from Cason
Mom and Dad were wrong-money does grow on trees! Last December I (along with mom and dad) was invited to talk to the kids at Landmark Christian School 3rd grade class. I had a great time and the kids really seemed interested in what we told them about our ministry.
Last week my friend Mrs. Hermecz invited me back. She said that the 3rd graders had something for me. My mom and I went and the kids gave me a small tree covered with $1, $5 and $10 dollar bills! I was excited and very surprised. The 3rd graders had a used book sale to raise the money for the ministry. I will take the money with me in may and buy toys for the pre-school.
I think it is cool that God can use kids to make a difference in the Kingdom!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Waiting
from Katherine
At the end of January I joined good friends from PTCUMC on the annual womens retreat. What fun! One of the talks was titled "Wait". Boy, did I think I had become a professional 'waiter.' Waiting for God's go-ahead to sell our home, business and raise financial support.
I have 'waiting' down pat and I am not patient! One of the things the speaker gave out was a conversation between God and well, it could have been me. It really gave me pause to think about what this process has been all about and how much more I have to learn.
At the end of January I joined good friends from PTCUMC on the annual womens retreat. What fun! One of the talks was titled "Wait". Boy, did I think I had become a professional 'waiter.' Waiting for God's go-ahead to sell our home, business and raise financial support.
I have 'waiting' down pat and I am not patient! One of the things the speaker gave out was a conversation between God and well, it could have been me. It really gave me pause to think about what this process has been all about and how much more I have to learn.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Its not the 'How' but the 'Who'
from Elliott
It is easy to get caught up in ‘How’ questions. How will we get the house sold? How will be raise the necessary financial support to fund our missionary efforts? We do it as individuals as well as churches. It seems especially true in difficult economic times like these and with a God – size calling.
We just had a Mission Conference at Atlanta First and the speaker, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, presented the story of the Woman at the Well. From the discussion between Jesus and the woman, we learn that Jesus makes all things possible as with the example of ‘Living Water.’ Rudy suggested that Jesus takes the ‘How’ out of the question and replaces it with ‘Who.’
By its very nature responding to any calling of God suggests that we focus first on the ‘Who’ and that who is Jesus Christ. A good sign that something is a call of God is when it is impossible to do without Him. We are beginning to see that more and more each day! There is no way our moving to South Africa will happen if it is solely up to us – only God and those that respond to His call to help send us to South Africa can make it happen. That is both humbling as well as comforting!
It is easy to get caught up in ‘How’ questions. How will we get the house sold? How will be raise the necessary financial support to fund our missionary efforts? We do it as individuals as well as churches. It seems especially true in difficult economic times like these and with a God – size calling.
We just had a Mission Conference at Atlanta First and the speaker, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, presented the story of the Woman at the Well. From the discussion between Jesus and the woman, we learn that Jesus makes all things possible as with the example of ‘Living Water.’ Rudy suggested that Jesus takes the ‘How’ out of the question and replaces it with ‘Who.’
By its very nature responding to any calling of God suggests that we focus first on the ‘Who’ and that who is Jesus Christ. A good sign that something is a call of God is when it is impossible to do without Him. We are beginning to see that more and more each day! There is no way our moving to South Africa will happen if it is solely up to us – only God and those that respond to His call to help send us to South Africa can make it happen. That is both humbling as well as comforting!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Long Good Bye
from Elliott
There have been 'Good Bye's' before but none like this one. Most are single events; not prepared for in advance even though they are expected. And with technology and convenient travel, most 'good byes' are, at worst, temporary.
This one seems different though. Our departure will happen sometime in the near future but the actual time of departure is an unknown. Also, we don't necessarily see everyone involved on a regular basis and we are blessed to have relationships in places that won't visit before our departure. It seems as though we have already begun those 'good byes' as we enter 2010, knowing that we will be leaving sometime during this year. Every moment of every encounter is savored as we seek to live fully in the present.
With the distance and duration of our commitment to the people in South Africa these 'good byes' feel more profound than the 'temporary' good byes that we are used to. And frankly, with the knowledge that all of us are here on earth just temporarily, some of these 'good byes' feel more 'final' than others - that is, until we meet again on the other side!
There have been 'Good Bye's' before but none like this one. Most are single events; not prepared for in advance even though they are expected. And with technology and convenient travel, most 'good byes' are, at worst, temporary.
This one seems different though. Our departure will happen sometime in the near future but the actual time of departure is an unknown. Also, we don't necessarily see everyone involved on a regular basis and we are blessed to have relationships in places that won't visit before our departure. It seems as though we have already begun those 'good byes' as we enter 2010, knowing that we will be leaving sometime during this year. Every moment of every encounter is savored as we seek to live fully in the present.
With the distance and duration of our commitment to the people in South Africa these 'good byes' feel more profound than the 'temporary' good byes that we are used to. And frankly, with the knowledge that all of us are here on earth just temporarily, some of these 'good byes' feel more 'final' than others - that is, until we meet again on the other side!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Expecting An Exciting New Year!
from Katherine
It is finally here, 2010. We can stop telling folks we will deploy to South Africa 'next year.' Next year is now THIS year!
Is that a bit scary? You bet!
On the other hand, we are so excited we can feel butterflies in our stomachs when we think about the new life God has planned for us. We have met so many people in the past six years during our African travels. At the time we had no idea that God had sent us new friends to help us along the path to our new home. Now with a clear vision we are humbled to see what an amazing God we serve! We have “old” friends who are supporting us financially and with encouragement and new friends to welcome us to our new home.
Don’t we have an awesome God!
It is finally here, 2010. We can stop telling folks we will deploy to South Africa 'next year.' Next year is now THIS year!
Is that a bit scary? You bet!
On the other hand, we are so excited we can feel butterflies in our stomachs when we think about the new life God has planned for us. We have met so many people in the past six years during our African travels. At the time we had no idea that God had sent us new friends to help us along the path to our new home. Now with a clear vision we are humbled to see what an amazing God we serve! We have “old” friends who are supporting us financially and with encouragement and new friends to welcome us to our new home.
Don’t we have an awesome God!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A 'Norman Rockwell' Christmas?
from Katherine
There has been a lot of conversation in our house lately about how we will celebrate Christmas in South Africa. The biggest difference will be temperature. December is in the middle of summer in South Africa and heat and humidity is typical!
We will certainly not be wearing festive holiday sweaters in front of the fireplace and Turkey and Dressing will probably not be on the menu. A friend has told us that shorts and cooking something special on the braai (BBQ) like ostrich or kudu will be more typical.
I can imagine whether we gather with friends in a beautiful church or under the branches of a shade tree, the Christ child will be welcomed by grateful hearts!
There has been a lot of conversation in our house lately about how we will celebrate Christmas in South Africa. The biggest difference will be temperature. December is in the middle of summer in South Africa and heat and humidity is typical!
We will certainly not be wearing festive holiday sweaters in front of the fireplace and Turkey and Dressing will probably not be on the menu. A friend has told us that shorts and cooking something special on the braai (BBQ) like ostrich or kudu will be more typical.
I can imagine whether we gather with friends in a beautiful church or under the branches of a shade tree, the Christ child will be welcomed by grateful hearts!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Meeting of Crazies
from Elliott
We often find ourselves wondering whether we have lost our minds as we think about all the preparation for missionary service and future lifestyle change. We recently attended a training meeting of new Mission Society missionaries. From that experience, I think you can make one generalization – while we thought we were the only ones feeling a bit crazy, it seems that we are more the rule than the exception. Strangely there is a sense of peace that comes when you spend time with others similarly blessed or burdened, depending on your perspective.
One of the concepts presented at the meeting was that of how or sense of identity is impacted when you answer the calling to be a missionary. It was suggested that we will sense a loss of identity as we transition. That resonated well with me having spent many years with culturally impressive titles in the corporate real estate world.
When you have gotten used to that, shifting to the word ‘missionary’ can be a bit scary. The problem is that the word missionary illicits a wide range of perceptions. I find the most uncomfortable is the mantle of sainthood that some attach to it. I certainly know better! So, it is easier for me to become more comfortable with the alternate perception that we are simply a bit crazy. I sense others sharing our situation are OK with that.
Perhaps this disconnect with our native culture that we feel as missionaries is simply a hypersensitivity to the counter culture nature of the Gospel. That certainly is not unique to the missionary but clearly anytime you focus on crossing to another culture your degree of desire to be a Christ follower is heightened.
We often find ourselves wondering whether we have lost our minds as we think about all the preparation for missionary service and future lifestyle change. We recently attended a training meeting of new Mission Society missionaries. From that experience, I think you can make one generalization – while we thought we were the only ones feeling a bit crazy, it seems that we are more the rule than the exception. Strangely there is a sense of peace that comes when you spend time with others similarly blessed or burdened, depending on your perspective.
One of the concepts presented at the meeting was that of how or sense of identity is impacted when you answer the calling to be a missionary. It was suggested that we will sense a loss of identity as we transition. That resonated well with me having spent many years with culturally impressive titles in the corporate real estate world.
When you have gotten used to that, shifting to the word ‘missionary’ can be a bit scary. The problem is that the word missionary illicits a wide range of perceptions. I find the most uncomfortable is the mantle of sainthood that some attach to it. I certainly know better! So, it is easier for me to become more comfortable with the alternate perception that we are simply a bit crazy. I sense others sharing our situation are OK with that.
Perhaps this disconnect with our native culture that we feel as missionaries is simply a hypersensitivity to the counter culture nature of the Gospel. That certainly is not unique to the missionary but clearly anytime you focus on crossing to another culture your degree of desire to be a Christ follower is heightened.
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