I had to fillet it. Guess how well that went...) Putting on a fireman's coat and pants, and doing various activities while wearing them. Literally looking for a needle in a haystack. Doing a corn maze. And many other things.
We learned a lot today, about strengths, weaknesses, leadership, having a good attitude, and teamwork. We also learned that some things are "hotter than fire", including fire, stinging nettle, and jalapeno peppers; that running most of the day is hard work; that there are no guarantees in life, or races; that it pays to think ahead and listen to your friends; and that finding a needle in a haystack is actually next to impossible, except apparently for Jacob, who found it in 10 minutes. We ate a lot of mostly unpleasant food, got some weird stares, and bonded as a team... not team?... group of Global Servants.
I think I'm going to go to bed now...
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Road goes ever on and on
Now far ahead the Road has gone
Further you draw me, further along
To fall into grace, to trust and repent
To blur all the lines of shame and regret
To live, truly live, with You even now
To jump and to let go, my own will to bow
To trust in the promises You have said
That my heart be Yours, until I am dead
For in death there is life, a new hope will rise
And this hope I want, that all logic defies
And here, in this hope, You bring me to rest
For it is here that I know that I am blessed
So I want to let go, I want to jump
I want to give up and live in the gap
Right there, in Your love, is where I will stay
And whither then? I cannot say
Further you draw me, further along
To fall into grace, to trust and repent
To blur all the lines of shame and regret
To live, truly live, with You even now
To jump and to let go, my own will to bow
To trust in the promises You have said
That my heart be Yours, until I am dead
For in death there is life, a new hope will rise
And this hope I want, that all logic defies
And here, in this hope, You bring me to rest
For it is here that I know that I am blessed
So I want to let go, I want to jump
I want to give up and live in the gap
Right there, in Your love, is where I will stay
And whither then? I cannot say
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Silence
We had a silent retreat this weekend... 48 hours of silence, listening to God speak. It's easier than it sounds, except for sometimes it is harder. I was hoping for a BOOM!! voice from God, but it never came. Instead I learned that God will speak to me through my pen. I write, and things come out. Some of the things I will share. I wrote 16 pages in my journal this weekend. Here are some of them:
Hours of silence are worth
One word from God
Yet how much He speaks
When we stop to listen
The LORD is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger, and abounding in love
The LORD is good to all
He has compassion on all that He has made
He forgives our trespasses
And He delivers us from the evil one
He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble
Matthew 12:21- In His name the nations will put their hope.
Do you not think you were born for a reason? The chances of you being you were so infinitisimially small, yet you exist. You are, to bring glory to God. You exist, with your experiences, your relationships, your struggles. You exist because God purported and called you to be. Who you are now never was and never will be again. Who you are now is God's glory. And your shame, and your mistakes, and all the fire within you is there because THIS IS LIFE. We serve a Living God, who loves us despite the blood on our hands. For you are forgiven, and it is gone. Oh, but He loves us. Oh, but He loves me. He loves me! Beyond anything you can fathom, He loves you. And there is no escape from His love. There is nowhere to run, because you were born for this reason.
I was born,
And You loved me.
I rebelled,
And You love me.
I became myself,
For You love me.
I sin and lose my way again,
But You still love me.
So I repent,
Because You love me.
I cry, and You comfort me
I hurt, and You hold me
I dance, and You rejoice with me
I scream, and You walk with me
I live, and You love me.
And in all this, I guess I'm trying to say
Thank You
And I want to love You too;
Oh! I love You too!
Hours of silence are worth
One word from God
Yet how much He speaks
When we stop to listen
The LORD is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger, and abounding in love
The LORD is good to all
He has compassion on all that He has made
He forgives our trespasses
And He delivers us from the evil one
He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble
Matthew 12:21- In His name the nations will put their hope.
Do you not think you were born for a reason? The chances of you being you were so infinitisimially small, yet you exist. You are, to bring glory to God. You exist, with your experiences, your relationships, your struggles. You exist because God purported and called you to be. Who you are now never was and never will be again. Who you are now is God's glory. And your shame, and your mistakes, and all the fire within you is there because THIS IS LIFE. We serve a Living God, who loves us despite the blood on our hands. For you are forgiven, and it is gone. Oh, but He loves us. Oh, but He loves me. He loves me! Beyond anything you can fathom, He loves you. And there is no escape from His love. There is nowhere to run, because you were born for this reason.
I was born,
And You loved me.
I rebelled,
And You love me.
I became myself,
For You love me.
I sin and lose my way again,
But You still love me.
So I repent,
Because You love me.
I cry, and You comfort me
I hurt, and You hold me
I dance, and You rejoice with me
I scream, and You walk with me
I live, and You love me.
And in all this, I guess I'm trying to say
Thank You
And I want to love You too;
Oh! I love You too!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hearing God's voice
I know these posts are coming thick and fast, at least compared to my usual blogging habits, but be thankful you are hearing from me now. I probably won't be posting near as much when I am in Guadalajara.
Today we talked about hearing God's voice. And we got about a 6 hour lesson in 3 hours from a wonderful teacher named JP Hayashida. He talks really really fast. Plus a couple more hours earlier from another lady. She was talking about how listening to God builds trust. It was very intense and there is no way I can share even a fraction of what we learned on here. So I'll just share something I wrote after all the teaching was done and I was trying to absorb everything that was happening.
My brain is full
And these thoughts run deep
Just like these fountains
I'm overflowing
Scattered too full
To hold together
Longer
And everyone's busy
Everyone's alive
To forget is to let go
To realize I don't know
Where am I, and how?
To absorb all these things
Remember
To follow a calling
A terrifying regeneration
In the wind and the rain and the water
My Father, Your daughter
But is there no answer?
To follow a dream
A home far away
A place you've never been before
But somehow long to stay
Scattered 'till empty
To be filled again
To inspect the insides, introspection
Drawn again together
Forever
Apart even longer
Your daughter
Can you listen to see
Or what will become of me?
A new wind will rise
And the fire follow after
The sound inside the laughter
To jump inside the calling
And never remember (or never forget)
How long
Is this falling
Today we talked about hearing God's voice. And we got about a 6 hour lesson in 3 hours from a wonderful teacher named JP Hayashida. He talks really really fast. Plus a couple more hours earlier from another lady. She was talking about how listening to God builds trust. It was very intense and there is no way I can share even a fraction of what we learned on here. So I'll just share something I wrote after all the teaching was done and I was trying to absorb everything that was happening.
My brain is full
And these thoughts run deep
Just like these fountains
I'm overflowing
Scattered too full
To hold together
Longer
And everyone's busy
Everyone's alive
To forget is to let go
To realize I don't know
Where am I, and how?
To absorb all these things
Remember
To follow a calling
A terrifying regeneration
In the wind and the rain and the water
My Father, Your daughter
But is there no answer?
To follow a dream
A home far away
A place you've never been before
But somehow long to stay
Scattered 'till empty
To be filled again
To inspect the insides, introspection
Drawn again together
Forever
Apart even longer
Your daughter
Can you listen to see
Or what will become of me?
A new wind will rise
And the fire follow after
The sound inside the laughter
To jump inside the calling
And never remember (or never forget)
How long
Is this falling
Sunday, September 19, 2010
It's raining
It rains a lot here. I like it.
On Friday we went to a lake called Cultus Lake, which was basically a day of hanging out beside a very cold lake (I didn't go in, but some people did), playing volleyball, and playing a game called Incan Gold, or according to Jacob, "GEM UP!!!"
Saturday we went canoing and hiking in the mountains. There are mountains here, and they are very beautiful. We canoed for a ways, and that was a gong show, and then we hiked up a trail to a waterfall, which was stunning. This weekend was a time of hanging out and spending time together as a group. It's a lot of fun, we get on really well so far. You could pray that that continues, because it's a blessing and as some of us will be living together for the next 9 months, getting along is kind of important.
As the first week here is ending, things are going well. Tomorrow, they say, the really intense part starts. Apparently, this week was introduction. You could pray that I would get into journaling, because that's something that I am so far not great at, and also pray that I would have desire to pray, and go deeper in my relationship with God. I realized on Tuesday that I don't really pray anymore, and this is kind of a problem. Prayer is extremely important, and I need to commune with my King and Lover.
The best part of the weather is that I know that I am loved, because it's always raining. There is no escape from the knowledge that God loves me and is pursuing me. I remember every time it rains.
On Friday we went to a lake called Cultus Lake, which was basically a day of hanging out beside a very cold lake (I didn't go in, but some people did), playing volleyball, and playing a game called Incan Gold, or according to Jacob, "GEM UP!!!"
Saturday we went canoing and hiking in the mountains. There are mountains here, and they are very beautiful. We canoed for a ways, and that was a gong show, and then we hiked up a trail to a waterfall, which was stunning. This weekend was a time of hanging out and spending time together as a group. It's a lot of fun, we get on really well so far. You could pray that that continues, because it's a blessing and as some of us will be living together for the next 9 months, getting along is kind of important.
As the first week here is ending, things are going well. Tomorrow, they say, the really intense part starts. Apparently, this week was introduction. You could pray that I would get into journaling, because that's something that I am so far not great at, and also pray that I would have desire to pray, and go deeper in my relationship with God. I realized on Tuesday that I don't really pray anymore, and this is kind of a problem. Prayer is extremely important, and I need to commune with my King and Lover.
The best part of the weather is that I know that I am loved, because it's always raining. There is no escape from the knowledge that God loves me and is pursuing me. I remember every time it rains.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
You're going where, to do what?
Many of you may be wondering what I am learning here in BC. The answer is, a lot. There is no way I could share everything, but I'll try to touch on some things. This afternoon we learned about MBMSI and all that goes into a successful mission agency. It was pretty fascinating. It makes sense why we don't just send money to missionaries- if you know who you're sending money to and what they believe and why they are going to another country, you are more likely to support them, financially and in other ways.
Yesterday Randy Friesen spoke about risk-taking obedience. Things are always better with an element of the unknown. He had 3 points. (This made note-taking easier.) They were salvation, discipleship, and mission. These all have an element of risk. In fact, they are mostly made up of risk. Here are some samples from my notes:
Salvation- Luke 13:22-27; Luke 14:25-35; Luke 18:18-30; and Ephesians 2:1-10. Jesus is asking for everything- all that we have. What are we willing to give up? All of it? If I'm still holding on to things, I am not following Jesus. This isn't necessarily about money or possessions (although we shouldn't hold on to those) but about the heart. Salvation comes through sacrifice. Man can't save people, only God can, so let the Holy Spirit work. It's easier to conform than rebel (against what the world says), but conforming doesn't teach you much.
Discipleship- Luke 19:11-27; Luke 11:1-13. You're not going to get maximum potential from your life if you just hold on to it, if you don't risk you don't grow. You have to be willing to lose what you've got in order to gain something. Prayer is the language of the kingdom of God. To follow Jesus, listen to him. Faith is exercised when asking God for things. God wants to give generously, because it will glorify Him, it will hallow His name. Disciples have to risk being ridiculous.
Mission- Luke 10:1-7. Mission is going to cost something. Deliberately put yourself in a place of vulnerability and need, rely on God to provide. (I've definitely got that one on right now.) The most effective impact happens when we put ourselves in the weaker position. This is counterintuitive but so is the kingdom of God. If Jesus calls you to do something, even if it's outrageous, GO FOR IT! Walk with grace and humility, and say thank you. Have an attitude of vulnerability, humility, and dependency.
This is some of what I am learning and being challenged with. There's no way to get everything on here. The only way to absorb everything is with God anyway. We've also been talking about intercessory prayer and yesterday we went and listened to God for a while, after asking Him what He thought about us. And this is what I got. (I was sitting on stairs at the time.) I'll leave off with it.
The stairs go up, the stairs come down
And I sit listening, distracted again
There's too much in the way
All this to hear You say,
"My Child, I love you anyway
I always have and always will
You're beautiful, you see
And of everything in all the world
Nothing could love you like Me."
Yesterday Randy Friesen spoke about risk-taking obedience. Things are always better with an element of the unknown. He had 3 points. (This made note-taking easier.) They were salvation, discipleship, and mission. These all have an element of risk. In fact, they are mostly made up of risk. Here are some samples from my notes:
Salvation- Luke 13:22-27; Luke 14:25-35; Luke 18:18-30; and Ephesians 2:1-10. Jesus is asking for everything- all that we have. What are we willing to give up? All of it? If I'm still holding on to things, I am not following Jesus. This isn't necessarily about money or possessions (although we shouldn't hold on to those) but about the heart. Salvation comes through sacrifice. Man can't save people, only God can, so let the Holy Spirit work. It's easier to conform than rebel (against what the world says), but conforming doesn't teach you much.
Discipleship- Luke 19:11-27; Luke 11:1-13. You're not going to get maximum potential from your life if you just hold on to it, if you don't risk you don't grow. You have to be willing to lose what you've got in order to gain something. Prayer is the language of the kingdom of God. To follow Jesus, listen to him. Faith is exercised when asking God for things. God wants to give generously, because it will glorify Him, it will hallow His name. Disciples have to risk being ridiculous.
Mission- Luke 10:1-7. Mission is going to cost something. Deliberately put yourself in a place of vulnerability and need, rely on God to provide. (I've definitely got that one on right now.) The most effective impact happens when we put ourselves in the weaker position. This is counterintuitive but so is the kingdom of God. If Jesus calls you to do something, even if it's outrageous, GO FOR IT! Walk with grace and humility, and say thank you. Have an attitude of vulnerability, humility, and dependency.
This is some of what I am learning and being challenged with. There's no way to get everything on here. The only way to absorb everything is with God anyway. We've also been talking about intercessory prayer and yesterday we went and listened to God for a while, after asking Him what He thought about us. And this is what I got. (I was sitting on stairs at the time.) I'll leave off with it.
The stairs go up, the stairs come down
And I sit listening, distracted again
There's too much in the way
All this to hear You say,
"My Child, I love you anyway
I always have and always will
You're beautiful, you see
And of everything in all the world
Nothing could love you like Me."
Monday, September 13, 2010
Here at last
Just so you all know, after a much longer than anticipated stay in Calgary, Aleah and I arrived in Abbotsford around 10:00 local time last night. Our flight from Calgary was supposed to land in Abbotsford at 1:00, but after getting to about 1000 feet above ground here, the pilot decided it wasn't safe to land. So, logically, we flew back to Calgary. Then we stood in a line for over two hours, and got tickets on a flight to Vancouver that left at 7:30. So we got here later than expected, but the important thing is that we got here. And here we are. I guess things are really picking up now.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Holding on and letting go
Today is the day to start packing. I know it's only Wednesday, but I have to move all my stuff to my parents' house before I go yet. And for not working, it's sure been a busy week.
I was lying in bed last night, and I thought, "It's time to go." As much as I love you all, I'm ready to leave. It's been great seeing everyone again, but I'm starting to be ready to start. The first steps have been taken, so these are my next steps out, if you will. It is time to go.
The haunting melodies of old
Somehow entertain my mind
The songs I've never sung before
They sneak up from behind
They whisper and they laugh
They wail and they cry
They softly tell of ages past
And many things long gone by
They'll remind you of a dream
A place somewhere far away
A place you've never been before
But somehow long to stay.
I was lying in bed last night, and I thought, "It's time to go." As much as I love you all, I'm ready to leave. It's been great seeing everyone again, but I'm starting to be ready to start. The first steps have been taken, so these are my next steps out, if you will. It is time to go.
The haunting melodies of old
Somehow entertain my mind
The songs I've never sung before
They sneak up from behind
They whisper and they laugh
They wail and they cry
They softly tell of ages past
And many things long gone by
They'll remind you of a dream
A place somewhere far away
A place you've never been before
But somehow long to stay.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Welcome to Nowhere
Okay, so welcome to my blog. This is where you want to look to find out where I am, what I am doing, and what I am learning. If you are reading this then you probably know, or are about to find out, that pretty soon I am headed to Abbotsford B.C. for two months, and after that, Guadalajara, Mexico, for 7 months, as an intern at the Matthew Training Center. Thank you for coming along on my journey. Thank you for praying. (This is also where you will find prayer requests.) Thank you for supporting me, be you the church, or friends from school, or family, or anyone else who randomly stumbles across here and reads.
I just wanted to explain the name of this blog. "Unaccounted for" is how I often felt growing up, especially in high school. Like I didn't fit. Like I didn't belong anywhere. One thing God has been teaching me lately is that I belong with Him, and He'll take care of the rest. He'll supply my nourishment, both figuratively and literally. When I belong to God, I don't belong to the world. I think that I am still unaccounted for now, but in a different way. I am accounted where it matters.
"Welcome to Nowhere" is the title of a poem I wrote 2 1/2 years ago, while on my freshman year missions trip to Calgary with Bethany College. (This is an unashamed plug for Bethany. It's wonderful. It will change your life. Go.) This trip changed my life. I realized there that missions is about people, not going places. And people are right in your backyard. Maybe in your house. At the office. Missions is about glorifying God in your life, wherever you are. And often there are hurting people around you everywhere. This is Nowhere. The people that are hurting, the people surrounding you that you never see because you see them every day. Nowhere is the places that everyone always looks past, because it is normal. Nowhere can be the inner city. That's where I found it. Nowhere can be your job. Nowhere can be East Berlin. And for me right now, Nowhere is Mexico. I am certain this is where God is sending me for now, and no matter what happens, I am going to trust Him. Thank you for coming, and please keep reading, but also, go out into your own Nowhere. And glorify Him.
I found a door to Nowhere
It really was absurd
And I looked back at Somewhere
Feeling free as a bird
I walked through that door to Nowhere
And found myself in love
Perhaps that land of Nowhere
Was my calling from above
And now I live in Nowhere
But they all know my name
Since I found that door to Nowhere
Nothing was ever the same
I just wanted to explain the name of this blog. "Unaccounted for" is how I often felt growing up, especially in high school. Like I didn't fit. Like I didn't belong anywhere. One thing God has been teaching me lately is that I belong with Him, and He'll take care of the rest. He'll supply my nourishment, both figuratively and literally. When I belong to God, I don't belong to the world. I think that I am still unaccounted for now, but in a different way. I am accounted where it matters.
"Welcome to Nowhere" is the title of a poem I wrote 2 1/2 years ago, while on my freshman year missions trip to Calgary with Bethany College. (This is an unashamed plug for Bethany. It's wonderful. It will change your life. Go.) This trip changed my life. I realized there that missions is about people, not going places. And people are right in your backyard. Maybe in your house. At the office. Missions is about glorifying God in your life, wherever you are. And often there are hurting people around you everywhere. This is Nowhere. The people that are hurting, the people surrounding you that you never see because you see them every day. Nowhere is the places that everyone always looks past, because it is normal. Nowhere can be the inner city. That's where I found it. Nowhere can be your job. Nowhere can be East Berlin. And for me right now, Nowhere is Mexico. I am certain this is where God is sending me for now, and no matter what happens, I am going to trust Him. Thank you for coming, and please keep reading, but also, go out into your own Nowhere. And glorify Him.
I found a door to Nowhere
It really was absurd
And I looked back at Somewhere
Feeling free as a bird
I walked through that door to Nowhere
And found myself in love
Perhaps that land of Nowhere
Was my calling from above
And now I live in Nowhere
But they all know my name
Since I found that door to Nowhere
Nothing was ever the same
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I'm tired of sleeping
The music is loud
And the words cut deep
It's not a bad thing, but
I'm too tired to sleep
I miss so much, so far away
You know I've broken my wings
I've burned all my bridges
Left for lesser things
I'm tired of waiting
Why won't you arrive
And then we are set free
Then we're alive
Feel the fire it traces
It draws lines in the night
It shows all my old scars
And sets them alight
And the words cut deep
It's not a bad thing, but
I'm too tired to sleep
I miss so much, so far away
You know I've broken my wings
I've burned all my bridges
Left for lesser things
I'm tired of waiting
Why won't you arrive
And then we are set free
Then we're alive
Feel the fire it traces
It draws lines in the night
It shows all my old scars
And sets them alight
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Long time, long time in coming
I have come to the conclusion that friendship is inconvenient. This, I think, is the major reason I refuse to get facebook. Because true friendship is inconvenient. It means going out of your way, and it costs something, be that $40 to help someone who's broke, or 56 cents for a stamp. Not everyone you ever meet will be this kind of friend. I just don't see the point of conveniently being "friends" with 400 people when I could inconveniently be good friends with 20. I would rather catch up with you over coffee once a month than see all your doings from a distance every day. It seems more real to me. And as for far away ones, I would rather get a letter or a telephone call once a month than an email or a mass facebook message every other day. I would rather be real the only way I know how.
I don't think anyone reads this anymore, but if you do, congratulations. I just needed to get this out, one way or another.
I don't think anyone reads this anymore, but if you do, congratulations. I just needed to get this out, one way or another.
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