Sunday, August 18, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
A Holy Tension
A holy tension...the realization that now that you have taken a step, you are not the same. You are home, but the pieces don't fit.
Getting on a plane home is easy. You sit and it moves you. But what about if a part of you is left behind? What if you aren't the same person who first stepped on that plane?
It is the getting back to daily living that is hard. It seems so wrong - weren't you just with me? Wasn't I just there? Our eyes are filled with the faces of dear friends and shadows and light on green quilted fields. I hear church bells, chickens clucking, music playing a few floors up and voices calling out. I see the castle tower on a blue sky, the rustic red "Christian Bookstore" sign, the overly-hacked garden where hours were spent turning over the soil and making way for new growth, the arches and doorways and worn wooden stairs. I sense the coming and going and constant activity. Hurlach Castle is in our memories - and hopefully those seeds sown there will yield their fruit in due season.
We received a devotional journal for reflection upon returning home. The writers of this book know what they are talking about. They seemed to have nailed it on the head as to what we are experiencing:
"Before your trip, your wealth might have been taken for granted like sand through the fingers...You saw hope placed in things instead of in the Maker of those things. And in the process of this tension, a new community of worshipers developed on your journey as you worked together with others and served cross-culturally. Tuck this tension deep into your heart...Let the spiritual struggle and pain come as a special guest into your heart and let God mold it to be more like Christ's heart." (Reflect Mission Trip Devotional Journal)
I've already sensed that no one can really understand what it was like except those we were with in Germany. And that's okay. That is the way God meant it to be.
And I have hope - the same God who called and sent and provided and came down among us to cause us to open our hearts, that same God is now with you where you are. And He will lead you on.
Getting on a plane home is easy. You sit and it moves you. But what about if a part of you is left behind? What if you aren't the same person who first stepped on that plane?
It is the getting back to daily living that is hard. It seems so wrong - weren't you just with me? Wasn't I just there? Our eyes are filled with the faces of dear friends and shadows and light on green quilted fields. I hear church bells, chickens clucking, music playing a few floors up and voices calling out. I see the castle tower on a blue sky, the rustic red "Christian Bookstore" sign, the overly-hacked garden where hours were spent turning over the soil and making way for new growth, the arches and doorways and worn wooden stairs. I sense the coming and going and constant activity. Hurlach Castle is in our memories - and hopefully those seeds sown there will yield their fruit in due season.
We received a devotional journal for reflection upon returning home. The writers of this book know what they are talking about. They seemed to have nailed it on the head as to what we are experiencing:
"Before your trip, your wealth might have been taken for granted like sand through the fingers...You saw hope placed in things instead of in the Maker of those things. And in the process of this tension, a new community of worshipers developed on your journey as you worked together with others and served cross-culturally. Tuck this tension deep into your heart...Let the spiritual struggle and pain come as a special guest into your heart and let God mold it to be more like Christ's heart." (Reflect Mission Trip Devotional Journal)
I've already sensed that no one can really understand what it was like except those we were with in Germany. And that's okay. That is the way God meant it to be.
And I have hope - the same God who called and sent and provided and came down among us to cause us to open our hearts, that same God is now with you where you are. And He will lead you on.
" I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart..."
Philippians 1:3-7
Monday, July 15, 2013
Happy Birthday Emily
Emily turned 17 today! While most kids might miss being in their own country on their birthday, Emily relished it. She got a very strange singing this morning at breakfast with "Happy Birthday"in several languages. Tonight she had an amazing looking German cake we shared with the staff and kids.
Ywam Servants - so dear to us
Tonight we had another surprise from our YWAM dear ones - a barbecue and special candies to say thank you. I didn't have time to blog about other Ywam staffers we met: Ermi, Matthias and their three children , the Ethiopian girls - Leona, Lydia and Abby, Nigerian Ken Paul or our Jamaican friend Nick. There's also See Yuen from Malaysia and JP and Susan from India. There were a few more staff members who kept popping in and out during our time of service. They are all special people called by Him! We celebrate this ministry God had given. All are living by faith and dreaming His dreams.
Renall
How does a man from Cook Islands end up in Germany? Through the Lord's mercy. Renall looks like he should be on a surfboard somewhere but he serves faithfully at Hurlach Castle. He has been here 10 years. If he wanted to go home, he would have to fly 30 hours (without a layover). The airline ticket would be over $2000 for one person. For his family, that means about $12,000. And he is a missionary. He has done this - but not very often.
His wife is German and they have 3 kids - ages 6,4, and 2. In addition to being a worship leader at the base, he coordinates many of the activities on the ground and sees to the needs of the staff.
He gets a glimmer in his eye as he relates that his island used to be cannibals. Finally, a Tahitian missionary came to his island. The warriors lined up with spears and face paint, looking fierce. The missionary could have given up. Instead they say he tied a Bible to his head and swam ashore.
Little did he know God had paved the way. Those cannibals had been given a prophecy that said someone would come to their island with the truth from the west. The Chief of his tribe immediately converted, along with the rest of the village.
Renall said when he gets to heaven he is going to thank that guy. This is what happens when someone follows God and does not compromise on what God is telling him to do. Follow God fully. A nation's future may depend on it.
The Cross
Leaving the castle, we followed along the flat country road boarded by wheat field and evergreens. A dusty tractor motored by and the sun gently touched our brows. We were being led by Sokol, a longtime Albanian staff member. He had a surprise for us.
We came to a tree with a bench and flowers in it. Over the bench was a large crucifix. This is definitely something we don't see in America but in Bavaria it is common for a farmer to have a crucifix at such a scene.
"What is the significance of the crucifix?" Sokol asks, "It says that this is the most important moment in history. Jesus died in our place and changed everything. We can bed close to God."
"I wandered one time into this field. There were troubles at the castle - relationship troubles. I was overwhelmed. I had moment of transformation as I prayed to the Lord for help and put my hands on cross. I remembered Jesus was abandoned by all, even his 3 friends when asked to pray for him went to sleep."
"It was like God spoke to me that it would be alright. He would be there for me."
"Sometimes we may think of the crucifix here as a good luck charm, maybe for crops to grow, but at the heart it must mean more. It must mean someone thought this was the most important thing in history. This is the most important focus on in life. This Jesus dying in the cross is worthy of our attention."
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