always learning

Last week, my second week at my service site, was....frustrating. The thing about working with the Children's Ministry is that the ministry part really only takes place on Sunday. The rest of the week is preparation - organizing, photocopying, researching, planning...definitely not relational. And definitely not what I'm here for. So I was frustrated. And close to tears a couple of mornings. I'll hopefully be starting at another service site this coming week and things will become more concrete and routine...

Saturday was a joyful day filled with sidewalk chalk, snow cones, snoopy comics, and flute/guitar improvisation. It was an encouraging day and I praise God for that. He definitely used that day to lift my spirits.

The other night I was thinking about how much I'm learning about the way I see people and the way I should see people. I'm learning to love people for who they are, no matter where they've been or what they've done. I'm learning to love them because I see Jesus in them, not because they are broken and need to be fixed. I am broken, we are broken, and we all need to heal, to heal each other and depend on one another. We are all made in the image of God and if we learn to release ourselves from the chains of judgement, self-righteousness, comfort, status quo, social boundaries - we can see Jesus in everyone. We can see him in the devotion of a homeless couple who stick together even when things would be easier if they separated, in the creativity of a homeless artist, in the contentedness of those who once lived in abundance and now have nothing. When Jesus hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners, He wasn't hanging out with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners - He was hanging out with His friends, beloved children of God.

It's a God thing :D

Tell me, what are the odds of this: On Thursday I was introduced to a woman who is a refugee from East Africa, my favourite part of the world, where I grew up. She doesn't speak much English, but speaks Swahili, so when the people at Ecclesia heard that I knew some Swahili, they introduced me to her. My Swahili is extremely rusty, but we manage to communicate in Swenglish with a lot of hand motions. She has lived in Houston for two years now and is struggling. Her husband left her to care for her 5 children alone. She is living in government housing and until recently has not been able to find a job because her English is not very good. Praise God that Ecclesia is giving her a job cleaning the church once a week, which will provide her with enough money to pay her rent and more. She is an extremely sweet woman who hugs a lot. ;) This was definitely a God thing.

Homeless in Houston

I apologize in advance if my thoughts in this entry are scattered and lengthy. I've been in Houston for a little over 2 weeks now and we have done SO much! This is my first chance to update this blog and I know I can't fit in everything I'd like to. *deep breath* Here goes:

Before coming to Houston I had tried to track down what my mailing address would be with no success. My brother Robert teased me, saying that our directors were going to make us experience homelessness firsthand. He was more right than he though, although that wasn't the way it was supposed to be (but since when do our plans work out anyway? "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9). So our first two nights were spent in a small apartment above the pastor's garage. It was awesome bonding time, with all the girls staying in a small bedroom with only 2 beds and the guys sleeping in the living room.

2 days later we were off to Atlanta for training. It was there that I discovered that everyone who signs up for Mission Year is insane. For real. Seriously, giving up the comforts of family, friends, money, and familiarity to live on an extremely small budget with a team of other insane people (8 others, in my case) in order to form relationships and community with homeless people, broken families, poor families, people affected by racism, abuse and other forms of injustice. Who would do that? Jesus would do that. And He is the center of our faith, He is our example, and He is our comfort, the One to whom we cling when everything else is stripped away. It isn't easy, but it's worth it. Comfort has become uncomfortable in light of the injustice and need that so many others face.

I have so many things I could write, so many thoughts and stories swimming around in my head. I'll share just 2 of them with you now. Both stories are from Sunday afternoons when our team helps out with a ministry to the homeless called "Simple Feast". A group from Ecclesia church here in Houston takes a meal to a park where a lot of homeless people go and we serve it to them and eat with them, talking to them and learning their stories.

The first time we did Simple Feast we met a family with four children. The youngest boy was full of energy and was doing all sorts of cartwheels and handstands. After a while he sat down next to me and I said that he must be tired. He looked at me and replied, "No, I'm just resting for a while and then I'll get right back up. Because I never give up, whatever I do, I never give up." I was so impressed with his perseverence.

Yesterday we helped out again. One man we met only spoke Spanish, but communicated his story to us with the help of translation by Katy, one of our team members. He told us how he came to faith and then sang worship songs for us in Spanish. Right before we left he prayed for us. I have no idea what he said, but it definitely left an impression on me. We were there to help them, but he blessed us so incredibly. God is present in surprising and beautiful places.

Our team is made up of 9 people. 5 guys (David, Isaac, Sean, Steven, and Stu) and 4 girls (Andy, Bonnie, Katy, and me). It is a huge blessing for me to have Katy on this team. Katy is also an MK. She grew up in Mexico and was working in Paris last year. The craziest thing is that her brother, Peter, graduated with me from Black Forest Academy! That connection was a confirmation from God that this is where I'm supposed to be and that God is watching out for me. :)

and the journey begins...

Tomorrow at 6am I embark on an incredible adventure to inner city Houston. It's real.

I'm so excited but at the same time I feel nervous and overwhelmed and as if I'm in over my head. I guess I am. And that's ok, because that's when Christ's power is most evident in my life. With that being the case, I want to be in over my head always.

I can't shake the feeling that my ministry this year won't just be a temporary thing, but the first step of a crazy lifestyle. Crazy in the world's eyes, at any rate.

Bring it on.

Home

Home. I think most MKs – all TCKs, for that matter – will agree that ‘home’ is an elusive concept. What is ‘home’, really?

A lot of people try to define ‘home’ in various ways: “Home is where your heart is” “Home is where your rump rests”…etc. But in a practical sense, what is ‘home’? Where you were born? Where you spent the most time? Where your family is? Where you live at the present moment? None of these really seem to work for me – I was born in Kenya, but never lived there; I spent 14 years in Tanzania and love it, but the people I love most are no longer there; my parents are missionaries in Germany, but they’ll be in Arkansas for a year; I currently don’t ‘live’ anywhere. So where is my home?

Philippians 3:20 states it rather nicely: “But our citizenship is in heaven…” As a follower of Christ, I know that my true home is in heaven and that my true self is not of the flesh, but spiritual. Praise God that I don’t need to know where my ‘home is on this earth because I am not of this world – I’m an alien, baby, a citizen of Heaven.

Faith and Skydiving

So, skydiving. I’m certain there are marvelous parallels to be drawn between this experience and my walk with God. I just need to use my brain, which can sometimes be an issue during the summer…

1) Patience: before I could do my tandem we had to wait for the skies to clear up. My jump was cancelled altogether on Friday (June 12) and on Sunday (June 14) we again had to wait a while for the rain to pass. Often my life is like that with God – I get excited about doing something or I want something to happen and am praying about it, but ultimately God’s timing is perfect. It’s hard to be patient, but it’s worth it. God knows what He’s doing.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)

2) Preparation: once the weather had cleared up, I had to get geared up (like my rhyme there?). Nothing would be more stupid than jumping out of a plane without the proper equipment (although it would certainly give you that craved adrenaline rush). Our life of faith is similar. Ephesians tells us to put on the full armor of God. Although our lives may seem comfortable at times and we may believe we’re okay without feeding ourselves with God’s word or we have nothing to pray about, that’s a lie. Spiritual battles are constant and if we’re not prepared, we’re giving Satan an easy job.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand agains the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but...the powers of this dark world and...spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God...the belt of truth...the breastplate of righteousness...the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace...take up the shield of faith...the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions...be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:11-18)

3) Faith (I wish I could’ve made this another ‘p’ and been all pastor-like): no matter how many times a person has jumped out of an airplane, each time they do so they’re taking a risk. There’s always a chance that something will go wrong – the chute won’t open properly or the landing will go badly. Yet they do it over and over again. As Christians, we often have to take such “leaps of faith”. Our futures are uncertain and we never know when problems will occur. But we have an assurance much greater than that of skydiving gear – we have the love and protection of the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, the Greatest Love of all. So just tell me where to jump…
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Prayer

After hearing that I would definitely be doing Mission Year, my mom recommended that I read a certain book about a German missionary named George Mueller. His lifestyle truly amazes and humbles me. He lived trusting God day to day, never knowing how long he would remain in one place before God led him to move on. When he prayed, he did so with faith, being certain that God would answer and provide. God always did, even when it seemed like there was no possible way Mueller could get what he needed.

One time, Mueller needed money to buy Bibles. So he prayed specifically for God to give him 20 pounds with which to purchase them. That very day a woman came to his door and handed him an envelope. Inside the envelope was exactly 20 pounds. Mueller asked the woman if she wanted the money to be used for anything specific. She answered that she wanted him to buy Bibles. Praise God!

God never lets us down; we let Him down when we fail to trust Him. God, grant me greater trust in You.

In the words of Casting Crowns, “What if His people prayed?” If all Christians prayed earnestly and fervently with the trust that George Mueller displayed, we would see amazing things take place.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” ~ James 5:15-16

As incredibly encouraging as this is, it often overwhelms me. There is so much in this world that needs prayer – churches, schools, governments, families, friends, believers, non-believers, homeless, orphans, slaves, leaders….the list goes on. Fortunately, God again provides.
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” ~ Romans 8:26-27
Praise God that He doesn’t put all the pressure on us! (If that were the case, things would be hopeless) He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and to plead with God on our behalf when we are unable.